Selling the 1911 and going Tupperware?

[txgunsuscg]

I have carried Glocks and 1911s, and I'm certified as an armorer for both. I carried my Glocks as my go to guns for a while and now I've gone back to 1911s. In my experience, assuming you have a decent gun to start with (a quick search will demonstrate my issues with Armscor), either should serve you well. Given the option, I would keep the 1911 and buy the Glock. Shoot and carry both, see which one you like more, then stick with that one. If you want to sell the other at that point, do so with no regrets. Please note that I will not attempt to convince you of the superiority of one over the other. You could go back and forth all day. Yes, Glocks are in very common use, so are 1911s (USMS SOG, LAPD, some specialized DOD functions, MARSOC). Opinions are like, uh, armpits and so forth. The price for the Glock seems great, and if nothing else, you will have added yet another very useful tool to your "toolbox." Do what works for you.

 

[burk]

Well, here's an update. I shot the 21 today with the improved spring and shock buff, I noticed a slight difference. But I still wasn't pleased with my groups. I also shot my G19 and it was lights out accurate again. I'm wondering if the oversized grips which seem to sit in my hand ok are effecting my grip. Either way I'm at one more range session, to decide wether it's a keeper or not. I'm sure I can make some money on it selling it.

One question, does any one have any experience with weighted grip plugs (seattle) in a 21? I have them in my G19 and love them, it is almost as mild a shooter as my .22

So I may be looking for another full sized 1911 w/rail for night stand use anyway. I know I shoot them great

 

[powder]

I have Glocks and 1911s.

Never a Kimber: trade it for a SA or Colt CRG.

 

[railroadman]

Charles daly 1911 & Comander

I like the 45acp this C/D pistol is GREAT,just got a EMS 4 inch with a pile of magazine,s like new. Like my 1917 S&W revolver and a Llama 1911.45acp.Now I really need a 1927 Thompson carbine.

 

[gpjoe]

But I know one thing...y'all who carry $1000 1911's ever use it in a SD shooting, you can probably kiss it good bye for a long time, which would suck bad, while most of us who carry plastic can probably deal with the loss a bit better.

No big deal.

I pay more yearly for car insurance than the cost of my Colt 1911 XSE.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'll never give up my 1911's. I'm buying a Glock 26 and I'm thrilled to be moving into plastic finally. But sell the all steel, JMB designed classic?

I learned a long time ago not to sell guns....they always appreciate and I always end up wishing I had it back in a few years.

VooDoo

 

[claiborne]

See, the problem is in this statement from the OP

"won't cost me 400 rounds of ball ammo to break in."

Never trust a pistol that requires this.

I have owned 8 or 9 1911 pistols including a S&W target, Dan Wesson PM-7, Les Baer TRS, several SA's and a few Colt's. The S&W, DW and LB required the most money to purchase and were the most unreliable out of the box. Called all three companies and was told the pistols would require a "break in period".

See, the problem is if you have to hit the line while it is hot, and you are handed a new pistol, you better pray you don't have a new pistol that requires a "break in period".

My stock, Colt repro series 70 is the most reliable 1911 I have owned, it did not require a break in period, digests all acp ammo I have used and is very accurate. It is more reliable than the Glock 20SF that I had for awhile.
When all you people start getting away from all the fancy do-dads that you think you need on your guns, you might find your reliability gets better and your shooting enjoyment goes up. I am not plugging Colt, I am plugging this particular handgun.

My Grandpa, a WWII vet, gunsmith and a Deputy Sheriff for 25 years told me many times, "Never trust a pair of boots or a pistol that needs breaking in; If they don't fit or work from the git-go, you done wasted your money."

 

[burk]

See, the problem is in this statement from the OP

"won't cost me 400 rounds of ball ammo to break in."

Never trust a pistol that requires this.

I have owned 8 or 9 1911 pistols including a S&W target, Dan Wesson PM-7, Les Baer TRS, several SA's and a few Colt's. The S&W, DW and LB required the most money to purchase and were the most unreliable out of the box. Called all three companies and was told the pistols would require a "break in period".

See, the problem is if you have to hit the line while it is hot, and you are handed a new pistol, you better pray you don't have a new pistol that requires a "break in period".

My stock, Colt repro series 70 is the most reliable 1911 I have owned, it did not require a break in period, digests all acp ammo I have used and is very accurate. It is more reliable than the Glock 20SF that I had for awhile.
When all you people start getting away from all the fancy do-dads that you think you need on your guns, you might find your reliability gets better and your shooting enjoyment goes up. I am not plugging Colt, I am plugging this particular handgun.

My Grandpa, a WWII vet, gunsmith and a Deputy Sheriff for 25 years told me many times, "Never trust a pair of boots or a pistol that needs breaking in; If they don't fit or work from the git-go, you done wasted your money."

While there is some truth to this I want trust any pistol without at least 100 zero trouble rounds thru it. And then I'm going to fire a couple of mags of SD ammo before I judge it reliable enough to trust my life too. Kimbers IME are tight, this is good, you have a great frame to slide fit in the stock gun (as good as I've seen consistently in their price range). But that tight frame does require at least a bit of break in. The thing is you have to run 1911 and for that matter all steel slide/frame guns wet for optimum performance. For a 5" I imagine you could get away with less rounds, provided they were trouble free, but the reality is the 1911 has one of the longest paths of travel from the lips of the magazine to the chamber of any platform, anything that throws off that geometry can cause issues.

