If you’re looking for a list of the 7 best budget 45 ACP pistols that are currently for sale, then look no further. In this article we’ll review some great options for concealed carry, home defense, and general fun on the range. I’ll also review some great training, and defensive ammo options that you may want to consider with your 45. Keep reading for full details.
My OG readers will remember that I wrote an article comparing the 9mm vs 45 ACP many years ago. In that article it’s clear my preference is for the 9mm round. However, I understand that 45 ACP is a very popular round, and it does have more muzzle energy than almost any other round on the market. This makes it a good option for self defense, as long as you don’t mind losing some magazine capacity.
If this is your first time here, you might also want to read this article on handgun stopping power. It’s based off of over 1800 real world shootings.
In this article I’m going to recommend 7 great 45 ACP pistols starting in the $500 price range, going up to a little over $1000. If you’re looking for some super expensive custom 1911’s then this isn’t your list. Take a look at the full list of the 7 best budget 45 ACP pistols below.
7 Best Budget 45 ACP Pistols
- Glock 21 GEN5 MOS .45 ACP 13+1
- Glock Pistol 30S .45 ACP 10rd Slim Frame
- H&K 45 V1 .45 ACP
- HK 45 Compact Tactical V1 DA/SA .45 ACP Pistol
- Springfield Garrison 5″ .45 ACP 1911 Pistol
- S&W Pistol Governor SS 45ACP/ Long Colt / .410
- FN FNX-45 Tactical .45 ACP Pistol
I’ve tried to include a variety of 45 ACP pistols on this list. Sure, there is the obligatory 1911, but there are also a lot of other options, including a really cool revolver. Just like my other pistol articles, these are affiliate links. Moreover, I’ve tried to link to the best prices I can find for these pistols.
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7 Best Budget 45 ACP Pistols
These pistols will include a wide variety of options, and features, that will make them good guns for different use cases. In each section I’ll list some of the relevant features of each gun, so you can decide if it’s a good choice for you. If you need further details on the gun you can follow the links to find the full specs, or watch the included video reviews. Now, on to the first gun.
Glock 21 Gen 5 MOS 45 ACP
The Glock 21 GEN5 MOS .45 ACP is a great gun for almost everyone. This is why I’ve put it first on the list. It’s a full sized pistol with an overall capacity of 13+1 rounds. This is the second highest in this article. It also includes features common to all Gen 5 Glocks, like the updated magwell, grip, and internal tweaks. Here’s a great video review.
On of the best features of this pistol is the MOS plate system, which allows you to mount a red dot optic of your choice. However, you will have to change your front sight and rear sight, to suppressor height, if you want back up irons.
One of the things you’ll see in the video review is the few malfunctions he had. It appears from the review that that could have been a magazine issue. This is why I always encourage you to run 500-1000 rounds through any gun you plan on using for self defense. This ensures that you know how to use it and that it’s reliable.
As of this writing the Glock 21 Gen 5 sells for right over $600, which is a great deal considering the flexibility, and magazine capacity this gun offers. It’s also one of the few guns that are still issued by law enforcement agencies. Next we’ll cover the smallest gun on this list of the 7 best budget 45 ACP pistols.
Glock 30S Slim Frame 45 ACP
The Glock 30S Slim Frame pistol is one of the best pistol options for concealed carry. It’s unfortunate that the 30S isn’t more popular, as it has several features that make it a very desirable compact, concealed carry gun. First, the magazine capacity is 10+1, which is quite good given it’s size.
Secondly, it has a slimmer slide, and smaller grip, which makes it easier, and more comfortable to conceal for every day carry. This is especially true if you have smaller hands. Check out this thorough review which compares the features of the standard Glock 30S to the Glock 30S slim frame.
This is going to be a standard iron sight pistol, with a small rail up front for additional accessories. It also happens to be slightly larger than the Glock 26, but smaller than a Glock 19. Given the positive reviews on this pistol, I think this is the best concealed carry pistol in 45 ACP.
As of this writing you can purchase the Glock 30S Slim Frame for under $550. This makes it the best value option on this list. Next we’ll cover the best option for full size fun.
Heckler and Koch HK45 V1 45 ACP
The H&K 45 V1 .45 ACP is an awesome full sized 45 ACP pistol. I’ve actually shot this DA/SA firearm and I can say that it’s probably the softest recoiling 45ACP polymer gun you can buy. HK has a propriety recoil reduction systems which they claim reduces recoil by 30%. Reviewers also note it has a great trigger pull in single action.
The other great feature on this gun is the grip, with interchangeable backstraps. Similar to the HK VP9, the ergonomic grip comes with different sized backstraps to fit larger hands. It also features full ambidextrous controls. Check out this video for a quick review.
One thing you need to be aware of is the ambidextrous paddle magazine release. I greatly prefer this system as it allows you to release the mag without breaking your firing grip, using your strong hand middle finger to drop the mag. It will take a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but once you do, you won’t want to go back.
If you need a very accurate, high reliability 45 ACP pistol, then the HK 45 V1 is your best option. As of this writing you can pick it up for around $770. This is a lot of gun at this price point. Next we’ll cover a great tactical option from HK.
