1911 or polymer 45?

my suggestion is go with the Glock......reliability is the name! You will get mixed comments on here for sure. I've never owned a 1911 before, so i can't say much about them except that one day I will own some!! haha! i carry a glock26 daily and love mine. No hiccups or issues at all.

I won a Full size 1911 and a Glock 21. If my life depended on it it would have to be the GLock.

Under $1000, the newest batch of polymer pistols are the way to go. If you can afford $1500+ and know exactly what you're after, then the 1911 pulls ahead.

The 1911 is the thinnest .45 for CCW. The M&P and G21 are both a bit fat. Look at the Glock 22 or 23 and M&P 40. Those are thinner, closer to a 1911. Unfortunately they also have snappy .40 recoil.


Really, it sounds like your better off with the Glock or M&P. Everyone needs a couple of those. But for a 1911, wait until you know exactly what you want in one, and get it later on. Don't go cheap with 1911's.

If the Glock grip is not too big for you that is the best bet.

For a carry pistol I want one without any external thumb or grip safeties or external hammer. In a defensive situation I want to concentrate on draw and aim without the added complexities of external safeties or a hammer which can snag on clothing. Thus I would opt for the Glock or S&W M&P. I shoot a number of different 1911's in competition and enjoy their fine triggers but I also shoot a Glock 17 and several M&P's.
My most recent purchase was a full size S&W M&P45 and I have been very impressed with it's reliabilioty and accuracy. It fed everything from 185 gr. LSWC, 185 to 230 gr. JHP and 230 gr. FMJ bullets without a single reliability issue. As an aside ten shot groups at 50 ft were 1 1/4 to 2 inches in diameter. While Glock's are equally reliable the S&W M&P line or the older S&W 99's provide me with better ergonomics.

I'd choose a G21 over a 1911 pattern pistol because I prefer more rounds in a magazine. That being said, and having had a similar decision to make a while back, I went with a Springfield XD45 because of its greater capacity, its ability to shoot lead, and its similar ergonomics to the 1911.

Bam Are you also going to buy one that you can carry? Size and weight can play into the choice.

I think you should investigate and understand the battery of arms in each pistol you are looking at.

I love 1911's and have owned 3 of them. I don't own any 1911's now. They are an ancient battery of arms. I don't care what anyone says, carrying one cocked and locked and having to snick off a safety to shoot one is very out of date. Carrying one cocked and locked without the safety on is insanity.

A Glock is a pull, point and shoot weapon with multiple safeties between the shooter and it.

You are going to find most of the modern poly guns also have the most modern battery of arms and that will make your decision a no brainer.

'Which one'? Does 'standardization' enter the picture at any point? My wife's primary arms are an SA 1911 Micro Compact Operator in .45ACP, a much personalized DPMS 'Oracle' AR15 and an S&W M351PD in .22 Magnum.

I have a much personalized Bushmaster/RRA middy AR15 and an S&W M317 Airlite in .22LR. I decided on a Colt SS 1991A1 1911 in .45ACP, rather than the superb S&W M&P .45, simply due to 'standardization' of parts, magazines, etc.

Go with post #7, buy a Springfield XD45 and never look back. They work right out of the box and you don't have to massage it or have a competent smith "tune" it for you. Great guns.

bam I am near your size. Other than the fact that the glock or m&p or xd would be a lighter full size package with a high cap mag compared to the 1911's and they would be less prone to weather or general carry issues for an outdoors men. See if you can try them and just buy the one feels you best.

In .45s, I've got a 1911A1 and a Glock 30. Between the two of them, I carry the Glock the most, usually with a 13-round Glock 21 magazine with a grip sleeve.

talk about opening a can of worms. I would rather take a polymer over a 1911 but that's just my personal tastes. 1911 vs poly is one of the oldest feuds in the world of firearms, the only subject that gets as heated as this is ak47 vs AR15.

