Lightweight .45 question

[mc5aw]

This is probably not the place to get an unbiased opinion but I'll ask anyway. I'm thinking about options for a lightweight .45 CCW, and the most obvious choice is the 325 Night Guard. However, price-wise, size-wise, and weight-wise, a comparable consideration is a Colt New Agent. Mid-20 oz makes for some stout recoil in a .45 ACP platform, but both guns are suitable for close quarters. The big front site on the 325 NG is a plus, but the point shooting trench sight on the Colt is a feature I personally like. First hand accounts, opinions, discussion points, etc. are welcome as always.

 

[jaykellogg]

I have a Kimber Ultra CDP II which weighs 25 ounces empty. A full magazine of .45 acp will increase that somewhat. IMO, it is a ball to shoot. I believe the Colt New Agent would be similar. The Kimber has tritium night sights which I like due to my poor eyesight.

If it were me, I would lean toward the 1911 for magazine capacity and ease of reloading. I would also consider the laser sights. I use my Kimber for a range gun and the laser wouldn't help at the range.

 

[crofoot629]

I wouldn’t buy any S&W with the internal lock.

For a smallish wheel gun I’d be attracted to a 3” Model 60 in .357 Magnum.
I think the 60-10. Then stoke it with Double Taps 110, or 125 Grn offering. (1600 fps)

I carry wheel guns because I love my Smith’s.
But they are pre-lock guns usually in 44 Special or .357.
A S&W in 45 acp would also suite me fine as long as it was pre lock.
I also carry a Glock 26 or G19.
Or a steel framed Government Model, Wilson Combat 1911.

I’d never consider a shorter barreled platform than a 5” 1911.
I’d also never buy a Kimber with Swartzs Safety (all Series II guns). For that matter the only Kimber I’d buy would be an early Kimber from Clackamas.

The short barreled 1911’s are plain and simple not as reliable as 5 inch guns. And they eat up recoil springs as fast as every 1000 rounds.

Emory

 

[KSCowboy]

Well I recommend the new Springfield XD-S. It's a 5+1 that weighs about 21 ounces and just gobbles up anything you want to throw in it. Surprisingly the recoil is not bad at all. I've been carrying it since the 4th of July every day and it is a great little gun. Sells for around $550.

I've shot all kinds of reloads through it from 155 grain SWC to 230 grain HP and a few factory loads without a hiccup of any kind.

 

[TAROMAN]

Despite all the negative opinions on the 3" 1911s, it seems that Colt got it right with this one:

Eats everything I have put through it without a bobble. 100%.
So, the recoil spring will only last 1000 rounds. Its not a range toy and after "break-in"/reliability testing will probably only see a couple hundred rounds a year.

 

[18DAI]

Back years ago, when I was searching for a light weight compact 45, only two guns met my relaibility and accuracy requirements. The Colt Defender and, albiet hardly light weight, the 4516.

Single action pistols were prohibited at the time so I went with the 4516. I never regretted it. When I finally got to examine and shoot a 4513, my 4516 got parked for good.

The 4513 is the finest light weight compact 45 out there IMO. I've shot them all too, except for the new Springfield XDs. Based upon my examination of that model, it doesn't do anything my first edition 4513 doesn't already do as well or better. And my 4513 holds six in the mag + one in the pipe. Try one. You will be glad you did.

The Colt Agent I got to shoot last month was a VERY well made pistol that functioned reliably. Too expensive for me though. Plus, I'm not really a single action fan anymore.

I also agree with Crowfoot, a revolver with an internal lock is not acceptable as a serious purpose handgun. Good luck with your search! Regards 18DAI

 

[BaldEagle1313]

If you're looking specifically for a revolver, then I'll defer to others.

But if a semi-auto is part of the equation for you, then look into a 2nd-gen S&W, the 457. I have two, and if you search threads here on The Forum you'll find several in which it is pretty much universally praised.

Alloy frame, steel slide, 3.75" barrel, seven in the mag. 29 ounces empty, and even if that's 8 ounces more than the XD-S, I've yet to have any polymer pistol have anywhere near as good a trigger as a metal S&W.

If you went to a 3rd-gen S&W, then a 4513. It's a little bigger than the 457, but it's a stainless steel slide instead of carbon steel and has the ambidextrous decocker-safety, whereas the 457 is right-hand only.

 

[Arik]

Kahr CW45

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[jaykellogg]

I had a S&W 457. I bought it at a gun show before i got the Kimber and in fact, I sold it to partially pay for the Kimber. It is a very thin pistol (for a .45), but I didn't care for the trigger. Just before the hammer drops you feel a little "click" in the trigger. I suppose this is supposed to be like a set trigger, i.e. pull fast till you feel the click and then squeeze. I never liked the trigger and I don't believe the man I sold the gun to likes it either. I never shot well with the gun. IMO, it's two main advantages are 1) it is relatively cheap, and 2) it is thin. I sold mine for $420 including a new leather holster. I will say, while I owned mine it performed flawlessly. I only fired ball ammo though.

