Shorty 45 Best Compact .45?

Leo77 · Nov 29, 2011

I bought my Shorty 45 last year and I have several more 3rd Gen. Performance Center Pistols that I purchased NIB.
I posted my Collection under the title "3rd Gen. Performance center Collection", not posting the photo again.
I was just wondering besides 1911's, is their other Compact .45 Semi-Auto Pistols as Accurate as the Shorty 45?
I know Sigs are fairly Accurate but I dont believe the P220 is as Accurate or has as nice of Trigger Pull as the Shorty, But the Sig might be more Reliable.
Are their any other Compact .45 Pistols as Accurate as the Shorty 45?(Besides 1911)
I would like to purchase another Compact 45.
Thanks Much

bettis1 · Nov 29, 2011

Leo,

Maybe not what you are expecting to hear

, but since your criteria are short and accurate, I have found the Glock M30 to be one of the most accurate of the Glock line. It will certainly hold its own with most of the short M1911's.

Possibly more to your liking, my Kimber Super Carry Pro is remarkably accurate; even more than a Series 70 Gold Cup that I had.

Bob

lrad · Nov 29, 2011

Along with the Shorty .45, S&W also produced the .45 CQB and .45 Recon. The .45 CQB was available in four different configurations stainless slide /stainless frame, stainless slide /silver alloy frame, blued slide / blued alloy frame and blued slide / silver alloy frame. The .45 Recon was available in two different configurations stainless slide / silver allory frame and blued slide / blue allory frame. The first run of these had a ported barrel, I have read the second did not. I own and shoot an example of each model but not each configuration. Personally I find the Recon to be more accurate. I hope this helps and hope the information is correct. If not I'm sure someone will correct it.

On a side note the Sig Sauer 220 is a full sized frame, they had a 245 compact now called a 220 compact. I have not shot a 220 compact but own and shoot a 220 and a 245. I like the 245 best. rlad

getoff · Nov 29, 2011

my colt defender is a nail driver. so too is my brother in laws kimber ultra cdp. the kimber is ammo picky. my x-d 45 compact is a pretty good shooter also.

Mack · Nov 29, 2011

Being the most accurate does not make this class of handgun the best compact .45. Being the most reliable with acceptable combat accuracy does.

Simmy952 · Nov 29, 2011

I switched my compact to a Sig 1911 compact. It is not the Ultra version. Have really been impressed with the accuracy and the reliability. Have about 250 rds through and have only had one failure to return to battery but that was because of an improperly sized handload. The smaller grip really fits my hands nice. I have to agree that the P220 is a nice shooting .45. The P220 is what hooked me. I was using a Glock and they eat me up. I can't stand shooting numerous rounds through any of the .45 Glock models. Then I tried the P220 and that was one of the nicest, softest .45 models that I had shot. Like the M&P 45c also. Found a good deal on the Sig 1911 compact and I am glad I went that route.

18DAI · Nov 29, 2011

I'd say the Shorty 45 is the most accurate compact 45 from S&W........well......from anyone really. I've shot a bunch of Springfield, Sig, Colt, HK and Glock compact 45's and while they were all pretty accurate, none was a precise as my Shorty 45 MKII.

I do have a 4516-3 LEO overun that is amazingly accurate too. Just not as precision a handgun as the Shorty 45. My 0.02 Regards 18DAI

BubbaBlades · Nov 29, 2011

I carried a Shorty 45 for a few months and I was so impressed with it that I bought a second one to keep as a new in the box collectable.
I was at the range one morning shooting my Shorty 45 "user" when a guy came up to me and said "you're a very good shot, will you shoot my Glock and tell me if the sights are OK?" I picked up his Glock Model 36 and put all six rounds into a cloverleaf. I bought a Glock 36 later that week and it replaced my Shorty 45 as my main carry 45.
I have since replaced the Glock 36 with a Kahr PM45. It is more accurate than my Glock 36 and much smaller.
When it comes to carry guns, I tell anyone that asks me to:
* Pick a gun that feels good to you
* Pick a gun that shoots well for you
* Pick a gun that is as close to totally reliable as you can find
Mark

Two Guns · Nov 29, 2011

My cheap model S&W 457 is one of the most accurate 45's I have ever shot.

Two Guns · Nov 29, 2011

You can find them for less than $500.My 457 has the best double action pull I have ever felt on a TDA.

Catshooter · Nov 29, 2011

It can help to define accurate. To some, a magazine into four inches at seven yards is 'accurate', being as good as they can shoot.

