Budget .45s

[SIG_Fiend]

In my opinion, 1911's are a true shooter's gun, they aren't for everyone. 1911's take a bit more care and work to keep up and running as they are a bit more finicky design than a mass produced tupperware pistol. I'd say a majority of people are better off with a striker fired constant action gun like Glock/XD/M&P/etc.

 

[ftw13]

+1 on rock island armory.....good guns regardless of their cost.

 

[wilded]

I just bought the Ruger P345 and here is my take on it.
Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors: The Ruger P345 Double Action .45ACP

 

[AR1911]

A defense weapon, for carry or for home, needs to be double-action. That leaves Ruger and Bersa.
Bersa is an inexpensive imported gun (I've had two).
A Ruger is a solid U.S.-made weapon with a long reputation for reliability.
Of the choices you list, it has to be the Ruger.

Nothing against 1911s. I have 5 or 6, and a lot more that more in that design that are not true 1911s.
In fact, I have far more SA auto pistols than I do DA.
Unless you train with them enough that the controls are ingrained in your muscle memory, they are range and plinking guns.
When you need a gun NOW, you need to be able to pick up a weapon that is ready to fire immediately.

My house guns are all double action - Glock, S&W
My trunk guns are DA - Keltec, Glock
My pocket pistols are DA - LCP, Seecamp