Which do you prefer, the M1911 or Glock 17?

MSgt Cayle Harris — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:12:26 -0400

Because I love to stir the pot!

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/shootout-glock-17-handgun-vs1911a1-which-better-27117

Shootout: Glock 17 Handgun vs.1911A1 (Which Is Better)?

There is a temptation to directly compare the 1911 and Glock handguns, but the two really are a form of apples and oranges.

Response by PO1 H Gene Lawrence made Jul 28 at 2018 7:18 PM

PO1 H Gene Lawrence — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:18:30 -0400

I was weaned on the 1911a1. I carried it as my main weapon while a Deputy Sheriff. I fired my brother’s Glock, but found the feel was better suited for me with the 1911a1. I always qualified Master with it, so why change. I was able to take down the 1911a1 and put it back together while blindfolded.

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 7:18 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:18:32 -0400

For me a pistol has to have a purpose. If my purpose is just to go out and have some fun shooting, then I love shooting a 1911 but with my body frame a 1911 is not a viable choice to conceal carry. It’s also not practical for me to practice pistol self defense with a 1911. I have to use a smaller frame weapon.

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Jul 28 at 2018 7:24 PM

SPC Gary Welch — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:24:40 -0400

1911 always have always will

Response by MSgt Chris Adams made Jul 28 at 2018 7:53 PM

MSgt Chris Adams — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:53:06 -0400

Never fired either, but have handled them (my friend's and in the store). With my huge hands, I find the 1911 a much better fit for me. Opinion may change after firing, but simple touch test, the 1911 is in the lead.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 7:55 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:55:06 -0400

Haven't tried the 1911 out but I love the Glock 17 so I suppose it's the Glock for me by default.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 28 at 2018 8:04 PM

TSgt David L. — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 20:04:42 -0400

1911A1 all day. I like my Glock but love the feel of the .45ACP 1911.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 28 at 2018 8:06 PM

TSgt David L. — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 20:06:47 -0400

Hahaha

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Jul 28 at 2018 8:18 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 20:18:44 -0400

Glock 30 in .45 ACP, because I can hit what I am at with it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2018 8:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 20:34:01 -0400

Between these 2 I'll take the 1911. What I really prefer is my old Ruger P-90.

Response by SSG Tom Pike made Jul 28 at 2018 9:06 PM

SSG Tom Pike — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 21:06:39 -0400

Glock 21. .45 ACP power, high capacity, Glock Reliability.

Response by CPO Dave Royce made Jul 28 at 2018 9:39 PM

CPO Dave Royce — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 21:39:15 -0400

I grew up with the 1911 strapped to my side ,
That who brought to the dance , that’s who I’ll
Go home it , Semper Fi til the day I die ,

Response by SSgt Clare May made Jul 29 at 2018 12:17 AM

SSgt Clare May — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 00:17:52 -0400

Yep... decision time. Carried both versions over 38 years...I recon I can say that the 1911 was one of the first big caliber guns I shot as a 13 year old... i.e over .40 cal... I carried a Colt for over a 20 year span chambered in 10mm... A cocked and locked Stainless DELTA GOLD CUP. Loved shooting that in 135jhp corbons... hot...fast... big holes... Back in the day when wheel guns were the cats meow... the boss finally relented and said if you could buy it, you can qualify with it, you can carry it... but in 9mm or better... Easiest and simplest transition from wheel to semi auto is hands down the Glock. Had the 1st gen model 19... Got too damn comfortable with it... almost 50 rounds in three magazines means no need to stop and reload at the range... Dumping all of them in the center mass in groups of 4 and cloverleafing them waiting for others to reload them single stacks got boring... It was like shooting a .22 after a few years... 230 grain .45sjhp's at 900fps was like waiting on a dinosaur...and reload every 7 rounds means working on your fast reloading skills... that got boring... Went to a 1st gen Glock 23... liked the .40 and the size of the grip that fit pretty good...but the 10mm got too expensive to shoot so I retried it, after aout 50,000 rounds in favor of the model 23. Saw a 9mm bounce off a few car hoods, no penetration whatsoever in a car door... so I waived off 9mm's the rest of my career at about year 10... Had a 3rd gen 23... shot the piss outta of it...

My old fashioned experience... 1911...Why? Because you shouldn't need 54 rounds to put down one or two targets... you only need one round that has the necessary speed and shot placement to put the target down and make the threat go away. My recommendation? If your comfortable with it and you can shoot it...i.e. hitting the target... that's what you should carry. If you cannot shoot it... and your forced to carry it...you dang well better learn how to shoot it so your first shot dont need failure drills to put the target down and make the threat go away.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 1:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 01:02:30 -0400

Whatever gets it done Sir! Personally I don’t like to limit my options ;)

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jul 29 at 2018 1:20 AM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 01:20:54 -0400

1911, hands down.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 1:32 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 01:32:36 -0400

I like both, and all my other guns, no preference, I even love my 25cal pellet rifle. Stirring the gun pot is a stew of everything, it all taste good. To bad you didn't mention 357mag. revolver.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2018 2:42 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 02:42:00 -0400

