10 Best .45 ACP Pistols of 2023 (That Aren’t 1911s)

When it comes to handguns…nothing is more of an American classic than the .45 ACP.

It’s big, powerful, and packs a mean punch that can stop nearly anything that comes in its way.

The .45 ACP has been an American icon since Colt released the M1911 in 1911.

This pistol was the official sidearm of the United States military for the longest time and saw most of its action between World War I and the Vietnam War.

But now it’s not only the 1911s that have the fun…

We’ve gathered a handful of .45 ACP models that don’t fall into the 1911 category that we think are some of the best in the biz.

We’ll walk you through the pros/cons of the models, why we think they’re cool, and hopefully set you on the path to grab one of your very own.

Editor’s Note: New models added April 2023.

Summary of Our Top Picks

1. Best Single Stack CCW

   Smith & Wesson M&P 45 Shield

   Slim build makes it perfect for CCW.

   $449 at GrabAGun Jump to Details
2. Best DA/SA Pistol

   Sig Sauer P220 Legion

   Full-size design, smooth trigger

   $1299 at GrabAGun Jump to Details
3. Best Full-Size

   Walther PPQ .45 ACP

   Full-size design, reliable, smooth shooter.

   $652 at GrabAGun Jump to Details
4. Most Reliable

   Glock G21

   Super reliable, great for home defense or as a duty weapon.

   $546 at GrabAGun Jump to Details
5. Best Revovler

   Ruger Redhawk .45 ACP/.45 LC

   6-round capacity, recoil isn't terrible.

   $1028 at Kygunco Jump to Details
6. Best Tactical Model

   FNX-45 Tactical

   Suppressor height sights, threaded barrel, red dot ready.

   $999 at GunPrime Jump to Details

Show more (1 item)

.45 ACP

If you’re a firearms enthusiast, you already know that the .45 ACP brings a little bit of recoil.

Because of this, it’s not a caliber that’s recommended for beginner shooters looking for a first self-defense handgun.

In fact, one of the reasons that the 9mm has experienced recent popularity among law enforcement is because it’s easier to control than the .45 ACP.  

Plus, hollow point ammo advancements have given the 9mm some added performance.

However, once you learn how to accurately shoot the .45 ACP, you’ll appreciate that raw power.

Pros/Cons of the .45 ACP

So we’ve established that one of the biggest advantages of having a .45 ACP pistol is power.

What’s another? The ammo variety.  

There’s so much out there because of its popularity. We help you narrow it down in our Best. 45 ACP ammo article, so head there to see what we recommend.

The downside of buying a .45 pistol is that they’re usually more expensive than other handgun models.

Also, the ammo can cost a bit more. Also worth noting, most .45 ACPs don’t carry as many rounds as their 9mm counterparts.

However, if you’re looking for a reliable gun with a lot of oomph, nothing beats the .45 ACP.

Big Bullet, Big Hands

While .45 ACPs are a bit bulkier than some of the other handguns on the market, they’re still very popular handguns for concealed carry.

If you’re considering purchasing your very first .45 ACP, make sure that you do some testing before you make a purchase.

Comfort is part of what makes some guns better than others.

Take some time to see how the gun feels in your hand. Pay attention to how much it weighs, if the grips are slippery or not, and if you can easily reach all the levers with your hand.

With that all out of the way….let’s get to the guns (in no particular order)!

Best .45 ACP Pistols

1. Smith and Wesson M&P 45 Shield M2.0

The .45 M&P Shield M2.0 is a stellar little carry gun that doesn’t get nearly enough props.

If you’re after a not-a-1911 .45 ACP for use as an EDC, this gun is well worth it.

It can be had with or without an external thumb safety (mine doesn’t have a thumb safety).

It’s a single-stack, striker-fired polymer pistol designed to withstand daily carry and frequent use, and it gets the job done.

This pistol has an aggressively textured grip, so aggressive you can hold on even when your hands are dripping with sweat or water (I may have poured water all over it).

The polymer frame is embedded with a stainless steel rigid chassis for durability, and the stainless steel slide has a tough Armornite finish.

Capacity is a little limited; the 45 Shield ships with one 6-round magazine and one 7-round magazine.

Factory white 3-dot sights are standard. The barrel is 3.3 inches long, the gun’s overall weight is 20.5 ounces, and it can be field-stripped without pulling the trigger.

As for accuracy, this is a precise pistol. Granted, it has a shorter barrel, so it’s better for distances under 15 yards, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used at greater distances.

If you want an upgrade version right out of the box, Smith & Wesson also has the Shield 45 available from their Performance Center with a load of upgrades already made.

2. Sig Sauer P220 Legion

Right off, I’m referring specifically to the Legion. There’s nothing wrong with the original P220; it’s a perfectly solid gun…but the Legion is better.

(If you want a more direct comparison between the Legion and non-Legion Sigs, take a look at our review of the Sig P226 and P226 Legion.)

The Sig P220 Legion is a full-size handgun which does make it a challenge to conceal (but not impossible).

