Question for anyone that CC's a 45 ACP.

[chaim]

If you like 1911s but want something smaller/lighter for carry, have you thought about a smaller, alloy 1911? Until I stopped using SA guns for self defense (I prefer not having to worry about a manual safety on a home defense or carry gun), I would often carry a Commander sized S&W 1911Sc or Officer sized RIA 1911 (steel) when I could carry (i.e. when out of state). With a good belt and holster, it would probably work for you most of the time. Like others have mentioned, be careful of any 1911 under 4", it will need a lot more practice time before you rely on it as they do tend to be less reliable than a 1911 with a longer slide and barrel.

If you want something smaller and/or lighter, in .45 I'd be most interested in a S&W M&P variant (the Shield if you want to be as small as possible) or a Glock. If you want to try something different (and also prefer your defensive guns to not have a manual safety), I think a SIG P220 would also be interesting, though it isn't really any smaller or lighter than an alloy 1911 Commander.

 

[gunnerh]

In cooler weather I like S&W M&P compackin the heat my M&P Shield works well with 200 gr semi-wadcutters at 800fps in both.

 

[MikeInOr]

Since Aug'19 I often carry an Springfield Armory XDs Mod2. Which was preceded by the XDs (Mod1?) that I acquired in Aug'13.

I decided that the small form factor, light weight and easy accuracy (in my hand) of this pistol makes it an almost effortless conceal carry piece. The best large-caliber conceal carry piece that I have ever found

So is the mod 2 a worthy upgrade over the mod 1 other than they grip? I have a grip sleeve on my mod 1 so the rough factory grip doesn't bother me any more.

 

[Robbins290]

Hey, one might miss. Not like the 10mm that’ll drop the bad guy even when you miss

Thats funny right there!!!!!

 

[GBExpat]

So is the mod 2 a worthy upgrade over the mod 1 other than they grip? I have a grip sleeve on my mod 1 so the rough factory grip doesn't bother me any more.

For me, yes.

I paid $475 for original XDs. I also have the grip sleeved.
A sale flyer from Cabelas arrived in the mail that showed 45acp Mod2s selling for only $350. Some quick research told me of a Goody Package (standard large black Springfield Armory blowmold case filled with Goodies) that I could get with the pistol (actually, I had to order it separately), so I ordered a Mod2.

Turned out the Goody Package wasn't the only additional Plus. When the counter guy removed the pistol for me to check, I saw that it sported a Tritium front sight. Excellent.

It did not take long for me comparison-shooting them both at my backyard range to realize that, while I was equally accurate with both, the Mod2 felt more comfortable in-hand, so ...

 

[CapnMac]

Who does a double tap with 45 ACP?

Holds up hand.

Carrying a 45?
All of these, one time or another




Sparks Summer Special or a Yaqui holster for various of these. Summer Special still the zenith for these.

I now more routinely carry a SIG 365X in a Crossbreed Supertuck. Unless I carry something else.

 

[Anchorite]

My older brother had a Star 9MM. Built like a TANK!

I’ve got a Firestar 45. It’s a gem, but I don’t carry it. Spare magazines are getting harder to find.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I’ve got a Firestar 45. It’s a gem, but I don’t carry it.

I handled and shot a Firestar once. I found a lot of sharp edges and that it was very heavy for it's size

 

[EMC45]

Carried my G36 all morning. Church, out in town grocery and auto parts shopping. No worries at all.

 

[CapnMac]

Spare magazines are getting harder to find.

One of my go-to mag vendors had a clutch of three Firestar magazines yesterday at the Fort Worth gun show. Was digging through their stock looking for Colt 1903 mags.

 

[Anchorite]

I handled and shot a Firestar once. I found a lot of sharp edges and that it was very heavy for it's size

That it is. It’s like the offspring of a Commander that had a drunken one-night stand with an Officers model. It’s only redeeming quality - the controls are 1911-like.

 

[kje54]

I like my Tisas Tanker(basically a Commander model).

 

[groundhog34]

Shield 2.0 performance center. Very accurate and reliable.

 

[Robbins290]

Those who train for it.

Literally thousands upon thousands of people shooting competition every weekend.

Ya, who needs a DT? I'll stick with practicing the Mozambique instead.
.

When I was taking SD classes with a 45, I was told by soo many people that you dont have to double tap with 45. I and I was trying to make a joke, guess I butchered it.

