Which 45?

[Colorado Luckydog]

I'm getting a new 45. I'm trying to decide which one to go with. I want a full size 45 to use as a truck gun, carry when bow hunting, open carry gun and to take to the mountain ranges to shoot every month or so. It may just be a crap shoot but here are the ones I'm looking at.

1. Glock 21
2. Springfield XD
3. Smith &Wesson M&P

Right now, I'm leaning towards the Glock with the M&P a very close second. I just thought I'd see if you guys had experience with any of these. Which one would you get and why?

[Gcompact30]

So my choice would be the G-21. I have the large frame, short frame and the 30 in 45. Wish at least one was OD LOL.

[sneakerd]

My choice would be the M&P, without a 2nd thought. Ergonomically the M&P is far superior than the other 2 options. Just remember the standard mags are only 10 rnds. That -can- be a turn-off. It is a very slim staggered mag polymer .45. M&P also has palm swells the other 2 don't, also interchangeable backstraps.

[SA Friday]

what? No poll? In the words of my 14 year old, "Epic Failure."

[ray1970]

Well, my choice would be the Springfield. (How's that for help since you already have one vote for the Glock and one for the S&W) I find the ergonomics of the XD to be better than your other options (for me at least). Having put quite a few rounds through mine I find it to be very easy to shoot and very accurate. That being said, if I had larger hands my vote might go to the Glock. [Beer]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/DSCF1822-1.jpg

[spleify]

I have the M&P 45 (that your welcome to shoot anytime you like to try it out), it is ok. I am not a Glock guy so that particular one wouldnt even be on a list of mine, The XD's are ok also, you are a bigger guy so you might like the bigger grip of the XD.

As for plastic guns the M&P are pretty nice for the money, mine has the Trijicon night sights which makes it pretty cool.

All that being said, (strictly in my opinion) I would get a 1911. I am a 1911 guy, so they always rate high on my list. If you cant drop someone with 9 rounds with the .45...well......

Good luck with your hunt and if you like we can get together and you can shoot a couple of my hand guns.

[SAnd]

SHOOT THEM FIRST!!! Especially the Glock. It's the only final way of telling if you are compatible with that gun.

Ask around to see if someone will let you shoot theirs. Also there are ranges around that have them for rent. Some of the ranges-dealers will give you a credit for the rental if you end up buying one.

[Atrain1]

Go with the G21 OR the Smith, Glock would be my first choice. Smith&Wessons quality control is not that great right now. I love S&W but right now I would not buy one, my brother just baught one and has had it back 2 times, 3 but the 3rd time was operator error.

[Colorado Luckydog]

I should have said at the start, I have a 1911.

[Graves]

I'm a glock guy but the M&P feels better in the hand. The trigger can use a little work though.

Some folks will bash it for the fact that a tool is "needed" to take the M&P down. I say "needed" bc the only use for dropping the lever in the magwell is only to avoid pulling the trigger to remove the slide. Otherwise it comes apart just like the old XD's.

[Irving]

You only need a tool to field strip an M&P if you are too lazy and irresponsible enough to pull the slide ALL the way back and actually check the chamber before proceeding with the break down procedure.

[bchase75]

I had an M&P .45 for about a year, and I liked it. As previously stated, S&W seems to be having some quality control issues lately, as mine had to go back to the factory twice, but after that it was great. The only issue I had with it is that the frame doesn't seem to be as solid as a Glock frame. The polymer seems flimsier somehow....just a little too bendy. Without a magazine inserted, you can squeeze the grip and feel it bend in your hand.

[Graves]

You dont need the tool for a field strip. It comes in handy if you ever feel the need to detail strip it.

[Irving]

Seems like the plug that holds the back strap in could easily be used to flip that lever for the field strip, but I wonder if it would work for a detail strip.

Edit: Just checked, and it certainly fits into the pin that holds the trigger assembly and both roll pins in the frame. I don't know that I'd recommend using it, but I'm sure it'd work in a pinch.

[Byte Stryke]

XD/XDm

great weapons, I love my XDc in 45 ACP

[stenz]

I vote XD all the way. I have a compact .45 and a sub-compact .40 and I shoot them both well.

[Atrain1]

Why not go woth the Glock 20 It has more power than the 45, with the in and out power of the 9mm, I have a G20 with the right loads it will hurt to shoot

[Byte Stryke]

Why not go woth the Glock 20 It has more power than the 45, with the in and out power of the 9mm, I have a G20 with the right loads it will hurt to shoot


[Bang]


Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I bought a Glock 20 because it has more power than the 45, with the in and out power of the 9mm, because damnit I want to hit something behind my target as well!
I have bought a G20 and loaded it with loads so powerful it will hurt to shoot it!

[Graves]

I have yet to run across a 10mm recipe that hurts to shoot. My DW seems to send a little more recoil to the paws than the G20 but still nothing that hurts. 10mm is a bit impractical for folks who aren't into reloading and already have a few calibers to feed.

[sako55]

Out of the 3 I would say the Glock. No one has mentioned Sig 220 yet.

[Atrain1]

[Bang]


Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I bought a Glock 20 because it has more power than the 45, with the in and out power of the 9mm, because damnit I want to hit something behind my target as well!
I have bought a G20 and loaded it with loads so powerful it will hurt to shoot it! Dont forget to tell them that I use or load the most powerful loads as possible and the nastiest bullet I can find. I was thinking more along the lines of a side arm for hunting, at least that is what mine is for, if I can not get to my AR, I want to know that I have something with power. Yeah I can take my 44 mag, but I like the fact that it has 16 rounds. But if used for self defence you can not go wrong with a 45. But I believe he is using it for the same purpose as I am, so a 10mm might be the way to go. And he already has a 1911, IMO thats all you need, (Big 1911 fan) for self defence

[Atrain1]

I have yet to run across a 10mm recipe that hurts to shoot. My DW seems to send a little more recoil to the paws than the G20 but still nothing that hurts. 10mm is a bit impractical for folks who aren't into reloading and already have a few calibers to feed.Your right most 10mm are just a 40 s&w in a longer case. but with the right load, I have left the range bleeding through a leather glove.

