Suggestions for a .45 ACP Striker fired handgun

Another vote for the M&P, and specifically the Compact. I've put maybe 10,000 rds or so through mine, shot a bit of IDPA with it, and have carried it for a couple of years. It has been a joy to shoot, is among the most comfortable handguns I've ever shot, and is the most accurate 45 I've ever shot.

All these things might not be true for anyone else though, including you. But I don't think it can be beat by anything out there, and I find the size to be perfect for what you describe.



It's an 8+1 so you don't give too much in capacity, and yet it's a super slim feeling gun. I held a lot and shot a few..including Sigs, HKs, Glocks and some of the micro 1911s...after taking this to the range and actually shooting it, it was a 15 minute decision. For me.

I actually think it's the best M&P they make.

Now, all that said...I'd also just gently suggest, and with all respect to your desire for a 45 (which I think is just about the best sd cartridge you can have), that you at least consider the Glock 29. Please forget all the bs you've probably heard about 10mm...it's most likely bs. If you think you're perfectly comfortable with a medium 45 Auto, then maybe consider a 10 if a round new to your inventory isn't scary or a little added capacity is important to you.

I happen to think the G29 might just be the 'perfect' all-round gun, but I understand some folks can't tolerate Glocks and how they feel. I would consider myself among them...except for this one. It's real special.

thetruthaboutguns site has reviews of both the MP45c and the SR45, and ar15.com also has an extensive thread with comparative photos regarding the 45c. This material seems fairly objective and balanced, near as I can tell.
 
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I always do an enormous amount of research before I purchase a firearm...well...that's part of the fun, so what I own is very intentional. I wanted a high power, high capacity truck/woods gun that I could have a little fun with, and not be SO concerned about messing it up. I wanted something that I could carry concealed along with loading up much more high-capacity.

I gave serious thought to the Glock 30, but even more to the Glock 29 10mm...and I don't care for Glock's. Both of those have great reputations. My .45 SIG's were great, but lower capacity, hammer-fired, and I certainly wouldn't want to be "painting" them up. Any HK's were too expensive as well for what I wanted it for.

I ended up deciding on the SA XDm 3.8 Compact. It has turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I carry this handgun in a Remora holster with full shield and it conceals quite nicely. Maybe not quite as good as the SIG P245, but not too bad. It is carrying 9+1 of 45acp +P normally. It is my truck gun as well, and when there it has the extended magazine for 13+1. I can carry this in the woods with 13+1 of 45 Super Ammo if I want. This handgun eats up 45 Super with no problem, so that is definitely a bonus when you want the power of a 10mm in certain situations.

I read many comments talking about if a Glock and a 1911 had a baby, it would be the XDm-type series. I can say that is probably true. It has many of the great characteristics of Glock's, but points and feels more like a 1911. I also like the trigger better than any of the Glock's that I have personally fired, and I like that it has a grip safety. With that trigger, I feel MUCH more comfortable carrying it because of that safety feature.

I bought it used in basically new condition...maybe 50 rounds through it... for a very decent price, and then enjoyed "personalizing" it a bit with some cerakoting and lettering.
Anyway, many very good choices, but it is what I went with; and for what I was looking for, it has been perfect.

A couple of pics:





 
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That's a very appealing 45 there, smokehouse. I've only looked at the XDm lineup once or twice, and it was long ago. It seemed to me the grip was way over-the-top with the serrations, and I've often referred to the XDm grip as a 'snow tire'. Either my observational skills weren't good, I wasn't looking at what I thought I was, the grip has changed or you're sporting an option I've not seen. In any case, your 45 at least looks to be quite comfortable.

While it may share some of the characteristics of a Glock, and as much as I love my G20 and G29, there's no comparison when it comes to aesthetics--and again, apparent comfort, with the SA gun looking more like a gun and less like a plastic brick.

The slide and frame don't appear to actually 'go together' though--is that really a compact frame the slide is on? The slide doesn't appear to extend out over either end.

