CC Weapon Question

[Paliden]

I have a 1911A1, best weapon I have ever owned, just my opinion. I want a small concealed carried pistol. What I would like is: $500 or less, 45 cal, good quality, recoil friendly for my wife. I’d like to stay in 45 to match my ammo I have now and not introduce a new cal. Having said that it is not carved in stone but it is high on the list! Any thoughts??

[Vorkosigan]

I find that the XD series has an similar grip angle to the 1911, and you can get in in a subcompact.

[xjohnx]

I find that the XD series has an similar grip angle to the 1911, and you can get in in a subcompact.

You can only get the subcompact in 9mm or 40 S&W. You can get the compact in a 45 though. It has a 4" barrel versus the 3" barrel on the subcompact. It's only 1/4" taller though.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd.php?model=23

[allingeneral]

I would venture to guess (no real data to back it up) that you will be hard pressed to find a .45 compact that is "recoil friendly". If I were looking for a nice semi-auto for my wife, I'd likely get her a 9mm. I do understand that you want to keep only one caliber of ammo around, but where's the fun in that?

[xjohnx]

Love my XD9SC. Accurate, easily concealed, and i've never read a single bad review about their reliability.

[Paliden]

I'm looking at a Tarus PT145, but not sure of size for a CCarry

[Vahunter]

I'd have to pick the XD.

[gfost1]

Heya, Paliden,

S&W used to market a LadySmith brand based on their smaller framed offerings. My wife carries a model 60 based 2" revolver in .38 w/110Gr. Silvertips and 1 speedloader. She tolerates the recoil of 158Gr. SWC target rounds just fine with the stock Rosewood grips. Target ammo is pretty affordable for .38, and you can shoot 148Gr. wadcutters all day long. S&W also made some LadySmiths out of the 3913 in 9mm if her heart is set on a semi-auto. They've been out about 20 years, so you can probably find one used.

Regards,

George

[gorknoids]

Why carry a 5 or 6 shot .38 in the same place you can carry a 14 shot 9mm? There really are no low-recoil .45's, so your options fall to 10mm, 40, and 9mm. Wheelguns are pretty, and they are great at the range, but who wants to reload twice when you don't have to? The 9mm is back on target much quicker than any .45, and gives similar penetration to the .45. With shot placement being exponentially more important than crater diameter, I'd carry a 4" double-stack 9mm over a 1911 or any revolver.

Wait....I already do.

[allingeneral]

Why carry a 5 or 6 shot .38 in the same place you can carry a 14 shot 9mm?

A revolver will fire every time whereas a semi-auto has the possibility of jamming. If you need more than 5 or 6 shots in a situation, that's a pretty tough situation.

I'm not discounting the carrying of a semi-auto, just pointing out a couple of reasons that a wheel gun is also a good choice.

[Paliden]

I never use to think more than the here and now, but as of lately I revert back to my marine training. If bugging out i cal. is easier to keep up with and supply to two hand guns. I bugging out hand gun will be backup! In case of CC 1-2 45 acp's will do job better than 6 9mm's even with new bulletts out today. If your in a case where you need more than 1-2 rounds you better be finding your escape route. As in any statement it is not hard and fast for every situation. But you can't cover situation, most will be one maybe two targets, semi-auto's can reload fast and go back into battery.
So this is my reasons right now for looking at 45's
Oh one other thing with 2 guns in same cal. if one breaks in combat you still have another to feed off you ammo supply, other wise your ammo is of no good

[zephyp]

IMO the bottom line is speed and precision. Who gets the first shot and how is it placed. The only problem is you cant predict what the BG will be wearing (t-shirt, heavy leather, etc) and you cannot predict his mental state (sober, drunk, drugged, etc). First shot, correctly placed, in a caliber with good stopping power is best.

Wrt to stopping power of popular calibers .357 125gr JHP IMO wins hands down, but there is a price to pay with recoil and reacquiring the BG for a follow up shot. .45 recoil is quite manageable even with +P loads. If you need more than 8 shots then you are in deep dodo anyway and probably need to una$$ the area unless you brought plenty of full mags.

[Paliden]

The choice was made today!!! I bought my first plastic gun I now have a Glock30 next to my 1911A1. Going to the range Monday I think, mabe Tuesday

[Moccasin]

Not the dreaded plastic gun!!! Isn't that the one that uses porcelian bullets in polymer casings so that metal detectors can't sense it? That's what Sara Brady and Co. told me.

[Paliden]

PS! Thanks for all the help, I might have bought a Tarus instead
A two 45 family now

[zephyp]

Not the dreaded plastic gun!!! Isn't that the one that uses porcelian bullets in polymer casings so that metal detectors can't sense it? That's what Sara Brady and Co. told me.

Yes definitely an evil gun and no doubt built for one purpose. Duh!