Publius1688
Member
Make sure you shoot a Smith & Wesson M&P 45c before you buy. Let us know what you pick, and be sure and post photos of your new baby!
Good carry 45acp
- Thread starter Perseverance
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okierifleman
Member
Kimber UCII and a Pro CarryII
jaysouth
Member
With the progression of age, I have gone from a 1911(30 years) to a Smith 45c. It is a joy to carry and shoot.
Last month I picked up a Kahr CZ 45. It has a better trigger than the Smith and is lighter and slimmer. I have a holster on order. When it comes in I plan to carry the Kahr on a daily basis if it passes my 500 round reliability test. So far, so good.
I chose the "value" model of the Kahr because it has a traditionally rifled barrel that will handle lead reloads. The chamber is very tight and it handles factory ammo fine, but reloads need to be full length resized. It is as accurate as the Smith with 200 gr. SWCs. My standard carry load of Hydra-shoks work great too.
Last month I picked up a Kahr CZ 45. It has a better trigger than the Smith and is lighter and slimmer. I have a holster on order. When it comes in I plan to carry the Kahr on a daily basis if it passes my 500 round reliability test. So far, so good.
I chose the "value" model of the Kahr because it has a traditionally rifled barrel that will handle lead reloads. The chamber is very tight and it handles factory ammo fine, but reloads need to be full length resized. It is as accurate as the Smith with 200 gr. SWCs. My standard carry load of Hydra-shoks work great too.
Quoheleth
Member
I really like my Rock Island Compact. It feeds anything, is very accurate, had a decent trigger, and with its officer frame carries well. Its steel frame makes it heavier for carry, but soaks up recoil well. I've thought of trying to trade it for a XD45 compact for weight saving and higher cap, but haven't found a smoking deal yet for a trade.
I would look at either of those guns as well.
Q
I would look at either of those guns as well.
Q
MICHAEL T
Member
Colt defender But my Dan Wesson bobtail getting more and more carry time
Hank Dodge
Member
I really like my Colt's Defender as well. I will say that it needed a trip back to Colt before it was reliable, but now it's got a few thousand through it alright. I also put some thin wood grips on it, a Wilson grip safety, and a S&A checkered mainspring housing. It carries real nice in my Andrew's Leather IWB holster.
That's what I carry. The sub XD-9 for lighter dress and the 45 compact for the winter. Both in the same Bluegrass Hybrid horsehide. The felt recoil of both guns is about equal. The sub hides, just slightly better. Never failed to go bang and since they aren't expensive or pretty I don't worry about messing up a "pretty" gun. 
Slim Pickens
Member
I used to be a huge fan of Sig-Sauer. I have owned and carried most Sig variants and a whole lot of other guns.
After years of using many, many different guns I have decided that I will not buy anything but 1911s and 1911 parts from now on. The 1911 design is not protected by any patents, and you will always be able to buy every single part of the gun and have a choice of several manufacturers competing for your business.
If you have a problem with a Sig frame or slide, you cannot get a new replacement, period. I had one example of each problem, one on a CPO and one on a new Sig. If you stick with 1911s, you won't ever have an un-fixable parts gun like I did. Most gun manufacturers are interested in pushing as many new models out the door as possible, and have no interest in supporting the older models.
Keep in mind the Sig P220 SAO has a higher bore axis than the 1911, and the thumb safety is much higher than the 1911. The 220 SAO thumb safety is ambidextrous only, and the detent spring fits in the plastic grip instead of the frame, or in the plunger tube like a 1911. If you buy a Caspian 1911 frame, you can get an integral plunger tube and have dozens of different thumb safeties to choose from. Most shooters feel the 1911 thumb safety is very natural and easy to use. I think the Sig thumb safety is too high to use easily with a firm grip, and I really don't want an ambi safety that can be switched off with the gun holstered.
