Duty .45 recomendations

B

Bugflipper

Inactive
Hello, I'm a corrections officer. Part of my job desrciption is to escort inmates to court. There are various other requirements in which I have to carry a pistol, others being deputy reserve and marijuana extraction. I am employed by the local Sherrifs Dept. I currently own a Taurus PT99. I would like to step up to a 45. The only requirement we have is a full size frame. I would like a magazine capacity of 8 or above. This will mainly be used as a target pistol wich needs to fill the bill as a duty pistol. We compete regularly in pin matches, my little 9mm just whomps the heck out of the other officers. I want an accurate pistol with a good trigger. I was thinking of a kimber but have not limited my options to the 1911 style. I do not favor the long stroke of a DA only trigger. I favor the browning hipower and 1911 short stroke hair trigger. My budget is $700 and under. 45 is a must since we can only carry 9mm or 45.
 
I agree, the Sig P220.

You could also find a nice HK for that price. They are excellent weapons and you can get LEO 12 round mags for them.

Personally I would carry the G30 or G21, but that isn't exactly what you asked for..:D

Good Shooting
RED
 
IMNSHO

1) Glock M21 (shudder)

2) Ruger P97

3) H&K UPS (if you can find one under $700)

4) CZ97

Short list, huh?

I'd spend more, enough to buy a H&K USP Expert. And then I'd get real practiced with it..........

(Actually, in real life, I'm a 1911 45'er. But not for $700.)
 
My recommendations...
1. USP 45. Can be carried C&L, 12 round LEO hi caps
2. Para Ordnance P14-45, 14 round LEO mags available
Short & Sweet ;)
 
Any of the following ought to do you just fine (and can be had for the $$ you're looking to spend):

G21 (I don't favor the G30 as a "duty" piece)
Ruger P97 (and be sure to get the Hogue grips)
Springfield Armory 1911 (Wilson mags get you to 8+1)
CZ97 (probably my personal second choice, behind the G21)

If Para Ordnance has a 1911 offering that can be had for $700 or so, then that would rate pretty high as well.

Not sure about the pricing on the Sig P220, but it would be my second choice (again behind the G21 on personal preference) if it can be had for $700.

What have you been to the range and tried?

I wouldn't advise buying a firearm for duty use that you haven't put in your hand and fired at least a couple of magazines through. All of our advice isn't worth a nickel if the gun you buy doesn't work for YOU.

My recommendation is that you find a gun shop that has an associated range, or one nearby. Find out which firearms fit your price range, then head to the pistol range and rent or borrow as many as you can and fire them. Handling them at the counter is a distant second option, but it beats buying something on the word of someone else, even when that someone else (i.e. most folks here on TFL) knows what they're talking about.
 
If you are comfortable with a single action pistol and C&L carry, I would get a 1911. A capacity of eight is no problem there and you can build a nice target gun. Try some other options at the range before you decide though.
 
.45

Given your criteria, my choices would be:

Sig P220
Glock 30 or 21
Springfield 1911

The P220 is an incredible shooter. Very good accuracy, and the double action first shot is similar to your PT99. This is good especially if you train with double-action/single-action double-tap drills. Draw back is that the P220 has a different decocker and slide stop placement than many other firearms -- the controls are user friendly, but you have to get used to them. But I wouldn't recommend switching between a Sig and 1911 as duty weapons because of the different safety/decocker manipulations.

The Glock 30 or 21 are great practical choices. But I'd be careful with the light first shot, since you're already using a double-action PT99. The lack of manual safeties on the Glock makes it easy to transition to. The G30 can be carried both on- and off-duty, and is a great compromise between size and power.

The 1911 may be what you're looking for, between target use and full-size .45 carry. The safety placement is similar to your PT99, but without the decocker. You'd still have to transition from the feel of a double-action to a single-action. Again, I'd be careful about the light trigger on the first shot. I have a Kimber Gold Combat Stainless, and I'm happy with it, but I'd considering buying a Springfield now because of its stated warranty. I have also developed a preference for high-carbon instead of stainless because of metallurgical properties.

Good luck! :)
 
If you want out of the box accuracy greater than the Sig or 1911, try the Ruger P97!!!! You will be very pleasantly surprised. You will also like the price. Reliability is a given.
 
Glock 21 or Sig 220

Glock 21 by a landslide if you ever need it in a firefight.

Sig 220--accurate, comfortable, very reliable, but most shooters, even with lots of training, screw up the first DA shot. That may be the difference between "quick and the dead". Remember, this is a duty gun.

HK USP? Got one. Feeds everything. Also huge muzzle flip and they can break just when you need them most... springs, firing pins. I still have a scar in my forehead from a pin that sheared in half during live fire. Kept thinking... glad I WASN'T carrying this as a duty gun.

1911 -- fine if you're behind cover and your partner can hold the BG off while you clear your jams. And, please you Kimber zealots, leave this one alone. I had a Kimber Gold match. POS MIM parts that broke, and very, very unreliable. Yes, I'm sure you've fired 20,000 rounds without a single problem, and every round went in the x-ring at 25 yards. Over-rated gun with inherent design flaws. Yes I love to shoot them...when nobody's shooting back.
 
1911 -- fine if you're behind cover and your partner can hold the BG off while you clear your jams. And, please you Kimber zealots, leave this one alone. I had a Kimber Gold match. POS MIM parts that broke, and very, very unreliable. Yes, I'm sure you've fired 20,000 rounds without a single problem, and every round went in the x-ring at 25 yards. Over-rated gun with inherent design flaws. Yes I love to shoot them...when nobody's shooting back.
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Would the unreliability or the fragility be the reason that the FBI went with a Springfield 1911 for the HRT? Just wondering... ;)
 
Either of the below choices would serve you well. Try some of them out before buying, and decide for yourself which you like best. ;)

CZ 97B
Glock 21
Ruger P97
Sig P220
HK USP
Springfield 1911
 
Yo, George!

Sig P220 or HK USP. For Duty Work you can't be playing around with other people's favorites... you have to get serious.
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Whassat all about, man? I know plenty of guys who are "serious" who carry sidearms other than the P220 or HK USP.

That's sort of a backhanded slap at several quality firearms, amigo.
 
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