What's a good .45 ACP Carry?

Status
Not open for further replies.
bang_bang

bang_bang

Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2006
Messages
1,136
Location
Elk Creek, Virginia
My brother has recently applied for his Concealed Weapons Permit and was wanting a .45 ACP to carry. I am not so up to date on good carry pistols and was wondering if some people could put their input in on what they carry chambered in the 45. He would prefer something small enough to compare to a 9mm but with the highest mag capacity as possible.
 
I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP. Not the highest capacity (7 + 1) but it's a weapon that I trust and am commfy with. I have a neighbor that bought the (I think) XPD that is 13 + 1, he does not like how "fat" the grip is.
 
Any .45 with more than 8 rounds will be a double stack magazine and will have a pretty good size grip.

I have small hands and I like the single stack magazine and I just carry an extra for just in case.

I carry the Ruger P345 cause I like a hammer on mine. I know, I know, I'm picky. LOL.
 
Stuff I've seen/shot/owned/drooled-over:

Glock 36 - Single stack .45acp, 6+1 capacity. Grip is very narrow and recoil is sharp into the palm as a result. Like all glocks I have shot, the trigger well is at a bad angle and my finger (the way my hands are built) rubs against the bottom of the well. G21 is simply too big to conceal... I own one and have several friends who also own one. G30 is pretty good, but the doublestack well still prints quite a bit without being inventive.

Various 1911's - Heavy in the government models, but the most concealable full sized pistol on the market, IMO. Were I to carry any 1911 made, I'd choose either the Kimber Ten II for its polymer frame (to lighten weight) or a Colt Commander with aluminum frame.

Smith & Wesson 25 and 625 - I'd carry one of these 45acp moonclipped wheelguns in a heartbeat.
 
The new M&P by S&W is comparable to a Government Model 1911 sizewise.

Smaller than that I would go with a Kahr, but you give up capacity for concealability. Another model is the Glock 36, but again, you give up capacity. The M&P is a 10 rounder. He could also look at a Glock 21 or 21 SF.

I'll be buying a new 1911 next year, but I don't recommend them for first time carriers, nor do I recommend anything less than a Commander length for reliability reasons. My Off-Duty 45 ACP right now, is a S&W 22-4 Revolver. :) If you read my post on this and other forums you will find that I'm partial to revolvers for a variety of reasons.

Another manufacturer that you might want to consider is the Para with it's LDA Trigger.

Biker
 
What's a good .45 ACP carry?

I carry a Sig P 220 SAS. It is a little on the large side but very comfortable in the hand. Bob
 
Kahr Arms now makes a very slim .45. I have no experience with it, and in general it seems like about 25% of Kahrs have to go back to the factory.
 
Here's another vote for the HK USP Compact. It is easily concealed with the aid of a good holster and, more importantly, is utterly reliable. I use a Milt Sparks Watch Six IWB holster.
 
just like to chime in that the 1911 type handguns typically have the slimmest grip and there for tend to be very concealable. I was at a fun show this past weekend and held a kimber ultra CDP...... sweet lord above. I know what my next pistol purchase will be. BEAUTIFUL and TINY.
 
PT145 small, light weight, eleven rounds of 45acp, lifetime warranty, single action with a 1911 type safety but has second strike capability. Mine has over a thousand rounds of factory and unknown number of cast bullet reloads through it with nary a bobble of any kind. It is smaller than most and extremely accurate. Around $350 most places.
 
Glock makes a compact 45, I believe it's the 30 or 33, can't remember. 10 rounds of .45ACP in a compact frame. It's a Glock, you can take it or leave it.

EDIT: It's the 30.
 
I'll take my Sig 220 Carry. Eight plus one to go and fits my hand the way I like 'em. Reliable, accurate, easy to field strip...

220_red_backgrd_Nov_10_2007_800.jpg
 
I carry the 5" barrel Sig GSR 1911 in a Serpa OWB holster, concealed under a jacket or openly when I don't need a jacket.
 
glock 36, 6+1 single stack is their best concealed offering, I prefer the g-27 40 s&w 10+1 with factory grip extention.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you call compact...

300px-GLOCK30.jpg

Glock 30: 10+1, and compact compared to the 21, their full-frame .45ACP. The 36 is smaller again, but the 30 is fine for CC unless you don't have a lot of room in your clothes for a gun.
 
1911A1 of some sort, with a beavertail and a set of Novak sights. nothing better.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top