Best .45 options
I am researching my first handgun purchase. I am a firearms owner for hunting purposes but am looking to expand my collection into handguns.
I am looking for a home defense/concealed carry/personal protection gun and have decided to most likely go with a .45. I was originally looking at the .40's but have read on many sights that they have only nominal stopping power over the 9mm. So far I have decided that the parameters I want are a
mid-sized frame, 25 oz or less preferable in a 3.5" barrel or so. I want good concealability and I want my wife to be able to handle it, but have relatively large hands so don't want to go too small. An extended magazine to fit my hands is exceptable to me unless you
guys advise otherwise.
compensated barrel
single and double action
I am not too picky about finish, nor am I brand loyal. Also I am not sure if I want or need the decock action or not. I am looking to spend around $500 or less if possible. Am I on the right track for the use I want to fill, and can you guys advise me as to some of my options?
I am looking for a home defense/concealed carry/personal protection gun and have decided to most likely go with a .45. I was originally looking at the .40's but have read on many sights that they have only nominal stopping power over the 9mm. So far I have decided that the parameters I want are a
mid-sized frame, 25 oz or less preferable in a 3.5" barrel or so. I want good concealability and I want my wife to be able to handle it, but have relatively large hands so don't want to go too small. An extended magazine to fit my hands is exceptable to me unless you
guys advise otherwise.
compensated barrel
single and double action
I am not too picky about finish, nor am I brand loyal. Also I am not sure if I want or need the decock action or not. I am looking to spend around $500 or less if possible. Am I on the right track for the use I want to fill, and can you guys advise me as to some of my options?
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BTW used guns are also a perfectly viable option, so feel free to list guns that may be out of my qouted price range as long as depreciation could potentially alloww them to fall to it. 0 -
It's hard to conceal a .45. If you get one, you'll probably carry it for 2 weeks, then start leaving it behind. Chances are, your wife won't like it, either. My advice would be to get 2 guns--one to conceal, and one for when you can maneuver more freely. A .38 will do fine for the first, and will be carried more often. If you want a .45 to hunt with and defend the house, then go for it. Just don't be looking for a "magic bullet".
O Lord,
grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can,
and the supreme firepower to make the difference.0 -
Thanks for the info I will definately take it into consideration, although I started to think I was getting advice from an alcoholic when I read your quote. Do you have any preferences to add regarding teh gun that I outlined. Concealment will probably be my least important use. I will probably only do it on rare occasion when I venture somewhere into unfamiliar territory. 0 -
I appologize for multiposting everything but I keep remembering things I want to say after I hit the button. Do you think that the .45 will be too much for the wife even with the compenated barrel? How much difference will there be because she will be learning to shoot a handgun with this purchase and won't know anything different. I fugured what she learns with will be what she's used to as long as its not unbearable. 0 -
I have two .45 ACP's. The first is my carry and it is a Kimber Pro CDP II (CDP - custom defense package) and it is a fine weapon, a bit pricey, but for an out of the box shooter... it is great.
My other .45 ACP is a S&W 1911 PD with laser grips. This was my alternate carry, but my wife took it and uses it as hers.... the laser grips sold her.... and she is a small woman but can handle the gun fine.
"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it." Lord Chesterfield0 -
Ruger P345
Springfield .45GAP
Kimber
Para Ordanance CCW .45 God is good. God is great.
Only God can make a Boatswain's Mate!0 -
I have shot competition with .45'. I have also had a couple of experieces that we won't go into. The full size 1911's are hard to beat when things go wrong. The main thing problem I have with the lightweigts are the recoil of a .45 with full power loads and the lack of weight to help control that recoil. I would not want a conpensated .45 as a house defense gun either-try one out in a low light situation one time and you will see what I am talking about. The muzzle flash is bad enough with an uncompensated barrel but it is really pronounced with a conpensated barrel. Your wife can learn to shoot a .45 just fine. Start her out with reduced loads and work very slowly up to the full power loads. If you have not shot a great deal I would also recommend the same course for you. It is all a matter of putting a big fat slug where you want it and that takes practice--and a lot of it. When you can put 6 full power .45 bullets into a 8" pie plate at 12 yards-from a draw-in 5 seconds or less--then and only then can you feel really comfortable that you can get the job done when all else fails. What I want is a basic 1911 .45acp that has benn smoothed and made dead reliable by a good gunsmith such as Novak, Brown, Wilson, or one of several others that can do such work. Basic equipment, reliability and proficiency wins over whistle and bells intended for games. My experience anyway. I and a friend of mine shot our way into Master Class in the early days of Combat Matches(later called by the politically correct name of IPSC) with pistols that would be laughed at by most shooters in a gun shop, none adjustable sights, very worn blueing, and no compensators, no extended slide releases,no beaver-tail or amib-dexterous safties or extended safety. Having said all this, the best house defense gun is a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with a 18" barrel and open choke(cylinder bore or no shoke at all). They sure don't conceal very well though. My carry gun is a .45 acp revolver by S&W that has been smoothed and polished to make it reliable and quick to get out. I offer this as an attempt to help you based on my experience. Others may have other opinions or experiences. 0 -
I appreciate the info. I had definately not thought about low light applications of a compensated barrel, but it sure makes sense. I guess that is why you get advise from the experts. I guess the bottom line is that I am a versatility kind of guy. I own a pump action 12 gauge with interchangeable chokes because it can feasably be used for just about any shotgun application. I own a 30-06 for deer hunting. I know it is overkill for the hunting that I currently do, but it can be used for bigger game if the opportunity arrises. I really just want to get the most versatile hand-gun I can to start my arsenol with. Do you have a better idea to start with than the .45 altogether, or am I on the right track and just need to adjust my parameters. 0 -
Read up on the new Springfield .45GAP. It is the latest and best answer to all your requirements (except that thing about the compensated barrel, and you don't want that anyway). All the reviews that I have read on it have been really good. It is pricey,
but it packs the same power as a .45 ACP, but in a smaller round, thus a smaller pistol.
