Do I want the .45 in Full Size or Compact for CCW?

[oink]

You live in central FL. I can't imagine carrying a full size anything in Central FL other than maybe 2-3 weeks in the Winter.

 

[SWBigBang]

You live in central FL. I can't imagine carrying a full size anything in Central FL other than maybe 2-3 weeks in the Winter.

Its doable but prefer not too simply due to weight.
Granted some items do make it difficult and have to ensure to wear baggier shirts than normal.

 

[hardluk1]

One more pistol to at least check out - Kahr CW45

These pistols will use 1911 officers mags from a number of suppliers like colt wilson and kimber but my old CMC took some trimming of metal in front of the feed lips but still work reliably in my 1911 . You tube videos show the CW45 with 1911 mags and can save you money . Some good mags only cost 20 bucks or less too and full size 10 round mags will work .

You can go to Handgun Hero and compare handguns and you will find the kahr is 1oz heavier and a couple hundredths wider . Its oal is shorter with a 3.6" barrel length and height is the same or shorter using flat bottom 1911 mags .

I spent my first 42 years in collier co fl but only legally carry for 13 years there before moving to a better area to live , work and raise children in . Building homes in port royal durring the hottest months and changing socks and pants after lunch was some what normal do to sweaty hot humid days from may thru september .

The kahr CW45 grip will have more length to grasp with a lower bore height for better control. Trigger pull is different and is a DA style but shorter and far lighter yet still unlike typical striker fired or other DOA pistols . Price is around $360 bucks at a good lgs new .

The kahr pistols have a very smooth trigger pull that will settle in under 5lbs on the 45 models . I have a larger CT45 with a 4lb 4.3oz pull and all stock .

MY CT45 is my foul weather carry over my nice blued lw commander and the larger CT45 can handle 45 super as it comes if you go into Big Bear Country . Just one more option to check out .

 

[erikpolcrack]

One more pistol to at least check out - Kahr CW45

These pistols will use 1911 officers mags from a number of suppliers like colt wilson and kimber but my old CMC took some trimming of metal in front of the feed lips but still work reliably in my 1911 . You tube videos show the CW45 with 1911 mags and can save you money . Some good mags only cost 20 bucks or less too and full size 10 round mags will work .

You can go to Handgun Hero and compare handguns and you will find the kahr is 1oz heavier and a couple hundredths wider . Its oal is shorter with a 3.6" barrel length and height is the same or shorter using flat bottom 1911 mags .

I spent my first 42 years in collier co fl but only legally carry for 13 years there before moving to a better area to live , work and raise children in . Building homes in port royal durring the hottest months and changing socks and pants after lunch was some what normal do to sweaty hot humid days from may thru september .

The kahr CW45 grip will have more length to grasp with a lower bore height for better control. Trigger pull is different and is a DA style but shorter and far lighter yet still unlike typical striker fired or other DOA pistols . Price is around $360 bucks at a good lgs new .

The kahr pistols have a very smooth trigger pull that will settle in under 5lbs on the 45 models . I have a larger CT45 with a 4lb 4.3oz pull and all stock .

MY CT45 is my foul weather carry over my nice blued lw commander and the larger CT45 can handle 45 super as it comes if you go into Big Bear Country . Just one more option to check out .

I've got a commander-sized Kahr 45 as well and like it very much.

 

[hardluk1]

I've got a commander-sized Kahr 45 as well and like it very much.

Some guys are just to hard headed to try something different .

 

[Jim Watson]

For CCW, dig up a Compact if not a Shield.

For my competition...
Early on, I wished they had made a .45 Pro 5" but they didn't.
Later on, I looked at police trade in Compacts for a local match that cut off barrel lengths at 4". But they cut back on that division, so I just shot a revolver when the occasion arose.

 

[Well Armed]

Shield 45 for me in 3.3" or 4". I'm not sure if it fits your hand or not, but I have medium sized hands and I can get all fingers full on the grip with no overhang. Then again, the 2.0 Compact has been discontinued, so if you don't grab one now, you might not be able to. You'll have to buy online though. That's $470.93 + shipping and transfer fee - $75 S&W money back rebate for the M&P Compact. Little over $400 all in when it's said and done.

 

[SWBigBang]

Picked up aM&P Shield Performance Center M2.0 in .45 with Ported slide.

 

[Doug M.]

