Springfield Loaded 1911 VS Glock 21

[Springfield45]

Have you fired a bone stock GI model lately?

Sights are ***, can't hit anything because the sights are ***. The Glock does seem to do a slightly better job at taming recoil. The trigger is usually so bad that it causes people to drop their shots but that doesn't matter because the sights are ***. Did I mention the sights are ***?

The stock Glock trigger and sights are at least useable out of the box.

But we were comparing the Glock and the Springfield Loaded Model. The Loaded models either have three dot combat sights or adjustable target sights. While the glock has the stock crappy u type rear sight. Truth be told I would take either pistol and feel well armed.

[teetsjones]

I know the 1911, I have had experience starting with a surplus 1911 from 1943, which has never failed in 45 years, except one stove pipe. I have a Springfield mil spec that is 22 years old with maybe a handful of issues when it was brand new. They disappeared after a few weeks.
I have zero experience with Glocks, so I can not speak to their reliability. I am leery of plastic/polymer frames. I recall a thread where a Boarder Patrol Agent fell off of his Quad and the polymer frame handgun he was carrying broke. As I recall the gun was not Glock, but it was a polymer frame pistol, and that worries me.
I understand the weight difference, especially for everyday carry. But if it was a shtf I would want a sidearm that is built from steel not plastic, and as someone else said, one you can use as a club with out fear of breaking it.

[aarik]

1911 for sure.
No polymer pistol can compare.

Out of several 1911's i have they are all reliable and i would grab the cheapest one in a self defense situation (cause the police will then take it away).

Springfield, Colt, Dan Wesson and even a tactical RIA, all shoot great.
Also the CZ97B is a great .45.

My favorite however are the SIG 1911's. Amazing guns out of the box. The external extractor is just fine too.

For SHTF, i would grab the SIGs.

...The Glock, paint it yellow for what it is. A plastic banana.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I'm not an either / or type person. I have double stack pistols as well as 1911's. I'd probably grab my M9A1 first but I can shoot a 1911 better than I can any other handgun. As long as the particular weapon is proven reliable it is a fine choice as a defensive weapon.

Perhaps some of the folks pew-pewing the single stack 8 round 1911 magazine can tell us about some of their personal experiences in gunfights where the larger capacity magazines were an advantage. Otherwise, it is just more theoretical internet hot air from armchair tactician types.

[krpduner]

My experience is my wifes Glock 19 does not go bang everytime. When she first got it, it stove piped every single round x50 times at least. I worked on her grip, called Glock etc and determined she was limp wristing it causing the stovepipe. So with Jaws of steel grip it does well. When my boys (16,13,9)shoot the Glock it stove pipes occasionally. Limp wristing it, probably. On my 1911's, on any shooter, one handed, limp wrist, weak grip, never ever a problem. So in my case if the Glock is held exactly right for my wife and kids its great. For me I have no problems with the Glock but hate shooting it. My 1911's anyone can shoot from any grip and no problem. Ill take my 1911's every time.

[crufflers]

I own a 1911 and a Glock.

I'd pick the Glock. I'd worry way more about a 1911 gunking up and maintaining it in dark dirty conditions than a Glock that I could take apart and clean with my eyes closed and run relatively dry if I had to. Better mags, tougher gun, more reliable, simpler, easier to take care of, lighter, etc...

Realistically I'd have a couple of Glock frames and a bag/box of support parts, barrels, slides, mags to rebuild it into any of the five useful common calibers (9mm,.40,.45,10mm,.22LR).

A few Rifles and a box of Blocks.

[drunktank]

Voted GLOCK. Lighter and they've been more reliable in my hands than 1911s. 1911s didn't "win" all those wars by the way. Our TROOPS did. The 1911s were just dangling on many of their hips.

[JTROKS]

Ancient history homey. They are now retired from service as newer, better options are available.

The special units in military were given 1911s for it's the preferred sidearm of those who are at the tip of the spear. Even Special response teams at Federal, state and local LEOs use the 1911 for the require the utmost confidence with their equipment.

I have both and if SHTF I'll pick the 1911 (SIG TTT and Colt Commander). That doesn't mean the G21 is not worthy, but I just want a pistol that is quick to deploy and shoot with confidence.

[Mayor McRifle]

Glocks are fine for shooting runaway clowns when the circus comes to town, but if the SHTF, I want the best. For SHTF, I'll take my 1911s.

[tacticalcity]

Ancient history homey. They are now retired from service as newer, better options are available.

