sprice
03-06-14, 01:29
No, this is probably not what you think.
On a social networking site there was a picture of a 1911 and a Glock and it said something along the lines of: "What would you choose?" An acquaintance wanted to buy a cheap 1911 today and I told him he would be better off with a glock for that price. Anyway, these are my thoughts on glock vs 1911.
When I was 16 I got my first handgun... It was a para 1911 and it sucked. It would not feed with oem magazines and it would not feed with $45 wilson mags. I sold that. I got a few other handguns, eventually glocks; and they worked ok. The first was a gen 3 23, it jammed and I hated it. Then there was a 19 but it was so small and uncomfortable and I just could not shoot it well even after more classes. Then I got a 17 rtf, it was great! But it still jammed a few times and I could not make "hostage" shots at 5 yards to save my life, much less the life of anyone else. I then got a screaming offer on that g17 so I got rid of that, then eventually found myself with a dan wesson 1911. It was nice, but shiny stainless and I don't like that. I just couldn't afford to shoot .45 acp at the rate I was used to shooting 9mm. But that 1911 functioned fine. I got a glock 19 gen 4 so I could go take a different class because if I sold the 1911 I could afford the glock, magazines, and 1000 rounds of steel cased ammo (which I shot the most until I recently picked up reloading). I liked it so much my dad and brothers now all have gen 4 g19's. (I don't care much for gen 3 vs 4 now, I guess I slightly prefer 3). For some reason I just can't shoot glocks that well... I'm sorry... and it took me a good ~10,000 rounds to figure that out!
During the normal capacity panic buying I sold that gen4 glock 19 and 3 magazines for $900. I found a stainless springfield mil spec for $400. So I jumped on that. It was missing some pins, so I suppose the previous owner thought it was broken... his friend tried to install a new trigger and lost them hahaha. So I bought new springs and pins, put in an old extended thumb safety I had laying around, smoothed the edges and internals, then dry practiced and shot about 1000 rounds through it. I then realized I needed a beavertail. So I got out the dremel and I started removing metal for the grip safety to fit. It turned out great! I also bobbed the hammer, and sanded underneath the trigger guard for a better grip; then fitted an extra nowlin extractor. It was ugly and stainless and scratched. So I got it black Ice coated (I like the coating, it was a decent price; it's really slick) also, it came in pretty colors :p. I bought several chip mccormick 8 round power mags, but now I've found I prefer check mate 7 round magazines (CM45-7-B-CMF-RB). About $800 after everything was said and done.
It's about 5000 rounds through that handgun now and I'm happy. Why 1911 vs Glock? They're the 2 most popular, so there's somewhat inexpensive magazines and parts and they are available. More holsters, more knowledge, more practice (I've found for every type of gun there's usually 2 common/popular choices and both are usually good. Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500 for example, AR vs AK). Glocks and 1911's are both great. No handgun has been completely reliable for me, it just so happens this 1911 has been just about as reliable as my glocks. Call it luck of the draw or what have you but that's just how it's worked out for me. I have about 8000 rounds through 1911's in general (I've also owned and fired more handguns than glock/1911's). I have also liked to tinker with Glocks by replacing various parts.
In my extremely limited experience,
1911:
I'm from Utah so it holds special significance for me, as well as every American.
I shoot it faster and more accurately
It's slim and comfortable
It has a good trigger
It's hard to transition from a Glock to 1911 but if you train with a 1911 (swiping a thumb safety) then the transition to other guns is easier
Good trigger
Many different variations
It's durable
It can be reliable
You should be your own armorer
It should initially cost $1,000 at least.
I would not trust one out of box (nor any gun for that matter... but 1911's least of all.)
It's an old design, made in a time where hand fitting was cheap, and machining was expensive.
Heavy
Low capacity
Grip safety
.45 acp
Hand tuning!
Glock:
Inexpensive
Durable
Can be reliable
9mm
Regular capacity
light weight
No superfluous safeties
Made in a time of cheap manufacturing and expensive hand fitting.
