In 1905, .45 ACP cartridges designed for the iconic M1911 pistol were very famous for their early association with it. The legendary M1911 is the most popular handgun of this caliber, but it isn’t the only quality handgun available in the category. Several manufacturers have introduced some impressive .45 ACP handguns, each featuring unique characteristics and advantages.
The Glock 21SF, for example, is cited as one of the handguns known for its superbly precise firing. As the author puts it, “it is the most accurate and sweetest shooting handgun in my so-called ‘Orr-senal of Democracy.” This was also expressed by Lou Chiodo, a former U.S. Marine Corps captain and retired California Highway Patrol officer said, “The 21 is a tack driver if we do our part.” The G21SF also has reliability, durability, simplicity, and ease of maintenance which are characteristics of the Glock brand.
Another highly regarded .45 ACP handgun is the SIG Sauer P220. Some experts consider it not only the best double-action .45 auto pistol but the best .45 overall, even surpassing the M1911. The P220 has a history of winning over longtime M1911 devotees, such as John Farnam and Ed Stock, and was the first double-action .45 auto to make inroads in the U.S. domestic law enforcement market.
Maybe the Ruger P90 does not boast the same credentials as the other pistols, but it is one of the best buys out there. A typical example of a review provided by one author states the opening line this way: “It left a very positive first impression, with a ‘love at first shot’ feeling I’d only previously experienced with the Beretta 92F (M9), Colt Series 80 Government Model M1911-A1, and the CZ-75.”
Smith & Wesson, on the other hand, contributed to the .45 ACP market with its Model 645 pistol, followed later by the 4506. These handguns courted the .45 ACP cartridge while bringing traditional double-action lockwork to the domestic police service with an all-American appeal, stainless steel finish, and out-of-the-box reliability with jacketed hollowpoint ammunition.
Finally, honorable mention goes to the Smith & Wesson Model 25 revolver, which first appeared in 1955. It had a few problems in some of the first models produced, like the Model 25-2 from the 1990s, but this has all been squared away by Smith & Wesson, and this revolver is now very smooth and accurate.