Which .45 Should I Be Lusting After?

[JeffM]

There are a great many guns I've ALWAYS wanted and lust after. I've added many to my collection over the years, but some are simply unreachable financially at the moment or are low on the list of priorities.

I've never encountered this with any of the various handguns in .45acp. I'm looking to expand my collection in the new year to have at least one .45 so this poses a problem.

I know many people will say 1911. I have a Colt Delta Elite in 10mm that I love, but if I get a 1911 in .45 it will be something inexpensive that I can play with and customize. Something like a Rock Island Armory/Armscor gun. Really the only draw for me towards the 1911 platform is that there are so many aftermarket parts available for it. It would be like a Lego set for me to play with, but I'm not enamored with the design.

If I get one purely for self defense it will likely be a S&W M&P. I've shot plenty with the Glock 20/21 and 30, and don't like the way they feel in my hands. Same with HKs, and I'm not a fan of certain design aspects of the XD series. M&Ps fit like a glove and have the endorsement of several people I trust when it comes to fighting with a handgun.

But I have plenty of "fighting" handguns in .40, 9mm, .357, etc. I will probably add an M&P .45 at some point and while I'm sure I'd keep it forever, I would get bored with it as a "shooter"

The only .45s that have ever slightly peak my interest have been the Sig 220 and CZ 97. The Sig 229 and CZ 75 are classic guns I have in my "lust after" category, but are lower on the list. Again, I have plenty of .40 and 9mm guns for the moment. Their .45 counterparts however are only of tepid interest.

So what say you? Is there a particular .45 I should be looking at to fill the hole in my battery? Why should I be interested in that model?

[freonr22]

p220st, amt longslide hardballer, series 70,

[BHPFan]

1911's, enough said.

The 2nd and 3rd Gen Smith & Wessons, built like a tank and no longer made.

Otherwise, a FNP .45ACP as they are not on the DOJ roster list, but it arguably has the best ergos for a double stack .45 pistol and does everything a HK USP does at a lower price.

[RollingCode3]

M&P 45

[jumpthestack]

How about an HK45? They're supposed to be very accurate, and http://pistol-training.com/ just finished up a 50k round torture test and the reliability was shown to be good. It's not on the roster but you can get them in CA via the single shot exemption. Valkyrie Arms in Milpitas can do this for you.

[JeffM]

p220st, amt longslide hardballer, series 70,

Forgot about the .45 longslide (with laser sighting). That might be fun

The 2nd and 3rd Gen Smith & Wessons, built like a tank and no longer made.
Otherwise, a FNP .45ACP...

I've got S&W 5904 and I'm not a huge fan of the Smith autos. With the FNP, I lump them together with the Glock/HK/M&P. If I get one in this category it'll be the M&P.

How about an HK45? They're supposed to be very accurate, and http://pistol-training.com/ just finished up a 50k round torture test and the reliability was shown to be good. It's not on the roster but you can get them in CA via the single shot exemption. Valkyrie Arms in Milpitas can do this for you.

None of the HKs really do it for me. I've handled the USPs, HK45, etc. But I'm not restricting it to Rostered guns as PRK Arms will do any handgun I want as a single shot as need be. They are here in Fresno and were innovating this stuff long before Valkyrie hired one of PRKs former employees to start doing it ( @ Mike)

[Synergy]

RIA Tactical OR SA GI or Mil Spec

[elSquid]

Smith 325 Night Guard:



6 shot, lightweight N frame. What's not to love?

-- Michael

[Miltiades]

Suggested .45 - Sig P220ST

If this .45 is mainly for shooting and not carry, you will have better groups with a heavy gun and a reasonably long barrel. I would recommend the Sig P220ST, with all stainless construction. The gun is very easy to shoot well, absorbs recoil easily, looks good and is available in CA. I have a number of 1911s and the P220ST easily shoots as well as my 1911s.

[morrcarr67]

Any 1911. Argentine 1927 and Ballester-Molina. A Tommy Gun, OK I know this is a rifle just had to add it to the list. Colt Double Eagle, just to say you have one.

[mark2203]

HK UMP45

[cineski]

If we have to tell you then that's not true lust

[Longbow]

Colt 1911-A1

Sig XO or GSR

S & W M & P

Les Baer

Pencils down.

Longbow

[flatovercrest]

p220st, amt longslide hardballer, series 70,

This.

[k1dude]

If we have to tell you then that's not true lust

That was my thinking too.

Lustworthy IMHO are:

S&W M&P 45

Sig P220

Sig 1911