Who are the REAL competitors to the MilPro line

[daytonaredeye]

I think we who post here have all had either all good or a mix of pretty much good with a problem or two hiccups with our MilPro but I believe we are overall satisfied with them. I have often times seen others comment that there is not another make/model which comes close to the MilPro line for compactness and reliability. Can anyone name any other brands and models out there who seriously come close to meeting the MilPro line? I am serious with this inquiry. Looks to me like Kimber only sticks with the 1911 line with all their Compact Carry or CDL lines but I don't see any polymer from them unless I'm not looking in the right place or seeing it. S&W has their M&P line but do they really offer compactness like the MilPros? Looks like Ruger offer the closest I've seen with their SR9 and LCPs but the LCP's are more than compact and considered mouseguns/pocket pistols, etc. I invite all for their input on this. Wanna know where else I might look if looking for a comfortably carried compact pistol offering 10+ rounds of 9mm and larger caliber bullets. Mods, if this belongs in another section, please move.

[dbeardslee]

When I bought my PT145 it was the thinnest 45 ACP I could find with a ten shot magazine. Near as I can tell it still is. I also like the mini frame that Taurus uses in the milpro - to me that's the best mix of metal and plastic and wears more like a steel slide on a full alloy frame. The Kahr CW45 is about the same width - maybe a little less - but it doesn't carry the capacity. Officers model 45's have the same limited capacity, along with a fatter grip. The Stoeger Cougar in 45 gets close to the capacity, but the ambi controls make it kind of a fat boy, and the long grip is more difficult to conceal. There's the Glock 30 - you get 10 rounds but you're packin' a porker. And none of them can touch the milpros trigger, IMHO.

Every time I go looking for compact 45's I come back around to the conclusion I originally reached - the milpros are hard to beat. Personally I think the biggest threat to the milpros is the 800 compact line, but they lack the full mini frame, and they haven't come out with an 845 C yet. And again, I like the full mini frame. I think Taurus definitely got the milpros right.

[jimb1972]

The only carry guns I like better than the milpro are the Ruger LC9 and Walther PPS. The milpro has a significant price advantage over the Walther, which is the reason I bought my first 4 years ago. The Ruger gives up capacity for concealability and is not available in .40 or .45. My only complaint is the limited ammo that my 745 would digest, the ruger and Walther work well with anything. Probably could use a little more angle on the feed ramp of the pt745 and pt145's. I am currently looking at the 845 for my next purchase.

[daytonaredeye]

Great answers!! AS commented, looks like Taurus may be its own best competitor. I also looked at most all other brands with models designated XXX-C (compact) but as noted, they usually have the wider structure. Personally, I haven't come close to finding anything lighter, slimmer and offering 10+ rounds than the MilPros. When I bought my 1911s I did so without concern for concealment and I know there are CCW holsters designed for their carry in that mode but the weight put me off. And, yes, I've fired a Ruger SR9 but wasn't a fan of its loooooong trigger pull (as it is a double action only). The SA/DA mode is something else which I believe adds to the MilPro line up's attractiveness. The DA only offering for my LCP makes it a little uncomfortable to shoot - I have long spindly fingers and it feel like I almost have to make a fist before it will fire. I know Mas Ayoob favors DA for personal defense (especially when defending protection shooters in court) but I am a fan of SA.

[mingaa]

Glock 26 - 30 subcompacts - similar barrel length and capacity??

[Zylo_X]

I never got a MilPro because I want ambi safety. Aside from Taurus competing with themselves, I think the Ruger SR is probably the next best competitor with a similar price point. I was always a Ruger guy and got the SR9C first, and with night sights and the Ghost trigger, it is my primary EDC. I soon added the 24/7G2C-45, and as you can see in the photos, very similar size (and weight) but 'upgraded' to 45ACP.

[Taurus10]

I love both the Ruger SR9 & SR9c but TBH, I love my PT145 more.

[kubelkampf]

I, too, think that the Mil Pros have it over their competitors. I don't have one yet -but I will have a PT-145 by next week - and I've handled the 145 a number of times. The 845 would be terrific, IF available as a COMPACT (but even then, it wouldn't be quite as concealable as the 145). The balance and feel of the 145 is near perfect, in my view. The grip is also of a usable length. I've not handled the Ruger SR9....but I have handled an SR9c. The grip on the SR9c is ABSURDLY short - quite unusable for me. (Even with the mag extension, it is near - ridiculous). As well, the PT-145 offers true 10+1 capacity, which is ahead of pretty much everyone, as far as I know. Lastly, the Mil Pros are available at a nice price advantage.

[cws_dallas]

Given the OP's criteria of 10+ rounds combined with my preference for .45, I am not aware of an alternative to the MilPro. That's why my first Taurus pocket carry was the PT145. I liked it a lot, but after several months, an attempt to carry IWB with a Kholster, and some relatively minor issues, I gave up on it. Too heavy to be a good pocket carry and I could not get comfortable with the IWB.

"Wanna know where else I might look if looking for a comfortably carried compact pistol offering 10+ rounds of 9mm and larger caliber bullets." I have high pocket carry hopes for my recently adopted Kahr PM4544N. Compared to the PT145 it is demonstrably lighter and smaller and in my opnion it is tighter and more accurate. It also has what multiple professional reviewers consider the best out of the box DAO trigger available. Long winded way of saying that it is competitive/superior to the PT145 for "compactness and reliability". The PT145 is better for capacity and much better for price point. I have no knowledge of the rest of the Kahr line, so I can't comment on how the nines and .40's would compare to MilPros.

[DBMMD]

I think there really is too little being offered by other manufacturers that would match the carry utility and capacity of the Millennium Pro line. I have looked at and tried many options and the PT 111 Pro I got just has everything I require in a defensive pistol (and it has become my primary range pistol, just a very good shooter all around).

The PT 24/7 C series may just be the only other thing that comes close to the Mil Pro. The Glock compact and subcompact lines very closely compare, and I also like all of them. The Tauri have better grip ergonomics, though.