45 acp

My vote would be for the Kimber line up. My buddy was debating between a Kimber and the Springfield Professional as his duty piece. He got The springfield, and a compact springfield as a back up (to replace his full size glock and subcompact back up). Both Springfields kept jamming and stove piping. He had the armorer work on both and tune them up. That is just anecdotal. But I have shot several Springfields and had stovepipes. I have never had a Kimber or Para, or Colt jam on me, but I have not shot all of them too much.

I would bet that the HK will be 100 percent reliable. As has been said, they are a bulky gun. Higher cap.
 
Bigfattyt said:
My vote would be for the Kimber line up. My buddy was debating between a Kimber and the Springfield Professional as his duty piece. He got The springfield, and a compact springfield as a back up (to replace his full size glock and subcompact back up). Both Springfields kept jamming and stove piping. He had the armorer work on both and tune them up. That is just anecdotal. But I have shot several Springfields and had stovepipes. I have never had a Kimber or Para, or Colt jam on me, but I have not shot all of them too much.

I would bet that the HK will be 100 percent reliable. As has been said, they are a bulky gun. Higher cap.
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Thanks a lot! The higher capacity is another attribute that really has me interested. And that 100 reliable thing.....

Quoted from HK's website,

HECKLER & KOCH MarK 23 PISTOL

The MK23 gives shooters absolute match grade accuracy - yet they exceed the most stringent operational requirements ever demanded of a combat handgun.

One of the most thoroughly tested handguns in history, the MK23/MARK 23 project originated in 1991 when HK began development for the U.S. Special Operations Command, the unit that directs the activities of America’s most elite military units, including the NAVY SEALS and the Army Special Forces. Following stringent comparative trials, on May 1st, 1996 the Mk23 was adopted as a service pistol under the designation MK23 MOD.O.

Among others the following tests had to be passed successfully:

30,000 round endurance firing test with + P ammunition
Extreme temperatures +73°C/-54°C
96 hours saline mist test
Sand, dust and sludge tests
96 hour surf simulation
Harshest drop tests
Accuracy and the highest precision
The frame mounted de-cocking lever, separate from the ambidextrous safety lever, allows the hammer to be lowered safely and quietly. When the hammer is down, the ambidextrous frame mounted safety lever is locked in fire position so that the pistol is always ready for Single Action operation. During testing, the USP had to meet the most stringent operational and accuracy requirements ever demanded of a combat handgun. Endurance testing demonstrated a service life of over 30,000 rounds of + P ammunition. To meet the reliability requirement, the pistol had to demonstrate a minimum of 2000 mean rounds between stoppage (MRBS). All pistols in the test exceeded the 2000 MRBS with an average of 6000 rounds.

In more than 450 accuracy test firings from a precision firing fixture, MK23 pistols far exceeded the US Government requirement, averaging under 37 mm.
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The HK I shot was very accurate. It was big, but felt good in your hand. I've shot some colts that seemed just as accurate. I've never stripped the HK, but I like being able to strip a colt down to nothing and put it back together easily. My colt had some parts that broke (front sight, barrel bushing, slide release lever), but better aftermarket versions of those parts fixed the issues.
 
My HK USP .45 has outshot almost every 1911 I've put it up against, plus I don't have to carry it cocked and locked. I will say that I dated a woman who carried a Kimber, and that is the only gun so far that that I could beat my USP with. You really do get what you pay for with guns.
 
I know you didn't ask about these, but my M&P .45 feels like it was made for my hand. The 1911's are fantastic, but I'm a "the guy with the most bullets wins" type of guy. No other pistol has ever felt so right in my hand.
 
Keep in mind, the 23 is pretty big compared to an average .45. You might consider buying a USP (or USP tactical) and several of mags and ammo components instead. Also, if you drop your mags in practice or competition or shoot lots of +p in the USP, be sure to check the top welds for your carry mags. These activities beat the hell out of the mags and they can hang up. USPs are absolutely reliable, their mags should be watched though.

If you have the budget to afford a Mark 23, but you still are considering a great upper end 1911 then you need to call John at Pro-Load and get yourself a Les Baer. Stay with the P2, TRS, CC. They are all as basic as you need with only slight differences depending on the user's needs (sights, ambi safety, grips). K.I.S.S.:thumbup:
Otherwise, I have had good luck with S.A.s, and their upper end models would be my next choice.

If you are proficient with a 1911, don't even bother straying away from them. I have admired and shot several other awesome .45s but every time I pick up a 1911, game over;)
 
What about a simple Gold Cup National Match, or one of the other Match 1911's? If capacity isn't important, but accuracy is, then I don't think you can go wrong.

On top of that, you can customize the 1911 and make it your own-something you can't do with the HK.
 
An EDC pair that works very well together.

HK45C-2.jpg


I was having the same question that you are. I decided that I wanted something I could carry that was accurate, reliable and not to heavy. The HK recoil system also actually works like they say. I could not be happier with my choice. This one is a joy to shoot.
 
For me, the primary attraction to the 1911 platform is the trigger, and how it leads to accuracy. The characteristics of the trigger, and perhaps more importantly, one's ability to control it, is a strong influence on accuracy. A 1911 with a crappy trigger is a sad thing. I like my 1911 triggers with a light and smooth pull, and with a short, crisp, and distrinct reset. All of my Ed Brown 1911s have outstanding triggers, which match the characteristics I just described.

