1911 over rated

[Phil DeGraves]

"It's not the ideal carry weapon by today's standards. heavy, single action,..."

Maybe not the ideal carry gun, but those same reasons are why it is an excellent fighting handgun. And I've never had problems with HPs in any of my 1911s.

 

[carterbeauford]

you omitted "strongly disagree"

Plastic guns just don't bring a smile to my face like a 1911 does. I'd honestly compare shooting a 1911 for the first time to making love to a beautiful woman for the first time.

"Better" is objectively impossible and thus meaningless. If you feel better carrying a Glock, then by all means, carry a Glock. I'd have a hard time carrying anything other than a 1911 now that I've seen what I can do with one. Only my opinion, but a few people seem to agree.

John M. Browning was a genius, not so sure I can say the same about Gaston Glock.

 

[Jkwas]

A quality gun is a quality gun. A good 1911 is good, and a crummy 1911 is crummy. I here a lot of stories on the forum about cheap 1911's that have to be "tuned up" in order to be satisfactory. They have cult status and are probably overated, but so are a lot of other guns. I have no strong desire to get one now, but in the future I might. It's just a matter of personal taste I guess and not some inherent "1911 superiority" so to speak. Flame suit on

 

[CAS Gunfighter]

My first post at THR

This seems like as good of place as any to speak up.

It is more than obvious that the 1911 is tried and true.

There are as many reasons to agree that they are "that great" as there are variations of the design available today in as many pricepoints.

 

[orionengnr]

Not too many other subjects could generate seven pages of replies in seven days...

If they are over-rated, then they have been over-rated for 96 years. And nobody has caught on yet...

 

[VerrySavage]

I have had quite a few auto loaders over the years, my first was a Browning Highpower 9mm, I loved that one, it's only flaw being the SA only requiring me to cock it before firing, which was handled whan racking the first round into the chamber. I wish I had kept that old warhorse now, but sadly I let it go years ago, since then I have owned a Springfield 1911, CZ75, Norinco 1911 knock off, Berretta 92as well as several I can't recall, in addition to a collection or Ruger Mk I, & MkII's. I reciently ordered a brand new Ruger KP345 .45acp, it should be in my posession by Tuesday or Wednesday this week. I am very much looking forward to shooting Ruger's latest remake of the 1911 .45 theme pistol.
I don't have much use for the Glock pistols I have fired that are owned by friends, they do not feel natural in my hand, for one thing they are too light for me, part of my discomfort with them might be the angle of the grip to the bore which is quite different from my pistols that I shoot alot, I have noticed more muzzle jump from the Glocks I have shot, while they did not fail they were not as fast in target aquisition on follow up shots. For these reasons I have been unwilling to go out & spend my cash on a Glock. I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate the Glock brand, but I would gladly settle on the Norinco 1911 knock off before I would buy a Glock with my own money.
My .02 cents on this topic, btw I enjoyed reading all the comments.
--Ken

 

[Dobe]

If they are over-rated, then they have been over-rated for 96 years. And nobody has caught on yet...

Good point, and well said. These debates and discussions would not continue, if the 1911 were not such a sought after and effective side arm.

Dobe

 

[HiltonFarmer]

:banghead: Where's the debate? Been around for almost a hundred years and every custom house in the world has imitated it or at least tried to.

My father in law used one in WWII and still has his issue sidearm (how I'm not sure but he does). Fires great groupings with it for a gentleman who is 84. Yup, he comes to the range with me still!

Hiltonfarmer

 

[Blacklabman]

The 1911.
I own a SA Loaded.
It is fun to own one for the range and History involved.
Beyond that(CCW, Night Stand)....... I'll pass.

 

[Jim Z.]

It just doesn't get any better than this!

 

[Redhat]

All you youngsters go ahead and play with your plastic. Eventually you'll want one!

 

[Master Blaster]

There is a reason why all of the top military special forces units, the Civilian police and FBI SWAT Teams, and all of the top competitors in Most action pistol sports, the Bianchi Cup Challenge etc, and Bullseye pistol, Use a 1911 pattern pistol.

Remember for these folks cost is no object but performance is mandatory.

The 1911 Simply the best, most ergonomic versatile and accurate, durrable, reliable, customizable Pistol known to man.

There I've had my say.

 

[Soulrider]

one of these will never win a beauty contest.

 

[Hawk]

I'm going to dust off an old surmise: the 1911 isn't over rated simply because there are people that think it isn't optimum and will express their opinion.

An olde marketing report mentioned brand loyalty that could not be explained away by product superiority or brilliant advertising. Some stuff just generated something of a "cult" following. Examples, from the time the report was printed, included Apple Computer and Saturn.

Hence the defining aspect of being "over rated" is a shortage of people bashing the product, perhaps due to simple disinterest, and an owner base exhibiting enthusiasm on top of satisfaction.

1911s, Glocks and Hi-Points all have sufficient detractors to forever save them from being accused of being "over rated".

Some possible examples of "over rated" might include Bersa .380s and Makarovs. The owner base seems enthusiastic beyond what might be reasonably expected of simple "satisfaction" and few people exhibit overt disapproval of the product.

No chance any 1911 or Glock is over rated: too many people overtly dislike one or the other and exhibit zero reticence in posting their opinion.

Feel free to adjust my list. In addition to Bersa and Mak, XDs don't seem to have many detractors, ditto BHPs, SIG 210s, HK P7s - again, the criteria is "enthusiastic" proponents and few vocal detractors.

The ultimate irony is of course that most, if not all, "are ______ over rated" threads are self-answering in the negative, being usually posted by someone knocking the product and therefor removing it from consideration as "over rated". This thread would be a good example, the OP being pretty much an advertisement for Glock at the expense of the 1911.

