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.
Choice of 45's for Carry
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I sometimes carry a 457 but it tends to be a little large to conceal depending on clothing variables. I have better luck with my CS45 so its what I usually have on me. Think its somewhere around 24 or 25 oz empty, 3.25" bbl makes it quite compact and concealable. Reliable and accurate, very controllable, a sweet shooter for such a small large caliber gun. Only 6+1 rnds but clips are small and if you want to carry a spare, its easy enough to conceal that too. Good luck.
Years ago I had a Combat Commander and have considered that. The XSE series in steel is most appealing. In a pistol I'll shoot a lot I don't care for the aluminum frame much. Perhaps they'll hold up to quite a bit but it's just a mind thing I suppose. CS45's are hard to come by but XSE's are too...I've looked. My SW1911 would definitely be too large and heavy.
sgt.207
Member
Carried a 4516-1 for years. Have a 4566. Great guns
but heavy. Now i just carry a Glock 38 in 45gap when carrying a .45.
but heavy. Now i just carry a Glock 38 in 45gap when carrying a .45.
I picked up an HK45C a few months ago and I'm very pleased with it. The pistol is high-tech plastic that works. It seems safer to carry than striker-fired pistols because it is a double-action with an exposed hammer.
The HK weighs about the same as a Glock G30 but it costs twice as much.
The HK weighs about the same as a Glock G30 but it costs twice as much.
1911 fan here! I typically carry a customized Colt XSE Commander. Today, just for the heck of it, I broke out my trusty Springfield Mi-Spec. 
If you like Glocks, don't be afraid to carry one. I have a G19 I'm quite fond of and carry fairly often. They won't just go off or jump out of the holster and shoot you. They're just as safe as any gun to carry if you practice proper gun handling.
If you want a 3rd gen S&W then the 4516 or 4513 are where its at if you can find one.
If you like Glocks, don't be afraid to carry one. I have a G19 I'm quite fond of and carry fairly often. They won't just go off or jump out of the holster and shoot you. They're just as safe as any gun to carry if you practice proper gun handling.
If you want a 3rd gen S&W then the 4516 or 4513 are where its at if you can find one.
thndrchiken
Member
You can also get the M&P 45 with the safeties.
Stu1205
Member
I've been carrying an AMT Backup 45 ACP for the past 16 years.
It is 6 rounds, DAO, and it is slightly smaller than a J Frame revolver.
It does have a hell of a kick to it, but it is the smallest 45 ever manufactured.
Nice little package for a 45.
Stu
It is 6 rounds, DAO, and it is slightly smaller than a J Frame revolver.
It does have a hell of a kick to it, but it is the smallest 45 ever manufactured.
Nice little package for a 45.
Stu
ColColt,
Everyone here will have their own preference, which is I suppose exactly what you are looking for. I carry the 457. It's not the lightest, or the smallest, but I'm a pretty large fellow and the CS45 is too small for my hand. It's never given me an FTF/FTE. The fact that it was an economical purchase is just gravy.
Try to shoot as many different guns as you can before you make up your mind. Just my 2 cents.
Everyone here will have their own preference, which is I suppose exactly what you are looking for. I carry the 457. It's not the lightest, or the smallest, but I'm a pretty large fellow and the CS45 is too small for my hand. It's never given me an FTF/FTE. The fact that it was an economical purchase is just gravy.
Try to shoot as many different guns as you can before you make up your mind. Just my 2 cents.
Try the 4513TSW Col. A very light, perfectly sized 45. All the accuracy and reliability of the 4506, in an easier to carry and conceal package.
Be advised there are two versions. The first production 4513TSW has no rail, and a cut out in the grip frame for the 6 round mag.
The second version is a full grip frame, 7 round compact with a rail. There are some late version 4513TSW's that were produced without the rail. I have one and it is my current favorite carry 45.
If it fits your hand the CS45 is also an excellent little carry 45.
Good luck with the search! Regards 18DAI.
Be advised there are two versions. The first production 4513TSW has no rail, and a cut out in the grip frame for the 6 round mag.
