The "BEST" compact 45 Cal??
- Thread starter Florida Deputy
- Start date
Well, a lot of people don't like to speak well of Colt these days, but I just picked up a Colt Defender and I REALLY REALLY like it.
Mine was slightly used and appears to have a rear ramp sight installed.
I was amazed to find that it shoots very accurately to the point of aim - and I mean dead on to the dot on the front sight (at 15 yards at least)
It did have some problems with the Wolf cheap ammo I was using but the UMC stuff worked 100%
Great weapon - 3" barrel, 7+1 and it weighs 22oz
If I was going to CC it, I would replace the Hogue rubber grips with something thinner.
Recoil and operation was just fantastic...
Mine was slightly used and appears to have a rear ramp sight installed.
I was amazed to find that it shoots very accurately to the point of aim - and I mean dead on to the dot on the front sight (at 15 yards at least)
It did have some problems with the Wolf cheap ammo I was using but the UMC stuff worked 100%
Great weapon - 3" barrel, 7+1 and it weighs 22oz
If I was going to CC it, I would replace the Hogue rubber grips with something thinner.
Recoil and operation was just fantastic...
Republic Arms Patriot
You might call the Patriot the best compact 45 costing less than $250. It weighs only 20 oz, fits in big pockets, is comfortable in the hand, and reliable. Mag holds only 6 rounds but extra mags are cheap. Stainless slide which can come natural or black, and black frame. They are hard but not impossible to find. No frills, completely smooth sides, but a great buy for the money and a useful carry weapon.
Drakejake
You might call the Patriot the best compact 45 costing less than $250. It weighs only 20 oz, fits in big pockets, is comfortable in the hand, and reliable. Mag holds only 6 rounds but extra mags are cheap. Stainless slide which can come natural or black, and black frame. They are hard but not impossible to find. No frills, completely smooth sides, but a great buy for the money and a useful carry weapon.
Drakejake
Why a BIG DAWG Glock 30 of course!
I only buy double stack mini-Glocks that will accept full-sized hi caps.
So my G30 has (14) rounds of 600+ fpe Powermax ammo on board. 9-round mag with Pearce mag extension for IWB.
If you want a compact 45 ACP that you can shoot IPSC, GSSF, CCW, range training, and home defense with, it's the G30 period.
No keep that 1911 snuff to yourself. Those bricks just have too make sharp edges, and hammers to catch on my clothes. Although a Kimber Ultra Carry honestly is tempting. But no. It's not plastic.
And the SW chief's Special, pleeezzzz. Nothing specail about that POC. Smith revolvers yes but all else PELL NO!
Sig P245. Stop. It's a chopped P220 with all of the bad points. Points like a dead fish in your hand if you can grab it at all!!!!
Glock 36.
Well, thinner ain't better at least in 45 ACP. And they snap worse than my 10mm Glocks. And you've relegated and limited the amount of ammo you can carry without spare mags. They are quickly rebounding right back at the dealers who are dumping them in the used gun shelves with brand new Trijicons on board. Only seen two G30s used in three years at the dozen plus shops I frequent.
You're right, I really think Gaston made a bad move on the G36 slimline concept and I don't think a 9mm version will be coming. why build guns to compete with your current line? The Austrians may build good things but they don't understand market segmentation!
I only buy double stack mini-Glocks that will accept full-sized hi caps.
So my G30 has (14) rounds of 600+ fpe Powermax ammo on board. 9-round mag with Pearce mag extension for IWB.
If you want a compact 45 ACP that you can shoot IPSC, GSSF, CCW, range training, and home defense with, it's the G30 period.
No keep that 1911 snuff to yourself. Those bricks just have too make sharp edges, and hammers to catch on my clothes. Although a Kimber Ultra Carry honestly is tempting. But no. It's not plastic.
And the SW chief's Special, pleeezzzz. Nothing specail about that POC. Smith revolvers yes but all else PELL NO!
Sig P245. Stop. It's a chopped P220 with all of the bad points. Points like a dead fish in your hand if you can grab it at all!!!!
Glock 36.
Well, thinner ain't better at least in 45 ACP. And they snap worse than my 10mm Glocks. And you've relegated and limited the amount of ammo you can carry without spare mags. They are quickly rebounding right back at the dealers who are dumping them in the used gun shelves with brand new Trijicons on board. Only seen two G30s used in three years at the dozen plus shops I frequent.You're right, I really think Gaston made a bad move on the G36 slimline concept and I don't think a 9mm version will be coming. why build guns to compete with your current line? The Austrians may build good things but they don't understand market segmentation!
"Best" is such a subjective word and you shouldn't believe anyone's comments more than your own experiences. Glocks, Sigs, SA, etc. are all great guns -but there'll always be lemons no matter what brand.
The most important thing you should do is try them out for yourself to see which has the best feel in your hand, which shoots the straightest for you, and which one hides the best as a backup or concealed piece.
Don't forget that you may want it to match your duty pistol. Think "standardized". If you are issued a full size Glock, getting a Glock backup will be easiest to operate under stress in emergencies. You wouldn't want to mess with a 1911 "cocked & locked" drill. Alternately, if you carry a 1911 style .45, a compact Glock may cause you troubles when you least want it.
