Is the 1911 the most reliable handgun design (after revolvers)??

emilio613

emilio613

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The reason I am asking this. I have a 1911A1 (norc, but I have hopped it up a bit; Storm lake barrel, bushing and thread on compensator, full length guide rod (polished), trigger (polished), etc), but I was thinking of trading it (if someone would ever want to lol), or selling it and buying a Glock in 45acp (one of the compact ones, like the 30 series ones).

My question is, I have heard the argument before that, even though Glocks are reliable, the 1911 is the best semi-auto design (albeit a biased, owner bsaed opinion), and that they suffer the least jams/problems etc.

Is this true? Should I hold on to my 1911, and just work on it a little more?

thanks!
 
In MY humble opinion:

The 1911 is an outstanding piece of history, in the development of the handgun, but, I have yet to see ONE reliable example, personally. Lots of guys who ride motorcycles like Harley Davidsons, too, and I think the 1911 design is quite a parallel beast: Solid, outstanding for the time it was developed, and totally outdated now. You tend to either love 'em, or hate 'em.

YMMV
 
Oh, and I forgot to note that you have a Norc - Be careful on this forum: criticizing a Norinco is likely to get you tarred and feathered.... (!)

;)

Glocks are a totally different handgun design - Apples and oranges, really. Go out and try one before you buy anything else!
 
No they are absolutely not the most reliable handgun design after revolvers. Many 1911's are very reliable but just as many are not. Sigs,Glocks and many other designs since are more reliable.
 
Look at my username.....

I also own a 1911 (brand to be witheld).

So, imho, like above, Glocks et al are a different beast altogether. With 1911's it comes down to the manufacturer, and sometimes, what day your gun was made on.

This debate rages all the time on the IDPA forum.

Shooting a 1911 ----> better be good at Tap, Rack, Bang.

Flame on
 
"The 1911 is an enthusiasts gun" - Larry Vickers

If you aren't really, really a 'gun guy' who does all of the maintenance and keeps his stuff clean and squared away, there are many pistols which will suit you better. That isn't saying it's a bad pistol (I love mine) but they aren't as good at being ignored until needed as most modern designs. Glocks, Sigs, Smiths, H&K's and a long list of others are better at being abused.
 
enefgee said:
"The 1911 is an enthusiasts gun" - Larry Vickers

If you aren't really, really a 'gun guy' who does all of the maintenance and keeps his stuff clean and squared away, there are many pistols which will suit you better. That isn't saying it's a bad pistol (I love mine) but they aren't as good at being ignored until needed as most modern designs. Glocks, Sigs, Smiths, H&K's and a long list of others are better at being abused.
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Hard to beat the price of a Norc though! haha

Although $500 obo for a Glock 21 (in the EE now) isn't too bad. Man, I have thinking to do!
 
1911's are fantastic guns and many current manufacturers are doing some very impressive things with the 1911 platform. Many of today's 1911's are without a doubt the finest 1911s ever made. A well maintained 1911 can be amongst the most reliable of guns.

And therein lies the rub... The 1911 is very much a gun for the aficionado or enthusiastic. To get the best from a 1911 you have to be willing to get to know your gun very well and keep up on it's care and maintenance. A lot goes on inside a 1911 to get it to cycle, lock up and fire properly and reliably. It is an older design (although pure genius even by today's standards) and today's mass produced combat guns are more "reliable" out of the box and don't normally require any real break-in or tweaking to function at their full potential.

1911s are amazing guns and they will always be around. But they are what they are and many of us love them for just that. But for sheer reliability, it is hard to beat today's modern combat handguns.

**EDIT**

enefgee beat me too it! But 1911 gurus like Larry Vickers and Hilton Yam definitely know what they are talking about when they call the 1911 an enthusiast's gun... Their articles on the subject are worth searching out on the web and reading. You may love your 1911 even more when you are done! But you won't be confused about what it is or isn't... ;)
 
I have a 9mm NP-29 1911 and a GLOCK17 gen3. Both are unmodified and have been equally reliable with factory ball and jhps.

The 1911 fits my medium sized hands better while the G17 feels like a 2x4 everytime I pick it up. TBS I shoot the Glock better than the 1911. Probably due to the bigger sights on the GLOCK as opposed to the tiny GI sights on the 1911.