The second version is a full grip frame, 7 round compact with a rail. There are some late version 4513TSW's that were produced without the rail. I have one and it is my current favorite carry 45.
If it fits your hand the CS45 is also an excellent little carry 45.
Good luck with the search! Regards 18DAI.
Erich
Member
My wife got me a SIG-Sauer P220 Compact Elite Single-Action-Only (delivered for under $600) .45 for my forty-fifth year.
This is a 7.79”-long compact version of the P220. The Compacts (sort of modernized P245s) have the short six-round-magazine frame and a slightly shorter than full-sized slide (the Compact barrel is 3.9" as opposed to the 4.25" of the full-sized P220 - this is also the same top end that's used on the P220 Carry). Most Compacts are 7.1" in length and right at 5" in height - the additional length on this one is due to the beavertail that SIG-Sauer has on the Elite (German-made) frame.
Other premium features of this particular model are the upgraded aluminum stocks (usually over $100 from SIG-Sauer), steel guide rod (these give this Elite version a bit more weight than the base 31.2-oz. weight of the P220 Compact SAO) and SigLite night sights (6.3" sight radius). (The gun was made in March 2010, and the sights are plenty fresh.)
Note that the gun is - unlike most SIG-Sauers - single-action only. The trigger is rated at five pounds - I've not had it on pull-gauge, but that feels about right. It's decently crisp, though not extraordinary, and has a shorter reset than I'd have expected from a SIG-Sauer. It came with two six-round magazines with finger rests; I bought two ACT eight-rounders as well.
I have never had an issue with recoil from the higher-than-1911 bore axis of the P220, but I wasn't sure how it was going to work with this smaller gripframe. Turns out that the trigger and the weight of the gun combine with SIG's engineering of the thing to render this into a more-than-decently-accurate and easy to shoot fast little blaster. Most rounds I've shot will go into one hole at ten yards.
I only started looking at this gun because I realized that it had all the features that I would be seeking (like an ambi-safety, which, WHY for the love of God, is for some reason not standard on modern 1911s that all are ramped and throated and ported well beyond anything that the Sainted JMB - may peace be upon him - would recognize?) on a CCO-sized 1911 . . . except that to get those features, I'd be looking at more than double this price. And, not to cast aspersions, but I had concerns that a CCO-sized 1911 might turn out to be something of a project before it was running the way I wanted. I did not want a project. This P220 Compact Elite SAO is everything I wanted for a great price, and is not a project.
Sample chrono data with carry rounds:
Hornady 200-gr +P TAP: M 949.5 fps/ES 18.48/SD 7.74
Winchester RA45TP 230-gr +P Ranger Talon: M 899.9/ES 14.19/SD 5.56
I carry my P90 some (and my 625-3 3" as well), but the little SIG is the .45 that I carry the most nowadays.
This is a 7.79”-long compact version of the P220. The Compacts (sort of modernized P245s) have the short six-round-magazine frame and a slightly shorter than full-sized slide (the Compact barrel is 3.9" as opposed to the 4.25" of the full-sized P220 - this is also the same top end that's used on the P220 Carry). Most Compacts are 7.1" in length and right at 5" in height - the additional length on this one is due to the beavertail that SIG-Sauer has on the Elite (German-made) frame.
Other premium features of this particular model are the upgraded aluminum stocks (usually over $100 from SIG-Sauer), steel guide rod (these give this Elite version a bit more weight than the base 31.2-oz. weight of the P220 Compact SAO) and SigLite night sights (6.3" sight radius). (The gun was made in March 2010, and the sights are plenty fresh.)
Note that the gun is - unlike most SIG-Sauers - single-action only. The trigger is rated at five pounds - I've not had it on pull-gauge, but that feels about right. It's decently crisp, though not extraordinary, and has a shorter reset than I'd have expected from a SIG-Sauer. It came with two six-round magazines with finger rests; I bought two ACT eight-rounders as well.
