SW 686 v Colt 1911

I own and love both platforms.

A 686 lives in the nightstand. No fumbling for a safety with half a brain.

C

The one yhat fits your hand the best, and you can send rounds down range accurately with.

This question is like the old beer ad. Is it less filling, and great tasting, or great tasting, and less filling.

Both guns are great, unlike the horrible tasting beer.

686. Serves more uses for me, and I have wanted one for a while anyway.

I really, really like both platforms. However, the 686 is the obvious pick for me b/c that is what I use for bedside home protection, loaded with 158 grain LSWCHP .38 +P.

If I'm suddenly awoken at o'dark 30, I don't want to fidget with safeties or chambering a round because the trigger is on the light side (ie, Springfield XD). I also like guns that point and shoot naturally without using the sights, and both the 1911 and 686 do that for me but I choose the 686 for the aforementioned reasons.

A couple others mentioned it but I'll say it too: a .45 fired inside the house is going to hurt the ears less than a .357. For that reason, I keep a 1911 beside the bed. Before I thought that all the way through it was usually a .357 beside the bed. I'm really more of a revolver guy but when things go bump in the night I dial 1911...

el Godfather said:

Amazing how Glock always creeps into threads where not even in consideration.

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It's an amazing gun and that is why it isn't amazing it does creep in.

Yea it does not compare to the fit and finish of my six shooters nor accuracy of my 1911s but it is one excellent combat weapon.

Deaf

Deaf Smith said:

It's an amazing gun and that is why it isn't amazing it does creep in.

Yea it does not compare to the fit and finish of my six shooters nor accuracy of my 1911s but it is one excellent combat weapon.

Deaf

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Well, you just shot yourself in the foot there! I'm going to sit back and enjoy the lambasting all the Glock owners out there are going to give you.

Since you specified HD, I go with the 686. If it was for CC, I'd go with the 1911.

While I love my Model 686 (best out of the box DA/SA trigger), I would go with an M1911 as my choice between the two. The grip frame is more accomodating and comfortable for my smaller hands and I like the versatility of being able to add a .22 conversion to it.

el Godfather wrote,
Amazing how Glock always creeps into threads where not even in consideration.

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I was thinking the same, but it is best for you, the OP, to make the comment.

I'm sure the Glock is a fine gun, and probably better than many, if not most, but that doesn't make it the answer to all gun questions. That the Glock lovers think they have to answer every gun question by answering with their favorite brand, is really one of the reasons so many make comments against Glocks and their owners.

Just stick to the subject - S&W 686 vs Colt 1911. There are only two options and neither is a Glock.

RetiredUSNChief said:

Well, you just shot yourself in the foot there! I'm going to sit back and enjoy the lambasting all the Glock owners out there are going to give you.

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Just go shoot a Kimber Gold Match 1911 (first series.) Yes the one below is it and it shoots like a rifle.

And that 625-2 .45 ACP you see there is real close in accuracy.



Or my Dan Wesson CBOB .45.



Yes I have several Glocks but I also have a few 1911s. Now old 'battle rattle' 1911s might shoot poorly but not such as those above.

Deaf

^^^^

Oh, I won't argue the point with you. I'm not a Glock fan, though I freely admit the sole reason is I think they're uglier than sin. I'm sure I'd enjoy shooting one at the range because...well, because it's a gun and guns are fun!

Easy. 686
1) reliable over a very wide variety of loads

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How many different load do I need for a home defense? Just one.

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2) simple to operate
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Until it gets to reload.

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4) No springs to fight when loading or chambering a round
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The gun should already be loaded and chambered before the fight.

6) Much easier to keep running if a hand or wrist is unusable

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In regards to what?

DA revolver requires 10+ lb trigger pull while 1911 only requires half that. How is DA revolver easier with injured hand?

In regards to "keep it running," revolver reload requires much more dexterity which is affected by hand injury.

9) the S&W lock will keep the kids at bay...for awhile, anyway

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Anyone who lets kids with no gun knowledge get a hold of the gun for that reason is negligent.

I will go with Colt 1911 than S&W686.

Revolvers are not ergonomic for me, and their triggers are heavy.

I can hit more easier with an A1 type 1911.

Then again, I am not particularly a fan of 1911.

I must admit that this was a very close contest. I like the simplicity of just aiming and pulling the trigger. Capacity is nearly equal. I selected the Colt 1911 on the grounds of ergonomics, but as far as I am concerned, 1911 does not score so high on ergonomics compared to other self-loaders, and some 1911s are downright horrible. I HATE flat main spring housing, and some companies have "grip safety" design that is very tricky to keeping it pressed.

It the comparison was between M686 and my M&P40, it would be no contest. My choice would be M&P40.

1911 in condition 3. No AD/ND.

I voted 686. I took a serious look at purchasing a 1911 2 years ago. At the time I had never shot or handled one but have always admired them. I did enjoy shooting the ones I rented and borrowed and shot them fairly well I thought but really, it wasn’t night and day over other guns I also shot well.

What turned me off were the reports of the maintenance needed to keep them in top order. Never having owned one I can’t say how true that is but I will say my SR9c and 686 require little to no maintenance other than the occasional cleaning. That and, for the cost of the 1911’s I was looking at I got both the above guns (the 686 was used).

My choices are these.



I choose these

243winxb said:

686 better for accuracy, reliability. Some ladies may not be able to work the slide on the 1911 to load it.

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Every single female who has shot my 1911 has worked the slide perfectly. You must be talking about either 95 year old frail women or micro pocket semi auto slides. That being said, almost all have preferred the 686 because, well I don't know exactly. All I know is that they're really drawn to it and they ask to shoot it all the time.

I love my S&W 581s and would love to have one with a 3" barrel and round butted. I would choose a 1911 set up by Jim Garthwaite in either 9mmx23 or 45. I would start with a Argentine Systema because I love the triggers and backstraps.

I love my S&W 581s and would love to have one with a 3" barrel and round butted.

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That would be one heck of a gun. I have a Speed Six 2.75" which is pretty close to that in terms of fixed sights, mid frame, .357mag, round butt, and similar bbl length. I got it a front night sight, and it IS the gun that sleeps next to my bed, along with a Security Six 4".

See that, Testpilot. No reloads needed! NY reload for the win.

And that also answers the OPs question as both of those revolvers are similar to the 686, so I think we can figure out which way I'd vote on the 1911 v. 686 issue.

Revolver vs Auto

I have and use both, but the revolver is my nightstand gun. I leave it in the nightstand. Every quarter I take it out, check it, clean it if needed, and put it back. No weak springs, no magazine memory, just a very reliable low maintenance firearm with plenty of power immediately available.

That being said, if I have a "social" situation arise where time permits, I open the safe and arm myself with a 1911, several freshly stoked magazines, and a shotgun.

It is an age old question that boils down to arm yourself for the task at hand. Sorry, there is no one size fits all.

I love how each time I look at the stats, the 45 keeps creeping up. LOL.

For HD, I'd prefer a 1911 for the larger bullet, higher capacity, and slightly less deafening report. A .357 inside the house, at night, with no ear protection? No thanks!

But I'd love to have a 686 for target shooting!

For personal protection from human attackers a quality 1911 is far superior.

A good quality 357 revolver is far more versatile. It is no slouch for personal protection. It will probably be more accurate at distance and shoots a wide variety of loads to meet a wide variety of needs. It also has far more recoil and muzzle blast in the better loads, holds fewer rounds and can't be reloaded as fast. From barrels shorter than 6" its power is highly over rated.

Different guns really with different strengths and weaknesses. I own and use both where their strengths can be utilized best. In the house, the 1911 wins.