Glock 19 or 1911

[RockyMtnTactical]

I personally believe that Glock makes the better weapon. Don't get me wrong, I love 1911's and if Glocks didn't exist I would probably carry a 1911... but I can't help but believe that Glocks are the better of the two great choices.

I have a Glock 19 that I just love. It's been flawless for me.

 

[6Gunslinger]

just for the sake of argument..... if I do go with the 1911 .45, which company should I go with?

ultimately I would love a Colt and I love the parkerized 1911s and the WWII style models, but I'm not farmiliar with the Springfield Armory, etc. or the intricacies in the differences in the models, etc.

I'm still looking to only spend about $400-$600 and I'm really not into buying no-name model guns.... no offense to anyone who owns one because I know that every gun is different, but that's just the way I am - when faced with a Taurus or a S&W I'll take the Smith every time

also... before I get the opportunity to try both the 1911 and the G19, can I get some honest opinions on recoil from people that have had experience with both.

thanks again fellas

 

[DHart]

I'm a huge 1911 fan and a lover of four Glocks (19,23, 29, 30). These two gun platforms are not mutually exclusive.... they're each wonderful in their own right. The 1911 is a .45 launcher supreme... love the gun and the caliber. But honestly, I believe that the 1911 is a gun for the 1911 *enthusiast*, it's NOT a gun for just anyone who wants a good defense weapon. Flame me for that, but I've got around 25 1911's at present and have owned another 8 or 10 that are now gone. I greatly prefer Colt 1911's over all other brands, but also have some other goodies I really like from Brown, Wilson, Kimber (pre-series II), and Springfield.

I think you should get the 19 for now and add a 1911 later. Make sure the 1911 is in .45 acp... it's a wonderful platform and caliber and very comfortable to shoot... not a brute at ALL! Colt is one of the best choices you can make in a 1911!!!! There is no point in buying a 9mm 1911 as far as I'm concerned - the 1911 is a .45 acp weapon... 10mm second. A 1911 in 9mm?... forget about it.

In the meantime, your Glock 19 will serve you supremely as a defense gun that is easy to operate, service, clean, plenty accurate for defense use, great capacity (16 rounds with std mag, 18 with a Glock 17 mag), exceptionally reliable, easy to carry & shoot, economical to buy and to shoot, potent with the right ammunition, basically a dream of a utilitarian, no-brainer purchase for a defense gun.

The Glock 19 is Glocks #1 selling pistol with the 23 close behind it. And for good reason. It's combination of ideal size (not too-big, not-too-small), great capacity, great reliability, potency with the proper ammo, light weight, economical price, huge aftermarket support is incredible. Let me assure you of this, of all the pistols you could choose, the Glock 19 is among the very highest ranking pistols in the world which are most likely to meet your needs magnificently, economically, and provide the most trouble free service there can be. It's simply a SUPERB choice for a rock-solid defense pistol.

 

[ugaarguy]

just for the sake of argument..... if I do go with the 1911 .45, which company should I go with?

ultimately I would love a Colt and I love the parkerized 1911s and the WWII style models, but I'm not farmiliar with the Springfield Armory, etc. or the intricacies in the differences in the models, etc.

I'm still looking to only spend about $400-$600 and I'm really not into buying no-name model guns.... no offense to anyone who owns one because I know that every gun is different, but that's just the way I am - when faced with a Taurus or a S&W I'll take the Smith every time

In that price range the Springfield Armory (SA) GI or Mil-Spec is your best bet. I love my Colt XSE, but it did require a little work to fix some slide/frame rubbing; didn't affect function, the wear marks just looked ugly. The SA GI model I had was a great 1911, and I wish I hadn't sold it.

The low price Rock Island Armory (RIA) GI models are fantastic 1911s at any price for the GI look style of pistol. The smith who worked on my Colt likes them quite a bit. In fact he lightly customized a little 3" officer size RIA for co-worker. Said co-worker alternates between that RIA and Glock 19 as his primary carry - I know that doesn't help with your decision.

I'd stay away from the Taurus 1911. It's just not proven, and last one I handled in the shop had a very poorly fit ambi-safety - bordering on not functional on the right hand lever. The STI Spartan zen21tao linked is a better buy.

also... before I get the opportunity to try both the 1911 and the G19, can I get some honest opinions on recoil from people that have had experience with both.

The G19 will shoot more softly, no doubt about it. However that's more a function of caliber than anything else.

