Okay forum experts, I'm looking for some sage advice. I've been hunting around for a big caliber carry gun and finally settled on a Colt New Agent in .45. The wait time on my order with the LGS is open (until a NA is found from the distributor) and can be retracted with no problem at any time. The Colt NA will run ~$950 OTD, so it's not exactly cheap. Thus my quandary ... would the same money be able to purchase a 3" 625 Model of 1989? I know the 3" .45 is tough to find, and there are pros and cons for each. Both handguns would suit my needs, despite revolver vs. semi. Also worth mentioning, I'm not looking at the purchase for value enhancement. The firearm will be carried and shot regularly. I saw one NIB 3" 625 on GB priced at $1450 (!!!) which is way out of my price range. It's the Colt NA vs. the S&W 625, no other options considered.

__________________
I'm with the banned ...

Have you thought about a GLOCK 19?

I too would love a 3" 625. But i have yet to find one i was willing to pull the trigger on. I carry a Kimber Tactical Ultra CDP or occasionally, my 696. Truthfully, I would have no problem with either of your choices. (although I believe the 625 will be harder to find than the Colt)

__________________
James L. "Jim" Rhiner

Nice flat 1911 feels best to me.Mine is a Kimber Compact Custom 3-1/2"
barrel,its all steel and heavy at 34 oz.but it's the most comfortable gun for me to carry.I still carry revolvers from time to time but the 1911 is my favorite because it just feels better.Rides tighter against my side than a revolver with no cylinder bulge.So I guess my vote goes to the Colt.My opinion only and I know others will have theirs.Good luck with your decision.I also don't think that 950.00 out the door is all that bad for the Colt in this day of 1200.00 and up,pick a brand of compact 1911's.I did not read your post as carefully as should have the first time and apologize for that.I have a 3"657 and have carried it and still prefer the 1911.

If you have to pick one out of those two, to carry, the Colt NA is the only choice.

For carry, I would definitely go with the New Agent. It's lighter, smaller, and flatter. I've had one, and the trench sight takes a little getting used to, but it doesn't take long...and at normal defensive distances, it probably won't be an issue anyway.

The New Agent will carry better. The 625 will shoot better (in my opinion).

__________________
Centennial Every Day

why not get an officers 1911? i absolutely love mine and carry everyday! 3.5" barrel and 6+1, lighter than any dual stack ive shot and way better balance...

The choice is clearly the 625. Reliability rules the day, period. There is no compact or sub-compact .45 ACP pistol that is comparable to a 625 with a short barrel.

Dave Sinko

Might I suggest taking a look at the HK45 Compact? It's a very fine, reliable, and not too difficult to conceal weapon. Having a polymer frame reduces the weight considerably. It is around the same price as the Colt you are looking at. Just a thought...

__________________
Peter
S&WCA #2620

I had a H&K USPc in .45 and it was indeed a great pistol. It is definitely larger than a New Agent, though...but because of the polymer frame, it didn't feel much heavier (I guess I could look up the weights of each, but I'm too lazy.) I had the V1, so I could carry it cocked and locked, if I wanted. Some people complain about the trigger, but I didn't think it was bad at all...very similar to my SIGs.

The one drawback to H&Ks, IMO, is that the magazines are insanely expensive, or they were at the time I had mine. I like to have about 6 magazines for each pistol, except for my 1911s which can share magazines, and the prices for the H&K magazines (when I could find them in stock) were about $60 each. That was a couple of years ago, so I don't know if that's still the case. Plus, H&K (at the time) was notoriously poor for customer service, so I ended up trading it.

I don't own an HK45, but I have eight magazines for my P30. They were $36 each. Mags for the HK45 series can be had for $54 each. They are extremely well built steel magazines. The only dealing I have had with HK customer service was wonderful. There are many on the HK Forum that have had more occasion to deal with them than I, and they lavish praise on HK customer service. Though the HK45C is larger than the Colt, it is certainly no larger than an N frame Smith, which the op is considering. I don't have any dog in this hunt. Any of the choices would probably be fine. I have a particular fondness for the HK pistols and just thought they might be worth a look. They are state of the art for current combat pistols in my opinion.

__________________
Peter
S&WCA #2620

After the Colt jams you can use it to throw at the perp. It's still going to be better than the 625 you left at home or in the car because it's so inconvenient to carry all the time. I play around and carry a 4 inch Model 19-4 every once in a while. Never dream of carrying it everyday when I have a compact Glock much better suited t the job.

In that league of .45 ACP I am using a S&W 457, a Colt Officer's Model that is totally reliable, and a Star Firestar M45 that is another totally reliable, very accurate and so very under-rated carry gun.

Randy

Andrew, I'm looking for a Defender, the SS version of the NA. These guns are ultra reliable and a great choice for self defense.

__________________
Sure you did

my officers is a clock... once i ditched my original colt mags and got wilsons mags ive never had another issue...

