Looking to buy a 45 ACP and

[WRGADog]

considering the Kahr P45 with NS or Sig P250. I would appreciate opinions and recommendations along with rationale for selecting one over the other. Gun will be used primarily for home defense, but may be used for concealed carry, so weight and size are important, not too concerned with capacity.

 

[Bill_Rights]

Give info on your requirements, to help us. E.g.,

Home defence (HD) ---> larger frame, longer barrel, higher-cap mag

Concealed carry ----> smaller, shorter, fewer rounds

Marksmanship ---> (whole 'nother set of stuff...)

Show/Collection ---> you get the idea

Now that you are a member, try the search function (top menu bar). There are a LOT of threads and posts on the .45 ACP

 

[C-grunt]

I would think either would be a decent choice. The newer Kahrs seem to have the bugs worked out that they had when they were introduced. Id say thats common. And the Sig is a Sig. Choose which ever one you like better.

 

[ojibweindian]

A 5" 1911 is very concealable (I've done it myself with a OWB holster and covering garment).

A Springfield XD45 Service model (with a 4" barrel) is also quite good. I'd assume that a Ruger P97 would work (never owned one, so I can't offer an informed opinion).

I've no experience with the two pistols you're considering. Soley based on hearsay, anecdotal evidence, reputation, etc, I'd go with the Sig.

But, ya never really know till ya strap it on

 

[benderx4]

I've owned the Sig 220 and can vouch for it - awesome gun, especially the ones made in Europe. As for Kahr, you might do a Google search on complaints/issues with Kahrs before spending your bucks.

Other great 45s out there:
1. HK45
2. XD45
3. CZ 97B
4. SW M&P 45
5. Glock 21

BTW, personally, I would go with ANY of the above five guns before the two guns you mention. Good luck with your decision!

 

[JDGray]

If CCW is a consideration, officers grip 1911, would be my first choice. Sig and many others offer a short gripped, longer barrled, versian of the 1911. The grip is the hardest part to conceal For home protection, nothing beats a shotgun, and cover.

 

[krs]

I'll never buy another Kahr product.

I see that name and I run!

 

[babarracing]

Grip Hardest part to conceal:

Mr. Gray is absolutely right. The grip is the hardest part to conceal. There are a couple options. 6 round grip or Bob Tailed grip. I have had trouble with 3to 3.25 inch barrel length feed jams. So I like the 4 inch (approximately) barrel. Buy something you can rely on for home defense or CCW. This usually means spend a couple extra bucks. The Sig 220C3 is great. I've had 4 Sigs both old west German Mid eighties guns and 2008 guns. Never had a problem with any. I know nothing about Karhrs so I won't be stupid enuff to comment. But I do keep a 3" RB S&W 44 special in my bedroom it's a no brainer to operate in the middle of the night. Too big to carry except in full winter regalia. Cabo makes the best IWB holster I ever saw for this N-Frame so you can carry it comfortably.

 

[devildog4329]

I own P250 in 9mm. Great gun to shoot and reliable. The only thing is getting used to the double action only trigger. a little tough to get off a follow up shot with speed. ie. shooting hammered pairs. also this gun is easy to conceal and is in my nightstand right now in condition 3. 1 more thing the sig sights are awesome.

 

[Ben86]

I have been trying to find the perfect carry .45 as well. I've so far arrived at the Ruger P345. It is actually smaller than a commander size, yet still holds 8 rounds. The grip fits my hand like a glove, it's lighter than a 1911 and I really like Ruger products. I'm sold. Just gotta wait for that tax return.

And hey, if Ayoob recomends them they can't be bad.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Get an XD or an M&P 45.

 

[Bill_Rights]

Ben,
The Ruger P345 has been discontinued. http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdSpecsView?model=6648
What did Ruger replace it with?

 

[jon_in_wv]

I would recommend looking at the Ruger P345 also. It is very slim and concealable yet large enough to shoot well. They have a good reputation for reliability and accuracy also.