Here's the caveat: 9mm 1911s are very soft shooting as well. RIA makes their GI style gun in .38 Super, which is a long, semi-rimmed 9mm in very basic terms. Ballistic performance of the .38 Super is close to .357 SIG in defensive loadings. At the low $300s retail of an RIA, you've still got room in the budget to buy a 9mm bbl and pay a smith to fit it. That's the least expensive way to get a new 9mm 1911. It gives you the versatility of inexpensive 9mm practice, coupled with .38 Super capability for a hot defensive round - all accomplished with just a bbl swap (after the 9mm bbl is fitted of course).

I know all that muddies the waters, but hopefully the knowledge of further options is helpful.

 

[nemoaz]

I just don't get the attraction of a 9mm 1911. Since you aren't really getting any additional round capacity, why downsize from the .45? When I hold a 1911, I think of military history and the 1911 should have a big .45 cal hole in the front.

Any Glock and any quality, modern 1911 will be reliable.

 

[G95]

if you want the best of both worlds get a 9mm 1911 from STI, or a BHP

 

[Seven High]

I've had both a Glock 27 and 36 malfunction. Both were failure to feed with factory ammunition.

 

[evan price]

Comparing the two is like comparing apples (Glock) to bananas (1911). Pick what you like and what you can shoot best. Be aware the 1911 has an external safety to manipulate whereas the Glock safeties are internal and are deactivated by pulling the trigger.
For $500 you can get a nice Glock that will work right out of the box as close to 100% as possible.
For $500 you can get a 1911 that needs $600 worth of gunsmith work to be as reliable as the Glock.

And no, I am not a Glock kool-aid drinker.

 

[1911 guy]

Recoil.

In the same chamberings, the two pistols will recoil about the same. I'm sure there will be a felt difference because of the grip angles, but with proper grip, both will be negligable. The old song and dance about the .45 being a whallop to the shooter is just that, a song and dance. My wife, 5' 2", 110lbs when holding a brick, can shoot my 1911s. She doesn't care for them, but it's not "too much gun" for anyone proficient and without disability. Same goes for the kids I let shoot mine occasionally. Youngest was 8 y.o. (with his Dads permission) and it didn't faze him after two minutes of "hold it like this" instruction.

 

[mavracer]

For $500 you can get a nice Glock that will work right out of the box as close to 100% as possible.

so what your saying is you would take a new glock load it and carry without ever shooting it and glock does not have a service dept.WOW

 

[never_summer]

why is everyone dogging on 9mm 1911's? I love to shoot mine and everyone that has shot it has enjoyed it. Glocks arent too appealing to me, i considered them at one point but prefer the 1911 platform.

 

[Silvanus]

why is everyone dogging on 9mm 1911's?

Probably because one of the advantages of a 9mm is capacity. A single stack 9mm doesn't make that much sense. They are fine shooting guns of course, but most people would rather have 8 rounds of .45 than the same number of rounds of 9mm.

I'd take the Glock 19 anyway

 

[spooky_t]

6Gunslinger, I would fret too much about the recoil of a .45. My son has a .40 S&W that kicks harder than either of my 1911's. So does my Taurus .357 (ported). While the 9mm glock will have less, IMHO it won't be *that* much less. If you haven't already, you try renting both and testing them side by side (if you have range that allows you that option).
Unless you plan on porting the .45 most of the energy is absorbed by the slide asy. The nose will lift a little but because of the sub-sonic velocity of .45, the recoil spring and buffer I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
I'm, obviously, sold on 1911's/.45 because they have (arguably) greater stopping power. You *did* say you wanted this for home protect and target practice.
Others have pointed out that the Taurus PT1911 is about $500-550. Not that much more than a Glock 19. and you can still find deals on ammo or you can reload as point out already. I do, and it just adds to the pleasure of shooting for me.
Just my opinion FWIW.

 

[never_summer]

while i think a glock and xd are very reliable and have their pros like capacity, i just cant get over the trigger. Im not trying to argue bout which is better but thats just my personnal experience haha. Im hoping to get a 9mm BB fitted in my 1911 for a trident 9 so that should be something a little different plus should be quieter than a .45 dry

 

[longeyes]

Glock malfs?

I have five Glocks, with about 16,000 rounds through them. Two have never malfunctioned: a Glock 30 and a Glock 17. Those that have: Glock 26, 19, 36. I gave specific statistics in an earlier post for both Glocks and 1911s. This is a total "jam" history, and I don't differentiate among ammo problems, gun malfs, and "limpwristing." It is what it is.

(Approx. Mean time between malfs: Glock 800+; 1911, 500)

 

[pablo45]

glock 19 gots my vote over any 1911. Higher cap mag's up to 33 rounds. Easier to conceal. More comfortale on the body. Less maintenance. Cheaper for the cost. Cheaper accessories and you do not have to worry about scratching it up.

 

[DHart]

Glock malfs?

Sure, just like all guns can and do. Some more than others. Typically, though, Glock malfs are extremely few and far between.

