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Tallball
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Suggestions for 45acp Pocket Pistol
- Thread starter Tallball
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Years ago I had a Colt Defender (bought new) and it threw brass at my head hard enough that it cut.
I sent it to Colt hoping they could fix that*, weeks later I got it back and it still threw brass at my head.
I contacted Colt customer service and the person I spoke to blamed my grip; I explained that I had a Kimber Ultra (two of them) and a Colt Lightweight Commander none of which threw brass at my head, so apparently I grip those okay. She still blamed my grip.
I was so infuriated by her blaming me that sold every Colt I had. (Analogy: Colt was Bud Light and she was the condescending unapologetic Bud Light VP)
About 10 years later I reluctantly bought a Delta Elite which doesn't throw brass at my head, but allows brass to bulge whereas my 10mm Ruger & Kimber 1911's don't nor does my Glock 20. I suppose I'm holding the Delta wrong which is allowing the brass to bulge (sarcasm).
*In before I could have adjusted the extractor, I should not have had to; even if I did fix it, I was so agitated at Colt after that phone call it did not matter.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
Well, I had a gen 3 Glock 21 (not SF) that was roughly the same dimensions as my G19 -- except for weight. I guess that means it qualifies as borderline compact rather than pocket-sized, unless you're talking trench coat pockets.
It shot very well and comfortably in my hands, but I eventually sold it because it was too heavy for my method of CCW (undershirt holster.) The weight of the unloaded pistol was OK, but once you added a loaded 10-shot magazine plus the spare, my clothes sagged visibly and gave the game away. I hadn't considered how much .45 ACP ammo weighs.
It shot very well and comfortably in my hands, but I eventually sold it because it was too heavy for my method of CCW (undershirt holster.) The weight of the unloaded pistol was OK, but once you added a loaded 10-shot magazine plus the spare, my clothes sagged visibly and gave the game away. I hadn't considered how much .45 ACP ammo weighs.
Kahr PM45 - Mine has been 100% reliable since day 1. As with all new guns I clean it dry, rack the slide several 100 times, oil it then take it to the range for the first time. This gun is too big for me to easily draw from the majority of my pants pockets so I usually carry it IWB.
XDs 45 - I have had this gun for several years. It is very reliable. It is bigger than the Kahr PM45 and does not fit in my pocket. I prefer the smaller size of the PM45 for carrying so the XDs is stashed in my car as a backup. I have mod 1 of this gun and the grip texture is very course bumps that are spaced far apart and very not comfortable when shooting. The bumps dig into my palm. I put Talon grips on and it was nit much better. I then put a bicycle inner tube on the grip and it is much better. The XD mod 2 has a MUCH nicer grip texture which is very secure without digging into your hand.
Heizer PKO 45 - Vaporware. I have been looking for one of these pistols for years! I think some copies have been sent out to reviewers but I have NEVER seen one for sale, ever! They don't even come up on GunBroker.
DoubleTap 45: I shot one once. It was not nearly as bad as the online reviews and feedback had me believing. It is a handful though. I believe the company went out of business and I have not seen the 45acp version come up on the used market in several years. I should have bought one when they were being closed out but a bad review online made me pass at the time. I should have known better than to listen to a single review. -- This is the only REAL POCKETABLE .45acp that I am aware of and it is limited to 2 shots like a classic Derringer.
PM45 vs Glock 26 - The PM45 is noticeably shorter, narrower and lighter than my Glock 27 (.40 S&W) but with a longer handle and I prefer bigger bullets to more rounds. I have always believed it is the first shot that counts so I want to do maximum damage with the first shot. If I get through 7 rounds and the threat isn't eliminated I figure I will probably already be dead anyways.
All of these smaller pocket pistols with larger cartridges are a handful to shoot. I have found that with practice I can become very proficient with any of them. I believe many people only put one magazine through these small pistols and decide it is not for them without ever taking the time to acquaint themselves to the pistols idiosyncrasies and become proficient. I remember 40 years ago when I shot a pistol for the first time, I thought the Bersa 380 was gnarly and there was no way I would ever get used to it. It is a process...
The largest pistol I can carry in the majority of my pockets and still be able to draw it effectively is the DB9. I would love to have a .45 acp that works for my pockets.
