Recommendation on a 45 ACP for woman

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masterofchaos

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I'll fill you in on what I currently shoot and please comment on what you think a good 45 ACP handgun would be for an average sized hand woman. My biggest concern is hand fit/control over recoil. My price range is $700-1100.

-CZ 75...love this SS 9mm gun even though it's slightly to big for my hand. I appreciate the heaviness as it absorbs the 9mm kick. I shoot pretty well with this gun.
-6" S&W 19 .357s feel like butter...38s like .22s
-4" Ruger Security 6...I can definitely feel a difference between 38s and 357 (compared to the 6" Model 19)...I shoot 38s very well with this gun.
-Sig 250 Compact...this 9mm has muzzle flip. I shoot the first shot well and then I suck.
-Sig P232 ...this .380 totally twists my wrist on recoil but I shoot accurate with it.
-Browning BDM...this 9mm I am totally inaccurate with even though I love that it is such an oddball
-GSG 1911 .22LR...so much fun I wish it held 20 rounds at a time.

I use to worry about the gun weight, but now I appreciate the recoil absorption. I think 38# give/take 4# would be good. I think a 5" barrel would be good absorption. I prefer high polish stainless steel or glossy black. The GSG 1911 in .22 fits my hand well. I think I'd be good with a 1911 style.

My short list: Kimber Stainless II; Sig P220 Stainless Elite or Match; H&K USP 45; Colt Gold Cup or Government; Dan Wesson Heritage

What do you folks think?

THANKS!
 
You can't safely carry a locked and cocked 1911 in a purse if you choose to carry one of these make sure you use a holster.

As for which one? I like what you said. Heavier guns mitigate recoil.
 
I take a lot of new shooters to the range and surprisingly most women I've taken say that the HK USP 45 was their favorite.
 
Will this be a carry gun, or strictly a range gun? A little more info on intended use would be most helpful.
 
I've taken a number girl friends shooting over the years. None of them were real into guns. They were all 104lbs-125 lbs and they all shot my 1911 and did not find it objectionable. It has a relatively thin grip and is a 5" steel frame gun so the weight makes for very manageable recoil. The grip feel is going to be similar to GSG 22 1911. A steel frame gun will have considerably more heft. A very serviceable 1911 could be had for $1k. For HD/range I'd go with steel framed govt model with a rail. The steel frame will weigh more, helping to mitigate felt recoil, and be more durable if the gun sees a lot of range time. For range and home defense I like a full size gun and don't mind the weight of a steel framed gun.

The best bet is always to try and get the chance to shoot as many different ones as you can. If you don't know people with a variety of guns a day at a range that rents guns is time well spent.
 
If you can find one, the Colt 1991 TALO Custom Carry Government sells for a bit more than $1,000.

The TALO CCG comes with thin grip panels as opposed to the thicker standard grip panels. You may notice the grip will feel better and easier to hold on to with thin grip panels.

Otherwise, the Colt 1991 Government is nice and sell for around $900.

On the 1991 Government, you can swap out the grip panels for thin grip panels. You will need to install thin grip bushings and thin grip screws. Brownells sells a nice little bushing driver bit that helps removing and installing the bushings without damaging them.

Here are a couple of pictures of my Colt 1991 TALO Custom Carry Government.

You might notice the grip panels look quite a bit thinner than standard grip panels.

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masterofchaos said:
What do you folks think?
Click to expand...

I've owned several styles of 45acp pistols over the years and from my experience, the Colt 1911 is the top of the list. But it's all a very personal decision. Since you enjoy the GSG 1911 style in 22lr, you're familiar with the platform. Of course, to my thick hands the recoil is hardly noticeable. It bothers some female shooters I've known.
 
A 1911 is a great choice for a woman. But it is expensive. The custom grips required to make the weapon comfortable for women's small hands will set you back at least $200. Personally I would look for a weapon in a youth/ladies model. Some tiny women can't get a proper grip on a 1911 no matter what you do to it. A friend of mine is tiny she put herself through college working as a jockey at Delaware Park. Her favorites tend to be much smaller guns such as the LCP. She still rides and owns horses. Trust me, she is much stronger than your average woman of any size. The way she slings bales of hay I would say she is stronger than a lot of men.
 
