Glock vs. 1911 Reliability - this time with data

[barrym66]

This oughta be fun!

For (way too many) years, we've all seen the Glock vs. 1911 fanboy flame wars...not only on Calguns, but on pretty much every other gun forum.

Here's a great blog post that compiled real testing data, based on reliability testing done by Gun Test magazine over a 14 year period, comparing the reliability of Glock, Taurus, and various iterations of the 1911.

I post this not to provoke another flame fest, but to provide some data - rather than the usual anecdotal evidence so often used to demonstrate the superiority of whatever brand that an individual poster wishes to promote.

For the record - I own and shoot both Glocks and 1911's and 1911 derivatives, and shoot Glocks in IDPA and USPSA. Not a fanboy of either design, but I really appreciate the 1911 design for it's superior ergonomics, easy ability to customize, and general cool factor... and appreciate the simplicity and reliability of the Glock.

From http://www.yankeegunnuts.com/2010/12...-glock-taurus/

(there's quite a bit more in the blog, please take a look here: http://www.yankeegunnuts.com/2010/12...-glock-taurus/

[tipoc]

Illuminating that anyone would take it seriously.

There are so many things wrong with the data and the approach by the blogger that anyone who has made it past 8th grade should spot the problems.

Glock vs. 1911 threads are seriously boring.

tipoc

[Oceanbob]

Interesting...

Hmmm..I have 13 GLOCKS and 8 1911s.....I will say that once you get a 1911 running good it will eat everything as good as a GLOCK.

I own both and I love both.

(not counting my other Rugers, Smith&Wessons, Firestar, etc that Run Perfectly as well)....

We must be bored.

[drunktank]

Interesting article. Ive read a similar one before, but it was too subjective and cavorts the 1911

[Flying Sig]

Illuminating that anyone would take it seriously.

There are so many things wrong with the data and the approach by the blogger that anyone who has made it past 8th grade should spot the problems.

Glock vs. 1911 threads are seriously boring.

tipoc

You must be one of those 1911 fanboys they were talking about....

[B Strong]

I've run tens of thousands of rounds in 1911's over the years, between 10 - 15 thousand rounds through BHP's, and about the same through Glocks in 9mm, .40 & .45.

My findings are that good ones run, bad ones don't.

The end.

[novabrian]

Buy both.

[Longbow]

I own both platforms, and have absolutely no dog in this fight.

But, as a scientist with a soid background in research methodology and statistical interpretation: - BWAA-HAA-HAA-HAA-HAA!!!!!!

What you have there is the first page of a hypothesis.

Cheers,
Longbow

[Super Spy]

Glocks work out of the box. 1911's may require some fiddling to get right, once the bugs are rectified are pretty reliable and even nicer to shoot. I'll still keep my Glock as my go to gun for bumps in the night.

[Mastermason11]

Those guns are not even on the same category to compare them against each other... Its like comparing a BMW (glock) vs a Ferrari (1911).... In the car world, the BMWs are cheaper but very reliable out of the lot. The Ferrari is very unreliable and hard to maintain but everyone lusts to have one...

[stphnman20]

Glocks work out of the box. 1911's may require some fiddling to get right, once the bugs are rectified are pretty reliable and even nicer to shoot. I'll still keep my Glock as my go to gun for bumps in the night.

Same here..

I own both Glock and 1911. Glock is my go getter!

[evidens83]

This oughta be fun!

Ummmm no. Just get both

[Striker]

Gun is a tool. If it works for your purpose, it does. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Glocks and 1911s both work well under the right circumstances and don't work well under the wrong ones. One is not necessarily better than the other, they're just different. If at all possible, shoot before you buy and choose the gun that works best for you. It doesn't matter if it's a Glock, a Sig, a Smith, a 1911 etc. Choose a high quality gun in the caliber that works best for you in your situation.

[barrym66]

Agreed on almost all counts... even with the statement that the data and conclusions are less than scientific. But better than the usual claims based on a single user's experience.

When I started getting serious about shooting, about the time that Glocks were starting to make inroads in the market (early 1990 or so), I shot Tanfoglio-based race guns (40SW) and a Colt 80 series NM (in 45ACP, of course!). The Colt was not as accurate as the stock Tanfoglios out of the box, and both took a lot of work to become reliable enough for competition use. And broke often enough that we didn't think twice about carrying many extra parts (extractors, slide stops, bushings/springs, etc.) as well as a spare gun. God forbid you should be shooting tupperware back then... it's a tough crowd!

After being out of the game for 12 years (with the old race guns long gone), I was talked into buying a G23 and G22 for SD/HD guns, and after putting 800+ rounds through the G22 at a four day class with no problems (only cleaning the bore at the end of each day), I was impressed. Out of 30+ students, the only problem guns were a Kimber Custom (extractor), a SA GI 1911 (FTF's, new gun), a Beretta 92 (broken recoil spring, I think), and a couple of the el cheapo Sigmas (both died on Day 1, locked up hard).

After that I bought a couple of G35's...25K+ rounds later, the only malfs have been self-induced (all from aftermarket parts - weakened recoil and mag springs, a broken lightened striker, and a couple of broken captured guide rods). My stock G22 has seen 8.5K rounds with no failures whatsoever. I like being able to clean the frames in the dishwasher (yes) and the fact that I don't have to be paranoid about keeping everything spotlessly clean at every match. They go bang every time with little work. Over the subsequent years my impressions have not changed....it's usually the Glocks and XD's that run without issues and the 1911's and clones that break.

On the other hand, Glocks are not very 'sexy' and I still dislike the grip angle...so I am playing around with CZ's (Tanfoglios) again, as well as a Para 16 for L10 (damn CA DOJ, I really really want an STI-based gun...) . Much more pricey to tweak, and I am again having to play around with spring rates, feed ramp angles and polishing, lightened hammers and the like. But they feel good, look good, and I can make them 'mine' much more flexibly than a Glock.

So buy whatever turns you on and fits your needs...Glocks are still my go-to SD/HD guns, but when the gun buddies come over and we open the safe to play with the toys, it's the 1911's that get fondled the most.

(And yes, it's boring today! Should have gone to the range.)

[choprzrul]

...ummm....




If 8 aftermarket companies were making Glock clones, how reliable would they be?

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