Why is it always Glock vs. 1911?

[Thermactor]

I vote for both. Why not? We live in America.
But I can't shoot a Glock to save my life. The trigger stacking makes the muzzle go off target when the gun is in my hands.

 

[DP03]

I think Olympus has it right. The 1911 is its own unique platform and the Glocks are a specific brand that are a dime a dozen due to good marketing. The more Glocks sold the bigger than fan boy base.

I think it would be great to see the 1911 compared to other, and in my opinion, better brands.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Old guys like 1911's and young guys like Glock's. 1911's are old school, Glock's the new wave. I talk to young people who are gun owners and they relate to Glocks and AR's, guys over 50, not so much. I'm typical of the 1911 owner, over 50 and never owned a Glock, although I've owned a Sig, HK and Beretta.

The rivalry I think comes from the huge generational gap. Old guys call and young guys text.

 

[CraigC]

I think you two are comparing different surfaces.

With the arched MSH, while the angle of the front strap doesn't change, the shooters wrist angle,and hence the grip angle, does change to one very close to that of the Glock

I don't think so. I shot Glocks for 15yrs (1991-2006) and got into the 1911 late in the game (first in 2004). Why did I change? The grip angle. Flat or arched, the 1911 and Glock are world's apart. I shot Glocks very well and have nothing against them. I just found something I like better. The major part of what makes a 1911 (or many others like the XD, which I traded my last Glock for) more comfortable for me to shoot is the grip angle. So when folks try to equate the two in that regard, I have a real issue with it. Not because I'm a 1911 true believer and/or a Glock hater but because it's simply not true.

 

[MCgunner]

I like exposed hammers, not strikers. It's just me, but that's what I like. I don't own a 1911 anymore, but won't rule out another, won't carry it, though. I carry revolvers mostly, so my autos are DA with decocker or DAO. That way, my practice is consistent at least on the first shot. I really like my Ruger P guns, but they're no longer offered. Guess if I bought another, I'd probably be looking at Sig hammer guns....maybe CZs. CZs are more affordable and seem like good guns.

 

[JR24]

Eh, its just folks get too caught up in the whole "I like this and I want you to like this just as much" thing.

I say shoot what makes you happy.

Then again, pretty much my whole autoloader collection is either Glocks or 1911's.....

Maybe there IS something to it.

 

[orionengnr]

Owned both, shot both a bunch, and have my preference...which I will not disclose here.

Once you have done likewise, choose whichever you like, buy a bunch of them and shoot the Hell out of them.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Simple glock perfection That means they must challenge the 1911 which is perfection .

 

[Archie]

When I was but a lad, the standard (corresponding) argument was "1911" or Government Model versus .357 Magnum revolver.

Back in those days, the .357 Magnum revolver was the popular alternative to the Government Model in .45 ACP. Now, the popular alternative is the Glock (in several calibers).

Have you noticed no one argues seriously about 'night sticks' versus 'cue sticks'?

 

[GLOOB]

I think the Glock fanboys got the message years ago. No one wants to hear about it, and it's old news, anyway. Maybe in another twenty years, the Glock antifanboys will finally realize they're stirring an empty pot?

Owned both, shot both a bunch, and have my preference...which I will not disclose here.

This sounds about right. The OP is just looking for trouble!

 

[alexander45]

Old guys like 1911's and young guys like Glock's. 1911's are old school, Glock's the new wave. I talk to young people who are gun owners and they relate to Glocks and AR's, guys over 50, not so much. I'm typical of the 1911 owner, over 50 and never owned a Glock, although I've owned a Sig, HK and Beretta.

The rivalry I think comes from the huge generational gap. Old guys call and young guys text.

There was a poll on here not too long ago that disproved that. It turned out the same % of 20 somethings carried 1911s, glocks, or revolvers as the older crowd ~a 20 something that carries a 1911

 

[tarosean]

^ I don't think age has to do with anything either.

I'm constantly amazed how my Glock's and 1911's get along in the same safe.

 

[JR24]

I'm constantly amazed how my Glock's and 1911's get along in the same safe.

Me too!

I thought there'd be rebellion when I put my first Glock in there, but they get along just fine. Even behave on the shooting range bench together and everything.

 

[stoky]

I don't see it as a generational issue. More of a cops and bangers vs gentlemen rift. Some folks have enough synapses to spare for a safeties, some don't.

 

[CraigC]

There was a poll on here not too long ago that disproved that. It turned out the same % of 20 somethings carried 1911s, glocks, or revolvers as the older crowd ~a 20 something that carries a 1911

I remember that poll, the results were very interesting. I don't think it's an age thing either. I think it has more to do with our early influences and 'why' we got into shooting in the first place. Not all old guys watched westerns as a kid and not all young guys got into it because of video games.

