Need assistance choosing next 45ACP

Flight Medic

New member
Looking to add another 45 to the collection. I currently have two, but in 1911 format (a Bill Wilson Carry and an SA TRP).

Was interested in the following models, wanted to know if there are any pros and cons to each...

Heckler & Koch HK45-T

Sig Sauer P220 Scorpion

CZ-97BD



Don't really have a POU for it (although it will NOT be a carry weapon), just felt like buying another gun and was curious if one stood out above the rest. The HK would have been my natural first choice...I just don't know if I want to own a .45 ACP in Tupperware (have a few non-metal frame 9mm's, but none shoot as soft as my all-metal Beretta 92fs). Before I go rent an HK to try out I thought I'd ask the membership here if it was even worth the bother.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
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I'm a 1911 junkie. Bought a HK45c to carry where I don't want to risk a Wilson, Brown, etc..

The HK is a fine gun, well made, dependable. I'm glad I bought it. But, compared to a 1911, the HK has no soul.
 
I have a Sig P220 Elite Carry that is absolutely stock. It is a very good shooter and stone cold reliable.

I also have the CZ 97B. The 97B is a pretty large gun. I was at the custom shop looking for "something" different and Angus Hobdell was there. He showed me a custom gun that I tried and liked and then he pulled out the 97B.

He said he could make the 97B a lot better than the factory gun with a little work. He polished the internals and did a trigger job and removed what he referred to as the "pusher." The gun was just TOO light when I got it back. You just could not feel the hard spot before the trigger broke. I took it back and some pressure added to the trigger. It is still very light, Every gunsmith I have shown the gun to tells me the trigger is superb. I am not afraid of it at the range but I would NEVER carry this gun.

I don't know how much more the trigger can be improved on the Sig but I would have no problem carrying that anywhere. The Elite Sigs I think are all stainless steel and they are heavy. So is the 97B.

They are both good guns and both shoot very well. Of the two, I really prefer the Sig.
 
I don't know about the Scorpion, but I have had a SIG-Sauer P220 since 1980, when they were imported as Browning BDA .45.

Its a fine gun. Quite different from a 1911 pattern gun.

I love the 1911 design, have owned many, and have several currently.

The only Sig I have is that Browning, and it's served well enough I never thought of a replacement.

I'm not much of a fan of H&K pistols. I don't care for their design features, and I think they cost to much. Mostly I am put off by the "better than you" attitude I have met in too many H&K shooters. But that's just my personal gripe...

I've never run a CZ in .45, so no opinion there.

If you have the funds, no reason not to get whatever it is that interest you. Then you can learn, for yourself if its for you, or not. If not, sell it, and try something else. Its all good, if you can afford it!:D
 
I personally like the 1911 platform. However, one of my co-workers just bought a CZ. He had the trigger done and thing is smooth as buttah. Shoots very well, though his is a 9mm variant. The 220 is nice too. Either would be a great option.
 
HK45 T for sure. You cannot beat HK's reliability and ergos. I plan to add one to the stable eventually.

My second choice would actually be the Glock 21. Great handgun.
 
You just missed out on one of the greatest 45 bargains. The SAR K2 .45 was on sale at Bud's and some other places for 355.00! Heard really good things about this gun. You can still get one and it's still a bargain, but it'll cost you 410.00 now.
 
I have the HK 45 and I've owned the P220 elite (basically the same as scorpion in different color).

Both of them are great choices. I'm a big fanboy of both Sig and HK. The HK45 shoots slightly softer than the P220 in my hands... but the difference is negligible. I love the Sig P220, I just don't shoot it that well. No idea why. I shoot a P229 and P226 like a laser, but when I get to the P220, I start stringing horizontally.

The HK45 is a fantastic fighting gun and very accurate. If you prefer metal guns, I would probably nudge you towards the P220 (or P227, too). The Sig definitely has a better trigger and it's quite comfortable in hand.

I don't think you'd go wrong with either. A point to make note of may be that the HK45 mags are $60/ea. That hurts a little.
 
The Glock 21 is on a short list of must-have handguns. In .45 ACP, it is sort of an origin point: does it have more rounds or less than, is it lighter or heavier than, is it thinner or thicker than, etc. If you haven't shot one yet, remedy that.
 
I would agree that there are way better guns than the XD-45 but I do have a soft spot for them. And if you get one that works well, they are really pretty awesome, especially since they have gone way down in price.

As far as the Glock 21 goes, I'd pick it over the XD. And having experience with both, I would chose the gen 4 over the gen 3.

All that being said, I would probably go for some kind of HK... just because I don't have one. But there are also a lot of other good platforms out there.

I'm not a fan of the P series Sigs..... yet. I just shot a single action only sig 226 the other day, and while I liked it, I would have picked an HK over it any day for the price. I'd like to spend some more time with the CZ's eventually.
 
Another vote for the SAR K2!
http://www.guns.com/review/2012/05/08/sarsilmaz-eaa-sar-k2-45-acp-bargain-hunting/

Unless of course you just want to spend more money for the CZ name.:confused:

I saw, and handled one last week. In looking around the shop I was in I noticed all his prices were on the high side, so I didn't buy it. Price checked on line, and found it for close to a hundred bucks less.
Haven't bought it yet, but let's just say my short list that was shrinking just went the other way!:eek:
 
I like 1911s and often carry one. However, I was attracted to a Sig P220 Compact single action only. The gun shoots softer than my aluminum framed 1911s even though they are about the same weight. I attribute at least part of that to a slightly wider grip. The gun is also very accurate and reliable. I'm not necessarily suggesting SAO but just recommending the Sig 220 for its other characteristics.
 
If you want a soft shooting .45, you should look at the HK USP .45. It makes for a great range gun. The HK45 is nice but the USP is noticeably softer shooting.
I like the HK45C myself as it has the best ergonomics of any .45 caliber HK.

The best thing about HKs is that they are reliable.
 
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