[Lightsped]

Looks like tomorrow I may either be getting a new Kimber Ultra Carry in blue, or a new Glock 30. It will be used for CCW, and for fun at the range.

Which would YOU buy with YOUR money, and why?

[Sean Smith]

Forced to choose between those two, I would get the Glock, because it will probably actually work, and will last for a respectable round count. With the Kimber, the 3" barrel and Series II "safety" both detreact from the former, and the alloy frame detracts from the latter.

Note that I don't even own a Glock anymore, and like 1911s much better. But ultra-shorty 1911s are just a bad idea if you want the gun to actually work, and alloy frames are a bad idea if you plan to shoot the gun alot. The Kimber Compact Stainless (4" barrel/short grip/all stainless steel) is a much better package in my opinion... enough slide to actually be reliable, and the extra weight is worth the trade-off in return for greater durability and shootability IMHO.

People get high round counts out of alloy-framed guns that were designed for an alloy frame like a SigSauer P-series. But the alloy-frame 1911 is a frame designed for steel that is just made out of aluminum instead... big difference for what ought to be obvious reasons.

[Bren]

I didn't vote because you have the wrong Kimber up there.

"Pre II" compact (4") would be my choice and I've owned and carried a few over the years. The 4" is very easy to shoot well and is a good all around size. Also I don't trust the "II's" in the smaller guns

Glocks are good and I like them in 9mm, 45, and 10mm, but they can be fat ITWB, however if it feels good to you, go for it.

Also are you sure you didn't mean the G-36? (size wise comparing it to the 3" Kimber). Bren

[Lightsped]

G30 is the Glock I am considering. 10+1. 45cal.

Please keep the feedback coming. I have to decide on one of these two guns by tomorrow. Or just not get anything for a while.....

[jem375]

Neither

[OF]

Between those two, I'd get the Glock. The Kimber is a bastardized 1911 design that I wouldn't trust. I don't like Pug dogs for the same reason. A Pug is a genetic nightmare descended from a wolf, and they have the health problems they do because nature's perfect wolf design was imperfectly molded into the Pug. Ever hear one breathe?

That Kimber reminds me of a Pug.

- Gabe

[10-Ring]

Which platform do you have the most experience? Are you trained carrying cocked & locked?
Personally, I'd go w/ the Glock because of the expense & if I were to carry it, I wouldn't mind beating up a Glock

[Redlg155]

I vote for the Glock 30. If you want a thinner model then the 36 gets the nod. Same capacity as the 1911 and reasonably thin compared to the G30.

The G30 I had was super accurate and very reliable. I doubt you would go wrong. If you shoot cast bullets then you definitely want an aftermarket barrel.

If carrying a glock fully loaded and ready to fire makes you a bit nervous, you might want to try the "safe-t-block". I plan on ordering one in the next couple of days and posting a review.

Good Shooting
Red

[Zeke Menuar]

Didn't vote. Don't like either selection.
I did buy a Colt LW Commander and that is my carry gun. I am sure Kimber makes something close. Maybe a 4" barrel and a full size grip. If the barrel on 1911 style guns get under 4" reliability and controlability can become an issue for some people. Glock is never a consideration when I am gun buying.
my .02
ZM

[denfoote]

Light,
Without a doubt, go with the Glock!!I traded mine away and was miserable until I could get another one!!

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated!! :D

[WonderNine]

Neither :barf:

[22/22mag]

Traded in my Kimber Ultra Ten 11 ,Shot right on target,lightweight nice gun...but the gun was not that easy to hold right and had many jams + stove pipes.Kimber was great about trying to do some things for it but had to trade for a Custom TLE 11 that works just fine.I called Springfield + Para and they both advised against getting the compact models unless I had lots of experence with 1911's.I have shot the Glock 30 and found it to be a good gun.

[AZ Husker]

Sorry, I've gotta go neither also. I've never been a Glock fan, but they are reliable. As was said above, if you'd switch the Ultra to a Compact I'd say that was the perfect choice (in fact I carried a stainless series I compact for years). The shorter Ultra is no easier to carry than the Compact either.