[mcantar18c]

Let me start out by saying that I hate shooting Glocks.
They suck to shoot, there ugly as sin, and they have the ergonomics of a brick.

But get a Glock. My next handgun will most likely be one.
High capacity mags (even standard ones) means you can carry quite a bit of ammo very conveniently, the parts are highly interchangeable between same-size models, replacement parts are easy to find, most aftermarket parts are a true drop-in fit (none of the custom fitting as needed with 1911s, as much as I love them), they're CHEAP which means A) more money on ammo, B) less upset you'll be about abusing it, C) less upset you'll be about something happening to it (stolen, taken for evidence, etc.), etc.

Hope this helps [Beer]

[Atrain1]

Let me start out by saying that I hate shooting Glocks.
They suck to shoot, there ugly as sin, and they have the ergonomics of a brick.

But get a Glock. My next handgun will most likely be one.
High capacity mags (even standard ones) means you can carry quite a bit of ammo very conveniently, the parts are highly interchangeable between same-size models, replacement parts are easy to find, most aftermarket parts are a true drop-in fit (none of the custom fitting as needed with 1911s, as much as I love them), they're CHEAP which means A) more money on ammo, B) less upset you'll be about abusing it, C) less upset you'll be about something happening to it (stolen, taken for evidence, etc.), etc.

Hope this helps [Beer]I thought the same way until I got my OD G20 I love my glock. I used to think they were ugly as sin to, but it will grow on you. And when you get used to shooting it they are accurate as can be, and also relieable. So you realy cant go wrong with a Glock. Go see if can try out the G21 and the G20.

[thegreatdane]

i have the glock 21sf and xdm youre welcome to try both .

[Atrain1]

Hey you said you were a 1911 fan, have you thought of the para 14.45 you can have 15 rounds, and still have the 1911.

[SideShow Bob]

Hey you said you were a 1911 fan, have you thought of the para 14.45 you can have 15 rounds, and still have the 1911.

Or you could go with a Spingfield Hi-Cap 1911, it has the same 14 + 1 Capasity in .45 ACP.

[Colorado Luckydog]

Thanks for all the input. I'm not sure what I'll end up with. I talked to BPTacical today and he is going to work on my 1911. I may just end up keeping it when he is done. I was very frustrated with it at the range Sunday. I have settled down and I'm pretty confident that he can find the problem. I still put a bid on a Kahr 45 tonight![Beer] You just can't have to many guns![ROFL1]

[Atrain1]

What kind of 1911?

[sneakerd]

The M&P is the slimmest and most carryable of the polymer .45s, in my opinion.

[Colorado Luckydog]

What kind of 1911?

Rock Island Officers Model

[mcantar18c]

Hey you said you were a 1911 fan, have you thought of the para 14.45 you can have 15 rounds, and still have the 1911.

Or you could go with a Spingfield Hi-Cap 1911, it has the same 14 + 1 capacity in .45 ACP.(had to correct that, it was bugging me)
You could, but you still don't have the reliability and simplicity of a Glock. Not to mention the feeding issues the double stack 1911s can have. Again, I absolutely love my 1911s, but the fact is they (generally speaking) simply don't handle the dirt, mud, and other debris as well as a polymer does. And if all you want is a high-cap .45, why pay over twice as much than you would for a Glock? Goes back to what I said before... you have to use it, and the cops are going to take it for evidence. Things get lost, damaged, mistreated. I'd feel much better about losing $400 than $900. Being a carry gun it'll be subject to the abuse of being carried and if you leave it in the car there's always the chance it could get stolen. Again, I'd feel better about risking $400 than $900.
I love my 1911s, they are and always will be my favorite, but there's just no way to justify one over a Glock for carry use... believe me, I've tried.


Thanks for all the input. I'm not sure what I'll end up with. I talked to BPTacical today and he is going to work on my 1911. I may just end up keeping it when he is done. I was very frustrated with it at the range Sunday. I have settled down and I'm pretty confident that he can find the problem. I still put a bid on a Kahr 45 tonight![Beer] You just can't have to many guns![ROFL1]

Too many guns? No such thing!
What was it doing at the range?

[Colorado Luckydog]

I got the Kahr. My "I'll take it" was first!! [Beer]

It was jamming. I'm not sure why. I have faith in Robert (BPTactical} to figure it out and fix it. It shot the first few mags with no prob and then went to jamming. I'm not a gunsmith but I think I have a good one and I'll let you know how it turns out.

[mcantar18c]

Strange. Factory loads or homebrews? Lemme know if you find out what caused it, I'm curious.
I don't have any personal experience with Bert but everything I've seen (others praising him and his own comments on things) says he's the go-to guy when ya need a gunsmith.

[Omicron]

Glock 21 or 1911. Or better yet, both. Or best of all, multiples of both. :)

[spyder]

Hk usp 45. [Coffee]

[Gravy Sandwich]

I owned a Kahr once. Once...

Of the three in the original post, its the M&P by a mile. It has the best ergos, and they are reliable, good shooters. Install an Apex trigger kit for around $75, and the gap between it and the others widens by a good margin. Personally, I chose an HK45 for my .45, but would be almost as happy with the M&P.