Non 1911 45ACP Choices....M&P45 Questions.

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Nalapombu

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Hey all,

I have been nosing around lately at 45ACP pistols, the non-1911 variety. I am trying to stay under $600, preferably a lot under.

I am intending on using it as a sidearm for me while I bowhunt feral hogs here in Texas. It is legal to take hogs with any legal means including handguns. It seems prudent to be prepared for whatever might happen in the woods while chasing these hogs.

Here's some of the pistols on my list.

1. S&W M&P45 with 4 1/2 inch barrel.
2. Glock 21
3. Glock 41
4. EAA Sarilzmaz SAR K2
5. EAA Witness
6. Springfield XD

I have handled and read about all of them except the Witness. The S&W feels great in the hand. I believe it is much better than the others in that department. I'm also sure that it can hold its own against the others just fine. It also has a price that's lower than $500 and that is a BIG PLUS for me.
Whichever one I pick might be exposed to rain, dirt, banging around, who knows what. I would love to see a M&P 45 with a 5 inch barrel and 13 round capacity. I wonder why S&W doesn't come out with a long slide version of the 45ACP? They have them on both the 9mm and 40S&W. It just seems a natural thing to have a version in 45ACP, but they don't. Does anyone know if they are planning on such a version?

I'd like to know what you all think about the M&P 45 in the capacity I will be exposing it to. I've never shot an M&P so I don't know how it will match up against the Glock 21 and the others.
Right now if I were forced to pick my top 2 it would be the M&P and that Turkish made pistol the SAR K2. I handled it last week and it is a pretty darn nice piece. It holds 14+1 and is around $450.

I'd like to hear your thoughts and/or suggestions on my choices and if you think the M&P is the top pick for what I want to do.

Thanks all

Nalajr
 
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I am going through the same decision at the moment. As a long time 9mm fan I've been leaning towards a .45 ACP because I've got enough 9mm's and .38's. I've been looking at the H&K 45, FNX Tactical and Glock 21 :eek:
The .45 would just be a range gun and It's not a necessity.
 
I have owned or shot several of the pistols you mention. The Glock is reliable, but cumbersome, and the Witness is a fine pistol, but heavy. The XD is a but topheavy, in my view. My vote would be for the M&P. I own the Compact, and it's becoming my favorite pistol. The full size one is fine, too, but the Compact is just right. Actually, it's about the size of a Commander, so compact doesn't really apply. Eight shots, plus one in the pipe, should do anything that needs doing.

Good luck in your search!
 
You might look at the Kahr's. The CT45, CW45 ,and the CM 45 all run in the middle $300 range. I own a Kahr CW 45 and find it a nice gun to carry and shoot. Bud's gun shop has all of these plus some that cost more.
 
CZ 97 will fit the needs well .
Kahr 4" ct or tp 45 is a nice light accurate pistol that takes 1911 mags . I'm an hog hunter .

I enjoy my semi-autos but I would pull my old hog handgun out of the safe , my dan Wesson 15-2 357 . Nothing like a 180gr hard cast at 1400fps to stop a pig . Taken a lot of hogs with it .
 
I have the FS M&P 45 and a Ruger SR1911. Two different platforms but I like them both. FYI, S&W offers a 14 round magazine for the M&P. The recoil on the M&P is more a straight back push. It feels like a softer shooting pistol. I went from NO polymer pistols to now owning 5! I enjoy shooting them and carrying them. They have all been accurate and reliable. So I would vote for the M&P but I am biased. :-)
 
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I too have an M&P45, the midsize version. It has a full size frame with a 4" barrel. Comes with two 10-round mags. I also have two 14-round mags. Would highly recommend this set up. It shoots very softly for a 45acp.
 
