PM45 or SA Ultra Carry?

[CarlCyrus]

I've always been partial to 1911s...especially in .45. However, I've come to love my PM9 and MK9.

I'm at a crossroads. I want to give my son my Colt Combat Commander and buy a new .45. Been looking hard at some of the 1911 series CCOs and compacts. I like the looks of the SA Ultra Carry (3" bull bbl) and hear good things about it, but could be tempted by a PM45.

How does the PM45 shoot? Controllable? Reliable?

Carl

[gb6491]

Carl,
I'm not trying to throw you off the PM45 scent here, but as you are looking at compact 1911s, don't overlook the P45/CW45. They are just about the same size as compact 1911s. Here's my CW45 and my Colt OACP for comparison:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2lie8m1.jpg
If you run a modified Officer's magazine in the P45/CW45 you can shave almost another quarter of an inch off it's height.
Regards,
Greg

[OldLincoln]

Is that Springfield Armory Ultra Carry or did you mean Kimber?

Folks here either swear by the PM45 or at it. I don't have one - yet!

[Bawanna]

I've ran the full gamet from full size to smaller and smaller to my CCO Para, I then kept the circle going and went back to full size and finally ended up at a Commander size Cbob Dan Wesson. Found I just shoot better with the larger versions. The circle ended there.
I also own a PM45 and if small and compact in a meaningful caliber is your goal it fills the bill nicely. No matter what other 1911 rides with me the PM45 comes along too. It shoots very nice, I put over 300 thru it at the first range session so the recoil or flip is really a non issue.

While I have no issue's with my compact 1911's there are certainly alot of people who do have issues.

GB as usual put is some good info there too on the slightly larger versions of the Kahrs.

They are two completely different animals but if your comfy with the 1911 then you already know that.

[CJB]

I'm not one of the issue ridden 1911 subcompact folks. They all pretty much shoot for me, although... some took some tweakage to get them that way.

Then again, the PM45 shoots ok for me too. I can't cant see carrying my OACP or Springfield Compact .45 after my PM45 gets back from the mother ship. The PM is lighter, smaller, more ready to shoot, I feel better with one up the spout in the PM, than I do with the 1911's. Its just a great carry pistol.

Not ready to get rid of any of the 1911's - got three Govy's, a Commander 4-1/4, a 4" Springfield Compact .45 (has OACP frame), nice stainless OACP, and an honest to pete original 1911(noA1). Ain't getting rid of any of 'em, but that PM is a nice gun. I'll probably have another before long, this one two-tone.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/IMG_53181.jpg
a few of the ones mentioned (the OACP has nice mahogany grips on it now)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/IMG_53001.jpg
PM45 vs Commander

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/bandersnatchreverb/IMG_52971.jpg
very very small 45, as small as they get I think

[Ljutic]

I never thought I could carry outside a pocket until I tried a Remora. While I still love my p380 and Pm9, I have started upsizing to the Cw45 quite often. A few months ago I picked up a STI Shadow (1911 Officer size) and have a P45 on the way. I couldn't decide between a Kahr or a 1911 so I ended up with both. A year from now I predict the STI will be a safe queen and the p45 will be seeing all the action.

I'm a big fan of 1911's, but Kahrs are just so sweet for CC duty.

[HadEmAll]

I think this one is a wee bit smaller. The PM45 is 5.79" long, this one is just 5.55".:)

[deadhead1971]

I have had my Kimber Ultra Raptor II since April 29, coming up on a month. I have 450 rds through it.

I have setup a youtube account and have done some videos on my experience with it. And here they are in order. I like the gun, and it shoots great. I need to work out the hollow point issue. At the end of Part 4, I say I don't know if I'll call Kimber. Well, I did, and they are sending me a new modified slide stop. I would be intereted in hearing yalls experience with 3" 1911s.

P.S. There will be food in Part 5. I have caught some heat for not having food in Parts 3 and 4.

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeadhead71?feature=mhee#p/u/5/JvUSsjoO9bA

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeadhead71?feature=mhee#p/u/4/UZuKEzoGHpI

Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeadhead71?feature=mhee#p/u/3/11nUX_w3I0w

Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeadhead71?feature=mhee#p/u/1/H3PpI4xR15I

[Ljutic]

I would be intereted in hearing yalls experience with 3" 1911s.