 

[Nom de Forum]

More of a cops and bangers vs gentlemen rift.

Two hundred years ago you some men would challenge you to a duel for that insult.

Some folks have enough synapses to spare for a safeties, some don't.

Actually it is more about some folks not needing training wheels to be safe.

 

[Nom de Forum]

I don’t think choosing a Glock is about being young. Back in the 1973 I was absolutely fanatical in my belief that no pistol was even close to being able to challenge the 1911 as the greatest self-defense pistol in the World. Back then I believed every word Jeff Cooper wrote was gospel. When IPSC was in its infancy I was shooting a Colt Series 70 that I tried out just about about every competitive gimmick available. By 1990 I was a Class A IPSC shooter, National Match Armorer trained to build extremely accurate 1911s, had done some more realistic pistol training than IPSC, stopped shooting IPSC because it is too much about gamesmanship and not enough about self-defense, and was buying my first Glock, a G23. I had realized that for what I wanted to be able to do with a self-defense pistol the G23 was a better option than any 1911 configuration. In 2015 I believe the Glock is still a better option for me but I also now believe other designs would be compared to the 1911.

 

[Thermactor]

 

[Nom de Forum]

Needs buried Bomars, a Commander hammer, flat mainspring housing, beavertail grip safety, and extend thumbsafety to be the ultimate kombaticool chimera.

 

[ritepath]

I believe the argument comes down to glock v 1911 because lots of glock owners only know the one brand of firearm. They buy into the hype that there's only one pistol worth owning and it damages their egos when some old timer comes along and insists that a Old chunk of American Steel is a better design. It's heavier, it doesn't hold enough ammo, it's got a dangerous safety, the trigger isn't mushy enough, and what's that funny thing on the back that you have to move to get it to shoot??? You have to maintain them...

The list of shortfalls is huge compared to most other direct competitors to glock, with all the others they just have to repeat the "That's not a glock." argument and win every time. But those hard headed 1911 scumbags are different kind of scumbag, they won't take no for an answer.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

How do you even begin to compare two guns with 80 years difference in design? What prize are they fighting for?

 

[Nom de Forum]

How do you even begin to compare two guns with 80 years difference in design?

You compare them by analyzing quantifiable differences in characteristics and capabilities that enhance or detract from performance desired by the operator. Eighty years difference in design is irrelevant. I suspect if it had been available in the year 1911 a Glock pistol with a thumbsafety, chambered in .45 GAP (to keep the grip size smaller), would have been adopted as the M1911 by the U.S. Army. On the other hand, if choosing to pistol to compete in Bullseye Competition the Glock is not the best choice.

What prize are they fighting for?

Dollars and prestige.

 

[burk]

I started with a Glock 23 as my first SD handgun. Then like many I fell victim to gun Porn and started using "pretty" 1911's. I've owned three Kimber's, all great guns, all of which I shot really well, including a CDP which I carried for several years. Right before 08 I bought a Glock 19 because I wanted to have one hi-cap handgun around in case hope and change decided to ban them.

While I still trained with and shot my Kimber's, I noticed that I shot my 19 as well as any of my $1400 plus 1911's. As my finances grew tight I had to sell off the 1911's, at first it was disheartening. I had a great Kimber Eclipse 5" out of the custom shop with a Dawson Rail and Surefire set up for HD. When I started to get a little cash back I looked for a 1911 5" for HD to replace the one I had sold so I was using the same platform for carry and HD. The money was still tight and after much deliberation I decided it made more sense to sell the CDP and switch to the Glock Platform over 1911's.

I don't regret it. 1911's are great guns, but for SD it's hard to beat a Glock 30SF or 19 and my 21 with a TLR 1 is perfect for HD. The advantages, mags are cheaper, far less time consuming to maintain, and far less costly to break in. The reality is you can get two great Glock's for the price of one good 1911. 1911's are great works of art, but as tools, I love the simplicity of Glock's for SD guns.

As far as 1911 v. Glock, they really don't compete. When I worked at a gun counter they were usually different customers. For civilian use there is no problem with either platform. And in military and LE use the 1911's time has long since past. This is as much a matter of cost and upkeep as performance. MARSOC has even had issues with the Colt M45 and is letting it's soldiers carry Glock 17's instead. Many already were on an unapproved basis.

 

[robmkivseries70]

Is there any other pistol (than the M1911 design) on the market that has a trigger that operates "wicked fast" as Steve Camp used to say about the 1911?
Best,
Rob