If you are going to carry, the P220 would be number 1 then the USP 45 compact would be number 2. All are great pistols.

quote:

Don’t have to routinely adjust ejection/extraction like on the antique pistols

My P220ST w/ internal extractor disagrees with your assessment. There is a reason they went to an external extractor and reasons why they changed the external extractors. Often it is reliability driven and sometimes these changes are driven by cost. My experience has been that the external extractors are less finicky and more reliable than the internal extractors. The short extractors are more visually appealing to my eye but I haven’t noticed any difference in reliability in my small sample size between the two. All of my internal extractor Sigs have been reliable out of the box including the classic X series guns that have passed through my hands.

A lot of great choices in 45acp but what is the intended purpose of this firearm? Sorry if I missed that in the discussion. Range toy, Home Defense, or potential carry?

I’ve had all three.

I never really warmed up to the HK45. Nothing really wrong with the gun, I just didn’t care for it.

I’ve had multiple p220s over the years, and they are great, but I never carry them. If I want to carry a single stack 45 I reach for a 1911 or Commander. If I carry something p220 sized I grab my p226. I probably will never get rid of my 220, but I can’t remember when I shot it last.

My USP 45 on the other hand I shoot quite a bit. It’s a big chunk of gun, but it’s very pleasant to shoot, fits my big mitts well, and can stack rounds on top of each other if I do my part. In fairness I did swap out the barrel with a threaded USP Tactical barrel and added a match trigger (the double action is still terrible, but the single action is actually pretty nice). I carry it when the weather lets me dress around it. I also carry it Condition One to avoid that DA pull which is, as I said, pretty terrible.

If you’ve got reasonably large hands, I’d suggest giving the Glock 21 a try. The ergos aren’t for everyone, but they are remarkably soft shooting.

Every American should be issued a no frills 1911, a 30-30 lever gun, and a mossberg 590 when they come of age. I’m only half joking.

I understand it's not in your list, but every gun guy should have at least one 1911. And as a Sig guy one 220.

quote:

If I want to carry a single stack 45 I reach for a 1911 or Commander. If I carry something p220 sized I grab my p226.

This is where I’m at. Something that size is going to have 16 rds on tap.
My 220 was already showing frame wear where my 226s show none! I’ve shot the beejesus out of my 226s & 225 but the 220 wants to wear the frame with 1/10th the round count.

I carry my P245 or my SCAR 17, depending on the weather.


(If I am carrying the P245, the SCAR is nearby)

OP, what did you wind up getting? I revisited this string and thought I would make a new recommendation. If it’s your first .45 it feels like the 1911 should be the choice. Old school beauty and still as cool as ever.

I still haven't "pulled the trigger" on one yet. Just got crazy busy. I was really leaning toward the HK45 but now I'm considering some of the others mentioned here. This is going to be a range toy. I have a couple small Walthers for CCW.

P220 SAO Carry, it's my non 1911 SAO 45, everyone else buys 1911's and they are great, but sometimes you just have to have something different.

Well, I settled on a HK45 with a Light LEM trigger. I was surprised how much I liked it. The pistol fits my hand just right. Bonus - it came with 4 ten round and 3 thirteen round mags.

quote:

3 thirteen round mags.

There are technically no factory 13 round magazines for the HK45. They are probably HK parts (not affiliated with HK at all and very hit or miss) extended base plates. While there have been folks with great experiences with these I would make sure I tested them well.

Good point Chris.
The magazine bodies are identical in all respects to the standard HK mags, down to the weld seams and markings. They probably have 3rnd extenders on them. Possibly bought that way as I didn't get any loose baseplates. Shot one full mag at the range and it functioned fine. But I need to run some more ammo through them for piece of mind. I will not be carrying this, its a range toy.

I am in the Had a USP, Have a P220 category.
The USP was too big in the butt for me, a 2011 is about as large as I find comfortable, P226 is just OK.
I would look at a HK45 with its melted looking grip.

Oh, you did; good.

The HK45 with the light LEM trigger is one of the most underrated HK pistols ever.

SIG P220, had one for 30+ yrs
fantastic shooters,

or a 1911, Colt, Dan Wesson, Springfield etc etc all make good pistols,



not saying the others are bad,


but you are you, so shoot them all if possible , and pick what you like

I still have one P220 after a peak of five of various models. I never could get up to the accuracy and speed of a 1911 while shooting. They would be great for self defense and a combat handgun. The same could be said for the 2 H&K 45s I had (Mark 23 and Tactical).
A Cajun Gun Works CZ-97 came the closest to my expectations for a DA/SA 45 ACP. The CZ-97 has better potential in the DA/SA trigger pull (my Cajun is very nice) and the Cajun Gun works installed bushing tightened up the barrel locking to produce very accurate groups. It also has a higher magazine capacity over the SIG. It is a little "bulky" so if you have medium/smaller hands, I'd pass but it's not much different than the H&Ks (especially the Mark23).

Sig triggers are to die for. Those 220s feel great in the hand and I still have a pair in 9mm. Add a pair of wood grips and you have an attractive pistol. At least the HKs look better than Glocks.



The only thing I can add to what was already said is that I was once comparing a Sig P239 and HK P2000 (both .40, 3.5" barrels, and like new) and I was taken by the difference in felt recoil between the two.

I don't know how they do it but the HK had noticeably less felt recoil.

Today both of my 45s are 1911s. The favorite is a WWII Colt from the CMP.

Congrats on the HK45. It's a good quality gun and although I have never tried the LEM, I have only heard good things about it.