1911A1 vs. Glock 21

[Brother in Arms]

While I know this thread may be hereasy id like to know what you think about these two pistols perhaps its apples to oranges but they are both fullsized .45ACP pistols. Of course the 1911A1 is single action and the Glock is double action one has a hammer and the other is striker fired. Of course the standard 1911A1 has a 7 round magazine and the G21 13. One is steel and the other is plastic so these hand guns have many differences. But how do they compare when shot agaisnt one another? I recently obtained a Rock Island arsenal 1911 and a freind of mine already has a G21 so I think some comparison shoots may have to take place.

Brother in Arms

 

[brentn]

damn.. they are pretty much entirely different guns... Point being it is impossible to really compare the two, or at least find one that is "better" per say.

One thing is for certain, that glock can go through utter hell, literally, and still fire. I don't think the 1911 would measure up under the same conditions.

My personall opinion is that I PREFER the 1911 over the glock 21.

btw, the glock is SAFE action, not double action. Completley different.

 

[wally]

I could like Glocks, but I shoot them the worst of all guns -- maybe if I could hit well with them (I've a 21 & 17) they wouldn't look so ugly to me . Happened with the XD, looked a whole lot better to me after I shot one and found I shoot very well with it.

--wally.

 

[gudel]

I bought them both but when some people are knocking down my door and going ape****, I'd rather be accompanied by a GLOCK than any 1911.

 

[sturmgewehr]

Either will serve you well. The Glock isn't double action by the way, it's a unique action that is more like a stiff single action.

My preference is for the 1911. If you can afford a good one, there's no finer fighting weapon made. On the other hand, I'm a fan of Glocks too.

 

[doubleg]

This is like comparing a Ford Fiero to a Lincoln.

 

[sturmgewehr]

There is practical:



Then there is practical with class:

 

[Cousin Mike]

I own both...

I'll take my 1911 anyday.

 

[ugaarguy]

One thing is for certain, that glock can go through utter hell, literally, and still fire. I don't think the 1911 would measure up under the same conditions.

You might do some research on the original trials that the 1911 went thru. Don't forget that weapon survived numerous beach landings in WWII. With beach landings the gun is going thru the surf zone having water pound sand and grit into every crevice - the 1911 handles this so well that US Marine Special Forces still use them.

btw, the glock is SAFE action, not double action. Completley different.

The Glock isn't double action by the way, it's a unique action that is more like a stiff single action.

It's double action. The trigger pull still cocks the striker (finishes cocking the partially cocked striker to be exact), and releases it. It may be a lightened & modified version of DA, but DA it is.

 

[sdj]

I've been considering a Glock lately, too. Kind of had my eye on the 36: portable and light, both strengths in the carry context. I've never fired a 21, but there's some interesting math around the weight of a fully loaded Glock 21: about 40 oz. That's as much as as my full sized, steel 1911, empty! Need to try out one of those 21s...

Good luck.

 

[sturmgewehr]

It's double action. The trigger pull still cocks the striker (finishes cocking the partially cocked striker to be exact), and releases it. It may be a lightened & modified version of DA, but DA it is.

Incorrect. The striker is partially cocked and pulling the trigger pulls the striker slightly rearward before releasing it. As I said, it's something of a hybrid however it is not double action. Glock calls it "safe action".

EDIT: I should say you weren't incorrect. I think we're splitting hairs. It's somewhere in between single and double action. You don't have the traditional pull of a double action where you must draw a hammer at rest (fully uncocked) to the full cock position then release it. Since the Glock is mostly cocked and pulling the trigger the short distance (single action distance) it's really lost in the middle of single action and double action. As I said, it's unique and not cleanly classified as either.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I think for classification purposes, the ATF has designated the Glock as double action, though I agree its not.

 

[sturmgewehr]

I've found the Glock 21 to be too big and bulky. It is lighter, but I much prefer the G17's to the G21's. I have large hands and I find the rather large grip of the G21 to be something less than desirable. I can however shoot the 21 quite well... but it's like looking over a bread box given the massive slide. I wouldn't want to conceal the G21 as it's a bit of a brick in size, not weight.

I'm more of a 1911 kind of guy. If I can't end the fight in 9 rounds, I probably shouldn't be armed (as a civilian). I find the 1911 easier to carry and conceal given the very slim profile and I much prefer the trigger of my 1911's over my Glocks.

 

[Littlemac]

Glock or 1911

How do they compare? Like most things in life, it depends on your point of view.

On what parameters do you want to compare them? Rounds down range without cleaning? Accuracy? Reliability? Capacity? Looks?

Glock 21s are pretty solid, but not solid enough for me to carry any longer as my main pistol. I was getting about 5 to 7K through a g21 before something would break when I gave up on them. I at first thought they were really good but when two of mine went back to the factory with broken rails I started to rethink my choices. I have broken locking blocks, pins and at the time I was purchasing trigger springs by the 10 pack. I have taken them to gunsmiths who tried to tell me that the trigger bar I had was poorly designed or finished. When you can't complete a class or a match without repairing something, IMHO it is time for a change.

