Which .45ACP for home defense?

dh1633pm said:
The HK45 is on sale at Eurooptic for $649. It’s what I got. Well that and an Sig P227. Happy with both. Yes the 227 is out of production. Got mine used.
Click to expand...
The ergonomics on the HK45 are fantastic - the ability to customize the grip is so nice. It's my downstairs HD pistol. I just wish they had more than 10-rd magazines available!
 
Colt 1991A1 in the bedroom, Sig 1911 Nightmare in living room, Springfield Armory Ronin 1911 in Dining room, Sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion in reloading room. House is pretty well covered.
 
I own DA/SA (PX4, P220 and several 3rd Gen S&W's), striker (P320, M&P) and DAO (Sig P250) 45acp pistols. All of my 45's would probably work as a bedside pistol. My personal preference is the full sized P250. I love that long smooth DAO trigger pull in a high stress situation that may occur in the middle of the night.
 
I am a CZ fan, but the discontinued CZ 97 is a bit big and for the prices I've been seeing them sell for lately, I'd rather get the HK USP. The Tanfoglios are similar, they only seem to make their more expensive target models in .45 anymore, and used EAA Witnesses are now going for about the price of the Beretta new.


At this point, I have narrowed it to the Beretta PX4 or the HK45. It is at the point where I've put each in my cart online at one point, but I haven't yet finalized it. I'm leaning slightly towards the Beretta. I like that it is a bit different with the overall look and the rotating barrel. The HK is a more conventional design, though a very well executed conventional design. Just going by how much I want the gun, I'd lean towards the Beretta even if the prices were the same (which, of course, they aren't). While the Beretta is definitely going to be a high quality gun, the HK is going to be even better, so that is keeping it in the running. While they are both high enough quality, I'd likely never have trouble from either, and I'd likely never wear either out, but the theoretical quality difference of the HK is nice. So, it is between the best in quality between the two (even though I'd likely never really have a problem with either) vs. the more interesting of the two.

I really need to just decide at this point since it probably doesn't really matter which I start with now. Based on past history I know what I'm likely going to do (its what I do nearly 4 out of 5 times where it is this close a decision)... I'm going to eventually pick one, but within 3-6 months I will want the other one enough too that I'll end up with both.
 
Last edited:
wnycollector said:
I own DA/SA (PX4, P220 and several 3rd Gen S&W's), striker (P320, M&P) and DAO (Sig P250) 45acp pistols. All of my 45's would probably work as a bedside pistol. My personal preference is the full sized P250. I love that long smooth DAO trigger pull in a high stress situation that may occur in the middle of the night.
Click to expand...
I used to own a P250 in .45 (until a few months ago) and for about a decade it was my bedside gun. I'm fine with the heavy DAO trigger in a revolver or for carry, and I was accurate enough with that trigger, but for home defense I eventually decided I wanted a nicer trigger and the better accuracy with quick follow up shots that comes with it.
 
King Medallion said:
Colt 1991A1 in the bedroom, Sig 1911 Nightmare in living room, Springfield Armory Ronin 1911 in Dining room, Sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion in reloading room. House is pretty well covered.
Click to expand...
I don't really do the one gun in every room thing... The .45 will be my bedside gun (when my bedside gun isn't a revolver, or more realistically, they'll both be by my bedside and I'll have a choice). The rest of the time, I usually have one of my carry guns on me when I'm still up and around inside the house.

clutch said:
Ruger P90DC in the bedroom. DA/SA decocking. It should do the job.
Click to expand...
If I remember right the Ruger has a 7 round mag. If I was going to do that, I'd stay with a 1911. A buddy had a P90 back in the day, and I do like it, it just doesn't fit what I want right now.
 
Out of your choices take the HK. That being said a G21 or G30 would also make a fine bed side weapon. I keep a G30 with 11 rounds at my desk. I have several 1911s in 45 but for desk and bed duty Glocks are so simple... YMMV and to each his own...
 
chaim said:
I don't really do the one gun in every room thing... The .45 will be my bedside gun (when my bedside gun isn't a revolver, or more realistically, they'll both be by my bedside and I'll have a choice). The rest of the time, I usually have one of my carry guns on me when I'm still up and around inside the house.
Click to expand...
That's ok, still have 6 rooms without. I don't carry in the house, don't need to. It's my safe place. If I need one, there is always one close by.
 
My bedside gun is an FNX .45 with red dot and light. I got it cheap because it is NOT the tactical model. But I looked pretty heavily at an M&P .45 because I like my Shield 45 so much.
 
chaim said:
If I remember right the Ruger has a 7 round mag.
Click to expand...
7 or 8 depending on the follower, but they were the same mag. The majority came with 8 rounders.

While there are P90's available on the used market, they are out of production and Ruger isn't supporting them anymore.
 
Night stand.. 16 shot Para Ord in 45 acp, 5" barrel, compensated. 6' away in master closet CMMG SBR, 8" barrel, suppressed 45 acp 25 shot. Can have a long conversation with either one! Of course hearing will be difficult with the Para so you will have to speak up :rofl:
 
It's in the desk.

WP_20180802_15_20_54_Pro-50.jpg

​
So, office defense.
 
JDeere said:
Out of your choices take the HK. That being said a G21 or G30 would also make a fine bed side weapon. I keep a G30 with 11 rounds at my desk. I have several 1911s in 45 but for desk and bed duty Glocks are so simple... YMMV and to each his own...
Click to expand...

SDGlock23 said:
Not on your list but I have a G21 Gen5 that is stupid accurate and absolutely reliable.
Click to expand...

