Once you go 1911, can you ever go back?

[Reysc]

"Is it possible to own a 1911 and still carry/like something like a Glock? Or will I just be ruined forever and destined to trade in all of my other pistols to collect more 1911s?"

Yes and no it depends on how strong you are willpower and pocket bookwise in resisting the urge to acquire all the good deals 1911!! I have a little stash of 1911's a little stash of Glocks ( got to attend some tupperware parties every once in awhile) and a little stash of sigs plus a dash of snubbies for BUG.. Honestly, my glock/sig acquisition thrist have died down some unless I stumble in a glock for sale w/ n.s. good condition in the DFW FTF area for $ 350.. That will be a no brainer!! But I have to restrain myself, count to ten, go out smoke a cigarette, take a deep breath and sigh everytime I see a good 1911 deal.. Just can't help it!! That 's the disease I got from this board!!
Now is it possible to carry a glock after you have carried your treasured 1911 ?? For me the answer is yes..The way I dress for work ( 6-7 days a week) it's easier for me to carry my G26..Now, when I'm not at work and that's rare , I carry my colt combat .. sometimes a commander size Para LTC...

[CaptDave]

It has been said that if you take care of your gun like you take care of your lawnmower, get a glock.....

After posting that, however, I must say that there is obviously nothing WRONG with the Glock as evidenced by so many of them in use and their popularity.

They are just a different tool than the 1911, from grip angle to trigger pull to the material they're made of.

Bottom Line: If they "roll the ball" and all I've got is a Glock in my hand, then it will be my favorite pistol at that moment!

[G.C.Montgomery]

Is this ever a classic can of worms. Everybody knows I'm a single-stack Government Model kinda guy. I've owned some odd-balls but I keep coming back to the original. Nothing fits me better. Reliability is not a question...At least no more a question than it is with my Glocks.

Having said that, I also routinely carried a Glock 19 or 23 tucked under my shirt at work. I will shoot a Glock 34 at weekly matches if I'm just in the mood for something different. I personally have no problems switching between the platforms other than forgetting the Glocks give me seven or eight extra rounds in each magazine.

I often hear of reliability issues with the 1911. I'm not going to go so far as to say they are false claims but I think more attention should be paid to what caused those failures. More often than not, I find it's the operator rather than the gun. Poor maintenance, cheap magazines, odd-ball/untested ammunition, and just plain bad shoooting technique all contributed to the vast majority of issues I've seen with the 1911. Funny how the exact same factors also contributed to the vast majority of issues I've seen with Glocks. Oh, and the biggest contributor to failures I see among "competent" shooters is poorly executed MODIFICATIONS by "expert" shooters who are, at best, amateur gunsmiths.

[Skiprr]

Gotta remember also that there are 1911s...and then there are 1911s. It's a time-tested design, but different manufacturers apply it differently.

Biggest mistake I made recently was that a friend let me shoot his Wilson Classic Super Grade. Whoa, Nelly. I'm thinking of holding a charity benefit so I can afford to buy one.

One thing I think Charles nailed is about the trigger. A decent match-grade trigger in a good 1911--whether from Kimber or SA or you name it--is just a sweet action.

[txinvestigator]

I like'em!

Also note: Various gun forums, why do you *always* see a thread that says "Post your 1911 Beauties!"

1911's are pretty guns. But pretty only goes so far. Its a concealed weapon after all. The most important thing to me in a hand gun is reliability. A parallel to Murphy's Law states "If it will malfunction it will at the worst possible time." I'm not expert but it doesn't sound to me from what I've heard and and seen that many 1911's are all that reliable. A real pretty and 'expensive' handgun isn't one I'd be likely to carry anyway.

I like shooting more than I do loading. Although 7 or 8 rounds to a magazine will keep the Brady's happy. Probably cost as much much to load a 1911 mag as it does a 9MM.

I like plastic. It works, Its tough, and its light. and more comfortable when pressed against skin. Yeah it's usually not so pretty. My next gun purchase probably won't be plastic, but I don't consider plastic a negative.

Don't get me wrong it's not that I think 1911's are a poor choice, its just that they aren't my cup of tea.

I've heard that too. However, I have had my 1911 at several shooting schools, shooting 600-700 rounds over the course and have yet to have a hiccup. In fact, I have nt seen anyones 1911 malfunction at a school.

The ONLY gun I have ever seen malfunction and go down at a school was a Glock.

My story is similar to others here. I cut my teeth on revolvers in the '70's and would not even consider a semi-auto. As a cop in the '80's I transitioned to a Beretta. Since then I owned and carried Beretta, Smiths, HK's and Walthers. In 2003 I shot a buddies 1911 and purchased my own the next week. Its all I carry now.

[Cosmo 9]

I think a single stack is easier to conceal than a double stack, that being said the single stack I carry is not a 1911. I have an XD a Kahr and 1911. I like them all.

