Best .45 ACP for Concealed Carry (Striker Fired)

I have shot the shield 45 and the XD-S 45. Personally I prefer the XD-S!

I carry an XDM Compact in 9mm. For something slightly more concealable, I would feel comfortable with either a shield or XDS. I love the capacity of double stack though!
 
Based upon your criteria I'd take a close look at the P320. When looking at similar criteria for myself (I was looking at both hammer and striker fired but I wanted a smallish/not too small, lightweight, DAO or DA/SA .45), I got a SIG P250. The P250 is a great bargain, the similar but striker fired P320 is a little more money but still a good deal. I like the modular aspect, you can have one gun that can be both a compact or a subcompact depending upon your needs/wants that day. I went with the P250 Compact, but if you like smaller there is nothing wrong with going with a subcompact and, again, being modular you can switch it out between sizes as the mood hits.
 
I most definitely won't answer the question 'what's the best', but I'll answer 'which one is my all time favorite that I recommend evaluating'. M&P 45c.

Most accurate, comfortable, fastest handgun I've ever shot, regardless of any criteria including make, model, materials, capacity, caliber, comfort or concealability. I think it does everything better than any other gun I've owned.

I carry a G29 most of the time, I guess, mostly because it's always 'there'. For familiarity, accuracy, speed and confidence, I should probably go back to carrying the M&P.
 
My old standbys


Great guns.

But for carry, my favorites these days are the M&P45C


The Sig P320 Full Size


The Sig P320 Compact


You won't need the Apex trigger with the M&P45C. But you most likely should pop in the Apex sear and the Apex striker block. Not expensive to do, and very quick and easy to do. That's all you'll need to make the M&P45C trigger awesome. If you don't want to replace those two tiny parts, you can polish the ones you have, which will make a nice difference. Or do a little filing and polishing to give you the same result as using the Apex sear and striker block.

The P320 45 (Full or Compact) won't need a thing but your trigger finger. The P320 45 models are scarce right now, as Sig has had a lull in producing them and the inventory in shops has pretty much all been snapped up.

The P320 is very popular world wide and Sig is cranking them out as fast as they can, filling large agency orders. I'm sure that we will be seeing the 45s again in the marketplace before long.

Interesting to note that the S&W M&P and the Sig P320 are very, very similar guns. They could be close cousins. Sig had the great benefit of being able to fully study and digest the Glock and M&P designs closely before designing their own striker-fired model and the result is a home run for Sig!
 
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Based on your specs, I'd opt for one of the Glocks. The only plastic pistol I own is a Ruger LC9 and it has a hammer. I have shot the S&W, SA and the Glock, I don't like the grip safety on the S/A, Some problems with the S&W so the Glock would be it. If I'd seen better reliability with the S&W, that would be my choice.
Since I'm not prejudiced, I carry a Lightweight Commander. Actually, I carry a 642 revolver or the LC9 as a norm. Commander is hard to conceal.
 
As far as concealing goes, I find it no problem to do so with any of the guns mentioned, with shorts and t-shirt. Just requires a good belt and holster.

Let's take the Glock 21SF, for example, it's the "big boy" of the bunch:





Or, full size Sig P320




The smaller models are, obviously, even easier than this to conceal.

Sig P320 Carry in High Noon Bare Asset holster
 
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M&P 45c with an Apex sear, took Division Championship in my state, IDPA shooting it, trijicons on it so it was an actual carry gun not a game gun and it shot/shoots great.
 
I personally love the XDM 45 compact. I sold my full size because the compact was the only 45 I was taking out shooting anymore. it's a great gun, accurate, great trigger, and the ammo capacity is hard to beat. also, I like the ergos way better than any other compact with the exception of the beretta PX4, but that's not a striker gun and not in your list.
 
ammo capacity is hard to beat
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Not for the Glock 30 ;)

Nah, XDm's are good, but I just could never really truly warm up to the XD triggers (M&P either).

I prefer the standard Glock trigger if I don't get a 1911.
 
XDM triggers are a little better than XD triggers, I've shot enough of both to say with certainty that the xdm does improve on the XD in a lot of areas, not the least of which being the trigger. with that said, I'd take a plain jane XD trigger over a M&P anyday.
 
Fire4606 said: M&P 45c with an Apex sear, took Division Championship in my state, IDPA shooting it, trijicons on it so it was an actual carry gun not a game gun and it shot/shoots great.
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Sweet! They are such nice shooters and have awesome triggers with a simple change of sear. I love what the Talon grip wrap does for it, as well - makes a great grip shape feel even better.

M&P45C
 
kahr

I'd at least get on the Kahr website and review their 45acp options -- the guns are very compact, very light, very reliable -- 2 price points -- but the trigger is different -- very long, very smooth. You will either like it a lot -- or not!
 
Why people make recommendations without reading the specifications that Wethepeople stated I don't understand.

Of course, there is no "best" choice, but there are a variety of different options. Only you can determine which of them best suits your unique needs and interests.
 
Just a clarification, did you specifically want a striker fire only? I know it's in the title but not in your description...
 
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