Defensive Carry banner

Fight! Glock vs 1911

19K views 154 replies 80 participants last post by  nedrgr21 
#1 ·
FIGHT!
This is the Ford vs Chevy argument of the gun world. It causes folks to make YouTube videos proclaiming even that all guns should be glocks (See here). So since this is a very regular debate – we figure why not break it down side by side in our series called FIGHT! and see which gun really is the better of the two.

The Firearm Report | Fight! Glock vs 1911
:smile:Should make every one happy.
 
#2 ·
Man, I always thought the M in JMB was Moses. The article cleared that up and it makes way more sense now!

I prefer the 1911. That said, when I bought my first handgun I compared it to the Glocks for reliability. Just dislike that grip angle, and width.
 
#13 ·
Not a real real useful comparison. Glocks are a different type of sidearm. They are great Kodak guns, just point and shoot. Glock has amazing quality and reliability for the Price, but they are not for those who shoot 'Bullseye Competition' or +P+ ammo as their barrels do not have the strength (no Buffalo Bore Ammo for them).

The 1911s are not for those new to sidearms. Proficiency takes much work and practice. Also, manual safeties are never to be considered a bad thing.

I remember being issued my first ("plastic") Duty Glock, it wasn't a 'pretty thing' for sure, however, Glocks proved their inherent advantage of Point & Shoot reliably in LE.
There were NDs almost daily with Glocks in the U.S., when they became the choice of LE in the early 90s (much due to deep discounts).
Due to the emerging Crack/Meth epidemic, which caught U.S. LE agencies off guard, it was quickly learned LEOs were severly "Out-gunned"... the Cartels had an endless supply of semi & FA weapons while LEOs had revolvers & shotguns.... IT WAS A MESS!!

The Glock was the first Semi-auto sidearm with an increased capacity considered reliable/accurate/versatile/affordable/easy maint/easy conversion training/ and a remarkable 5.5 lb trigger + very affordable.
The early S&W 1st Gens were available to us, but they still had issues. Glocks were the first to offer the 'whole package' at a great price, the Sigs were their best competitor, but were more expensive with too many parts.

During my 40 year career in LE, I was issued many different Glocks, they were lightweight & extremely reliable and the beat my S&W 586 Revolver, so I loved Glocks for many years.
Once, I was transitioned to a G21 and even with my XXL (but thick) hands, that fat grip never really worked for me. (The better S&W M&P .45 was still in the future.)

Now, Glocks have endless competition..., And I did get the manageable S&W M&P .45acp 4.2 in bbl as I'm a 45 guy at heart.
I have always had 1911s in .45acp, but they are not the best choice for a Duty sidearm.

Being retired, my favorite carry is my Colt Defender .45acp at less than 0.99 inch wide and 22 ozs (my maximum allowances for any carry sidearms, nowdays) + the belt-clip ($20) requires no holster and keeps it "thin".

Glocks are not the 'BEST' sidearm out there, but for those who are comfortable carrying a sidearm over 0.99 inches wide, and want a true "Kodak", they are a fantastic value for all you get. I think their best attribute is the trigger, once you are trained to "bump" the 5.5 lb trigger, it can fire near as fast as a full auto.
(I once got DQ'd during a re-qual for 'bumping' a full mag from a Glock) Could never do it with any other make. (??)
 
#16 ·
Not a real real useful comparison. Glocks are a different type of sidearm. They are great Kodak guns, just point and shoot. Glock has amazing quality and reliability for the Price, but they are not for those who shoot 'Bullseye Competition' or +P+ ammo as their barrels do not have the strength (no Buffalo Bore Ammo for them).

The 1911s are not for those new to sidearms.
(??)
So all the WWI & WWII and Nam didn't get it right? Just proper instruction well get it done. My son knew how to use a 1911 in the proper way at 10 years old. For age of 17 to 21 years old young men going to war, didn't do bad with the 1911.
 
#14 ·
I like looking at various 1911s. They are beautiful guns. Or can be, at any rate. Glocks... not so much.

Of course I own two G 19s, and zero 1911s. I wanted a dependable, fighting pistol, right out of the box. Thats what I got.

I have shot 1911s, and like them. They do feel great in the hand. But...
 
#15 ·
"Find a 1911 that can even hold 30 rounds and I’ll declare it superior – fact is you can't.

There are 40 round drum magazines available for both the 1911 and Glock - so he was wrong on that point.
40 rounds of .45 acp should get the job done whatever that job may happen to be.


Clip Capacity – this one is very simple. More is better. Try to find a 17 round 1911 clip and then get back to me.

There are also 30 round stick magazines available.
There are also 11 round and 16 available. So...get back to me with an apology. :rofl:



"That’s right folks – you can clean your Glock in the DISHWASHER. No more Hoppes #9 all over your hands. Try doing that with your fancy smancy 1911!"

and a STAINLESS 1911 w/ Stainless Springs would also be dishwasher safe. AND you could set the dishwasher on SUPER HEATED DRY - try THAT with your fancy smancy polymer plastic frame GLOCK! :yup:
 
#75 ·
Loved the 1911 side by side the 10-22 with drum magazines. I have one of those 50R drums for my 10-22. I prefer a 1911 over a Glock just as I prefer a UNIMOG (made by Mercedes Benz) over a Hummer.
 
#18 ·
"All Terrain – ever tried shooting your 1911 underwater? Or perhaps picking it out of a bucket of sand and trying to shoot it. Me neither – but I would bet its not going to work. Now take that new Glock 39 from above that you just got out the dishwasher – put it in a bucket of sand – pour some water on it – shake it around – then try to shoot it. It will go BANG. EVERY TIME. BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!"


And Glocks also fail the Water/Sand test.