Based on body type and method of carry -

*
First, you need to make sure you can shoot whatever platform you want to a valid standard, on demand. It must be dead nuts reliable with the ammo you want. (500 round test with no malfunctions.)
Your body size/shape and normal attire will dictate how you carry - this must be a system that works well enough that you are always armed.
The Florida weather will have to be considered - how I dress would likely not work there most of the time.
I have a 945-1 compact that I am carrying most of the time now; it is a lot like a compact 1911. With a good holster (I wrote it up in the Gun Leather subform) and belt, I can carry it in a T shirt and cargo pants; my primary until then was a G33 in a Kramer Leather pocket holster. Neither of them is a lot of fun to shoot; a metal compact .45 can have a bark and twist; the Glock sure does. That short barrel with a stout spring is not real friendly to manipulations and I hope to never field strip it (the 945) again.
I have a 4" Shield with optic - it is a great platform to shoot, but dressing around it is a little more work.

 

[Well Armed]

I have a 4" Shield with optic - it is a great platform to shoot, but dressing around it is a little more work.

I'm short, medium build, and carry the Shield 45 OWB with only a medium or sometimes large t-shirt on. I reckon if I was 6ft+ 200lb +/-, carrying a double stack wouldn't be an issue especially carrying IWB.

 

[hardluk1]

For CCW, dig up a Compact if not a Shield.

For my competition...
Early on, I wished they had made a .45 Pro 5" but they didn't.
Later on, I looked at police trade in Compacts for a local match that cut off barrel lengths at 4". But they cut back on that division, so I just shot a revolver when the occasion arose.

For Several years M&P did have an interesting 45 cal m&p . It was a ported model PC SKU:11710 and I wished I had a good reason to buy one but ! I carry a lw commanders in 45 since'90 and an a offices acp model before that . I like a 1911 platform with a 45 . But I also have carried 40sw pistols since late '90 and for the last 12 years a m&p 4.25 40sw and a couple years back picked up a 2.0 5" ported PC sku:11821 as I do CC it occasionally.

 

[SASFixer]

Carrying a 45 Auto concealed can be a chore. If you are slender it will appear as a square tumor growing on your side. If you are going to carry it inside the waist band it can become painful. Initially, when I started carrying concealed in 1996, I carried a compact (Commander Size Government model) under a "shoot me first" vest in the summer. The vest generated too many questions, winter wasn't a problem. Around 1998 I changed to a Kahr MK9 first in a holster in winter and Galco inside the pocket in the summer. I still carry the MK9, today there are many choices for double stack 9s that are sub-compact. For concealed I'd go with the sub-compact. Yes 45 bullets are bigger carry plenty of power but the size of the gun has limitation. BTW bullet construction has improved 9mm lethality.

 

[Brian Parrish]

You won't be sorry...

Plan to pick up a S&W M&P 2.0 in .45 for CCW but not sure if I should get full size or compact.

Called just about every gun store within a 60 minute drive and most don't have any in stock and probably only 4 have the full size. No one has the Compact in stock so unable to actually compare the two.

As a result, I am hoping to get some good feedback here with regards to the pros/cons of each for CCW.

The grips should be identical so its really comes down to the slide.

You won't be sorry whichever way you go. Just remember when you start with a new EDC CCW pistol there will be plenty to which you must adjust. If it is long and heavy then you will get stronger carrying it. If it is hard to hit well with the shorter sight radius and the greater muzzle rise, you will learn to compensate.

The compact pistols are way easier to carry and/or conceal and quicker to draw. The longer heavier pistols are way easier to shoot accurately, and follow up shots, but I had to work to get my draw speed up to standard.

I'm sorry to tell you this, but your wife has to understand that you must get one of each and practice with each until your skills have developed enough to show which of the two deserves to be your everyday weapon. You may have to put your foot down, but we are talking about your skills as a man and as the defender of your family. I am sorry but she cannot be allowed to have a veto over that

Let us know OK?
Kind and Best to you!
BrianD

 

[DaSvenska]

Like many above this post, The Shield 45 is the way to go. I have the standard unit with the thumb safety. I have installed a Hogue Jr grip on it and have shot it lots. Can be easily carried on the belt or IWB. Simply put- it just works and works well. If you can shoot a rental first, you will see the positive reviews for yourself.

