Comments on a .45?

cliff54

cliff54

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I apologize for the deviation from M&P here but I have received some good info from this forum and thought I might get good responses from my question. I am a happy owner of a M&P 40 but own other brands and calibers as well.

I am interested in buying a new .45 pistol. I was curious to what type you have a good or bad opinion of. I have shot a few Kimbers and the Ruger Commander but no others. Any opinions?
 
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S&W makes a fine one and also one in M&P. O really like my Remington 1911 R1. I am looking to get a 45 wheel gun and it will be S&W 625.
 
my most carry 1911 is a S&W SC 4.25" at bed side is a MP .45FS but I hear the MPc in .45 is a great CC weapon, for that I use an HK .45C very similar in size, I have a few Colts, one Kimber but the SW 1911 is a great gun with a great customer service, Springfield Armory have great 1911s too.
 
I sure like my Mod.2 .45 from the Springfield Armory.
It was exactly what I was looking for.

I sold a S&W 4565 and a Glock 36 in .45acp that I owned for a while and
they were nice firearms but weren't exactly what I wanted.

Sounds like you're after more of a 1911 style gun so if you have a chance,
go to a shop where you can test shoot a few models or rent a few at the range and see what you like/dislike.

As an aside:
My biggest gripe with S&W has always been the cost & availability of magazines. Especially during the crunch we had a couple of years ago.
$40-$60 is just too much to pay for something, when everybody else can sell them for $25-$35 and has a butt load of them.
 
I would suggest looking at STI Spartan for a nice 1911 in a lower price ranger. My Kimber has also been good. I have a Les Baer for the higher priced spread.
 
You have a lot of brand choices if you are talking 1911 ".45 pistol" and even more if you just mean a gun chambered for .45. Great caliber, most manufacturers include it in their lines. I've had a Colt 1911 for years and love it a lot. The S&W 1911's look good and Kimber has a good reputation.

If you mean a gun chambered for .45, I'm real happy with my two M&Ps and wouldn't hesitate to suggest one of them for you. Everyone says the compact is wonderful. I like the look of the full size to tell the truth because I can't see lugging the .45c when I could carry my .40 Shield, and if I'm not going to carry it I'd just as soon have full size.

For what it is worth, I will never again try to make an "Officers Model" size 1911 work. (sub 4" barrel) I've been told by an excellent local gun smith that reliable function isn't possible, and if I recall Wilson Combat says 3.6 is the absolute shortest you can go.

And speaking of Wilson Combat, if your checkbook will bear the burden check their line along with Nighthawk Custom and Ed Brown. Someone already mentioned Les Baer.
 
I've got the 45c and a S&W full size 1911 in 45 and love them both.
Different feel for sure but they both shoot very well and are a pleasure to take to the range. The 45c is surprisingly easy to conceal and carry. 8+1 of 230gr projectiles is a lot of stopping power.
 
This being the S&W Forum and since the 625 has been mentioned, I'm going to throw the 4506 out there.

IMG_0425v03.jpg
 
Nighthawk and Kobra Custom are amazingly accurate I don't have experience with other high end 1911's but I'm sure they are just as good. FNX Tactical is the baddest looking .45 with 15+1 capacity and red dot ready. H&K 45 great ergos and hammer fired like the FNX. M&P 45 & Glock 21 for striker fired. The Glock 21 can be made into a full-auto carbine with a 9" barrel from Lone Wolf and carbine kit from FAB Defense at your own responsibility of course. Ultra Hi-Cap mags are available for the H&K and Glock.
 
The Springfield TRP (tactical response pistol), based on the one provided to the FBI is the best in value at around $1400. Dan Wesson is good. Money decides.
 
Hey and I even found a Cabot for $11,500. Nice but wouldn't fit on my bucket list.
 
M&P 45 Compact here. Great pistol. The compact models in the M&P line fit my hand perfectly.
 
Sig Sauer produces a selection of high quality 1911's at a reasonable price. Lots of models to choose from.
 
IMO Springfield "Range Officer" is a "Best Buy". All forged, not cast and NO MIMS. Everything you need and nothing you don't and all I have shot are very accurate.
 
