Ideas for current model fullsize .45 in "traditional" SA/DA

[FJ540]

If you've shot a HK 45 and it fits your geometry, the price becomes less of an issue. They run everything you feed them, and they don't care when you clean them (my carry gun needs lint removal cleaning, so this is a very valid concern). It's like the crown jewel of tupperware. Spartan was telling me of how he ran his dirty for a while and had to break down and clean it because he couldn't stand the thought of it being that dirty anymore. I know I ran mine pretty dirty with weak ammo (WWB) and it never failed me. I never had a single failure on that gun in the 6 years I owned it. A buddy stove piped one, but I watched him limp wrist it when it happened. There's a reason HK sells for $2-400 over glock - they're better guns.

It does sting the wallet. I just got one in an auction I didn't think I was going to win (literally picked it up in the snow storm today), have a buyer lined up to bail me out, and I'm not sure I can bring myself to sell the gun this time around.

For your price point, the CZ's or EAA clones would be a good option if they fit you. I also happened to get one of those this week (price was too good to pass on), and now I'm remembering why I got rid of my 75B 15 years ago - the trigger travel bugs me. We'll see if I keep it in the family or find a new home. I need to shoot it first.

Lastly, there's several of us here with the guns you're considering. Get to the range and try them out. Lowest price and aesthetics are terrible criteria for choosing your life insurance policy. Carry what you shoot best. I'll gladly let you shoot anything I have with your own (factory) ammo.

[gdubya]

If you've shot a HK 45 and it fits your geometry, the price becomes less of an issue. They run everything you feed them, and they don't care when you clean them (my carry gun needs lint removal cleaning, so this is a very valid concern). It's like the crown jewel of tupperware. Spartan was telling me of how he ran his dirty for a while and had to break down and clean it because he couldn't stand the thought of it being that dirty anymore. I know I ran mine pretty dirty with weak ammo (WWB) and it never failed me. I never had a single failure on that gun in the 6 years I owned it. A buddy stove piped one, but I watched him limp wrist it when it happened. There's a reason HK sells for $2-400 over glock - they're better guns.

It does sting the wallet. I just got one in an auction I didn't think I was going to win (literally picked it up in the snow storm today), have a buyer lined up to bail me out, and I'm not sure I can bring myself to sell the gun this time around.

For your price point, the CZ's or EAA clones would be a good option if they fit you. I also happened to get one of those this week (price was too good to pass on), and now I'm remembering why I got rid of my 75B 15 years ago - the trigger travel bugs me. We'll see if I keep it in the family or find a new home. I need to shoot it first.

Lastly, there's several of us here with the guns you're considering. Get to the range and try them out. Lowest price and aesthetics are terrible criteria for choosing your life insurance policy. Carry what you shoot best. I'll gladly let you shoot anything I have with your own (factory) ammo.

Thanks for this very well though out post. I think I have pushed through the .45 lust and am back to a little bit of sanity. Unless I fall in love with a Jericho or Witness and see one at a great price, I am going to wait for a chance to shoot a few of these and see for sure if I want to save up or sell something for one of the nice pistols. In the meantime, I will probably buy a full-size S&W .45 if I see a DA/SA model for a decent price just to have it in my collection.

[Seismic Sam]

As already noted, you could go for a 10+1 DA/SA EAA Stock, or you could also look at a Used Para LDA which could hold up to 14+1 rounds of 45. I think the LDA triger is kinda sucky myself, but you might like it, and thery're not that expensive new and even less used.

[tabberski]

I really like my Para LDA pistol. Very reliable, shoots everything. Not the tightest gun in the world. Deffinitly not a Kimber. But for a Commander size it runs great.

[gdubya]

I have read some nice things about the EAA Sarsilmaz SAR K2, but have not actually seen one. 14+1 CZ clone, in use by turkish army, supposedly very similar to the witness, but somewhat nicer fit/trigger, and available <$550 online. Anybody seen/shot one of these in person or know any place in the metro selling one?