Easier to use, and to maintain
Can be uncomfortable
One size fits most
Neutered magazines for some states
Trigger is just ok
Can be customized... But it shouldn't.
I like steel 5" 1911's with short guide rods. Everything should be fitted correctly, and internals may need to be polished. I like better sights, extended thumb safeties, and beavertails. I prefer 7 round magazines for reliability. Internal extractors, no firing pin safeties.
Glocks should stay stock. No 3.5 connector or other triggers for me, I don't want anything unless it's a factory glock 34 slide catch. However better sights and more magazines please! I wouldn't mind getting a glock that's been stippled and has had the "hump" chopped off either, but I have no experience with that. I like the 17 most, followed by the 19.
.45 acp sucks. I hate it. Limited rounds, more muzzle flip (which I find more detrimental than rearward recoil). And the slow .45 bullet isn't fast enough to take advantage of hollow point bullets. It's more expensive.
9mm holds twice as much, and about 3/4's the power of a .45acp when comparing same brand of hollow points, (the speedy 9mm has enough velocity to tear itself open when it makes contact and become a bigger bullet while retaining a higher velocity). But mostly it's cheaper to shoot.
I usually recommend Glocks to everyone, and 1911's for people who want it, and who will spend the extra money and time to be proficient with it.
I think Glocks are better, but I just can't stand them! It's a love/hate relationship I have with my guns...
But the truth is... none of this really matters if you don't practice. So the most economical choice might be the best. I cannot emphasize this enough.
Your primary (and therefore best) weapon is the one in your hand. It could be a pen, it might even just be your empty hand. Ever heard that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? That principle applies here too. So whatever you carry will be the quickest into your hand. And you should practice with it, as much as you can!
24187
No safe queens here... Those grips are supposed to be black, but that dried desert mud took care of that! I guess I didn't say this above, but this 1911 is my only handgun. I'm 22 and I can't afford to train with multiple handguns; so this is it for now. I know I'm young and inexperienced and there's better people who know and have done more, but this is knowledge I've gained so I thought I should share.
On a social networking site there was a picture of a 1911 and a Glock and it said something along the lines of: "What would you choose?" An acquaintance wanted to buy a cheap 1911 today and I told him he would be better off with a glock for that price. Anyway, these are my thoughts on glock vs 1911.
When I was 16 I got my first handgun... It was a para 1911 and it sucked. It would not feed with oem magazines and it would not feed with $45 wilson mags. I sold that. I got a few other handguns, eventually glocks; and they worked ok. The first was a gen 3 23, it jammed and I hated it. Then there was a 19 but it was so small and uncomfortable and I just could not shoot it well even after more classes. Then I got a 17 rtf, it was great! But it still jammed a few times and I could not make "hostage" shots at 5 yards to save my life, much less the life of anyone else. I then got a screaming offer on that g17 so I got rid of that, then eventually found myself with a dan wesson 1911. It was nice, but shiny stainless and I don't like that. I just couldn't afford to shoot .45 acp at the rate I was used to shooting 9mm. But that 1911 functioned fine. I got a glock 19 gen 4 so I could go take a different class because if I sold the 1911 I could afford the glock, magazines, and 1000 rounds of steel cased ammo (which I shot the most until I recently picked up reloading). I liked it so much my dad and brothers now all have gen 4 g19's. (I don't care much for gen 3 vs 4 now, I guess I slightly prefer 3). For some reason I just can't shoot glocks that well... I'm sorry... and it took me a good ~10,000 rounds to figure that out!
During the normal capacity panic buying I sold that gen4 glock 19 and 3 magazines for $900. I found a stainless springfield mil spec for $400. So I jumped on that. It was missing some pins, so I suppose the previous owner thought it was broken... his friend tried to install a new trigger and lost them hahaha. So I bought new springs and pins, put in an old extended thumb safety I had laying around, smoothed the edges and internals, then dry practiced and shot about 1000 rounds through it. I then realized I needed a beavertail. So I got out the dremel and I started removing metal for the grip safety to fit. It turned out great! I also bobbed the hammer, and sanded underneath the trigger guard for a better grip; then fitted an extra nowlin extractor. It was ugly and stainless and scratched. So I got it black Ice coated (I like the coating, it was a decent price; it's really slick) also, it came in pretty colors :p. I bought several chip mccormick 8 round power mags, but now I've found I prefer check mate 7 round magazines (CM45-7-B-CMF-RB). About $800 after everything was said and done.
