I have a beretta 96d from the OSHP and a Smith 4006 from the CHP. Both are quite capable .40 caliber guns. Both are also probably a little big and bulky to be a carry piece for most people. I just really like LEO trade in firearms, especially if they're marked for an agency or county.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:

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There are a few guns out there that are matches made in heaven for the .40S&W and the P229 is really a perfect match for that round IMO.

The P229 does indeed handle the .40 quite well...wolds better than my brother's Glock 23. I liked it as a duty gun, but it's just a bit heavy and bulky for a CCW piece. It shoots better than it carries...the fat grip and heavy slide are kind of the inverse of my favorite aspects of the P245.

Had a few .40 Cals too. The big stainless pig branded Para Ordnance P1640 was fun when capacity was in order. Lock your finger up trying to empty that magazine. Had 1 P229 in .40 which I never knew Had a magazine disconnect installed. My precious P226 ST in .40 went to resale, replaced by a ST in .357 Sig. My first and favorite .40 S&W was my Sig Pro Swiss frame. That little pistol would even feed my cast lead bullets. Good shooter and stood house duty.

92fstech, are the mags you use in either gun dimpled? If not, have you ever had a FTF?

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Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
92fstech, are the mags you use in either gun dimpled? If not, have you ever had a FTF?

Are you referring to the dimples near the top of the mag body, below the feed lips and towards the rear? I never noticed before, but 5 of my compact mags have them, 2 don't. Neither of my full-size mags have them. I'm not sure when I got the two compact mags without dimples...they may have been the ones that came with the P220, or I may have already had them. I've not had any feed issues with my 245, but I did have a couple with the P220. I had chocked it up to the overly wide ogive of my home-cast bullets, as I didn't have the problem with the commercially purchased bullets that I'd loaded.

Now you've given me something else to experiment with, though. Next time I take it to the range I'll try both types of mags and report back.

Thanks.

Ok, I had some time to experiment today.

The problem I had referenced above was with a particular bullet cast from a Lee Mold. It's a 228gr Round Nose, but a VERY wide ogive. I was having some issues with it binding against the top of the chamber in several guns. If I dropped the slide with the slide release on the 220 compact, it would do it every time. I'm out of those, and I'm convinced that problem was with the bullet.

I got a new mold for a 230gr truncated Cone Flat Point and cast some of those up. I tried dry-cycling full mags of those in both the dimpled and non-dimpled mags, and all of them were 100%. I also tried a few other varieties of .45 ACP that I had on hand dry in both mags, and all were 100%.

I then went to the range to test some loads with my new bullets. I shot 50 of them, evenly divided between the two mags, and had no malfunctions.

I think the purpose of the dimples has less to do with reliable feeding, and more to do with retaining the rounds at the rear of the mag so that a partial mag will drop free from the gun if desired. I fired a few rounds from the dimpled mag and hit the mag release...it drops free every time. The non-dimpled mag allows the rounds to ride forward slightly with the action, enough that it will bind against the feed ramp and hold the mag inside the gun if you try to eject it, requiring the user to grab the base of the mag and strip it from the magwell. You can see the issue in the photo below.



So while the dimpled mags do provide some benefit, I found both varieties to be equally reliable at feeding.

Very good. Thanks. Glad yours are working fine.

I bought a P220 Compact from a fellow forum member last year. It quickly became one of my favorite carry options. Though I do wish I could get a Lasermax for it. It pairs beautifully with the P220ST. So much so that my P239, P229 and P226, all in 357Sig, have become safe queens.

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I do wish I could get a Lasermax for it.

Is it railed? If so, have you considered one of the Laser/Light combos like a Streamlight TLR-8? I know it's not as slick as the guide-rod solution, but it probably holds zero better.

No, not railed.

Thanks for the great review. It is the only .45 in my carry rotation and the best shooting of the bunch.

I picked mine up from Dan's ammo (PW Imports, German proofed) and it has been my pride and joy ever since!

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Originally posted by kgray01:
Thanks for the great review. It is the only .45 in my carry rotation and the best shooting of the bunch.

I picked mine up from Dan's ammo (PW Imports, German proofed) and it has been my pride and joy ever since!

I finally got around to putting some Kydex together for this thing, and have been carrying it. It carries really nicely for it's size and weight, and I agree they are awesome shooting .45s. The low capacity limits it in some situations, but IMO it's a nice compact DA/SA option for any environment where one might otherwise feel that a 1911 is adequate. And I feel better about sweating on it and potentially beating it up than I do my P245.

And because of this thread I am now the proud owner of a new to me p245! Have not had the chance for ranger time yet but that is coming shortly. Thanks for the great review and thread as it finally pushed me over the edge and made me grab one.

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And because of this thread I am now the proud owner of a new to me p245!

You're welcome, my work here is done !

If you're a fan of the .45 ACP you're going to love that gun.

Haven't shot a 245. Held one years ago kicking the tires. Getting a new respect in this thread.

I went with the 220 Compact Dark Elite. My version of a 1911, I do wish it was SAO now. I went back and forth on that and found this one for a good deal and said screw it. Rainman showed me his which was SAO and I really liked it.

I like the beaver tail on this. The sights took getting used to. They work well for me now. I'd be fine with normal ones also.

Pete, that's a looker!

My buddy has the SAO version of the P220 Compact. It's a nice gun, but IMO less versatile than the DA/SA version. The SA trigger feels the same on both models, so it's not like you're giving that up by having the DA/SA version. There's not really any advantage to the SAO apart from the ability to carry cocked and locked, if that's your thing.

Where do you guys find magazines for them at? I never see them anywhere.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:
My buddy has the SAO version of the P220 Compact. It's a nice gun, but IMO less versatile than the DA/SA version. The SA trigger feels the same on both models, so it's not like you're giving that up by having the DA/SA version. There's not really any advantage to the SAO apart from the ability to carry cocked and locked, if that's your thing.

Good points and I can't disagree with you. The SAO intrigued me because part of the reason I got rid of my 1911s was because I saw the beavertail and SAO on these and it was just the same kinda thing. I mostly don't use the DA, but I do see the utility in it.

I won't get rid of this one for that, or go out of my way for it. Probably just a case of the grass is greener.

Now I need a SAO AND a 245!

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Now I need a SAO AND a 245!

That's the spirit !

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Where do you guys find magazines for them at? I never see them anywhere.

It's been a while since I've bought any. Ebay can be your friend, if you're careful. I carry full-size 8-round mags for reloads, with the 6 rounders in the gun. The 8 round mags are pretty easy to come by, but I like having some 6-rounders on hand as well.

I can't offer up too much from what has already been said. I appreciate the comparison between the two models. Good information regarding the recoil spring for a P245. Agreed, magazines are tough to find. Here's some P245 2-Tone hotness. Not too shabby for a 25 year old pistol.