 

[SWBigBang]

Picked up aM&P Shield Performance Center M2.0 in .45 with Ported slide.

Finally got to the range.
It is definitely a keeper.
Great size and weight and accurate.
The sights are awesome.

 

[Well Armed]

Carrying a 45 Auto concealed can be a chore. If you are slender it will appear as a square tumor growing on your side. If you are going to carry it inside the waist band it can become painful. Initially, when I started carrying concealed in 1996, I carried a compact (Commander Size Government model) under a "shoot me first" vest in the summer. The vest generated too many questions, winter wasn't a problem. Around 1998 I changed to a Kahr MK9 first in a holster in winter and Galco inside the pocket in the summer. I still carry the MK9, today there are many choices for double stack 9s that are sub-compact. For concealed I'd go with the sub-compact. Yes 45 bullets are bigger carry plenty of power but the size of the gun has limitation. BTW bullet construction has improved 9mm lethality.

Whether a 45 is comfortable or prints depends on the size and the particular gun. I'd argue that a single stack 45acp whether it be a Shield or 1911 is smaller/thinner than a double stack 9mm.

I agree about the MK9. I sometimes but rarely EDC a MK40, but I will.more often EDC a K40 OWB with an untucked shirt. I find it easy to OWB carry a MK40 or K40 (the K40 is smaller than the K9) 365 including in the summer. I'm a short guy with a small frame by the way....

I also agree about 9mm nowadays is better than 45acp. 45acp guns are generally bigger and heavier without offering much more in lethality. They suck at barrier penetration and are less reliable when it comes to expansion out of a shorter EDC length barrel. Then you have a lot less capacity on top of that. The one and only instance where 45acp shines and makes any sense is for home defense with a suppressor! Size and weight will not matter. You can use a larger gun with more capacity. It's generally subsonic, so ear protection is less of an issue. In a home defense setting, the fact that JHP 45acp sucks at penetration is a pro instead of a con. Outside of that, 45acp isn't a great caliber for EDC or self-defense in comparison to other calibers on the market.

 

[xfarfuldog]

If at all possible, shoot before you buy. In the past I tried the M&P compact 45 with the 8 round mags. I found the recoil to be prohibitive. I did not have the same problem with either the Glock 30 or 36. But the Glocks felt too blocky. I then went to the TSW 4516 and the 457. I preferred the 457 and still own it. I did purchase a 4" 10 shot M&P 45 2.0 and like it. Full 10 round mag and no recoil problems. I hear that the Shield 45 is a very soft shooter but have not fired it. With my past experience with the smallest M&P 45 I kind of doubt it. I much prefer the 45 to a 9mm.

That being said, I generally carry a Shield Plus.

I

 

[CherryRiver]

Speaking as someone who isn't very interested in striker guns, and who much prefers a Commander, I've spent the last three or four years toting a .45 Shield. Somewhat to my surprise.
I often can't belt-carry, the only way to haul a Commander, and have had to revert to pocket carry. Just a bit of wardrobe alteration was necessary to do that successfully.
After years of a Cobra 38, for a long time it was a Kahr PM9, a superb little (very little) gun that I get along well with. A background of revolver shooting (which many of my colleagues lack) makes the Kahr trigger an easy to deal with one.
But I'm still a .45 guy and once my .45 Shield got set up with one of Bob Mika's excellent pocket holsters, it was away-we-go.
I've heard and been told it's impossible to pocket-carry a .45 Shield, yet these last few years of doing so almost all the time would seem to indicate that that common wisdom isn't true.
I recall being at the club with two of my (very competent) USPSA buddies and forcing them to try the Shield with factory ball 230s. Both were highly reluctant.
And both were well-surprised at how easy to shoot the .45 Shield is. Both shot it well immediately despite not even being familiar with regular M&Ps.
Stoked with some hot Georgia Arms 185 JHPs, which make a bit over 1000fps in the little gun, it's close to the line of controllability during rapid fire, but not past it.
Even though it's not a metal-framed, hammer-fired Colt, I can still hit with it to a satisfactory degree.
Quite a fine design, S&W.

 

[pistolpete10]

A Lightweight Commander is a good carry gun, you will have to carry in a holster anyway. That being said I recently bought a 9mm EZ, may carry it. It is also a holster gun but I kind of like it but it ain't a 1911 and it ain't a .45.