Favorite .45 ACP Handguns

The .45 ACP has long fascinated me.  I guess early exposure to Mike Hammer, PI followed by Magnum PI has something to do with it.  I know now that way back when, .45 ACP blanks weren't a thing, and while Tom Selleck was playing Magnum, various 9mm's were pretending to be his .45 ACP 1911.  Here, in no particular order other than the way they come out of my head are my favorite .45's.


Glock 30.  This is my favorite shooter.  Glock built there original .45 ACP line on the same frame and slide as their 10mm so it's more robust than necessary.  As a result, even though it is chambered in a larger cartridge with a reputation for recoil and a shorter barrel, my 30 has less muzzle jump than my 19.  This makes for a sweet shooting double stack sub-compact.

Glock 30s.  I know, just blew someone's mind.  Glock got some gripes about the large frame on the .45 ACP's being too big for some hands, so they made a shorter, slimmer frame called the short frame or sf.  it still used the same slide though.  Some enterprising undercover law enforcement types started Frankensteining there 30sf frames with the slides off the single stack model 36's.  This made for a thinner, easier to conceal weapon.  It was so popular, Glock reengineered the 30 and 30 sf so you couldn't do that anymore, then did it itself, after much safety testing and called it the 30s.  This gives you a double stack, .45 acp subcompact very similiar in size to the 9mm.  As a matter of fact, most of my holsters for the 19 and 23 work with the 30s.  It's much thinner than my 30.  But it al so  has more muzzle flip than my 30.  I've also been told not to fire +p as the slide is so much lighter it won't hold up.  Not sure about that part, since I thought the 36 was +p rated.  The internet seems to disagree on this as several sites that have reviewed the firearm have run plus p's through it.

1911.  This is a given.  Last 1911 I had in .45 was an officer's model.  I carried it quite a bit.  Tended to poke, but it was accurate and not bad at all to shoot.   It was a steel framed gun, so it was fairly heavy.  Never had or fired an alloy framed 1911, so can't give an opinion on them.

Ruger P90D.  This was my first ever .45 ACP.  Double action, single stack with a decocker and aluminum frame.  Passed a qualification course with it after only a couple of firing session.  Never had an issue with it.  Carried it a lot.  Can't remember why I traded it.

Sig Sauer P220.  This was a dream gun for years.  Finally bought a used one for a song, because someone had stored it on a boat and the finish was bad.  Shot like a dream.

Springfield XDS.  Borrowed this one from a guy at the range.  Only got to shoot it that once, but it was sweet.  Shot it and a 9mm version at the same time.  Loved them both.  If I am ever in the market for a super compact .45 I know what it will be.

Springfield XD  I'm again not the fondest of the grip safety, but it's not a deal breaker.  This is a nice shooter.  It's a heavy firearm, with 13 rounds of .45 ACP.  Still it was the first polymer .45 I shot so it holds a special place for me.

Glock 21 and 21 S.  These are the big brothers of my  30 and 30s.  I like the way they shoot, I like the 13 round magazines, but they aren't the easiest firearms to conceal and as with the XD it can be a load to lug around compared to their little brothers.

Walther PPQ M2.  This is fantasy land.  I have not fired one of these.  Haven't even got to hold one.  But it looks cool, and it's Walther's first .45 ACP.  And the msrp isn't near as bad as I would expect from Walther.  It looks like it's going to retail for between $50 and $100 more than a Glock.

H and K USP Fantasy time again.  Like the way these look, would love to shoot one.  They are pricey though.