The .45 ACP invented by John Moses Browning understood that the .38 Long Colt cartridge was a dud. This is why the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol is still the go-to weapon among many gun users.
Thinking of getting a gun? Check out these five awesome .45 ACP handguns that you need to own.
The Glock 21 polymer frame got a lot of bad reviews. But this .45 ACP pistol is an underappreciated gem. Looking for an affordable sidearm that packs a devastating wallop? This is your gun. The Glock 21 has a double-stack that can carry up to thirteen rounds of ammunition. It has five times more rounds than a typical 1911.
Yet it is also lightweight. It weighs around 226 grams even when fully loaded. The Glock 21, albeit its unpopular design, is an excellent handgun. It will put a huge hole in its target but not in your wallet.
Springfield Armory XD45 Mod 2 Service Model
The Springfield XD45 is one of the more affordable .45 ACP pistols available today. But don't get deceived by its price tag. It's more than meets the eye. The double-action Springfield XD45 is 7.3 inches long with a four-inch steel barrel. It has a sleek yet aggressive frame contour. Equipped with an anti-accidental discharge safety grip, the XD45 is easy to operate.
It has a two-row double-stack magazine that holds up to thirteen rounds. Durable, reliable, and affordable, this .45 ACP gives you the best bang for your buck.
Ed Brown Executive Carry
The Commander is a weapon for officers hence its name. Its 4.25-inch short barrel makes it lighter than a regular 1911 sidearm. Collectors swore by this gun for its compact built yet immense power. Among other Commander-type pistols, the Executive Carry ranks as the best. This beauty has a single-stack magazine that carries up to eight rounds.
It has an astounding bobtail frame, contoured edges, and a matte stainless-steel finish. Equipped with advanced fiber-optic sights, The Executive Carry is a fearsome beast.
Watchmaker Bill Wilson created The Wilson Combat Tactical Carry. It's a weapon developed for extreme precision and accuracy. As he does in assembling small clock parts, Wilson gave extreme care in designing this weapon.
Designed to perfection, this .45 ACP sidearm built for those who are aiming for a precise kill. The Wilson Combat Tactical Carry has advanced safety features and fiber optic sights. Its one-inch shooting accuracy within twenty-five-yard range makes the Wilson super deadly.
Heckler & Koch HK45
The Mark 23 pistol or The Heckler & Koch HK45 is the U.S. commandos' sidearm of choice. Call it Heckler & Koch USP version 2.0. A great innovation in cartridge engineering, it makes the USP chambered-in design obsolete.
The Heckler & Koch HK45 also showcases a revolutionary thirty-percent recoil reduction system. This is a very practical feature. And so is its ambidextrous control capability that works like a charm. No doubt, this premium handgun is the Cadillac of .45 Automatic Colt Pistols.
Watch these 5 Awesome Handguns You Must Have:
There are various factors to consider in choosing the right compact firearm. But in the end, it all boils down to quality and of course, your budget.
What do you think is the best .45 ACP handgun that would suit you best? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
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Originally posted on April 19, 2021 @ 3:41 PM
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12 Comments
12 Comments
Roger Murfin
May 12, 2021 at 2:57 PM
My favorite for .45 acp is the Kahr PM 45. It is my concealed go to. It’s small, accurate, lightweight and a pleasure in the hand. To save even more, the Kahr CM 45 is almost identical and costs a good deal less.
I havent found any pistol more accurate than the Mark 23 .It can shoot as well as I can less than 1” groups at 25 yds and normal 1.5” groups at 50 yds ,if i dont flench.
I believe you are overlooking an excellent firearm. The Walther PPQ 45ACP is a very high quality weapon. Has a much better trigger than any of the guns mentioned in your video. Has a very crisp and short reset to the wall allowing for multiple rapid strings of fire. I have carried this for years as my preferred EDC. Works well IWB or OWB.
My current .45ACP handguns are a Rock Island 1911 Tactical and a Sig P-220 Scorpion. Hand many different .45’s over the years, FN’s, HK, Springfield, S&W all metal and M&P, several different brands of 1911, both single and double stacks, CZ. Qualified expert with the 1911 in the Marines and have loved that platform forever. Love the .45ACP, although I carry a Glock 29 10mm for everyday carry.
Where is the Baby Desert Eagle 1911U 45 acp, I own two, excellent for concealed carry great trigger and vey accurate. Only six rounds you say? If you practice and know how to shoot, why do you need 15 rounds, that is the trouble today, everyone, even the police just spray the whole area, and hope they hit something. I carry one of my desert eagles probably 10 hours a couple of times a week, and practice weekly, and if someone takes a crack at me, I guarantee they better get me the first time because they won’t get a second chance. All your large automatics, and 9MMs don’t cut it!
