What .45 would you get? Looking for something under 1k

Will be using it for open carry backpacking gun. Needs to be durable and not picky about dirt and moisture. Holds at least 10 rounds

HK45? XDM45? Something else?

I would get a Hi Point... Just kidding.
I have never shot the HK45 but they do look nice. I really liked the XD45 I shot. Handled great. Not a big Glock fan, but that is always an option if you have bad taste. :p
Personaly, I want a 1911 eventually. But, that doesn't meet your 10+ mag size.

Well I've had my eye on the Beretta PX4 for a while now. Very few complaints and IMO looks the best out of anything on the market. From what I understand its a common choice for law enforcement and the military so durability is a given. I don't remember exactly but I think its around 10 or 12 rounds.

Just checked Beretta's site and looks like the Px4 comes with one 9 round and two 10 round mags. Pretty sweet looking gun. I forgot about them as I haven't ever handled one.

I also like the Px4. I've fired the 9mm and 40S&W and both are very accurate for a compact pistol.
I'm a big fan of the 1911, but it's a single stack and doesn't fit your requirements. Since it's a backpacking gun, having a double action would be nice.

A word of warning. The PX storm line of gun have been having a problem with their bluing finish. Many posts have been made about it "flaking off" and Beretta's lack of customer service in addressing the issue. Also, firing pin alignment was an issue with the first Px4's. I would bring a snap cap, put a dot of masking tape, and dry fire it. See where the firing pin is hitting. If it's not centered, pass on that gun.

Love HK. It was one of the first .45 I shot and it felt great and I was alway dead on with it.

Ive got a xd 45 but it's a tactical (so 5") IE not a compact love it it shoots great accurate as hell and very comfortable for both rapid fire and slow steady shooting. Love the double stack for bigger hands but it does make it harder for a daily carry as its a bit bigger as it is a double stack not horrible just a bit tougher.. HK's are great a bit outta my price range but alas a great piece.. The other great thing is my xd is garbage can itll shoot anything haven't had it reject any rounds yet from any manufactures including a bunch of different handloads..

themud

10 rounds of .45? Are you that bad of a shot?

Pretty well known fact I am a 1911 fan, and an even bigger Kimber 1911 fan. I carry one everyday, and have carried my current Kimber Tactical Ultra II for about 5 years. I also have a Kimber Desert Warrior full size, a Kimber Eclipse Pro II, and a "cheap" S&W 1911PD LS. I was looking at the new Kimber Ultra Covert II last week too. Also saw a really nice Ed Brown, but it was a full size, so I was not as interested. Also, Christenson Arms makes an insane 1911, but it is way above the $1K price range.

Most fullsize and Commander length 1911s are 8+1, so it is close to your 10 round requirement.

Sorry to go off track for a second, but Lance, have you ever shot a Rock Island Armory 1911? They are supposed to be "one of the best kept secrets of 1911's" according to one of the guys I talked to. They look great and start about 450 or so if I remember right. I just was curious if anybody had some real world experience with them. (Sorry to steal your thread for a sec Chris).

Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk

The Rock Island is a Philippine (PX) made pistol made by Armscor. They are pretty good. The Citidel (imported by Howa/Legacy Sport International) is also made by Armscor and is considered the better of the two. High Standard also has Armscor manufacturing their new 1911 line. Armscor also sells under their own brand. The differences are cosmetic. The MFG process is the same. High Standard is probably the crappiest of the Armscor line (IMHO).

Metro Arms is the other big Philippine MFG. I've shot the Metro Arms/Firestorm brand and own the American Classic II (Bersa Import) commander size pistol.

There is another PX MFG called Shooters Arms Manufacturing (SAM). They make several version, which are imported exclusively by Century Arms International (CAI).

FWIW: Metro Arms is considered better than Armscor. Primarily for fit, finish, and accuracy "out of the box". I have no real world info about SAM. I don't like CAI much, as most of their stuff is crap and their customer service is just as crappy.

These PX 1911 manufacturers are a well kept secret. The overall quality is nice and the triggers are smooth. Accuracy is amazing. The barrel/bushing/slide/frame fit is almost perfect.

Most don't know but the STI Spartan is also made by Armscor. STI takes the gun and replaces the firing group with their custom fit ones. They also go over each pistol and double checks the guns for quality. Why did STI go with Armscor instead of Metro Arms? Not sure. My guess is they wanted to start with a cheaper gun knowing they will have to put time and parts into creating a firearm worth of the STI name. The STI Spartan is a $700 gun. Not bad considering all their other 1911s start at $1,100 and goes as high as $1,700.

So, essentially it boils down to Armscor or Metro Arms (maybe SAM, if you're desperate).

I only have two bad things to say about the Rock Island/Armscor/Metro Arms/American Classic/Shooters Arms Manufacturing.

1. They went cheap on the bluing (or parkerizing). The surface is rough and they tend to fade quick and even pick up rust quickly. So, treat the finish well.

The American Classic II, however, have a nicer finish and is only a few dollars more when compared to the similar variations of the Armscor or other Metro Arms variations. Citidel offers several deluxe versions that will have a better finish, but is more expensive than the American Classic II.

