Should I get a CW45 or XDS-45?

[warbird1]

I have never owned a Block and probably never will. I bought my CW40 (came with one mag) about a year ago. Outstanding little gun. Since then I have added 3 more mags and a Mitch Rosen owb holster. It's in my EDC rotation. I prefer the Corbon Pow'RBall as a carry round. I have also owned the XDS and it is a fine firearm as well. Won't go wrong with either one.

[yqtszhj]

I have shot about 800 rounds of Tula .45 through another gun. bought a bunch one time really cheap. If i had it to do all over again I'd buy brass ammo. The black coating on the Tula cases kept choking up the firing pin channel on my 1911.

[pbagley]

I have shot about 800 rounds of Tula .45 through another gun. bought a bunch one time really cheap. If i had it to do all over again I'd buy brass ammo. The black coating on the Tula cases kept choking up the firing pin channel on my 1911.

My TulAmmo was brass and boxer primed. I did not consider that the OP may be using steel case ammo. My mistake. I've never used anything but brass ammo, mainly because I want to reload it later.

edit: TulAmmo Brass Max.

[tycoonbob]

Put ~100 rounds through my CW45, the same steel cased Blazer ammo, and not a single problem. Even with rapid fire, it worked like a champ! I have ~150 rounds through it now, and the only hiccup was when I tried using that steel cased Tula.

So far, very pleased! Just need to find me a few more mags, and a lefty OWB holster. Any recommendations?

[rjt123]

Should I get a CW45 or XDS-45?

Put ~100 rounds through my CW45, the same steel cased Blazer ammo, and not a single problem. Even with rapid fire, it worked like a champ!

Those silver looking rounds from Blazer that aren't the brass (the all black box) are aluminum cased...not steel. The aluminum is much softer than steel and thus more gentle on the extractor and ejector.

As far as I know, Blazer/CCI/Lawman doesn't make any steel cased ammo.

Blazer's aluminum-cased rounds are my favorite range ammo. Cheap (well, cheaper than most) , always goes bang, not excessively dirty, and have at least a decent amount of power. It's what I buy if it is available.

[tycoonbob]

Those silver looking rounds from Blazer that aren't the brass (the all black box) are aluminum cased...not steel. The aluminum is much softer than steel and thus more gentle on the extractor and ejector.

As far as I know, Blazer/CCI/Lawman doesn't make any steel cased ammo.

Blazer's aluminum-cased rounds are my favorite range ammo. Cheap (well, cheaper than most) , always goes bang, not excessively dirty, and have at least a decent amount of power. It's what I buy if it is available.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. I'm pretty happy with those rounds, and I get them for $18.99 per box at one of my LGS. Pretty good price based on what I see online.

[O'Dell]

Those silver looking rounds from Blazer that aren't the brass (the all black box) are aluminum cased...not steel. The aluminum is much softer than steel and thus more gentle on the extractor and ejector.

As far as I know, Blazer/CCI/Lawman doesn't make any steel cased ammo.

Blazer's aluminum-cased rounds are my favorite range ammo. Cheap (well, cheaper than most) , always goes bang, not excessively dirty, and have at least a decent amount of power. It's what I buy if it is available.

They make Blazer Brass in 380, 9mm, 38 Special, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and 357 Magnum. I don't use aluminum or steel, but the Blazer Brass is pretty good ammo.

[hardluk1]

I have shot lots of aluminum blaser in all the pistol I have and never had an issue with them. Probably have a few hundred in the ammo locker now in 9mm and 45acp.

[DanTana]

A friend of mine at work was asking me about the CW45. He asked me if they were reliable, I don't own one but I told him I hadn't heard of any real issues with them. He is considering it or a Glock 30. He likes the extra capacity of the 30. I told him all you have to do is hit them once with a .45.

[AIRret]

Hey Tycoonbob, I shoot left handed these days and I understand what you are saying about the magazine release being on the wrong side.
I choose to deal with that issue as follows. Since I had several handguns before becoming a lefty and didn't want to sell them, I chose to use my trigger finger to hit the mag. release. It really doesn't slow me down (once I got used to it) because I have been told to not drop one mag. until you have your hand on your spare mag. anyway.

