Conceal Carry .45

Herk

Herk

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I've been wanting to get a .45 that isn't a 1911 for every day concealed carry. The two that I've narrowed it down to are the Glock 36 and the Kahr CW45. Unfortunately - I haven't found a shop close that I could handle either. I've had a Hellcat Micro but it was a real hand cannon. I traded it a few years ago. Anyone have an opinion on either of these or something different?
 
I've been pocket carrying a Kahr PM 45. Have also had XDS 45. If your belt carrying, I'd recommend the Shield.
 
GregB said:
I've been pocket carrying a Kahr PM 45. Have also had XDS 45. If your belt carrying, I'd recommend the Shield.
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How did you like the Kahr? I have a CW 9 and I carry it but it, like the XDS, is pretty rough to shoot. I read the CW 45 was a little nicer due to the geometry.
 
It's a little snappy. I try to put 10 -15 rounds through it every time I go to the range. Usually 1-3 times a month. I've wondered about the bigger one as well. Haven't shot a Shield, but will eventually buy one to try.
 
My XDS had a light on it and I had a custom leather pocket/belt sheath. Was a bit much in the pocket and then the recall happened and that soured me on it. Especially when I called them and they said "we don't know how long it will take to get it back to you". Just a personal gripe. That and a grip safety is just one more thing that can fail.
 
Herk said:
Thanks, I had one and didn't like to shoot it. Kicked like a mule and not very accurate. Was pretty comfortable to carry though.
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Wow. Not my experience at all. My XDs point shot better than any other small pistol I had carried up to that point. Recoil wasn’t bad, either. I guess its ergonomics just worked for my hand. Just goes to show how personal a choice a carry pistol is.
 
I have to say of the smaller blasters I’ve owned, the XDS 45 was the least pleasant to shoot. Very aggressive grip pattern, and I recall trigger slap too.
 
If DAO and single stack is on the table, my Para Carry 45 is a great piece and used to be my EDC. 1911 ergos without having to carry cocked and locked, and the LDA trigger was great. It also had very manageable recoil - I can shoot it as well or better than some of my 9mm's.
 
Never been a fan of those small .45s used to have a 36 and while it was a decent shooter, I don’t see the point of carrying something nearly the size of a Glock 19 with only 6 rounds.

I’ve shot the XDS 45 before and I think that is one of the most unpleasant pistols I have ever fired.
 
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I carried my PM45 for a looong time - and love it to this day. The trigger is long, but soft and smoooooth. The reset is a bit long also compared to other offering. A training issue, perhaps.
I also have a .45 Shield and like it - but not as much.
The G36 is way too chunky and blocky for me.
And while I like SA products, I'm not an XD fan. I don't like the ergos/chunkiness and we had numerous of their smallest .45's go back to the factory - but that was a long time ago.

Smaller isn't always better, but for me it is with the current offerings.


Same capacity....

1684430133190.png




I believe the Glock 36 carries one more round than the Kahr:

1684430345471.png



The Shield also has one more round than the Kahr:

1684430611375.png
 
Dan0311 said:
I carried my PM45 for a looong time - and love it to this day. The trigger is long, but soft and smoooooth. The reset is a bit long also compared to other offering. A training issue, perhaps.
I also have a .45 Shield and like it - but not as much.
The G36 is way too chunky and blocky for me.
And while I like SA products, I'm not an XD fan. I don't like the ergos/chunkiness and we had numerous of their smallest .45's go back to the factory - but that was a long time ago.

Smaller isn't always better, but for me it is with the current offerings.


Same capacity....

View attachment 619330




I believe the Glock 36 carries one more round than the Kahr:

View attachment 619331



The Shield also has one more round than the Kahr:

View attachment 619333
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Like the post with the comparisons. I have a Kahr CW9 I bought to keep in my work car. What's the difference between the CW and PM models (besides the price)? Thanks!
 
Svt_tactical said:
When I think about smaller self defense guns, comfort shooting ain't my concern. I can guarantee anyone who used one in a self defense situation never thought about how snappy their gun shot.
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True, but if it sucks to shoot you aren't going to practice with it like you should.
 
