High Cap .45 ACP

[Yosemite Sam]

I got the bug to get a high cap .45. I currently shoot both a Sig P220 and a DW CBOB (Commander-sized 1911), and both have 8 round mags. I'm thinking it would be nice to have more available without a mag change for my HD gun.

I'm currently looking at the Para P12.45 (not the LDA). I had a stainless LDA a few years ago and it was a nice weapon, but I went back to the traditional action. The P12.45 looks OK, but these guns have a lot of MIM in them, use a plastic trigger shoe (replaceable for $30), and have a crappy painted-on finish. I supposed I could get stainless.

Next on my radar was the FN P45, a new(ish) .45 ACP offering from them. Unfortunately, reading around the net has shown that the pistol is having teething problems (sound familiar?), is ammo sensitive, blah, blah, blah. I'm not interested in beta testing a pistol for them, no matter how good the name.

S&W M&P .45: Ok, and I can even get one with a 14 round mag extension. Not really a fan of those articulated triggers, though.

HK: Some nice stuff. Some relatively affordable (~$825 or so), most outrageously expensive for a plastic gun. Dependable, but if you ever do need service I've heard horror stories.

XDs, Glocks, etc: Only 10 rounds, and too blocky/bulky. Same with the EAA Witness.

What else should I be looking at? Any opinions on those listed above?

-- Sam

 

[aaronrb204]

You mention XD and Glock and then say only 10 rounds. Are you looking at compacts in general or full size? Also what round count are you looking for: more than 8 or more than 12 or...?

 

[Spikess]

I got the bug to get a high cap .45. I currently shoot both a Sig P220 and a DW CBOB (Commander-sized 1911), and both have 8 round mags. I'm thinking it would be nice to have more available without a mag change for my HD gun.

I'm currently looking at the Para P12.45 (not the LDA). I had a stainless LDA a few years ago and it was a nice weapon, but I went back to the traditional action. The P12.45 looks OK, but these guns have a lot of MIM in them, use a plastic trigger shoe (replaceable for $30), and have a crappy painted-on finish. I supposed I could get stainless.

Next on my radar was the FN P45, a new(ish) .45 ACP offering from them. Unfortunately, reading around the net has shown that the pistol is having teething problems (sound familiar?), is ammo sensitive, blah, blah, blah. I'm not interested in beta testing a pistol for them, no matter how good the name.

S&W M&P .45: Ok, and I can even get one with a 14 round mag extension. Not really a fan of those articulated triggers, though.

HK: Some nice stuff. Some relatively affordable (~$825 or so), most outrageously expensive for a plastic gun. Dependable, but if you ever do need service I've heard horror stories.

XDs, Glocks, etc: Only 10 rounds, and too blocky/bulky. Same with the EAA Witness.

What else should I be looking at? Any opinions on those listed above?

-- Sam

I believe the XD holds 13 rounds.

I shot a hi-cap Para .45 and I didn't care for how it felt in my hand. But that's just me. Others may like it just fine. I do hear lots of good things about the S&W MP's, but I have no personal experience with them.

 

[jhearne]

The XD standard .45 model holds 13 rounds, and for HD would be a solid gun. My father just bought the 4" model in .40 and at the range we didn't have a single issue to report.

Link to XD .45 4"

Josh

 

[Mike J]

I don't know about the Glock or M & P but the XD-45 has a 13 round magazine. If you buy the compact model unless I'm mistaken it comes with a 10 round mag & a 13 rounder with a grip sleeve. I know this because after I bought my XD-40 I found out the .45 actually has one round more capacity than the .40. Kind of a bummer. But if 12 + 1 of .40 and a spare mag isn't enough I'm probably screwed anyway.
I have seen good things posted about the FNP but I don't know anything firsthand.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I'm looking at full size. I didn't realize the XD held 13. G21 too, hmmm... I had one years ago before the AWB expired, and must've had 10 round mags with it. Those are both kinda blocky designs, but worth looking into again (I had an XD-SC in .40 S&W at one point, too...)

12-14 rounds would be nice. It's too bad about the FN's teething problems, as it seems like a really nice pistol.

-- Sam

 

[Mike J]

The XD-45 compact is nothing more than a XD-45 service (4" barrel) with a grip chop. That way you can use it with a shorter grip for carry & still use it like a full size simply by changing the magazine. Good luck with your search I hope you find what fits you best.