[Seismic Sam]

I would doubt the nicer fit or trigger, as the fit on EAA's is pretty damn good, the triggers could use some work, but dunno how you get a better trigger with the same sort of setup. Plus Tanfoglio probably helped set up the manufacturing site in Turkey anyway... Do you know that the Desert Eagle 1911, which is a pretty nice 1911 and has a trigger to die for, has a BUL frame made in Israel, and I have a BUL Cherokee BUG (if you're an 800 lb. troll, a 17+1 compact slide full size grip 9mm is a BUG...) that is really a Tanfoglio throughout, except it's finished in Israel?? The font of the printing on the frame is even the Tanfoglio font...

[jspace]

I have read some nice things about the EAA Sarsilmaz SAR K2, but have not actually seen one. 14+1 CZ clone, in use by turkish army, supposedly very similar to the witness, but somewhat nicer fit/trigger, and available <$550 online. Anybody seen/shot one of these in person or know any place in the metro selling one?

I picked one up from a place around Mankato at one of the recent shows. You've pretty much got it spot on, IMO. "Somewhat" nicer means marginally. There's still room for improvement, but DA is better compared to the Witness I have. SA seems about the same to me.
The only problem is finding magazines. Both the ones for the Para P14 and the BUL seem to work, but don't lock the slide back. The sights probably also need adjustment.

[gdubya]

Gun Stop has a EAA witness you might like.

Finally got a chance to stop be there, but the only Witness I saw was a compact 40. Nice place, I had never been in there before. I had heard they just did reloading supplies and accessories which is apparently totally wrong. Their used selection was priced very reasonably, almost bought something just because of that.

[treed]

Check out the Beretta PX-4 Storm in .45. I have a dead reliable 9mm with my pal just getting the .45. The recoil impulse is very nice with the rotating barrel soaking up the recoil.

Tim

[ex-LT]

Gun Stop has a EAA witness you might like.

Finally got a chance to stop be there, but the only Witness I saw was a compact 40. Nice place, I had never been in there before. I had heard they just did reloading supplies and accessories which is apparently totally wrong. Their used selection was priced very reasonably, almost bought something just because of that.

Well, partially wrong.

Gunstop Reloading Supplies sells reloading supplies, equipment, and books - does NOT sell guns.
The gun shop portion is The Gun Stop of Minnetonka.

Completely different entities, different owners. The only things they have in common are a building and (part of) a name.

[SamM]

+1 for HK USP. Had mine for 15 years and love shooting it. It's a big gun so if you have smaller hands you'll want to look at a single stack, I even added a hogue condom grip which makes the grip a bit bigger. The best feature is the dual recoil spring which makes the action butter smooth (I believe the Glock Gen4 uses this setup as well). Definitely give the USP a try.

[FJ540]

Larry had a 9mm Stock (I bought it), and a .45 witness when I posted that - it probably sold when someone else read this thread.

Cabela's has a couple 10mm's and a .45 match (SA only) in Rogers.

[patrick]

The P220 is a good one.And it has the Sig "To hell and back" reliability.I myself can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside with the traditional Sig trigger set up.That is why all my Sigs went bye bye.I've never had the opportunity to try the Sig DAK trigger.That might be better for me.Maybe try to find yourself a S&W 457?I think that's the model number.It's a single stack though.I've heard nothing but good about it.

[patrick]

If you want to travel out of your "comfort zone",the G21 is very hard to beat.It sounds like you're not a striker fire kind of guy.Just throwing it out there.

[gdubya]

The P220 is a good one.And it has the Sig "To hell and back" reliability.I myself can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside with the traditional Sig trigger set up.That is why all my Sigs went bye bye.I've never had the opportunity to try the Sig DAK trigger.That might be better for me.Maybe try to find yourself a S&W 457?I think that's the model number.It's a single stack though.I've heard nothing but good about it.

I once had a 457, that was a natural born stovepiper. It would do it about once a box, seemingly no matter the ammo, the shooter, the grip, or anything. I have know a couple folks who LOVE their 457, have never had a failure, and will swear by it as the best gun value ever. Not, mine. Never figured it out, instead I traded it with full disclosure for the 4516 (same size, stainless, ambi controls) which is what I really wanted in the first place when I settled for the 457. 4516 has been outstanding, and I still have it today. I'm just looking for something full-size for mostly range duty in the same caliber with similar controls. If I find something I end up shooting particularly well that shows appropriate reliability, it would someday replace the 4516 in the bedside gunvault, but not anytime soon.