Herk said:
Like the post with the comparisons. I have a Kahr CW9 I bought to keep in my work car. What's the difference between the CW and PM models (besides the price)? Thanks!
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If I remember correctly the CW models use a metal injection molded slide stop, a standard rifled barrel and only come with one magazine. Something also makes me think there’s a difference in the sight material but it’s been a few years since I’ve owned one. The PM models us polygonal rifling like a Glock, come with a spare mag and the slide stop is machined. This is to the best of my memory and I may be wrong.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Today I'm carrying a Seecamp .32 and a Lightweight Baby Browning......Geeeee, I hope I'm not under gunned....or worse...under manned.;)🙋‍♂️
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I carried that little Beretta Tomcat yesterday, having found reliable ball ammo for it. I do love a nicely made mouse gun.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Today I'm carrying a Seecamp .32 and a Lightweight Baby Browning......Geeeee, I hope I'm not under gunned....or worse...under manned.;)🙋‍♂️
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I know a guy shot seven times with a 25 by his estranged wife forty years ago. I rode Tail of the Dragon with him last year.
 
fieldgrade said:
I know a guy shot seven times with a 25 by his estranged wife forty years ago. I rode Tail of the Dragon with him last year.
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Weekend at Bernie's VII - Rollercoaster Madness
 
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Herk said:
Like the post with the comparisons. I have a Kahr CW9 I bought to keep in my work car. What's the difference between the CW and PM models (besides the price)? Thanks!
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It's been a while, but the PM's are the better version - and more $$.

I think the PM sights are better (dovetailed), the slide is milled as opposed to slab-sided, polygonal rifling instead of lands and groves, machined parts vs. some MIM parts, and laser engraving instead of stampings.

The PM9 was my carry gun before the PM45. Once the Sig P365 came out, the PM9 has mostly been locked away.
 
fieldgrade said:
I know a guy shot seven times with a 25 by his estranged wife forty years ago. I rode Tail of the Dragon with him last year.
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I have a little colt .25, and its awesome...but everytime I think of carrying it I am reminded of someone saying "The problem with a .25 is that if you own one, you may decide to actually carry it. And if you carry it, and the need arises you may need to use it. And if you shoot someone with it, and they find out, they will be extremely upset with you."

I know is tongue in cheek, as I aint volunteering to be shot by anything...

But to kinda support Billy's perspective...reliability>accuracy>capacity>caliber.
 
While I know even .22LR kills a lot of people, small calibers are just too inconsistent for me to carry with assurance.

I had a distant cousin who took his father's WWII Walther .32, put it to his temple, and pulled the trigger. The bullet burrowed under the skin on his forehead and came out the other side. He drove himself to the hospital to get patched up.
 
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fieldgrade said:
I know a guy shot seven times with a 25 by his estranged wife forty years ago. I rode Tail of the Dragon with him last year.
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Many years ago I saw a guy who had been shot with a .25 - could barely tell where it entered because it went in his eye - blew the back of the skull out - real nasty. Still won't trust my life to anything lighter than 9mm.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
In my lifetime the 365 has been the biggest improvement in EDC....TINY, 13-16 rounds....there's one on my hip Right Now...of course I have the Mighty Lightweight Baby Browning as a back-up!!!
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I agree 100%. Buying off-duty/CCW guns has been an almost 35 year pursuit - and the 365 checks all of the boxes (for me). Although the 5+1 Kahr PM45 w/ an extra mag or two fit the bill quite nicely for a long time, with the Kahr PM9, Ruger LCP, KelTec .32 and S&W 340 PD being secondary guns or rarely, alternates.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
When I carry revolvers...and I Do....it's a couple of Taurus Views [10 ounces loaded] or a Charter Arms "Boomer" [1 inch barrel .44 spec.]....yep, I know they are Old Fashion....Me Too!
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This is one of my most comfortable set-ups, and use it more often than I should.



1684504418367.jpeg
 
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