Sig P220. High quality. Accurate. Reliable. Easy to maintain. Decent trigger, but not as good as any high quality 1911, which would be the only trade off as far as I'm concerned. There are lots of variations to choose from. Good luck.
 
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shottist said:
IMO Springfield "Range Officer" is a "Best Buy". All forged, not cast and NO MIMS. Everything you need and nothing you don't and all I have shot are very accurate.
Click to expand...
Springfield uses MIM parts on just about all but the highest price production 1911. They make very good MIM but they still do use them

-Slide stop
-Thumb safety
-Disconnect
-Grip safety
-MSH
-Mag release
-Hammer
-Sear
 
OP what do you want from it? A range toy? Carry? Home defense? Collectible? And also ....WHAT'S YOUR PRICE RANGE????.... This is probably the most important part. There are hundreds of different 45s for every reason and style and price.
 
I own two Colt 1911's and enjoy them both for shooting at the range, home defense and the Commander is great for concealed carry. "They are the Real Deal"
 
My next pistol will undoubtedly be an M&P45C. If I were to see a 1911 at a good price I might bite at that instead. So far just a pipedream - I can't afford either but so far the LEO/Military price at a Police Supply Store of M&Ps beats the price of anything else. Final price of my M&P40C was $349 plus tax & background check at Streicher's.
 
Arik said:
Springfield uses MIM parts on just about all but the highest price production 1911. They make very good MIM but they still do use them

-Slide stop
-Thumb safety
-Disconnect
-Grip safety
-MSH
-Mag release
-Hammer
-Sear
Click to expand...
At the LGS where I worked, we had a "Springfield Day", & the rep was in the store to answer questions. I asked him if their 1911's used forged, or mim parts. He said he "wouldn't" answer the question, but don't you think if the parts were forged he would have answered the question? GARY
 
N4KVE said:
At the LGS where I worked, we had a "Springfield Day", & the rep was in the store to answer questions. I asked him if their 1911's used forged, or mim parts. He said he "wouldn't" answer the question, but don't you think if the parts were forged he would have answered the question? GARY
Click to expand...
Yes plus it's been proven over and over by nationally know gunsmiths and people in the 1911 industry.
 
Smith357 said:
This being the S&W Forum and since the 625 has been mentioned, I'm going to throw the 4506 out there.
Click to expand...
While this is a good gun, I would like to add some comments about it.

First, it's not made any more. While you may find used examples, they are not common.

Secondly, and more important in my book, is the location of the safety/decocker. Slide mounted control levers like this may be inadvertently switched to safe when manipulating the slide. This is not an issue if it is just a range gun, but it might mean death in a self-defense situation. I know of at least two people that had this happen to them. Fortunately it happened in training. Both of them have switched carry guns.

I owned a 4506 once and really liked it. Alas, it is not my favorite design for self-defense.
 
Best made 1911, currently, and best for resale value, in my opinion, is the real deal - Colt.

If for some reason you don't want a Colt, which has had the 1911 in continuous production since, well, 1911, then these are good: S&W, Ruger, Springfield. I do not recommend Kimber or SIG Sauer.

At the next lowest price point, Remington is ok as well.

After that, try a Rock Island Armory. If you have a problem, they have a "no questions asked" service policy, and their customer service is second to none. In the same general ball park, price wise, is Kahr/Thompson Auto Ordnance. As between the two, I have more experience with RIA, and although there have been occasional problems, RIA has always been outstanding on service, in one case, just simply replacing a customer's gun with a brand new one.

Other than the 1911, there are good "modern" designs as well. In that class, you have the Glock, S&W M&P, SIG Sauer 220 and 227, Ruger SR45, etc.
 
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I have carried a S&W 4506, a Glock 21C and a M&P all in 45 ACP as duty sidearms. The 4506 was on patrol, great pistol but too heavy for plain clothes. The Glock was very serviceable but I just wanted a S&W as my sidearm. Enter the M&P, which I have carried for 6 years now.

In addition my S&W 1911 is one of the most accurate I have shot out of the box.

In summary I would bet my life on any of the four but my M&P is my choice now.

I hope you find this helpful.
 
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