 

[kowenjr]

I just got rid of my P45 after sending it back to Kahr. I loved everything about it except my particular gun was not reliable. I could not shoot more than 30-40 rounds without a FTE. The brass would get so jambed up I could hardly take the magazine out to clear it. I sent it back to Kahr and they said they replaced the followers and springs and polished the feed ramp but jambed on the first magazine after getting it back. I traded it on a HK45C which is a sweet gun buy the way. It is not as small but shoots and feels great and more than anything has been totally reliable with about 600 rounds through her. It is my carry gun. I had a P250 in 9mm but did not like the trigger at all. I had a P239 and P220 which I think spoiled me to what I thought a Sig should be like so I never go use to the P250. The whole modular thing was not a selling point because you could almost go and buy another gun for the cost of the conversions.

 

[marinetbryant]

New here. Hope I don't go off the rails. Be gentle, I'm old and fragile but will not bruise like a banana.

I don't CC but have a Colt Defender. Nice weight, feel. Never shot it, NIB. Also have a 1991A1 compact. A lot heavier, wouldn't recommend for CC.

I won't consider a Kahr due to who owns the company, that's just me.

Tom

 

[kickert318]

Glock 21 - Full Size
Glock 21SF - Slim Frame
Glock 30 - Medium Sized
Glock 36 - Compact Single Stack

All 4 of those are great guns that wont cost you an arm and a leg.

 

[Gary A]

The Ruger P345 has been discontinued.

The P345 has not been discontinued. Ruger discontinued the "decocker-only" variation on all its P-series semi-autos in favor of the manual safety version only. (To my disappointment, but OK.)

 

[Jaws]

FN's FNP-45 is a full size pistol, but is inexpensive, reliable, extremely acurate and one of the softest shooting .45 out there.
Worth trying.

 

[Delford]

I agree with the advocates for Ruger P345. It was my first handgun purchase and I put 100 rounds through it two weeks ago. I'm still getting used to the trigger action (down & left pull) but the Range Officer fired it one time and hit dead center at 21 ft. (I want to be like him!) It's recoil is about the same as a Glock 23 (.40) and fits the hand waaayy better. While I didn't hit center most of the rounds were within 3" and some of those were chewing into the center.

 

[JDGray]

The Ruger P345 is a very accurate shooter, but I found it a bit bulky for ccw. Heres a comparison to my G23, which in turn has been replaced with a Kimber UCII, for even less bulk

 

[MachIVshooter]

I would appreciate opinions and recommendations along with rationale for selecting one over the other

S&W CS-45. Slightly heavier and bulkier than the P45, but a proven gun backed by S&W, who's customer service is second to none.

I had considered the P45 and PM45, but reliability issues kept me from buying. I am 100% happy with my CS45. Accurate, reliable and comfortable for carry.

 

[Ed4032]

I have a Kahr PM45. It is a great gun. I love it. I have several 1911 officers and GI's as well as a Bersa 45. Any of them would be a great choice.

 

[Ben86]

The .45 I plan to buy for HD/CC is the ruger p345. It's a good medium sized .45. Who owns kahr that you don't like marinet?

 

[ccwes]

Pm45 unplanned mag drops

I just purchased a new Kahr PM45. I've been carrying a PM40 for over 4 years and carried the PM9 from the time it hit the market till the PM40 came out. No reliability problems with either the PM9 or the PM40 after many, many rounds fired-including BUG matches. Yesterday I took the PM45 to the local indoor range to break it in. After 175 rounds of 230 grn. ball, no failures to feed; except I had several unintended magazine drops - all after firing the 4th round! Very few mags fired all five rounds without dropping after the 4th rd (using 4-new 5-rd mags). At first I figured it was my grip causing me to bump the mag release, so I changed my grip (several ways) and even fired it one-handed. Still have the problem. No way I was touching the mag release button. I let another shooter try it and the mag dropped after the 4th rd. for him too. Has anyone experienced this particular malfunction?? {by the way - it was deadnuts on and shot remarkably small groups for a pistol this small. I did get a blister on the web of my right hand near the heel of my thumb.