Aesthetically it’s a good-looking gun thanks to its Cerakote Elite Legion Gray-finished slide and frame, black G10 grips, and the Legion medallion embedded in said grips.

There’s more to the Legion line than looking pretty, though. The P220 Legion’s greatest feature just might be its P-SAIT trigger — smooth and consistent, crisp break, short reset.

Yes, this is a hammer-fired DA/SA gun. It is available as SAO, but I admit to preferring the DA/SA model. The P220 has a thumb safety, too, something a lot of gun owners prefer.

Oh, and it ships with Sig Sauer Electro-Optics X-RAY hi-vis day/night sights, and they are fantastic.

It’s a somewhat bulky gun thanks to its alloy frame and stainless-steel slide and carbon steel barrel.

The P220 Legion weighs in at 30.4 ounces, empty, with an overall length of 7.7 inches and 8+1 capacity.

Bottom line? This is a well-made, reliable pistol capable of stellar performance.

3. Walther PPQ .45 ACP

Walther manufactures some stellar handguns, and the PPQ is among the models I favor.

Like its Glock brethren, it doesn’t have the aesthetic appeal of guns like the Legion, but man, does it work!

The Walther PPQ 45 is another full-size gun with an overall length of 7.4 inches.

While a lot of these models feature similar measurements, it’s the details that set them apart.

For example, the PPQ 45 opts for a curved grip with wide, sloping finger grooves that encourage a firm grip.

The grip sports what Walther calls a “non-slip, cross-direction grip surface” and ships with a set of back straps so you can adjust as needed. 

You’ll find the magazine release is ambidextrous, and the 5.6-pound trigger is surprisingly good — smooth pull, crisp break, and easily operational for rapid-fire.

The trigger reset on the PPQ 45 is 0.1 inches, so you could say it’s short. 

This gun has a 12-round capacity and eats everything it’s fed.

4. Glock 21 Gen 4

You knew I couldn’t write a .45 ACP roundup without throwing the Glock 21 in here.

The G21 might not be a pretty face like the Legion, but it’s a workhouse…meant to do a particular job, and it does it well.

The Gen 4 G21 is a full-size, striker-fired handgun.

It’s a double stack with a capacity of 13+1.

The barrel measures 4.61 inches, and the G21 offers a total length of 8.07 inches with a weight of 26.28 ounces, unloaded.

The G21 ships with a modular back strap system so shooters can customize the grip to their hand sizes.

Other features include a reversible magazine release – a great addition for southpaws – a dual recoil spring and rough grip texturing.

As you’d expect, there is an integral accessory rail ahead of the trigger guard and drift-adjustable, dovetailed rear sights.

Since this is a larger gun to start with, a larger and higher power light is nice. Our pick is the Streamlight TLR-1 HL.

This gun has the expected factory trigger, meaning you might not love it, but I have good news: you can easily go wild on aftermarket parts for your Glock.

I’ve abused my Glocks at length, and they keep going. If you want a .45 ACP that’s solid and task-specific, you want the Gen 4 G21.

One of our favorites…what’s your take? Give it a rating below.

5. H&K USP 45 Tactical

What would a .45 ACP roundup be without Heckler and Koch?

The HK USP 45 Tactical is similar to the HK Mark 23, only a bit more compact.

The HK 45 USP Tactical features an overall length of 8.64 inches and an empty weight of 32.8 ounces. 

It offers a host of features, like a 5.09-inch threaded, polygonal bore barrel that is wickedly precise. You’ll get your sub-2-inch groups at 25 yards with this one if you do your part.

This DA/SA hammer-fired gun brings a left-side decocking lever, so if you like having the use of a decocker, here you go.

The trigger is match-grade with an adjustable trigger stop. And the trigger guard is oversized to facilitate use with gloves.

It seems HKs can be a matter of personal taste, but what gun isn’t? This one is a well-designed, reliable gun that fits my hands nicely and runs beautifully out of the box.

I’m a fan of the suppressor-height factory sights. They have micrometer adjustments for windage and elevation and also because, well, they work if you want to run the gun suppressed as God intended.

Then there’s the extended slide release and ambidextrous magazine release.

It ships with two mags – one 10-rounder and one 12-rounder.

Totally recommend.

6. Ruger Redhawk .45 ACP/.45 Colt

No list is complete without revolvers.

In this case, the available pool of newer-model, quality wheel guns is a little shallow, but we do have the Ruger Redhawk .45 ACP…and it’s awesome.

The Redhawk uses a stainless-steel frame and ships with lasered hardwood grips.

It’s a large-frame revolver with a rounded butt that I prefer over some of the other grip frames out there.

Oh, and the grip panels are checkered on the sides but smooth at the back and upper edges.

Even if you are not a revolver aficionado, the Redhawk in .45 ACP is probably going to appeal to you.

The Ruger Redhawk .45 ACP has a 4.20-inch, six-groove barrel, ramped front sight, and adjustable rear sight. It’s on the hefty side, with an overall length of 9.50 inches and an empty weight of 44 ounces.

