Compact .45 Recommendations - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

bkelm18 · 12-30-2007, 03:37 AM

Yes, I know, a dead horse that has probably been beaten 10 times over. So sue me. I'm looking for a compact .45 for summer carry/deep concealment to replace my Kel-Tec P3AT. I don't want another XD so please don't say it, haha. The .45 XD Compact is too big for what I have in mind anyway. I've looked at the Taurus Millenium Pro PT-145 and the Glock 36. Those seem to be really the only choices I could find that weren't out of my price range. I'd really rather not go too far above $500. My only other options are revolvers. I have no experience with them. I've looked at the SW 442. It looks nice but don't know how the .38 Special stacks up ballistically with auto calibers. I read one site that said the .38 Special has the same kinetic energy as a .380 Auto, which seems kinda wrong... anyway, any help?

lora84 · 12-30-2007, 07:06 AM

Many people will tell you that the g36 is an unreliable gun. That being said, I have never had any FTF/FTE with my g36, it has run like a sewing machine. Don't forget about the g30, yes it's a little bigger than the g36 but it is my CCW gun of choice 90% of the time.

RobFMJ · 12-30-2007, 06:52 PM

Its small, but many are turned off by the weight.

I personally love it, and its definitely the softest shooting compact .45 out there.

Lazarus · 12-30-2007, 06:56 PM

If your budget was a little higher I would recommend a compact 1911. Those Ultra Kimbers are sweet.

jtkratzer · 12-30-2007, 07:28 PM

Check out the Kahr PM45...single stack .45 acp with a polymer frame...don't let the MSRP prices scare you, they're just that MSRP.

ScottyPotty · 12-30-2007, 08:53 PM

The above guns are nice but out of your price range.

My brother In law has a Taurus similar to the pt-145 its the Mil Pro 745 it holds 6+1 and the size is very close to my XD-SC40. He paid $300.00 brand new. I haven't shot the glock so I wont comment on those - but his Taurus is a good shooter and he hasn't had any problems with it.

I bought a used Springfield 1911 ultra compact for $525 that was nice to carry because of the thin frame. I think the Kahr would be nice because they are thin too.

My thinking is if you really find something you like and its over your budget is to save your money and get what you want. Too many times in my life I went with the cheap thing and ended up wishing I paid a little more for what I really wanted.

bkelm18 · 12-31-2007, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottyPotty

The above guns are nice but out of your price range.

My brother In law has a Taurus similar to the pt-145 its the Mil Pro 745 it holds 6+1 and the size is very close to my XD-SC40. He paid $300.00 brand new. I haven't shot the glock so I wont comment on those - but his Taurus is a good shooter and he hasn't had any problems with it.

I bought a used Springfield 1911 ultra compact for $525 that was nice to carry because of the thin frame. I think the Kahr would be nice because they are thin too.

My thinking is if you really find something you like and its over your budget is to save your money and get what you want. Too many times in my life I went with the cheap thing and ended up wishing I paid a little more for what I really wanted.

The only thing I'm hesitating on the Taurus is their reputation for crappy customer service and the fact that no one has one in my area that I can fondle. I'm hesitant about buying handguns online before I can cop a feel. The local shop did have a Kahr CW40 and oh man I almost bought that thing right there. If their economy line is that good, I'm really interested in what their higher end pistols are like, especially that PM45. I've toyed with the idea of a compact 1911 but most are rather pricey. Decisions decisions. Maybe I'll just buy the Taurus, a SW 442, and the Kahr PM45 and just eat Ramen for the next few months. I need to lose weight anyway. Haha.

lora84 · 12-31-2007, 04:39 AM

Didn't S&W buy Taurus out 3 or 4 years ago? If so I would think the service issue is now a moot point. I have always considered S&W to have impeccable service.

FATSEXY · 12-31-2007, 05:12 AM

No, the S&W Taurus thing is all complicated and confusing, I think that when S&W was owned by the European investment group that owned them years ago, that investment group also owned some percentage of Taurus, but there was never a situation where one company owned the other. The legend is that during the time that they were under the same umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh) of ownership, a lot of information swapping went back and forth, especially regarding revolver making, and that that was the exact point in time that Taurus started making decent revolvers (Taurus does make a good revolver).

Taurus claims that information swapping did happen, but that most of the upgrading information was given from Taurus to S&W, and that you can tell by the improvement in S&W revolvers during the time they were both owned (to some extent) by the same company.