[12-34hom]

Two real bad choices.

12-34hom.

[WonderNine]

Lightsped,

MUST it be a .45?

If so I would of course choose a 1911 over a Glock, but I would actually choose the Glock over the Ultra Carry.

Short barreled 1911's are incredible finicky and this is not the type of gun you want when your life is on the line. If you want a 1911, don't go any shorter than a Commander length gun (4") and I would recommend a 5" normal sized 1911 over that.

The slide moves at a different speed on the shorter barreled guns and it leaves a smaller margin for error creating a decrease in reliability.

The Glock trigger sucks.

The Glock firing system is more prone to failure (and a dirt infection) and is less reliable (doesn't hit as hard) as a hammer fired gun.

The Glock is like a brick compared to alot of other guns, although most .45's are like bricks.

The short barreled .45's have almost zero chance of expansion with hollowpoint ammo and the 165-185gr. +P's aren't much better it seems, so might as well use ball ammo for extra reliability. (Or get a 9mm for twice as many shots :) )

The Glock has no external positive safety. It does have a weird safety that is on the trigger (makes it look like it has two triggers) which makes no sense and bothers alot of shooters.

Some people dislike the Glock trigger, I personally find the trigger safety to be as much of a hinderance to accuracy as the mushy trigger.

What can I say good?

Hmm...The Glocks are reliable guns in general. They are light, but their plastic fantastic ugly appearance doesn't really instill any pride of ownership.

Some people get slide bite from Glock 19's and anything smaller. I don't know why that is, maybe the grip angle or something. Oh wait, that's not good :)

The carry sized Glocks accept magazines from larger sized Glocks in the same caliber, so you can carry a full sized Glock and a compact sized Glock as backup and use the same magazines in both. Or use them at the range, whatever. I think that is really good.

The Glock is featured in Counter-Strike and is "uber cool".

[jercamp45]

I would get the Compact model with a four inch tube rather than the three incher......better reliability, control, blance, etc. If you get a good three incher, it will work OK...my buddy has an Ultracarry CDP and it works great. I have three Officer's sized guns that work just fine.
But I have seen some problems with the shorter barrel 1911's.
Glock is a fairly good gun, had a G30, but it was too fat for me. Then a few years latter I got another one, because I liked the rugged dependability, but I too sold that one...still too fat! I shot the G36, and it was very accurate(at realistic ranges), but the Glocks never 'felt' right in my hands.
I'll go with a 1911, but I am very familiar with 'cocked and locked' carry!
A Kimber of another model gets my vote!
Jercamp45

[John Forsyth]

Voted the Kimber, but it really is not a good choice for a 1911 pattern pistol. Glocks are too fat and do not fit my hand right. My choice is and was a Colt LW Commander.

[txgolfer45]

"The Glock trigger sucks."

We aren't talking a target pistol here, we are talking a combat pistol. The Glock trigger works every time!!!

"The Glock firing system is more prone to failure (and a dirt infection) and is less reliable (doesn't hit as hard) as a hammer fired gun."

Huh, Glocks are one of the most reliable combat handguns out there. Never had a problem with mine.

"The Glock is like a brick compared to alot of other guns, although most .45's are like bricks."

I'll grant you that one. But, I prefer the Glock .40 or 9mm instead of the .45 for that very reason.


"The Glock has no external positive safety. It does have a weird safety that is on the trigger (makes it look like it has two triggers) which makes no sense and bothers alot of shooters."

You don't need an external positive safety! The Glock in a quality holster is perfectly safe. Like any firearm, keep your finger off the trigger unless you are ready to shoot! Pretty simple!



"Some people dislike the Glock trigger, I personally find the trigger safety to be as much of a hinderance to accuracy as the mushy trigger."


Practice, Practice, Practice. Also, you don't need to be target accurate, just combat accurate.



"What can I say good??

Hmm...The Glocks are reliable guns in general. They are light, but their plastic fantastic ugly appearance doesn't really instill any pride of ownership."

My God, we are talking about a CCW not a treasure! A CCW needs to be reliable, accurate, small enough to carry. Glock fits all of those requirements!!!


