Need advice on a subcompact 45ACP

[ejfalvo]

I have decided to only keep one (OK two) calibers of handguns - 45ACP. I have a XD45C and a SW625-3 for HD and I am looking for a subcompact 45 to carry.

I hear mixed reviews about Para, Kimber, and Colt. I would appreciate actionable advice from those members who ACTUALLY own or have owned a subcompact 45ACP whether they are from the manufactures listed above or others.

Thank you.

 

[Ala Dan]

Usually, my daily carry is a 3" Kimber Stainless Ultra Carry II in .45 ACP.
25 ozs, and it has been reliable with all types of factory ammunition; as
I have not shot any handloads thru it just yet. If I was searching for a
compact .45 ACP; then this would again be my choice~! I'm quite sure
my friend M2Carbine will be along shortly too tell U 'bout his Ultra
Kimber's.

 

[LiveLife]

One guy I shoot with has several Kimbers and his 3" stainless shoots my 200/230 gr MBC lead bullets with 5.0 gr of W231/HP38 reloads into one ragged hole at 7-10 yards consistently.

The rifling of the barrel comes polished and we have yet to see any leading from the 18 BHN bullet.

No FTF/FTE over 5000+ rounds of factory/reloads.

 

[jon86]

Have you considered a glock 36? Or, Kahr makes one even smaller.

 

[bigfatdave]

My Citadel was cheap and runs like a top with most HP ammo (and all ball) I've tried.

I imagine the RIA model would be about the same, they're both armscor models.

 

[desmo21]

Kahr PM45

 

[PX15]

CS45...


Jesse

 

[REAPER4206969]

Glock 30/36.

 

[Turn Key]

Glock 36

I'll betcha you could find a great deal on a Glock 36 right now. Their .45ACP has been a very slow selling model for Glock ( due to ammo prices ) and any dealer that had one in stock would gladly sell it.

You seem to be really dedicated to the .45 platform, if I were, it would certainly be in a Glock product. The ATF just awarded Glock a 40 Million dollar agreement to arm all of their agents with the G27 and G22 in .40SW.

TK

 

[ambidextrous1]

I'm very happy with my Colt Defender, especially when shooting the 185 grain bullet; the action's smooth, brisk & accurate.

My Springfield Ultra-Compact with 3.5 inch barrel has fired a lot of rounds, and the slide rattles when you shake it from side to side. It shows a lot of wear - but most of the shots I fire at HD ranges end up inside the 10 ring. Go figure...

 

[REAPER4206969]

The ATF just awarded Glock a 40 Million dollar agreement to arm all of their agents with the G27 and G22 in .40SW.

And the FBI just ordered 2,963 more Glock 23's.

 

[DeepSouth]

The KAHR PM45 is the by far the best compact 45 out there, it's only basic competition is the AMT Back Up which I hear bad things about but have no experience with.

I have a PM45, as far as reliability it had a FTF ("3-point jam") on round #39. Other than that it has ran 100% for me. When I first got it, it had the same FTF every time (and I mean every time) my wife shot it until about the round count got to be in 350-400 range, since then it has been 100% reliable with every shot fired. The round count is now around the 1,200 mark. It has never shown any sign of problems with JHP's. Come to think of it every problem it has ever had was with a WWB.

I will also say it is more accurate than most full sized auto's. It does get a little hard to shoot because of the small grip and the long hard trigger, which is a good trigger for a DA striker fired pistol. I pocket carry mine everyday. It is by far my favorite carry gun. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a compact 45.

I paid $630.00 for mine w/o night sights. I think they have gone up a bit since I bought mine.


Hears a pic of my beauty.

 

[orionengnr]

The KAHR PM45 is the by far the best compact 45 out there

Well, that's your opinion.
I have had four 3" alloy frame Kimbers, one Colt Defender, one steel Springfield 3" Mil-spec, and two steel Para C-6s.

What do I have now? Two Kimbers--a stainless Ultra Carry and an Ultra CDP.

I just bought a brandy-new Kahr PM45 last weeekend. It is slightly smaller and ~7 oz lighter than the Kimber, but it is not as accurate, it holds two fewer rounds (5+1 vice 7+1) and mine (so far) is very ammo-picky. Until it is 100%, I will not carry it.

That said, I regularly carry a Kahr P45. It is about the size of the Kimber, about 6 oz lighter, holds 6+1 and is 100% reliable.

Not a lot of choices, but some good ones. Fondle anything you might like, shoot whatever you can.

 

[dirty dave]

I like the para c.6 LDA 45 its a older one but works great.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

My smallest 45 is a Taurus PT145. 10+1 of .45 in a gun the size of a G19 with a shorter barrel. This is my second one and they have each been 100% reliable. I would still prefer to carry my XD45c, though.

