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Looking for a new 45 range toy

I’m not looking for a 1911 or something that is too pretty to shoot. I want something I can put 20k rounds through and not care too much about how it looks.

Pure Nonsense. Good 1911s are meant to have the shit pounded out of them. If they're built right they'll take it easily, too. Right now my DW specialist is filthy and I don't care. If a friend calls and says "hey mike can i shoot it i got 800 rds of (insert anything halfway decent) i was thinking about buyingone" they can shoot the hell out of it and I wouldn't care. There is rarely a gun that's too pretty to shoot and those tend to get kicked out and sold. Unless its a family heirloom run the thing. Worst that will happen is you need some springs. [laugh]

I might clean the DW more often than my G21s, but otherwise in shooting? No, balls to the wall on any of em.
 
Pure Nonsense. Good 1911s are meant to have the shit pounded out of them. If they're built right they'll take it easily, too. Right now my DW specialist is filthy and I don't care. If a friend calls and says "hey mike can i shoot it i got 800 rds of (insert anything halfway decent) i was thinking about buyingone" they can shoot the hell out of it and I wouldn't care. There is rarely a gun that's too pretty to shoot and those tend to get kicked out and sold. Unless its a family heirloom run the thing. Worst that will happen is you need some springs. [laugh]

I might clean the DW more often than my G21s, but otherwise in shooting? No, balls to the wall on any of em.


I fully agree. I meant that I’m really not in the market for another 1911 nor spending north of 4-5k on a custom build. Greg’s guns look gorgeous, I wouldn’t want to use one as a range toy. If I bought another 1911 it would likely be a DW, have toyed with wanting one of the bobtail commanders for a long time.
 
Don’t discount the CZ97B (or BD) based on my evaluation. If I had normal adult male sized hands, it probably would be on the top of my list. Great fit and finish, very low bore access and more than enough mass to absorb the recoil of .45 +P loads. Should scratch that more exotic itch. My hands are just too small to shoot it well. I either have to shift my grip to manipulate the safety, or do it with my off hand. I also kind of dislike the fact that the grip is actually bigger than the FNX, but even in a free state you only get 10 rounds in the mag vs 15 in the FNX. Of course in MA it makes no difference since there are no pre-ban FNX mags. You can see from the pics that the grip is actually a bit bigger than the FNX 45 (particularly the back strap).

97B vs FNX 45 pic1.jpg 97B vs FNX 45 pic 2.jpg

But once the safety is off the CZ 97B is one sweet shooting pistole.
 
@PistolShooter

P227 and P320 (45acp) use essentially the same mags. The base plates are slightly different but easily modified w a Dremel to allow fitting in a P227. It’s not a ghetto fix the mag bodies and followers are identical. other parts for the P227 will be available because the slide is identical to a P220 and the frame parts are almost all interchangeable with a P226/P229/P220. perhaps the mag release is unique to the 227 but even that I’m not so sure.

I own a CZ 97 BD and it’s a cool pistol. I’m not a huge CZ fan as I find them overly complex with bizarre design. Trigger return springs tend to break. They’re still cool though. If you don’t own an HK45 that’s also one to consider. The PX4 storm in 45 gets a lot of love on other forums but my experience w the PX4 is limited to 9mm. My P227 is a cool pistol but for some odd reason I prefer the feel of my P220 so it gets much more range time. It is an extremely reliable and accurate pistol. I briefly owned an FNX-45 but found it awkward. like every other FN pistol I got rid of it in a hurry and never looked back. I also had an M&P 45 full size and that was a great shooter for a striker gun. its maybe the only striker fired pistol I regret selling. The G21 or G41 are also winners but it sounds like you’re less interested in a Glock.
 
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In a semi auto, I'd look at the CZ97B. In a double action revolver, a S&W 1950 or 25 and in a single action, a Ruger .45 Colt with .45acp cylinder.
 
USP 45 Expert/Elite/Tactical

These look to be going for a bit less than a mark 23 which is intriguing. For someone that’s never owned an HK, what’s the preference for the USP over the HK45? I think I remember their being prebans for the USP which won’t be the case for the HK45, and I understand the rail difference, but what else?
 
