Glock or 1911

This is a topic to last the ages, and while I wont get that
far into it, it is something a lot of gun owners run into. I have been on both
sides of the issue, and a fan of both in competition and in concealed carry,
and while it may be an older topic to some, I think it is good to revisit and
see both sides of the coins.

The 1911 was first introduced in 1907, with further upgrades
and adoption in 1911 give the pistol its name. By and large, it has remained
unchanged in its general function, save for upgraded materials, shorter sizes
(such as the commander, and sub compact models) and is universally known.

The 1911’s has seen action in World War I, World War II and
Korea, limited use in Vietnam, and was replaced for the Beretta 9mm as US
military primary sidearm in 1985, and is one of, if not the coup de gras of
John Moses Browning. It is typically a 45ACP, however there have been
additional chamberings in 9mm, 38 Super, and 10mm, with a typical magazine
capacity of around 8, making it legal in the majority of states. It is
considered by many to be a function work of art, with many being made out of
unique materials including a meteorite. However, it does have its drawbacks.

First is it can be heavy, especially for a full length
compared to Glock and others. It also has many more parts for field cleaning (over
55 parts in most models) compared to Glocks which are around 34. The other
issue is that while the 1911 is notoriously reliable for hardball
(non-hollowpoint) ammunition, it does have a reputation as being finicky with
some hollow points, making it less ideal than some for personal defense rounds.

Glocks were the brain-child of Gaston Glock, an Austrian
developer that saw first action in 1980s through the military. While it was
originally developed for the 9x19mm parabellum (9mm), it now encompasses a much
wider range of calibers, and varied sizes with some compatible parts. It has
readily available models from .380, 40, 45, 10mm, 357 Sig and even their own 45
caliber ammunition.

They are notorious for their reliability in most weather conditions,
parts can be interchanged such as magazines (larger frames like the G17 can
work in the G19) and they are relatively corrosion resistant. While they do currently have a good
reputation, there are some issues, such as a notoriously hard/sloppy trigger,
not the best ergonomics, and their barrel specifically states to not use lead
(non-jacketed) ammunition, all of which can be fixed with the wide availability
of aftermarket parts.

So, what do you get? I say both. I started as a 1911 purist,
however I have seen the versatility, reliability and the capacity of Glock and
I have started migrating that way. Also the hefty price tag of a Colt 1911
versus a Glock means I can spend the difference on ammo when it is available.
If I had to carry one, backwoods or in the city I would want the one that
offers the most firepower with the most reliability which just might be the
ugliest handgun on the market, a Glock, but to this day, with over 10,000
rounds I have yet to have one fail on me.

Also be sure to check out JM4 Tactical for your holster needs!

Author: Ian Bolser