ANY firearm can fail on the sand/mud/etc test - it just depends on where the debris happens to end up inside the firearm.
The SAME Glock or the same 1911 can pass the sand/mud test on the 1st try and fail on the 2nd or 2rd try.
It could PASS on a Tuesday and fail on a Friday. :yup:
It all "just depends" on where the crap happens to end up internally.


 
#25 ·
And 1911s will function when fired underwater.

My only point being that the author did not do his homework very well. :nono:
I wasn't crazy about Mr Tactical Bacon's trigger discipline, too much gun manipulation with the finger on the trigger. Plus - no eyepro? Even when doing things that might cause the gun to fail catastrophically?
 
#23 ·
Why doesn't Glock make a single stack 45 in a 4" barrel by 5" high?
Ditto for S&W in a 9mm.

The difference between Glock and the 1911? More manufacturers make 1911s. Guess it should have been called "Glock versus Colt". That would have been more correct. Or "Poly striker fire pistols versus 1911 hammer fire pistols."

But we all know what he meant.

Find a 1911 that can even hold 30 rounds and I’ll declare it superior – fact is you can't.
Item:7890490 Colt 1911 45 auto 30 round high cap mag For Sale at GunAuction.com

Drum:
https://www.google.com/search?q=191...gL8q4DoAQ&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1582&bih=992&dpr=1

A drum magazine for the M-1911

Glock 36 vs. 1911? Capacity goes to the 1911 and the S&W M&P 45c.
Glock 30? Double stack 1911.
Looks? 1911
Accessories (barrels [3" - 16"? 1911], recoil guide rods, triggers, safeties, sights, magwells, etc.)? 1911
Grips? 1911
Holsters? 1911

Caliber Options – Walk in to your local gun shop and buy a 1911. I bet that 95% of the time they are .45 – if you are LUCKY you will find one in 9mm. Now do the same thing and ask for a Glock. .45 – CHECK times 2 – (ACP and GAP), 9mm – Yup we got that, .40 – the best self defense round made – yup plenty – what about stupid rounds like .357 Sig, 10mm, or .380 – yup yup and yup. OPTIONS!
Calibre:
1911 - .22LR, .22Mag, .22TCM, .32 (Llama) .380, 38Super, 9mm, 9mm Largo (Llama), 9x21, 9x23, 357SIG (SIG), .400 Corbon, 40S&W, 45ACP, 45GAP (Para-Ordnance), 10mm, .460 Rowland, .45 Winchester Mag, .50GI.; .357 Mag, .44 Mag, .50AE (Magnum Research)

MORE OPTIONS!!!

Glock - .22LR, .380, 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 10mm, 357SIG, 45GAP

Winner: 1911

There are plenty of 1911s at gun shows and through the Internet, much more than at any LGS. And if your local GS is Cabela's, Sportsman's World, Gander Mtn., Bud's Gunshop, Bass Pro, etc. chances are that there will be more 1911s in the cases than Glocks.

Increase "Glocks" to include all poly striker fire pistols and it's probably even to the number of manufacturers that make 1911 style pistols. Add the Browning High Power and it's clones, especially CZ and it's clones to the 1911 group and the Glock is out numbered.

Last I checked there aren't too many specialists making Glocks, not like Les Baer (who makes a .400 Corbon 1911), Wilson Combat, Dan Wesson, Guncrafter Industries (who makes a .50GI), Nighthawk, S&W, STI, SIG, and probably a few more.
 
#24 ·
Glock doesn't need to increase chambering options. They don't need a ton of specialists. We don't need more companies making them. The facts are that Glocks are made in multiple very effective calibers, it's easy to find people to customize them, and they are readily available as is.

The clear winner is:

Both.


...because 300 million guys whose cousins are Navy SEALs can't be wrong.
 
#26 ·
Glock doesn't need to increase chambering options. They don't need a ton of specialists. We don't need more companies making them. The facts are that Glocks are made in multiple very effective calibers, it's easy to find people to customize them, and they are readily available as is.
Agree.

What makes the Glock superior to the 1911? Just about anyone can modify their Glock; they can break it down and throw in a trigger kit very, very, very easily, for example. For "the common man" the Glock is the one to get. The problem is that the common man probably doesn't know, nor is interested in, in modifying their firearm. The Internet savvy guys probably do, though. But many of them probably balk at the idea of spending $150 for a trigger kit.

When comparing the Glock to the 1911 it comes down to this: no matter what Glock you get it's going to cost you $550. That is the same market that SA XD/XDMs, Kahr, Ruger, Walther, et. al. (Styer, FNH, etc.), are fighting for.

Sure, both are made in the most common calibres: .380, 9mm, .40S&W, .357SIG, .45, 10mm.

When he says, "Walk in to your local gun shop and buy a 1911. I bet that 95% of the time they are .45 – if you are LUCKY you will find one in 9mm," it just means that most shooters would rather have the .45ACP.

Glock has the best selling 9mm Compact, the G19. You may even include the G23 since it's the same size. Everything else is up for debate. For example, I'd rather buy the S&W M&P .45c than the G30S/SF. To me it's no contest. I've been debating the G19G4 vs the Walther PPQ. I think the PPQ is superior at the same price point, $550.

But yes, Glocks are great. Well, they used to be, imo. I think they have tarnished, if not ruined their reputation. To me, they did "a Kimber".
 
#27 ·
The 1911 has stood the test of time. No Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, or crappy Gen 4 – just 1 – 1911.
Actually that is not correct.The original was the model 1911. The 1911A1 would technically be the Gen 2.
 
#28 ·
Both great designs. Probably not as great as the CZ75, but hey. :smile:

Both have pluses and minuses. I'm not sure why folks get hung up on which is "better." Both work just fine in most situations, and each works slightly better than the other in a few situations.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top