Most self-defense loads will be just fine. I recommend Speer Gold Dots anytime someone asks because they expand and do not shed their jackets. Hydra-Shoks are spotty; factory Federal rounds have been coming out overcharged, etc. and have expansion problems. For those reasons, I dumped the Hydra-Shok.
Best .45 Auto Pistol?
- Thread starter jrslate
- Start date
Desert Dog
New member
The best .45 would be the one I have in my hand at the time... 
YMMV, of course.
YMMV, of course.
Best .45 auto at a "reasonable" price?
Another vote for the Ruger P97.
Not the best for CCW cuz it's a bit blocky (some might say glocky?), but the damned thing shoots straight and fires every time. Eats whatever you feed it.
As a private citizen, when I carry it's always concealed. I'm about to pickup a Kahr P9 Covert as my new primary to my KT P-32 backup. The P97 comes along for the ride but sits in the car while daddy's busy
lab.45
Another vote for the Ruger P97.
Not the best for CCW cuz it's a bit blocky (some might say glocky?), but the damned thing shoots straight and fires every time. Eats whatever you feed it.
As a private citizen, when I carry it's always concealed. I'm about to pickup a Kahr P9 Covert as my new primary to my KT P-32 backup. The P97 comes along for the ride but sits in the car while daddy's busy
lab.45
Best .45
Lots of talk about Glocks above. I love Glocks (have more than you can count on one hand). But in my experience the glock is not at its best in .45. My 21 is the only Glock I own that has ever choked. On ball at that! I think the Glock is at its best in 9mm and .40
All of the above talk about the 220 is accurate in my experience. I have one. Shoots great. But it doesn't fit me all that well and it balances kinda top heavy IMO. But it runs good and is accurate. If it fits you it is probably the best under 600 choice.
Of course I'm a 1911 guy if its a 45. So I'd recommend a 5" govt model - Kimber or the new Colt 1991A1. May be hard to find the Kimber custom classic under 600 though.
I don't have experience with the Rugers. I just don't like the way they look. Personal taste thing there.
Lots of talk about Glocks above. I love Glocks (have more than you can count on one hand). But in my experience the glock is not at its best in .45. My 21 is the only Glock I own that has ever choked. On ball at that! I think the Glock is at its best in 9mm and .40
All of the above talk about the 220 is accurate in my experience. I have one. Shoots great. But it doesn't fit me all that well and it balances kinda top heavy IMO. But it runs good and is accurate. If it fits you it is probably the best under 600 choice.
Of course I'm a 1911 guy if its a 45. So I'd recommend a 5" govt model - Kimber or the new Colt 1991A1. May be hard to find the Kimber custom classic under 600 though.
I don't have experience with the Rugers. I just don't like the way they look. Personal taste thing there.
I carried the 1911 for several years and a year in Nam, Learned to really dislike that gun, Never had to use it, But I would have in a second, Got to be a good shot and fired expert with it, Just to bulky to carry. Gonna look at a ruger 9mm pretty soon, I can afford the high dollar guns just don't shoot them enough to want one. I do find the P97 bulky also so I find myself packing the Thunder 380 more often, Best holster I found for the P97 is a IWM tucked away in the small of my back, A cheap Uncle Mikes in Left hand version at that, Go figuire!!!
asleepinTucson
New member
I vote for the ruger p-97 also, inexpensive, accurate, ruger's Mike Smesko who strives for perfection on the customer service side.
I'm sorry ED2000 had problems. I had some at first but mike fixed them and the 97 is the best shooter for the money I own.
Which 45 to get. The best answer is All or maybe None.....
Or go to the range and rent a different one each time and find the one that fits you and shoots for you and is in your price range.
I use hydrashoks JHP 165g personal protection ammo as is recommended by some of my "knowledgeable" associates. Those who have fired their weapons for real rather than a range rat like me. I shoot cci blazer or S&B 230g ball FMJ on the range.
Best of luck with your search.