XDs 45 - I have had this gun for several years. It is very reliable. It is bigger than the Kahr PM45 and does not fit in my pocket. I prefer the smaller size of the PM45 for carrying so the XDs is stashed in my car as a backup. I have mod 1 of this gun and the grip texture is very course bumps that are spaced far apart and very not comfortable when shooting. The bumps dig into my palm. I put Talon grips on and it was nit much better. I then put a bicycle inner tube on the grip and it is much better. The XD mod 2 has a MUCH nicer grip texture which is very secure without digging into your hand.
Heizer PKO 45 - Vaporware. I have been looking for one of these pistols for years! I think some copies have been sent out to reviewers but I have NEVER seen one for sale, ever! They don't even come up on GunBroker.
DoubleTap 45: I shot one once. It was not nearly as bad as the online reviews and feedback had me believing. It is a handful though. I believe the company went out of business and I have not seen the 45acp version come up on the used market in several years. I should have bought one when they were being closed out but a bad review online made me pass at the time. I should have known better than to listen to a single review. -- This is the only REAL POCKETABLE .45acp that I am aware of and it is limited to 2 shots like a classic Derringer.
PM45 vs Glock 26 - The PM45 is noticeably shorter, narrower and lighter than my Glock 27 (.40 S&W) but with a longer handle and I prefer bigger bullets to more rounds. I have always believed it is the first shot that counts so I want to do maximum damage with the first shot. If I get through 7 rounds and the threat isn't eliminated I figure I will probably already be dead anyways.
All of these smaller pocket pistols with larger cartridges are a handful to shoot. I have found that with practice I can become very proficient with any of them. I believe many people only put one magazine through these small pistols and decide it is not for them without ever taking the time to acquaint themselves to the pistols idiosyncrasies and become proficient. I remember 40 years ago when I shot a pistol for the first time, I thought the Bersa 380 was gnarly and there was no way I would ever get used to it. It is a process...
The largest pistol I can carry in the majority of my pockets and still be able to draw it effectively is the DB9. I would love to have a .45 acp that works for my pockets.
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Dan-O
Member
Id go the small kahr route, or a charter bulldog in .44 special. One shot less than a kahr, but similar performance between the two imho
a negative recommendation: 45acp bond arms derringer. even with larger grips (that move it away from pocket carry) i don’t enjoy it all. same with 357mag. 45lc (and 45schofield) is way less unpleasant in a b.a. derringer compared to 45acp.
Mark_Mark
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was it a stainless Colt with one factory mag and one WC mag? because I might have git your old colt! lolYears ago I had a Colt Defender (bought new) and it threw brass at my head hard enough that it cut.
I sent it to Colt hoping they could fix that*, weeks later I got it back and it still threw brass at my head.
I contacted Colt customer service and the person I spoke to blamed my grip; I explained that I had a Kimber Ultra (two of them) and a Colt Lightweight Commander none of which threw brass at my head, so apparently I grip those okay. She still blamed my grip.
(Analogy: Colt was Bud Light and she was the condescending unapologetic Bud Light VP)
About 10 years later I reluctantly bought a Delta Elite which doesn't throw brass at my head, but allows brass to bulge whereas my 10mm Ruger & Kimber 1911's don't nor does my Glock 20. I suppose I'm holding the Delta wrong which is allowing the brass to bulge (sarcasm).
*In before I could have adjusted the extractor, I should not have had to; even if I did fix it, I was so agitated at Colt after that phone call it did not matter.
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Tallball
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Kahr PM45 - Mine has been 100% reliable since day 1. As with all new guns I clean it dry, rack the slide several 100 times, oil it then take it to the range for the first time. This gun is too big for me to easily draw from the majority of my pants pockets so I usually carry it IWB.
XDs 45 - I have had this gun for several years. It is very reliable. It is bigger than the Kahr PM45 and does not fit in my pocket. I prefer the smaller size of the PM45 for carrying so the XDs is stashed in my car as a backup.
Heizer PKO 45 - Vaporware. I have been looking for one of these pistols for years! I think some copies have been sent out to reviewers but I have NEVER seen one for sale, ever! They don't even come up on GunBroker.
