Choice of 45's for Carry

[ColColt]

I like revolvers and have a few choice ones that shoot well. The M29 is nearly a tack driver, given the shooter does his part but of course is way too big for carry. The little GP101 is excellent for carry, IMHO, but, it holds but five rounds harder to reload and for me any revolver is more of a challenge to shoot well during rapid fire. I just can't stay on target as well as opposed to the auto...particularly the 1911.

I felt the Commander size 1911 is about the epitome for 1911 carry due to it's size. I'm not an avid fan of alloy frame 1911's, however, since I know it would be shot quite a bit.

 

[dmar]

I'm a fan of .45 for carry, and there's so many good choices. To me, the 1911 platform is hard to beat, and make mine a Colt. I usually carry a Colt Defender, or LW Commander (and yes, the Defender is a little softer shooting...). Nice slim design, great triggers, good safety features, good accuracy, and never a hiccup; what's not to like.

Erich, I really like your new Sig, very nice. I've got a P245 (made in Germany), and it's a very nice piece, good carry gun, as well.

Another good choice for .45 carry, is Kahr. Nice and compact/slim gun. I've got one, and it has a very good trigger, and has been 100% reliable.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Carried a Springer 1990 vintage Standard for many years and it served me well. Got a great deal and swapped over to a Colt Commander 3 years ago and never looked back. Wolff springs and mags to replace the OEM's throughout and the pistol is both super accurate, reliable as all get out and easy to pack in a Lobo IWB. Also replaced the trigger with a longer Wilson and installed a tritium night sight just on the front sight. Had the front strap stipled for a better grip. Other than that it's bone stock as I don't need a 2k 1911 when this baby will do the same job for much less money. I use WWB for training and Winchester Rangers or Speer Gold Dots, both in 230 grains for SD. Weapon has never malfuntioned in well over 4k rounds and will feed a pancake if I could load it up.

 

[ColColt]

I appears you have a jewel-I'd never part with it. The satin nickel Commander I had back in the late 70's was like that. Although it didn't have the latest duck bill grip safety, ejection port wasn't flared and lowered and no throat job yet it always went bang each and every time. I'm considering more and more the current line of Colt's Commanders-preferable the all steel XSE model. There are others that would no doubt do as well but some just turn your head and grab your heart. Such is this one. The all German SIG I had was like your Commander. You just couldn't get it to choke. I don't know about the current breed. I think most 3rd Gen S&W's will likewise give good service as a carry gun given the right choice. The H&K Compact is superb. I have shot those at the range. It's a hard decision all in all.

 

[Bassleg]

I carry a XD45 compact with 12 rounds with 1 in the pipe & an extra mag.

 

[photoman]

I felt the Commander size 1911 is about the epitome for 1911 carry due to it's size. I'm not an avid fan of alloy frame 1911's, however, since I know it would be shot quite a bit.

I think you may be overcomplicating things. Consider looking for a good deal on a SW1911PD with the 4.25" barrel. I carried one of those for a few years. Excellent, reliable gun. Ran thousands of rounds through it with no problems at all.

 

[oldman45]

Speaking of size, yesterday I was carrying concealed using my full frame S&W 1911. A male home health RN came by the house to tend to the lady that lives with me only to keep me broke. It was his first time here and he noticed the gun safes. He explained that both he and his wife had recently gotten their CCW and he was looking for something to carry.

Naturally I suggested the 1911 and he agreed with the gun but said one would be impossible to carry concealed. I asked why he thought that and he said it was just too big. It was then I asked if he wanted to see what I carry. His eyes got big as I pulled the 1911 from my side and from under my neatly tucked shirt. He then tried to conceal it (mexican carry) and was shocked that he was able to do such.

It is up to the individual to carry what they want but never eliminate what you like for fear it will not carry well.

 

[venomballistics]

the ONLY problem I ever had with a 1911 was that locked and cocked carry thing ... but I got over it.
Looking at most long arms one might hunt with, they are cocked and locked too, the only real difference is that you dont have a visible hammer saying "Hi there, drop me" cause its inside where you cant see it.
I can assure you that the 1911 mechanism locks up far more thoroughly than that of any long arm Ive seen. strip one to the frame and see for yourself and it wont escape consideration.

 

[Moonman]

I've been breaking in a new Milt Sparks VMII IWB with a Les Baer 5" Super-Tac 45ACP, The whole unit is surprisingly comforting and comfortable.

 

[Dominus_Lex]

I love and carry a Kimber CDP II, has a full size grip with a 4" bbl, Stainless slide and aluminum frame. The edges are rounded off, low profile night sights, and fits very well in a Galco inside the belt holster (and I'm only 5'8").

