Thank you all for the many helpful insights! I do have a 1911, so I have to say I am now leaning substantially towards the M&P (with thumb safety) for the next purchase

Wow, if this thread doesn't say it all... with facts.. nothing does. I echo everything said here. I have both, in fact, several different 1911's and PC945.... I would take my M&P45 over all of them without a second thought... I go to the range weekly and tend to shoot what ever the topics I've been reading that week... just a couple weeks ago, lots of 45 cal and 1911 threads... I brought my 3" 945, my 1911SC and my M&P45. They all shot great... but once again... I just shake my head in disbelief when I shoot my M&P... that says it all for me! It is absolutely my favorite 45acp, it does it all.

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Jack C

I have paras,kimbers and S&W 1911s,like them a lot.Two months ago got me a M&P 45 with 4.5" barrell,put a fiber optic front sight,crimson trace laser sight and apex 3.5 lb competition trigger.Fell in love with the gun,eats everything I feed her with gusto.very little recoil,no safeties to bother with,as accurate as a kimber,and very low maintenance.like it so much I got me another identical,will sell most of my 1911s.The M&P is a shooter's gun,