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I tell ya I like several of the pistols on the list and prior to handling the M&P I had my sights on the SAR K2, it was $404 from Buds and it felt really nice in the hand, but a bit heavy. It also had really good reviews and user reviews. Then the price climbed to $450 and is going up steadily and the 2 tone version is $505. Then I see that the new M&P 45 4 1/2 can be had for less than that, if I went used, prolly a lot less than $500. Well not a LOT, but you get the idea.
I like the SAR K2, but at the $404 price, not at the $505 level. Then you think about what happens if something breaks. EAA carried them, dropped them, and is now carrying them again. So you can't rely on such an arrangement and getting a part from Turkey would be damn near impossible, I think.

I like the G21 and 41 and the M&P. When all is relatively equal, price is going to decide this match up.

I still wish S&W would make a 5 inch version.

Thanks all.

Nalajr
 
NOT a poly-pistol fan. But, thanks to a LGS at which I was employed a few years back, got sent to a S&W M&P Armorers Course. Part of completing the course was a voucher that allowed graduates to purchase ANY M&P for the sum of $200.
Couldn't say no, especally after learning about the pistols and their development.
Got a FDE Mid-size .45 M&P. Been great in every aspect. Dead-reliable and surprisingly accurate. Will put a Apex Tactical trigger kit in it one day. Helps with poundage of trigger pull and reset. Cannot fault the pistol in any way.

BTW - I have very large hands, and to me, the Glock 21 feels like holding a table leg.
 
Nalapombu said:
Hey all,

I have been nosing around lately at 45ACP pistols, the non-1911 variety. I am trying to stay under $600, preferably a lot under.

I am intending on using it as a sidearm for me while I bowhunt feral hogs here in Texas. It is legal to take hogs with any legal means including handguns. It seems prudent to be prepared for whatever might happen in the woods while chasing these hogs.

Here's some of the pistols on my list.

1. S&W M&P45 with 4 1/2 inch barrel.
2. Glock 21
3. Glock 41
4. EAA Sarilzmaz SAR K2
5. EAA Witness
6. Springfield XD

I have handled and read about all of them except the Witness. The S&W feels great in the hand. I believe it is much better than the others in that department. I'm also sure that it can hold its own against the others just fine. It also has a price that's lower than $500 and that is a BIG PLUS for me.
Whichever one I pick might be exposed to rain, dirt, banging around, who knows what. I would love to see a M&P 45 with a 5 inch barrel and 13 round capacity. I wonder why S&W doesn't come out with a long slide version of the 45ACP? They have them on both the 9mm and 40S&W. It just seems a natural thing to have a version in 45ACP, but they don't. Does anyone know if they are planning on such a version?

I'd like to know what you all think about the M&P 45 in the capacity I will be exposing it to. I've never shot an M&P so I don't know how it will match up against the Glock 21 and the others.
Right now if I were forced to pick my top 2 it would be the M&P and that Turkish made pistol the SAR K2. I handled it last week and it is a pretty darn nice piece. It holds 14+1 and is around $450.

I'd like to hear your thoughts and/or suggestions on my choices and if you think the M&P is the top pick for what I want to do.

Thanks all

Nalajr
Click to expand...
I love John Browning's 1911 so much I was born on his birthday.

I own more 1911s than anything else.

Going down your list, I would never own a Glock. I am not saying they are not reliable or durable, just having grown up with 1911s, the grip angle is wrong for me.

I won't buy an XD simply because it is made in Croatia. I know that is prejudice but that is the way I feel.

Truthfully, I do not want to stake my life on any striker fired semi auto that does not provide a second strike capability. Again just me.

From your list my first choice would be the Italian made EAA Witness. I have had this pair for decades. One is 45ACP and the other is 38Super.

witness-s.jpg


Also, if this is a firearm that I was planning on staking my life on, I would not make the cost of the firearm a deciding factor. I find it is hard to consider saving my life a budgetary choice.

If the gun I liked was $100 or $200 more so what. It just means I have to save a bit longer to buy it, or put it on Lay-A-Way for a little while. Over the course of the 10-20-30 years I am going to depend on it, an extra $300 is only $2 a week if we keep the gun for 10 years.

