1911 vs G19 as carry gun.....

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

I know, i know…i dont want this to turn into a mess. I would like to get some serious opinions on why you carry one over the other. I really like both platforms, and i dont think one is better than the other as a weapon…i like certain things about both, and think they are both outstanding guns.

Without attacking the one you disagree with, why do you carry what you do? I shoot both guns well, but im trying to decide on a single carry gun, and i dont switch back and forth all the time. Im starting to shoot competitively, and i am leaning towards a 1911 as my competition gun…i would like to carry what i shoot regularly. I like the feel of the 1911 and shoot it slightly better, but the glock, on paper, is the better carry gun IMO.

1911 pros/cons:
I shoot the 1911 better than any other pistol, and have all my guns setup exactly how i like them. The ergonomics are great, and i love the big .45 round. The gun is very slim, which is awesome to carry, but it is also heavy and has a poor capacity compared to the G19. At the range, id pick the 1911 all day long, but not sold on it as a carry gun yet. I am NOT worried about the 1911 being unreliable…i have quality guns and take care of them properly.

G19 pros/cons:
Its light, accurate, cheap, easy to replace parts, very reliable, striker fired, durable, decent trigger…a pretty damn good gun. The only negative i can find with the glock is that its a little thicker to carry.

Im starting to take some training courses (carbine, shotgun, and handgun), as well as uspsa, and i would like to use the same gun everywhere. How did you guys pick what you carry?

2

I find the 1911 much more comfortable to carry than the Glock. The 1911 is much heavier though. Pretty much everyone on the internet will tell you to carry the Glock. I like the Milt Sparks Versa-Max for the 1911. I have yet to find a comfortable IWB holster for the Glock 19.

The capacity issue comes up a lot. I have used airsoft 1911s loaded to 9 rounds in FOF classes including Southnarc’s AMIS; getting solid hits was way more of an issue. Magazine capacity has never really been a problem in these classes much to my surprise.

Whatever pistol you use educate yourself on what is required to keep it reliable.

3

From a carry newbie. I’ve been carrying concealed as a civilian for only about 6 months.

I carried an M9 on a belt overseas on the FOB and a safariland leg rig outside the wire.

I had a less than stellar brand compact pistol (taurus pt111) that I carried for the better part of 5 months. It was small lightweight and 100% reliable through about 1200 rounds of fmj, and 200 rounds of gold dot jhp’s. Not a high round count, but it never hiccuped. I carried this IWB in a CBST lookalike made by Tommy Theis.

I decided I wanted better aftermarket following and known reliability, so I traded to Tauri and bought a G19. It has been less than reliable with 10 FTE through my first 500 rounds of ownership ~3 weeks now. I will carry it when it proves itself reliable.

Being it’s cold here in IA I have been carrying my 1911 that is 100% reliable with ball and fmj ammo. It’s heavy, not the easiest to conceal with just a t-shirt, but under a jacket it disappears. I carry a spare mag next to my wallet in my weak side front pocket, so with two mags I’m up to g19 capacity.

I’m accurate with it, it’s reliable thus it’s comforting to have on me.

I chose the g19 because of relatively cheap ammo compared to the .45 as I plan on doing some gaming with it as well as carrying it when it proves itself reliable. I can conceal it easily and it’s not heavy in comparison to the 1911.

I don’t know if that’s the type of response you want, but in all reality it comes down to what gives YOU a warm fuzzy on your hip and in your head.

4

I would take a G19 over even the best 1911 simply because I can get replacement parts and fix pretty much anything in the gun with zero skill needed. I can also get about 4 G19s for the price of a decent 1911, which ia a whole lot of warm and fuzzy in case something happens to my primary carry/competition piece.

And as far as width is concerned, I’m 5’10" at my lightest I was about 165lbs, and I could conceal a G19 (and 1911) with nothing more than a good holster and appropriate clothing. Really, width isn’t a big issue, muzzle length and grip protrusion are what really print.

5

Yeah, i carry the 1911’s in a VMII…great holster. The weight isnt terrible with a good belt. The only scenario that worries me about the capacity is multiple threats…the close combat courses ive taken have shown you can go through 9 rounds pretty quick, and the nice sights/trigger of a 1911 wont really matter too much.

Its not the same as putting 21 shots through the same hole at the static range. I was easily accurate enough with the close range point shooting of the glock.

6

…

7

I get much flak on this forum for having the effrontery to carry the 1911 (Oor Browning Hi Power) in event of a thug incursion, but I really do believe that if a handgun were the only thing between me and premature death, I’d prefer it over all the others.

Maybe it comes down to what you’re familiar with and shoot well. If you already shoot the 1911 in competition, why would you want to re-train on a whole new platform? Carry the 1911 in case the “competition” is a gang.

A thug on “fry” doesn’t care what gun you carry, or what caliber it is, or what it’s loaded with. He only cares if you hit or not.

