Top is a Glock 30, Bottom left the Glock 21 and the Bottom right is a Springfield Armory XDs45. All three are chambered for .45ACP
Most people who’ve read my posts know I’m a .45ACP fan for a Survivalist’s defensive pistols. My reasoning is simple. The .45ACP cartridge is the best auto pistol round made if you are forced to use the least effective bullet design, which is the the round nose lead or jacketed bullet. Without expansion, it is already almost half an inch in diameter. Below are my choices in that caliber, as well as some choices I’ve made in 9mm.
The Glock 30 pictured is a pistol I’ve owned for 20 years. It is one of the best mid sized pistols made. It is big enough to use as your “Full size” pistol, and small enough to readily conceal. The recoil spring system used in the G30 makes felt recoil similar to that of it’s full sized “sibling” the G21. It is accurate, reliable, takes full sized G21 mags and after thousands of rounds, has never had a malfunction or part break. I either carry this pistol in a Safariland ALS paddle holster or an Aker “Flat Sider” shoulder holster.
Another addition I’ve found advantageous in the “training” and “survival” categories is the Advantage Arms .22 kit. It is a “winner” for all the obvious reasons. Practicing with the same trigger, pistol frame and sight, as well as having a lightweight, small game cartridge adapter for your full size, centerfire firearm in you pack just makes sense.
The Springfield Armory XDs45
I’ve owned an XDs45 for a while now, and I can’t say enough about how much I love that pistol. It is pretty much as compact as you can get in a .45ACP. It is reliable with everything I’ve fed through it from cheap, steel cased Wolf ammo to high end Federal “Hydra Shok-Deep” ammo. Finally, it is accurate. The XDs45 is more accurate than one might expect from a subcompact .45 Auto. Here are some of my other thoughts on this pistol, to include the new “Version 2” Model. The XDs45 is my regular “Off Duty” pistol, and the holster I use to carry this pistol is the Galco Classic Lite Shoulder rig.
The Glock 21
I’ve used Glock pistols, starting with a G17, for 30 years, and the Glock 21 specifically, for 20. Reliable, durable and accurate are synonymous with the name “Glock”. I’ve already stated why I’m a fan of the .45ACP cartridge, so ’nuff said. As to the specifics of why I like the G21, well, here goes. It starts out with 13 or 15 rounds mags, depending whether you get “+2″ floor plates or not. With moderate to good ammo, it will group around 3” at 25 yards as long as I do my part from a rest.
The G21 is a large pistol, but by no means is it too large for the average hand. Having put thousands of rounds through my G21 and experienced no failures in performance or parts durability, I can safely say, this is a “Pistol for the TEOTWAWKISTAN” if ever there was one. Like the G30, I also have an Advantage Arms .22 Kit for my G21 and it is for all the reasons I’ve already extolled in the section on the G30. The holsters I use with this pistol are the Safariland ALS, an El Paso Saddlery 1942 Tanker holster, a Blackhawk Serpa, a Bianchi UM-84 flap holster and a Tactical Tailor drop leg holster.
Top, Beretta M9. Bottom left, S&W M&P 9mm, Bottom right, Kel-Tec PF-9
The Beretta M9/M92FS
Having qualified with worn out M9’s a couple dozen times, I can tell you this pistol design will last a long time. It is the only pistol I’ve ever carried in combat, and I never felt that if needed, it would fail to do the job required. I have also been an M9 Armorer, and can tell you that very few times was an M9 on my workbench for repair.
I bought an actual M9 when I came home from the last deployment 11 years ago, and it is one of the most accurate 9mm’s I’ve ever shot. Considering the accuracy of the worn out, mil issue M9’s I had been shooting for decades, this was a pleasant surprise. Like the AR, parts and mags will always be available for the M9/92FS. Owning a mil issue type weapon has it’s advantages.
With a standard mag capacity of 15 or 17 rounds, depending on what brand you get, and extended mags of 20 rounds readily available, the user will not be without a decent round count when you need to send them down range in a hurry. A final thought concerning the Double Action first shot, transitioning to single action follow up shots. Yes, a Glock “Safe Action” with it’s consistent trigger squeeze is great, but with enough practice and training, you can overcome the initial problems you might have with the M9/92FS trigger squeeze.