 

[wgf]

Glock 30 in a Crossbreed over my appendix under a tee shirt.

 

[dickydalton]

The one in the middle. Colt Officers Enhanced. Not stock and a touch heavy but shoots very well.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

have you thought about a smaller, alloy 1911?

I like the compact 1911 type pistols like the Kimber model but they are very high priced, nearly double the price of others. The Commander is nice but it seems to me (I have never tried to CC one so I could be wrong) to not be all that much smaller than the full size Government model to make a whole lot of difference.

 

[12Bravo20]

I’ve got a Firestar 45. It’s a gem, but I don’t carry it. Spare magazines are getting harder to find.

The Star Firestar pistols were ahead of its time just like the Star PD with it's aluminum frame was too. No one was really making any compact pistols designed for conceal carry at the time. And yes the all steel Firestar pistols are heavy but that does help with recoil management. I can tell the difference when shooting my Firestar M40 versus my Firestar M43 but the recoil of the M40 (40 S&W) isn't a whole lot different than the M43 (9mm).

I do wish that the Firestar M45 was still being made or someone else would make a 45ACP pistol with the same size as the M45 using the same design. The M45 makes a lot of sense since it has a 7 round magazine and is smaller than any compact/officer sized 1911.

With more modern designs the Firestar M43 and M40 don't really make a lot of sense since they are single stack. The M43 holds 7 rounds of 9mm while the M40 holds 6 rounds of 40 S&W. This is especially true since the Colt Pony (380) along with the Kimber Micro in 9mm and Sig P938 9mm are all based off of the original Star Model D which is smaller than the Firestars.

Here are a couple of photos to show the size difference between my Firestar M40, RIA Compact 1911 (3 1/2" barrel) and my Sig P938.

The first photo: top to bottom; RIA compact 1911, Firestar M40, Sig P938. Second photo, top to bottom; Sig 938, Firestar M40, and RIA compact 1911

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I may have to try a milt sparks rig. Everyone brags on them!?

Yep. I love my Milt Sparks Criterion with the magnetic clasps. 25 degree cant.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Yep. I love my Milt Sparks Criterion with the magnetic clasps. 25 degree cant.

Is the main difference between the Criterion and the Versa Max II the spacing of the belt attachment points?

 

[chaim]

The Commander is just a little smaller in the slide and barrel (about an inch). It is enough to make a slight difference. I think the weight difference of an alloy 1911 makes a bigger difference, and that's usually easier to find in a Commander sized 1911 than a full sized 1911. Though, sometimes with carry, a half an inch to an inch really can make a big difference depending on your body type.

An Officer sized 1911 may be easier to conceal, just test it quite thoroughly before you rely on it.

 

[JR24]

I’ve found commanders with the Ed Brown bobtail (DW has a very similar one) conceal every bit as well as an officer frame for me, and are much easier to shoot.

I also very much don’t care for the recoil characteristics (feel, flip, punch to the wrists, time back on target) of .45 aluminum frame guns, it makes a big difference to me.

9mm aluminum 1911s are fantastic though.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Is the main difference between the Criterion and the Versa Max II the spacing of the belt attachment points?

I don't know, as I haven't had a VM-2.

One of the biggest differences would be the cant. The VM-2 is 18-20 degrees cant while the Criterion is 25 degrees. The Criterion also rides a bit lower, I believe.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I've carried a full-size M1911 for about 60 years. For the last 25+ years it has been a Kimber Custom Classic (their basic model back in the day.) Nowadays I carry in a Simply Rugged pancake holster modified for "tuckable" IWB carry, although I can carry it OWB as well.

 

[9mmepiphany]

One of the biggest differences would be the cant. The VM-2 is 18-20 degrees cant while the Criterion is 25 degrees. The Criterion also rides a bit lower, I believe.

I was curious enough to actually do a little digging. Sparks has added quite a few updates to their offerings

The VM-2 is the Summer Special with wider spread attachment points and 18 degrees of cant (the original SS was designed with zero cant as it was intended for AIWB carry)
The Nexus was the VM-2 with a lower ride and increased rake (25 degrees) to allow a full firing grip. It also has an offset holster to allow the back to be flatter (for comfort)...plus it added magnetic loops closure
The Criterion is the Nexus (ride height and cant) with a metal reinforced mouth. It has the magnetic closures but loses the offset holster