You can buy a complete 1911 or build one with any combination of grip length or barrel length that you want. If you don't like SAO, you can buy a Para LDA or get the Cylinder & Slide SFSS. You can get just about any caliber you want. You can get any part in any material you choose from any manufacturer, and any holster you want is in stock somewhere.
The Dan Wesson CBob and the Ed Brown Cobra Carry are both great guns. You could also buy a bare frame from Midway or Brownells and build a full custom just as nice. I have an older Kimber Ultra Carry and it runs just fine.
After years of using many, many different guns I have decided that I will not buy anything but 1911s and 1911 parts from now on. The 1911 design is not protected by any patents, and you will always be able to buy every single part of the gun and have a choice of several manufacturers competing for your business.
If you have a problem with a Sig frame or slide, you cannot get a new replacement, period. I had one example of each problem, one on a CPO and one on a new Sig. If you stick with 1911s, you won't ever have an un-fixable parts gun like I did. Most gun manufacturers are interested in pushing as many new models out the door as possible, and have no interest in supporting the older models.
Keep in mind the Sig P220 SAO has a higher bore axis than the 1911, and the thumb safety is much higher than the 1911. The 220 SAO thumb safety is ambidextrous only, and the detent spring fits in the plastic grip instead of the frame, or in the plunger tube like a 1911. If you buy a Caspian 1911 frame, you can get an integral plunger tube and have dozens of different thumb safeties to choose from. Most shooters feel the 1911 thumb safety is very natural and easy to use. I think the Sig thumb safety is too high to use easily with a firm grip, and I really don't want an ambi safety that can be switched off with the gun holstered.
You can buy a complete 1911 or build one with any combination of grip length or barrel length that you want. If you don't like SAO, you can buy a Para LDA or get the Cylinder & Slide SFSS. You can get just about any caliber you want. You can get any part in any material you choose from any manufacturer, and any holster you want is in stock somewhere.
The Dan Wesson CBob and the Ed Brown Cobra Carry are both great guns. You could also buy a bare frame from Midway or Brownells and build a full custom just as nice. I have an older Kimber Ultra Carry and it runs just fine.
exdetsgt
Member
Slim Pickens: Thanks for the reasoned, persuasive comment about the 1911 platform. I learned to think about them in a fresh light. Makes me feel better about having recently switched from Glocks to 1911's, as initially I thought, what am I, nuts, switching from new technology to old? However, occasionally someone designs something that turns out to be not only timeless, but very difficult to improve upon.
I recently bought a box-stock Rock Island Armory M1911A1, and the trigger's as sweet as my considerably more expensive Kimber Ultra Carry II. Maybe I just got lucky. We measured trigger pull and it was exactly 3 pounds with no creep, just a crisp release.
So the R.I.A. has replaced the Glock 17 for duty, and the Kimber has replaced the Glock 26 for UC daily carry.
I recently bought a box-stock Rock Island Armory M1911A1, and the trigger's as sweet as my considerably more expensive Kimber Ultra Carry II. Maybe I just got lucky. We measured trigger pull and it was exactly 3 pounds with no creep, just a crisp release.
So the R.I.A. has replaced the Glock 17 for duty, and the Kimber has replaced the Glock 26 for UC daily carry.
NMGonzo
Member
I would go with Sig since I liked my P6 so much.
JTQ
Member
You may want to look at a Ruger P345. Slim and light weight. It is approximately Colt Commander size, but DA/SA for those that don't like cocked and locked. You should be able to find them in the $400-$500 range.
SwampWolf
Member
No doubts
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I'll second this motion. I carry a Carry comfortably concealed in an iwb holster all day long and agree that the pistol is entirely reliable and the ergonomics are perfect for me.
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I'll second this motion. I carry a Carry comfortably concealed in an iwb holster all day long and agree that the pistol is entirely reliable and the ergonomics are perfect for me.
skeeter_08
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2009
- Messages
- 130
Ditto here on the Dan Wesson Classic Bobtail!
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