"Some people get slide bite from Glock 19's and anything smaller. I don't know why that is, maybe the grip angle or something. Oh wait, that's not good "

Sheesh, I have never gotten a slide bite from any of my Glocks!


"The carry sized Glocks accept magazines from larger sized Glocks in the same caliber, so you can carry a full sized Glock and a compact sized Glock as backup and use the same magazines in both. Or use them at the range, whatever. I think that is really good."

Yep, very true!!!

Get the Glock!!!! It goes bang every time!!!!!!

Scott

[popeye]

Totally agree with avoiding anything shorter than 4" in 1911 style. I carry an alloy Kimber Series 1 Pro carry when I can wear a jacket. A & G makes a grip extender that allows use of G21 high caps in a G30, an interesting combo that works.

[Tamara]

Prefer 1911's to Glocks, but prefer Glocks to alloy mini-1911's.

[webley455]

I am no fan of Glocks but one must give the devil his due. Sean Smith said it correctly.

[Coronach]

Glock.

It will be more reliable than the ultra-mini Kimber, should be more robust, has a simpler manual of arms (by a sliver, the Kimber's is pretty simple too), has an adequate trigger, and a higher capacity.

I'm not a huge fan of either the 1911 series or Glocks (I know, oh, the humanity! I'm communist or something), but IMO, this one ain't even close.

Mike

[vertigo7]

I voted for the Glock 30. I just got one for myself. I'm not really into 1911-style pistols, although I do own two of those too (Para-Ord P-40 and Springfield Armory Ultra Compact). The G30 was the winner for being lightweight, lower maintenance, being able to accept G21 fullcap magazines, and the ability to swap an upper and magazine from a G29 and switch from .45ACP to 10mm if I felt the desire. My current carry gun is a Kel-Tec P11 9mm, but that will change once I get a proper carry holster for the G30.

[Rick Daniel]

Of the two choices I think the Glock is the better for your stated purpose. Glocks are nearly 100% reliable. In my 7 yrs of teaching CWP classes I've seen hundreds of Glocks and never any gun related failures. I've seen far fewer Kimbers, however, of the few I've seen they are very accurate and well made. I do recall some failures to feed, stove piping, etc, in the few Kimbers I've seen. Could have been ammo, not sure. I can say the only failures I've ever seen with Glocks were all misfires. Inspection proved every one of those to be the ammo.

[Siggyboy]

Don't get the mini Kimber for CCW! As many have said, its a bad choice. Mini 1911's tend to have problems due to timing of the slide plus they are a bitch to shoot, and even worse if its on an alloy frame. I certainly wouldn't trust my life to one and wouldn't want to practice with one. If you want a smaller 1911 get a Colt Commander or a steel framed Kimber 4" model, then you are good to go.

Of your two choices I'd get the Glock.

[clubsoda22]

Now, i don't own any plastic guns and have a 1911, but i would still say to get the glock. It's just far more suitable for carry.

[Vic303]

Myself, I'd get the Kimber-wait, I already did! Glocks do not fit my hands well--any of them & I keep trying at the gunshows to find a Glock that fits...no joy.

I don't care one way or the other about external safety vs Glock trigger safety. I've owned SIGs & revolvers too...

I just like the 1911, and I like my Kimbers...YMMV.

You however should buy whatever FITS you best & whatever you are more comfortable with.

[clubsoda22]

Don't get that safety argument either, vic. Carry it in a holster and you'll never have a problem.

[boing]

Glock.

I already have a Kimber, and don't care for the 1911 snubbies.

[Sox]

Wow, the Glock is alot fatter than a 1911 platform. However, I had a Glock 36 and its recoil was pretty sharp, pinched me, and got rid of it. I did like it's thinness. The Glock 30 seems tailor made to the .45ACP and it is sweet shooting out of the 30. Try bullseye up in lawrenceville see what their prices are like, they are a bunch of good guys. The other thing I love about the glocks is the ability to totally disassemble it myself and all the accessories out for it. You will have a bunch of fun. Good luck.:)