ParChaser
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Are the AMT .45 Back Up and the Firestar M-45 the smallest semiauto auto loaders?
What is the Smallest .45 ACP Semi auto Pistol???
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MICHAEL T
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I belive the Colt Defender and the Kimber are the smallest. That AMT back up is fairly large and weights a ton. I know a Dealer that has 1 for 300 if interested. I had the star in 40 and it wasn't all that small either Also weighted a lot. I have a Colt Officer and a LTW Commander for carry today.
outerlimit
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Black Snowman
Member
Maybe not as small in some dimensions but very light and comfortable to both carry and shoot is the Glock 36. I just rented one at the range today and I'm going to pick one up as my new "little" CCW replacing my RAMI in 40 S&W. It's about the same weight, only slightly larger, and I can shoot it better. Plus, it has a slightly thinner grip and shoots a larger caliber.
I never could warm up to the chopped 1911s. To much re-engineering to make me feel comfortable with them. The 36 was designed from scratch to be a small 45 auto and the abused range rental I shot today ran great.
I never could warm up to the chopped 1911s. To much re-engineering to make me feel comfortable with them. The 36 was designed from scratch to be a small 45 auto and the abused range rental I shot today ran great.
MPanova
Member
Maybe not "the" smallest out of all the compact .45's but its the smallest 10+1 that I know of
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=40&category=Pistol
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=40&category=Pistol
I don't know what's the smallest, but I have bought a few small ones in the past such as the AMT .45 Backup and the Para Warthog. I can tell you one thing I learned. I can conceal a little more pistol than that, and a little more pistol is a LOT easier to shoot effectively. The AMT was a bellygun only, and the Warthog, aside from being the single most unreliable pistol I've ever owned, literally ate my hand alive when it managed to work. I moved up a tiny bit to an inexpensive Bersa Mini-Firestorm in .45 and have never looked back. The .45 ACP just doesn't seem to work that well in micro pistols.
markk
Member
check out the new Kahr P45
personally I dont like it but not for any good reason
But it sure is small
personally I dont like it but not for any good reason
But it sure is small
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
In The 80's
The Star PD was pretty darn small; but I imagine the Kahr of today would
be even smaller?
The Star PD was pretty darn small; but I imagine the Kahr of today would
be even smaller?
Can I say "Semmerling LM4".
But it's not an autoloader. I've never handled one, but I would like to see how fast it was to cycle the slide with your thumb after each shot.
The Semmerling XLM might take the prize, but good luck getting one.
But it's not an autoloader. I've never handled one, but I would like to see how fast it was to cycle the slide with your thumb after each shot.
The Semmerling XLM might take the prize, but good luck getting one.
few months: pm45
if you're a kahr guy.
Kahr PM45 will be a little slimmer in every dimension than the G36, and about 3oz lighter (but 5 vs 6 round and 3.14" vs 3.78" barrel).
I'll endorse the 36. Mines been great. IMO there's only so small you want to go w/a .45, or any pistol ftm before stretching the lower bounds of performance and reliability. I have a PM9, and would definitely not be interested in such a pistol chambered for .45.
The 36 comparatively is very shootable and accurate; and most importantly reliable. 20oz, 6+1, same sight radius as a 19/23 but a little slimmer. If you get one that works (mines been perfect but appernetnly some are not as fortunate ), it's an ideal carry .45. Definitely NOT carry alot shoot a little.
if you're a kahr guy.
Kahr PM45 will be a little slimmer in every dimension than the G36, and about 3oz lighter (but 5 vs 6 round and 3.14" vs 3.78" barrel).
I'll endorse the 36. Mines been great. IMO there's only so small you want to go w/a .45, or any pistol ftm before stretching the lower bounds of performance and reliability. I have a PM9, and would definitely not be interested in such a pistol chambered for .45.
The 36 comparatively is very shootable and accurate; and most importantly reliable. 20oz, 6+1, same sight radius as a 19/23 but a little slimmer. If you get one that works (mines been perfect but appernetnly some are not as fortunate
), it's an ideal carry .45. Definitely NOT carry alot shoot a little.From the PT145 recommendation, segway to the PT745 which is a tad narrower with a single stack magazine. I own a PT145 and its been a wunderpistol thus far with well over 2500 rounds in a little over a year. Never an issue, it has been quite impressive.
On the smaller side, the PM45 should be impressive when it arrives, but a handful. My neighbor has a PM40 and it's a 5+1 or 6+1 depending on which magazine you want to use with it, it comes with two. Not sure what the 45 will offer, but these Kahr pistols are quite small and make the PT145 look a bit big.
The small 1911's are nice, but I've never personally shot one. I have read of a lot of issues with a 3" barrel on a 1911 when it comes to reliability, almost all of it here on THR.
On the smaller side, the PM45 should be impressive when it arrives, but a handful. My neighbor has a PM40 and it's a 5+1 or 6+1 depending on which magazine you want to use with it, it comes with two. Not sure what the 45 will offer, but these Kahr pistols are quite small and make the PT145 look a bit big.