For an honest to god range toy in 45 I would try to get some kind of a PCC, ideally the civvy UMP but I think those are impossible to get so its down to either build an ar15 on a lower that takes grease gun mags or get the funny looking thing that comes with a giant fake can, forgot what its called, then SBR it. I kind of want to do this BTW because I am in the same boat as you.

e: actually there might be a new one out by whoever made the mp9 (??)
 
These look to be going for a bit less than a mark 23 which is intriguing. For someone that’s never owned an HK, what’s the preference for the USP over the HK45? I think I remember their being prebans for the USP which won’t be the case for the HK45, and I understand the rail difference, but what else?
I have never owned a USP but I can attest that the ergos of the HK45 are great for those of us with smaller hands. My understanding is that the USP has a blockier grip (akin to the FNX 45). As a range toy, mag capacity isn’t particularly important to me. The fact that the HK45 is designed around a 10 round mag just means that you are not paying the grip size penalty for a larger capacity mag when you generally can’t use them in MA. My HK45 is definitely my favorite non-1911 .45 ACP, though if it fit me better the CZ would give it a run for the money and bang for the buck you can’t beat the Springfield.
 
My favorite non 1911 .45 is a M&P Midsize. Very accurate and eats everything.
M&P 45C right? I have mild buyers remorse for mine. It works and can be carried much easier than my G21. I dont know, its just not interesting. Reliable and does the job, sure
 
I have the DA/SA P220 Legion and really like it, but I also carry a HK45C. I would love the full size version of the HK if I could find room in the safe. It’s kind of hard to hide a completely new safe and am pretty sure my better half would notice it.
 
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Have you considered a .45 PCC for a different shooting experience?
THIS is why I'm building an AR9. I reload 9 and 45 and have a $hitload of each but not much 5.56.

Also +1 on CZ. I don't own one but find them to be aesthetically perfect.
 
Some people prefer the ergos on the HK45, I like both grips but they are def different so it's worth checking them out before choosing. HK45 has ambi controls and a pic rail vs non ambi and you'll need an adapter to run a light on a USP. Both can be fit with match trigger components (I believe the HK 45 you can't do the overtravel) but if you get the Expert/Elite they come with the match trigger and the Tactical only needs a couple springs to get the full match trigger setup. HK45 doesn't have the recoil reduction spring that the USP does, to me the USP shoots smoother.

I wouldn't waste time with the Mark 23 unless you have a specific hankering for one.


These look to be going for a bit less than a mark 23 which is intriguing. For someone that’s never owned an HK, what’s the preference for the USP over the HK45? I think I remember their being prebans for the USP which won’t be the case for the HK45, and I understand the rail difference, but what else?
 
You have seen that many people comment about HK. I love the HK45C and did very well with it in competition! You will need to learn that first DA pull, but after that it just works for me.

sadly I let it go after surgery on my left wrist with implant. Took 2yrs to get near normal.

I have a Colt competition that I love!
The trigger is amazing. But I had to learn to draw with safety.

oh, and I always hated that take down for cleaning. But I know I will eventually get another!
 
I fully agree. I meant that I’m really not in the market for another 1911 nor spending north of 4-5k on a custom build. Greg’s guns look gorgeous, I wouldn’t want to use one as a range toy. If I bought another 1911 it would likely be a DW, have toyed with wanting one of the bobtail commanders for a long time.
If you can find one, my Colt 70series competition is hard to beat for the $$
 
Ruger American 45 cheap lots of mags and parts doesn't look like every other ruger gun.

Fnx good one

Sig 320

Cz 97s look cool but I'd go with one of the 10mm offerings in eaa or cz

Also look at eaa match offerings they are czs basically
I didn't know that CZ made any 10MM's. They had a "concept" BD97 in 10MM at 2019 SHOT but never released it.
 
No, not M&P Compact. M&P Midsize. There is a difference.
I have a M&P 45 Midsize. It works great, which is why I keep it, because that is not a given for any gun. Never failed to fire or eject. Trigger is pretty good with Apex parts. There's nothing to complain about, but it is sort of dull to shoot it. I always shoot 1911's instead. I used to have a Sig P220, which I now regret selling. That was more fun to shoot.
 
my boss is looking to sell his greg derr custom.
if i only had the cash
When I was looking for my first 1911 I wanted Greg Derr build. Once I found out how much it cost I threw up in my mouth. His work is amazing and totally worth the money, but unfortunately too rich for my blood.
 
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