Smallest Concealed Carry .45acp?

[Jonah71]

I like the Kimber Pro BP 10 II, but right now in a shtf situation.....until I get some rounds through it, I'd grab my Taurus 24/7 PT Pro Comp 9mm. It's been tested and tried, and even though, by many accounts I'm just one of a very small group that have never had a sigle problem with this Taurus....I reach for what I know works.(I have to ammend here...every once in a while the spent casing is ejected right back over the top of my head. Kinda disconcerting.) Right now I'm carrying the Kimber IWB. LOL! Yep, it's concealed. If you're blind. But that's not why I bought it anyway. I was blinded by the $500 price. I really shouldn't be carrying it yet. Need more range time.

 

[Jonah71]

Thanks Cubj3.....I thought I was through looking for handguns. I want one. Thanks a lot for contributing to my addiction.

 

[CubJ3]

No worries Jonah! I'm an enabler! Your welcome AND sorry!

 

[Ughh]

My recommendation is none of the above until she's tried them. Not just a comfort issue; Subcompact .45's are difficult to control, and if it's to be a defensive gun, she needs to be able to handle it one handed and off balance. Most likely she cannot; My little sister is an avid shooter, she even competes with a Witness Limited in 10mm. Still, she cannot handle my S&W CS-45 authoritively enough for it to run reliably. It short cycles on her due to limp wristing, as her wrists and hands simply aren't strong enough. To get an idea of where her strength lies on the spectrum, she is 5'7", 140 pounds and very active with such things as horseback riding. In other words, pretty strong for a girl and very familiar with firearms, yet still can't handle a sub compact .45 under less than ideal conditions.

Just my $0.02

Man, your $.02 cents is very valuable. I couldn't agree with you more. I've seen this too, women who shoot compact/sub compact .45s only to see the recoil climb several inches on them.

Not a good thing.

 

[Ughh]

I have both a Kahr PM9 and a PM45. There really isn't that much difference in the recoil. But the PM45 is almost as big in overall length as a Colt Officer's model. The grip is about 3/4 of an inch shorter and much smaller in diameter. It is a great CCW.

What!? Your 9mm, I'm assuming that's what a PM9 is, has less recoil than your .45?

I'm not calling you a liar or whatever, it's just... strikingly shocking.

 

[DeepSouth]

Kahr P/CW45 or PM45

More Specs on them:
http://www.kahr.com/dtlspec_cw4543.html

Not the cheapest, but probably the smallest.

WINNER!!!

The only other small 45 I know of is the AMT Back Up, and they don't make them any more, possibly because of that 15 lb trigger.

Here is my PM45 that I pocket carry, I love it.

 

[Ughh]

DeepSouth, what brand cartridge is that? That's incredible expansion out of a short barrel.

I'm currently using Hornady's TAP 200gr +P JHP and i'm not getting wide enough expansion out of my Glock 30SF 3.78'' barrel.

 

[makarovnik]

Liberator or derringer. Why the smallest?

 

[rogertc1]

Semerling 45. Pic of mine with slide open



A SMALL and painfull to shoot Downsizer 45 single shot
over a Seecamp 32



group photo of my little ones. The Derringer also has a bbl in 45APC too

 

[PigButtons]

What!? Your 9mm, I'm assuming that's what a PM9 is, has less recoil than your .45?

I'm not calling you a liar or whatever, it's just... strikingly shocking.

Wow, I thought that I said not that much difference. How that became .45 was LESS THAN 9mm is beyond me. And yes, there isn't that much difference between the two. Especially when shooting +P from the PM9.

 

[arizonaguide]

This thread has turned out Awsome! I am learning a LOT!

The 1911 patterns just don't quite fit right even with the short triggers, so we're still leaning towards the Kahr. I wish I could get myself to trust the Taurus PT-145's because they also fit, and are much cheaper. But it's looking like a CW45 or perhaps a PM45 if we can swing the $$$. Thanks for all the good input, and any more advice is welcome!

 

[Ughh]

Wow, I thought that I said not that much difference. How that became .45 was LESS THAN 9mm is beyond me. And yes, there isn't that much difference between the two. Especially when shooting +P from the PM9.

Sorry, typo. I meant 'about same' not 'less'.

stupid me

 

[carbuncle]

S&W Chief's Special .45? I wouldn't kick one out of the safe, and I've heard good stuff about them from several owners.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

I think of equal importance to size in a 45ACP cc pistol is that firearm choice being a da first round.

Or, a "cocked 'n locked" anything, no matter the quality, price, or size is simply not an acceptable choice FOR ME in a concealed carry weapon.

I love 1911's myself, but IMO that platform is not the best choice for a cc pistol..

The 45ACP I prefer to carry, when I carry a 45, is the 3rd Gen S&W CS45.

The only downside to the CS45 is many people are not happy with the thickness of the grips (a Hogue design I believe).. But there is a gentleman (BIGDOG's Delgrin Grips) that takes the thinner factory grips for other 3rd gen Smiths and "alters" them to fit, and function perfectly in the CS45 (or CS9), and from all I've read the altered grips are thinner, and are very popular.