It's about 5000 rounds through that handgun now and I'm happy. Why 1911 vs Glock? They're the 2 most popular, so there's somewhat inexpensive magazines and parts and they are available. More holsters, more knowledge, more practice (I've found for every type of gun there's usually 2 common/popular choices and both are usually good. Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500 for example, AR vs AK). Glocks and 1911's are both great. No handgun has been completely reliable for me, it just so happens this 1911 has been just about as reliable as my glocks. Call it luck of the draw or what have you but that's just how it's worked out for me. I have about 8000 rounds through 1911's in general (I've also owned and fired more handguns than glock/1911's). I have also liked to tinker with Glocks by replacing various parts.
In my extremely limited experience,
1911:
I'm from Utah so it holds special significance for me, as well as every American.
I shoot it faster and more accurately
It's slim and comfortable
It has a good trigger
It's hard to transition from a Glock to 1911 but if you train with a 1911 (swiping a thumb safety) then the transition to other guns is easier
Good trigger
Many different variations
It's durable
It can be reliable
You should be your own armorer
It should initially cost $1,000 at least.
I would not trust one out of box (nor any gun for that matter... but 1911's least of all.)
It's an old design, made in a time where hand fitting was cheap, and machining was expensive.
Heavy
Low capacity
Grip safety
.45 acp
Hand tuning!
Glock:
Inexpensive
Durable
Can be reliable
9mm
Regular capacity
light weight
No superfluous safeties
Made in a time of cheap manufacturing and expensive hand fitting.
Easier to use, and to maintain
Can be uncomfortable
One size fits most
Neutered magazines for some states
Trigger is just ok
Can be customized... But it shouldn't.
I like steel 5" 1911's with short guide rods. Everything should be fitted correctly, and internals may need to be polished. I like better sights, extended thumb safeties, and beavertails. I prefer 7 round magazines for reliability. Internal extractors, no firing pin safeties.
Glocks should stay stock. No 3.5 connector or other triggers for me, I don't want anything unless it's a factory glock 34 slide catch. However better sights and more magazines please! I wouldn't mind getting a glock that's been stippled and has had the "hump" chopped off either, but I have no experience with that. I like the 17 most, followed by the 19.
.45 acp sucks. I hate it. Limited rounds, more muzzle flip (which I find more detrimental than rearward recoil). And the slow .45 bullet isn't fast enough to take advantage of hollow point bullets. It's more expensive.
9mm holds twice as much, and about 3/4's the power of a .45acp when comparing same brand of hollow points, (the speedy 9mm has enough velocity to tear itself open when it makes contact and become a bigger bullet while retaining a higher velocity). But mostly it's cheaper to shoot.
I usually recommend Glocks to everyone, and 1911's for people who want it, and who will spend the extra money and time to be proficient with it.
I think Glocks are better, but I just can't stand them! It's a love/hate relationship I have with my guns...
But the truth is... none of this really matters if you don't practice. So the most economical choice might be the best. I cannot emphasize this enough.
Your primary (and therefore best) weapon is the one in your hand. It could be a pen, it might even just be your empty hand. Ever heard that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? That principle applies here too. So whatever you carry will be the quickest into your hand. And you should practice with it, as much as you can!
24187
No safe queens here... Those grips are supposed to be black, but that dried desert mud took care of that! I guess I didn't say this above, but this 1911 is my only handgun. I'm 22 and I can't afford to train with multiple handguns; so this is it for now. I know I'm young and inexperienced and there's better people who know and have done more, but this is knowledge I've gained so I thought I should share.