M9 vs 1911

M9 or 1911?

  • M9

    Votes: 79 25.3%

  • 1911

    Votes: 233 74.7%
  • Total voters
    312
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The question should be which one is the "better" combat handgun. An argument could be made that neither one is the "best".
 
I have 4 1911's and have shot tghe M9 several times. Wouldn't have an M9 for any reason. I think the poll says it all. I have several friends in the military today who carry 1911's - for a reason.
 
I have one of each and I can't really say that I'd pick one over the other at any given time. I have been shooting the Beretta better than the 1911 lately, so today I'd pick the Beretta... I used to shoot the 1911 better, and if that were the case I'd choose the 1911. Hitting the target is more important than the caliber to me, so whichever I can place more rounds on target with gets my vote.
 
I like both. But I voted 1911. Of the two, chose to buy a 1911 (clone) before an M9 (clone).

Either are entirely adequate as sidearms. It's not like they are the primary fighting weapons of the infantry.
 
if it were exclusively based on preference, it's the 1911.. i just don't like the M9..
 
The fan boys will shut this one down quick. Then they will go back to their ball vs jhp debate.
 
I despise DA/SA pistols. But they come in handy for making a newbs eyes glaze over as you tell them how they work.


1911 for the win. Better trigger, thinner, accurate, and .45
 
"Break-in period" is a term used by people regretting spending far too much on something that isn't reliable as manufactured. Just say'en.
 
I prefer the M1911, and that would be my choice. however, If I were in a hotzone and was issued a M9, or it was all I could get for whatever reason, I would be fine with it.
 
M9. I might prefer .40 and .45 to 9x19, but current Beretta magazines give the pistol 17+1 capacity. More than twice the bullets. Say I'm stressed and panicked and only land half my shots. 9-10 of 9x19 sounds better to me than 4-5 .45

I also think that most Berettas are far more reliable than most 1911s out of the box.
 
I wonder if the M9 was issued in .45 would that change people's opinion. Other than the early reliability issues with the M9, a lot of the negative perception seems to revolve around the 9mm caliber.
 
Right now I own 21 1911's and 7 Beretta's, amongst my 75 and guns I own.

If I am going to a fight my secondary weapon, a handgun, will be a 1911. Would I have a problem with a Beretta, nope, but as with the 1911 I want to acquire and bring my own magazines.

As to 45 vs 9mm. I have been in several firefights where I had to go to my 1911. There were a couple where I went to my 38spl too.

AS with the 9mm, in Vietnam the high speed low drag guys like to carry Hipowers of course in 9mm. Caliber is only important if you miss a lot. Most of us that can shoot, caliber isn't important at all. It is good hits that win the day.

In a military fight if you are in a situation that the amount of rounds in your secondary weapon is the make or break, you are already screwed. A different or bigger caliber ain't going to save your ass. Any more than more rounds in the caliber that you have already been missing with will.

Use the pistol or revolver that you have the most experience and confidence with. Go on and anguish over another piece of gear.

If you don't know already, learn how to fight the weapons you have, practice and be ready. Oh, clean and maintain your weapons too. That includes Glocks.

Good luck.

Fred
 
M9. I might prefer .40 and .45 to 9x19, but current Beretta magazines give the pistol 17+1 capacity. More than twice the bullets. Say I'm stressed and panicked and only land half my shots. 9-10 of 9x19 sounds better to me than 4-5 .45

I also think that most Berettas are far more reliable than most 1911s out of the box.
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Agreed, agreed, agreed. People knock the 9mm round but in a firefight I'd take more ammo any day. When only a tiny percentage of shots fired in battle actually hit their target, capacity is key. Not to mention the carrying of ammo everywhere you go.

But, the 1911 is a mighty fine handgun.
 
I have been a fan of the 1911 for a long time, but I have also liked the 9mm HiPower as well.
I bought a beretta 92FS just to see if any of the complaints were valid.
To no surprise, I found the Beretta to be a fine pistol. Accurate, utterly reliable, fit my medium sized hands well.
As much as I liked the Beretta, I traded it for what for me is a better combat 9...the Glock 17.
However...for the purposes of the poll...I chose the Beretta.
 
There is a reason special ops guys use the 1911 and it's 45ACP.
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This is largely myth.

The only 1911s still issued in any numbers are the MEU(SOC) pistols used by the Marines, and from what I understand, they are are pretty rare.
 
After spending some trigger time with both, I will take a 1911 every time that I am given the choice. To me it is not so much about the "lack of stopping power" of the 9mm, but the fact that the ergonomics of the 1911 fit me so much better. I also am not particularly fond of the M9's sights.

Yes, I get less ammo with a 1911, but if you can place those fewer rounds where you want them faster then there is no reason to take something else. You want any gunfight that you are in to be ended as quickly as possible, the only way to end it is to make hits.

Pick the gun that fits you best, and that you shoot best, and then go practice like crazy.


Now, on a side-note. I recently had a conversation with a soldier who served in the first Gulf War and served a tour in Iraq. His sidearm was an M9. When I asked him his opinion on it the first thing that he said is that he wanted a .45 ACP. He said that he did not have any problems with the accuracy of the M9 and that reliability was typically good, but that there was no good reason (from a soldier's perspective) to switch from .45 ACP to 9mm.

He also is not a fan of the DA/SA. He much prefers the SA, cocked and locked carry of a 1911, and this was the feeling among most of the other men that he served with as well.
 
I'd go with the Beretta, mainly because I like the way it feels better. A lot of people like the thinness of the 1911 and the way it points, but it isn't ideal for me. I think "better" shouldn't be a blanket term. Buy, carry, and use whatever gun you personally like and shoot well. I'd take the Beretta before the 1911, but I don't like either as well as a Glock (which I also like in 9mm.) Take that for what it's worth; I'm not a soldier of any sort, just a dude who likes shooting pistols and carries one in case things go drastically wrong.
 
I'd pick up my M9 before my 1911. They both are great pistols but the M9 is 100% reliable with lots of different ammo and holds more rounds. IMHO, those are the most important features for the task mentioned.
 
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