What are my options in a NON-1911 .45ACP?

[jrpeterman]

Sir Galahad:

I've owned a S & W 645 and currently a CZ-97B. Both guns never had a problem with reliable feeding and shooting. The S & W was bought used and the CZ was bought NIB. I've had experience firing the Sig P-22O, Glock 21, and Glock 36. All went bang as they should and are excellent pistol IMO. The posters have given a wide variety of pistol choices and price ranges. It all depends on how a particular gun fits, feels, and shoots for you. Start by looking at those in your price range that have features which appeal to you and try them out. Make it a process of elimination. That's what I did with my last .45 acp purchase. I wanted a non-1911 that was basically the same criteria as you with the exception of a pistol with a minimum 10 round magazine. It came down to the Glock 21 and the CZ-97B. The CZ was about $ 60.00 less than the Glock which wasn't a big deal, but the CZ fit better in my hand than the Glock. I have not been disappointed in my decision. The CZ's trigger is becoming quite nice after 500 rounds and dry firing about 1,000 times. Not as nice as the Sig P-220, but getting there.

 

[mcole]

you won't go wrong with the ruger p-97dc. accurate, never fail, feeds everything. one of the best kept secrets out there. mcole

 

[Sir Galahad]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I sure do appreciate your advice. I've decided on a Ruger P97!

 

[mcole]

ruger has a $40 rebate on all the p series pistols right now. buy from a authorized dealer and they have the coupon. send it in and ruger will send you a check for $40. now is a good time to buy. you won't regret the p97; it is really a great gun. mcole

 

[Shmackey]

I agree about the new-rollmark Colts. If you don't mind some sharp edges, they make sense for you.

The CZ-97 is nice, but my understanding is that it does sometimes need some help to feed JHPs.

 

[VG]

The extremely accurate, reliable, and reasonably priced SIG P220. Here a two tone shown with a WWII Remington Rand M1911A1.

 

[45R]

Sig 220 or Glock 30

Cant go wrong with a Sig and the Glock is small and very accurate.

 

[Matthew_Q]

Why not a 1911? Well, maybe you already have one and want a little variety. We'll let you slide, mmmkay?


Good suggestions so far. I'd throw my vote in for the CZ97. I don't own one, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! The frame is close to the same size as the 75b, which is close to the Beretta 92 or BHP. I've heard the 97b is crazy accurate and pretty easy on the recoil as it's kinda heavy. Probably less expensive than the Glocks, HKs and Sigs, to boot.

My next pistol will be a 75B, but sometime after that, I want to get a 97B to be it's big bore brother.

 

[.45Ruger]

The P97 is a great choice, it's not quite as big as the P90 and lighter but, still just as reliable and a great value to.

 

[greyhound]

I love my Ruger 97DC, but it IS very large. Don't know if you'd call it a brick or not....

 

[valnar]

This is probably not the answer you are looking for, but my vote goes for the Smith 625 revolver. It's the most fun you'll ever have shooting .45

Buy one in a 4" barrel and you immediately qualify for a bunch of different competition sports.

Robert

 

[Berg01]

Sig P220ST; HK USP Expert; Smith & Wesson 945; CZ 97B

 

[9x19]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I sure do appreciate your advice. I've decided on a Ruger P97!

Excellent choice... do let us know how the two of you get along.

 

[Pain]

Taurus Pt-145

** Pain Puts on his Flame-proof Vest**

Aside From the Frame Cracking Issue Which has been Fixed...3000 rnds Plus, without any further problems. For the Money (350.00) The PT-145 Millenium has been a Great Handgun in My opinion. It's Small easily concealable, Holds 10+1, DA, Lightweight, and accurate within the distance parameters I might be in, in a self defense situation. In other words I don't require it to be perfectly accurate over about 30 yards, because If I do ever have to use it, most likely it will be closer than that range, Unless I'm In some "hollywood movie" Style shootout Ducking Behind Cars and trading shots back and forth. Could happen but I doubt it. I did'nt buy it for target practice, I bought it for personal defense, of which it is very well suited for. Sure there are nicer guns out there, but they cost Alot more. Something of which I could'nt justify spending at the time when the Taurus had all the options I was looking for and left me a little extra left over to Buy the Wife something to smooth her over when she Finds out I just ( in her eye's Blew 350.00 for something that is made of Plastic . Maybe someday ( And I have been looking) I will Get a Colt Defender, Or the S&W Tactical .45. But Every one I find Is Outrageously Priced. I found a defender about 2 months ago for 535.00 I passed it up. I wish I had'nt because Now all the ones I find, Even the used ones are 700 and UP. I guess I have a few More amplifiers to build before I get me one. Im Fine with the Taurus, I feel i got my Money's worth.

 

[NapAttack]

Someone tell me it's not true. Someone actually makes a .45 acp that's not a 1911 platform? Blasphemy!!!

 

[Futo Inu]

clubsoda, I spoke with a Springfield rep today, and he said there are "presently no plans" to bring the XD out in .45 (or 10mm - whaddya expect) - but I agree that would be very very sweet if they did. Just don't get your hopes up. He says the European market doesn't buy .45s - the Europeans think the .40s&w is a massive bigbore, and can't imagine the need for anything bigger. I didn't bother to ask him what the H E double toothpick does that have to do with it, since Americans buy a hell of a lot more handguns than Europeans (don't we?). Of course, this particular rep may not know what the heck he's talking about. He did assure me, thankfully, that the XD WOULD eventually be out in a subcompact (3") in .40s&w, BUT it will be a year or more away - they're too busy - he says if they stop taking orders today on the subcompact nines, they wouldn't catch up on production til next summer.

And BTW, have you all forgotten, or did you just never learn, that friends don't let friends buy Ruger? One good way to ensure that the "industry" is on board behind all the gun bans is to give your money to those scum sucking traitorious @#$%-stains. Ruger does more to destroy your gun rights before 9am than S&W ever thought about doing in a decade. If you're going to get something big like that, get a real gun - get the CZ or the HK or Sig.

 

[Majic]

I have to also go with the Smith M25/625. These revolvers will shoot right along with any pistol as far as acuracy is concerned.

 

[CB900F]

Sir G;

I've got two suggestions that meet your criteria. The H&K USP compact and the Ruger P90. I own a compact, but in .40, utterly reliable, no problems whatsoever, at all, none. Same for the P90. The P90 is larger, has a poorer trigger & costs a lot less.

The USP trigger is not a paragon of excellence, I've got other .45's with much better trigger feel. Both of these triggers are certainly acceptable, just rating them one to the other. And at the price difference between the two, that's understandable.

900F