“mc5aw”:

First, I should say that having at one time carried a Fitz-like, short-barreled Colt New Service and having worked with guys who routinely carried big frame Smith’s of all sorts and calibers, I am not against such things. In fact, I just rummaged up a set of original N-frame combat grips for a friend’s Lew Horton “snub nose” Model 24 from several decades ago. BUT if this is going to be an “everyday carry gun”, I think that you would be much more satisfied with the New Agent you mention here and that you discussed in another thread recently on this same Forum.

While there can be some issues with 1911-type systems with barrels under 4”, Colt seems to have this current model (and its companion gun, the Defender mentioned by “ladder13”) running pretty well; thereby taking the arguments regarding reliability out of the equation. Note that I really have nothing against the Officer’s Models (as mentioned by “805moparkid” and “growr”) but they could be spotty – some worked and some didn’t – and I don’t think they are cataloged by Colt anymore. The Smith 625 is a neat gun and is both well made and accurate. But it is huge gun and a heavy gun for what one gets in return. My buddy’s 24 is a wonderful firearm to look at and a neat one to carry because of how it looks (and because of what it shoots: I really like the .44spl loading as well). But even with a decent holster that will hold the revolver tight to the body and properly support its weight, that weight and its bulk will limit what you can wear with it and will make the gun known to you every time you have it on.

And while I am never one to overstate the potential for needing to reload a “carried” personal defense sidearm (too many people unrealistically dream of the prolonged, long distance, running gun battles they see on TV), I still advocate carrying at least something more than the ammo contained in the gun itself. But I don’t care how you do it, carrying and employing the ammo for the 625 will never be as convenient as it will be for the New Agent.

And for as wrong as it might be, convenience like that plays a big part in all of this too.

I don’t wish to sound insulting but it is often easy for people on a Forum like this (not necessarily within this Thread) to say that “this is best” or “that is the way to go” when it all depends on what works for you in regard to how you are built, how you dress, and what you do. And beyond that, it further depends of your own level of proficiency and what you can adjust to. I’ve been in this business in one form or another for thirty-five years and I have had the good fortune to have been an instructor to an extremely broad-based group of gun carriers for almost as long. And after one considers all of the points I listed above, from what I’ve seen and for the average individual, if he or she isn’t required to carry a particular firearm, it all boils down to convenience: what does the most for them without getting in the way or intruding upon their lifestyle.

And if anybody doubts that, just take a look at the huge explosion of interest and sales of .380 pistols and true mini-9’s as well as the development of small .45’s like the New Agent you are considering and the fact that Smith and Taurus are selling more J-Frame sized revolvers than ever before in their individual corporate histories.

Again coming from someone who has carried .44 and .45 caliber revolvers and has used a full size 1911 off-and-on for more years than he cares to remember, I have no problem with toting around big guns and/or full size, steel-frame Duty Guns (even in off-duty roles). But for many people (even knowledgeable and serious enthusiasts), being able to slip something into your waistband or into a tight-to-the-body holster that readily conceals the handgun’s profile under a wide variety of garments (making year-round as well as every-day carry simpler and more successful), often makes more sense than trying to accomodate a larger or bulkier weapon. And often becomes the deciding factor in not only choosing what you will carry but if you will bother to carry (on a given day) at all.

As I said, I really like the 625 but it’s just not something that one can lug around easily or, in some cases, that comfortably. And even if you can (and I own several holsters that will allow you to do so), it is still something that might not allow you to carry it conveniently in terms of dress. Gun carrying is almost always a series of trade-offs. Like everything in life, you don’t get something for nothing. The idea here, however, is to make those deals work in your favor and give you as much as you can get out of them. I really think that in this case (and being limited to only the two choices per your original post), the New Agent would be the better option and it would give you the (proverbial) “bigger bang for your buck” not only in terms of money spent but also in regard to daily use and versatility regarding how it can be carried and what can be worn with it.

Hope you find my ramblings worthwhile and understand that while I am as biased as the next guy, I have tried to explain the reasons behind my beliefs so you can decide if they are applicable to you and your situation.

I like to carry my Kimber Grand Raptor II in a IWB holster. It is a full size 1911 but since it is so flat it rides well and fits me just fine.

I believe the .45 acp is a great round. I also carry my M&P 45 cal IWB. It fits my P226 holster perfectly....nice not to have to buy another holster.

I'm a POST cert. firearms instructor and can carry what I want.

1911
P226
Browning HP
M&P .45

I love my 625



but there's no way I'm carrying it every day, it's just too fat. I don't wear tents at any time.

__________________
Sure you did

Is that tents, present tents or past tents?????

Well, that's pretty close to $60 each... Too much, IMO. I don't think they were any better quality than SIG magazines, and I think those are overpriced at $40 each (on average.)

