Well, with the Taurus 1911 Officer you get an incredible pistol with loads of features at an affordable price. The 1911 officer model has a compact 3-inch barrel, and a full-sized frame. To reduce weight, it has a skeletonized trigger and hammer as well.

The magazine holds 8 rounds of .45 ACP, which is good for a self-defense situation. The pistol has an extended safety, which is very easy to engage. Cocking serrations on the front and back of the slide, and checkering on the front and back of the grip.

The standard model has black polymer side plates on the grip, however, Taurus also offers many special versions, with more aesthetic side plates.

Walther PPQ 45

Walther is an excellent German firearm production company known for making some of the best pistols in the world. The PPQ is their top-of-the-line pistol and is also a standard issue for many branches of the German police.

The 45 caliber PPQ is popular among concealed carry pistols, because of its low profile. The Walther PPQ has a 4.2-inch barrel and an overall length of a little over 7 inches. It isn’t the smallest pistol on the list, however, it is one of the most reliable, ergonomic, and practical ones.

PPQ has a full-sized polymer frame with a steel slide. It is a striker-fired pistol and has trigger safety and internal block safety.

With the larger size, the pistol also has a better magazine capacity, being able to hold 12 rounds of .45 ACP. It isn’t the most concealable pistol but is really good for everyday carry.

This article first appeared on Gun News Daily.

Image: Guns.com