.45 's sub compact-ultra carry (which one?

[cerk187]

good day all, this is my first post and i am glad to be a member, and i hope i have alot to contribute.

 my first question is i want to get a 3" compact .45, out of the 10 or so i had narrowed it down to, i would to see what ones you guys have or recamend.  i don't have a lot to spend so the price is a big issue, also i want the largest stock mag. capacity i can get, and the lightest.
here is the list. thanks!

Colt "defender" 3" barrel, 22 0z, 7+1 cap, around $675
Smith & Wesson "chiefs special", 3 1/4" bar., 23.9 oz, 6+1 cap., $550-750
Kimber "ultra carry 2"- 3", 25 oz., 7+1 cap., $775
Magnum Reaserch "baby eagle" 3.93" 39.8 oz., 10+1 cap, $500
Taurus "millen.pt145" 3 1/4", 10+1, 23 oz, $350-500
SigArms "p245" 3.9",6+1, 27.5 oz., $600-700
Mauser "m2", 3.5", 28.9 oz., 8+1, $500
Glock "30", 3.78, 10+1, $500
Ruger "kp97d" 4 1/4" 7+1, 31 oz., $500
Para Ordnance "carry safe-c6.45" 3",  30 oz, 6+1, $700-800

out of these i chose the taurus, but a few people told me they have had alot of problems with these pistols, so now i am not sure what to get, i also like the kimber, smith&w., Para.,and Colt.

 not a .45 but i really like it, it comes out in a few weeks at the shot show in Vegas, Springfield Armory, 3" .40 cal, xd pistol best in its class, $500 they say it out glocked the glock!   -  i also like the Walther "p99" in .40 cal around $550

i definitly respect you'r opinions, and can't wait to hear them, i plan on getting one of these around 3 - 4 weeks from now thanks

[44 Man]

I have the Kimber and like it very much.  Had a .40 but that didn't do anything for me, traded it off, will never own another.  The .40 operates at very high pressure to try to duplicate what the .45 does at low pressure.  It seems very noisy and slams the slides around a lot.  I MUCH prefer the .45.  Actually, the Kimber is now mostly a house gun.  I have found an old Charter 3" .44 spl ($200) and have been using that as my "always" gun.  I still have a big bore and it is about the same size as the Kimber but over 20% lighter (18oz empty) and that DOES make a difference when you carry concealed full time.  The lighter a gun is, the harder it is to shoot well.  The heavier it is, the more apt it is to be left home when you need it!

[T.J. McSuds]

I have a friend that is a well known pistolsmith specializing in the 1911 pistols. He told me that any 1911 using a barrel less than 4 inches can be very hard to keep functional. I was willing to take his advise. My carry/IDPA pistol is a PARA CCW. This is one of the LDA versions. It has a Commander length slide and an officers model grip. It has been very dependable and I carry it every day.

[Wolfe]

I think you could find a better price than $500 on that kp97d.

[Mikey]

cerk:  I would go with TJ's advice and stick with a handgun with a 4" bbl and no shorter.  Whe you go shorter you are liable to encounter functioning problems and that's not whatcha want with a self defense piece.  Last I heard, the Colt Commander weighed only 29 oz, which is the same or less than some of those you listed..... Mikey.

[cerk187]

thanks for the reply's. and i am sorry to the mods i realised this should have been made in Self Defense and Concealed Carry Handguns section of the forums

 so basicly all barrels shorter than 4" are a gamble on a pistol?? even ones that are not a version of a 1911 like a glock or a kel-tec?
 the reason i ask is because i have a 1955 s&w. 39-2, 9mm. 4"
and i just wanted a more compact and lighter carry, i really want an pistol but if there are no good choices? i might go with a snubby wheel? maby .357
-- and for the prices i had next to the guns, i went to gun broker, and auction arms, looked for "buy now" prices on new, and took the averages.

but thanks again.

[T.J. McSuds]

It is the 1911 style guns I was talking about. I was at a Springfield Armory shoot last year and was really impressed by the compact XD. The guns were being shot by about 250 shooters and I saw no malfunctions with the XDs.

[Car Knocker]

I have a Kimber Ultra Carry (Series I).  It much prefers Wilson mags.  It has had several thousand rounds through it.  I once ran 500 reloads through it without cleaning over a period of a few weeks.  Used the old Unique powder (dirty) and lead 200 gr SWC.  It has never failed to function. Not too bad for one of those "malfunction-prone" shorties.

[Redhawk1]

I would have to go with the Colt "defender" 3" barrel, 22 0z, 7+1 cap. The price of  $675 is about right. It is a great gun IMO.

[tubbythetuba]

I enjoy my Glock 36 very much. A bit thinner due to the single stack mag and even tho it's a tick less than a 4", I have had no problems with it. I practice with Blazer 240s and have had zero problem with cycling. I carry the Fed HS 240s and they are superb performers and should not over penetrate at all. For carry, I am thinking about the "New York" trigger....it's just a little too easy to pop one off with one in the chamber.

[MarkJ_Thompson]

The weapon you are describing seems like it would only be usefull for one thing and I personally would choose a 2" .357 for the task.

Out of the ones you listed and sticking with the 45ACP, I would choose the Taurus but add PRO to the end of it. This is their updated model with many improvements (including better trigger) and the price should only come out around $360. You get 10+1 with this pistol, that is twice+1 the fire power I get from my revolver and that is a nice edge to have.


You can use the money you saved to buy ammo and range time.

Let us know what you end up with.