I’ve carried a 19 for over a decade. Before that another 9mm double stack. Since 2001. Honestly I would have been much more comfortable with a Derringer and would have had about the same amount of use. When I decide to move to actual Somalia or Afghan border lands then I might change my mind. Until then…USP45, G19, S&W 27, J-frame, … 45 works, 9 works… whatever. I can drive a Smart for two as easily as I can a GMC dually. The both get me to the same place at the same time
Peoples views are amusing to watch; I have no doubt that mine provide some amusement to others. I would agree that a 1911 doesn’t make a lot of sense these days.
What makes even less sense to me is a 1911 in 9 mm.
I had a TRP once. It was a good gun. Around the same time I bought an HK45c. As a wedding present I received a set of 1911 grips carved by a craftsman from elk antler, but they weren’t made for a 1911 with an ambi safety. They didn’t fit. Less than a year later I sold the TRP because I needed the money, fully intending to one day get another 1911 that would be my forever gun with those elk antler grips.
It’s now been 10 years. Because I’m a former Marine I had my eye on an M45A1, but cost has prevented me from getting another gun of any kind, let alone a 1911. The 1911 is an enigma to me. It’s reliable enough, if you have the right magazines, if the extractor is made from the right kind of steel and has been properly tuned, if it’s hand fitted, if you do your own smithing . . . if, if, if. It was a watershed moment for me this year, moving on in my mind from the 1911 to . . . the gun I already own, the HK45c. No ifs involved. Now I’ve had the HK longer than I’ve owned any gun, with no plans to replace it. It’s a good feeling, liking what you already have.
I’ve tried to like a Glock, I really, really wanted to like the Glock but they just don’t work for me. Someday I would like to try one of the Gen 5 models, without buying it of course. I’ve heard they work for those who tried past iterations with no joy.
My Colt .38 super has worked very well for the past 8-9 years. Now it splits time between being a .38 super, 9mm and .22
I never liked Glock and never owned one myself, and it was not until the M&P with Apex trigger kit did I and others make that change to polymer wonder pistols. There’s now so many great choices, Glock does not even need to be considered if you are not a Glock fan boy.
That’s me. My Sigs work for me, as does my S&W J-frame.
Sure… I “could” get used to a Glock but have no desire to or need to. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As someone else here has in their signature… Liking a Glock is Stockholm syndrome…
One can never forget how personal a handgun is. Like a modern sword, part weapon, part status symbol. For my part, I just want a pistol that works, is relatively light, has decent ammunition capacity, that I can find holsters, etc for, and is affordable and common enough to write off if I ever need to use it for self defense.
I don’t “like” Glocks, but a G19 ended up being the practical choice.
I like S&W DA revolvers and 1911s, for what its worth.
Which it failed to do. It feels as much like a 1911 grip as a brick AND is angled differently.
“The trigger sucks”
— The trigger is a consistent 5.5lbs
OK. Many prefer a pure S/A or a D/A-S/A action. Wash…
“It’s too blocky”
—The slide is the only blocky thing about it and has no bearing on the grip
They mean the grip.
“It has no soul”
—it’s designed to launch 9mm, sweetie
Plastic guns by ANY manufacturer or caliber lack soul. A plastic gun is like a G-Shock watch. It keeps great time, but I prefer to wear a fine mechanical watch instead.
“It just sucks”
— Everybody uses it and I want to be different
It sucks for a LOT of people. This is where we celebrate diversity. If you like it, carry it. If not, don’t.
There are prettier guns, guns with nicer triggers, guns that cost more, and guns that will make people think you are cool online.
But I just want something that works and I don’t mind being separated from for a couple years should it be taken as evidence Everybody comes up with Glock hate but cannot point to a legitimate flaw or failing.
Lemme guess “brass to face”. That has never happened to me from Gen 2 to Gen 5.
But okay
It goes back to personal preference. I don’t like it. THAT is the only reason that I need.
You guys are old. I remember watching Sledgehammer as a kid or maybe I was an infant… and I didn’t understand this one scene:
He was walking with a big limp (was it in church?) and I didn’t understand why it was funny. I guess he was not allowed to carry his 44, which he carried 24/7, hence the limp. My dad had to explain it to me.
Lot of truth right there. Currently I’m almost 50/50 with Glocks and 1911’s, along with a pair of revolvers. FWIW I still like the 45ACP but three of my 1911’s are in 9mm and they are easy to shoot, reliable and accurate. 11 rounds of 9mm fit in my Glock 48/43X or a full sized 1911. Economy of scale certainly dictates which ones I carry concealed. As I get older it’s not about the tool that’s best but what I just like.
Yeah… I was in the police academy when Sledge Hammer was a hit on T.V… Loved that show. Awesome F.T.O. videos. You could be a cop back then. ETA: Yes, I started out carrying a wheel gun. We all did then. 18 rounds total on you to take care of business. No spray and pray then. The horror…
Pick whatever you are good with and carry it. I like Glocks, but I am able to shoot faster and more accurately with the 1911 platform. My cold scores (no warm up rounds fired) on the El Presidente drill shooting a .45 caliber Colt Commander are substantially better than when I shoot the drill with a Glock 19 or Glock 17. Even with additional magazine changes, scores on other drills are substantially better with the 1911 as well.
People often overthink weapon selection for concealed carry. Pick whatever you like chambered in a decent defensive caliber and master it. One old goat I meet frequently for morning coffee carries a K Frame with two spare moon clips and he is fast and accurate with his CCW choice.
Like many older members I cut my teeth on the 1911. I started the Glock journey back and forth in the early nineties and by the early 2000s was a full blown Glocktard. 9mm is the max my arthritis can handle these days, and having a lot of them available is a comfort to me. A good friend of mine recently got a vintage Hi Power with Novacs from the late John Gallager, and now I hate him. That thing is pure sex.
My Springfield 1911 A1 would bean me right between the eyes with a case occasionally to make sure I was paying attention. Today I would fix it - unfortunately, I sent it down the road 25+ years ago.