645 or 1911 ???

[TripPowers]

I do carry my 645 with custom coco boll grips in a simply rugged cuda. My friend has a very nice Kimber I shot once. Having said that I prefer the 645 . If you trust your life and others with something you want rugged reliability safer and less recoil . Save the over priced 1911 for the range and competition unless your trained with one.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Hand size is everything. The 1911 fits my hand much better, has a better trigger, and I still own it. There is no question in my mind but that the 645 is a better gun for someone whose hand it fits well. More reliable, doesn't need upgrading because it already has what it needs. I did have a friend who had one with adjustable sights, and it was also more accurate than mine for some reason. But mine was good enough.

But if a 1911 is faster to shoot ( in your hands) and easier to carry, what can you do?

 

[Damien]

I've shot both, owned a 645. I haven't shot a 1911 since I was in the Army 37 years ago. If memory serves me correctly the 1911 wasn't as heavy as the 645, but i liked the feel and function of the 645 way better and can hit a target just as accuratly with the 645 now as I could with the 1911 when I was 20. I do have a bias for the 645 tho, SA/DA...... Never did like SA or stikers. Only reason I got rid of the 645 was because I wanted a 45 for CC and funds being what they are here I had to trade it in to get something lighter/smaller. It sure was a pretty gun tho, I loved it.......

 

[Redacted]

I prefer the 645 hands down, never owned a 1911.

 

[VTHokiesDuckHunter]

The 645, as well as all of the 3rd gen S&W .45's, are an improvement on the 1911. Only the 1911 triggers to me are a bit better.

 

[S&W5906]

I own both 1911s and a 645. I carry the 1911s but shoot the 645 at the range. The 645 is a showpiece gun while most of my 1911s are just for shooting or EDC. I like them both.

 

[Hot Toddy]

I'd carry my 645 more if I could find a shoulder holster for it. 1911 has more extras and holsters. Can't go wrong either way. Something about gun steel that just feels right. Nothing against the M&P boys.

 

[Nframecollector]

1911 of course!!!

 

[ladder13]

1911

 

[SW CQB 45]

I would think it would depend on how much the shooter/gun owner is willing to put behind the particular configuration.

I know many officers who bought SW 3rd Gen who could not hit the side of a barn much less any decent grouping because they were not willing to learn/train with the DA/SA.

On the other hand, I know many officers who think the shorter trigger press of a modern 1911 pistol will make them a better shot. again, not putting any effort in the area of marksmanship.

One officer bought a 2000$ Ed Brown Special Forces and did not qualify with it. I offered him 500$ for that piece of **** shooter. He did not bite.

I have owned both 3rd Gen SW and modern 1911s. I much prefer the 1911 system but if my dept said no more 1911s on duty.....guess I would have to go back to 45xxsomething.

Borrow someones 1911 that works and give it a test run. You get what you pay for. In today's market, I like companies that offer lifetime warranties. if it dont work, they will make it work.

I guess I have been lucky with my 1911s. I have seven of them....they all run. When I had Smiths....they all ran. Every now and then bugs pop up....just fix them.

good luck

 

[shawn mccarver]

I would rather have a 1911. More magazines, parts readily available, etc. The 645 was a very fine pistol, but parts are going to become a problem in the future as the model was discontinued many years ago.

 

[S&W5906]

I would rather have a 1911. More magazines, parts readily available, etc. The 645 was a very fine pistol, but parts are going to become a problem in the future as the model was discontinued many years ago.

Another advantage the 1911 has is it comes in many sizes. From 3" barrels up to 6" barrels. Far easier to hide the 3" than it is to hide the 645 for CCW. For CCW, a CS45 would be better. Or a CS40 even. But like the 645, S&W stopped making the CS40 too.

 

[ratrabbit]

New here but, I have owned both and carried both. The only point I would make is that many 1911s need some tweaking to run properly. Most Smith 45s I have encountered were reliable out of the box and had fewer feeding issues. But, if reliability and training are equal, I would say its strictly personal preference. Mine would be for the 645.

 

[Damien]

I'd carry my 645 more if I could find a shoulder holster for it. 1911 has more extras and holsters. Can't go wrong either way. Something about gun steel that just feels right. Nothing against the M&P boys.

I have a Beretta 92 and a Taurus 100. When I had my 645 all 3 fit in the same holsters.... even the molded holsters. I bought holsters made for the Beretta because they had the biggest selection and the 645 fit better than the Taurus. Seems the Taurus is a hair wider and was a little tight untill the holster got broke in a little...... But the 645 fit like a glove right out of the bag.

 

[Damien]

On the other hand, I know many officers who think the shorter trigger press of a modern 1911 pistol will make them a better shot.

I dont look in cops holsters to take a poll, but I don't think I've seen a 1911 in a LEO holster in a long time. I thought most Dept. were even going to DAO for liability issues.

 

[SW CQB 45]

The dept I work for issues Glock 21 however you can carry personally owned firearms that meet guidelines and you have to show proficiency/qual.

Single Action 1911 style is in our General Orders.

Out of 115 officer dept, very few carry 1911 style. I can only think of 4 off the top of my head which includes me.

I turned in my issued Glock 21 since we are having problems getting Glocks for new hires.

 

[WxMan_II]

Definitely the 645

In my mind, the 645 is everything the 1911 should have been.. SA/DA, 8 round standard capacity, ambidextrous safety/decocker, and the damned thing will chamber anything you try to feed it. Definitely refinements that are to be appreciated in a carry gun.

 

[BigBoy99]

In my mind, the 645 is everything the 1911 should have been.. SA/DA, 8 round standard capacity, ambidextrous safety/decocker, and the damned thing will chamber anything you try to feed it. Definitely refinements that are to be appreciated in a carry gun.

Everything he said!!! Have several 645s but only one M1911.

 

[44wheelman]

Eh, I vote hybrid... S&W 945.

I've had a couple 645's, accuracy was not their forte, feeding empty cases was impressive. Why I'd need to feed empty cases I don't know, but it was cool.

 

[J. W.]

Depends on intended used, IMO. Safe queen and occasional shooter? A nice 645 would be cool. For a gun you're going to run hard for self defense, CCW, LE duty or competition, I'd take a S&W E Series 1911 for sure.

Every year that goes by parts, including high wear items like mags and their associated components, get harder to find for our beloved metal framed S&Ws.


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