Is the Springfield Armory XD45 Mod 2 Service Model a double-action or single-action pistol? In this article it says it’s a double-action, which is what I prefer, but on one review it shows the person racking the slide every time to do a dry-fire, and everywhere else – even in the store listings of the pistol, they never indicate whether it is a double-action or single-action pistol — as if that is totally unimportant to everyone, and it IS NOT! So, can someone verify if it is or not??? — Also; is there anywhere I can go to get a listing of all double-action semi-autos on the market today?
I too started shootings the 1911 in the army and for whatever reason we we taught to use one hand. Well I am right handed but gripped the pistol in my left hand. I’ve learned to use both hands but I am not as comfortable.
Should I switch over to my right hand or not?
30 years carrying government issued 1911’s, both accurized for competition and off the rack for duty carry. I’m very comfortable with an all steel platform, and today, well into retirement my EDC is a Citadel 1911A1 CS. The Filipinos have done an excellent job replicating the 1911, and I have no qualms about relying on it in any situation. While it didn’t make your short list, 1911 purists shouldn’t overlook it.
Roger Murfin
May 12, 2021 at 2:57 PM
My favorite for .45 acp is the Kahr PM 45. It is my concealed go to. It’s small, accurate, lightweight and a pleasure in the hand. To save even more, the Kahr CM 45 is almost identical and costs a good deal less.
Thomas
April 25, 2021 at 3:28 PM
I havent found any pistol more accurate than the Mark 23 .It can shoot as well as I can less than 1” groups at 25 yds and normal 1.5” groups at 50 yds ,if i dont flench.
Mark Webb
April 24, 2021 at 4:16 AM
I believe you are overlooking an excellent firearm. The Walther PPQ 45ACP is a very high quality weapon. Has a much better trigger than any of the guns mentioned in your video. Has a very crisp and short reset to the wall allowing for multiple rapid strings of fire. I have carried this for years as my preferred EDC. Works well IWB or OWB.
Wayne Benedict
April 22, 2021 at 12:02 PM
My current .45ACP handguns are a Rock Island 1911 Tactical and a Sig P-220 Scorpion. Hand many different .45’s over the years, FN’s, HK, Springfield, S&W all metal and M&P, several different brands of 1911, both single and double stacks, CZ. Qualified expert with the 1911 in the Marines and have loved that platform forever. Love the .45ACP, although I carry a Glock 29 10mm for everyday carry.
Bob Benthusen
April 22, 2021 at 9:56 AM
Where is the Baby Desert Eagle 1911U 45 acp, I own two, excellent for concealed carry great trigger and vey accurate. Only six rounds you say? If you practice and know how to shoot, why do you need 15 rounds, that is the trouble today, everyone, even the police just spray the whole area, and hope they hit something. I carry one of my desert eagles probably 10 hours a couple of times a week, and practice weekly, and if someone takes a crack at me, I guarantee they better get me the first time because they won’t get a second chance. All your large automatics, and 9MMs don’t cut it!
Chris
April 22, 2021 at 5:07 AM
It’s best to train with both hands.
Christopher Kelly
April 22, 2021 at 5:05 AM
FNX 45. 15 rounds. By the way, 13 rounds is NOT 5x the normal 1911 capacity as you wrote, not even 2x!
Allen
April 21, 2021 at 11:13 PM
Is the Springfield Armory XD45 Mod 2 Service Model a double-action or single-action pistol? In this article it says it’s a double-action, which is what I prefer, but on one review it shows the person racking the slide every time to do a dry-fire, and everywhere else – even in the store listings of the pistol, they never indicate whether it is a double-action or single-action pistol — as if that is totally unimportant to everyone, and it IS NOT! So, can someone verify if it is or not??? — Also; is there anywhere I can go to get a listing of all double-action semi-autos on the market today?
rick weaver
April 21, 2021 at 7:42 PM
i like the llama minimax ii, it’s short, heavy and chunky but has a 10 round mag, is accurate and dependable.
Alan J Matula
April 21, 2021 at 5:40 PM
I too started shootings the 1911 in the army and for whatever reason we we taught to use one hand. Well I am right handed but gripped the pistol in my left hand. I’ve learned to use both hands but I am not as comfortable.
Should I switch over to my right hand or not?
Max
April 21, 2021 at 3:50 PM
30 years carrying government issued 1911’s, both accurized for competition and off the rack for duty carry. I’m very comfortable with an all steel platform, and today, well into retirement my EDC is a Citadel 1911A1 CS. The Filipinos have done an excellent job replicating the 1911, and I have no qualms about relying on it in any situation. While it didn’t make your short list, 1911 purists shouldn’t overlook it.
Jesse Thornton
April 21, 2021 at 3:16 PM
FN 45 Tactical… my go to .45