Dropping Glock versus 1911

[speedsix]

...I carried the 70s Combat Commander a lot back then...on and off duty...cocked and locked mostly...once in awhile hammer down on a round...commonly done back then...I never knew then that there was no block in place...but never heard of any shots fired by dropping one, only by pulling the trigger while drawing...TAM's post makes me want another 1911...sounds like improvements on the 70s have been made available...
...if I owned a Glock, the "safe action trigger" would be my worry...the 22 I owned made me nervous...druther have a true DAO with a longer pull and went to a P97 DAO when I got rid of the Glock...
...if I dropped a Glock, I'd feel bad...if I dropped a 1911, I'd hit my knees and repent...

[Skiprr]

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.

My most-carry is a Kimber Ultra CDP II. In the days before I got this handy tool, I was showing a friend how to field-strip and reassemble this small 1911-format pistol. She got it almost right.

Then the reassembled gun flew out of her hands and traversed an impressive arc at least four feet away...smack onto a ceramic tile floor.

The tile cracked; had to be replaced. The Kimber landed nose-first on the top of its front sight. There is a slight depression in the metal on the left of the sight to this day.

I detailed stripped the gun, inspected everything, functioned tested it, and took it to the range.

None the worse for wear. Not even the Tritium was disturbed.

Months later, I offered to let a fellow Forum member try the gun at Shiloh in Houston. I took one lane, and he the other. All went well for a while.

Then I heard a strange sound from the lane to my right, not a normal .45 ACP discharge, and I swear I could see bullets trailing off to the left of the target, almost like squibs.

Upon inspection, my friend had charged the magazine with .40 S&W rounds, not .45 ACP. Mucho more pressure than even a .45 ACP +P. Not a good thing to do to a gun.

Yep: I detailed stripped the gun, inspected everything, functioned tested it, and took it to the range.

This poor Kimber has suffered more than it ever should have. But it survived it all unscathed.

After about 2,000 rounds, it has never failed to shoot and cycle every time the trigger was pulled. Even with incorrect ammo...

[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.

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

I guess a better way of putting it would be that I like the fact that with my Glock, I don't have to be as conscientious about maintenance with it. I also like the fact that it is polymer and that means less rust issues as a possibility in the long run.

[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.

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

My most-carry is a Kimber Ultra CDP II. In the days before I got this handy tool, I was showing a friend how to field-strip and reassemble this small 1911-format pistol. She got it almost right.

Then the reassembled gun flew out of her hands and traversed an impressive arc at least four feet away...smack onto a ceramic tile floor.

The tile cracked; had to be replaced. The Kimber landed nose-first on the top of its front sight. There is a slight depression in the metal on the left of the sight to this day.

I detailed stripped the gun, inspected everything, functioned tested it, and took it to the range.

None the worse for wear. Not even the Tritium was disturbed.

Months later, I offered to let a fellow Forum member try the gun at Shiloh in Houston. I took one lane, and he the other. All went well for a while.

Then I heard a strange sound from the lane to my right, not a normal .45 ACP discharge, and I swear I could see bullets trailing off to the left of the target, almost like squibs.

Upon inspection, my friend had charged the magazine with .40 S&W rounds, not .45 ACP. Mucho more pressure than even a .45 ACP +P. Not a good thing to do to a gun.

Yep: I detailed stripped the gun, inspected everything, functioned tested it, and took it to the range.

This poor Kimber has suffered more than it ever should have. But it survived it all unscathed.

After about 2,000 rounds, it has never failed to shoot and cycle every time the trigger was pulled. Even with incorrect ammo...

It is a testament to how well Kimber builds their guns.

Nevertheless I still prefer my Glock as I have grown accustomed to it.

[snatchel]

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.

TAM, let me get that Kimber and I'll baby her for you :)

[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.

I guess a better way of putting it would be that I like the fact that with my Glock, I don't have to be as conscientious about maintenance with it. I also like the fact that it is polymer and that means less rust issues as a possibility in the long run.

Well, just for the sake of argument, your Glock's slide is not stainless steel, although I can't say for sure about your barrel. The slide on my polymer framed M&P45 is stainless, under that black finish, and so is the barrel. The slides and barrels on XD and XDm polymer pistols are also stainless steel. My 3" Kimber has a stainless slide and barrel, and an alloy frame. When you put it in that perspective, your Glock is no more likely to be rust free than any of the others.

Don't get me wrong. Your Glock is a good pistol. I don't mean to be critical of it (other than its homely looks ). But, to think that you don't need to be diligent about maintenance is to invite disaster. Glocks are as likely to go kaboom, fail, jam, etc., as any other gun. The "Glock's don't require maintenance" notion is a myth. They have moving parts, and the movement of those parts can be impeded by poor maintenance. Failure of those parts to move as designed can get you killed. You shouldn't ignore the proper maintenance of your Glock any more than I should for any of my guns.

It may go "bang" every time you pull the trigger, but if you ignore maintenance, the day will come when it won't. Oh.....and we own a Glock too.

[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.

TAM, let me get that Kimber and I'll baby her for you :)

Not a chance. But I might let you hold it for a minute.

[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.

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

I guess a better way of putting it would be that I like the fact that with my Glock, I don't have to be as conscientious about maintenance with it. I also like the fact that it is polymer and that means less rust issues as a possibility in the long run.

Well, just for the sake of argument, your Glock's slide is not stainless steel, although I can't say for sure about your barrel. The slide on my polymer framed M&P45 is stainless, under that black finish, and so is the barrel. The slides and barrels on XD and XDm polymer pistols are also stainless steel. My 3" Kimber has a stainless slide and barrel, and an alloy frame. When you put it in that perspective, your Glock is no more likely to be rust free than any of the others.

Don't get me wrong. Your Glock is a good pistol. I don't mean to be critical of it (other than its homely looks ). But, to think that you don't need to be diligent about maintenance is to invite disaster. Glocks are as likely to go kaboom, fail, jam, etc., as any other gun. The "Glock's don't require maintenance" notion is a myth. They have moving parts, and the movement of those parts can be impeded by poor maintenance. Failure of those parts to move as designed can get you killed. You shouldn't ignore the proper maintenance of your Glock any more than I should for any of my guns.

It may go "bang" every time you pull the trigger, but if you ignore maintenance, the day will come when it won't. Oh.....and we own a Glock too.

She might be homely, but she gets teh job done.

As far as the Glock barrel being stainless, I am not sure. You are correct about the maintenance and it is a myth however Glocks are much more forgiving in my opinion then many other guns. As far as moving parts, I do believe a Glock 17 has only 36-38 parts not including the sites or magazines. I believe it is one of the pistols with the least amount of parts.

I do want an M&P but in 9mm instead of .45 ACP. I have been looking to see the pro model as well as the longslide. I like firearm platforms with a Fullsize and compact version that can share magazines. I have been looking for an M&P to rent but can't find any.