Choice of 45's for Carry

[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.

 

[sna0403]

I have a Rock Island Armory MS 1911 I carry every day (OWB). The 4" barrel makes it easy.

 

[Colt357]

S&W M&P .45C or 1911PD

I have both, and a full size M&P .45 as well.

The 1911PD is S&W's variation on the Colt Lightweight Combat Commander (full size scandium alloy frame and grip with a 4.25in bbl and slide). It is a thin and light 1911 variant and mine has been flawless through several thousand rounds.

I also have two .45 M&Ps (full size and compact) both have thumb safties because I've shot 1911 pattern guns for over 45 years. Its what I know and what I am comfortable with. The .45 compact M&P is a 4in bbl., the full size is 4.5. The grip on the .45c is about 3/4 inch shorter in the backstrap than the one on the M&P full size. I use the "small" grip inserts on both M&Ps.

BTW, compared to the 9mm/.40cal M&P compacts, the .45C is 1/2 in longer in both the slide and the grip back strap, and marginally wider.

Hold the M&P .45C next to the 1911PD and you see 2 pistols that each hold 8 round mags, with slides almost exactly the same length; longer sight radius on the M&P; thinner slide on the 1911PD; shorter and thinner grip frame on the M&P (assuming standard grip pannels on the 1911PD).

The 1911PD has a lighter, crisper trigger. The M&P 45C is softer shooting.

I have all 3 and all have been totally reliable. I rotate carrying them depending on the needs and conditions of the moment.

As always, YMMV.

Good luck!

Dennis