For what it’s worth: FBI agents assigned to computer crime, bank fraud, monitoring interstate child porn, etc. carry issue Glocks.

FBI agents assigned to Hostage Rescue Team or SWAT carry single stack 1911s, having “upgraded” from the Browning. Food for thought.

8

I have carried a Glock 19 for 4 years now and my only complaint is it’s thickness.

I love the satisfaction of having 15 rounds and no safety to fumble with under stress.

Something I do, which may be completely weird and stupid, is put 3 FMJ rounds at the top of my mag and the rest are Federal hollow point.

My theory is if I have to shoot someone I don’t always want to try for a kill, hence the FMJ, if I need to fire more it’s for a reason and then they receive hollow point henceforth. Is that dumb?

Anyway, I love my Glock 19 and find it’s a great carry option.

9

I totally disagree with your method of 3 rounds fmj, but thanks for the reply.

10

They’re both good choices, but the G19 is easier to use and support, and a LOT cheaper to shoot.

Okie John

11

I carry a red dot sight equipped glock 19 aiwb and fine it conceals better than the 1911 I carried aiwb. Ymmv, but I love my 19.

12

And Delta and SF carry Glocks. There goes your silly argument about “I carry what HRT uses.”

Hopefully there will be more logic forthwith.

13

I had a feeling I would find you in here…

OP, read around on the site a little bit and do some searching. There have been about a thousand threads on this very topic and the almost unanimous advice given by the experienced members (I am not one of them) is to go with the Glock. My limited experience has shown that to be solid advice even when comparing to a $2500 1911.

14

Yes. This is dumb. Even dumber yet is to post this fact on this forum.

15

Unless your passion for the 1911 would lead you to carry more often with it, or there really is enough of a difference in how accurately you shoot from concealment with the 1911 that you can logically give up half the number of rounds, it’s G19 all the way.

16

There is definitely not a huge difference between the two when it comes to my speed/accuracy. I am [i]slightly[i] more accurate with the 1911, but adequate with both. The problem is i’d MUCH rather shoot the 1911 at the range/competitions. Its just more fun, and i like the gun better.

Im not LEO/military, nor am i in a high risk situation…im just an ordinary citizen. The chances ill ever need to use a gun in self defense is VERY small to begin with, so i figured it might be better to carry the gun i shoot more often (1911), even though i agree the glock is a better combat weapon.

17

I started as a 1911 shooter. Very easy to shoot accurately. Pretty. Slim.

But I’ve since moved on to a polymer 9mm. The main advantage really is the magazine capacity. With a 1911, faced with 3 attackers, you only have about 3 rounds to stop each threat. That’s assuming you are actually practicing fundamentals while adrenaline is dumping through your body.

In addition, my 1911s choked much more often than my G19.

Finally, I can beat up, sweat on, drop, knock around, and shit all over a $500 G19. I have a much harder time writing off dings and scratches on my $1,500 carry 1911.

YMMV.

18

I just can’t get around the “carrying 8 rounds” thing.

I enjoy the 1911, but not enough to stake my life on it.

19

Like I have something to prove? Heh.

Anyway, why is it dumb?

20

I’ve been in the same situation you’re in for quite awhile.

I really like the 1911 for what it is, the history, looks, feel in hand, delicious trigger, accurate, old-school… whatever.

I have a couple or three custom 1911s and the 45s are stone-cold reliable. I like to shoot Single Stack and CDP and even have a 9mm 1911 just like my 45 for Steel Challenge and just messin’ around.

I am also extremely fond of a Glock 19 and carry one daily because they just conceal better for me and the weight is much better for me because I honestly carry from approximately 0600-2000 or later EVERY DAY.

I use my 19 to play the games too but I train on the Glock exclusively and I still think the Glock trigger and grip angle are better for a high speed, high stress engagement.

-I don’t buy into the "real men carry a caliber that begins with a “4"” bullshit, so the 9 vs 45 debate just does not exist in my mind.

-I’m not ate-up with the zombie dumb-ass so, IMO, any handgun that works is probably gonna do what you need it to.

-MY 1911s run run like a mutha and I’d be lying if I said that I considered a Glock to be more reliable, because honestly, my current 1911s in 45 have been more reliable than my 19s.:confused:

-At the end of the day, it comes down to : “Which gun am I actually gonna have on me?” Answer? Glock 19.

It conceals better, it’s lighter, it works with good hollowpoints available at Wal-Mart, I’m confident with the trigger and other controls under stress, it works bone-stock, it don’t rust (much), parts are cheap, readily available and can be installed with a ball-point pen, it’s a cheap gun.

I have a buddy who still carries a 1911 and I’m totally happy with what he carries because ultimately, he’s carrying it. He has a Glock 19 that I secretly wanted him to carry, but honestly, I’d rather him cover me with the 1911 that he’s been carrying and shooting since 1991(he still calls it his ‘new’ gun) because I know he can use it, and I know that it works.

So that was a lot of rambling but you asked…