 

[sgb]

 

[never_summer]

shouldnt the xd guys be making a thread like this about glocks

 

[das028]

"By the way, has your dog or anybody you know of, dog as used a glock as a chew toy?"

"Has a glock ever KB'ed on you?"

Answer #1 Yes. (well, actually, it was a S&W Sigma, but since GLOCK sued S&W on a patent infringement claim and WON, we can assume that a GLOCK would not have fared any better.

Answer #2 Not to me personally, but to two (not one, but TWO) people I know.

The fact is, whether something is "worth the money" or "overrated" is a purely subjective viewpoint. We 1911 guys are never going to convince you GLOCK guys and you guys will never convince us. To us, the 1911 is the best gun going and we can offer SUBJECTIVE proof that it is the best gun for US. You guys may be able to do the same for your GLOCKs. What neither of us will be able to do is convince the other that the others gun is better for us. Nor should we. As someone said on another thread "Celebrate diversity."
You shoot your plastic and we'll shoot our steel and we'll all have a good time at the range.

Hey brother, if you go back to my original posts, you can see that I have respect for the 1911 platform, as should all red blooded American male. But the fact of the matter is, is this day in age, there is alot other more effective options out there for a fighting (self defence) pistol. I thinks alot od dhooters tend to be more loyal to their particular brand or platform of pistol. If you dont realize that either your to stubborn or to set in your ways to realize it.

And its true alot of gun owners kinda tend to be "gun snobs", if you will, and I am guility as well, as I tend to like Benelli shotguns more then any other, for instance.

 

[Taffnevy]

I think the wording of this poll is a little confusing.

 

[tango3065]

I own 2 1911's and while I enjoy the heck out of them I do think they are overrated some degree, in a life or death situation they would not be my choice for a go to gun. That said I don't think I would ever get rid of them either, they are the eye candy of the handgun world and a blast to shoot.

 

[VerrySavage]

"in a life or death situation they would not be my choice for a go to gun"
Even with a variety of artiliary in my gun safe, when it comes to "repelling boarders" I would have to agree with your statement, my Pistols & Revolvers are not my first choice for defense, if it came to "Upclose & Personal, roothog or die scenario" I first grab my 12ga SxS Coach Gun, IMHO my .45 Pistol or .44 Mag Revolver is for dealing with survivors of my initial repelling of agression by the (ex)perp as in deceased or die'n perp.
But my 1911 or KP345 would be my 3rd grab right after the 12ga & shot shells.
Fortunately I have out lived any enemies I had, I no longer associate with those who bring that level of risk to me or my family, durring the Calgary Biker Wars of 25 to 30 years ago both my wife or I always answered the Steel reinforced door with the Greener @ the ready, hammers cocked, same went for every time we went out of the house. Durring that 5 to 6 year period I knew 18 Bro's who were shot, stabbed or blown up with booby trapped vechicles, I do fondly recall the feelings of brotherhood, but I do not miss the ongoing rivalry that led to so much bloodshed. I am glad to have grown up.
My new aproach to life is what I call the velvet hammer, the hammer is wrapped in velvet so it looks respectable, maybe even up-town, but when push comes to shove I still wield the hammer.
--Ken

 

[jazor]

The 1911 was made when there was no computers to help design it. The 1911 was made when trial and error was used to make things. 1911 is the year the Army adopted it, John Browning started desiging and building it in the late 1890s.

Glock was made after the 1911 was and used more morden manfacture techniques and material. Glock uses the same mode of operation that John Browning design for the 1911. Yes it is different and does not look like a 1911 but uses the same mode of operation.

Can you name any other pistol or man made item that has lasted over one hundred years with very little change to the basic design. I can only name one the 1911.

Yes it has changed over the years with better steel and ways to make it.

The Glock is a good weapon, but to me the best one is the 1911.

When I carry on duty it is a Springfield with a add on Capsin light rail and M3 light.

Everybody has differnt size hands and strength levels. If you can shoot the Glock well and it fits you use it. If the 1911 shoots well for you and fits you use it.

The basisc premise here is this, use the pistol that fits and shoots for you. To me there is only one the 1911

 

[Phil DeGraves]

"...there is alot other more effective options out there for a fighting (self defence) pistol."

Not for me there isn't. And it isn't about being stubborn. For any application of a personal sidearm, I do best with the 1911. And I have tried just about everything else. The FACTS are that I shoot the 1911 better than I shoot any thing else in every application for which I care to use a pistol. I am not saying that it is best for anybody else, just that it is best for ME. Therefore, from MY SUBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW, No, it is not overrated.

 

[Lonestar.45]

Disagree.

There's a reason Smith and Wesson, Sig, and others finally began making 1911's after all these years, and it ain't because they suck.

My taste in pistols is wide and varied. I've had Glocks, Berettas, S&W's, Kahrs, and more. But every time I put my hand on the grip of a 1911, it just feels right. I know a lot of you out there know what I mean. Nostalgia doesn't put 10 rds into the bull, but my 1911 can, over and over, and that's what counts.

 

[Lonestar.45]

Disagree.

There's a reason Smith and Wesson, Sig, and others finally began making 1911's after all these years, and it ain't because they suck.

My taste in pistols is wide and varied. I've had Glocks, Berettas, S&W's, Kahrs, and more. But every time I put my hand on the grip of a 1911, it just feels right. I know a lot of you out there know what I mean. Nostalgia doesn't put 10 rds into the bull, but my 1911 can, over and over, and that's what counts.

 

[willbrink]

Personally, I agree with Hilton Yam who said:

"For a dedicated and knowledgeable end user, the 1911 has no equal. For non-dedicated personnel, they are better served by a modern, low maintenance weapon such as a Glock, SIG, or HK."