FL-NC
Member
One that you shoot good with a light attached.
Which .45 for Bedside "Duty?"
- Thread starter Redcoat3340
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wnycollector
Member
I own a West German P220, a Beretta PX4 45 and a non TSW4566. All are superb pistols and don't think you would go wrong with any of them.
Anchorite
Member
I’m in agreement with 9mm epiphany here. I don’t favor the 1911 as a “primary,” in the waking-up scenario. I do have a 4506 and it’s an amazing full size 45 platform. Therefore the 4566 should be the bees knees. But the P220 is no slouch.
nettlle
Contributing Member
This 1911 has 27K through it, runs 100%, and is the most accurate pistol or revolver I own. It would be hard for me to come up with an argument for a better SD pistol to be on my bed stand. As far as safeties go I was trained to hunt fast moving game like quail, rabbits, and ruffed grouse with a loaded gun and the safety on. Flipping a safety off to me is just as instinctive as aiming. To me criticizing a gun because it has a safety is pretty weak.
It appears obvious that you either misread what I wrote about not using a 1911 as a bedside gun or you misunderstood it. There was no criticism of the presence of a thumb safety, but being able to flip off the safety instinctively would certainly be a contributing factor that I considered.
A tuned 1911 (Colt Combat Commander) was the first pistol I transitioned to when I changed over from carrying a revolver as a duty gun. I carried it until I switched to an H&K P7 for it's increased accuracy and safety during work. I have carried a Commander as an off-duty gun, I've also competed with it in Action Pistol matches, so I feel that I'm offering an opinion from a pretty strong foundation of experience
Nothing wrong with an Sig P220 whatsoever, Another option no one has mentioned is the FN545T. Very soft shooter, great sights, super accurate, optic and suppressor ready. And 18 rds of .45acp. I bought one earlier this year and it is a fantastic gun.
Tallball
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I own or have owned version of all the pistols mentioned. If the OP has a functional example of any of them, they would be fine.
Whichever one fits the OP's hand best and/or the OP shoots best.
Of the ones mentioned, I happen to shoot the Sig best, but it's probably just the shape of my hands.
This would be my choice for a 45acp nightstand gun.
Whichever one fits the OP's hand best and/or the OP shoots best.
Of the ones mentioned, I happen to shoot the Sig best, but it's probably just the shape of my hands.
This would be my choice for a 45acp nightstand gun.
Sistema1927
Member
I'm of the opinion that your bedside gun should be the one you have been carrying all day. If it is good enough to defend you in public, then it should be good enough to defend you at home.
jar
Contributing Member
Two in the quick-open safe by the bed with a half dozen loaded moon clips. One is a S&W Brazilian Contract while the other is a Colt Improved New Service.
Any reason why a .40 S&W Glock 23 (cost = about $535) wouldn't be a perfectly adequate bedside pistol? I have other more expensive pistols in .45 ACP and .357 Mag, but I'm in California and (God Forbid) I had to use it on an intruder the Police would take the pistol as "evidence" and I would probably never see it again. Not sure if that's a possibility in other States.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
EDC choices are often limited by the practical ability to carry something - so it's typically a compromise between the best option and the most practical option. I don't feel the need to limit my self-defense at home if I have a better option than my EDC.
Sistema1927
Member
That may have been true in the past, but in recent years it is no longer the case.
My Sig P365 rides in my pocket, 10+1, all day, every day, in a pocket holster. When it comes out of the pocket it goes on the night stand, along with an extra 17 round mag. If I need more than that, then there is a carbine nearby.
doubleh
Member
Remaining with the original question of bedside duty I consider my Ruger 1911 to be perfectly adequate. If 9 rounds of big ol' fat bullets at household range won't get the job done I will just bend over and kiss my rear end goodbye.
StrykerByte.45
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My bedside is my CCW. No need to be swapping guns when home, it's on me at all times until I go to bed.
Glock 30S, with modified trigger (since it seems important to you) it's at 4.0lbs non-stacking pull with short reset and 0 overtravel. It would be less than 4lbs with the OEM striker spring. All drop in parts.
45 is a good choice for HD, standard pressure ammo has the least amount of decibels, andhttps://youtu.be/PhX-6HOWhRQ?si=Aruako7CUpk7QogY in your home is very loud. People say it doesn't over penetrate, but that is BS. Use HP ammo and that reduces the chance of going into your neighbor's houses. I recommend planning your counter attack and plan to shoot downwards to prevent strays.
Glock 30S, with modified trigger (since it seems important to you) it's at 4.0lbs non-stacking pull with short reset and 0 overtravel. It would be less than 4lbs with the OEM striker spring. All drop in parts.
45 is a good choice for HD, standard pressure ammo has the least amount of decibels, andhttps://youtu.be/PhX-6HOWhRQ?si=Aruako7CUpk7QogY in your home is very loud. People say it doesn't over penetrate, but that is BS. Use HP ammo and that reduces the chance of going into your neighbor's houses. I recommend planning your counter attack and plan to shoot downwards to prevent strays.
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bannockburn
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Of the three pistols mentioned I would go with the SIG P220. My own choice of a handgun in this role is a SIG P229R 9mm. With the SRT, night sights, the E2 grip; along with a laser/light, I feel I'm fairly well equipped for home defense. I also like the first shot DA/SA design.