The small 1911's are nice, but I've never personally shot one. I have read of a lot of issues with a 3" barrel on a 1911 when it comes to reliability, almost all of it here on THR.
orionengnr
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Hmm...me too. Doesn't mean they didn't happen, but my experience has been different.
My alloy framed 1911 is light (24 oz), compact, reliable.
My Kahr P45 is lighter (18 oz), just as compact, and just as reliable.
PM45, you say? Got my attention. I look forward to seeing what Kahr can do with the P45.
Bersa?
http://www.bersafirearmsusa.com/images/pistols/bersa_thunder45_large.jpg
I believe this is one of the smallest. I saw one of these at a local gun store and put it next to my PT145 and it was smaller, not by much, but it was!
http://www.bersafirearmsusa.com/images/pistols/bersa_thunder45_large.jpg
I believe this is one of the smallest. I saw one of these at a local gun store and put it next to my PT145 and it was smaller, not by much, but it was!
ZeSpectre
Member
I have to agree with MPanova and Jeepmor. The Taurus Millennium Pro PT-145 is probably the smallest/lightest .45ACP out right now that I would recommend.
(The Kahr may be smaller but I will admit to a personal prejudice against Kahr arms so I will never recommend them.)
Ask TinyGnat219 about it, he's owned the 745 which he sold to buy the higher capacity PT-145.
The size difference between the 745 and the PT-145 is so small it hardly matters, but having the 10+ capacity of the PT-145 is well worth a couple of millimeters in my book.
(The Kahr may be smaller but I will admit to a personal prejudice against Kahr arms so I will never recommend them.)
Ask TinyGnat219 about it, he's owned the 745 which he sold to buy the higher capacity PT-145.
The size difference between the 745 and the PT-145 is so small it hardly matters, but having the 10+ capacity of the PT-145 is well worth a couple of millimeters in my book.
The Bersa is small, and I certainly like mine (quite accurate and reliable), but it is heavy. So heavy that when I acquired my M&P40c (which holds 3 more rounds, albiet of a smaller caliber), the M&P became my primary compact carry, and the Bersa became a safe queen/range gun.
One other thing I don't like about the Bersa - you cannot carry cocked and locked. The safety is a decocker, but not in the way a USP safety decocks (up is safe, down is decock). For the Bersa, putting the safety on automatically decockes the pistol.
One other thing I don't like about the Bersa - you cannot carry cocked and locked. The safety is a decocker, but not in the way a USP safety decocks (up is safe, down is decock). For the Bersa, putting the safety on automatically decockes the pistol.
Wes Janson
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I don't remember dimensions offhand, but I think the Kimber RCP might be slightly smaller in certain dimensions, specifically width and maybe length.
Haycreek
Member
Smallest .45 ACP
The Detonics "Combat Master" has a 3 1/2 inch barrel , six in the mag, and is likely the best, most dependable, sub compact ever made. The sub compact has some features that other don't have. Check out the detonics Combat Master. I know ot two that has over 20,000 rounds with no malfunctions, and has the original recoil springs. [three, counterwound coil recoil spring, fully captured on the guiderod} Note that Kimber reccomends a change every 8,000 Rounds !
The Detonics "Combat Master" has a 3 1/2 inch barrel , six in the mag, and is likely the best, most dependable, sub compact ever made. The sub compact has some features that other don't have. Check out the detonics Combat Master. I know ot two that has over 20,000 rounds with no malfunctions, and has the original recoil springs. [three, counterwound coil recoil spring, fully captured on the guiderod} Note that Kimber reccomends a change every 8,000 Rounds !
Haycreek
Member
Smallest .45 ACP
No MIM parts in the Detonics !
No MIM parts in the Detonics !
jaybar
Member
Its not quite a semi-auto, but ........
Ok so its a single-shot but just imagine lighting off a a hardball round in this little rascal!! http://members.aol.com/wsp45/index.html
Ok so its a single-shot but just imagine lighting off a a hardball round in this little rascal!! http://members.aol.com/wsp45/index.html
jaybar said:
I can't help but think anybody would be better off with a decent pocket knife than something like that. It's not like you could really count on hitting someone from more than 5 feet away with that thing, and you've only got one shot.
Seriously, when I was looking at super-small guns, I ended up just getting a CRKT M16-14Z. At 5" closed, it seems pretty huge by knife standards, but it weighs 6 oz. and fits in your pocket easily. It's like a belly gun, but more accurate and it has unlimited ammo.
I'm just not comfortable even thinking of anything smaller than say a Kel-Tec PF-9 that I can actually grip with my whole hand.
I think people forget there are other things besides guns to defend yourself with. If it's not a gun that actually shoots well, I'd feel safer with pepper spray.
Plumber576
Member
Para warthog? 10+1?
SniperStraz
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tostada said regarding the WSP:
+1 tostada. Evetually we come to a point where we've circled back around and uninvented our inventions. I think some people have forgotten why the firearm was needed in the first place. Once I'm already at bad breath distances I'll either use a real gun that can buy me some distance or else I'll protect myself with a knife. That WSP can only really be used at contact distances anyway. May as well be a knife.
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