Help with first .45 semiauto for carry?

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Logistar

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I have owned nothing but 9mm semiautos. I think it is time to pick up a .45 for carry too. I really have looked around but can't find anything that meets my specs. I thought I'd run it by you guys and see if you have any suggestions. Here goes...

Reliable (of course)
Light rail
DA/SA (bit would consider other actions)
4 in barrel or close
Light weight
Narrow if possible.

I know I will have to compromise probably. Ideas?

Thanks!
 
Compact Hk usp .. Has the light rail da/sa trigger not sure on barrel length though pretty light weight .. as for narrow well thats up to each person my Hk fullsize is narrower than my new 1911
 
I think you should dump the ancillary features (light rail, DA) and buy a 1911 in one of the many compact size variations.

Otherwise, I like the Beretta 8045 Mini-Cougar. I think it meets all your requirements. Not sure about the light rail.
 
The Taurus PT145 maybe worth looking at. It's compact, light, holds 10 rounds and I've seen one new for under $300 at a gunshow! If you don't mind spending some money than look at the Glock 36 or a micro-carry 1911.
 
I've got a USPc in 9mm and do not find it even remotely narrow. My 1911 milspec is appreciably thinner. I find the width to be a particularly important dimsension for a carry gun, so I'd spend some time with the manufacturer's specs and compare all your choices with the specific mm's in mind. (This is exactly what gives me that Kahr chub.) :p
 
Great ideas. For some odd reason I hadn't thought about HK. I DIDN'T KNOW that Beretta even made a .45 (I assumed incorrectly that they didn't.) I guess I ought to check the Sig too!

I have a PT-111 and it has been a good gun. I am not totally impressed with Taurus fit/finish and I have heard a lot of stories about their polymer guns but maybe I should give them a look.

I was really hoping for a light rail (I thought the Glock 36 had one but apparently not) but that may mean a wider gun and thinner is definitely better for me!

Thanks for the ideas! I will now try to check some of these out!

Logistar
 
If you can live without the light rail, a standard SIG P220 is probably the finest DA/SA .45 money can buy.
 
Check out the S&W 1911SC it weighs 28 oz and comes with 2 8 round mags..The vast majority of posts that I have seen by owners is Very Favorable...I too will be purchasing a 1911 in the coming months, I also want light weight as well as staunch reliability. Others would be a light weight commander if you can find one from Colt and the Para LTC seems to be worthy of consideration as well...The Sig 220 non Stainless would be terrific choice as well,nothing out there more reliable than that in semi line....good luck....
 
I bought a Taurus PT145 this summer as my first .45. I've added a picture I got off the web. I have the stainless version of the pictured gun.

Reliable: I've put about 500 rounds through it with no errors at all.

Light rail: Starting in January 2004 Taurus changed the frame to have a light rail on it. Many of the gun shops and at gun shows I've been to still have old stock that don't have the light rail on it. Look around a little and you will find a newer production one.

DA/SA (bit would consider other actions): It is DAO. I was pretty wild with it the first 100-200 rounds. The trigger takes some getting used to and this was also my first .45 also and I wasn't used to that big of a bang. I can group quite well at 10 yards now that I have a little more practice with it.

Light weight: I've weighed it fully loaded with 10+1 rounds at a little under 29oz.

Narrow if possible: It is about an inch wide, but I really can conceal it quite well. I bought a Don Hume OT721 holster and am really happy with the combo.

Hopes this helps,
Virgil
 
Dumb question:

Why a light rail?

All of the small/skinnyness you can get is lost by adding a light, not to mention the bulk of the holster for a weapon with a light.
 
Logistar,

I am doing the same thing you are and keep coming back to the Taurus PT-145 Mill Pro, as Domino has suggested. Geeze, for $300.00, more or less, and all it gives, I am having trouble spending more money on a different gun. Now, if it was to be the only pistol I was going to own for a while, i might look at it differently. :scrutiny:
 
For small 10+1 .45ACP I've a Taurus PT145 and a Kimber BP Ultra Ten II.

The Kimber needed a litlle work on the mags to be reliable, the Taurus was 100% out of the box with factory ammo. It doesn't reliably feed my cast lead SWC reloads the Kimber does.

The Kimber cost about twice as much as the Taurus. I prefer the Kimber because its a cocked and locked 1911 compared to the PT145 DAO. But now that Taurus seems to have fixed the problmes they had with the early guns I think the PT145 is a very good buy for a small, light, 10+1 .45ACP carry gun.

My prefered carry piece is my Kimber Ultra Carry (pre-series II) mostly because its got CTC lasergrips on it.

--wally.
 
Other than a Commander sized 1911, try the Glock 30. No light rail, but a soft shooting, easy carrying, highly accurate and lightweight .45 with 11 rounds on board. I hide one daily, and i'm 5'9 181lbs.

The Beretta Cougar is FAT!
 
Carry 45

I would go with the Kimber Pro TLE II.
4" barrel
8+1 capacity
light rail
SA (it's a 1911 style)
Should be a fine carry piece for you..... :D
 
.45 semiauto for carry

Just my recommendation: a Glock 30 or 36, or any Sig chambered for the caliber. I WOULD NOT recommend any version of a 1911 that does not have at least a 5" barrel for reliability reasons, and that pretty much rules out any easy concealibility.
 
I bought a H&K USP45C for CC. It seems to have all the features you want. However it was not small enough for me. Now I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP. Smaller, lighter, thinner, but no light rail.
 
Do the right thing and buy a Colt LW Commander Carries easy and locked and cocked better than DA,Very narrow,Who needs a light rail ? You will end up here so save lots of money and start here :)
 
While I do not understand the need for a rail on a CCW gun, I suggest you check out the non-rail Sig P245. It is, IMHO, more suited to CCW than the 220 and is a fine shooter. I love mine.
 
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