 

[Doble Troble]

A friend has an XD-45 and really likes it. It eats everything he's tried feeding it. He's carried it a lot, but carries a SP-101 more.

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

I had a Para Tac Four (Mid size) double stack (staggered) Stainless steel model (loosely based on the 1911) It acccepted P14 magazines. I had 2 stainless ones.

I no longer have this model, but the Springfield XD .45 is ALSO an outstanding model as well.

 

[toysoldier]

All I can contribute is that the Springfield is left-hand friendly.

 

[bub]

Oh, boy, I get to pimp for one of my favorite guns, the Glock 21! Full sized hi-cap .45, 13 rd mags, easy to control, light recoil, decent trigger, durable, what more can you ask for? I have over 30,000 rds through mine and carry it 40+ hours a week at work. Aside from some of my early reloads that I didn't get sized properly, it has never malfed, either. The only real negative with the G21 is the size of the gun. It's BIG!!! If your hands are big enough for it and the ergonomics work for you, it's hard to beat.

Bub

 

[aWoods]

It's hard to beat a Glock if you like the way they feel in hand.

 

[tdyoung58]

I have a XD45 Tactical compact 5" with both the 10 round and the 13 round magazines, makes a good carry gun and a excellent range gun. The longer barrel doesn't really hinder anything and the shorter grip conceals easily if needed

The Para, as well as the HiCap, Kimber and Springfield 1911's are all made and imported from Bul in Israel. Bul sold it under the Bul G4 name as well

 

[tightgrouper]

I have a hankering for a .45 with a decent capacity as well.
The XD always gets a good review.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

...
The Para, as well as the HiCap, Kimber and Springfield 1911's are all made and imported from Bul in Israel. Bul sold it under the Bul G4 name as well

I did not know that. Are you positive? Para has been producing hi cap .45s for over a decade. I thought they all came out of Canada, until recently, when they opened a US operation. That may only be customer support, though.

Thanks for all the responses. I've owned a Glock 21(-C), and indeed, sold it to a buddy of mine. They're definitely good guns, I especially like the aftermarket support, but they just don't fit me that well. As I mentioned, I had an XD subcompact in .40 S&W, it might be worth looking at the larger model. I really like that FN and may have to look at one of those in the flesh; Forum discussion of the Walther PPS might have kept me from buying it had I read it first, yet my gun has been flawless.

-- Sam

 

[Mike J]

I'd be interested to know what yoiu decide on Sam. The variety of platforms you're considering makes this kind of interesting.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Update: I played with a H&K USP in a LGS today and must admit I kind of like that. Too much money for this used one, and new ones are even more outrageous, but at least it felt better in my hand than the $1150 Para. The latter wasn't terrible, just incredibly rough for such an expensive gun. If I were going to spend that kind of scratch I'd go for the USP Elite, at least today. It would make a nice match to my Glock 17L.

-- Sam

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Another update: I'm giving up.

I've gotten to handle the M&P, the full size XD, the slim frame Glock, a couple of Paras, and the H&Ks. I'll admit the M&P feels real nice, and I really like the manual of arms on the H&Ks, but there's nothing that makes me really want any of these. I'd like to get my hands on the FN P45 just to see what it feels like, but I'm not about to order one just to see.

Thing is, when it comes right down to it, I'm not finding anything I like better than the single stacks I have now. I'm thinking I should just buy some mags and practice tactical changes.

I'm also suffering sticker shock: Between $800 CZ97s (these used to be good, inexpensive guns; now they're as much as a Sig!), $1100 Paras, and $1200 H&Ks I'm just not finding anything that makes me want to spend that much.

-- Sam

 

[aaronrb204]

The Para, as well as the HiCap, Kimber and Springfield 1911's are all made and imported from Bul in Israel. Bul sold it under the Bul G4 name as well

Springfield 1911s are made in Brazil.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

The Para, as well as the HiCap, Kimber and Springfield 1911's are all made and imported from Bul in Israel. Bul sold it under the Bul G4 name as well

Springfield 1911s are made in Brazil.

I don't understand his post, either. What I found is that Bul supplied pistols to Charles Daly, was in negotiations with Kimber, and has now backed out of those and has decided to sell through MRI (Magnum Research). Though CD still has some info up on their page.

The G4 isn't even a high cap, doesn't exist yet, and may never. Don't know where tdyoung58 got that.

-- Sam