Want a.45-caliber pistol, but not the 1911? Our top picks for modern handguns minimize recoil while maximizing the capacity of.45 ACP are here to help.
The.45 ACP is a classic American handgun. Since Colt’s M1911 was released over 100 years ago, the.45 ACP has been an American classic.
The.45 ACP cartridge is no longer confined to 1911s. We’ve compiled a list with a few.45 ACP pistols that we consider to be some of the best.
The Best.45 ACP Pistols
1. Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield Performance Center
The Smith & Wesson M&P45 Shield Performance Center makes a great carry gun, but it doesn’t receive nearly enough praise.
This gun is perfect for those who want to carry a.45 ACP pistol with them every day. This is a polymer, single-stack pistol that can withstand everyday use and daily carrying.
The gun comes with a 6-round and a 7-round magazine. This means that the capacity is limited but concealability is increased.
The Performance Center model is our favorite. It includes a 3.25-inch ported barrel, a ported slide and an action tuned for Performance Center.
The sights are also upgraded with a green front fiber optic and a rear red fiber optic. This grip is aggressive, ensuring that you can maintain control no matter how wet or sweaty your hands become (trust us it’s hot).
All of the M&P Shields that we’ve tested with PPT and our writers have proven to be reliable. The.45 ACP is no different.
The gun is small, lightweight and has a stiff recoil. However, the accuracy of the gun is excellent. It is also the easiest.45 ACP to conceal, due to its slim profile.
2. Sig Sauer P220 Legion
The Legion version of the Sig P220 is our favorite.
The gun looks good thanks to the Cerakote Elite Legion Grey finish on its slide and frame and the black G10 grips.
Legion is more than just a pretty face. P-SAIT is the P220 Legion’s best feature. It’s smooth, consistent, crisp break and short reset.
The P220 Legion can be purchased in two versions: a SAO version with a thumb-safety and a DA/SA model without a safety. The DA/SA model is our favorite as it provides a little more flexibility than a 1911.
The XRAY tritium night sight is fantastic. Its trigger undercut and beavertail extension offer ergonomic improvements over the base model. There are both iron-only versions and versions that can be equipped with optics.
The P220, despite only having 8+1 capacity is a large gun with a 7.7 inch overall length and weighing 30.4 ounces. The size and weight of the P220 helps absorb a large amount of recoil from the.45 ACP.
PPT is a P22X Legions fan, and we have several models in our team. Bottom line? The P220 is an extremely well-made and reliable pistol that has a stellar performance, excellent accuracy, as well as a long track record .
3. Walther PPQ 45
Walther makes some great handguns. The 45 PPQ is one of our favorites. The PPQ 45 may not be as beautiful as guns such the Legion but it is a beast!
This is a double-stack 12+1 capacity gun that falls between full-size (larger) and compact size. It leans more towards full-size.
This gun is designed to be lefty friendly. It has an ambidextrous slide, a reversible magazine, and interchangeable backstraps.
Wyatt has owned his PPQ45 for approximately 7 years. It is his favorite because of its ergonomics, reliability, and excellent accuracy.
It is too big to be concealed carried, but can still work for home defense or general range use.
4. Glock 21 Gen 5.
No one is surprised that our next entry will be the Glock 21 .45 ACP. The Glock 21 lives up to the Glock reputation. It is a real workhorse in every way.
The G21 is an all-size, double-stack, striker-fired handgun that has a capacity of 13+1.
The Glock is a standard Glock, with interchangeable backstraps and a magazine release that can be reversed. It also has a nicely textured frame.
Gen 5 features an improved trigger system, serrated front slides, an ambi-slide lock and the Glock Marksman Barrel to improve accuracy.
Despite the improvements, many people still dislike the trigger. We included. Glock is so popular that aftermarket parts are readily available.
PPT has used and abused Glocks for years and they still work. The G21 is the best choice for a.45 ACP when reliability is your main concern.
5. FN FNX 45 Tactical
The FNX45 Tactical is tacticool from its coyote color to its controls.
This pistol is the most powerful.45 ACP on the market, with a capacity of 15+1 rounds.
The features include an optics ready slide, an aggressive grip texture and interchangeable backstraps. It also has Trijicon sights that are at suppressor height, as well as a threaded barrel of 5.3 inches.