It's a fascinating story, and one that I have not been able to track down much information on, sadly.

**Rustynuts** · 12-31-2007, 05:41 AM

Bersa 45, under $400!

12-30-2007, 03:37 AM	#1
bkelm18 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oak Ridge, TN Posts: 1,040	Compact .45 Recommendations Yes, I know, a dead horse that has probably been beaten 10 times over. So sue me. I'm looking for a compact .45 for summer carry/deep concealment to replace my Kel-Tec P3AT. I don't want another XD so please don't say it, haha. The .45 XD Compact is too big for what I have in mind anyway. I've looked at the Taurus Millenium Pro PT-145 and the Glock 36. Those seem to be really the only choices I could find that weren't out of my price range. I'd really rather not go too far above $500. My only other options are revolvers. I have no experience with them. I've looked at the SW 442. It looks nice but don't know how the .38 Special stacks up ballistically with auto calibers. I read one site that said the .38 Special has the same kinetic energy as a .380 Auto, which seems kinda wrong... anyway, any help? __________________ The United States Constitution (c)1791. All Rights Reserved. Welcome to Tennessee, patron state of shootin' stuff.

12-30-2007, 06:52 PM	#3
RobFMJ XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Galveston, Texas Posts: 1,841	Its small, but many are turned off by the weight. I personally love it, and its definitely the softest shooting compact .45 out there. __________________ Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

12-30-2007, 06:56 PM	#4
Lazarus XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 4,959	If your budget was a little higher I would recommend a compact 1911. Those Ultra Kimbers are sweet. __________________ You never know what you'll miss until its gone.

12-30-2007, 08:53 PM	#6
ScottyPotty XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Akron Area Ohio Posts: 670	The above guns are nice but out of your price range. My brother In law has a Taurus similar to the pt-145 its the Mil Pro 745 it holds 6+1 and the size is very close to my XD-SC40. He paid $300.00 brand new. I haven't shot the glock so I wont comment on those - but his Taurus is a good shooter and he hasn't had any problems with it. I bought a used Springfield 1911 ultra compact for $525 that was nice to carry because of the thin frame. I think the Kahr would be nice because they are thin too. My thinking is if you really find something you like and its over your budget is to save your money and get what you want. Too many times in my life I went with the cheap thing and ended up wishing I paid a little more for what I really wanted. __________________ My XD's XD9 Tactical XD40 Sub Compact XD40 Service You know, this crap happens with in-breeding. You can only hope the unfortunate, screwed up love child would take themselves out of the gene pool when they discover electrical outlets and butter knives or start huffing paint when they're 7 or 8 but every once in a while a truly magnificent specimen makes it to adulthood to display for the world just how freaking stupid they really are.

12-31-2007, 04:39 AM	#8
lora84 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,325	Didn't S&W buy Taurus out 3 or 4 years ago? If so I would think the service issue is now a moot point. I have always considered S&W to have impeccable service. __________________ "Attitudes are contagious, do you have one worth catching?" - Oscar Wilson Banks

12-30-2007, 07:06 AM	#2
lora84 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,325	Many people will tell you that the g36 is an unreliable gun. That being said, I have never had any FTF/FTE with my g36, it has run like a sewing machine. Don't forget about the g30, yes it's a little bigger than the g36 but it is my CCW gun of choice 90% of the time.

12-30-2007, 07:28 PM	#5
jtkratzer XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lancaster Co., PA Posts: 16,291	Check out the Kahr PM45...single stack .45 acp with a polymer frame...don't let the MSRP prices scare you, they're just that MSRP.

12-31-2007, 05:12 AM	#9
FATSEXY XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 588	No, the S&W Taurus thing is all complicated and confusing, I think that when S&W was owned by the European investment group that owned them years ago, that investment group also owned some percentage of Taurus, but there was never a situation where one company owned the other. The legend is that during the time that they were under the same umbrella (ella ella eh eh eh) of ownership, a lot of information swapping went back and forth, especially regarding revolver making, and that that was the exact point in time that Taurus started making decent revolvers (Taurus does make a good revolver). Taurus claims that information swapping did happen, but that most of the upgrading information was given from Taurus to S&W, and that you can tell by the improvement in S&W revolvers during the time they were both owned (to some extent) by the same company. It's a fascinating story, and one that I have not been able to track down much information on, sadly.

12-31-2007, 05:41 AM	#10
Rustynuts XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,238	Bersa 45, under $400!

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