Try them all out like you would try on a pair of shoes. You should be able to borrow or rent all of these models, especially since it appears that you are LE, talk to some of your associates.
The most important thing you should do is try them out for yourself to see which has the best feel in your hand, which shoots the straightest for you, and which one hides the best as a backup or concealed piece.
Don't forget that you may want it to match your duty pistol. Think "standardized". If you are issued a full size Glock, getting a Glock backup will be easiest to operate under stress in emergencies. You wouldn't want to mess with a 1911 "cocked & locked" drill. Alternately, if you carry a 1911 style .45, a compact Glock may cause you troubles when you least want it.
Try them all out like you would try on a pair of shoes. You should be able to borrow or rent all of these models, especially since it appears that you are LE, talk to some of your associates.
Jeez, jtduncan, don't be so wishy-washy; tell us how you really feel! 
FWIW, our shop sells 3 G36's for every G30, and at the last place I worked, it was 1.5-to-1 in favor of the single stack. I might have bought a G36 myself if I didn't already have a G30; six of one, half-dozen of the other as far as I'm concerned. As far as the single-stack 9mm Glock concept goes, maybe they understand market segmentation better than you suspect, if you look at it from their standpoint of "every Kahr P9/P40 sold could have been a G37/G38 instead"...
FWIW, our shop sells 3 G36's for every G30, and at the last place I worked, it was 1.5-to-1 in favor of the single stack. I might have bought a G36 myself if I didn't already have a G30; six of one, half-dozen of the other as far as I'm concerned. As far as the single-stack 9mm Glock concept goes, maybe they understand market segmentation better than you suspect, if you look at it from their standpoint of "every Kahr P9/P40 sold could have been a G37/G38 instead"...
I've been quite happy with the combination of reliability, capacity, weight and concealability of my Para P12. I had some problems with reliability in the first 200 rounds, but absolutely no problems since with ball, HP and ball handloads.
Since the P12 is an alloy-frame model, I became concerned with frame wear and bought a SA Champion Parkerized.
The Champion has been 100% reliable with ball, HP and handload rounds, and I just shoot better with the Champion.
Both have 4# triggers by the same gunsmith.
I've since experimented with the P12, installing a short trigger and changing grip panels, but I continue to shoot the Champion better.
For myself, I've come to the conclusion that the single-stack 1911 is simply better suited to my hands. Reliability is equal and concealability is equal. Trigger is fine for both.
So my vote goes to the Commander-size single-stack 1911, whichever brand, tuned for trigger pull and reliability.
Capacity is less, but I'm not an LEO, and 7 rounds ought to be enough in a truly defensive situation.
We each have to make choices,
Since the P12 is an alloy-frame model, I became concerned with frame wear and bought a SA Champion Parkerized.
The Champion has been 100% reliable with ball, HP and handload rounds, and I just shoot better with the Champion.
Both have 4# triggers by the same gunsmith.
I've since experimented with the P12, installing a short trigger and changing grip panels, but I continue to shoot the Champion better.
For myself, I've come to the conclusion that the single-stack 1911 is simply better suited to my hands. Reliability is equal and concealability is equal. Trigger is fine for both.
So my vote goes to the Commander-size single-stack 1911, whichever brand, tuned for trigger pull and reliability.
Capacity is less, but I'm not an LEO, and 7 rounds ought to be enough in a truly defensive situation.
We each have to make choices,
Tamara:
You know I'm a tell ya how it is kind of guy.
Judge Judy is soft compared to me.
Thick dark skin and a Klingon backbone.
I'm part Klingon and part Horajon warrior.
Anyway, everybody is of course going to tell you what they bought. and if you go with the flow without checking it out yourself, too bad.
Go rent them all then come back and tell us what you bought!
Go look in the used case. Ask the sales staff what used guns pop up most and for what reason. and then don't buy those guns. If people keep flipping them, they stink. If they trade them and they don't get cold on the shelve, consider that gun.
Supply and demand.
You know I'm a tell ya how it is kind of guy.
Judge Judy is soft compared to me.
Thick dark skin and a Klingon backbone.
I'm part Klingon and part Horajon warrior.
Anyway, everybody is of course going to tell you what they bought. and if you go with the flow without checking it out yourself, too bad.
Go rent them all then come back and tell us what you bought!
Go look in the used case. Ask the sales staff what used guns pop up most and for what reason. and then don't buy those guns. If people keep flipping them, they stink. If they trade them and they don't get cold on the shelve, consider that gun.
Supply and demand.
Brian,
I have chronographed both the Federal HS and the Speer GD out of a stock G30 and one fitted with a BarSto barrel. The stock barrel averaged right around 850 fps with the 230g bullets. The BarSto was slightly faster (857 fps with one).
PS: The Colt Officer's ACP I used to have averaged about 830 fps with the HydraShok.
I have chronographed both the Federal HS and the Speer GD out of a stock G30 and one fitted with a BarSto barrel. The stock barrel averaged right around 850 fps with the 230g bullets. The BarSto was slightly faster (857 fps with one).
PS: The Colt Officer's ACP I used to have averaged about 830 fps with the HydraShok.
Shootin' Shane
New member
Easy one. HK USP .45 Compact.