Guns are like tatoos, after the first one you want to keep getting them??? Sure wish I could trade or sell these damn tatoos as easily as the guns.
I'm sorry ED2000 had problems. I had some at first but mike fixed them and the 97 is the best shooter for the money I own.
Which 45 to get. The best answer is All or maybe None.....
Or go to the range and rent a different one each time and find the one that fits you and shoots for you and is in your price range.
I use hydrashoks JHP 165g personal protection ammo as is recommended by some of my "knowledgeable" associates. Those who have fired their weapons for real rather than a range rat like me. I shoot cci blazer or S&B 230g ball FMJ on the range.
Best of luck with your search.
Guns are like tatoos, after the first one you want to keep getting them??? Sure wish I could trade or sell these damn tatoos as easily as the guns.
The Kimber Kid
Inactive
I firmly believe that your first .45 should be a 1911.
As far as which kind to get that will be the best for your dollar right out of the box?
I think my name says it all.
As far as which kind to get that will be the best for your dollar right out of the box?
I think my name says it all.Nightcrawler
New member
Glocks, Sigs, 1911s, OH MY
Well, you stirred up quite a hornets' nest with this question. Not having an overwhelming amount of pistol experience, here are the tips:
-Handle each gun you're considering. Fire it if you can, though in many cases that won't be an option. Check the trigger pull and your ability to manipulate the controls. Through doing just that, I've learned that the Para P14-45, which everyone says has this huge fat grip, in fact fits my hand like a glove, where as the Glock 21 fits very poorly, and therefore I would not buy one.
If you want more than ten rounds out of a .45, your best bet would probably be a Para or something else that takes P14 magazines. Simply because, while Glock 21s and USP 45s do have pre-ban magazines (in 13 and 12 round capacities, respectively) they're in more demand than Para mags and the prices are higher, as well as the magazines being harder to find. On a down note, from what I've heard, it's difficult to actually fit 10 rounds into the castrated Glock 21 magazines, and often they'll only fit 9. Now, if you're made of money and can afford $100+ per magazine for your weapon (and having more than 10 rounds is really that important to you), then by all means, get one of the double columns.
But if you don't care about that, then get a regular 1911, a Ruger P90 or 97, or a Sig 220. All three have 7 and 8 round single column magazines that are inexpensive and easy to stock up on, and you really should have a lot of magazines.
Well, you stirred up quite a hornets' nest with this question. Not having an overwhelming amount of pistol experience, here are the tips:
-Handle each gun you're considering. Fire it if you can, though in many cases that won't be an option. Check the trigger pull and your ability to manipulate the controls. Through doing just that, I've learned that the Para P14-45, which everyone says has this huge fat grip, in fact fits my hand like a glove, where as the Glock 21 fits very poorly, and therefore I would not buy one.
If you want more than ten rounds out of a .45, your best bet would probably be a Para or something else that takes P14 magazines. Simply because, while Glock 21s and USP 45s do have pre-ban magazines (in 13 and 12 round capacities, respectively) they're in more demand than Para mags and the prices are higher, as well as the magazines being harder to find. On a down note, from what I've heard, it's difficult to actually fit 10 rounds into the castrated Glock 21 magazines, and often they'll only fit 9. Now, if you're made of money and can afford $100+ per magazine for your weapon (and having more than 10 rounds is really that important to you), then by all means, get one of the double columns.
But if you don't care about that, then get a regular 1911, a Ruger P90 or 97, or a Sig 220. All three have 7 and 8 round single column magazines that are inexpensive and easy to stock up on, and you really should have a lot of magazines.
I don't know about anybody else, but the .45 I ended up with is the Glock 36. I tried the Colt Gold Cup. It jamed three times before the mag was empty. (scratch that ) I bought the Glock 30. I found it was to fat in the grip for me. I traded it for the Glock 36. Just like the mythical porridge, I found it was just right!!! 
) I bought the Glock 30. I found it was to fat in the grip for me. I traded it for the Glock 36. Just like the mythical porridge, I found it was just right!!!