[Own Defense]

Hey
I am thinking about getting a 45 caliber handgun. I narrowed it down to a Glock or Smith & Wesson. I do have a S&W
9compact that I carry and just love it. I took a look at a glock and it looks like a @#% cannon. I know weight and size is important when considering a gun this size. This gun would be just for the home. Anyone here carry one and how do you like it.

David

 

[mygunstoo]

Had you considered a 1911 type gun?

They are good guns.

 

[RedDawnTheMusical]

Which one shoots best for you at the range? Ultimately it is whichever firewarm shoots best for you. Try to get to a range where you can try various .45s or try a friend(s). For me it is a 1911, for others it is a Glock, Sig, XDm, etc.

 

[Own Defense]

That what I hear, Thats 1911 is S&W, right.

 

[pikapp168]

Agreed....1911's are easy to shoot, groupings are amazing, little recoil, but a pain in the arse to clean.
I'd also say a H&K USP full size. They have a great recoil system too.

 

[ARMT Guy]

Something along the lines of these:

Or perhaps something like one of these:

For home defense, I'm currently using this:

however, it's being replaced by the XDm 45 above

 

[mygunstoo]

That what I hear, Thats 1911 is S&W, right.

The 1911 is just the type of firearm. S&W makes one, Colt, Rock Island, Springfield Armory, Remington, Kimber etc.

Just try to rent as many as you can and take your pick depending on the amount of money you are willing to spend.

 

[mygunstoo]

ARMT Guy, if I did not know you any better, I would think you were showing off those nice pistols. :lol:

Nice collection.

How much do you want for those COLTs?? :lol:

 

[RedDawnTheMusical]

ARMT Guy, if I did not know you any better, I would think you were showing off those nice pistols. :lol:

Nice collection.

How much do you want for those COLTs?? :lol:

+1 :righton:

 

[Archangel]

If you are looking for a plastic fantastic 45ACP for carry I highly recommend the Springfield XDc.

Love it....

 

[Jason F]

Why not see what Trigger Time has in their case to rent and try a few?

Personally I love the 1911 (I have 2 Kimbers, and love them so much that I akso just gave one as a Christmas gift). But I also have a Glock21SF that I really like too. Two different animals, but they both get the job done.

Our home defense pistol is a Kimber Desert Warrior with a TLR-2 on it. I chose that over the Glock because my wife wanted something with a manual safety on it. (Not that I complained about having to get another 1911!! )

On the other hand, for what I paid for that Kimber Warrior & the light I could have ur based another Glock21SF, a few mags, and 1,000 rounds of ammo and some range time too. So if budget is a big part of the decision, a Glock or Xd mint be an easi pill to swallow.

Also, who will have access to the weapon? Just you? Your wife/girlfriend to? Does she shoot? Does she like guns, or does she just want to pick it up and pull the trigger if she needs it? All factors that should weigh in to your decision.

 

[ARMT Guy]

ARMT Guy, if I did not know you any better, I would think you were showing off those nice pistols. :lol:

:shock:
Who?! Me?! Showing off?! :shattered: Naaah... just trying to present the options better.. us guys are visual creatures. And besides.. there's nothin' wrong with a little gun porn! :lol:

Nice collection.

How much do you want for those COLTs?? :lol:

Thanks!

Aside from the Series 80 in the middle of that pic, ( I sold it to a good friend to finance the S&W 1911ES.. :scared: :hide: ) the Colt Commander has a permanent place at home with me! I sell/trade off my guns only grudgingly. [-( :lol:

 

[SGT_Calle]

If you are looking for a plastic fantastic 45ACP for carry I highly recommend the Springfield XDc.

Love it....

I second the XD45c.

 

[atlsrt44]

personally I carry a witness .45 and love it. This is the second witness 45 Ive owned. And at around $400 new you cant beat it.

 

[madamimadam]

Shotguns are for home defense.

just my opinion.

but if it serves dual purpose, Kimber Pro Carry 2 would be my suggestion.

 

[IrishTiger]

I second or third the opinion of the Springfield XD45. I think 1911's look nice and all, but for practical standards, they don't meet up to the specifications I require for home or personal defense. It [XD45] carries 14 rounds, and I do not believe it will EVER jam or misfire. It's currently under my pillow right now, which I'm laying on my bed. My other guns, my Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact is on the nightstand, and the 12 gauge is under the bed. The 45 goes with me anywhere I go, and if I can't take it with me, I don't go.

 

[jmathis84]

Im partial on the 1911's. They have provided home defense and person defense for 100 years. Why not now?I also really dont care for anything above 9mm in a polymer pistol.

 

[RickN]

I'm also shopping for a .45 and have looked at and touched a lot of different models. I love the look of the 1911 but one big thing is holding me back -- nobody ever says "I took the 1911 out of the box and it worked perfectly from round 1." It's always: I sent to to the gunsmith for this tweek and that change. I put in a new trigger, got some-part polished and deburred, tried a dozen types of magazines to find a good one. I fired a couple hundred round to break it in and stop the jams. Or, Once I found which ammo worked well it stopped jamming on me.

I don't know if the effort is worth it or if I should just buy a Glock or an XDM 45. Or wait for a good used 1911 one to come around where someone else has done that already.

 

[Hunley]

My nod would be for the FNP 45, preferably in the USG or Tactical configuration. It's the softest shooting 45 I have ever shot. Mine stays on the nightstand, but I also take it into the woods when hunting or riding four wheelers with +P ammo.

Why I like it:
- Barrel - Cold hammer forged stainless for increased strength and accuracy
- Hammer fired and DA/SA - I like having the ability to have second strike capability in case of a hard primer on a HD pistol. I've had high quality SD ammo from all major manufacturers that had hard primers here or there.
- Reliable - Developed for military testing. FNH produces a majority of the military's small arms.
- Rugged - It's incredibly well made, especially for a polymer frame pistol.
- Accuracy - A match gun it isn't. But, it will make head shots at 20 yards all day long.
- Capacity - 15 rounds of 45 ACP. Enough said.
- Fully Ambidextrous
- Grip - Similar grip angle as a 1911 or Browning High Power
- Bore Axis - LOW, thus reducing felt recoil

Beyond this, I would recommend the following:
- Sig P220
- 1911 (ONLY if you put it through it's paces with high quality [Wilson Combat] magazines and have extensively tested it with the hollow points you plan to use!)
- S&W M&P 45

Since you wouldn't be carrying this, go full size.

 

[Hunley]

I'm also shopping for a .45 and have looked at and touched a lot of different models. I love the look of the 1911 but one big thing is holding me back -- nobody ever says "I took the 1911 out of the box and it worked perfectly from round 1." It's always: I sent to to the gunsmith for this tweek and that change. I put in a new trigger, got some-part polished and deburred, tried a dozen types of magazines to find a good one. I fired a couple hundred round to break it in and stop the jams. Or, Once I found which ammo worked well it stopped jamming on me.

I don't know if the effort is worth it or if I should just buy a Glock or an XDM 45. Or wait for a good used 1911 one to come around where someone else has done that already.

This is true. Even $2500 1911s have about a 250 round or more break in. My Springfield 1911 took a 300 round, plus a bore and extractor polishing and adjustment to feed hollowpoints reliably. Wilson Combat and Kimber Pro-Tac mags were the only ones it would run reliably with. Even Chip McCormicks gave issues.