I'm not a large person (ok, I'm a quasi-runt), but I find the factory grips on my CS45 just fine.

This is not a knock against the 1911 pistol, I just think that for the specific purpose of being carried concealed most folks want a firearm that can be "pulled" and fired without cocking/safety on/off concerns, and that's is something a 1911 does not offer.

Just personal opinion, no offense to ANYBODY.

Additionally 3rd GenSmiths have a reputation for absolute reliability, my number one priority in a firearm carried for self defense.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

P.S. As seen in the photo below the CS45 does have an external safety/decocker (both sides actually)for those who prefer them but when I carry my CS45 concealed I have the safety off, and rely on the heavier 1st round d/a trigger pull to prevent accidental discharges.

 

[arizonaguide]

Wow, I like it.

I never even knew the CS45 existed. I LIKE the feel of the 6906, and this looks like a much smaller version of it. I don't suppose they still make them, but maybe I can find one on one of the forums.

Thank you Carb / PX15! I will attempt to find one to put a paw onto.

 

[basicblur]

I never even knew the CS45 existed.

Just be aware the thumb safety is "backwards"?
I've got a 4013TSW, and the only thing I don't like 'bout it is you have to swipe the thumb safety up, not down as a 1911.

Why in the world they designed it like this is beyond me? :banghead:

 

[arizonaguide]

YUP! they did the same thing on the Baby Eagles.
I LOVE the feel of the polymer baby eagle, but that backwards safety blew the purchase for me getting one.

At least the CS45 is a double action trigger, correct?
Hmmmmm...(thinking).

I wonder if they make a Blackhawk Serpa for the little CS45, or another (small) "retention" holster that covers the trigger well?

I carry a Double Action Revolver all the time (without a safety) and feel very comfortable with it in my Blackhawk Serpa. The HOLSTER itself acts as my safety...I even leave it in it at night by the bed, just for that reason. The SERPA is as much a part of my Jframe as the sites or the trigger for me now.
(love that thing!!!)

 

[PX15]

arizonaguide:

CS45's were being produced as late as 9/06, as that's when my CS45 was produced.

I bought it online with less than 50rds fired (reportedly) and in like new condition for I think it was $450 about 2 years ago.

I am very high on my CS45.. It (so far) has been absolutely reliable, and surprisingly accurate at any reasonable self defense range.

As to the concern by basicblur about the safety being a bit unusual that's not a factor for me for cc because I do NOT keep the safety on anyway.. I let the heavier 1st round DA trigger pull do that job for me.

Best Wishes,

jesse

P.S. Here's a photo of my CS45 (top) and CS9.

 

[arizonaguide]

Okay, I think I've got it narrowed down to the CS45 or the Kahr CW45.
I like the "double action" type trigger pulls, since I'm USED to my revolver.
Both small enough for the wife in a pinch.

As to the concern by basicblur about the safety being a bit unusual that's not a factor for me for cc because I do NOT keep the safety on anyway.. I let the heavier 1st round DA trigger pull do that job for me.

EXACTLY what I was thinking! (thanks PX!) Don't have to worry about the hammer catching on something either, just LIKE my shrouded revolver, almost. THIS could work!

 

[Averageman]

I am surprised no one has reccomended a H&K USP C.
Although by far not the smallest I find it a nice compromise in size and reliability in a .45.
I have found that most Women can handle a full sized auto or revolver with some time, training and patience. I think with the H&K USP C you just also get the convienance and reliability that will ensure She will carry it with comfort.

 

[arizonaguide]

With the typical Arizona clothes, it's got to be a small (3" - 3.5") barrel.

Don't get me wrong, we have bad weather also, just not very often.

For example, last week we had a situation in our back yard that was rather shocking.
...witness the wrath of mother natures fury in Arizona!!!...


So, most of the time it's gotta be a VERY small CCW rig.

 

[outerlimit]

They are still on the (slow) S&W website, so I have to assume they are still being produced. Especially since there's a good market for them. I might even have to take a closer look at these as I've always seen them around, but never paid them too much attention. I'm not a big fan of that safety. I could go for a decocker only version.

 

[kowenjr]

Wow, Did you seek shelter?

 

[arizonaguide]

Wow, Did you seek shelter?

EXACTLY! (he he LOL!) I just wanted to rub that in for folks back East right now!

Hey, I didn't know they were still produced. I've got to check out the S&W website! Thanks, Outerlimit.

 

[gym]

I have been seaching for the answer to this question for 40 years now. I finally got as close to the answer as I think I am going to get in a CS45. Although a little blocky, it is still smaller than my glock 30, with a saftey/decocker and a 7 round 6+1 capacity. I traded my G23 plus a whole lotta stuff for one. It's a small deadlly package, with hydrashocks, I would rather have 7 rounds of 45 than 10 rounds of 9mm.A clip is just a second away. If you hit your target with this gun, it will stay down. I have carried everything that you can imagine over 40 years of carrying, and I know that if I have to fire this cannon, the bad guy is going to be very uncomfortable even with a shoulder or leg hit. A 45 is just a heart stopper. If they made a 46 I would carry that. a 50 is just too big and not enough weapons to choose from let alone conceal.