.45 ACP single stack carry recommendations?

[fredj338]

The XDS will do everything the 1911 will do and there's no silly safety to worry about. It's lighter, thinner, has the same size grip when loaded with 8 rounds, and costs less.

You would need calipers to tell the diff in width & that is in the grip, not slide. The "silly" safety is only that for those not willing to train with it. Please. I like the xds but the xd45c is only slightly bigger, still light & you get 10+1. My other choice when no carrying the 1911pd.

 

[Lt JL]

And here, all along, I thought we all tossed a J or a D in our pocket along with our 1911. Hmm. times must be a-changin'

 

[Badkarma 1]

Found a Colt series 70 Combat Commander with the "Coltguard" finish (satin nickle) at a local pawn shop last Christmas. It's unaltered and eats Federal HST like candy!
Like @da gimp, I've grown to liking and carrying this more often than not!
Also the SIG P220 would be a great one too!
Have noticed a few 4566's floating around, you might try finding one of them.
Dale

 

[gunfighter48]

I've carried 1911 45s for the last 20 years. I've had two Kimber Pro Carry IIs, had to sell them to pay wife's medical bills. They were the best balanced 1911s that I've ever had and 100% reliable! I now carry a Colt Commander LW and also have a STI Ranger II. I carry the LW Colt most of the time and use the STI as home defense.

I have a bad back and even the LW Colt is too much weight at times. So last Sept. I bought a M&P Shield 9mm and just love it. It's accurate, I installed the Apex parts, the trigger pull is 4lb 4oz shot after shot. It has the thumb safety. After learning to shoot 1911s the thumb safety is now second nature and not a problem. On good days I still carry the Colt LW, I love the 45s.

 

[Reggie Dunlop]

You would need calipers to tell the diff in width. The "silly" safety is only that for those not willing to train with it. Please. I like the xds but the xd45c is only slightly bigger, still light & you get 10+1. My other choice when no carrying the 1911pd.

Some folks don't want to worry about a thumb safety, why have it when it is not needed? Need a caliper to tell the difference? Stevie Wonder could tell the difference in the width.
The XDS weighs 21 oz (I have one), the XD .45 compact weighs 28 oz (I have one) and measures 3/8" thicker at the slide and almost 1/2" thicker at the grip, so please, there is significant difference. If you like your 1911 you can keep your 1911.

 

[jeeps]

A full 5"Colt 1911 IWB is there anything else?? Never found a replacment for perfect.

 

[Gamecock]

For a .45 1911 carry gun, it's hard to beat the Sig C3. Commander slide on a lightweight alloy officer's frame.

1911 C3

 

[16thVACav]

For a .45 1911 carry gun, it's hard to beat the Sig C3. Commander slide on a lightweight alloy officer's frame.

1911 C3

That's a nice looking gun! I assume you have one; how do you like it, how is reliability, accuracy, recoil, etc.?

 

[Elliot45]

I'm in agreement with ChattanoogaPhi, the Springfield XDS is a really good .45 for a carry weapon and the price has come way down. I bought mine which is a two-tone a couple of years ago and the price was almost $200 more than what they go for now. It has a great spring in it which helps absorb most of the recoil, especially for a 3.1" barrel. I bought a Galco pocket carry holster and I use it when I carry. The grip safety makes me feel more secure when it is my pocket. Also, the fiber optic front site really stands out when aiming. My brother-in-law has a 3" Kimber which is a great gun but I personally wouldn't want to carry one in a lock and cocked position in my pocket. It did cost him over $1,000 and it's way too pretty to put it through the rigors of daily carry. However, I love shooting it almost as much as my Colt .45 Gold Cup. Not much bad to say about the XDS although I'm not crazy about the trigger as I'm guessing that it probably has about an 8 lb. pull but they make them that way for safety and liability reasons and most of the small striker fired carry guns are that way. I did purchase a couple of extra 7 round magazines and keep them in my glove compartment and other handy places but prefer to carry the 5 round magazine for concealment purposes. Hope this info helps. Regards, Elliot45

 

[Gamecock]

That's a nice looking gun! I assume you have one; how do you like it, how is reliability, accuracy, recoil, etc.?

It is a very nice package.

Still pretty new to me. It is a finicky eater; doesn't like my hand loads - several different flavors of hand loads. FTF - bullet noses hanging on the feed ramp.

