There are many .45s out there that are not 1911s.

Take a look at a Hk45Compact, if offers the same capacity in a smaller, lighter package that still allows for Cocked and Locked carry.

Of course there's always the Smith & Wesson M&P45 compact and Glock30 that are both smaller and lighter than a 1911 with the same or more capacity. The M&P can also be had with the thumb safety if that is a feature you'd like to retain.

As for the caliber end of things. There's nothing a .45 can do that a .40 can't and that's true the other way around too.

Neither will do the job better than the other but I do find that I like the way .45s shoot better than .40s.

No need to change Caliber, just get a Plastic Fantastic. I carry M&P45's which are not much heavier than an M&P40 (24.2 vs 27 ounces). Either M&P will be lighter than your 1911 and with a little trigger work via Apex parts will shoot very nicely.

A Glock 23 will be 2 or 3 oz. lighter but it doesn't agree with my hand. YMMV.

I am getting up in age myself and find the 45 recoil to be easier on my wrists than 40 in equal weight guns.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I switched from M&P40 to M&P45 because of my wrists. The M&P45C has become my favorite and EDC.

I was just cking out the sig p220 combat comes in about 14 to 16 oz's lighter than what i carry
now. I like the trigger 3.9 lbs SA and 8.8 lbs DA.
Belongs to a friend that used to carry 1911's.
I'm taking it to the range tomorrow. I have sigs now but they are all stainless steel so come inat about 42 oz's. Great shooting guns just getting heavy these days.

Also got a family member with an HK coming along to ck that out.

Well just got back from the range, I think I am going to need to stay with a 45 cal for a carry gun.
I am sort of looking at a commander size 1911 with a lighter alloy frame or a sig
p220 compact or one with an alloy frame.
These with come in lighter then what I have been carrying.
Also maybe a different way of carrying will help.
I have always carried owb well yesterday I had the opportunity to try a Remora holster boy does that take the weight off makes the gun fell a lot lighter.
Anyone have experience with those holsters? Clipless IWB holsters (Remora).

I have sixteen pistols, eleven 45's, three 40's, a 9mm, and a 380, so I guess my preference is showing. Five of the 45's are 1911's and the others are a SIG, a Kahr, two HK's and two 3rd gen S&W's. The 40's are two Kahrs and an HK USP. The 9mm and 380 are pocket guns for hot weather when I can't cover a belt holster. All except for two 1911's have been problem free and those two are now fixed. Oddly enough, my favorite carry pistol is almost my cheapest, a Kahr CW45.

I guess I need to ask, with all the light weight 45's around, why are you dropping back to a 40. My 45's range from seventeen to thirty-two ozs, the lightest being the Kahr CW45 and the heaviest a Detonics CM 1911 at 32 ozs. The rest are from 22 to 30 ozs empty, and all are far from three pounds when fully loaded.

Originally Posted by Viper

I have sixteen pistols, eleven 45's, three 40's, a 9mm, and a 380, so I guess my preference is showing. Five of the 45's are 1911's and the others are a SIG, a Kahr, two HK's and two 3rd gen S&W's. The 40's are two Kahrs and an HK USP. The 9mm and 380 are pocket guns for hot weather when I can't cover a belt holster. All except for two 1911's have been problem free and those two are now fixed. Oddly enough, my favorite carry pistol is almost my cheapest, a Kahr CW45.

I guess I need to ask, with all the light weight 45's around, why are you dropping back to a 40. My 45's range from seventeen to thirty-two ozs, the lightest being the Kahr CW45 and the heaviest a Detonics CM 1911 at 32 ozs. The rest are from 22 to 30 ozs empty, and all are far from three pounds when fully loaded.

The only reason I was thinking of dropping to 40 cal is to get smaller lighter with a higher cap.
However the higher cap doesn't mean much and the smaller package I am finding doesn't feel natural in my hands so I am now leaning towards another sig other than stainless steel and maybe a commander size 1911 tat way I will be right at home. I'm not real fond of striker fired pistol any way.

If you go with an aluminum 1911,make sure you only use plastic followers or a captured design I believe McCormic has,a steel follower will doink up your feedramp.It's not generally something that will hinder feeding if light,but it will bug you if it happens.

I like HK so a compact would be my choice since it has alot of 1911 influence.I've never handled an M&P so I can't go there.The XD doesn't feel right to me,and I hate Glock for a few reasons.Sticks me with an HK but it was my first choice when I broke down to try plastic anyway.They have always been top shelf,so unless FN or the M&P can dethrone them I don't see going elsewhere.They aren't expensive like everyone complains about,you have to pay for quality in anything,and a good 1911 costs more.

Good luck in the hunt,try everything you can to see what fits.Oh,the 40 is just a loud and snappy 45 to me so I see no need to change.For a civilian I figure 8 rounds and a spare in my Commander is plenty,or go to the HK for 12.If I need more than that the pistol is not the primary gun any more.

Eight years ago after cancer treatments i was fighting with the Colt1911 at the range. I figured it was just from being out of shape.(the weight of the firearm) So i went to my XD40S&W it was a little eraser for me to handle for some reason. Now i just up graded to a G29 and love it. At least i did not give up. Can't be a fighter with out fighting at times.

Originally Posted by AK_Maine_Iac

Eight years ago after cancer treatments i was fighting with the Colt1911 at the range. I figured it was just from being out of shape.(the weight of the firearm) So i went to my XD40S&W it was a little eraser for me to handle for some reason. Now i just up graded to a G29 and love it. At least i did not give up. Can't be a fighter with out fighting at times.

I'm glad things worked out for you. I have to agree I like 10mm it's a great rd. SO is the 29 your carry now?
I have a colt delta elite really enjoy that gun do carry that once in awhile.

Originally Posted by jassie

I'm glad things worked out for you. I have to agree I like 10mm it's a great rd. SO is the 29 your carry now?
I have a colt delta elite really enjoy that gun do carry that once in awhile.

Thank you... Yes the G29 is my main carry now.

I don't often carry a .45 for concealed carry.

But when I do it's my Sig P220 Compact



This is an amazingly accurate gun.

I never carry a .40 - I own some, but do not care for the round .

Originally Posted by dondavis3

I don't often carry a .45 for concealed carry.

But when I do it's my Sig P220 Compact



This is an amazingly accurate gun.

I never carry a .40 - I own some, but do not care for the round .

I wonder if you can still order those? They are a discontinued model. But they are the perfect size gun for carry. And the weight is really sweet. I shot one just last week that a friend has. the same one as your's.
It is really a sweet gun.

@ jassie


I don't know about new, but you can pretty easily find them at gun shows.

I bought mine used from a LGS and it was SA only and all black



I had my gun smith convert it to DA/SA (which I prefer) and bead blasted the slide.