.45 Compacts

Have you considered the Bersa Ultra Compact 45? It's an outstanding gun with everything you'd want on a pistol for $350. It's also made in .40 S&W/9mm and if it's a consideration, the most "lefty" friendly pistol you'll find without having a gun custom made. I've had one for about three years (paid $285 NIB) and think it's the best .45 value you'll find, even for 2 or 3 times the price. While I prefer the 9mm (holds 13+1 vs. 7+1 for the 45), they are my gun of choice when it comes to the biggest "bang" for the buck around today.

Here's a link to a photo of my gun or you can go to the thread titled "Best Cheap 45" in this same area for it and another one of my UC-45...

 

Reliable compact 45acp: Les Baer Stinger

in a 1911 format : Les baer STINGER is the only 100% reliable compact in the market.

In DAO the AMT Back-up in 45acp

The ULTIMATE in small: Semmerling LM-4 (about $4K for an original)

The Kimber will NEVER be 100% reliable as they are out of manufactured out of spec for the relationship of the slide stop hole in the frame per an original 1911 print. We have seen too many with LEO's trying to solve the reliability problems. Wouldnt own one or accept one as a gift !

 

How many rounds have you run through it?

 

About 1,100 or 1,200. For the first 200 rounds or so I did have problems with weak recoil springs causing FTE/FTF (Bersa upgraded the springs on '05 and later guns; mine was made in '03), but after replacing them with newer ones from the factory I've put about 900 or so rounds through the gun with no problems of any kind.

FWIW, I mentioned I also have the UC-9 (9mm), which is virtually identical to the UC-45 except for the molding/design on the grips. I prefer the 9 because it holds more ammo, the accessories (other than mags) can be used by both guns and it's cheaper to shoot at the range, but the UC-45 is still my gun of choice when I'm in need of a .45. If it weren't for my preference for the 9mm, I'd have used the UC-45 a lot more than it has been.

 

Hi Notdku, 8/24/07

.45 Compacts are great to carry and shoot. Some of your choices are going to be influenced by whether you want a single-action (cocked and locked) carry piece or whether you want a double action (either traditional DA or DAO) pistol.
I have three compact .45's which get carried regularly, all DA/SA, two of which are great pistols and the third less so.

First- HK USPC-.45. Simply a great pistol. Light weight, points and carries well, accurate and reliable. They are expensive new but I got mine off Gunbroker for $575. Hard to beat as an overall carry weapon.

Second- SW 4516-1. No longer made but can be had for relatively little money used. I got mine for $365 off Gunbroker. It looked like new both internally and externally, and shoots better than a compact has a right to. Only downside is it is somewhat heavier than the polymer or aluminum pistols. Lighter SW .45 compacts include the 4513-TSW and 457, both excellent guns.

Lastly- an EAA Witness compact .45 in steel (as opposed to polymer) with the Wonder finish- Great pistol right up until the slide and frame cracked (one crack in the right front slide rail, four cracks in the frame- two at the rear frame rails and two at the mag release). Total round count- 3200 with standard pressure ammo. EAA replaced the slide but refused to replace the frame. Too bad, it was a great pistol while it lasted.

Hope this helps. Good shooting.

Oldandslow

 

My Kimber even with the dreaded external extractor runs fine......

 

compact 45

antime you choose a 1911 45acp less then the comander 4.25 in. you can expect it to have a few problems, i had a kimber cdp 3 in. that was perfect.
a xd 45 , glock 30, s&W mP45 are all good guns. full size & comander is my choice.. bobby

 

Reliability:

Compact 1911's have always had reliability issues.

Specifically, the ability to fire, extract & eject the fired case and then load the next round into the chamber.

It revolves around the slide being too short in amount of travel within its extraction/feed cycle in balance with too much spring trying to assure the reload part of the cycle while functioning in the full rearward position in the cycle.

Ammo is the main problem. You MUST fire multiple mags of the actual ammo you are going to carry for duty/protection to assure reliability.
Firing FMJ practice rounds to break in the pistol is OK...but has a different cyclic function that JHP rounds due to velocity and operating pressures of the rounds which change the slide velocity in cycling.

A commander length slide or full size 1911 has much more reliability.

 

I love my Kimber Compact, it has been nothing but reliable. I've found, in letting others shoot it, that operator error causes most problems with it. I have never had feed problems, even with hollow points. I've never had it stove pipe, though my wife has. It cycles in and out of battery with no problems. It is the only 1911 compact that I have any experience with though, so I'm not sure why Dgun says they all have problems.

 

I love my Glock 30 .45

 

I carry a para ordnance C6LDA and HIGHLY reccomend it. They are very accurate,reliable,and have the sweetest,lightest,smoothest DAO trigger of anything this side of even the ol colt python. Do yourself a huge favor and at least check them out. You will be able to shoot it better than any other compact and won't jam with a act of congress!

 

compact .45

The para C6LDA is 3" barrel,very compact and the BEST SHOOTING compact .45 I have EVER shot. The LDA trigger is the lightest,smoothest trigger on market by far. I'm talking 5.5 pounds double action without noticeable stackup. Mine will group 2" at 20 yards!!!

 

Taurus Millennium Pro PT145

The owner of a local gun shop has recommended the Taurus Millennium Pro PT145 for carrying. Does anybody have any experience or input on this handgun?

 

I was looking at the Kimber too!

FWIW:

I was also looking at the Kimber Pro Covert II .45ACP, which coincidently was the cover-feature of "Combat Handguns" magazine last month... This is the gun I REALLY want, but it is about triple my budget.

I've heard nothing but good about Kimber from several long-time gun-owners, mostly ex-military. But then, I've never owned one myself.

On the flip side, I've heard several poor reviews about reliability and accuracy of a Taurus, but then the local gunshop was trying to push me towards them... What has everyone else heard?

 

I rented one at my local range. The owner pushes Kimber. Apparently the Marines are issuing the full size Custom II now along with LAPD SWAT. The Made In USA stamp means alot to me too.

As for my experience with this gun, the grip is a bit too short for my hand. I pinched my finger while inserting the magazine. That being said, it functioned flawlessly during the two boxes of ball ammo I put through it. The target was less than 10 yards away and accuracy was more than adequate for the short-barreled gun.

Thanks for the input on the Taurus.