As to non-1911 45s, I am a big fan of the HK USPs. Super durable and rugged. It is the only 45 Semi auto that can handle 45ACP, 45ACP+P and 45SUPER without modifying the gun for the more powerful ammunition

usp-familys.jpg


There are also some very fine older Smith and Wessons that fall into this category.

The 451x family makes a great carry gun.

USM4516s.jpg


sff-r.jpg


recon-l.jpg


Then if we are talking about non-1911 45s, how can we forget the SIG P220/P227 autoloaders?

220familys.jpg
 
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I own a bunch of handguns in .45ACP. From a Les Bear at the high end to a Ruger Blackhawk convertible at the low end. My FS M&P.45 is right in the middle for accuracy. Durability is great. Doesn't weigh all that much. Don't have to worry about the finish etc. It makes a real good outdoor companion gun if an auto is what you want. I have a very early model and went to the Apex trigger etc. A very shootable pistol for the money and the ergonomics are great for me.
 
Old Corp said:
BTW - I have very large hands, and to me, the Glock 21 feels like holding a table leg.
Click to expand...

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Just asking cause while I don't have large hands they are big enough and with long fingers. I hate little grips with no thickness to take up the space for my fingers, especially if the trigger is close too. I prefer Glock 21 size grip. Plenty to hold on to. Other grips I like are Hague rubber palm swell for any 3rd Gen S&W as well as Sig although Sig OEM isn't too bad.
 
Another one you might want to look into is the new Sig 320. Nothing but great reviews. The gun (s# part) is just the trigger pack so with one trigger pack you can have a full size, compact or sub compact frame with different grip thickness for $50ea. This gives you one gun and 3 ways to carry. The trigger is probably one of the best if not the best for a striker fire. Clean, crisp and short. Priced under $500 with regular sights and just over $500 with NS
 
The M&P .45 was designed initially as a potential military handgun and was entered to compete for the military joint services contract before it was canceled.

They are extremely durable and reliable. I have two full size. Models. One I carry and the other I train with. They feed and function with everything I put in them and I have countless thousands of rounds through one.

I have had or used most of the guns mentioned and the M&P is my favorite.
 
No. It's a Florida company that imports mainly Italian CZ knockoffs. They did import some stuff from Russia a long time ago
 
I have heard nothing but good things about the M&P 45. Thought about getting one, but it holds less than my old Para Hi Cap 1911. In competition, every round counts. Lol
 
Nalapombu; IMHO, as a long time 1911 user.
#1. S&W M&P- price, feel, trigger, support unmatched. My choice after years of carrying a 1911.
#2. Glock- same as above but trigger stinks. And trigger hard to fix reliably and safely.(I am gonna get flamed on that statement!) To Glock's credit, their Gen4 triggers are much better, but still not great.
#3. Springfield- Good on all accounts save for parts and support. Very few parts are available(Sprngfld will not sell you parts! You have to ship gun back to them. Bleh!)
#4. High Quality 1911's-(Not the cheap ones. they can be a Pistolsmiths nightmare. And while I love a good 1911, it is NOT a beginners pistol at all. Period!) Oh and good ones are not cheap! Hand built pistol. Lotsa parts and experienced people out there.
#5. SIG- Good save for bass-ackwards controls and high price.
#6. S&W 3rd Gen metal frame pistols- Good, but there is a big problem starting to develope. S&W is just about to quit supporting their metal frame older pistols(Not their 1911's). Almost out of parts and not making any new parts. Sad, but true, I'm afraid. What will you do when you break an extractor, for instance. It is starting to be a real problem.

Anything else I would really not consider, due to a myriad of problems,i.e., Support, parts, experience, holsters, etc.
And this is just my .02 cents worth.
Best of luck, Ofc.JL
 
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