SW 686 v Colt 1911

[el Godfather]

Hi
Which would you pick between SW 686 and Colt 1911 for you HD gun? Different platforms and different calibers as well. Please discuss your pick?

Thanks

 

[CB900F]

El;

I have both, either would serve and I'd be happy. I don't see capacity as a valid argument because most home confrontations don't devolve into active gunfights requiring more than what either gun can hold. If it does, then the homeowner missed the boat on figuring out what to do before the fact. I believe that either, fed the correct ammunition, will produce a one-shot-stop in the ninetyeth percentile range. Nothing to pick between them there. Pick whichever platform works best for you.

My personal home defense gun is neither, it's my carry gun & the .40 S&W performs at a comparable standard with either of your choices in my opinion.

900F

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Easy. 686
1) reliable over a very wide variety of loads
2) simple to operate
3) easy to clear a misfire
4) No springs to fight when loading or chambering a round
5) No magazine worries
6) Much easier to keep running if a hand or wrist is unusable
7) HD => firearm neglect is more likely than abuse; revolvers handle neglect better than SAs.
8) 7 rounds available with the right model
9) the S&W lock will keep the kids at bay...for awhile, anyway
10) Don't need to expend 1000 rounds to determine whether it's trustworthy

 

[Slamfire]

I prefer revolvers for self defense weapons as there are no flippers, levers, safeties, and you don't have to practice rack/tap drills. You point and pull the trigger.

 

[JTQ]

I have both.

I would rather shoot and carry the 1911.

 

[Hanshi]

Both here, as well. My 1911 for combat and my 686 for general use.

 

[buck460XVR]

Since you said HD, I voted the 686. Iffin you had said carry, I'd go for the 1911. I have both and both work well.

 

[Henryfan1]

Easy. 686
1) reliable over a very wide variety of loads
2) simple to operate
3) easy to clear a misfire
4) No springs to fight when loading or chambering a round
5) No magazine worries
6) Much easier to keep running if a hand or wrist is unusable
7) HD => firearm neglect is more likely than abuse; revolvers handle neglect better than SAs.
8) 7 rounds available with the right model
9) the S&W lock will keep the kids at bay...for awhile, anyway
10) Don't need to expend 1000 rounds to determine whether it's trustworthy

686 for all the reasons above

 

[Zaydok Allen]

What Buck said in post 7. Except my 1911 is a S&W.

 

[CopperFouling]

I have both (except my 1911 is a Dan Wesson). Honestly, I don't think you could go wrong either way.

 

[420Stainless]

Big and slow .45 for me. Mainly a comfort thing, been shooting a 1911 for more than 30 years and revolvers for less than 10. I'm another owner of both and don't really believe you can go wrong either way.

 

[content]

The 686 because is close enough to my go to 6" 586 do all gun.

My current choice for HD is close too, a snubbie, 327ng with Trijicon tritium insert for low/no light..

I only have one 1911 but it to would be a smooth operator for HD with the right sights.
I'm just not as practiced with it.

 

[tomrkba]

I am not a 1911 fan at all. However, I have had great luck with Colt guns. But, overall, I'd choose the 686 over any 1911.

 

[Robbins290]

1911. No question. I see the point on wheel guns. I just havent found one i can hold comfortable yet.

 

[tarosean]

Also have both and wouldn't hesitate to grab either.

 

[C-grunt]

That's a hard one for me. Both are good guns. The 686 will require less maintenance but the 1911 has faster reloads.

 

[bluetopper]

I sold my 686 because I have 44 Magnums and I still own my 1911's and will never part with them.

The 44 magnum in my opinion renders the 357 obsolete.

 

[savanahsdad]

What Buck said in post 7. Except my 1911 is a S&W.

+ 1 here,
I too have a S&W 1911, I don't have 686 but for HD I'd go with my 19-5 4" 357mag close enough right ,
I vote 686

 

[montanaoffroader]

I voted 686 just because it's simpler to operate. Nothing against the 1911, it is a great platform, but the 686 is as close to idiot proof as you can get.

My personal HD gun is a Colt King Cobra, not a nickel's worth of difference between it and a 686.

 

[mavracer]

This is an easy one for me, my 686SSR has spent time in the nightstand safe but spends most of it's life in a range bag. My Colt XSE lightweight Govt model lives in the safe on my nightstand.

 

[HexHead]

686. I've grown tired of chasing my brass all over the range.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

686 hands down for H/D i know for a fact it wont jam on me
but i do like the bigger bullet of the 45 so if i was going to
go out and buy a new H/D revolver it would be in 45acp

 

[243winxb]

686 better for accuracy, reliability. Some ladies may not be able to work the slide on the 1911 to load it.

 

[ugaarguy]

The terminal ballistics of both calibers are more than similar enough not to matter. The capacity differences of 6 or 7 in the 686, and 7+1 or 8+1 in the 1911 are also trivial. Both guns are more than durable enough to sit in a night table safe and be practiced with occasionally, or even frequently. You've chosen one of the best single stack semi-auto pistols ever made and one of the best medium frame double action revolvers ever made. It's really just personal preference between those two categories. I like both, so my vote is whichever I can get a mechanically sound used example of for less money. An old Colt 1991 vs. an old S&W 581 (essentially 1911 vs. 686) would be a tough choice for me, and used prices locally are nearly identical.

 

[ugaarguy]

686 hands down for H/D i know for a fact it wont jam on me

Until it does jam, and you find out that instead of a tap-rang-bang drill you're headed to the gunsmith to get it unstuck. The likelihood of a catastrophic malfunction on either is minute.

686 better for accuracy, reliability.

Accuracy between the two firearms at defense ranges is not an issue. The 1911 will give most shooters faster follow up shots and faster reloads. As for reliability, see above. The OP said Colt 1911, not some cheap clone.

Some ladies may not be able to work the slide on the 1911 to load it.

What a wonderfully sexist and ignorant statement. Sex has nothing to do with ability to work a slide on a semi-automatic pistol. It's all about grip strength and technique. I'd love to get back in touch with a 5 foot nothing, fiery, redheaded, female Airman I used to work with, and let you say that to her face. She was also one of our squadron M-60 gunners.