While I imagine most modern 45 Auto guns can handle 45 Super, it's especially nice to know you've actually done it extensively with your XD. I've often thought that getting 45 Super brass and at least loading up beyond +P might be practical.

The last thing I need is another 45, but you've definitely put the task of renting and shooting one of these down at the club on my list of things to do. I need to be better informed!

And as for the P245, when I was looking for a carry 45 I was a hard-over Sig bigot--having spent considerable time and money at Sig Academy training and shooting their guns. Having a P220 Elite, a P245 was the the top of my list of options. I also had no interest in polymer pistols of any kind, so the Sig seemed like it was going to be the obvious winner. For whatever reason, it fell off the list almost immediately, and I reluctantly gave my first plastic pistol a try (the MP45c). Sig makes fine pistols, as do many other well-known companies, and I still have some reverence for my 220 Stainless. But the 245 just wasn't for me as a carry weapon, when other choices in the same size and caliber were available with greater capacity and equal performance. DA/SA never gave me any problems at all in IDPA shooting, but I never warmed up to it that much and never saw a problem it solved.
 
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I've had the Compact 3.8 in .45 (and 9mm) and it's a fine weapon. My summer carry piece is the Mod 2 .45 and it's just as accurate (with the shorter barrel), but carries a little easier. You can't go wrong with either, though. After CZ, S'field is my favorite brand.
 
Hey Bongo, with apologies to the OP, I thought I would respond to some of your thoughts.

The grips are definitely heavily serrated. They don't bother my hands at all, for whatever reason. They come with three different sizes that can be exchanged, so I've found a size that works well, and I don't seem to get the snow tire prints on my hands.

For sure, without a doubt, the SA feels far, far better to me than any Glock I have ever fired. It's not even close. But hey...different strokes.....

I don't know if the pics are at an odd angle, but my handgun is just your everyday Springfield XDm Compact 3.8 45acp. I had it cerakoted in Coyote Tan and did the lettering with fingernail polish. I did enjoy customizing it a bit.

It is my understanding that there are a couple of handguns that can shoot the 45 Super without any modifications, and that is the SA XD's and H&K's. It is important to have a fully supported chamber. Being able to pull an XD out of the box and safely shoot 45 Super was an important selling point for me. I have had exactly one malfunction while shooting very fast double taps during my first shooting session. I have never had a problem since.

The 10mm usually has slightly more estimated muzzle energy than the 45 Super, but with the larger projectile, I think the power between the two is pretty much a wash. I really liked the power diversity that this gun was capable of. I buy my Super from Underwood Ammo, which is every bit as good as Buffalo Bore but much nicer on the wallet, as well as often having a bit more velocity.

I am a huge SIG fan as well. I have a mid 90's West German P220, a 9mm P226 Tacops, a P238, and the aforementioned P245. As nicely as the XDm shoots, I don't consider it even a fair comparison with the P245. The SIG is SO buttery smooth, and feels SO good in the hand it just isn't that close for me. It is almost identical in size as the XD, but it conceals with so much more ease. However, the where the P245 is 6+1 and I can carry a 10 round mag as an extra if wanted, the XD just has so much more firepower with it's 9+1 concealed capacity with extra 13 round mags to carry.

Hope some of that information helps!
 
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ATN082268 said:
I wanted some suggestions for a .45 ACP Striker fired handgun. I was looking for an all around model that could function for home defense, at the range and as a concealed carry handgun. Ideally the price wouldn't go over around 800 dollars or so. Thank you.
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For all around use (including range/concealment/HD) you can't beat a Glock 30 with 10 round mags.

They are accurate, concealable, reliable, and high cap for a .45.

I like the Glock 21better except for concealability.
 
You can't beat the M&P 45c....soft shooting, accurate, reliable, great looks, all at a price that won't break the bank.


If you want more grip the M&P mid sized give you a grip you can't argue with.
 
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