Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Glock vs 1911

I've been tempted for many years to pick up a 36.

Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh

In general, when comparing the 2 especially in sub caliber or smaller frames, the LW Commander should be the contender with the S/A & safety lever crowd.

A 4.25" barrel & 10 oz. lighter than the Gov't. model, same capacity. Thankfully, a few what I call proper but modern models now exist. Correct frame dimensions, gov't. style recoil system & internal mechanisms. No damn bushingless slides with coned barrels, firing pin safeties or other internal BS.

The real interesting question would be, which would you choose if there was a mandatory ten round magazine restriction? A 10+1 round Glock 9mm, or the same capacity in a lightweight commander 1911 9mm? Or, a 10+1 Glock 9mm or a 8+1 1911 .45? A 10+1 Glock .45 or 8+1 1911 .45? There are 10 round 1911 .45 magazines available also though they add quite a bit to the butt of the pistol.

Easy peasy I have both. Flavor of the day choice G26 or 4” 1911. Flip a coin.

I've got both. a GI 1911 and a Glock 19. Like them both equally. I've always had some kind of 1911 and I never thought I would say this but If I could only have one it would be the Glock 19. Cheaper ammo, easier; smaller & lighter. to carry and I can shoot it as well or better because of it's after market sights than the 1911. IMO Glock really got it right with the 19. I'd sure miss not having a 1911 though.

I never considered it an "either-or" or "versus" type thing. They are both excellent examples of great firearms designs, and both feature a consistent trigger pull each time, as compared to other designs such as a classic DA/SA semi auto. Their short trigger take up and light trigger pulls aid the shooter in putting rounds in their proper place as long as the fundamentals of marksmanship are applied.


Having used both for both work, play, competition, professional protection of others, etc., I really don't care which I use outside of choosing one that best applies for the job and environment at hand (in other words the mission drives the gear).

Grab whichever makes you happy or get both. Confirm it is a reliable tool and go from there.

Is that a Les Baer?

If I had to pick the one that I thought would run the longest in a bad environment it would have to be the Glock. If I had to engage a bad guy with my pistol, I would pick my most accurate high-capacity handgun, my as heavy as a 19 11, my H&K USP 40 full size. A good 1911 would be about 4th behind a Sig P 220.

Cleaning up the frame w/ a little undercut of the trigger guard and finger grooves (above pic), sanding the hump on the backstrap flat, and removing the trigger guard horn really made a difference in how the pistol both carries and shoots.





Makes a great carry piece.






GR

Is that a Les Baer?[/quote]

Yes, a P-II with the 1.5" at 50 yard guarantee. Though not in stock form. It has been set up with some features that I prefer. The standard ambi thumb safeties are gone. The Baer came with a huge boat paddle type safety. It was replaced with a small, Colt style single sided one. An S&A magwell, as well as an F.O. front sight was added.





Runs my 250 grain +Ps at 925 FPS.

Tack driving heavy hammer.

That Glock 22 is not a slouch either though. I developed a rather heavy load for it and have been running a LOT of rounds though it this year and last. It puts a poly-coated 170 SWC out right at 1200 FPS.

I'm with you on the old style Colt pattern thumb safety. I much prefer them over the shelf type, "tactical," thumb safeties that have become almost standard.

Logic dictates popular pistol in .40 S&W plus 9x19 drop in barrel for range use. You would be just like Mr. Jordan with his Model 19 shooting weak stuff at the range and carry powerful stuff for CCW.
The Woke guys who do not realize they are Woke will be along shortly to convince you that 9x19 is just as effective as .40S&W and .45ACP.

1911 is heavier but I do shoot them better. Accuracy at close ranges probably not as much of a factor though it never hurts.
1911 trigger especially a good 1911 is far superior. Take up, wall, lack of creep, pull weight, and reset - all superior.

Glocks are lighter, require less maintenance, and typically carry more rounds. The exceptions are the newer designs like the Sfx9 and Sft9 from Wilson combat, these are slim aluminum frame guns that hold 15.

My 9mm 1911’s hold 10+1 or 9+1 depending on magazine.

I do like having the manual safety with good tactile feedback and Audible click of the 1911 and it’s location perfect. Having the grip safety is also nice when something is in your pants appendix carry, just an extra level of insurance I suppose to help keep all the anatomy present

I keep a little Glock 42 in the car, it’s tiny and light with mags of 6, 8, and 10. I usually have a commander 1911 on me though.

Several have mentioned safeties. I wanted to put a thumb safety on my Glock. Joe Cominolli (sp) came up with a good one that’s easy to install but apparently sold the design to 10 ring precision and they only do the installation and don’t sell the part for anyone to do the installation themselves. Kinda bummed out over that.

I wouldn't want one on a Glock unless I had trained with 1911's so long that I lost time feeling for the safety every time I wanted to shoot. I shot double trigger shotguns so long I had that problem trying to switch to a single trigger. I always fumbled the second shot feeling for the second trigger. I've used Glocks so long now that I would fumble it if I added a safety.

There are several excellent striker fired pistols that can be had with a thumb safety. If I absolutely felt that I needed that thumb safety I would look at something like the S&W M&P. You can have your thumb safety and the grip angle of a 1911 in a handgun as equally excellent as the Glock. Glock isn't special, they aren't giving you anything any of the other high quality well vetted striker fired platforms can give.