[CaptDave]

In 2003 I shot a buddies 1911 and purchased my own the next week. Its all I carry now.

[The Marshal]

Unreliable?

I have put 2K rounds thru my Warrior, with no issues.

I have handed it to other 'new' shooters, and they have had a misfeed.
I agree with G.C. and would lay this at 'bad shooting technique'.

I would happily carry a Glock if I owned one. My 'mentor' has many guns, and he chooses to shoot that at the IPDA matches. (Cyphur, did you *see* Mike's bag with about 20 loaded Glock mags?!)

J1132s has another good point. Now that I am dialed in on my XD trigger, I am having control issues with my Kimber. Prior to shooting the XD so much, the opposite was true.
Ahhhh, to have too much time and ammo, to address this issue!!

~Bill

[KinnyLee]

I grew up poor. All I could afford was a Glock. It was good. It was all I had.

Then I shot a friend's 1911. It was really good!

But I'm afraid to buy one. I'm afraid that if I get a good 1911, I can never shoot any other pistol ever again. Is it possible to own a 1911 and still carry/like something like a Glock? Or will I just be ruined forever and destined to trade in all of my other pistols to collect more 1911s?

I do. Only problem is your taste for 1911s gets more expensive each time you buy one. lol. I still like to carry my Glock though. Hehe.

[RPBrown]

I have a G21, HK, XD, and 4-1911's. I try to shoot them all each trip to the range. Each has a time to be carried. I do shoot my 1911's a little better than the others but the Glock is close. Out of all of them I shoot the HK the worst.

[GlockenHammer]

Are you going to be at PSC tomorrow? We can feed the budding addiction

I wanted to go. Thoughts of that sweet trigger...of holes in the target inexplicably where I had wanted them to be. Yes, I wanted to go.

But I've heard about people like you. People that give the first taste for free, then get you hooked. "Here, run a few mags through this and see how you like it" and "Why don't you borrow this for a few weeks and see how you like it." Then you take the freebies away and I'm looking at a grand the next week on my own beauty. Then the ammo, the reloading dies, new holsters. But one isn't enough. There's the full size, the commander, the bobtail, blued, stainless... Where does it end?

[jbirds1210]

GH-
If you decide to stay on the dark side...I will hang out with you

I own a 1911 and love it. It is a full size Springfield and really not my style for carry. Kinny and I shot some plates with her a couple of months ago. I take her out of the safe often enough to keep the dust from collecting....then I put it back up and grab my Glocks! I am hoping that someday I will get the bug and fall in love with them....it just has not happend yet. I believe that the thumb safety is the culprit for my lack of appreciation for carry.

There is no argument that 1911's are the best design ever.....just not my flavor for carry.

Someday I will get up the courage to buy a holster ( ) for my 1911 and shoot a IDPA match with it.

Until a week ago I never thought I could like a plastic holster...then the new Comp-tac infidel came into my life......review with pics coming soon! So I am not totally resistant to change.

Jason

[CaptDave]

Are you going to be at PSC tomorrow? We can feed the budding addiction

I wanted to go. Thoughts of that sweet trigger...of holes in the target inexplicably where I had wanted them to be. Yes, I wanted to go.

But I've heard about people like you. People that give the first taste for free, then get you hooked. "Here, run a few mags through this and see how you like it" and "Why don't you borrow this for a few weeks and see how you like it." Then you take the freebies away and I'm looking at a grand the next week on my own beauty. Then the ammo, the reloading dies, new holsters. But one isn't enough. There's the full size, the commander, the bobtail, blued, stainless... Where does it end?

Come on, it'll be alright. Just one mag. Go ahead, Pull The Trigger, it's ok....

But one isn't enough. There's the full size, the commander, the bobtail, blued, stainless... Where does it end?

In all seriousness, when I first saw the bobtail, it didn't do too much for me. Now I'm kinda lookin' twice at it and thinking hmmmmm.
But, I'm NOT addicted, No sir, Not me......

[ElGato]

Capt. Dave wrote
In all seriousness, when I first saw the bobtail, it didn't do too much for me. Now I'm kinda lookin' twice at it and thinking hmmmmm.
But, I'm NOT addicted, No sir, Not me...... [/quote]


You know I'm starting to look at 1911 Commander's in 9mm after shooting that MKIV 70 yesterday and Charles Super today.

[dws1117]

Is it possible to own a 1911 and still carry/like something like a Glock? Or will I just be ruined forever and destined to trade in all of my other pistols to collect more 1911s?

It is possible but you feel kinds of dirty.

Seriously I love and am addicted to the 1911 style pistols, but my daily carry is a Glock 19.

I enjoy shooting other guns, but the 1911 is my favorite. The 1911 is, for me, the ultimate gun, the others are just tools.