That said, it's 100% with factory ammo.

Acceptable accuracy for a carry gun. All groups center about an inch left, even from a rest. Fixed sights. I can't get the rear sight set screw loose to try to adjust windage. Owner's manual doesn't mention adjustment at all. Flyers open groups up to 4-5", though central grouping around 3". Oddly, WWB has no flyers. Speer Lawman has wild flyers.

Recoil pretty snappy with 230 gr WWB. Reasonable with other loads. I've settled on Speer Lawman 200 gr TMJ-FN 53655 as my carry load.

Law Enforcement - Federal Premium LE, Speer LE, BLACKHAWK!, Eagle - Handgun Details

The front strap checkering is very effective, making the gun easy to grip securely. I can get all my fingers on the frame. My fingers are long and thin. Goliath prolly couldn't get his pinky on the frame, but I think most people would.

Take up on the trigger is a bit excessive. Break is very crisp at 5.5 pounds. About right for a carry gun. Feels lighter than 5.5, but the gauge can't be wrong.

Oddly, if fits in some of my commander holsters, but not all.

Like my other Sigs, P238 and P938, the C3 is a fun gun to shoot.

 

[Tony twist]

If I carry a .45 my First choice would be my govt 1911. Sight radius and trigger make it a tack driver.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Okay. Was just curious. Just as an aside, I sometimes carry a Glock 30S, 10 + 1, and it's pretty slim. I don't carry it for hours on end though, so don't know how it'd do in the long run.

I just put together a Frankenstein Hybrid. A Glock 36 top end and a Glock 30SF lower. Pretty neat, works great and is considerably thinner through the slide than a regular 30S. Some of our guys say the SF stands for still fat.

 

[ocinsomniac]

Here's my choice and recent acquisition for 45 ACP auto carry -



Kimber Ultra Carry II. She is sweeet! Recoil is very manageable, less than I had anticipated for a 3" barrel, weighs in at 25 oz., has a 4.5 lb match grade trigger & barrel. Waiting for a set of MeproLight night sights, they're going on next week.......
And very affordable for a Kimber -

Kimber Ultra Carry II 1911 45 ACP

 

[Shoo2tr]

Another vote for the XDs .45. I was an early adopter of the XDs .45, in fact mine was one of the first to go back for the grip safety mod (recall).

I love my Sig 1911's and P220 but there is just no way they end up in my carry rotation based on weight and ease of carry considerations.

My carry rotation could not be more simple. XDs .45 in cool weather months, PM9 in warm weather months.

I have much love for the Kahrs and actually like their triggers. If carrying comfortably is your most important consideration I believe you'd be hard pressed to top the XDs or PM/CM45.

 

[XAVMECH]

Single Stack 45's

This thread will no doubt be a long one. I've got eight 1911's, some FS, some compact, and a couple in between. Of those, and my other 45's, the ones I carry are the S&W 457 and 4513 (TSW), and my old Kimber CDPII. I have a new SIG 1911 Ultra waiting at my FFL, and based on my experience with my other SIG's, I do believe it will soon join this group of carry choices. A long time ago, thanks to Uncle Sam, I became familiar with the 1911. Just one of those guns that just seems to do the job well enough to stay in the running all these years -

 

[DevilDog72]

1911

I have posted on this thread I carry a Desert Eagle 1911C, it is a clone of the Colt Series 70 Commander... I really like this pistol

 

[kid quick]

You might want to look at the Rock Island Armory Officers model , the right size for carry priced right. Very accurate and dependable, I carry mine in a Lobo Leather Mod 1 Pancake, very comfortable. I have carried a 1911 since the late 70s my Colts stay in the safe this RIA will do the job if you can find one.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Good news is we have several good designs & brands to choose from. I'd suggest trying a few before buying to see if anyone does better, or worse for you in your hands.

I have a 5" steel frame 1911 as my carry single stack 45, and this one puts rounds right on target for me.

I have a P220 that shoots well for me, but would like to replace it with a Commander size TDA 3rd Gen S&W.

It's your money, enjoy whatever you get.

 

[Tam 3]

Kimber Custom CDP. At 71, daily carry, good belt, shorts, t shirt.

Regards,

Tam 3

 

[USAF385]

Thanks for all the input.

I called my dealer today and had him set aside an XDS 3.3.

I'll be stopping by tomorrow to pick it up.