My problems are failure to feed and brass ejecting into my face. First call to STI they told me to try loosening the extractor. Second call got me a new outer spring for the recoil system. Third call got me their UPS account number and a RA#. I just dropped it at the UPS depot yesterday and I fully expect that it will be 100% when it returns to me.

I noticed two problems with the pistol that I can't fix. The first is the ejector is dragging the slide since it wasn't mounted down on the frame. The pin is holding it in place, but it's floating above the rail. The second issue is my slide stop has a nice coating of brass where it's been rubbing bullets during the feed cycle. Both problems are robbing the gun of slide speed needed to extract and feed reliably.

[gb6491]

... I would be intereted in hearing yalls experience with 3" 1911s...
While my OACP is 3.5", it's been a very reliable pistol for me. I bought it used and had a couple of failures to extract shooting it that day. I took it home and gave it a good cleaning; found the extractor tunnel full of crud. It hasn't missed a beat since. I run it with a recoil spring system I cobbled together from different sources so I could use ISMI flat wire recoil springs. I really like them and they have a very long life span.
Regards,
Greg

[gb6491]

I think this one is a wee bit smaller. The PM45 is 5.79" long, this one is just 5.55".:)
Here's an interesting read: gent range tests a Liberator pistol:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=172677
Regards,
Greg

[O'Dell]

My problems are failure to feed and brass ejecting into my face. First call to STI they told me to try loosening the extractor. Second call got me a new outer spring for the recoil system. Third call got me their UPS account number and a RA#. I just dropped it at the UPS depot yesterday and I fully expect that it will be 100% when it returns to me.

I noticed two problems with the pistol that I can't fix. The first is the ejector is dragging the slide since it wasn't mounted down on the frame. The pin is holding it in place, but it's floating above the rail. The second issue is my slide stop has a nice coating of brass where it's been rubbing bullets during the feed cycle. Both problems are robbing the gun of slide speed needed to extract and feed reliably.

I bought an Escort last month which is the same size. So far I've only managed 100 rounds and only 14 of HP, but I haven't had any problems. STI's CS has a good rep, so if some issue crops up, I would expect them to handle it.

[BarryinPa]

I am also very partial to the 1911, extremely so even. I have 5 ranging from a kimber ultra cdp II to some goverenment size. they all work for me, but for the last year, the pm45 goes everywhere with me. its not always alone, but its there. actually been thinking of buying another one, as I know where one is with 6 extra mags for $600. and it is really tempting me.
Barry

[CJB]

While my OACP is 3.5", it's been a very reliable pistol for me.

Ditto on the three I've had in the past, and the one I have now, its just the weight... ugh... why carry it when the PM45 is just so much more comfortable. I'm sounding like a broken record.;)

[TheTman]

Did you mean the SA Ultra Compact, or the Kimber Ultra Carry. Either one is a fine pistol. I ended up with a CW45, about the same size as the compact 1911's, and gives you room for all four fingers on the handle, versus 3 fingers on the PM45.
I've not shot the PM45, but I bet it's a handful.
What made me choose the Kahr over a 1911 type pistol, is my age and health. If I were 20 years younger and steadier, I'd love a compact 1911 SA co cked and locked on my hip.
Nowadays, I like the long trigger pull of the Kahrs. I know that a muscle spasm or something like that is not going to set it off, where it could set off a light SA trigger.
My friend has a Kimber Ultra Carry II, and the trigger pull is only 3 1/2 pounds. Nice for a target gun, but way too light for me for a defensive weapon. He wants the trigger pull increased to about 6 lbs as he is a bit leery of that light trigger too.
He's also looking at the Kahr CW45. Something else to consider, is do you want to drop a $800-$1000+ pistol, or a $400 pistol into an evidence bag if you ever have to use it defensively. Of course we hope and pray that will ever happen to any of us.

[CarlCyrus]

Thanks for the comments.

I travel out West in a couple of weeks and have an opportunity to shoot a PM45. I won't make any rash decision until then.

Carl

[earle8888]

PM size beats um in size and is very accurate. The only 45ACP I can pocket carry!!!!

[CarlCyrus]

Did you mean the SA Ultra Compact, or the Kimber Ultra Carry. Either one is a fine pistol. I ended up with a CW45, about the same size as the compact 1911's, and gives you room for all four fingers on the handle, versus 3 fingers on the PM45.
....

I'm looking at the SA Ultra Compact vs the PM 45. Will get a chance to test a PM45 in a couple of weeks.

Carl