Bubbablades,

The man who said you were a very good shot wasn't lying. That's some good shooting with that 36.

The first magazine I put through my first Shorty was at twenty yards and the entire group hid behind a US quarter. No, I can't do that on demand. I might not be able to do it anymore, I'm gettin' older.

To the OP, I don't think you'll find a compact 45 that will outshoot the Shorty, although Mark's group with his Glock 36 is mighty close.

For reliability, my Shorty has never failed, ever. Even with an empty case, it'll feed it from the mag.

Cat

Tahoe01 · Nov 30, 2011

Best Compact .45

Mark,
Your target with the Glock 36 is very impressive, what about the sight in target with your PM .45 also.
Steve

John3200 · Nov 30, 2011

I'd put my P220 (comander size) or my P245 (officers size) up against any out of the box 45s made for accuracy, not to mention reliability. In Massab Ayoob's book on Sig Sauer he stated that no out of the box 45 would beat a Sig Sauer in accuracy. I put a lot of weight in what that man says about shooting and handguns.

BubbaBlades · Nov 30, 2011

My Kahr PM45 shot approximately 2" high at 25 yards with the stock factory sights. I filed down the rear sight approximately 1mm and the group was about 1" high. I filed down the sight another 1mm and produced the 5 shot group in the above picture. I also rounded the edges of the rear sight to reduce the sharp edges catching on my pocket. I have at least 6 compact 45s, however the Kahr PM45 is the smallest and most accurate for me.

Mark

ILLWIND · Dec 1, 2011

It might not be the most accurate, but my 4536 is very reliable and is easy to shoot. 3.5" barrel, stainless frame and slide...indestructable, but heavy and controllable, AND, a frame mounted decocker. Fits the bill for me.

TACC1 · Dec 1, 2011

GEE< THANKS...

Now I'm getting that old familiar urge, again.... Looks like
another .45 on my horizen TACC1
(Great shootung, guys!)

Dale53 · Dec 1, 2011

My Kimber Ultra CDP II works VERY well for me. I have shot scores in the 90's at 25 yards on the timed fire target. It is also VERY reliable. It's also about the prettiest little thing you ever saw:

Dale53

jyo · Dec 9, 2011

I have several 45 ACP pistols, and I must say, the most practicle of the lot is my HK45C---Lightweight, great grip, good sights (shoots right to point of aim for me), reliable, accurate, 8 or 10 rd mags and recoil is not bad---even the trigger is good for me (mine is DA/SA)---that's all folks!

JWS3 · Dec 10, 2011

Leo77 said:
I bought my Shorty 45 last year and I have several more 3rd Gen. Performance Center Pistols that I purchased NIB.
I posted my Collection under the title "3rd Gen. Performance center Collection", not posting the photo again.
I was just wondering besides 1911's, is their other Compact .45 Semi-Auto Pistols as Accurate as the Shorty 45?
I know Sigs are fairly Accurate but I dont believe the P220 is as Accurate or has as nice of Trigger Pull as the Shorty, But the Sig might be more Reliable.
Are their any other Compact .45 Pistols as Accurate as the Shorty 45?(Besides 1911)
I would like to purchase another Compact 45.
Thanks Much

Back in the mid-80's I owned a SIG-Sauer P220 with the heel release magazine catch. Accuracy was just a tad under what my Colt Series 70 could shoot. The Colt was worked on by Steve Brown, though.

Not to compare apples to oranges, in the mid 90's I had a Glock 21 that would shoot on par with the Colt. Understanding that the full-sized Glock is far from a compact .45 ACP, I wouldn't be surprised if an early model Glock 30 would place close in the accuracy department.

Best regards,
-Jim

bettis1 · Dec 10, 2011

Of my four most recent .45 pistols I found very little difference in practical accuracy, I would rank them the following as far as my examples:

1) Kimber Super Carry Pro
2) Colt Series 70 Gold Cup (not a compact though)
3) Glock M30 (almost a tie with the Series 70 Colt)
4) Glock M21 (also not a compact)

If I were to rank them in reliability I would list them:

1) Both the Glock 30 & 21 in a tie. (Neither of the M1911 forms are even close in this category.)
2) Colt Series 70 Gold Cup
3) Kimber Super Carry Pro

So, based on a composite of size, accuracy, and reliability, I certainly choose the Glock 30 every time. I wish that I could gain the confidence in reliability to carry the Kimber because it is far away the most aesthetically pleasing of them all.
Bob

Shorty 45 Best Compact .45?

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