I have never had an issue with recoil from the higher-than-1911 bore axis of the P220, but I wasn't sure how it was going to work with this smaller gripframe. Turns out that the trigger and the weight of the gun combine with SIG's engineering of the thing to render this into a more-than-decently-accurate and easy to shoot fast little blaster. Most rounds I've shot will go into one hole at ten yards.
I only started looking at this gun because I realized that it had all the features that I would be seeking (like an ambi-safety, which, WHY for the love of God, is for some reason not standard on modern 1911s that all are ramped and throated and ported well beyond anything that the Sainted JMB - may peace be upon him - would recognize?) on a CCO-sized 1911 . . . except that to get those features, I'd be looking at more than double this price. And, not to cast aspersions, but I had concerns that a CCO-sized 1911 might turn out to be something of a project before it was running the way I wanted. I did not want a project. This P220 Compact Elite SAO is everything I wanted for a great price, and is not a project.
Sample chrono data with carry rounds:
Hornady 200-gr +P TAP: M 949.5 fps/ES 18.48/SD 7.74
Winchester RA45TP 230-gr +P Ranger Talon: M 899.9/ES 14.19/SD 5.56
I carry my P90 some (and my 625-3 3" as well), but the little SIG is the .45 that I carry the most nowadays.
Ranger98
US Veteran
The S&W Pro Series Sub Compact Is a good concealed 1911 as is the previously mentioned CS45
MaximumLawman
Member
How about a Colt Lightweight Officers Model? I never liked the Combat Commander. The grip safety always bit the web of my hand.
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
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
David Sinko
Member
Oh yeah, the Colt Officer's model... I had one of these years ago and it's the reason I'm now a devout revolver shooter.
Seriously, if you want to carry a .45, why not some version of a short barrel 625 revolver? When you cut down the barrel of a 625 it still feeds EVERYTHING. You don't need to buy a case quantity of the latest expensive trick hollowpoint bullet (factory loaded, of course) to find out if it functions properly. If you actually practice with the gun, you don't need to constantly rotate your carry ammo due to rim damage and bullet setback from the constant chambering and unchambering of the expensive carry ammo.
You just don't know what you've been missing.
Dave Sinko
Seriously, if you want to carry a .45, why not some version of a short barrel 625 revolver? When you cut down the barrel of a 625 it still feeds EVERYTHING. You don't need to buy a case quantity of the latest expensive trick hollowpoint bullet (factory loaded, of course) to find out if it functions properly. If you actually practice with the gun, you don't need to constantly rotate your carry ammo due to rim damage and bullet setback from the constant chambering and unchambering of the expensive carry ammo.
You just don't know what you've been missing.
Dave Sinko
Once Upon a Time in a Land [well ok it was not in a Land Far Far away] but it was a long time ago, I was asked by our Range personel to help test the full sized S&W 45 ACP.
I was [still am] an avid 1911 45 ACP Shooter.
So they gave me the gun, some spare Mags and 1500 rounds of ammo...
So I did a bunch of shooting.
Not just static range shooting...
Set up IPSC style stages, close and far.
Shot a few hundred rounds between re-oiling or cleaning...
The gun shot good, was acceptly accurate, and was reliable.
In the past I had owned a couple of Nickle 39's and a 59.
So I was real familar with DA S&W semiautos.
I am NOT a DA Semi Auto kind of guy.
But my report back to them was, IF this was the only semiauto allowed for carry I would carry one.
I was [still am] an avid 1911 45 ACP Shooter.
So they gave me the gun, some spare Mags and 1500 rounds of ammo...
So I did a bunch of shooting.
Not just static range shooting...
Set up IPSC style stages, close and far.
Shot a few hundred rounds between re-oiling or cleaning...
The gun shot good, was acceptly accurate, and was reliable.
In the past I had owned a couple of Nickle 39's and a 59.
So I was real familar with DA S&W semiautos.
I am NOT a DA Semi Auto kind of guy.
But my report back to them was, IF this was the only semiauto allowed for carry I would carry one.
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