My CDP had no unusual hiccups during break in except an occasional face flyer on ejection. But that all ended with XP springs, I will admit the 4" Kimbers are a bit under-sprung. But it has given me about 2500 trouble free rounds, my Eclipse (which I had to sell) gave me about 10,000 rounds without issue. BUT, I'd love to have the Glock work out, it is certainly a much less costly solution.

So far, It's been 100% reliable, I'm just not getting as tight of groups as I should. I don't know if it's the recoil on the light gun or the humungous grip, but like I said, one more chance.

Again, Has anyone tried the Seattle weighted grip plugs in a G21, I have them in my G19. I'm wondering if the extra weight might settle it down a bit?

 

[tarosean]

I'm just not getting as tight of groups as I should.

No offense intended, but its not a precision instrument nor was it ever intended to be.

I have a few and they will never compete with my 1911's for accuracy.

 

[burk]

No offense intended, but its not a precision instrument nor was it ever intended to be.

I have a few and they will never compete with my 1911's for accuracy.

Well my G19 does. I don't expect 1 1/2" at 25 yards. But I'd like 3" with fairly rapid fire at 7 yards. My G 19 will do it all day, as will my Kimber CDP. I had a M & P .45 and that shot good groups, I just couldn't get with the trigger or the pathetic workmanship in the mags. I haven't talked to anyone who has accuracy issues with the G21.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I don't think Kimbers are a great example of the breed. I sold my last Kimber and will probably never buy another. My next 1911 will probably be an STI.

It's pretty simple- it you shoot the Glock as well as the 1911 and don't see using the latter, sell it. Life is too short. Unless it's a family heirloom (unlikely) sell it, get a Glock and spend the difference on a Dillon progressive setup and shoot the crap out of it. I certainly can't shoot a Glock as well as a 1911 but if you can, do it. NOTE: I'll concede it's possible. I know an older guy, good friend of my dad, he can shoot his Glock as well as some guys shoot a rifle offhand at 25 yards. He shot bullseye for three or four decades. Guy can really run a pistol, any pistol.

 

[tarosean]

Well my G19 does. I don't expect 1 1/2" at 25 yards. But I'd like 3" with fairly rapid fire at 7 yards. My G 19 will do it all day, as will my Kimber CDP. I had a M & P .45 and that shot good groups, I just couldn't get with the trigger or the pathetic workmanship in the mags. I haven't talked to anyone who has accuracy issues with the G21.

Got ya... It should definitely be able to do what your asking. Since your experienced with another poly 45 its likely not recoil management.

Bench rest the gun and see what happens..

 

[JR24]

Most people are better off not carrying a 1911. They require maintenance and an above average willingness to be your own gunsmith of sorts if you use them more than an occasional range toy.

Huh, strange. My multiple middle of the road 1911's have never required any more maintainance than any of my "plastic fantastic" guns except maybe some extra oil here and there. Well, the Sigs want more oil, so not even that. All my 1911's do is keep eating all the ammo I throw at them and putting accurate rounds down range every. single. time. Kinda like a Glock...

I was a bit leery about getting my first Kimber (Pro Carry II) but it has been nothing but fantastic and has had absolutely zero problems.


As for Glocks, I mostly don't like them but the ones that "fit" me best were the 19 and the .. what's the single stack .45? 30? 36? whichever-short frame. The others I can't shoot worth squat, so maybe you're like me and the 21 just doesn't fit.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Most people are better off not carrying a 1911. They require maintenance and an above average willingness to be your own gunsmith of sorts if you use them more than an occasional range toy.

Seriously? I own 3 1911s and 2 Glocks. One Glock was bought as a night biking piece, for it's small size and the ability to use one-handed, due to it's smaller caliber, and one was bought as a utility woods gun, actually replacing a 1911 of the same caliber, so I could keep the 1911 looking as nice as it was. Banging a Glock around the woods with isn't going to ugly it up any more than it already is. Another 1911 is my EDC for the last 10 years or more. Doubtful that will change. Anyway, all the above get the same maintenance to keep them running like tops. I'm inferring that some believe that Glocks don't require maintenance. Anybody that carries an unmaintained Glock, hopefully you never really need it.

Oh, and OP-sorry your Kimber is such a dud. My EDC is an Ultra CDP, and either of my Glocks could only dream of being such a gun.

 

[burk]

Stevie-Ray, I'm the OP, and I never said my Kimber was a "dud". They're great guns and I believe one of the best values in 1911's. My only quandary is wether or not the platform makes since for my needs. I suspect my issues with the G21 are due to the oversized grip throwing off my target acquisition. I'm going to give it one more chance and try a couple off a bench, but my 1911 feels awful nice in my hands. I'm thinking more and more about ordering a Kimber Custom II RL LE, slapping some VZ grips on it and being done with it.

 

[MagnumWill]

From the other side of the coin - I have my compact Colt 1911 (New Agent) and so far I have two friends with Glocks, that we went shooting and they now pine over my 1911. I do NOT pine over their Glocks.

However, I wouldn't mind one bit owning a Glock 19, they were still a lot of fun to shoot. It's the gun that I know I could rely on it, and when it's empty, I can throw it at my assailant without screaming "NOOO!!!" and running after it