Sooner or later, we had to cover this topic, because the .45 ACP is a fantastic cartridge for self-defense with a long and praiseworthy service record- and countless firearms chambered in it are equally deserving of praise.
Table of contents
Introduction
With a formidable reputation as a reliable "manstopper" proceeding it, the .45 ACP is the largest and most powerful of the three most-commonly cited "popular" semi-automatic handgun cartridges in the United States (with 9mm Luger and .40 Smith and Wesson being the other two), and as such, is revered by millions and is still in service today- more than 100 years after its conception in the years leading up to the first world war.
In that times, hundreds of handguns from all over the world (though many from the United States- the birthplace of the .45 ACP) have been brought into existence and has been used by both militaries and police agencies as well as criminals, terrorists and civilians- whether for self-defense, sport shooting or even varmint control.
While the majority of these weapons are have waxed and waned in popularity over time, some, like the legendary Colt 1911, continue to be used in bulk, for any number of reasons (which we will go over in this article).
Others are relative newcomers to the scene and have proven themselves are worthy tools for all who need them and have thus earned a spot on our list.
But all were chosen because they are, put simply, great weapons that deserve recognition and a look-see from anyone who is looking to buy a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol.
This week, we will be looking at what are, in our opinion, the best .45 ACP pistols still on the market today. They will be listed in no particular order, and each with have strengths and weaknesses of their own (which we will gloss over) that may make one or another a more viable option for you depending on your needs and wants.
Let us begin!
Colt 1911
Ok, you knew this one was coming.
It wouldn't be fair- it wouldn't be right, even, to make a list of the best .45 ACP pistols without including THE .45 ACP pistol- the one that started it all and has too date outlived every other in existence and is still serving in an official capacity (mostly with police tactical units) over a century after its introduction.
Not only was it a revolutionary design for its time, but even now, the majority of semi-automatic handguns made today use the tilting barrel locking system the 1911 uses as a testament to both the 1911's timeless innovation as well as the genius of its creator, the near-deified gun maker named John Moses Browning.
While the stopping power of the .45 ACP is the main reason you can still find it being used, it's remarkably accurate due to its extremely light and crisp single-action trigger pull, which is respected even by people who loathe 1911's.
Also, because of its somewhat dated design after having been superseded by double-stack pistols in the second half of the 20th century, it unintendedly does something an increasingly fewer number of other handguns do- it maintains a fairly slim profile compared to many other pistols (particularly other ones on this list), which is another potential reason to get one if you're looking at concealed carry. However, double-stack 1911 clones also exist, so you don't have to settle for a slim, single-stack pistol with a limited capacity of only 7-10 rounds (depending on the model) if you don't want too.
In addition, it also lends itself to concealed carry in other ways- while standard models average more than 8 inches long, compact and subcompact versions that are as short as 4.5 inches also exist, and the grip safety on the gun ensures it won't fire unless you clearly want it too.
Overall, its storied history, trendsetting and continued usefulness have together ensured it's inclusion on our list.
Glock 21
Perhaps you were expecting this one as well- as you probably should've, because Glocks are another family of handguns that, while loathed as a simple and inelegant "hipster" gun by some, are some of the finest and most rugged pistols on the planet, and the Glock 21 is no exception.
With the dizzyingly huge success of the Austrian 9mm Glock 17 and its "cousins" in the 1980's, Glock turned its attention overseas to target the United States in the following years, and in doing so, made a successful attempt to widely appeal to U.S gun buyer's love of the .45 ACP cartridge by offering one of their pistols in that caliber.
While it would have been nearly impossible to surpass the revolutionary success of the Glock 17 so soon, the Glock 21 was also a big hit for U.S buyers as well as other internationally when it was first introduced to the market in 1990.
As with other Glocks, the rugged but lightweight and reliable Glock 21 is basically just a perfect pistol from a functionality standpoint- malfunctions are fairly hard to come by with quality ammo, the guns are very light (averaging a little over two pounds when fully loaded), and it's simple single-action striker firing mechanism is considered ideal for many people who don't want to risk fumbling with safeties and decocking levers and the like.
They also last a very long time despite their deceptively light construction materials- Glocks have been known to last well over 20,000 rounds before needing major parts replaced, and the pistol frames themselves can last 150,000-200,000 rounds before they fail.
The one thing you probably won't be able to use it for is concealed carry- while noticeably lighter than a 1911, it's much wider at about 1.35 inches wide (compared to a 1911 at a little over an inch wide for typical single-stack models). However, this increased width comes with nearly double the magazine capacity of a single-stack 1911 at 13 rounds- which is an obvious benefit for things such as home defense or if one is a police officer, security guard etc.