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I'll start with a recap:

1. You like your GSG 1911 .22 LR, so you've established that a standard 1911 is a good fit for you.

2. Your budget is up to $1100, so good production 1911s are within the budget.

3. You want a 5" bbl steel frame gun to reduce recoil and muzzle flip.

4. This will primarily be a range gun, and it won't be a carry gun, but it will probably see some home defense use.

5. You prefer polished blue or polished stainless.

Based on those criteria the Colt Gold Cup fits best of your listed models.

If you can let go of the polished blue or stainless requirement you might want to look at a railed model 1911. The rail will add weight out front further reducing recoil and muzzle flip. It will also allow you to mount a light for HD use.

Alternately, again making an exception for a matte finish, the Springfield Armory Range Officer is the best value going on a true target type 1911.

As far as slim grips, if you need them, they're not expensive. I bought a set of Chip McCormick slim carry rose wood grips for $50 locally. These came with the smaller slim grip bushing and screws as well.
 
The 1911 is very nice.

Since you said it will be for HD and range use, not carry, then the Gold Cup with adjustable target sights is the clear choice.
 
I'd say closer to the bottom of your price range the American Classic II in hard chrome is a sexy gun and toward the top end a Dan Wesson is a very nice 1911.
 
+1 to ugaarguys comment.

You know the 1911, you like the 1911, the only thing you're missing is the caliber it was meant for :) Plus you're willing to spend the money to get something decent to suit your tastes/needs.

I'd look at Colts and Springers myself, but there's a bunch of decent 1911s within your price range.
 
Buy an inexpensive 1911. Use it, get to know it. If it works for you, you have the option of selling it and getting a $1000 Colt.

My daughter shoots our RIA .45acp Tactical and likes it a lot. Maybe more so than the 9mm pistols we own. Lots of choices for grips on the 1911. They don't have to cost a lot. Pachmayer makes good gips. I have these.

http://www.pachmayr.com/home/american-legend-grips.php

The 1911 has a lot going for it, I'm constantly amazed at how many new shooters I let shoot my pistol come away with a big smile and do very well with it.

Here's a good place to look at the RiA 1911's...
http://centerfiresystems.com/armscor.aspx?page=2
 
NOt going to go through all the posts in this thread, but would opine that, unless the woman is really large and on pcp, etc., just about any good hollow point should do the job.
 
Colt 1991 government. That'll fit your budget, and it'll be a nice gun. You don't need to pay for the gold cup unless you want to.
 
I'm female, with smallish hands, and I say go ahead and get the 1911. You already know you like the shape and size, nothing left to do except pick out the exact model and write the check:D
I don't like thin grips, but rather normal grips and a short trigger. Buy one, shoot it a lot, then change what you need to.
Brand? I have several different makes. All good guns, the Springfield Loaded is probably the least picky, but all of them shoot better than me.
Let us know what you end up with;)
 
Torn between Kimber Stainless II and ATI Thunderbolt. PRICE IS SURPRISLING CLOSE. KIMBER....its a Kimber what else to say. ATI is more aggressive in styling but is 3 lbs...heavy but would help with recoil. Help me decide.
 
If you're looking at the Kimber Stainless II, I'd look very hard at the Springfield Loaded Stainless (PX9151LP), Loaded Stainless Adjustable Sights (PI9132LP), or the Loaded Black Stainless (PX9152LP). I like the Loaded Black Stainless best of the three because it has adjustable target tritium night sights, an extended mag well, premium G10 grips, and a very classy finish.

I'm not a fan of Swartz safeties like Kimber II series pistols use. A Colt employee invented that mechanism back in 1937, and Colt saw no need for it then. When lawyers went nuts and firing pin safeties became a CYA measure Colt didn't use the Swartz safety then either: They opted to design a more reliable FP safety that became known as the Series 80 system.

The ATI is made SAM of the Philippines. Many folks like them, but I think it's quite a bit of money for a cast frame 1911; particularly when you're in the same price range as known quality forged frame 1911s.
 
ugaarguy, you make great points with forged vs, casting and Kimber's safety.

I need to get over the poor user-experience of Springfield's website which is why I dissed them from my short-list. I really do like the PX9151LP. I'll see if I can get a hold of one in town to get a feel for it. Thanks!
 
Masterofchaos, I'm glad I could help. Even with the Swartz safety Kimber still makes a solid production 1911. The forged frame and slide, and quality barrel give Kimber a great base. On the other hand, with the entry price of a good production 1911 being what it is I'd prefer to be a little picky and get what I want.
 
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