If I was looking to move up to a .45 the SIG would be my first choice.
If I was looking to move up to a .45 the SIG would be my first choice.
JR24
Member
Even so, something with a fatter grip like a Glock 17/19 (or 320, or M&P, or XD or whichever comparable duty/compact size you want) shoots much better in my hands. Faster times, tighter groups, better recoil management, plus a longer barrel for a little more velocity (for however much that might matter, debatable to be sure) and longer sight picture. Plus I like a WML on my night stand gun as an option alongside a handheld flashlight
All potential advantages that have nothing to do with just slapping a longer mag on it.
I prefer to keep the nightstand gun as a very similar type to my CCW (trigger type, thumb safety, etc) but do feel there’s an advantage to using a larger gun, so why not have it around if I’m not needing to carry it.
All that said, I’ve been carrying my Glock 21 lately since it’s fall and I’ve been shooting it and it’s not that hard to conceal with a good holster and a flannel. So right now the bedside and CCW are the same, though the Glock 19 is around if I want to go with just a T-shirt some days.
actionexpress
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Exactly, why limit yourself to your CCW for a home defense gun assuming it's a micro 9, 380, sub-compact, and etc. If it's a money factor, I can appreciate that. I'd never want my little 365 - or even my Macro for a home defense pistol as there are bigger, friendlier to shoot options.
md7
Member
I’d use my basic SA Mil Spec 1911 for defense without reservation. Thousands of rounds through and it just plain works. A well made 1911 can be useful.
But I would select the P220 from your list. Great pistol, and the one I’m most familiar with in your stated options.
Perhaps the Remington 1911 is good. I just have no knowledge of it, and it’d be dishonest to give you a seat of my pants opinion of it. Same with the others. I just don’t know enough to comment on them.
But I would select the P220 from your list. Great pistol, and the one I’m most familiar with in your stated options.
Perhaps the Remington 1911 is good. I just have no knowledge of it, and it’d be dishonest to give you a seat of my pants opinion of it. Same with the others. I just don’t know enough to comment on them.
fastbolt
Member
Do those 'choices' reflect what you already own?
Which one have you used to acquire the most range/trigger time?
Which one have you used to attend any formal training classes?
Which one can you shoot the best, using both dominant and non-dominant hand grips, 2 AND 1-handed, and get the fastest, most accurate hits?
There you go.
Me? I'm a long time 1911 shooter. My former agency issued both the 4006TSW & 4566TSW models. Both are fine, but the grip girths vary, because of the double v. single stack, as well as the .45ACP requiring a 'longer' grip (front/back).
I never developed a desire to own either the P220 or the newer PX4. Not saying they aren't fine, reliable choices for general service use. Just that I didn't care for them enough to spend my own money on them.
"Bigger" .45 bullets versus medium-size .40 JHP bullets? Both have earned enviable reputations among LE users in recent decades, especially with the more modern JHP designs being offered. In earlier decades it used to be that 5" barrels were needed to help older .45ACP JHP's expand, and the 4.25" Commander length (which is also the same length of the 4566TSW barrel) was considered 'iffy'. Well, newer JHP designs, lowering the threshold of the velocity window, have given us some better options in recent years. Although, FWIW, the 180gr .40 JHP was designed from the beginning to offer the potential for acceptable expansion when fired from a shorter barrel (4" M4006, released in '90), and that was using the original Winchester 180gr JHP, which was an old-style cup & core JHP. The newer designs have offered some improvements for both resisting plugging and still exhibiting robust expansion.
Take your pic.
If one of them makes you 'feel better' and have more (justified) confidence when using it, why not? It's just a handgun, chambered in one or another of the common defensive calibers.
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If you're stuck with those options, I'd go P220. If you're open to other options in .45 ACP, look at the CZ 97BD (no manual safety to have to disengage) or CZ 97B (manual safety version). Great gun. XD45 is nice, too.
For home defense, I'd want more capacity as multiple assailant home invasions are increasing and becoming the new norm. Better yet, have a rifle nearby and ready to go and use your pistol to get you there if need be.
BushMaster-15
member
You CAN'T go wrong . No trigger work necessary .
StrykerByte.45
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Best .45 hands down!
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I have a 1st gen Smith M&P45 with an Apex trigger in it. I like the pistol and shoot it every bit as well as any 1911 I ever owned. I like the idea of a manual safety and a mounted light on a nightstand gun.
I don't sleep any better with a 45 beside my bed than I would with a 9mm or 40. In fact if it weren't for the available 14 round mags, I'd have a 9 or 40 there for the ammo capacity vs only 10 rounds of 45.
But I like this gun and that is a good role for it. Top pistol in the pic. The bottom pistol is the compact version that takes 8 round mags. Or
the 10 and 14 round mags if I want to. Barrel and slide length are the same. I found both of these used and cheap a few years ago. The addition of the aftermarket triggers really help.
I don't sleep any better with a 45 beside my bed than I would with a 9mm or 40. In fact if it weren't for the available 14 round mags, I'd have a 9 or 40 there for the ammo capacity vs only 10 rounds of 45.
But I like this gun and that is a good role for it. Top pistol in the pic. The bottom pistol is the compact version that takes 8 round mags. Or
the 10 and 14 round mags if I want to. Barrel and slide length are the same. I found both of these used and cheap a few years ago. The addition of the aftermarket triggers really help.- Status
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