Dropping Glock versus 1911

[alvins]

i think the whole glock trigger safety is someones lack being able to think of anything better.if you think that little lever on the trigger is a safety you really need to have your head examined.

[magillapd]

Only ATF agents are qualified to handle glocks.

I have a G19 and I feel safe. To be honest, I'm glad that I have to pay more attention when holstering and unholstering. Knowing that if anything gets into the trigger guard it can be bad. I'm always extra careful where my fingers are at all times.
Still, I am not worried about it going off without me pulling the trigger.

I had an incident the other day. I was opening my back door to let my dogs in, and my one dog came running in full bore, and took out my legs and down I went. My belt caught on the door handle and it twisted my holster and G19 sideways, jamming the barrel end straight into my side. I went down hard and on the gun side, which felt even better.

IT hurt like hell, but had no fear that the gun would go off. With a good holster like I have, the trigger guard completly covered, I felt safe. Still sore tho..

[BFGJoe]

Was going to leave this alone, but just came back from lunch where a bunch of plain-clothed LEO's were all sporting their fancy 1911's...

The part about dropping guns is a bit puzzling coming from someone who appears to spenda a fair amount of time around firearms, however the fence post quote is surely hypothetical. I'll preface this with the fact that I am a Glock guy. Tried 1911's and while they are smooth/accurate shooters and beautiful works of art, the comfort in my hands, relative complexity, and limited capacity are not for me. To each his/her own without judgement.

I have two 1911 dropping/delicate comments relayed to me by seperate 1911 guys. A buddy of mine who daily carried a Springfield 1911 once forgot to button his shoulder rig, had it come out while exiting his vehicle and hit the concrete. He is a short guy with a low-riding sports car so it couldn't have been more than a 3ft drop. From that point on, the gun gave him nothing but problems and even after several trips to Springfield's custom shop and another local gunsmith he never got it running right again. I'm sure it was fixable, just not easily. Maybe it was too customized.

Other comment is from a LEO and fellow gun fanatic that worked security at our office building. Had a beautiful 1911 that he used to carry, but after once or twice getting caught in the rain doing traffic duty, and the disassembly/cleaning that followed, he started carrying his Glock instead. Just a quick wipe down afterwards and it was good to go.

The 1911 obviously has stood the test of time for good reason. I certainly understand the argument of differences in safety mechanisms and aesthetics from a personal preference standpoint. Both great guns for different reasons but IMHO the 1911's tend to get babied more, and in my experience, probably for good reason.

- Joe

[rolo550]

I agree with the prior poster...the 1911 is great...on the other hand, I carried a nasty glock 17 in my car with almost no cleaning rolling around door panels and consoles for years til it was stolen and a 19 in the same condition on my person getting sweaty then being stuck on grimy car places. I don't know how many rounds have been through those guns, but its been a ton...

They may be ugly, the safety may suck or not depending on your opinion, but reliable? Endlessly...

[glbedd53]

I own 1911s. Own and have owned Glocks. But the only semi auto handguns that I have ever owned that have been perfect as far as reliability are my two Sigs. I have never dropped any of them though. Yet.

[mr surveyor]

This whole thread is nonsense. Everyone should know by now that a revolver is the only reliable type of handgun.

hhmmmm.... must be department policy to nail up the wanted posters with your side arm

[Toorop]

I love my Glock. I had a Kimber in the past but I hated having to baby it and worrying about rust and other issues. With my Glock, I just let the thing be and it works. I do upkeep on it once a month but for the most part I am not to worried as gun just works all the time.

[Liberty]

Different guns meet different need. Some people want a gun to kick around in their consoles. Others want one that works well with the suit and tie they wear every day. Some think of their guns as fine machines, and want a911, thats tweeked and has the highest of performance. Some think of their guns as tool not unlike a screwdriver or a hammer. Reliable and requiring little maintenance or thought until it is needed.