For under $500.00, the Springfield .45 Micro Compact, G.I. model can be had, is small enough for CCW and reliable and accurate. Comes with a lifetime warranty and a great factory coupon for extra mags and much more at a very reduced price. There are a dozen or more regular sellers on Gunbroker that offer them, and it's the best way to buy one.
Frog.
RiBBButt...You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you've a mind to.0 -
I carry a Para P-13. $550 with 13 rnds of .45. My girlfriend has small hands and she handles it fine. 0 -
I have looked at the gap a little the issue that I was worried about is the different round. I am always concerned that a new round will not take hold, and wont build enough of a buyer base to bring the price per round down to a competitive level. Do you think that the GAP will catch on enough to make the ammo affordable in the long run? 0 -
Maybe yes maybe no but you will always find a mom and pop shop that will reload some for pennies on the dollar. God is good. God is great.
Only God can make a Boatswain's Mate!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Pinhead
I have shot competition with .45'. I have also had a couple of experieces that we won't go into. The full size 1911's are hard to beat when things go wrong. The main thing problem I have with the lightweigts are the recoil of a .45 with full power loads and the lack of weight to help control that recoil. I would not want a conpensated .45 as a house defense gun either-try one out in a low light situation one time and you will see what I am talking about. The muzzle flash is bad enough with an uncompensated barrel but it is really pronounced with a conpensated barrel. Your wife can learn to shoot a .45 just fine. Start her out with reduced loads and work very slowly up to the full power loads. If you have not shot a great deal I would also recommend the same course for you. It is all a matter of putting a big fat slug where you want it and that takes practice--and a lot of it. When you can put 6 full power .45 bullets into a 8" pie plate at 12 yards-from a draw-in 5 seconds or less--then and only then can you feel really comfortable that you can get the job done when all else fails.
I agree with Pinhead. I would recommend you get a full size 1911, preferably Kimber or a higher end Springfield Loaded. The smaller 1911's and other style 45's are harder to shoot well with. They have some serious flip to them. There is really no recoil with 45acp out of a fulsize gun. When you start going to compact 45's you get recoil and muzzle flip.
I have taught easily 100 men women and children to shoot my fulsize 1911 Colt Series 70. The best 1st time shooters with it were women. One in particular was my friend's mother. With a little instruction, she was doing one hole groups at 21ft her 1st time out.
I would also recommend that both you and your wife take a basic pistol class at a local shooting range. A good class will give both of you the chance to fire different kinds of handguns and will refresh your safe handling skills and teach her the same.
The 45gap is a waste of money, IMHO. Give it another 10 years and see it is still around. I doubt it will be. Right now the ammo is hard to find and is more expensive than standard 45acp.
Regards,0 -
That is what I kind f figured about the gap myself. I have seen faddish ammo come and go and make guns completely obsolete. I would really like to take a basic handgun course so that we could take teh opportunity to ry some different rounds problem is I live in the middle of nowhere and I don't know of any indour ranged for hours. I am about an hour from Kansas City MO, but have not found any ranges thus far. Does anyone know of any? 0 -
Why not consider a S$W 625? I have one in 45. It shoots good. Has a 3 inch bbl. uses moon clips which makes it almost as fast as an auto to reload. I think it makes a better hunting gun too. I was carrying my 9mm this week end hog hunting and I found myself worrying about the safty staying on since I had it in the cocked and locked position. 0 -
I did a quick google and found this:
American Firearms Specialty 12138 Blue Ridge Ext Grandview MO 64030 (816)-965-0600
Best Shot Indoor Range 289 E. 69 Hwy Kansas City MO 64119 (816)-453-0005
Claycomo Guns & Repair Inc. 287 NE 69 HWY Claycomo MO 64119 816-453-0005
Found at http://www.paraord.com/pages/range.html
Might be worth calling those shops and asking them if they know of anyone that gives instruction near your area.
Also found this:
http://will.mylanders.com/shot/kc_shops.php3
Regards,0
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