The evolution of 45 ACP handguns

The life of 45ACP firearms

Since John Browning started designing the m1911 in 1890, and the 45acp to go with it, the 45 caliber handgun has gone through some major changes to keep it up to date, and one of the most favored hand gun calibers. I will go through the most popular .45 hand guns and how they changed to keep current.

Well the modern 45 ACP fire arm was designed due to the US military’s request for a 45 caliber semi-automatic hand gun, which is where the m1911 comes in. After the m1911 was introduced, and then modified in 1924 to the M1911A1 so it would be more user friendly, it was the main stay of the 45 ACP. It wasn’t till 1975 that another company came out with a new model of 45, and the Sig Sauer P220 was designed and introduced. The P220 was based off of the M1991A1, but with some new upgrades. Instead of the locking lugs on the barrel and slide it was designed to utilize and enlarged and squared off Breach with a matching section of the slide. It also brought with it the option of double action or single action, and a decocker for safety.

Then in 1979 Glock came out with the Glock 21. A new and revolutionary style of firearm. It had a polymer frame, and a magazine capacity of 13 round due to the double stack feature. The main advancement was the new striker firing pin. The striker firing pin is based off the way a bolt action rifle’s firing pin work. Where the when the action is pulled back the firing pin is locked in place as the rest of the action is closed up ready to fire. But with the Glock’s safe firing system as you pull the trigger the firing pin is pulled the rest of the way back and released.  As you can see the difference from the two pictures left is the Glock striker style, and the right is the 1911 hammer style.

          The 45 ACP stood as the main stay of the US military unto 1985, because of pressure from NATO to standardize ammo to the 9mm. Then a few years later in 1991 when the US Special Operations Command started the Offensive Handgun Weapons Systems program. The Program was looking back to the 45, because they needed more man stopping ability. And they needed a platform that could take a silencer and laser sight. A few new Hand guns came out due to the program like the Colt OHWS and the H&K MK23. The Colt OHWS was based off the M1911, but with a single stack 10 round magazine. The Heckler & Koch MK23, which won the contract, was based off of the H&K USP with a few upgrades. It featured a double stack magazine with a 12 round capacity.  Both featured a silencer and laser sight.

Now days with the advancement in metallurgy and new technologies guns are evolving even more, and getting smaller. The Springfield XD, which is becoming very popular, was developed in 1999. Is very similar to the Glock, but with more safety features. They also developed it into three different guns. They came out with the XDM which features a match grade barrel that is 3.8 inches and made of stainless steel. And a lot of companies are following in that same direction offering base models and match grade models.

With most states going to conceal carry a lot of gun companies are modifying their fire arms to fit into the sub compact category. Like Springfield’s XDC which is only a single stack magazine and a 3.3 inch barrel. Also Kimber, one of the best manufactures of 1911’s, came out with a sub-compact 1911 which they call the ultra-carry. The ultra-carry only has a 3 inch barrel, but holds the original 7 round 1911 magazine.  There are also new 45acp derringers that are made of titanium, so they are lighter and can take more abuse.

As you can see over the years the 45ACP hand guns have gone through many changes with culture from the original colt 1911 to the modern polymer framed hand guns of today. Where many of the changes are slight and can only be seen by those that know hand guns. There are those that have come out with radical new designs such as Glock.   I can’t wait to see what new types of hand guns come out in the future.