Yes it's only 7 + 1 (but an extra mag is easy to pocket)

Yes its has one in the tube with the hammer back, but if you treat every gun as loaded no issues here

Yes it has a Kimber price tag, but it works for me, for what that is worth. By the way did I mention it is perhaps the best shooting gun I have ever owned out of the box.... the lack of gunsmith bills help keep the price more in line with most budgets

 

[Dump1567]

Colt Talo CCO (with some mods)

 

[Fir Fer]

Quite a few suggestion here and that's good. I'd really like to carry the G30 as it fits me well and is superbly accurate and reliable-even if it is a teflon pistol. However, as mentioned, I'm skiddish about the light trigger with one in the chamber and the link provided shows a good reason why. Granted, this guy had a bad holster but it just goes to show. That wouldn't have happened with a 1911, SIG, or 3rd Gen S&W. NOthnig against Glocks for house guns but for carry they make me nervous. Just a quirk I have.

18DIA- I've never handled the 4513 so can't attest to how it would feel. I had a 6906 and if it's anything similar it's a good one. The 4576 is another good one I'm chewing on.

Erich-Thanks for all those pics. I had a great shooting P220 back in the early 90's and it was super as for accuracy and reliability but I found it hard getting use to the longish takeup on the trigger. I had been use to at that point, the 1911 and it took a lot of getting use to. I ended up trading it, unfortunately, as it was German made. I'll have to try the SAO at the gunshop I frequent as they have a slew of SIG's.

It's a tough decision and I'm sure you've all gone through that. Many choices and many great ones to choose from. I'd love to carry the 4566 if it wasn't for the weight and it would surely print like a brick seeing as how I'm just 160 pounds.

This is the link I saw recently that helped convince me against carrying a Glock, personally. I know lots of LEO's do as do others but I guess I'm just too cautious...mabe a bit chicken.

Man accidentally shot his leg while trying to put a seat belt on

That was a holster fault, not the gun. That rig looked like it needed to be retired and /or to big for the gun. I would also say that was a rump hit, not a leg hit. LOL

 

[ColColt]

Colt Talo CCO (with some mods)

Now, that is nice. I'm wondering how a Commander would work with a Crossbreed Supertuck...maybe like they were made for each other.

 

[Jeb21]

M&PC with a manual thumb safety may be just the ticket.

 

[dwever]

S&W 1911 Gun Site Edition Commander

 

[Rule 303]

I carry a Kimber CDP II in the late fall, winter and early spring when I can cover it. Its an excellent gun and the four inch barrel with a compact grip conceals easlily. As Dominus said, it still has a Kimber Price Tag. But I've found in my old age that I really like the best I can affort.

When its hot, I carry a Glock 19 or 21 depending on where I am.

Rule 303

 

[redsfan2]

I'm obviously a Smith guy ... but I do have to admit that Kimbers are nice guns ... real nice. Friend of mine has 3 ... he has a bigger gun budget than I do.
I carry a CS45 a lot. Like mentioned . its 6 rounds, but I carry it loaded and 2 extras. That ought to get me out of most messes.

 

[Springfeildkid585]

I'm looking for a 3rd Gen carry 45 ACP. The 4506 is much too large and heavy and I'd have a hard time concealing it. Ditto on the 4566. What's next in line to those...4516, 457? I have the G30 and while light and you do get ten rounds but carrying a loaded Glock makes me nervous.

Step one is how you conceal it. As for the Glock, there is one simple rule; don't be stupid. If you can manage that, the gun won't go off until you want it to go off. Now if you want a safety (I always do), and you want that 10 rounds an XD Compact outta do the job.

 

[dinooch]

How about a Colt Lightweight Officers Model? I never liked the Combat Commander. The grip safety always bit the web of my hand.

I have both. The Combat Commander got a Kings "duck tail" grip safety, a Wilson "bullet proof" extractor, and an extended ejector. That took care of the hammer bite and the occasional spent case hitting the forehead. The Officers ACP is flawless. The Sig P245 is a bit chunky but it's the same overall size of the Officers ACP. The Sig eats everything jacketed without question. Can't say the same about the Colts. You just have to know what to feed them.

 

[mc5aw]

I carry Js and Ks exclusively, and have done so for years. That said, I picked up a Colt TALO New Agent in 9mm recently and it's great to shoot. If I were to carry a .45, I would give strong consideration to the New Agent in .45 as it is relatively small, solid, and significantly more compact that a full size 1911. But what do I know, I'm a Smith guy.