The FNX 45 shoots like a whirlwind. It feels much better than it looks in the hand and delivers a nice recoil. The gun is fully ambidextrous so lefties can rejoice!
We find the trigger to be its biggest flaw. The trigger is not as smooth as other DA/SA weapons on this list but it’s still a good gun.
This gun is an excellent workhorse. This gun is reliable, has a high capacity and is packed with features. Check out our full review to find out more.
Notable Mentions
6. H&K USP45 Tactical
The HK USP can compete with Glock in terms of reliability.
We recommend the HK USP45 Tactical to anyone looking for a.45 ACP DA/SA gun.
Wyatt is adamant about his USP 45, but admits that the Mark 23 is better. The Mark 23 is a monster of a gun, but you get the same upgrades without the massive size or cost.
The 45 tactical features a polygonal barrel with a threaded bore and an o-ring sealed. It is incredibly precise. You can achieve sub-2-inch groups if you put in the effort.
The trigger is now a match-grade trigger with adjustable trigger stops. It also has a larger trigger guard to make it easier to use with gloves.
We love the combination safety/decocker lever on the left side. It’s the most elegant and simple implementation of a combination-lever we’ve ever seen.
The rear sight is fully adjustable in windage and elevation.
The gun lacks a standard accessory rack and its design is a bit dated. However, its performance and reliability are more than enough to make up for this, assuming that you can afford HK’s high price.
7. Springfield Armory XD Elite Compact OSP
You’re looking for a concealed carry 45 with a little more capacity than Shield. The Springfield XDM Elite Compact is the answer.
The gun has a capacity of 10+1, despite its 3.8-inch barrel and 6.75-inch overall length. It also weighs 25 ounces, which is still within the acceptable concealed carry range.
The slide is also equipped with an optics ready setup. It has a rear sight set up in u-notchs and a front sight made of fiber. All controls are ambidextrous, as well as a flared magwell.
Springfield also has their META flat-face trigger, which is designed to improve the pull and break.
The XD Elite Compact is the perfect gun for anyone who wants to reduce the size of their firearm without sacrificing any features.
8. SAR K2
CZ fans may have noticed that the CZ-97 is not included in this list.
It was discontinued by early 2022. This left a gap in the market for double-stack metal-framed.45 ACP pistols that weren’t 1911/2011s.
The SAR k2 is still available and has been for a long time. I dare say it’s better than the CZ 97.
The K2 is a classic CZ slide in frame design that looks very similar to the CZ 75 or 97 series.
Don’t be misled, though. The K2 is more than just a cheap copy. It has a 14+1 round capacity, which is far greater than the CZ 97, with its 10-round capacity.
The DA/SA pull is smooth and the single-action trigger feels great. The standard full-size version comes with a barrel measuring 4.7 inches (4.2 inches in the compact model). It also includes a rear sight that is fully adjustable and a Picatinny accessory rack.
What’s the best part? The CZ is about two hundred dollars cheaper, which makes it an excellent value for anyone looking for a high capacity, all steel.45 ACP.
How to choose a.45ACP pistol
The world of.45 ACP non-1911 pistols is a very diverse one. There are many different pistols aimed at various target markets.
First, determine the purpose of the gun. Do you want something that you can carry concealed on a regular base? Are you looking for a range toy with a lot of fun? Will the gun be used as a home defense weapon? You may want a gun that can be used for all three.
You should consider features after deciding what the gun will do. You can narrow down your choices by looking at features such as hammer-fired DA/SA versus striking-fired actions, red dot mountability, magazine capacity, and threaded barrels. It is important to test the gun or to at least hold it if possible.
Final Thoughts
You can see that there are many excellent pistols in.45 caliber available on the market.
The right one depends on your needs.
A good.45 ACP gun is an excellent choice. It is not only a great home defense weapon, but can also give you hours of fun at the range.
Have you ever used any of the weapons on our list before? Tell us in the comments! If you’re not happy with the lack of 1911s in the market, check out our article dedicated to the Best 1911s.
Latest Updates
Due to non-availability, the Ruger Redhawk 45 Colt/45 ACP was removed from sale on April 14, 2024. Hi-Point JHP45 removed. Glock G21 Gen 4 is replaced with the Gen 5 MOS version.