Holsters I’ve used with this pistol are the above mentioned El Paso 1942 Tanker holster, the Bianchi UM-84 flap holster, the Blackhawk Serpa, a Safariland SLS and a Tactical Tailor drop leg holster. Accept for the Safariland and Blackhawk holsters, my M9 will fit in the same holsters as my G21.
Kel-Tec PF-9
I have owned my PF-9 for approximately 13 years. In that time, I have carried and shot it…A LOT! For a $200 “cheap” plastic pistol, it has performed better than I ever would have believed it could. It has around 900 rounds through it, and still shoots very well. At a little over 12 1/2ozs. empty, it carries like a “Nothing at All”, and it’s not hard to forget you’re carrying it. I have never had a malfunction with it, whether it was being fed cheap steel cased Wolf or high end Federal defensive ammo.
Although the finish is worn thin from holster wear on many areas of the slide, it still does what it’s supposed to do to protect the gun. Finally, I have never had to call Kel-Tec customer service, but I hear they are on the ball and will square you away ASAP with what you need. I use either the DeSantis Pro Stealth IWB holster, or the Galco Classic Lite shoulder rig.
Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm
I qualified with a .40 caliber M&P for approximately 8 years. Since retirement, I have qualified with my issued M&P 9mm about a half dozen times. The .40cal. was OK, but I love the 9mm M&P. It is extremely accurate, from my experiences with the .40cal., it is a durable system(.40cal. is very hard on polymer guns), and it is reliable.
I would and do trust my life to this gun when I strap it on every day. I have been told by a guy who also carries the M&P 9mm for work, that the new M&P 2.0 model blows the one we carry, on the job, away. That is saying something. Standard mag capacity is 17 rounds, and it has interchangeable backstraps for different sized hands. Accurate, reliable and durable, this is all that needs to be said about a defensive pistol. The holster I have regularly used with the M&P is the Safariland SLS Level 2.
In part 3 of “Firearms For Freedom and Forage” we will be discussing long guns for hunting.
JCD,
"Parata Vivere"-Live Prepared.
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Well the “reply” button doesn’t seem to work so I’ll try to hit some of the points in JC’s reply. Firstly, I have NO disagreements. I like and advocate sticking to USGI first and foremost. Our primary handguns are .45 XD’s.
I wound up with a bunch of .38/.357 wheel guns and have found them useful for many situations and carry a SW 686 frequently.
I’ve toted a .44 Mag Redhawk and just got my Bride a .44 Spl Blackhawk. Loves me some .44 Spl. outdoors
If/when I find a Smith model 24/624 the 686 might get sidelined. I like the versatility of revolvers as far as ammo for the outdoors.
For a .22 forage pistol I’d got to the Buckmark I use as a trainer.
One thought I do have that might cause some comment is while I have AR-10/15 and others; if I were limited to only one rifle, it’s be an A3 Springfield
Good line up JC.
I carried a Kimber 1911 in .45 ACP or Browning Hi-Power in 9mm as my EDC for years. I came of age that I wanted a lighter handgun that carried more ammo in the mag. After trying a bunch out the S&W M&P seemed the closest in ergonomics to the 1911 so that became my EDC. I purchased a Gen-1 with a 4.75″ threaded barrel as the Gen-2’s were being released for cheap. Dropped in a new Apex trigger and went from there.
Along the way I added a Streamlight TL1 to it – Bad things happen at night too. The light and barrel length makes holster selection a challenge though. The only holster company to work with me was Bravo Concealment. I use both a IWB and OWB holsters as the situation demands.
Thanks Brother!
There are many advantages to ammo standardization, but try as I might I can only get down to two for wheelguns and self-loaders each. That’s not counting the commie pistol ammo either. I do find a lot of uses for revolvers and train all of us in their use.
