Glock to a 1911....Good or Bad Idea?

[sava]

Gentlemen,

I am looking to change up my duty carry from a Glock 22 to a 1911 pistol. I've been shooting the Glock platform for years and have recently been exposed to the 1911. After shooting some 1911's I have decided to pick up a high(er) end 1911, and if it proves to be reliable, use it as my duty firearm.

I have been perusing various forums in an attempt to educate myself and figure out which brand/model I would like to go with. The most important quality I seek is reliability. Now I understand that 1911's can, at times, be finicky. I understand it is definitely not a Glock and requires more attention and care from the user, similar to that needed for an AR as opposed to an AK. I maintain all of my firearms and don't foresee maintenance as being something that would give me trouble.

With that being said I have heard nothing but great things about the below listed pistols. I am looking for some wisdom and advice regarding these pistols. I am leaning towards the WC, mainly due to their reputation.

Also looking for any input that you guys may have regarding my choice. Good idea? Or should I stick to the Glock?

The candidates were:
Springfield Professional w/LR
Nighthawk GRP Recon w/LR
Wilson Combat Tactical LE w/LR

A Surefire X300 will be mounted to the rail.

Thank you for taking time to read over this post.

[TRICKSTER]

Why not a Glock 21. I carried one for years with a Glock 30 as a BUG.

[Oneblood]

I've been shooting the Glock platform for years........ The most important quality I seek is reliability......I understand that 1911's can, at times, be finicky. I understand it is definitely not a Glock and requires more attention and care from the user.......should I stick to the Glock?

Sorry. That's all I read. ^^^
The 1911 is a superior firearm, especially those considered, in many ways.
I think you should stick with the Glock and train with the 1911 until you believe you have mastered it.

[micro911]

Also, Glock 21: 13+1 rounds, 1911:7 or 8 +1

They are different mechanism and you need to get used to it. It takes some effort. I prefer staying with the same system unless you really want to change.

Recently, about a year ago, I went from Sig P226 to S&W M&P9. I had to adjust to a new system, and I am okay with it now after much training and practice.

[Freeballer]

I would stick with Glock simply for capacity. If the glock is reliable and holds 13 or 15 rounds and the 1911 is reliable and only holds 8, I would give advantage to the glock. I would rather have more rounds and less mags. I would also rather have additional rounds and not need them than need them and not have them...

[NuGunner]

I've gone from Glock 22 to Springfield LB Operator 1911 to my current M&P 9mm.

The transition from the G22 to 1911 was an easy one based on reliabilty. The G22 was dept issued and always jammed on me, regardless of springs and rod changes.

The 1911 was an absolute tack driver! Shot one of my best equal scores with it. I really have nothing bad to say, as I carried plenty of extra ammo on my rig.

Now the deciding factor for the 9mm, was A) capacity and B) the recent advancements in 9mm ballistics. Plus I'm only 1 point under my equal score as compared to my 1911.

[SoCalDep]

I would say to go with what you are most comfortable... I feel the 1911 is an extremely accurate platform and reliable when confirmed. In fact, assuming one has confirmed acceptable reliability, it no longer becomes an issue. That said, the 1911 is a more inherently accurate platform with it's ergonomics, straight-to-rear and short, light trigger, and tunability(is that a word?). Other platforms offer good accuracy, capacity, and simplicity.

Personally I would have no problem carrying a good 1911... And I understand why many depend on them. I also see the logic of high capacity and simplicity. Assuming one knows what they are doing and they are adequately trained, pick your poison.

[AR23C]

How about the GLOCK41 .. this is Glocks version of the 1911 only it is more reliable than any 1911 IMO !! YUP that's right I said it.. "way more reliable than any 1911" and not picky or finiky with ammo especially HP.

[oddjob]

I'm retired now....

My old agency issued Glock 22's & 23's. I was one of the "old folks" that got grandfathered in to carry my 1911 (SA TRP & a Colt Lt Wt 45....personally owned).

I stayed with the 1911 pattern because I can shoot them well. I also shoot USPSA with a 1911 single stack (as well as Para's, 2011's & etc). I then shot some plate racks with a Glock 17 with standard issue ammo. I cleaned the plate racks quickly. I then had a different attitude towards Glocks. I figured it was the lower bore axis on the Glocks that helped. It didn't beat my 1911 times but it was close. I've shot Glock 22's & 23's and although they have a little more "pop" than the 17's they are still a decent platform.

My point is try shooting both with a timer on plate racks. That will give you a better indication on what works best with you.

Just something to think about.....I carried a 2011 made by SV Infinity and it was a great gun. The problem was it was heavy (with spare mags). I retired carrying the Colt Lt Wt Commander. I will tell you the weight makes a difference on your back (especially when you retire). The damage to your back WILL add up.