Uh, no not really. 1ST SFOD-D (Delta Force) guys can choose any handgun they want, and are without question our militarizes best trained shooters with regards to the handgun (As much as I admire them the Seals don't even come close on the handgun) choose two handguns more than any other. Most choose the Glock. A smaller number choose the 1911.

Most PMCs from what was Blackwater, Triple Canopy, etc. choose a Glock.

Most SWAT Teams that have a choice choose either a Glock or 1911. Again, more often than not they pick a Glock.

When you ask an instructor from a big name shooting school (GunCite, US Training Center, FrontSight, etc) what your first handgun they recommend for self defense, 99% of the time the answer is Glock. Even when they have a 1911 in their holster.

These are all guys who know what they are doing and can choose anything they want, and 9 times out of 10 they choose a Glock.

You might prefer something else and be distracted by the latest fad to hit the market. But the Big Boys still love the Glock.

[tacticalcity]

The special units in military were given 1911s for it's the preferred sidearm of those who are at the tip of the spear. Even Special response teams at Federal, state and local LEOs use the 1911 for the require the utmost confidence with their equipment.

I have both and if SHTF I'll pick the 1911 (SIG TTT and Colt Commander). That doesn't mean the G21 is not worthy, but I just want a pistol that is quick to deploy and shoot with confidence.

Again, you're cherry picking and only seeing the information that backs up your personally preference. Yes, many elite units and highly trained shooters use the 1911. Many, many more actually use a Glock.

I'm not a 1911 hater by any means. I love 'em. But lets get the facts straight. The vast majority of highly trained shooters who carry for a living choose the Glock, including the most elite of elite tip of the spear soldiers...1st SFOD-D (Delta Force). A much smaller number opt for the 1911. But it is a common choice as well.

Despite all the options out there the top two choices of those in the know are Glocks and 1911s. But Glock gets chosen more often than not.

Need a citation? Dalton Fury discusses the current firearms most commonly used by 1st SFOD-D in his book, "Killing Bin Laden". Delta Force guys get shunned when the write books. So there are not many sources to choose from. But two known operators wrote about the subject in their books. In Eric Haney's Book "Inside Delta Force", he talks about the early days when the unit was first formed and back then the 1911 was the only choice. But his day was "back in the day" (1970s-1980s) before Glocks were even out. Dalton Fury was a modern day member, so his book is more reliable source of information on this particular subject.

There are a ton of books discussing what handguns are most commonly used by PMCs. One that comes immediately to mind is "Big Boy Rules" by Steve Fainaru. I had better examples. Major senior moment going on today. Mostly I know this from my many discussions with PMCs that I know personally. Many of whom are Calguns Members but I know them by their real names not usernames so I won't post that information publicly for privacy and safety reasons. Bear in mind, these guys are targets for the bad guys.

I used to have a laundry list of references for SWAT Teams opting for the Glock more often than not but I am having a senior moment and cannot think of any by name or author. Sorry. Some quick Google searching should turn up more than enough evidence though. Again, most of those PMCs I know were local SWAT at one point, and they are a major source of information on this. Again, they don't want their names shared on a public forum for safety reasons.

As for what instructors say to use, that is based on many personal conversations (many of which were overheard as the new guy in the class asks the inevitable question that gets asked every time). So you'll have to take my word for it - or pick up the phone and do a survey of your own. Sometimes you have to pry it out of them. The go to response is "any gun will do if you will do". Meaning they can teach you to shoot anything. But if you press them, they'll smile and say "get a Glock".

[tacticalcity]

A bunch of rice farmers with Mosin Nagants and SKSs beat the US military armed with the coolest plastic pew pew sticks

Talk about drawing the wrong conclusion.

We won the shooting war hands down. After beating them back at the Tet Offensive the communists were done. They threw everything they had at us, and we beat them back.

The problem was, by that point, the politicians and American public had enough of war. They didn't want to hear that we just won. They didn't want to believe that they communists were threw. They'd already given up. They'd seen too much death on the evening news and enough was enough.

We didn't loose that war on the battlefield. We lost it back at home. The enemy won the hearts and minds of our own people. Once that happens it doesn't matter what is happening on the ground. The war is over and you lost.

[Bake]

The enemy won the hearts and minds of our own people. Once that happens it doesn't matter what is happening on the ground. The war is over and you lost.

And by enemy, I take it you are referring to the MSM.

[bapake]

answer

SHTF?

because I have not a backup pistol, I choose the Glock !

[Lead Waster]

G21 for sure ... loaded with 13+1 rounds, it's still probably lighter than a 1911 with 8+1 (or if you have reliable mags, 10+1) rounds.

Durable, forgiving of rough treatment, plain jane, light and ugly ... everything you want when SHTF.