I have since gone over to the 1911 side and I can say I am pleased with the change. I am not having many issues with high end pistols. The maintenance on a 1911 is a little more, but the trigger is much better and the sight selection is great.

I don't know of anyone who carrys a glock to show off at a barbarque, but I also don't know of a high end 1911 that gets thrown in the dirt or at the target and still works.

Decide on what is important to you and decide from there? LM

 

[sturmgewehr]

Here's a fun video:



Glock's do have reliability going for them... as do 1911's. I've done the same with my Colt 1991A1... but I didn't video tape it. I will next time. But trust me, a quality 1911 can do everything a Glock can.

 

[ugaarguy]

The striker is partially cocked and pulling the trigger pulls the striker slightly rearward before releasing it.

Exactly. The trigger pull still has to perform two actions. 1) move the striker to the fully cocked position, and 2) release the striker. We agree that's two actions right? Para-Ordnance' LDA (Light Double Action), S&W's lightened DAO, H&K's LEM, and SIG's DAK all operate similarly, but with a conventional hammer & firing pin set up. Glock can call it whatever they want but the trigger pull still performs two actions.

As to the original topic. About the only thing the two pistols have in common is that they're semi autos which use the Browning tilt breech locking method and fire the .45 ACP cartridge. Ohh, and both have near cult followings. If you can get hands around a G21, even the still fat new SF, and live with the grip angle then go for it. It's a great pistol, and I wish it fit my hand - darn short & fat fingers.

 

[sturmgewehr]

Oh, and on the same day I tossed my Italian Beretta (stainless) in the same mud hole... and... well... it's no Glock.

 

[ugaarguy]

Oh, and on the same day I tossed my Italian Beretta (stainless) in the same mud hole... and... well... it's no Glock.

LOL - that's classic.

 

[-gunut-]

Both are great guns and both have their pros and cons. I have personally found the best of both worlds





The new HK45 appears to be even more down my ally. All I want is a light weight, hi cap, and more reliable 1911!

 

[sturmgewehr]

Exactly. The trigger pull still has to perform two actions. 1) move the striker to the fully cocked position, and 2) release the striker. We agree that's two actions right? Para-Ordnance' LDA (Light Double Action), S&W's lightened DAO, H&K's LEM, and SIG's DAK all operate similarly, but with a conventional hammer & firing pin set up. Glock can call it whatever they want but the trigger pull still performs two actions.

The difference being is that the other pistols you mention start with their hammers at full rest, not mostly cocked.

Again, we can argue this until we're blue in the face but the fact is the Glock was completely unique (or was anyway). It can not be accurately classified as either single action or double action. To classify it as either is an over simplification.

 

[Alphazulu6]

Reliability = GLOCK
Accuracy = 1911

The choice is yours..........................................

 

[sturmgewehr]

If you can get hands around a G21, even the still fat new SF, and live with the grip angle then go for it. It's a great pistol, and I wish it fit my hand - darn short & fat fingers.

No kidding! I was all excited about the SF and when I held one I had to look at the markings to make sure I wasn't holding a regular old G21... I couldn't tell the difference!

 

[another okie]

1911A1 is a genre, not a brand. Glock is a brand. So it's hard to compare. Some 1911s are wonders of accuracy and reliability. Some are not. Some 1911s have marvelous triggers. Some do not. It is possible to say "glocks are reliable" but it's hard to say that about 1911s because some brands are, some are not. It's apples and oranges.

One idea to bear in mind is that everything has the virtues of its faults, and the faults of its virtues. Glocks are thick because they have high capacity. It's a package deal, so sometimes in life you have to choose which tradeoffs you will accept.

 

[Cousin Mike]

Reliability = GLOCK
Accuracy = 1911

The choice is yours...

I'd have to respectfully disagree. I had a $400 Auto Ordnance 1911 that ran like a champ out of the box. My SW1911 will feed anything I throw at it. I've shot many other 1911s at the range, with friends, etc. I came across one old Auto Ordnance range beater that had a few light primer strikes. I've shot 2 Glocks that jammed consistently on a couple occasions.. a 19 that was a range beater, and my cousin's 27.

Some Glocks DO jam... and lots of 1911s run 100% out of the box... as contrary to popular myth as that may be.

 

[sturmgewehr]

Reliability = GLOCK
Accuracy = 1911

The choice is yours..........................................

Well, I can speak from experience and tell you that your assumption is completely wrong.

I have "abused" Glocks and 1911's and I can say honestly that a quality 1911 (not some cheap knock-off for $300) is every bit as reliable as any Glock I've owned. Keep in mind the handgun you're slandering has served our military for almost 100 years. That's unprecedented. Our military doesn't keep going back to it because it looks cool.