DA/SA 45's

which fancy German DA/SA 45?

  • USP 45

    Votes: 13 11.1%

  • P227

    Votes: 24 20.5%

  • HK45

    Votes: 16 13.7%

  • P220

    Votes: 64 54.7%
  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .


I bought this in 1980. NIB, came with 2 (50rnd) boxes of Federal 185gr JHP. $369 plus tax.

All the rest of my .45ACP semi auto pistols are 1911A1 pattern guns.

Double stack firepower is of no concern to me. And, while it took me a few years, I am finally OK with the heel type mag release. It is a slight disadvantage in timed combat style games, but then, the gun wasn't made for playing games.

Over the years I have come to realize that, for me, the highest practical firepower and fastest mag changes are rather irrelevant. My gun is bone stock, never had any work done on it. Works flawlessly, and feeds everything with a bullet (I never tried feeding an empty case, why would you?:rolleyes:)

Handles loads that are too hot for a stock 1911A1, and also cycles with loads too light to work in those same 1911s. While I never did a formal round count, the gun has had between 8-10,000 rnds through it over the 35 years I've been shooting it.

I think that is plenty good enough, and when I see this or that gun did a 30 or 50k test run, all I do is yawn. That's wonderful, but its not a selling point to me. I have never taken an interest in any of the other guns in the poll, so will not comment on them, other than the fact that since I had my BDA (Sig P220), I never had a need for another DA/SA .45ACP.

Get what you like best, but you won't be going wrong with a P220.
 
In the DA/SA format, the Sig P-series is hard to beat. With a drop-in SRT, they have probably the best factory trigger in the class. A P220 is tried & true, while the P227 is the same formula with larger capacity.

The HK45 and HK USP both can accept the HK Match Trigger, the HK45 with a bit of finagling. With a Match Trigger, they are in or near the same class as the Sig in terms of trigger feel.

I also find the Sig much easier to field strip, clean, detail clean, etc. They are really elegant designs.

All the same, your list contains some of the nicest production handguns available. You won't go wrong with any of them.

The HK45 and P227 are, to me, neck & neck, and really just a question of which platform / mechanical action you prefer to deal with.
 
I know it's not on your list, but I just bought a new CZ-97B. It comes with the aluminum grips, fiber optic front sight, and a longer feed ramp to reliably feed hollow points. I only have about 100 rounds through it, but it has been 100% reliable, and very accurate. I highly recommend one.
 
the CZ97 has been recommended twice now.
I understand they own Dan Wesson now and to my knowledge the current DW 1911's are well regarded. Can anyone speak to the build quality, trigger, reliability and durability of the current CZ97's relative to the Sig's and HK's listed?
 
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I have the HK45, I had the P220. I would add the CZ 97B, Smith & Wesson 625, and (get ready) the Gen4 GLock 21 to this list, then I I would say there is not a bad choice to be made here, .45 ACP ammo launchers, including JMB's greatest, are generally excellent!
 
JDBerg-I don't particularly care for the Glock 21, I have a 20, but mostly so I'd have something in 10mm, It's been perfectly acceptable on all fronts but... meh. My striker 45 is an M&P fullsize, As for the smith 625 I already have a convertible Blackhawk with a 45 acp cylinder. And I've got a pair of 1911's

I've stumbled across examples of two possible candidates recently.
The Smith 4506 and a Colt Double Eagle. I understand the Double Eagle is widely hated, but I see a lot of love for the 3rd gen smiths and I love my dads 6906.
Anyone have comment on those two?
 
JDBerg-I don't particularly care for the Glock 21....,,My striker 45 is an M&P fullsize,
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Not a problem, I feel the same way about the Smirh $ Wesson M&P 45 that you feel about the Glock 21.
 
the CZ97 has been recommended twice now.
I understand they own Dan Wesson now and to my knowledge the current DW 1911's are well regarded. Can anyone speak to the build quality, trigger, reliability and durability of the current CZ97's relative to the Sig's and HK's listed?
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I own Sigs, HK's, Berettas, as well as many others. I have found CZ's to be as good, or better in quality, and reliability. However, they fit my hand better, are more accurate for me, and are still a good value. I am buying CZ's over other pistols because I like them better than the other. I am down to one Sig, and one HK. I now have five CZ pistols, plus the Kadet conversion unit.

The 97B I just bought is nicely finished, tight, well made, and reliable. It is also very accurate. If you can find one to shoot, do it. However, I bought mine without having shot one before, and I really am glad I did.
 