 

[george d dennis]

glock 36

 

[jkulysses]

The KAHR PM45 is the by far the best compact 45 out there, it's only basic competition is the AMT Back Up which I hear bad things about but have no experience with.

I have a PM45, as far as reliability it had a FTF ("3-point jam") on round #39. Other than that it has ran 100% for me. When I first got it, it had the same FTF every time (and I mean every time) my wife shot it until about the round count got to be in 350-400 range, since then it has been 100% reliable with every shot fired. The round count is now around the 1,200 mark. It has never shown any sign of problems with JHP's. Come to think of it every problem it has ever had was with a WWB.

I will also say it is more accurate than most full sized auto's. It does get a little hard to shoot because of the small grip and the long hard trigger, which is a good trigger for a DA striker fired pistol. I pocket carry mine everyday. It is by far my favorite carry gun. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a compact 45.

I paid $630.00 for mine w/o night sights. I think they have gone up a bit since I bought mine.


Hears a pic of my beauty.

So you tell people that the Kahr is by far the best then in the very next paragraph you followed up with "I have the Kahr" and then went on to tell about how many failures it had in the first 350 rounds??

My vote would go to the Glock 36.

 

[71Commander]

I would eliminate the Glock. You have the XD. Why downgrade.

The two that I own and are reliable are the older Para c6-45 and the Springfield Hi-cap. 12+1

 

[BP Hunter]

I have a GLock 36 which hold 6+1. I have been very happy with it. It shoots better than me and the recoil is very managebale for a handgun in that size. I used to have a Taurus PT145. Though it shot straight it had a significantly greater recoil than the GLock 36.

 

[Strahley]

I've tried several small .45s

3x sub-compact 1911s (one Para, one RIA, one Citadel)
Glock 30 & 36

Didn't care for any of them. The next one I'll try is a SIG P220 Compact or P245, whichever I come across (in the right config) first

The 1911s were unreliable, with an added bonus that the Para was inaccurate as can be. The Glocks ran 100% but the 30 was fat and the 36 ended up being too big for only holding 6/7 rounds. With the +1 baseplate it's nearly the size as a Glock 17, so why wouldn't I take that instead?

Here's to hoping the SIG answers my question

 

[mic_poo]

Most all of us Kahr PM series owners go through the dreaded break in period. I had real buyer's remorse after my first 50rnds with my PM45. Couldn't get through a mag without a jam.

After 150rnds through it, it was fine and is now reliable even with cheap ammo.

 

[DeepSouth]

So you tell people that the Kahr is by far the best then in the very next paragraph you followed up with "I have the Kahr" and then went on to tell about how many failures it had in the first 350 rounds??

My vote would go to the Glock 36.

Yep, you got it.

I am honest.

I don't say it is the greatest thing ever and it is perfection, because anyone calming perfection is lying.

The KAHR is very tight it may very well need a little loosening up, and I'm not going to hide that. It's had a grand total of 1 FTF for me, that's not real bad IMO. Yes my wife limp-wristed it causing it fail, if we want to blame that on the gun (which might be appropriate) then the Glock is pure junk. I could link to dozens of You Tube vids with jamming limp-wristed Glocks. Also lets not ignore the fact that the last 1,000+ rounds from my PM45 have been 100% reliable for everyone, even my wife.

Quality is more than going bang every time you pull the trigger, some people don't get that. You can have a cheaply made reliable gun. I would rather have a high quality gun that needs a little break-in than a reliable piece of junk. My KAHR is one of the finest fitting pistols I have ever held it IS the finest fitted polymer I've ever held. Did it need 40 rounds to prove 100% reliable for me? Sure, but I'm willing to make the trade off.




Some specs.


PM45

Length --- 5.67"
Height --- 4.49"
Width --- 1.01"
Weight --- 17.3 oz


G36

Length --- 6.77" in.
Height --- 4.76" in.
Width --- 1.13" in.
Weight --- 20.11 oz.


I was looking for a Pocket .45 that made the decision really come down to numbers, at which point the G36 lost, had it been significantly smaller/lighter than the PM45 I would probably own one now.

 

[litman252]

I have the PT145, it's a good one and I would recommend it. I want a commander 1911 as I have several 5" models but fell in to the 145.

Tony

 

[leVieux]

We have several .45's, incl Colt, Glock (30 + 21), Kimber UCDP,etc.

The Taurus PT-145 Millenium Pro is the best all-around piece.

We also have all sorts of other piistols, including Glocks in .45, .40. & 9mm.

The Taurus is the best carry piece, hands down. Contrary to an above post, it gives .45 ACP 10 + 1 in a handgun the size of a G-26. It is accurate and very reliable.

The ONLY problem is finding a CC holster.

leVieux

 

[MICHAEL T]

I go with Colt Defender I like the 1911 type pistol . my defender has been reliable as has my, NewAgent. Colt seems to have the issues worked out Their compact 1911 are reliable
Kimbers compact's seem to work well also.