To me one of the most important things in gun handling is being consistent. Therefore, even with the guns I own (I have a XDs 45) that have ambi safeties I still use my trigger finger…..be consistent…..it gives you a better chance in a crisis.
Good Luck

[hardluk1]

dantana One shot?? if you say so , better make it a center forhead or upper center of chest and hit the spine. 45 even with a great HP ammo are not a gar-o-teee'd one shot stopper any more than a 9mm. If this person can hide a glock well and he likes it buy it. If he wants a kahr that's his choice. Last practice double and triple taps.


I tend to carry a Kahr tp series more now. The TP 45 when compaired to the glock 30 and about a 1/4" taller about a 1/4" shorter in front to back length, .24 thinner in width along with a few oz lighter and but its hard to pass up a 3 more round double stack that can handle a model 21 mag as backup if the loaded weight is not an issue.

[tony k]

Wow...some familiar names from THR here, Including hardluk1 who suggested I check out this site (good idea by the way)

tycoonbob, I'm a lefty as well and I put my first 200 rounds through my new CW45 last friday. how's the mag release working out for you? Like AIRret i use my trigger finger to release the mag. After years of doing it that way on a 1911 it's muscle memory now. I don't see a need to relearn to use my thumb.

also like you, I considered the XDs. In the end it was a toss up for me between the CW45 and the XDs. When I have the option, I try to by USA made stuff. That's why I have the CW45.

Also, others mentioned short throats in the CW45. The first 100 rounds I put through my CW45 were reloads loaded to an OAL of 1.265 with 230gr LRN. It was constant fail to feed and fail to go in to battery. Next 100 rounds were loaded to OAL of 1.260 with 230gr plated LRN. Only one fail to feed in 100 rounds. The short throat might have been the cause of my fail to go in to battery, and my admittedly limited experience suggests that my Kahr likes shorter lengths than say a 1911.

Like I mentioned, my first session with my CW45 was less than perfect, but considering all the great tips and tricks I've gotten from this forum and The High Road, I'd say we both made a good choice in going with the Kahr.

[tycoonbob]

Wow...some familiar names from THR here, Including hardluk1 who suggested I check out this site (good idea by the way)

tycoonbob, I'm a lefty as well and I put my first 200 rounds through my new CW45 last friday. how's the mag release working out for you? Like AIRret i use my trigger finger to release the mag. After years of doing it that way on a 1911 it's muscle memory now. I don't see a need to relearn to use my thumb.

also like you, I considered the XDs. In the end it was a toss up for me between the CW45 and the XDs. When I have the option, I try to by USA made stuff. That's why I have the CW45.

Also, others mentioned short throats in the CW45. The first 100 rounds I put through my CW45 were reloads loaded to an OAL of 1.265 with 230gr LRN. It was constant fail to feed and fail to go in to battery. Next 100 rounds were loaded to OAL of 1.260 with 230gr plated LRN. Only one fail to feed in 100 rounds. The short throat might have been the cause of my fail to go in to battery, and my admittedly limited experience suggests that my Kahr likes shorter lengths than say a 1911.

Like I mentioned, my first session with my CW45 was less than perfect, but considering all the great tips and tricks I've gotten from this forum and The High Road, I'd say we both made a good choice in going with the Kahr.

Overall, I'm very happy with my CW45. I've got 206 rounds through it, over two trips. Mostly Blazer Aluminum, but also Winchester and American Eagle Brass. I've had one FTE, but that was when I let my lady friend shoot, and she went limp wrist (first time shooting a .45). I've also only had one jam, and that was with the Tula Aluminum as previously mentioned. After looking at the round once it was removed, it was well scratched up. For all I know, it could have been like that before loading, or maybe it was dirty, etc. Other than those two incidents, it's been very good to me.

I also picked up a generic nylon holster which works well when I'm out shooting, but I am having trouble finding a spare mag or two, at an affordable price $25-30 shipped). I will likely put another 100 rounds through her this weekend.

[Bang_button]

Choosing the Glock 30S means only 4.5mm more in width but you move up from a six round magazine to 10.

And don't forget you can run full size Glock 21 mags too, which would come to 13+1. They are a definite option if you plan to carry extra mags.

[W5JCK]

tycoonbob, another lefty here. Seems like there are a bunch of us southpaws here in this thread! I've always just adapted to the mag releases being on the left side. I've never changed one to the right side on the handguns that allow a change. I've never found it to be an issue.