Have had a P220 for almost 30 years, since they widely distributed the :cool:"American-style" mag release.

While I have, and will entertain more, .45 ACP pistols.......I think this one is going to the grave with me.
 
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The 97B is a huge gun in the hand. Its magazine is a double stack without real double stack capacity. It will not fit everyones hands. It does not fit mine. That said if it fits you it can be a real tack driver.

I personally am partial to the Sig P220 for a DA/SA 45. Nice and slim more accurate than I am and a dream to shoot. I like mine. ;)
 
I have heard good things about these on list and am looking for another 45 aside from 1911.

Someone mentioned Glock even though is striker and I am considering new g41 mos with a red dot. Have g21 but is too wide.

But have held sig and cz and have always wanted one but in 9mm.

So sig 220 (I am so mad I passed on a mint used one at lgs before it closed-ss with wood. It was a beauty) Sig costs a bit more and all look to be way durable
How about accuracy?

One poster said he is trading in all others for cz
Why?

I finally got my check from Caracal so either a new gun or a green laser!
 
So sig 220 (I am so mad I passed on a mint used one at lgs before it closed-ss with wood. It was a beauty) Sig costs a bit more and all look to be way durable
How about accuracy?
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They are solid guns. Stainless steel versions are heavy but will last longer than the alloy framed ones. The beauty of the Sig P220 is the smooth DA/SA trigger which is one of the best in the DA/SA world. It is one of the guns that build the Sig reputation. It was originally chambered in 9mm.

It is slim and fits many peoples hands. In the end they are as accurate as the shooter holding it but that is true for most guns IMHO. They will be combat accurate which in my mind means it can shoot 2" groups all day long at 25 yards.
 
Summit Gunbroker has a batch of used P220s starting at $399. For the amount of gun you're getting, that is a hard to beat price.

As far as accuracy goes, Sig P-series are more accurate than the shooter. If you do your work, the handgun will do its, and you'll punch one ragged hole.

With an SRT, the Sig P-series is tough to beat as a DA/SA handgun.
 
Summit Gunbroker has a batch of used P220s starting at $399. For the amount of gun you're getting, that is a hard to beat price.

As far as accuracy goes, Sig P-series are more accurate than the shooter. If you do your work, the handgun will do its, and you'll punch one ragged hole.

With an SRT, the Sig P-series is tough to beat as a DA/SA handgun.
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Only ones left are heavy use guns with duracoated slides. I would pass. If they still had the ones for $475 then I would consider it.
 
I voted p220 as it's the only gun on the list I have. I have the p220 match elite (5" bbl, all steel construction, beavertail) it's a BIG GUN. It's been my EDC and main range gun for the past 3 years. I only have full size firearms and wouldn't have it any other way.
 
Sig 220 all day long.

Arguably (and im sure some will...lol) the BEST DA/SA 45 ever to come off the line.

I traded a SS Colt 1991A1 for a late nineties 220 with a ton of extras years ago and to this day I am still soooo glad I did.
 
I wish there was more support for the FNX pistols from FN and the market in general. The problem I always here is that they are overly complicated to work on so no one makes aftermarket parts and people don't want to do trigger work on them.
 
Can't go wrong with any of them on the list. I have a USP45 and a Sig 220, both are great guns, but very different. The USP is larger and has more ammo capacity, but it is not as easy to conceal carry. The 220 is slim enough for carry but holds less ammo.
 
I've owned the P220 in stainless, the HK45 and the USP .45. All are great guns. My favorite of those 3 is the HK45. Very easy to get great practical accuracy out of the HK45. Very nice SA trigger, the option of cocked & locked, plus it feeds SWCs, something the Sig didn't. Awesome ergonomics, feels like a light 1911.

The Sig P220 SSS was very nice, very reliable with anything other than SWCs, very accurate and the .22 conversion I had for it was very nice too. The Sig clearly has the better DA trigger pull and the better decocker. You can de-cock quietly and ease the hammer down with the Sig de-cocker. With the HK the decocker drops the hammer hard onto the safety block.

The USP is the softest shooting of the 3 and IME the most accurate. I shot some of my best ever 50 yard groups with it. The ergonomics didn't work for me though. The control lever is too high and too far back for my thumb making it an awkward reach. Not a good quality for a defensive gun.

I shoot the HK45C now. Fits my hand better than any other pistol ever, super reliable with any bullet type, very accurate, but it has more recoil than the bigger guns, there's no free lunch with a light compact .45.
 
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