View attachment 1160730
DoubleTap 45: I shot one once. It was not nearly as bad as the online reviews and feedback had me believing. It is a handful though. I believe the company went out of business and I have not seen the 45acp version come up on the used market in several years. I should have bought one when they were being closed out but a bad review online made me pass at the time. I should have known better than to listen to a single review. -- This is the only REAL POCKETABLE .45acp that I am aware of and it is limited to 2 shots like a classic Derringer.
View attachment 1160728
PM45 vs Glock 26 - The PM45 is noticeably shorter, narrower and lighter than my Glock 27 (.40 S&W) but with a longer handle and I prefer bigger bullets to more rounds. I have always believed it is the first shot that counts so I want to do maximum damage with the first shot. If I get through 7 rounds and the threat isn't eliminated I figure I will probably already be dead anyways.
All of these smaller pocket pistols with larger cartridges are a handful to shoot. I have found that with practice I can become very proficient with any of them. I believe many people only put one magazine through these small pistols and decide it is not for them without ever taking the time to acquaint themselves to the pistols idiosyncrasies and become proficient. I remember 40 years ago when I shot a pistol for the first time, I thought the Bersa 380 was gnarly and there was no way I would ever get used to it. It is a process...
The largest pistol I can carry in the majority of my pockets and still be able to draw it effectively is the DB9. I would love to have a .45 acp that works for my pockets.
Thank you very much for the long and thoughtful post. It seems like the Kahr and Springfield are the only ones that I'm likely to run across that are borderline pocketable. I'll see if I can handle them in the near future.
My LGS has the small 45acp Glock in the used gun case. I'll go hold it later today.
Thank you everyone for the kind suggestions. I hope to get something this coming week. I'm thinking I'll be able to shoot it well enough for SD. I shoot the PT145 okay (sproingy trigger and all), and it's not much larger than the pistols I'm looking at. (I like having small, medium, and large handguns in all of the common calibers.) Shooting small pistols in duty calibers is a good way to work on the basics. Feedback is immediate because it hurts if you do it wrong.
I won the PT145 for a bid of $201. It's not going to fit in many pockets and it's heavy when fully loaded, but it does go bang every time.
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The Defender I had was a two tone Night Defender Talo.
Gun-Reck
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Would consider the .45 ACP, for "pocket carry," a bridge too far.
Carry the slimline 6+1 Glock G36 .45 ACP in an IWB 3:30 holster, and shoot it very well.
At 27 ounces all up, would not want to go any smaller or lighter.
Prefer the Sig P938 9mm for the pocket.
Better size and weight, and a manual safety.
Carry the slimline 6+1 Glock G36 .45 ACP in an IWB 3:30 holster, and shoot it very well.
At 27 ounces all up, would not want to go any smaller or lighter.
Prefer the Sig P938 9mm for the pocket.
Better size and weight, and a manual safety.
Mark_Mark
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
My suggestion would be, the S&W CS45 if you can find one. That is a small but very reliable 45 ACP pocket pistol.
Not my gun. I don't know the site, I just did a search to show the gun.
https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Smith-Wesson/Pistol/CS45-(Chiefs-Special)/45-Auto/Variant-1
Not my gun. I don't know the site, I just did a search to show the gun.
https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Smith-Wesson/Pistol/CS45-(Chiefs-Special)/45-Auto/Variant-1
For me, the largest gun I want to pocket carry is a Ruger LCP Max, and even it is a little thicker than is ideal.
So, what I am saying is there is no such thing as a 45 caliber pocket pistol. There are some that are small enough you can cram them into a pocket, but it is either going to be obvious you have a pistol in your pocket, or its going to be so tight that drawing it will be difficult, or both.
There are some caveats to my opinion. I don’t wear baggy pants like a gang member, and I don’t wear cargo pants or shorts because they look terrible and have no style. I also am not counting derringers, as I do not want to have to rely on 2 shots in a self defense situation. So depending on how you dress, and whether you are willing to carry a 2 shot pistol, well then for you there may be other options that I would not consider.
So, what I am saying is there is no such thing as a 45 caliber pocket pistol. There are some that are small enough you can cram them into a pocket, but it is either going to be obvious you have a pistol in your pocket, or its going to be so tight that drawing it will be difficult, or both.