Heckler and Kock HK45 series
This one was a hard choice- German gun titan Heckler and Koch and produced several excellent pistols just in .45 ACP alone, and choosing a clear winner was difficult.
After thinking on it for some time, we decided to give the HK45 series of pistols the nomination due to the fact that it displays many of the same features as the iconic USP series (which was our other lead contender)- from the variety of trigger configurations (such as DA/SA and decocker-only) to the high quality manufacturing that H&K is so famous for- yet at a significantly reduced cost (the average new USP will cost over 1,000 USD while an HK45 will cost 700-900 USD, depending on the variant).
The high quality construction certainly pays off- like most H&K products, it's insanely reliable and tough (perhaps even more so than the Glock series we mentioned earlier, but this may be controversial to some) and has the versatility of the USP to match, with a picatinny fore end that accommodates a wider variety of lights, lasers and other toys you could want than the USP, can comes in both compact and full-frame sizes, also like the USP. Threaded barrels are also available.
While it's not a clear and absolute winner for H&K, the fact it's of the same quality as the USP yet is significantly cheaper tips it in into winning territory for us.
FN FNX .45
Originally designed from a pistol that was a part of a program to find a new pistol for the U.S military, the FN FNX series is definitely the coolest (and most expensive) option on this list along with the 1911.
Although the Joint Combat Pistol program it was designed for was ultimately cancelled after only a few months, the FN FNS (the FNX's predecessor) quickly found itself stranded on the market, and so FN- Belgium's premier gun manufacturer- quickly set about evolving the FNS.
The end result was the FNX series, which was introduced in 2009.
It's earned its spot on our list because of its overall quality (it was designed to survive and function reliably in the harsh conditions of battlefields in the Middle East) and because of how many useful features it has on it straight from the factory, such as Tritium night sights and a loaded chamber indicator. Additionally, many variants have threaded barrels if you want to attach a suppressor.
Additionally, it's 15-round magazine capacity is the highest of all the pistols on this list, and the way the grip is shaped is strictly engineered to minimize recoil when paired with its low bore axis, all while providing a natural point of aim and closely fitting the natural contour of the hand. Interchangeable backstraps are available for shooters with different hand sizes, as well.
Basically, it just feels and performs like a gun James Bond would carry, but at 1,200 USD for a baseline model from the factory, it doesn't come cheap.
However, it's well-worth it.
Springfield Armory XD .45 series
For our last entry, we decided to include one of the most interesting yet useful offerings in .45 ACP on the market today- the Springfield XD series.
It's another poly-striker pistol like the Glock 21, and while this by itself may turn off some people, it's definitely not like the others- starting with the fact it has one big feature that many other poly-strikers typically lack- a grip safety.
Why are we placing emphasis on this? In short, it's because one of the biggest qualms people have with poly-strikers is the (somewhat unfounded) conception that they are inherently unsafe due to having no manual safety- you just load the gun and pull the trigger, and it fires. The Springfield XD .45, however, cannot fire unless the grip safety is physically depressed.
Other than this, it's got another feature that more safety-oriented people especially might appreciate- a subtle but nonetheless perfectly adequate loaded chamber indicator.
It's a very good pistol overall from a functional standpoint as well- it's perfectly reliable and Springfield Armory offers a good warranty if anything breaks (though that's not likely to happen for a while, as they're known for being an excellent manufacturer). Sure it's "simple" and lacks the classy feel of a 1911, but like a Glock, it does everything a gun needs to do just fine- it shoots.
So, it's got some fairly useful extra features, works well, and is chambered in .45 ACP. What's to say it doesn't deserve a spot on the list? Springfield Armory has a long track record of making excellent weapons (including the M14), and the XD series continues that trend, albeit in an eclectic and unconventional way.
Final thoughts
So, there you have it.
The .45 ACP is a very powerful handgun round against soft, fleshy targets, and people who want maximum stopping power in a semi-automatic pistol have few other more powerful options, and certainly none as widespread as this.
A good, reliable pistol that suits the user's needs (regardless of caliber) is always essential, and if your need is a pistol that can accurately and reliably lob .45 ACP slugs quickly, these pistols are among the best options. Some are better than others at some things, and some are better for people looking for one feature over another.
Need a cheap but reliable pistol that works? Maybe a Glock would suit you. Need something slim? Try a 1911 (especially a compact variant). What about a pistol with maximum available firepower for home defense? Or just something you can customize to no end? Most of these pistols can do that, but the FN FNX might be your best bet- along with the 1911.
And that's pretty much it.
This list is by no means definitive, but if you can find any pistol chambered in .45 ACP that you feel belongs on this list, feel free to let us know in the comments.
Until next time!
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