Need help on a compact .45 for CCW

[Lennyjoe]

How about the S&W 99 in .45? Can use the backstraps to adjust grip.

Also, CZ is coming out with the CZ TT Convertible. Can convert from .45 down to .40 and 9mm.

 

[Redlg155]

I've been through a couple looking for the perfect .45 carry gun and right now I'm on the HK USP C.

The G30 was too fat , but It was scary accurate for a .45. If it wasn't such a pain to carry I'd still have it.

The G36 magazine pinched my pinkie when fired. Plus I could rock the mag back and forth in the magwell. That drove me nuts.

The SIG P245 had a sweet trigger. The problem was that it seemed to have a lot of recoil when compared to the polymer pistols. I just wasn't comfortable with it and couldn't hit very much. The controls also gave me a bit of a fit. I found myself hitting the decocker instead of the slide release numerous times.

If you haven't tried the USP Compact then it would definitely be worth a try. You can carry with the safety on in DA first shot mode, cocked n locked or safety off in DA first shot mode. Plus it has a loaded chamber indicator. The use of metal magazines also slims down the size a good bit from regular full size USP grip frames.

My wife has smallish hands and handles it just fine.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[mrstang01]

An ex-S.O of mine cleaned the X-ring out of a target with a Witness compact polymer, and she has fairly small hands. 8+1, can use the full-size mags out of the big Witness.

 

[Specialized]

Well, I'd say the Sig P245, but the trigger pull is going to be a challenge for her. I'd recommend the Springfield Armory Ultra Compact V10. Here's my reasoning:

• Porting means much lower recoil -- very manageable.
• With slim grips, the grip is smaller than any of the other above-mentioned guns.
• The thumb-safety issue can be fixed quickly with a slightly deeper plunger detente and slightly-weakened spring.

All in all, she'd have a very concealable, low-recoil .45 that she should be able to easily handle. Sound good?

Specialized

 

[rappa]

Recently had to make this decision myself. However, I was on a budget ($600 or less) and local shop choices were limited. Also wanted it specifically for CCW. This pretty much thinned out the herd. Considered the P245 (used), Kimber (used, not sure which model it was), G30 (NIB) and G36(NIB). I decided on the G36. I'm used to the manual of arms (currently carry G19), it fit my budget, it was new, no recall problems (F series) and it felt really good IWB. So far so good after 300 rds of FMJ, JHP, 200gr +P, 230gr (Win whitebox, UMC, Gold Dot).

 

[Obiwan]

The G36 does not have any worse recoil than any other .45 I have shot

6-7 rounds should be enough...or is there something you are not telling us??

It seems to me that if the G36 is "too much" then a caliber choice is in order

The HK45C is a fine weapon...but can only be considered COMPACT when compared to the full size USP.

(I have one for sale if you decide to go that way)

 

[JJohnston015]

Count me among those who think you (both of you) should lobby the husband for a smaller caliber. I'm no Birkenstock-wearing, Dan Fogelberg-listening feminist, but it borders on "outrageous" that he won't allow anything else. Maybe if she puts it in terms of "if you love me, you'll..."

If it works, Kahr P9 perhaps.

 

[Correia]

There is nothing wrong with the woman insisting on a .45. My wife wants a .45, mainly because I already reload in bulk for it. "Honey I'm going to borrow some ammo."

There are plenty of good options, one of which is bound to fit her well.

You know more about Glocks than I do, so I'll skip that.

I like single action the best, and there are some superb compact 1911s out there. Even if she has a problem with some grip safeties, have her try something like an STI Ranger. With the super thin grips, short trigger, and speed bump on the beavertail, she should have no problem reliably depressing the grip safety.

I think the CS45 and 4513TSW are actually very nice guns. Available in DAO or DA/SA. The safety sucks to operate.

Sig 245. Good gun for a DA. Long DA reach if she has short fingers.

HK USP 45 c. Kind of big. I don't particularly care for it, but it is my little brother's favorite gun. Can't fault 100% reliability.

Bersa .45. Compact, affordable. Never shot one myself. No idea.

Mauser M2. Compact, but fat. Trigger pull was okay. Goofiest Safety I have ever seen.

CZ97. Honking enormous beast. Great gun though.

Taurus PT .45. Not the polymer gun, but the older aluminum framed gun. Not too fat. Decent trigger (for a DA). Affordable.

Beretta Couger. Fat. Grip way to fat for only 8 rounds.

Witness. Never used one much. No idea.


I would say find her a compact 1911 that fits her. If the grip safety is still a problem, pin it into place and forget about it.

 

[George Hill]

Para compact LDA would work.
Couger might fit her hand better than one would expect. Yeah, it's only 8 rounds, but so are 1911's and we are talking .45ACP here. Have her feel one of those.

Barring these choices... I'd suggest, like Correia did, one of the small S&W Tactical numbers. They are just as good as SIG pistols, in my opinion... but have the Safety Lever in the wrong location. You get used to it though... I did on my Beretta.

Let us know what she likes. See, that is the key here. It's all about what SHE likes... not us or even you. Let her pick the gun, and she will appreciate it a lot more. Who knows... She might just want a .357Magnum Snubby.

 

[Preacherman]

OK, folks, the search is over. I took her up to Clark Guns & Personal Safety in Bossier City, LA (run by Jerry and Kay Clark Miculek), and let her handle a number of the possibilities discussed here. For those interested, here are the verdicts on the various models:

1. Glock 36: fit her hand just fine, but she's already shot mine, and found the recoil in the light gun, with the narrower grip, a bit painful for extended shooting - so, this one's out.

2. Glock 30: Too fat in the grip.

3. EAA Witness: Both she and I liked the "feel" of this gun, but it was a bit too fat in the grip for real comfort. Call this one an "also-ran". After handling it, I'm going to see if I can find one somewhere to shoot - it interests me.

4. S&W CS45 and 4513TSW: Both fit her hand fairly well, and the weight and bulk were manageable. Also count these as "also-rans".

5. HK45C: Too big and bulky.

6. Taurus PT145: No... it felt cheap and tacky, the trigger pull was nothing to write home about, and both she and I felt just turned-off by the thing. The past mechanical problems with this gun didn't help!

7. SIG P220: She really liked this gun, as did I. They had a blued one (used) for sale at $550, in very good condition. Eventually, when she chose something else, I bought the P220!

8. SIG P245: Sold! This gun fit her well, she liked the size, and it seemed the best option of all the guns she tried. Being a SIG, I have no misgivings about reliability, etc.

She went home to hubby with her new P245, and judging from a phone call he made, I think they're both happy with it. I'm willing to bet that he might want one himself (or at least a P220) for "his and hers" .45's...

 

[sanchezero]

Congratulations to both of you.

 

[10-Ring]

She did good! She bought herself a gun she can be proud of Congrats to all involved