I wasn’t gonna be the one to “break the ice”, but I definitely agree the polymer striker fire guns are just great choices. M&P, SA XDm, Walther PPQ, and Glock are all super reliable in .45ACP and beat all other choices but FN on capacity as far as I know.

And this new FN 545 is a super sweet gun!


fnamerica.com

FN 545™ MRD | FN® Firearms

Upgraded ergonomics make the FN 545 MRD a pleasure to handle, merging class-leading shootability with stopping power. Built with enduring accuracy in mind, shooters can mount their favorite red dot sight in minutes, adding pinpoint control on command. Complete with the high endurance striker and...
fnamerica.com fnamerica.com

And I must admit, FN has a kicking’ commercial:

youtu.be

FN 545 Tactical

Why does he carry an FN 545 Tactical? Because he can. 💪 Sub to our channel for more content or click below! INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/fn_america...
youtu.be youtu.be

But YMMV.
 
Last edited:
I'd prefer something with a light on it. A light will go alot further than a manual safety for preventing a mistake. Manual safeties don't slow anything down anyways as they're activated during the presentation. If I needed to reply on a switch because I didn't trust myself when woken up I'd probably get a bedside safe instead.
 
I'm a big fan of the FNX-45T. 15+1 with standard magazines and nice trigger and sights. If you have large hands it is the cat's meow. Put a suppressor on it and it's the cat's "rear end".
 
clutch said:
Ruger P90DC in the bedroom. DA/SA decocking. It should do the job.
Click to expand...
First pistol that came to my mind , 2nd being tbe P97 .. I have owned several of tbe P90’s, P97’s & P345’s
I caught the striker bug and tbey were traded off
I must sat the P97DC & P97DAO were my favorites.

The only 45acp bottom feeder I have is a 30S
Which is a great duel roll pistol..
 
chaim said:
I am selling a few guns (and have had some others sold). While I am paring down the collection a bit, it is more about refining the collection to be exactly what I want and need. For home defense, I prefer .38spl in revolvers and .45ACP in autos due to the slightly lower decibel levels vs. other effective defensive calibers (i.e. if I have to shoot them indoors in a home defense shooting, I want to do as little hearing damage as possible), and also since they are less likely to over penetrate than higher velocity rounds (important since I live in a townhouse with neighbors sharing walls on two sides of me and I live in a suburban area with neighbors just a short distance from the other two directions). I prefer 10 or more rounds in a home defense auto, and I prefer full size for my home defense gun (better sight radius, the longer barrel will marginally cut down the noise, less muzzle flip). I am fine with steel, aluminum or polymer, while it will be primarily a home defense gun (favoring steel), I might carry it occasionally in the winter when the mood strikes.

I am usually a fan of DA/SA, striker and DAO for carry guns. For home defense, I see the utility of a safety: slowing me down just a tad while I fully wake up to avoid tragic mistakes, and if I don't know there is a home invader until they are already over top of me and they get my gun before I'm awake, the attacker can't put my gun into use by simply pulling the trigger (worst case their not knowing the gun may buy me some time to do something, and best case they may not figure it out at all). Still, a safety isn't a necessity. I am older (50s) and this will primarily be used for HD and range use, so I'd prefer a DA/SA with a hammer.

Right now, when I use an auto as my bedside gun, it is a my S&W 1911SC (yes, it is an alloy Commander sized gun, not a full sized steel 1911, but it is my only 1911 that has been 100% reliable, and right now, all my .45ACP pistols are 1911s). I'd prefer something with more rounds, so I'm looking to replace it in that role, and I don't want a double stack 1911 (I want a more modern design... i.e. one that is less finicky and more likely to be closer to 100% reliable with most defensive ammo).


The three main choices I'm considering are:
  • HK45 (full size)
  • USP in .45 (full size)
  • Beretta PX4 in .45
The honorable mentions:
  • SAR K2 .45
  • S&W M&P .45
I'm leaning towards the PX4 because it should be as good a gun as the HKs, especially compared to the HK45, but it is about $150 less than the HK45. I'll probably go with the HK45 over the USP due to the nearly $300 price difference. Though, the 12 round mags in the USP would be nice, and from what I hear, it should have the best trigger of them all. The SAR K2 is interesting, and generally cheaper than the others, but remember the part where I'm refining my collection (I'm moving away from guns that just meet what I need from the gun, towards guns that not only do that but are more what I really want). Not to mention, with the rebate currently on the PX4, I may be able to get that for less than the K2, and both will net out very close in price. Also, I like the rotating barrel of the PX4 (in addition to just being something a bit different, it cuts back on recoil which can be a huge positive on a defensive gun... faster follow up shots). The M&P is a dark horse but in the running, it is striker fired but I shoot the M&P line well and the one I used to own was always 100% reliable.
Click to expand...
Ok so I'm not sure I buy the whole less noisey part to be honest. I've shot my 45 Auto 1911 with two different 45 Cal Suppressors and it was very loud. Like hurts my ears, loud.
 
This is where size and weight don't mean anything since this isn't for carrying, so I vote Hi Point. 9+1, accurate, reliable, and cheap.

Glock is a good choice too, they're on the large side, but again that doesn't matter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Which one is better?
Replies
5
Views
381
Nushif
N
A
  • Locked
HK USP .45 vs. HK45
Replies
16
Views
5K
Bergeron
B
jjones45
  • Locked
best of class
Replies
12
Views
633
jjones45
jjones45
C
  • Locked
Changing my home defense pistol
2
Replies
40
Views
1K
chaim
C
M
  • Locked
Hk45
Replies
11
Views
2K
MajorTom
M
Back
Top