If I were to select only one cartridge it would be the 10mm, but scarcity and rarity rule that out
I haven’t talked about my Forage pistol calibers yet, right now It’s .44Mag and .22LR. Here soon I’m probably gonna get back into .38/.357Mags again, since I’m gettin’ my Wife a small .38Spec. 10mm is a good “all around” cartridge, but, just like the .40cal., it doesn’t do anything that a .9/.45 doesn’t do for self defense, and the .357/.44Mags don’t do for foraging. In that regard (“One cartridge”), my calibers would be .40S&W/10mm for a pistol, 6.5Grendel for a self defense rifle, and 6.5CM for a “Self Defense Precision Rifle” (SDPR). I could get 180gr bullets for the .40/10mm and 130gr bullets for both 6.5’s and call it a day. My defensive calibers are gonna be something the mil has issued beyond special application units (.40S&W), so it’s 9mm, .45ACP, 5.56 and .7.62N.
What is your opinion on multiple caliber barrel conversions, aside form your obvious approval of the Advantage Arms conversion? I have .40, 357Sig and, 9mm barrels for my Glocks and M&P’s. They all shoot well and have been dependable. I have every confidence they will perform when the going gets rough. Any reasons I should think otherwise?
Nope, I think they are a great idea.
Matt said:
“I’m out of .45s as of some years back, and almost 100% into 9mm. Nothing against .45, but I want one caliber that everybody in the family can shoot effectively without a huge training commitment, from full size to compact pistols.”
That’s also a plus Matt, but I changed for a couple of other reasons.
Me, being a USN gunners mate when the m9s replaced the 1911s, 85-89, and old school, remained in the .45 acp camp until about 7 years ago. My small arms instructor from gunnery school was a young gunners mate the last time the military changed it’s side arm, and was a huge Browning and .45 acp fan. He imparted that love unto me. However, about 7 years ago I bought a 9mm ruger p95 for a really good price, and it replaced my 1911 as EDC outside the house. I bought it after my local sheriff dept, Douglas county here west of Atlanta, an agency full of men whose opinions on firearms and more I respect, was one of the first locally to go back to 9mm from .45 then .40. It wasn’t to enable women to qualify easier.
While I still have the 1911 near the shotgun by the bed for home defense, where I have several advantages I don’t have on the road . At home, i know the surroundings, and I have other weapons to bear. On the road, being able to get lead on target quicker and more accurately is important. So is having a magazine capacity almost double. Plus, given todays technology in projectiles, todays 9mm jhp ammo is way more destructive than just ball.
Not meant to start a caliber war. This my view and opinion. YMMV
Really regret I got too busy working on my business trip to Jacksonville Matt to stop by and get that picture from your crows nest I wanted. And check out your handy work on the hull seams.
Anchors Aweigh Matt….Time grows near.
Vigilantcitizen
I am a dinosaur. I do own semi-autos. My go-to when things get really sporty will be my Ruger P-89 or P-90. I have had to use a 1911 when I was a MP, and the .45 ACP ball is an effective fight stopper. However, I keep in mind the fact all the Orcs and Orcettes carry 9MM. I’m thinking battlefield pick-up. My EDC is a S&W .38. Like I wrote, I am a dinosaur.
I posted on the rifle article but would like to again mention a post I was on many spoke about family with arthritis/other hand issues and the S&W EZ.380 was brought up as a easier to shoot/rack the slide ect. handgun to help these folks,read some reviews posted in that article and seemed many agreed might be a good choice for folks with these issues,also can swap safety for left handed folks,might be a good option for some.
I’m out of .45s as of some years back, and almost 100% into 9mm. Nothing against .45, but I want one caliber that everybody in the family can shoot effectively without a huge training committment, from full size to compact pistols.
A well thought out article. Another asset of glock is logistics. In a grid down situation one may find plentiful glocks and accessories. Another advantage. And there are revolvers that take the 45 cartridge as well
Couldn’t agree more on the Advantage Arms kit. Well worth every penny. Mine was always somewhat ammo sensitive but I found Winchester Wildcats worked the best. Though it still had to be cleaned about every 200 rds or so to function. I recently I tried Armscor brand .22 lr ammo. What a difference. After several hundred rounds and no cleaning the Advantage Arms kit is still stone cold reliable. Hope this helps someone.