Handling is similar @ramseyman, just the functioning is a little...."older." Because it was loosely based on the 1911 .45 design, it didn't incorporate the double action capability that other 9mm handguns had been using.

Both the .45 and the BHP when being carried for immediate use are carried in the configuration commonly known as "cocked and locked." Which is hammer back, safety on (which blocks the hammer from dropping), in the holster....and the term is technically backwards since you lock and in the process it cocks the weapon. But I've always heard it as cocked and locked.

Sounds a lot scarier than it is, but a lot of people prefer a DA because carrying with the hammer back feels scarier. Course if they have a Glock, then technically the hammer is back on that as well....if it had a hammer. But it's the same configuration for carry.