As for out-of-the-box reliability, I would expect most Glocks to win this over most 1911's, but of course there will always be some exceptions.

As for out-of-the-box reliability vs. trust for carry duty... every gun being considered for carry/defense use should exhibit three or four hundred trouble free rounds to demonstrate it's worthiness. This holds true for Glocks as well as any other, even if Glocks can typically be expected to be 100% right out of the box. 1911's, on the other hand, are easily prone to reliability problems due to extractor mis-adjustment, overly tight fitting of slide to frame, magazine problems, etc. Not to say that there aren't a lot of new 1911's that run fine from the get go (I have quite a number of Colt 1911's that have run flawlessly from the first!), just that I have seen, experienced, and would expect initial reliability problems more often with 1911's in general than with Glocks.

 

[birdv]

I have a series 1 CDP kimber. You will have to clean the gun.
I have a glock and I clean it. However you do not have to clean it like my friends at the PD.

1911 CDP is thin, sexy and light.
Glock is black.

 

[Zach S]

I own one wheelgun, several 1911s, and a G19. I havent fired my wheelgun in forever and a day.

I prefer the 1911 over the G19. The 1911 is in fact easier to conceal and carries more comfortably (in my experance and opinion). Maintenance is about the same. My pistols are tools, I have no need or desire for a BBQ gun, so I dont feak out over a scratch here or there.

My G19 gets used as a beater, car gun, and HD. I hate the trigger, hate the grip angle, hate the plasic sights (I had to replace the front), and Ihated the fingergrooves (that were sanded off within an hour of purchase).

I'd reccomend a used, series I kimber if you decide to go with a 1911. I have four that run great.

However, for the price of a beat up used series I kimber, you could get a NIB G19. For the price of a seires I Kimber that looks new, you could probably get a used G19, a few G17 magazines, ammo to fill them up, and an M3 (or the cheaper light they make now - cant remember what its called.)

 

[pablo45]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI5i6daoh_0
Here is the closes i can find for a video. The glock is definately not a 19 but you'll get the picture. Watch how many reloadin the 1911 guys do. The kimber may have put the rounds a little more in the center but it is valuable time the instructors are looking for.

 

[Zen21Tao]

I'm still looking to only spend about $400-$600 and I'm really not into buying no-name model guns.... no offense to anyone who owns one because I know that every gun is different, but that's just the way I am - when faced with a Taurus or a S&W I'll take the Smith every time

6Gunsliner,

If you consider top custom gun makers (like Wilson, Rock River, Night Hawk, Les Baer) among proven quality and not "no-name guns" then STI definitely belongs in that list.

Let me say that I have 5 1911 pistols (Norinco, Springfield "Loaded", Sig GSR, Kimber Rimfire .22, Kimber Stainless Target II 10mm) and not one of them is an STI. The reason is, when I bought my 1911s the cheapest STI was still around $1500.

STI only recently added the "Spartan" to their inventor. I can tell you, I have already decided that it will be my next 1911. It has all the features they put into their $1500-$3000 competition guns but is much cheaper because it is built up from a Rock Island frame.

I would definantly encourage you to do a little research into STI. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.

 

[6Gunslinger]

you guys are going to wind up making me buy both! as for the 1911.... I really want a Colt, but may have to settle for Springfield Armory, can you guys let me know what you think about them

 

[6Gunslinger]

is $425 + shipping a good price for a "LNIB Springfield GI, parkerized, .45 ACP" + an extra mag?

 

[Zen21Tao]

That doesn't sound bad but Buds has the 4" GI for $447 and the 5" for $472 (both new in box). It is up to you whether you think saving $25-$50 is worth buying used instead of new. Personally I would pay the little bit extra to have it new.

As for quality, Springfield does have a track record of making great 1911s. Keep in mind though that the GI model is an entry level/standard Mil-spec 1911 pistol and as such won't have all of the after market upgrades that the "loaded" model has. However, it should still be a fine 1911 with the same level of accuracy as other standard 1911s. If what you want is a great Mil-spec 1911 you will be more than happy with one from Springfield.

Bud's Springfield 4" GI model
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_24/products_id/32586

Bud's Springfield 5" GI model
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_24/products_id/32588

 

[Hunter0924]

It was posted about Google 1911 reliability vs Glock reliability. How about Google Glock Kaboon?
I have shot a few different models that Glock makes and I do not care for that pistol. In my opinion that is not a quality fighting weapon.
There is no disputing the combat record of the 1911 in .45 ACP. Do not jump on the new wave band wagon through advice of the internet. Try each your self and then make up you own mind.
In my opinion there is no finer pistol then the Colt Government Model.