There are some caveats to my opinion. I don’t wear baggy pants like a gang member, and I don’t wear cargo pants or shorts because they look terrible and have no style. I also am not counting derringers, as I do not want to have to rely on 2 shots in a self defense situation. So depending on how you dress, and whether you are willing to carry a 2 shot pistol, well then for you there may be other options that I would not consider.
I won the PT145 for a bid of $201. It's not going to fit in many pockets and it's heavy when fully loaded, but it does go bang every time.
even with transfer costs and gb’s junk fees this is a solid win. you are now on the hook for a shooting range review…cheers,
DeepSouth
Random Guy
I pocket my PM45, it’s my primary carry gun. I also have the Heizer/double tap derringer, it’s definitely small, thin, and light but the recoil is painful to say the least.. It’s also extremely ammo picky, it literally comes with a full page of ammo recommendations, some that work and some to stay away from. I’ve never had any problems but I’ve only ever fired wwb fmj’s and gold dots with it, both of which were on the “approved” list.
I highly recommend the PM45 if you want something that’s reasonably pocketable and reasonably shootable. Recoil on it really isn’t bad, I have shot 500+ rounds with mine in a day before. You will need large pockets, but it’s definitely possible.
I highly recommend the PM45 if you want something that’s reasonably pocketable and reasonably shootable. Recoil on it really isn’t bad, I have shot 500+ rounds with mine in a day before. You will need large pockets, but it’s definitely possible.
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Tallball
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The modern version is called a 625. I also have a CA Pit Bull in 45acp and a Ruger Blackhawk with a 45acp cylinder.
You're right, they're amazing revolvers. I shoot the 625 a LOT.
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Tallball
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TY. When I bought it, my hand was broken and my friend shot it for me. There's a funny range review here on THR if you search for it. Someone let the stainless steel slide rust pretty bad, and then buffed the pitting off so hard-core that the slide serrations got a bit rounded. Other than that, it's a good shooter. If I need a small/medium sized 45acp belt pistol, it's good to go.
Although I carry a few of my handguns and shoot pretty much all of them, I'm kind of a collector. I don't have a pocket pistol in 45acp, so I'd like to get one. I have the money on hand to afford something that's not outrageous. Practicing with it will be fun. If I never end up actually carrying it, that's okay.
Before my recent long illness, I could shoot my PM40 adequately with the flush mag and no pinky extension. I've been regaining my strength and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to handle a slightly milder cartridge in a slightly larger pistol. Thank you to those who expressed concern.
In this thread I discover that my daily attire "looks terrible and has no style".
However, around here in FL, I'm not the only one.
And I complete the eye offending look with a untucked shirt.
I may have "no style" but I am carrying a decent gun and a pocket gun too.
LOL how old are you? Under 40 would be my guess.
Over 40 - no ___'s are given about trying to look stylish.
Mid 50s, live in GA, and summer temperatures are usually in the 90s.
Carry Sig P365 XL or Glock 19 on belt when attire permits, Ruger LCP Max in pocket when I have to.
Didnt mean to offend anyone who wears baggy pants or cargos, I am sure you have your reasons, but it’s common knowledge that those two clothing items are not associated with style but rather comfort or perhaps function.
Carry Sig P365 XL or Glock 19 on belt when attire permits, Ruger LCP Max in pocket when I have to.
Didnt mean to offend anyone who wears baggy pants or cargos, I am sure you have your reasons, but it’s common knowledge that those two clothing items are not associated with style but rather comfort or perhaps function.
Where do you keep your huge cell phone, wallet, reload, knife, and keys in those non-cargo pocket stylish shorts of yours? I personally hate sitting on my wallet or cell phone.
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Tallball
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Same. Cargo shorts or pants sure are easier for carrying my phone, handgun, knife, wallet, keys, etc.
Cell phone goes in hip pocket. I use one of those metal wallets that is very small and goes in left front pocket, along with keys. I keep my keys thinned down so they cannot be used as a boat anchor. I don’t carry a reload if I pocket carry. If I am carrying on belt, then reload is on belt. Knife is Kershaw Scallion, clipped inside left front pocket. That leaves my right front pocket open for LCP Max, and to minimize space it takes up in front pocket I use a minimalist trigger guard holster made by clip draw
If you don’t let your wallet balloon to the size of a file cabinet, and keep your keys thinned down to what you use daily, you will have a lot more room.