2. They ALL come with Crappy magazines w/ plastic floor plates. Replace them with Wilson Combat and you'll be golden.

The best things are that they are accurate, inexpensive, and "familiar" as they are 1911s. It's a $450 gun that shoots like a $900 gun... period.

I'm also sorry for the hijack. :)

Back on track.

If it wasn't mentioned earlier, you may also consider the Springfield XD 4" Service Model in .45acp. They also offer a XD Compact in 45acp. It holds 10+1 because of the shorter grip. It also comes with a 13+1 extended magazine. The magazine is fitted with a "grip extender" which makes the grip feel/look similar to the Service Model.



It's concealable, moderately compact, holds 10+1 or 13+1, and it's poly frame/Melonite coated slide will wear better and fend off corrosion from sweat, water, and blood. Or, you can get a two-tone and be pimpin' like Michael... or this guy.

2ndchance wrote: Or, you can get a two-tone and be pimpin' like Michael.

:))

any opinion on the FNP 45?



http://www.fnhusa.com/le/products/firearms/model.asp?fid=fnf020&gid=fng001&mid=FNM0123

FNP 45 is a nice gun. The grip feels a bit to smooth for my taste, though. I saw several versions at Bass Pro Shop last week. They have a good selection.

Their Tactical model is pretty cool to look at. I like the option of mounting a mini-dot right onto the slide. Probably won't fit your needs, though. Still, very cool to look at. :)


Source: AmmoLand.Com

Before you decide on which handgun to buy, you may want to head over to Shooter's World and try out some of the handguns. I go through this process when picking a new handgun, or deciding which is my best handgun.

Leave your emotions at the door and be open-minded. The gun you find at the end may NOT be the one you were thinking about in the beginning.

Make a list of the handguns you "think" you want. Reliability is first and foremost.

Eliminate the ones that fall outside of your budget by more than 20%.

See which fit in your hand then, eliminate the rest.

See which points well for you. Can you rapidly gain your sight picture? Note: It's not the gun sights. It's the relationship between the grip of the gun, the degree of pitch from grip to top of slide, and how your hand meshes with that geometry. If you bring up the gun and the front sight is always too high or too low, then the gun doesn't point well for you. Then, eliminate the rest.

At this point, you should have at least two handguns left on your list. Go shoot them.

See which one you can fire with good accuracy. Slow-fire bullseye accuracy is a mute point when talking about a defensive carry gun. Stick a 8.5x11 paper on a target board and set the target out to 7 yards. Load 6 rounds into the handgun.Quickly fire, as soon as you acquire your sight picture. All bullets MUST to hit that paper. If any rounds fall outside of the paper, redo the test.

The handgun that gives you the best time is usually the one that points better for you and should also be the most comfortable, too. Buy that handgun. If that gun is up to 20% over your budget, buy it anyways. You can make up the difference in overtime pay or cutting back on sodas or dining out for a month. Otherwise, buy the runner-up handgun (unless that handgun failed to hit paper).

I have only one .45. It's an old Auto Ordnance 1911 single stack. Has maybe 5,000 plus rounds through it. Used to shoot
matches with it back in the 80's and 90's. I think it's great for IWB concealment and always carried an extra mag in a leather man
pouch for it. Now rebuilding it to modern day standards and carry either a Kahr CW9, (hate 9mm), or a Sig P229 in 40S&W. Really
like the Sig as it has laser sights, but miss and can't wait to get the old "cheap" 1911 going again.")

thought this article was interesting on the hk45

http://pistol-training.com/archives/4027

They put 50,000 rounds through it and at one point went over 10k shots between cleanings

Antman wrote:I have only one .45. It's an old Auto Ordnance 1911 single stack.

Man, that strikes a nerve...

My first 1911 also was an Auto Ordnance 1911 that I purchased from the Arizona Sportsman's in 1992. I LOVED that gun. It was super reliable and accurate as hell. Out of the box, I replaced the sights with Wilson Combat no-snag night sights, Wilson Combat full length guide rod, match bushing, and ambi safeties. I had planned on turning it into a competion gun for a Glock sponsored match, but my gunsmith gave me crap for not having a Colt. I gave in and sold it, then $200 more for a used Series 70 colt. It shot like crap! I ended up spending $1300 in parts and labor to get the gun to be a competitor. Pretty much had to replace everything except the slide and frame.

I still have the Colt... wished I still had my Auto Ordnance, though. :(

Got to shoot the HK45 today

it felt awesome in my hand, the grip was textured and almost felt like grip tape on it

I was really suprised that it it had less recoil than my Dads XDM .40

Sites were very easy to pick up and I had no trouble doing tight groups at 15 yards.

I still want to try the FNP 45 but I really liked the HK

Hey, if the Springfield XD or XDM in .45acp is still in consideration, this would be a good time to get one. Their "Gear Up" promo offers 3 extra high capacity magazines and a 2nd mag carrier for FREE! That's a total of 5-13rnd magazines! Woot!