You will eventually get both, it's just how many 1911s and polymer 45s will you end up with?



For me, 1911 is my winter and woods carry. Polymer all the way summer spring and fall in AZ. I can't take the weight.

Also, I'm not a Glock basher, I would love to have one, but if funds are low and you still want a quality polymer .45 check out the Taurus PT145, great 1911 Springfield milspec.

I think I've owned every modern version pistol available in 45ACP. Kept some, sold most for various reasons. I personally do not like Glock's grip angle though I do own two (19/30sf) They are undeniable reliable though not pretty and some models are just too big for what they are. XDM's are nice but that ridiculous grip safety is just... well dumb. M&P is a great pistol with a weird trigger but very nice overall. Sig P220s are great pistols though a bit expensive. HK45's again, great but expensive. 1911's, my favorite pistols to shoot but for daily carry, they are heavy. I know many people say "Oh i don't feel the weight". With all due respect to them but, bull. They are heavy even in their lightweight models. It becomes obvious after carrying it for 8-12 hours a day.

So which one do I recommend. Obviously the one that feels the best to YOU. On a less generic answer, I'd say go with the M&P or the P220. 1911's are pretty but require consistent practice to make the disengagement of the safety become muscle memory. Capacity goes to the M&P. Sheer bad-ass-ness goes to the P220.

Just my opinion. Not the law. Either way, good shooting mate!!!

I prefer 1911s, but carry a Kahr K9, Glock 19, or 327 J-Frame - a lot less to think about if it has to come out. As suggested it is your decision, so get the one you would like, you won't go wrong with either of your mentioned choices or any of the other suggestions I have seen listed in the answers to your question.

Try looking at the Taurus 24/7 pro .45.....by the way... don't I know u....lol

Or a hi-point .45...........not really...lol

I'm a 1911 fan but if you are going to get both of them eventually I think I'd get the Glock first.

I'm trying to talk myself into getting one just to become familiar with the system that is so popular today but as my wife says, in the dictionary under "old fashioned" it says "see Jim".

I own a 1911...have owned several.
But when I went looking for a carry 45, I couldnt ignore the praise given the Glock 30.
Found one for sale local to me, and bought it in a FTF deal...came with night sights, holster, and spare mags for $400...used, like new.
I figured if I didnt like it, I would resell it.
Well, my Glock 30 isn't going anywhere. It shoots as accurately as a full sized 1911, it is easy to carry, and I like the 13rd reload option with the G21 mag. It has been 100% reliable. It is one pistol that goes from CCW to woods pistol to HD pistol seamlessly.
In fact, I like it so much, it has brought me back into the Glock fold, after a 10+ year absince. Now I own three.

I own a G30 and an American Classic Commader in 45acp.

Both are accurate and have proven to be reliable 100% of the time. I have close to 3k rounds thru my G30 and about 2.5k thru my AC Commander. I carry both but my primary edc is my G30.

Glocks (polys) are purpose built to run and run and run with little to no fuss.

1911's are built to run and run and run but there are some caveats to that statement. Some 1911's can be picky about ammo, picky about mags, picky about springs, etc. You may have to switch out some things to get it to work for your specific needs.

I would suggest getting a quality poly first and then get a 1911 second. This way you have what you need and can tinker with what you want. YMMV.

To be honest with you, I have no tolerance for firearms that do not work right out the box, and even less tolerance for a firearm that does not clear up any issues after the first 500 rounds. I shopped around before getting my 1911 and found that the American Classic had a standard feature list that I was looking for. Features that imho would make the chances of me keeping her higher than without.

Again, I carry both but my primary edc is a G30.

how about both STI Eagle

If the Glock fits, wear it!

They don't fit me well , even the SF models, the Gen4 I can at least shoot respectably, and I think they are ugly, but reliability is their best feature. Which is probably the most important feature in a carry gun other than being able to put the bullet where it needs to be should the time come -- that is where the Glock falls down in my hand.