With that said, HK and Sig Sauer also make excellent .45 Auto pistols. Their out-of-the-box triggers cannot match that of a high-end 1911, but they are excellent nonetheless. The closest, in my opinion and experience, is the Sig Sauer P220 SAOs.

The HK45C is about the size of a 1911 Commander. Here are photos of one of mine:

hk45c-left-full.jpg


hk45c-top.jpg


My favorite Sig Sauer in .45 Auto is the P220R Carry SAO. It, too, is the size of 1911 Commander, and has a great trigger. I own two of them. The all-black one wears Nill grips:

p220c-sao-nill-left-full.jpg


My Two-Tone version wears standard grips:

p220c-sao-tt-left-full.jpg


p220c-sao-tt-top.jpg
 
shunsui - Figuring out how easily the gun can be taken apart for cleaning is also a very good point. I will look into this also. Thanks!!

mogaert - Thank you!! This is very helpful!

Str8Edg - No, by all means, I am interested in any and all opinions and options and I appreciate them very very much! So, thanks!

Strabs - Thanks for the options, I will look into these also. I am slightly worried about the size of the MARK 23, but I am going to TRY to shoot it before a potential purchase :thumbup: I am with you on keeping with what works!! I don't really know why I am straying, but I am. :confused:

AWGunS - Yeah, They are nice. I am more of a no snag, combat style sight kind of guy (I assume the Gold Cups all come with target sights). I guess there really are more options to think about, and with most of them being great options the decision is getting even more difficult. And I love to customize 1911's but at this point I am almost thinking a great gun out of the box may be a good option also. Kind of like with cars, it’s hard to beat the factory. It can be done but it’s not usually just a quick bolt-on. Thank you very much for your thoughts!!!

Hawaiian - Great!!! Thank you very much!

Ironballs - Thanks!!

lunde - my favorite pistol is a Colt Combat Commander (with LOTS of work). To me its the perfect size and it leaves nothing to be wished for in the accuracy department :D All of the guns you have pictured are great looking and I would be proud to own and use any of them!!





I think the more you all help me, the more I want to buy them all :barf: This is turning out to be counterproductive :barf::barf: JUST KIDDING. This is awesome. I could not ask for better info!!

Thanks again guys. My search is continuing…
 
I would get a nice 1911, however, if you want something that is somewhat similar to the Mark 23 and designed to be suppressible, the HK USP Tactical .45 is very nice. I've got one and its an accurate soft shooting .45 with adjustable sights and a match trigger. The barrel is already threaded for a suppressor. Its also a lot less expensive than the MK 23 at around $1K in cost new.
 
Kimber is hard to beat.
I like the 1911 over others.
I have a Colt defender that carries perfect.
SANY0340.jpg
 
I have owned MANY 1911s over the years...

Colt Series 70
Colt Series 80 (3)
Auto Ordnance (don't ask)
Norinco
Les Baer
Kimber (6)
Para-Ordnance (2)

'Other' .45
Glock 21 (2), 30
HK USP (2)
SIG220 (2)



The only 1911 or .45 for that matter, that I have today are both Kimber.

Both are the Tactical II models, one 5'', the other 3''.
Great value, truly as accurate as I can/could be with the Baer Concept VII, lighter to carry, no worries if good ammo and magazines are used - zero malfunctions. Yes, even the small Tactical II Ultra - never would have believed it, but the shorty works, works and works.

However, I came *this* close to picking up an XD45 this last Friday... something comforting in a 13-round .45 that fits my hand and is the size of a Commander...

Ultimate fit, finish and function - Baer.
Works all the time, has the features I want/need - Kimber.

Good luck in your quest, been there... :D :thumbup:


John
 
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lunde said:
hk45c-left-full.jpg


hk45c-top.jpg
Click to expand...

Right now I am leaning towards a gun like the one in the beautiful photos above.

Pilot1 - thank you, I will keep all of this in mind!!

u812 - I guess I better give Kimber a good long second look:thumbup: Thanks!!

Strabs - yeah, I don't know what is going on with my brain!?!?!?!?!:confused: But, something is seriously wrong with it:barf:

Rat-30 - Thank you very much!!!
 
Only problem I have with .45s made like the HK is that for me they have to high of a profile.I had a Sig 220 for a while and it sat way to high in my hand.
 
If you want basically the same grip angle as the 1911 you can get it with the HK45. It comes with inter-changeable backstraps also to adjust for your hand size. Try that with a 1911;)
I owned a bunch of 1911's and 5/6 HK's. The best shooter was the HK USP Tactical. While not as large as the MK23 it was still more accurate than the 1911's. It's also built pretty much Nuclear proof. If you really want it to shine, get a KAC suppressor for it:D

Bob Mills
 
I love the Colt Gold Cup - Out of the box, one of the best values and most accurate 45's out there IMO, and recoil mild enough for even my Sis, as I took her out shooting this past weekend -

I have not tried the new HK45, but I do love the Ergo's of the P30 9mm

I also have a Mark 23 - they are very nice too, but larger profile as mentioned

The Colt Special Combat Gvmt is also worthy of a glance

Colt's seem to hold their value pretty good too, just in case you decide to upgrade to a Wilson or LB later
 
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