I looked on Gunbroker and there are two for sale. Starting at $400 and $425 and neither has a bid.

 

[Hapworth]

1911 in a concealed carry officer's configuration: 4.25 inch barrel commander slide; smaller officer's frame.

Concealable and reliable, and with an aluminum frame, lightweight.

Dan Wesson CCO gets consistently good reviews.

Alternately, a Glock 36, which is basically Glock's CCO.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I currently own a .45 a.c.p. Colt LW Commander. This suits me just fine.

In the past, I have owned two different S&W #457's, two Star PD's, and a AMT Back-Up. These guns all had their place in my carry rotation, and all worked well.

 

[Cashdog]

My guess is that you'll have to end up trying several of the options mentioned above before you fix on the one that works best for you. I know I did. I've been through a Colt Defender, G36, 7 round 4553, & a 457. All four of those performed flawlessly, but I haven't missed any of em since I found a 6 round 4553. Everything I need, and nothin I don't in a CC 45.

 

[M29since14]

1911 in a concealed carry officer's configuration: 4.25 inch barrel commander slide; smaller officer's frame.

S&W makes a version of this, but I can't recall what the model name/number is - maybe 1911ES? Knowing what I know now, I would prefer it to my old Colt Officer's ACP, but in fairness to the Colt, I have never had any trouble with it when using either Colt or Wilson magazines. I'd prefer either of these two choices to the 325 since the autos are much flatter and easier to carry than a N-frame, and I prefer a single-action auto to a revolver for this purpose anyway.

Of course you can never go wrong with a .45 Commander, like the S&W 1911PD model, or a Colt that has been properly debugged.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Well I recommend the new Springfield XD-S. It's a 5+1 that weighs about 21 ounces and just gobbles up anything you want to throw in it. Surprisingly the recoil is not bad at all. I've been carrying it since the 4th of July every day and it is a great little gun. Sells for around $550.

I've shot all kinds of reloads through it from 155 grain SWC to 230 grain HP and a few factory loads without a hiccup of any kind.

I second this. And thanks for saving me from posting my own pic!

Got almost 1000 rounds through mine. No hiccups. About the same size as the Shield. Fits in the front pocket of my cargo shorts. And this winter will sit IWB holster with an extended 7 round mag.

The gun comes with two interchangeable backstraps, fiber optic front sights with extra red and green tubes, and two mags.

Recoil varies from person to person on this gun. I've heard "not bad" to "hurts a little."

But all in all, it's the lightest and most compact 45ACP made that I like. FINALLY!!

 

[mc5aw]

What would you fellas say the Springfield XD-S recoils similar to (in terms of S&Ws)? An Airweight J-frame with factory 158 g .38s Specials?

 

[Kanewpadle]

What would you fellas say the Springfield XD-S recoils similar to (in terms of S&Ws)? An Airweight J-frame with factory 158 g .38s Specials?

I can't honestly remember if I've ever run 158 gr through either of my j frames but I think the XDS might be a little better.

I still have strong enough hands to hang on to the gun. My hands are large but even though my pinky finger dangles off the end, it's not bad at all. The gun likes to buck straight up so you do have to hang on to it. But I knew that before I bought it. What else could you expect from a light weight 45?

With the extended magazine it's not an issue at all. But in all honesty, I think I'm developing arthritis in both thumb joints so I notice recoil more than I used to. I know someday I'm going to have to go back to a full size gun and dress around it.

If you can handle the recoil of the 158 gr in a j frame, I think the XDS would be easier for you. Too bad we're so far away. I'd let you shoot mine.

 

[jaykellogg]

My carry gun is a Kel Tec PF-9 which weighs 12 oz empty. I thought it was very snappy until I bought a Taurus 44C (.44 magnum 5 shot with a 2½ inch barrel).

 

[mc5aw]

I don't suppose anyone around here has a Fitz Special that's collecting dust?

 

[Granddad]

1911 in a concealed carry officer's configuration: 4.25 inch barrel commander slide; smaller officer's frame.

Concealable and reliable, and with an aluminum frame, lightweight.

Dan Wesson CCO gets consistently good reviews.

Alternately, a Glock 36, which is basically Glock's CCO.

I am a fan of the LW CCO concept for carry. Mine is a Colt, but DW, Baer, and I think STI, among others perhaps, make versions of the same.

 

[Hapworth]

S&W makes a version of this, but I can't recall what the model name/number is - maybe 1911ES?

Right you are, forgot about that one: S&W 1911 Compact ES (SKU 108310).