Not all .45s are equal

[TexZaa]

My carry gun is a Kimber Ultra Carry II. I never feel undergunned wearing that thing on my hip under a baggy shirt, sweater or jacket as I'm walking across the restaurant parking lot. It's so light that my cellphone in my pocket bothers me more than the weight of that little .45 on my hip. But recently, I heard a crash from the livingroom in the middle of the night. I was out of bed with a flashlight in one hand and the Kimber in the other. One thought that went through my head was: "I hope 7 rounds are enough." I'm sure it was purely psychological, but all of a sudden that Kimber didn't seem adaquate. The noise? My damn cat getting up on the diningroom table.

The next day I remembered those feelings and asked myself why I felt so comfortable on the street with a Kimber, but not in the middle of the night in my home? Part of it had to do with the fact that I had both hands full. Flashlight in one...gun in the other. I needed a gun with more bullets AND a flashlight. My solution: The Springfield Armory XD-45 Tactical. It's humongous compared to the Kimber, but who cares if the furthest I'm going to carry it is to the livingroom looking for rude cats? It carries 13 rounds of .45acp in the mag and one in the chamber. So...come cats, zombies or burglars with a death-wish, I feel adequate AND I attached a flashlight!

This is all so subjective, isn't it?

 

[MadMo44Mag]

Nice kitty gun there!

 

[DCortez]

At night, I feel undergunned with my S&W 642, but not during the day. My Kimber Covert makes me feel very comfortable day or night.

 

[treyw]

The Benelli is my night gun, and can't ever imagine feeling uncomfortable with it in my hands.

 

[res1b3uq]

Bet if the same thing happens again, you will be just as uptight with the XP as you were with the Kimber. The unknown can be pretty scary. Maybe a Scattergun?

 

[Sidewayz]

The XD45 is a great gun! The compact model actually carries pretty well and holds 10 rounds. Though it's not as light as your Kimber.

With that 5" barrel you ought to be able to pick off rude cats at 50yds.

 

[M. Sage]

I feel undergunned when all I have is a handgun to check a noise with.

So I reach for my AK instead.

 

[DCortez]

So I reach for my AK instead.

30 round mags are hard to argue with

 

[Texas42]

30 round mags are hard to argue with

Kind of makes the 8 rounds vs 17 rounds kind of moot.

 

[TexZaa]

Bet if the same thing happens again, you will be just as uptight with the XP as you were with the Kimber. The unknown can be pretty scary. Maybe a Scattergun?

I don't know about being uptight. I was behind the counter at a gun store back in Houston during the 70s and was confronted by three robbers who just couldn't get their guns out fast enough before mine was in their face. I didn't feel undergunned or uptight with my .45 then. All three broke and ran and were caught a block over by several kick-ass sheriff's deputies.

I certainly didn't feel undergunned or uptight with an M16A2 Commando during a robbery in a Lubbock gunstore back in the 80s. Again...the robber turned and ran like a scalded ape when he heard that bolt slam forward. I thought my ex-tank-drivin marine buddy behind the counter was toast there for second. So did he. Never caught the guy.

But for some crazy reason...searching through my own house with a flashlight and a compact .45 made me feel like i needed more. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable using a scattergun in a house where one of my family members could be near the target. But then....I've never been much of a shotgunner.

I guess perhaps my thoughts now are that when you have to carry concealed, you go with what is light, powerful, and accurate and can be comfortably worn for long periods. But when you are forwarned and you have to fill your hand with an effective weapon to face the dark, your mind tells you that you need overwhelming firepower. I think the previous poster had it right when he said he grabs an AK.

Just think....cops have to face that dark on a daily basis. My hat goes off to them.

 

[DCortez]

I think the previous poster had it right when he said he grabs an AK.

Truth be told, he grabs his wife who grabs her AK...

 

[randmplumbingllc]

Kind of makes the 8 rounds vs 17 rounds kind of moot.

Even mooter with my Beta mags, one for the .223 and one for the 9mm. A Beta mag, a "fun switch", and a half awake gun nut, = bad day for bad guy !

 

[Texas42]

. . . .IBut for some crazy reason...searching through my own house with a flashlight and a compact .45 made me feel like i needed more. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable using a scattergun in a house where one of my family members could be near the target. But then....I've never been much of a shotgunner.

. . .

I'm not trying to knock your choice of weapons (far from it), but you have the same issues with a handgun in regard to penetration. A shotgun may scatter buckshot some, but a lot less than most people think. Look up Box of Truth to get a real life idea of how much they scatter.

They ALL will penetrate at least 3 walls.

ps-nice gun. I'm a Glock man, myself, but those XD's always looked good.

 

[Texas1911]

30 round mags are hard to argue with

My 9mm Glock holds 34 rounds.

I don't feel undergunned.

 

[usmcpmi]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't want my light attached to my pistol...if someone shoots back, where do you think they will aim??? I hold my light far left of my body and the 1911 out front....MG

 

[txinvestigator]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't want my light attached to my pistol...if someone shoots back, where do you think they will aim??? I hold my light far left of my body and the 1911 out front....MG

That's good. Until you are in a narrow hallway, find yourself up against a wall to your left, need to open something or control someone, etc.

A weapon mounted light is a tactical advantage.

If you do not have a weapon mounted light, I suggest this technique;

 

[txinvestigator]

30 round mags are hard to argue with

Long guns present their own unique challenges when exiting, entering rooms, rounding corners etc.

Nothing training cannot overcome, but challenges to be aware of nonetheless.

This is my home defense weapon;

 

[TexZaa]

40-watt range

You know...those phased Plasma rifles are a good idea, but it's so hard to find them in the 40-Watt range.

 

[Mate]

A wise man once said:

"Re ammo capacity.
If you never get in a fight, you have too much.
The mili second you press that trigger, you don't have enough"

The only way I would carry a .45 is if the mag capacity is in the double digit range. If I cant have 10 or more rounds of .45, then I'm bringing the 9mm.

RE: Weapon mounted Lights -

What happens if you get hit in the hand that's holding the light?

Also, if you have good light discipline, then you wont present much of a target.

 

[Skip]

I love my 17rd XDm40...but I want one of those Ultras baaaad........
Maybe I should start selling off some watches...