Maybe we should stir the pot even more by asking, "What length of barrel do you like in a revolver, 2", 2 1/2", 3", 4", 5", 6", 6 1/2" or 8 3/4". Lol
I bet you, TSgt David LaPointe will say 8 3/4", but I might be wrong.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 29 at 2018 5:50 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 05:50:43 -0400

Like the old reliable M1911, may be a slow round, but it does the job.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jul 29 at 2018 7:07 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 07:07:32 -0400

If you stand to pee, drink Bud (not bud light), don’t wear skinny jeans, have balls, you’re going to own and fire a 1911. Yuppies, metrosexuals, millennials, and weirdos would use a Glock.
I own three 1911’s and am going for numbers four and five. No Glocks allowed in my house.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jul 29 at 2018 9:31 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 09:31:42 -0400

As the story opened with, it is an apples and oranges comparison. A Glock 17 is a 9mm and the 1911 is, of course, the 45 cal. Perhaps they should have compared a Glock 21 which is their full size 45 cal.

I own a Glock 21 (and a 27 .40 subcompact) and have owned and fired the Colt 1911 many times. The Glock 17 is not in the same league as the 1911 .45. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The Glock 17 holds more rounds in the mag (they are 9mm though). The Glock does not have an external safety lever. The 1911 has a few years of reliability that is hard to argue with, the Glocks are also highly reliable and easy to take care of etc.

This is really a personal preference in my opinion. Both are excellent weapons and will do the job very well.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Jul 29 at 2018 10:30 AM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 10:30:48 -0400

I have carried a Colt Commander 45ACP for over 25 years now. It stays in my pickup console. Bought it used (It was manufactured in 1952). Rebuilt it with a new barrel, a solid guide rod, stronger springs, and a shok-buff system. Plus a little trigger work.
I carried a 1911A1 in service so became very accustomed to it. The Commander fits well.

I do not subscribe to todays "spray and pray" techniques. Round placement is the most important factor to me. Therefore, I do not feel the necessity of having large magazine capacity.

I'll stay with the Colt, thank you.

Response by Cpl Tyler Therrien made Jul 29 at 2018 10:45 AM

Cpl Tyler Therrien — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 10:45:40 -0400

1911 'cause sometimes short fat & slow is the best choice

Response by MSG Johnathan Mathes made Jul 29 at 2018 1:47 PM

MSG Johnathan Mathes — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 13:47:09 -0400

i have 1911s but never had a glock to compare it to.. so i really cant give a ya or nay... but i like the 1911s i got

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jul 29 at 2018 3:46 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 15:46:43 -0400

The 1911 beats the Glock 17 any day of the week. But that’s because the 17 shoots 9mm. Comparing a .45 ACP to a weak 9mm is like comparing apples to oranges.

I am a huge 1911 fan and I carry the Combat Commander daily and can out shoot most folks with it. However, I carried the Glock 22 (.40 Cal) for most of my 30+ year police career. It was a fantastic gun that rarely failed and was very accurate. Ugly as Hell, but it functioned great.

The standard law enforcement .45 ACP round is a 185 grain hollow point. My Glock .40 used a 180 grain hollow point with similar ballistics as the .45 ACP. But I could carry more ammo.

A better comparison would be a Glock .40 caliber vs a 1911. The article mentions a 230 grain .45 ACP bullet. That round is standard military ball ammo that is great for target practice but few serious 1911 folks actually carry it.

Given the choice of carrying a Glock .40 vs a 1911 type .45? I would still chose the .45.

However, for full disclosure, I have to say that I don’t own any 9mm weapons and probably never will. (Unless my father in law wills me the sweet Browning Hi-Power I bought him 25 years ago). I shoot the 9mm all the time because it’s standard US military issue so I have experience with the round.

Response by SFC Charles Temm made Jul 29 at 2018 5:08 PM

SFC Charles Temm — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:08:53 -0400

M1911, it's a beast but no matter where/what you hit-the intended target will know it's been in a fight.

tough as nails too

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Jul 29 at 2018 8:49 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 20:49:27 -0400

Between those two I'll take the 1911 , but my personal choice is the Sig P 229 .40 Cal. Which is what I carry .

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Aug 1 at 2018 9:40 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 21:40:19 -0400

Don't know that I've ever shot a Glock 17; so I prefer the 1911. I think I know somebody that has one, though, so I might have to give him an excuse to go out to the range one of these days.

Response by SPC Nader Mickail made Jan 28 at 2019 2:12 PM

SPC Nader Mickail — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:12:12 -0500

If I were shooting .45ACP or 10MM I would say 1911. I don't care much for Glocks but if I were shooting 9MM which is what I prefer to shoot, the Glock will be fine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2020 7:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:31:36 -0400

It depends what it is in reference to.
I own both, and have shot both in competition. They each have their time and place, but it takes a LOT more money and work to get a 1911 to operate in the same capacity as a 17/19. But once you do that....the 1911 is pretty unreal.