This gun was built to be tough with a triple-locking cylinder and no side plates.

Why does it matter there are no side plates?

Since you access this revolver’s working parts from the bottom of the frame instead of the side, it’s more capable of handling recoil and extensive use. You can thank the extra metal in the top strap and sidewalls.

The 6-round capacity might be seen as lacking to some, but with a speed loader is manageable.

One of my favorite things about this gun is its trigger. It was designed with a single spring and has a smooth, even pull and clean break.

This is a DA/SA gun, so take the time to learn to run it double-action.

This is also an accurate gun capable of reaching out and touching targets at longer distances than many of its shorter-barreled, smaller-caliber friends.

7. FN FNX-45 Tactical

Everything about the FNX-45 Tactical screams tacticool…from the coyote coloring to the controls.

If you want to shoot .45 ACP and look cool doing it, this is your gun.

It offers a stainless-steel slide assembly and measures 8.6 inches in total length with a weight sitting at 33 ounces unloaded.

As far as features, it brings an aggressive grip texture, interchangeable backstraps, and a threaded 5.3-inch barrel. So add that suppressor…you know you want to!

Additionally, you get suppressor-height Trijicon sights which are a nice addition.

Best of all, the FNx-45 shoots like a dream. Seriously, it feels so good in the hand.

But a drawback of the design is its trigger. It’s a little lacking and not as smooth as some of the other models on the list.

That said, this gun is a workhorse, reliable, and a model you should definitely take a look at.

And if you want to learn more about this, check out our full review here!

8. Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Compact OSP

Looking for a concealed carry .45 with a bit more capacity? Well, the Springfield XD-M Elite Compact has you covered.

Shooters get a solid capacity of 10+1 in a gun with a 3.8-inch barrel, overall length of 6.75 inches, and a weight of 25 ounces.

Other features include an optics-ready slide, a u-notch rear and fiber front sight setup, fully ambidextrous controls, and a removable flared magwell base.

Additionally, Springfield has incorporated their new flat-face META trigger for an improved pull and break.

A great feature set, optics capability, and solid capacity in a small package make the XD-M Elite Compact the ideal gun for someone who wants to cut down on size without sacrificing some of the niceties.

9. SAR K2

Fans of CZ may have noticed the absence of the CZ 97 from this list.

Sadly, it was discontinued in early 2022, leaving a hole in that small market niche of double stack, metal-framed .45 ACP guns that aren’t 1911/2011s.

Luckily, the SAR K2 has been flying under the radar and is still around — and dare I say, does it better than CZ 97?

The K2 uses the classic CZ slide-in-frame design and is very reminiscent of the CZ 75 and 97 series both in looks and function.

But don’t be fooled, the K2 has some nifty tricks up its sleeve to make it more than a cheap clone. Namely, it has a whopping 14+1 capacity, far more than the CZ 97’s 10-round capacity.

It also has a nice DA/SA trigger with a relatively smooth DA pull and feels good in single action. A 4.7-inch barrel graces the standard full-size model (4.2 inches for the compact), and the gun also comes with a fully adjustable rear sight and a Picatinny accessory rail.

The best part of all of this? It is a couple of hundred bucks cheaper than the CZ was, making this a great value buy for those looking for a high capacity, heavy metal .45 ACP.

Honorable Mention

10. Hi-Point JHP 45

Whoa, whoa…put down your pitchforks!

Okay, we know…it’s a Hi-Point, but it’s built like a truck, and it’s cheap. So, if you’re looking for something, anything in .45 ACP…give it a shot.

If you’re not familiar, the Hi-Point is budget-friendly and goes bang every time.

That’s the good news; the bad news is everything else.

Trigger, mushy, and ew. Sights, you can see them-ish. It feels like a brick but is less ergonomic in your hands.

And disassembly? Good luck. Honestly, you might just want to get a new one rather than fight with taking the one you have apart.

All of that said…I mean, it still shoots…like, surprisingly well.

Johnny has taken his out to the range for a lot of plinking and never had a failure, and Hi-Point has a great reputation for amazing customer service also.

No one would call this the nicest or smoothest shooting .45 ACP pistol, but if all you have is $200 and a dream of owning something in .45 ACP…it’s your best option.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a number of excellent .45 caliber pistols available on the market. 

Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks, so finding the right one for you depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re buying a gun for home defense, I’d recommend a .45 pistol with low recoil or higher magazine capacity.

Also, make sure that you spend enough time at the range getting used to your gun. Even if you have experience shooting .45 caliber pistols in the past, every .45 ACP model shoots a little differently.

The .45 ACP is a great gun to have. Not only will it be an excellent home-defense tool, but it’ll also provide you with hours of enjoyment at the shooting range!

What .45 pistol did you end up choosing?  Check out more in Best 1911s, Best .45 ACP Ammo, and Handgun Calibers Ultimate Guide.

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