Colt Defender .45 ACP vs. Glock 30 .45 ACP?

[Kylaen]

On second thought...

Maybe a Kahr instead. The G36 might be too light for recoil management. I guess I don't mind a little weight. Besides, a 5 lb. DA pull? Screw that, a kid could do that easy. I'd need a heavier trigger pull for safety reasons.

 

[shoen1200]

Kylaen,

I do not think that you would need a heavier trigger pull.

The trigger travel is long like a revolver.

Unless I had stacked the trigger - knowing it was about to release - I think it would be pretty hard to have an accidental discharge with the Kahr trigger.

It may be a light pull weight but its a long pull.

For the record my P45 has worked well from the start.

It does not like 200gr swc bullets at all.

200gr RN or RNFP or 230gr HP federal hydro shock and 230gr HP winchester something or other feed without problems.

I have not shot a G36 - but I am pretty sure it's heavier than the Kahr.

So if the G36 concerned you for recoill the Kahr 45 might as well.

But like I said before the Kahr P45 recoil was right in line with my Springfield 4in barreled alloy framed 1911.

YMMV.

 

[Kylaen]

Ok. Well I worry about having too light a pull. Adrenaline going, with a light pull it'd be too easy to fire more than I intend, which isn't too safe. I think I want my DA pull to be about 8 or 9 pounds, to give it more resistance.

 

[G27RR]

I've had zero issues with any of the three 3" 1911s I mentioned. The Shadow hass over 1,200 rounds through it and the Defender. Is about the same. I haven't had the Escort very long. (Not sure why I called it the Guardian yesterday)



The Rangers are very sweet shooters if you don't mind a bit of extra size. One of mine is .45 and the other is 9mm.

 

[sohcgt2]

If you go with the 1911 platform you need to also invest in some intense training. The 1911 safeties must be manipulated to fire and to be an effective defensive pistol it will require much more practice. On the other side a Glock is point and shoot much like a D/A revolver. Good luck with whichever choice you make.

 

[chicharrones]

Kylaen, the G36 listed empty weight of 20.11 oz. does not include the empty magazine. The mag adds a couple oz. plus the ammo adds more, of course.

The listed width of the G36 is 1.13", but that is only at the slide stop and two thumb grooves on the grip. The slide and the remainder of the pistol is 1" wide.

The Glock trigger pull weight can be increased with factory replacement trigger springs for only a few dollars. http://www.glock.com/english/options_triggerspring.htm
http://www.brownells.com/1/1/35549-trigger-spring-ny-1-olive-trigger-spring-ny-1-olive-glock.html
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=49447/sku/Trigger_Spring__NY_2_Orange

As far as felt recoil my G36 feels stout, but my alloy frame .38 special snubby with a hard plastic Crimson Trace grip hits my hand much harder than the G36 when +P ammo is fired out of the .38 snubby. My G36 feels about like firing a Springfield XD Subcompact .40S&W. I know this from firing all three guns in the same shooting session.

I will concede that even though the G36 is thin (for a Glock), the grip of a Springfield XD still feels a bit more natural in the hand for me.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

I hear that the 3" 1911s are prone to FTE....but these never got that memo.



It you wanna go high dollar...yet really same gun....

 

[DaStray]

I have a 1st generation Colt Defender which is one of my two primary CCW`s. It`s absolutely reliable provided I stay away from 230gr ammunition. Any other (185/165)gr ammo shoots/feeds as it should. The lighter ammo has an added benefit of increased velocity which I also like since some velocity is lost going with the shorter barrel. There is one type of 230gr that it likes but right off the top of my head I can`t remember what it was. I also added thin grips which really helps in concealment. Overall, an excellent CCW.

 

[wyocarp]

I absolutely love the Colt Defender or New Agent. They both shoot and function well.

 

[smince]

I owned/carried both a custom Defender and a G30 for many years.After I took my a couple of professional training classes (both guns were 100% reliable through several hundred rounds over two days) I ended up selling both and getting two G19's and a G26.