The GLOCK is easier to strip and clean and has a rail for tactical goodies.

The 1911 has the advantage of being slimmer and heavier so in terms of manual persuation and concealment, it would have an advantage.
 
emilio613 said:
Hmmm so looking into a Glock may not be such a bad idea huh? haha
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1911s have lots of history: Phillipines, WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam, gangster sidearm, etc. IMHO you love and buy them for that reason.

If you want reliability as your main criteria in a semi then go with a Glock, SIG or HK. I'm sure other gunnutz will mention other sidearms but those would be my choice.
 
Unless you're bush wacking with your 1911, or planning on going scuba diving with it, I'm sure it's reliable enough for what you can put it through. The average shooter shoots a few hundred rounds at the range, cleans the gun and then locks it up. Under those conditions, almost any modern gun will be reliable.

To answer your question. If you were going to torture your gun, I don't think it would be the most reliable handgun.
 
emilio613 said:
Is the 1911 the most reliable handgun design (after revolvers)??
The reason I am asking this. I have a 1911A1 (norc, but I have hopped it up a bit; Storm lake barrel, bushing and thread on compensator, full length guide rod (polished), trigger (polished), etc), but I was thinking of trading it (if someone would ever want to lol), or selling it and buying a Glock in 45acp (one of the compact ones, like the 30 series ones).

My question is, I have heard the argument before that, even though Glocks are reliable, the 1911 is the best semi-auto design (albeit a biased, owner bsaed opinion), and that they suffer the least jams/problems etc.

Is this true? Should I hold on to my 1911, and just work on it a little more?
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Firstly, Let me say that I am more of a wheelgunner than anything else. And my 686 and GP100 both have "stopped" at one time. The GP required a trip to the Quebec Ruger Warranty Center.

IMO, the 1911 design, if manufactured and used according to JMB's specifications will probably be as reliable if not more so, as anything out there including Glock 17, Ruger P89/90 and the Sig 226.

This means shooting hardball mil-spec ammo only, 7 round magazine, no additional fitting or smithing, or fooling around with the design. Totally stock. Preferably by Colt, Remington, Ithaca under government contract. Two World Wars, an early 1950's police action, minor skirmishes and that incredibly foolish Southeast Asian conflict in the 60's, have proven the combat reliability and effectiveness of the 1911 design.

I sincerely doubt JMB would be happy with what we have been doing to his most famous design.

The 1911's perceived "unreliability" came about when we decided to make it something it was never designed for. And its perceived "reliability" came about when we fiddled around with it as well.
 
PGM449 said:
FYI the 30 series is not the compact line of Glocks
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Darn I was thinking of the Glock 30 and 36, are those not the smaller ones?

Which ones ARE the compact ones? haha so many numbers!!!

As for what the others are saying, it looks as though it makes sense to buy a 1911 and also to have a glock/sig/whatnot as a second pistol. That way you can be an enthusiast, and also have another more modern gun too!
 
If you see something you like, buy it, try it out and if you hate it, sell it. You can never have too many guns. Sure the 1911 isn't the most reliable pistol and I agree that it's an "enthusiast's gun", but if I am reading the name of this site correctly - we are all a little more than enthusiastic about guns!!
 
I would like to see a side by side comparison of the newer S&W M&P Pro in 9mm alongside the 9mm Glock Model 17, in it's 'match' variant.

I myself own one Colt 1911 and several wheelguns, more than a few S&Ws, two Colts and one DW.
The only time I've ever had a wheel stop on me at the range, it was one time, from faulty reloads from me. (too long for the cylinder)
And once more when the cylinder ejector pin backed out. ( blue locktight and reseasted serviceable)
 
Hokus Grey said:
If you see something you like, buy it, try it out and if you hate it, sell it. You can never have too many guns. Sure the 1911 isn't the most reliable pistol and I agree that it's an "enthusiast's gun", but if I am reading the name of this site correctly - we are all a little more than enthusiastic about guns!!
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Wish I could do that.... I doubt I could spend the money on a gun, fall in love with it, then sell it haha.
 
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