Not knocking your choice of pistols, my friend...just offering my opinion and my experience. I think you can find varying opinions about anyone's customer service...I'm glad you had a good experience.

No problem. I don't care what anybody else likes or chooses to carry. It's an extremely personal decision. It's just that the two complaints about HKs that are popular on the internet are that they are too expensive and they have poor customer service. Too expensive is a very personal thing. They are certainly not too expensive to me. They, and the the magazines, are worth every penny I paid for them - to me. I've also read way too many stories of great customer service at HK to believe the internet rumors of that as well. It's certainly not my experience. Perhaps it was true at some point. I don't know. It certainly is not the case now. Nobody, on the other hand, ever says that the guns suck.

__________________
Peter
S&WCA #2620

Only revolver I can bring myself to carry concealed is a 3" J-frame. I dont care for the bulky L and N cylinders against my side. Autos hug in real flat and close with the right leather. It is hard to beat the reliability of 3rd generation S&W's. And with TDA actions you have hammer down, pull the trigger speed like a revolver. I save L and N revolvers for woods carry in low ride holsters.

If the choice is between the Colt NA and the 625, I would advise to go with the NA.

I have a Taurus 44C in .44 mag that I bought to carry when hiking. Have you looked at the Springfield XDM 3.8 Compact? Might be a bit hard to find also, but they are light and compact and you can carry without the safety "on".

__________________
Luke 22:36

The only complaint I have ever read about H&K pistols themselves are that the triggers aren't good...and I certainly don't agree with that. I've only owned one...an H&K USPc in .45, but it had the best non-1911 trigger I've ever had.

i have a colt defender
it is a solid, well built gun

i would consider using it as my every day carry but
it would mean that i would have to retire my sw 945

that, too, is a solid well built gun

both completely reliable

so....so far, i am sticking with the 945

__________________
bullets have lawyers attached

Jerry Miculek shoots a 625 for a reason.
Get the used 1989 625 if you can bec it is a great shooter, especially the 3". If you change your mind down the road you can sell it for more, which won't be the case for the Colt NA.

The assumption by me is that you can shoot both guns equally well; ie, you don't favor a 1911 platform over a wheelgun. If that is true, then the drawback with the 625 is less ammo that the Colt. That is important. And, since you aren't JM, you probably can't speedload the 625 quite as fast as the Colt.

Still, moon clips are pretty damn fast. And under duress no "limp wrist" to worry about, no safety, no "cocked and locked", no stove pipe, no double feed.

Go with the Colt NA. Fine gun. Well built and worth the money.

Stoke it with Winchester Ranger T or Speer Gold Dot. Call it good. Good luck with your decision! Regards 18DAI

First off, let me say that I LOVE my 625. But to carry.... not at all.


But, Jerry Miculec is not using the 625 for a concealed carry gun. (At least not to my knowlege) If want to demonstrate your shooting skills, like Jerry, it's great. If you want to conceal & carry it, I think it's a worse choice then the New Agent.

I have both guns (and quite a few others) but just as a don't use just a Cresent wrench to work on my engine, I don't try to use a single gun for everything.

The first time I saw the New Agent, I was intrigued by the trough sight (nothing to snag) the light weight, compactness, very thin (Beautiful) wood grips, the overall great looks of the gun and easy concealable. My biggest concern was the 'shorty' .45's reputation's for Failure to Feed & Stovepiping.


I Googled "Colt New Agent" & found 14 different gun tests on the New Agent, by gun writers, testing agencies & individuals. They had ran from 100 to 600 rounds per test with many different brands of ammo, with NO FTF's. None, on any of the tests.

I had to look for a long time before I finally found one at a gun show. I figured that if I decided I didn't like it, I could still get my money back on it because, it Is a Colt.

I have 160 acres, so no problem in finding a place to shoot. I took my rat holed stock of .45ACP's & fired a little over 300 rounds through it. I shot Golden Saber, Silver Tips, Hydra Shocks & Crusty Old GI Surplus Ammo. Not One FTF. Not even close to a problem. I tried 'limp wristing', slow fire, Rapid Fire, everyway I could thing of, (Short of dipping it in a bucket of sand) to get it to fail, but it counted them all off like clock work. I now Have TOTAL confidence in the gun. As far as forgeting to take the safety off 'under duress' I think that is about as likely as forgetting to pull the trigger 'under deress' . I have had it for about a year now and I would not trade it for anything I have seen.

The trough sight takes some getting used to when your shooting on paper, but I didn't want it for a target pistol. I wanted something comfortable to carry, easily conceled, totally reliable and something that will punch a large hole if I have to use it. I believe I have all of these things in the NA.

For me, it's not an all around, for everything gun. It Only for a personal defense gun that I carry in a holster in the small of my back or in the floor of my van when I'm driving. I have seen nothing that I like better, for what I bought it for. I'm sure that the next time it sells, will be in my estate sale.




Art