If one was best for everyone all the time we wouldn't have so many choices

[michael e]

I am a glock guy. I also own a few 1911s, I carry a Glock because I am left handed and my 1911s arent set up for leftys. I have no issues out of either one, I do not feel my 1911s safety would brake off with just normal use. No clue of what he is doing to try and brake them but I am not going to try either. I can't recall dropping any of my guns so no opion on how they land. I do know if I dropped my 1911 it would hurt me alot more than if I dropped my glock ( not due to going off, but the fact that my 1911 is a beautiful firearm , Glock well they are all the same right. Not to mention the 1911 was 2x the price.)

[PvilleStang]

I have had one accidental discharge, and learned a TON from it. I got my heavily modified G17 target pistol and was reholstering it, and slipped my footing, and put a round next to my foot through the bottom of my Kydex holster (mind you this was out in the country at a buddy's ranch, would never even consider carrying that beast). It was an eye opener for sure. ALWAYS index that finger, first and foremost. Second, acquired a fully stock G36 for daily carry with all safety features enabled. I've also worked many times on drawing / holstering on my different holsters to where I can do it in the dark.

KISS: I would recommend many of you try SCUBA Diving. Best way to ensure your safety is stream-lining your equipment, and get rid of extra dangleys and fancy equipment with little practical purpose. Also, you have to learn skills like detaching and reattaching equipment without being able to see them (knives, guages, regs, etc.) The training (especially technical) brings a new light to CC.

That being said, I feel that all the safety features of a 1911 wouldn't have prevented the discharge that occurred that day, except the thumb trigger. Which leads to the question of who carries with the thumb safety enabled?

[Keith]

Not to change the subject but I have never dropped my Glocks or 1911s. I did convert though to Glocks after being a 1911 lover. Still love 1911 but there the only guns to give me issues. I had 2 magazines fail (wilson combat) and had to have my feed ramp repolished to prevent not cycling.

My last issues was the damn slide stop pin. On both of my 1911s I say a few choice words getting that darn thing in no matter what I do its a pain. One of my 1911 is a 4 inch so I have to carry that darn paperclip around to dissasemble her. My Glocks dissasemble and reassemble in under a min and have never not fired or had any mag issues. I asked myself an honest question one day. If I had to bug out what handgun would I grab and it was the Glock for the obvious reasons--Reliable, less parts to break,parts avaliability and holds more rounds.

Believe me this was a hard thing for me to admit as the 1911 is still my first love. Also with Conceal Carry the 1911 rules Glock cant touch it in this catagory. Just my oppinion and we all have one right. Take Care!

[esxmarkc]

A Glock is what you use to fight your way back to your 1911 which you should have never left in the 1st place.

[tbrown]

Series 70 1911s didn't have a firing pin block and were not drop safe. Maybe that's what your friend was thinking.

[The Annoyed Man]

Series 70 1911s didn't have a firing pin block and were not drop safe. Maybe that's what your friend was thinking.

My modern Springfield Loaded is based on the 1911-A1, and it doesn't have a firing pin block either. But, it also has a heavier firing pin spring, and a titanium firing pin. The pin completely lacks enough mass, no matter the drop height, to overcome the inertia of the spring. That requires a drop of the hammer against the pin. I don't worry about what will happen if it get's dropped......other than cosmetic concerns.

I will say this..... one time, my wife, son, and I were at the range together at DPC, and my son was shooting my wife's G19. It was unloaded, and he had just picked it up plus a full magazine to insert into it, when he dropped the gun from 3 or 4 feet up onto rough gravel. My wife didn't see it happen, but I did. My son looked at me, and I looked at him. Neither of us said anything and we both held our breath. He bent over and picked it up. Not a scratch on it....as good as new. We both started laughing. My wife looks up and asks what we're laughing at. So my son tells her "dad farted." I still haven't gotten back at him for that one.

[The Annoyed Man]

I love my Glock. I had a Kimber in the past but I hated having to baby it and worrying about rust and other issues. With my Glock, I just let the thing be and it works. I do upkeep on it once a month but for the most part I am not to worried as gun just works all the time.

I don't baby my Kimber any more than any of my other guns, and it works just fine.