Good Luck!

[HPBrowningMK3]

Sava, I'd go with Wilson personally, provided it passes your own torture test, minimum 500 rounds you want to carry. Run it hard, drop it, pick it up, fire it, really push it to the limit and see what happens because your life depends on it. And then carry a reliable bug, just because Mr.Murphy is a mean bastard.

[SoCalDep]

MikeSmith... You have displayed ignorance not only of law enforcement but of firearms use in general. You are no more a law enforcement officer than a heart surgeon and I would take your advice for neither.

[RickD427]

Sava,

What agency are you with and what are your options?

The 1911 is a very excellent platform, but it requires a little more discipline than other weapons. The trigger has very little movement. If you violate the "finger on trigger" rule with a 1911, you'll have an accidental discharge faster than with any other choice of firearm.

But on the plus side, the 1911 has stood the test of time far better than any other modern firearm. It's reliable and it's pretty tolerant of abuse. I carried one as my duty weapon for a few years and it remains my favorite.

But it's far more important to train with your weapon, whatever it is, and to become intimately familiar with it. Your training and experience with a particular weapon will trump any choice of features that a particular make, or model, may have to offer.

[TRICKSTER]

Personally I think police should be carrying Sigs, or something similar to the 3rd gen Smiths they were carrying for so long. Why carry a glock or 1911 with a hair trigger? 1911's were designed as a military gun not a police gun. What if you went into a house searching for a bad guy and went around a corner and there was an innocent person as you were clearing a room? Do you think the glock or 1911 would be a good choice then? Sorry to provide my opinion but I find it funny that the trend is glocks for police. If I were a police officer I'd be thinking more of my career when choosing a gun. And not what every other police officer chooses to carry.

I have carried both a 1911 and a Glock 21. Neither of these weapons have a "hair trigger" unless you modify them. And I did carry my Glock for over a decade on duty searching houses for bad guys and clearing rooms. I still carry one now that I am retired. It was a good choice then and it is a good choice now, it never failed to fire, functioned perfectly and anyone that has actually carried one and follows basic firearms safety rules and maintains it shouldn't have a problem with it. And I am not sorry to provide my opinion because as a police officer with over 30 years of service carrying firearms and using them the job, I have no hesitation to recommend a Glock for police work.
Better to ask the opinion of those who actually do the job and have experience with the various weapons than those who have no idea about what the job requires and has no working knowledge of the weapons that they are discussing.

[roostersgt]

I've carried a cocked and locked Colt 45, Sigs in 45, 40 and 9mm for more than 25 years and now carry a Glock 19. Any of the handguns mentioned, except for the single stack 45's, are fine for police use. I no longer believe a single stack anything is appropriate, or prudent for law enforcement work. Knock-down power between the calibers is really only negligible, except when doing numerical comparisons on paper. Dead is dead.

My opinion changed after the crack cocaine and "assault weapon" gang infested the streets in the early nineteen nineties in Sacramento. My opinion was further bolstered following that incredibly scary bank shoot-out in LA. The brave men and women of the LA PD were so out gunned it was unbelievable. My last Sig 40 w/ 12+1 seemed inadequate to my Glock with 15+ 1 and 17+ 1 round magazines and another 32 rounder in the bag in the front seat. Not to mention the Colt M-16 with four 30 round magazines and a 5 shot 12 gauge shotgun w/extra rounds on the stock and receiver.

I just heard again that tonight, two more brother officers in the Bronx were ambushed and shot. There's a war out there, don't kid yourselves. It's likely to get worse before it gets better.

I love 45's, but their usefulness in modern day law enforcement applications is limited to off-duty carry, special details and detective work, IMHO.

All Glocks have a factory trigger pull of at least 5.6 pounds. That's not "light", just more than the 12 -14lbs + on any of the first shots of the Sigs I've carried and owned. If you're a professional and keep your finger out of the trigger guard until a threat is identified, like you should have been trained, you won't likely have an AD. Just my two cents.

[mixicus]

Sava,

My agency approves both Glock and a list of 1911's for on-/off-duty carry.

The 1911's you list are all excellent. You will not be disappointed in any of them. As for which one to choose (as long as it's steel, government length from a recognized quality manufacturer), it is up to your preference on features. The mechanics are the same for all the pistols. Which sights look better to you? What combination of checkering and grip safety feels better to you? Etc. When an officer asks about which 1911 they should get, I try to get him to at least handle as many different ones as possible.

If you haven't already done so, spend some time (and a couple hundred rounds) with a quality 1911 to see if that's really what you want as a duty pistol. Make sure you're comfortable with it. $2500+ is a lot to spend on a piece of gear that people on the internet tell you is the ultimate duty pistol.