Need a new 45, decisions decisions...

[adrianbaxter1807]

Looking to get a 45, I've never personally owned one. I've been looking seriously at a glock 21 or a RIA1911 Tactical. Now to be honest I do have smaller hands
and a glock 22 fits perfectly! I've handled the rock island and it felt fantastic. How is a 21 in size when compared to a 22? Also any suggestions would be great! Anything around five in price Any help would be great!

 

[Badger1911]

I have a Glock 21. Great pistol...but if you have smaller hands I would recommend that you go for a Glock 21 SF, or just wait a few months for the release of the Glock 21 Gen 4.

Obviously, the first thing that comes into my mind when I think .45 is a 1911. After that, stick with either Glock or H&K.

Good luck, and happy hunting for your perfect .45!

 

[amd6547]

Glock 30 or 30SF...a tack-driving do anything 45

 

[adrianbaxter1807]

thanks buddy! I haven't looked at a 21sf yet but I will now that you mentioned it. I love my glocks and one in a 45 would be great if size permits.

 

[G.barnes]

Kahr 45. Single stack mag for slimmer grip. Can get in metal or polymer and many different models in 45 going from about 350 to about 700.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Get a 1911 that where the 45 acp belongs

 

[txhoghunter]

Springfield 1911 or a Sig P220

 

[doc.lonestar]

Depends on what the intended use is. I personally own an American Classic Commander and a Glock 30. I carry the Glock 30 more than the Commander only because that is my preference.

Both are excellent examples of what to expect from the 45ACP round. RIA is nice but for the dollar you cannot beat the American Classic - feature for feature and fit and finish IMHO the American Classic wins hands down.

For hand size a Commander would be a better consideration - only because the double stack 45 could be an issue. I am unsure of the 30sf as I do not own one. I do not own a 36 but have no issue recommending you to take a look at one if you get a chance. May be a good combination of features to consider.

 

[CZ57]

XDm .45 ACP with smallest backstrap. Match grade barrel that delivers match grade accuracy. Mine is a tackdriver that will shoot with pistols that cost more than twice as much. I do have a PRP trigger kit in it that reduces pull down to about four pounds as well as their trigger stop that prevents overtravel. $125 worth of mods that make it an exceptional shooter.

 

[Whiskey11]

XDm in .45 or XD45 Tactical. Love my tactical to death. Can't really go wrong with a Glock 21 or the M&P 45's either. All of those would be great handguns for shooting, home defense, etc. Can't go wrong with the 1911. Infact, there are very few choices in which you can go wrong.

If you want polymer, go to the local gun store or Cabelas or whatever and try em all out and find which one you like more.

 

[Thlax]

I'm getting an HK45c with lightweight LEM soon!

 

[gohogs93]

Sig P220 or HK45

 

[NG VI]

If you find the 22 pefect for you, and like the platform, why not try out a Glock 37 or 38? As much as I hear about how unavailable the .45 GAP ammo is, it's readily available online for the same price as regular .45, and the GAP pistols are supposed to work wonderfully.

It just takes a small amount more planning than ACP, no big deal. Try Georgia Arms for cheap range ammo.

 

[colt1911fan]

RIA is great for the money i was looking at chrome plated RIA for $430 it felt as sturdy at my $900 dollar Springfield i know this is gonna cause a big debate but if the Iraqi police hate their glocks that says something and my experience wasnt all that great with glock i had a glock 17 and after 1000 rounds the slide wouldn't seat the round properly and wouldn't fire at all but once again it all comes down to a preference thing Khar make a nice 45

 

[Br]

All great suggestions. Check out the P220's grip for sure.

 

[benderx4]

HK45c with the LEM trigger!

 

[dnthmn]

Get them both! That's what I did.

Seriously though, if you have small hands, you'll want to handle and, if possible, shoot the Glock before buying one. They are too big for some, though my wife can shoot my G21 and she doesn't have a big hand.

 

[Smaug]

Funny thing about the Glock 21. I have smaller hands too. Actually average size palms and thumbs with slightly short fingers. The Glock 21 felt big to me, but I shot it really well. This was a first gen. model back in 1997. They're more comfy now, with the finger grooves.

I never shot a Glock 21 SF, but I have shot a 30. (compact 45) For me, it was no more accurate than the 21, and the magazine pinched my pinky finger. FAIL.

I owned a Glock 34 (competition 9mm) and shot it well enough to be combat accurate, but I could not get good groups with it at 25 yards due to the trigger. Remember, they were designed as combat guns, not target guns.

For my first centerfire handgun, (again, back in '97) I went with the Ruger P90 in favor of the Glock 21. I really wanted that Glock, but it was $100 more expensive, and the SA trigger on the Ruger was much easier to shoot than the Safe Action trigger of the Glock. I have no regrets.

Just a month or two ago, I bought my first (and probably last) 1911. There is such a wide range of them. A basic combat-level model does not (in my experience) shoot any better than any other combat 45, except for the first round. The single action trigger is actually pretty heavy. The best groups I've ever shot with a 45 ACP handgun were with my S&W 625, 5", HK USP Expert, and an EAA competition gun. Still the 1911 can be tuned up. For the rest of them, they are what they are. It's just that I'd rather have something that shoots really wall out of the box, than something that shoots OK out of the box, and will continue to shoot better as I throw more money at it. My basic 1911 (Para GI Expert) cost $550. My used S&W 625 cost $600. HKs new, go for around $900, ditto for the EAA competition gun.

Oh, speaking of tuning up, my Glock 34 had the lighter trigger than stock. Lightness isn't everything. It was still spongy. And the extended mag release was always digging into my thumb.

I'm forgetting the Beretta PX4 in 45. That was a great shooter too. That one had a laser though, so it was exceedingly easy to shoot well at the range. Those guns feel great and have good DA/SA triggers. You just have to like the looks, which are unconventional.

So there you have my experience on the matter, for whatever it's worth.

 

[Smaug]

I forgot to say one thing. Based on all that experience with 45s, if I were to buy a new 45 now, do you know what I'd get? (pistol-wise)

I'd get the EAA, either the Hunter model in 45 or one of the stainless competition ones in 45.

I don't like the looks of the Beretta. I don't like the recoil and complexity of the 1911. I don't like the polymer feel or the price of the HK magazines. I think CZ97s would be too big for my hand.

They're not much to look at, but they REALLY feel good in the hand (just like CZs) they have soft recoil, are very accurate, and are available in steel.

You should consider revolvers too. They have their own set of advantages and are very easy to shoot well in SA mode. In DA, they are the best training in the handgun world for trigger control.

 

[Smaug]

I just re-read your original post. Most of us are recommending $900 guns, and you're asking about $600 guns.

To answer the original question specifically, I would go with the RIA. 1911s with their crisp SA triggers are easier to shoot well than Glocks. Longer barrel and sight radius is nice too, for that little bit of extra oomph. Lastly, if it is not exactly what you want, you can touch it up here and there later.

 

[gym]

I go with the RI, I saw one yesterday, held it cycled and dry fired it, definetlly my next purchase, it feeds anything. My gun stre guys are shooters, $1600 in a weekend for ammo, they shoot full auto also. The shoot a lot, they swear by them, although if you have more funds to add "which happens" there is a "E" model S&W just came out with in bobtail, like the Dan Wesson, gorgeous, but it's going to run over a grand. If you absolutlly love 1911's wait and get the smith, if you want a new toy now that's a mil spec gun get th RI 5 inch mil spec. It's 4 and change.

 

[Smaug]

Smiths and Sigs have the external extractor. It kind of ruins the looks, in my opinion. But they're nice guns by all accounts. Just don't get a Taurus.