Heckler and Koch Compact Tactical 45 V1
The HK 45 Compact Tactical V1 DA/SA .45 ACP Pistol is one of the coolest polymer frame guns you can buy. Its similar to the full sized 45, but it’s a smaller frame, with an included magazine extension. It features the same recoil reduction system, and double action / single action trigger system, with safety. Check out this funny reviewers thoughts.
It also features a threaded barrel, making it great for adding a suppressor, if you can find one to match the oddball threads. It’s worth noting that you can use standard 8 round magazines if you need a shorter overall grip length for concealed carry.
This is a gun for someone who enjoys HK firearms, and wants something that you just don’t see everyday. It’s also fairly concealable, with the shorter magazine. As of this writing you can pick it up for right under $900. Next we’ll cover the only 1911 on this list.
The Springfield Armory Garrison 5″ 1911 45 ACP
The Springfield Garrison 5″ .45 ACP 1911 Pistol is a great value 1911. No 45 ACP article would be complete without at least one 1911. The Garrison is a traditional 1911, featuring a hot bluing coating which looks good, but may not be the hardest wearing coating you can get. If you want to use this for hard duty carry, then get the slightly more expensive stainless steel version.
This gun is a full sized government model, with a 5 inch barrel and wooden grips. It’s overall length is 8.6 inches. Check out this video review.
This accurate gun features a traditional 7-round magazine. Obviously you can purchase extended magazines if that’s too small for you.
I really like the extended beavertail grip safety, which I find allows you to deactivate it more consistently. I think this gun is best for someone who wants a great looking and reliable 1911. As of this writing you can purchase the Garrison for right under $750. Next we’ll cover the wildcard on this list.
Smith and Wesson Governor 45 ACP / Long Colt / .410
The S&W Pistol Governor SS 45ACP/ Long Colt / .410 is a pretty wild concept. This revolver can shoot any 45 caliber projectile including: 45 Long Colt, 45 ACP, and even .410 shotgun shells. This makes it incredibly versatile, especially for outdoor enthusiasts that need to protect themselves from wildlife.
The Governor features a lightweight Scandium alloy frame, which keeps the overall weight of the revolver to around 30 ounces. This lightweight design is much better for a gun you plan on carrying more than shooting. Check out this video review.
This gun can pack quite a lot of punch. For example you can purchase a 45 Long Colt defensive round from Federal which produces about 580 ft pounds of energy. For comparison, most 9mm rounds are in the mid to high 300 range. To be fair, that is going to produce some punishing recoil, but everything has it’s trade offs.
The other great feature is the ability to shoot .410 shotgun shells. You can shoot buckshot, birdshot, and various self defense shot shells. The only draw back is that you are limited to 6 rounds. Make them count!
As of this writing you can pick this revolver up for under $840. Now we’ll cover our last option on this list of the 7 best budget 45 ACP pistols.
The FN FNX-45 Tactical
The FN FNX-45 Tactical .45 ACP Pistol has been around for some time, and is a very cool tactical option, with a large capacity. This gun has 15+1 capacity, with several other options. It has suppressor height sights, and a threaded barrel.
Like the Glock 21, this gun does accept red dots, and it also saves you from buying an additional set of back up irons. Check out this quick video review.
Those iron sights are trijicon 3 dot sights, with tritium inserts. As you can see, it has an external manual safety and a double action, single action design. This gun was originally designed to compete in the military M9 replacement program.
As the video shows, you can get the gun in tan color, or black which is what I’ve linked to. The only downside to this pistol is the price. As of this writing you can purchase it for right under $1200. This isn’t a bad price considering all the options that it comes with.
Now that we’ve covered the 7 best budget 45 ACP pistols, let’s review some great self defense and practice ammo options for these pistols.
45 ACP Ammunition Options
In this section I’m going to cover a few defensive hollow points as well as standard ball ammunition for practice. Remember that you should run at least 500 rounds through your gun if you plan on using it for self defense. That can certainly get expensive with the 45 ACP cartridge, but as my dad would say, “you have to pay to play.”
45 ACP Self Defense Rounds
I highly recommend Federal HST hollow points for self defense. These rounds have a long record of reliable performance, and I’ve carried the 9mm version for years. This 45 ACP option runs 83 cents per round. It does provide 404 foot pounds of muzzle energy, which is very good.
There are certainly other options on the market but, I don’t see any with better performance than the HST rounds. Next let’s cover some great practice ammo options.
45 ACP Practice Ammo
When I started to look for practice ammo options, I was surprised to find Speer Lawman 230 grain ball ammo for 32 cents per round. That’s only slightly more expensive than most 9mm ball offerings. The second best practice ammo that I found was Armscor 230 grain practice ammo at 38 cents pre round. Now let’s finish this article up.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of great options on this list of the best budget 45 ACP pistols. If it were my own money, I think I’d probably go with the full sized HK 45 ACP V1. It has softer recoil, good ammo capacity, and very ergonomic controls with a great grip.
If you need to shoot a red dot, then the Glock 21 MOS is a great choice. That will be a great performing reliable option right out of the box. If you like this review, and want even more articles, then join the email list below. Now get out there and get training!
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