Non 1911 45ACP Pistol Opinions Please

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Dr Who

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I`ve started looking for a 4" Compact non 1911 type pistol in .45ACP. It`s use is for range work and SD/Carry.

The ones I`ve seen online but not held ( Gun stores are few and far between here ) are:

XD Compact 4"

S&W M&P 45 4"

H&K 45 Compact

SIG 220 Carry SAS

I`m mostly interested in reliability with all types of ammo, followed by a reasonably crisp trigger ( or one that can be made so) and ergonomics, by that I mean reasonably slim well angled grips, and last a useful mag capacity.

Good customer support is also important, but I prefer guns that don`t need that..;)

I own Glocks, including a G 36, but don`t shoot them well.

Any help or advice from actual owners sincerely appreciated
 
I had a Stogar cougar in .40 S&W and liked it, though I sold it because it wasn't going to hold up to the volume of shooting I like to do. They make them in .45. My 40 was nice to shoot, and really accurate. I may pick one of them up in .45 acp in the future. I think they hold 8 rounds.

I just bought a FNP-45 and love it, though it definately isn't compact.

What about a PX4 Storm in .45acp?
 
Can't go wrong with a HK. I have the full size USP in 45. It has the added benefit of being able to be carried cocked and locked as well as DA/SA.
 
I like my XDm .45 as an alternate to my 1911's. It shoote right with the others and holds twice as much ammo.
 
Suggestion, if you have a lot of glocks... sell all but two, the most versatile ones you own, and use the money from the others to buy a new pistol.

But, besides that, look at the M&P45c. Its nice and fits the hand just right. Also, look at the SIG P220 Carry or Compact. XDM's are nice. HK45's and USP45c are a tad big but manageable to conceal. Owned all the above mentioned and the ones I mention. Sold all but the M&P45c, the Sig's, and HK's.
 
For me it would be between the HK45c if I wanted a DA/SA gun with a hammer or the M&P45 if I preferred a striker fired gun.

I don't have a polymer .45ACP pistol...I choose the Sig 220 and 220ST...but with "reliability with all types of ammo" as a criteria, I wouldn't pick the 220 Carry over the H&K or S&W. I also like the H&K and S&W's interchangeable grips that the Springfield XD Compact lacks.

I think the H&K and S&W offer the best ergonomics of the choices you've put forth...I've shot tuned versions of both and I would give the nod of a more tunable trigger to the M&P
 
My fnp45 shoots wonderfully. I have had a few wwb rounds stick in the mags. Am told they will replace my mags with the newer model but have not called. Nothing else has had an issue.
 
Dr Who
First: Great name. Great show, except Blink. I hate that one.

Second: Have you tried doing a little trigger work on your G36?
I just couldn’t get the hang of the trigger on mine so I broke down and changed to a ghost carry setup.
It’s still heavy enough for carry but it’s a lot more consistent and a lot smoother. It’s also easy and pretty cheap too.

Third: As far as suggestions, I second Ala Dan. The older Sig 220 is a great gun.
Steve
 
9mmepiphany said:
...but with "reliability with all types of ammo" as a criteria, I wouldn't pick the 220 Carry over the H&K or S&W.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised to read that, not that you think that the H&K or S&W is better since I don't own them (and maybe they are) so I don't know, but that you feel the Carry is unreliable with "all types of ammo". I have a P220 Carry (in addition to four other P220s) that has been excellent (100% reliable) with factory 230gr ammunition (three manufacturers) and reloads consisting of 230gr FMJ, 230gr JHP, 200gr LRNFP and 185gr LSWC. What else does it need to shoot to qualify as "all types of ammo"? I guess when that free box of 500 Hornady XTP 185gr JHPs shows up I can try those too, but I'm expecting more of the same ... 100% reliability. I have to say that I really like shooting the Carry and it sits by my bed with a flashlight mounted and a magazine full of Hornady XTP 230gr JHP reloads with a spare loaded magazine for good measure. That's how much I trust it to go bang every time.
 
I have a M&P 45c, and a Sig C3 as compact 45s. If I could only choose one, it would be without hesitation, the M&P45c. After an apex sear replacement, it is the best shooting, most reliable 45 I have ever owned, and I own or have owned quite a few. Just my experiences, others will vary.
 
My favorite gun is an older SIG P220. I don't know how the new Carry SAS is though.
 
I'm surprised to read that...but that you feel the Carry is unreliable with "all types of ammo".
Click to expand...
I was quite surprised that there would be much difference also, as the Carry is the old 245 slide on a 220 frame...but being the Sig Geek I was at the time...I kept an ear out for such things. The lighter slide increases slide speed and affects the action timing.

It doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the Carry or other Sig models...after all I own a couple of milled slide 220s with internal extractors...but in comparison to the HK45c, I'd take the HK first
 
9mmepiphany said:
I was quite surprised that there would be much difference also, as the Carry is the old 245 slide on a 220 frame...but being the Sig Geek I was at the time...I kept an ear out for such things. The lighter slide increases slide speed and affects the action timing.
Click to expand...

I weighed the slides from five P220s including the Carry. I have three P220s with stainless steel slides of which the Carry is one.

P220 Combat > 390g (ss slide, ext. ext, G513, 2010)
P220 Carry > 380g (ss slide, ext. ext, G510, 2010)
P220 > 380g (ss slide, ext. ext, G195, 1992 frame only, CPO with new ss slide)
P220 > 340g (cs slide, int. ext, G208, 1992/1993)
P220 > 330g (cs slide, int. ext, G354, 2004)

The Carry has a slide that is considerably heavier than the carbon slide models from the '90s and early '00s. If slide weight is an issue in terms of reliability, the earlier models with CS slides shouldn't be reliable either. The Carry models use a red 16lb spring whereas the fullsize models use a green 20lb spring. As I mentioned, I've found my Carry to be excellent in terms of reliability and accuracy. I'm not saying that the Carry is a better choice than the others mentioned because I have zero experience with them. But if you like the P220 platform, I very much doubt you'll be disappointed with the Carry, or Compact for that matter.
 
I have all four that you mentioned except that my P220 is a full sized. Of those four I would pick the HK45c first, closely followed by the P220 and M&P, with the XD a distant fourth.

Novalty also suggested the 3rd gen S&W's. I have a CS45 and 457S, and both are very good carry guns, especially the CS45 because of it's light weight.
 
I have spent the majority of my 30+ years shooting SA guns or DA/SA revolvers and as such transitioning from a smooth long DA to a short SA pull is automatic. I like true DA/SA autos with a decocker. To me this is a simple MOA for a carry gun. I like my P220.
 
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