Perfecting the Perfect Pistol
Mod Your Glock For Combat or Competition!
By Brian Jensen
I am of the school that today’s modern Glock is the absolute “perfect” pistol. Let’s face it, the Glock is today’s police service weapon of choice, with more agencies carrying it than any other weapon. Above that, it is a top choice for civilian shooters. It is simple, reliable, and pretty much idiot proof as it comes right out of the box. As for me, the Glock passes my personal test for a combat weapon: draw, pull trigger, gun goes “bang”, bullet comes out (the correct end of course) and with proper aiming, the bullet hits bad guy. The Glock does this with stone cold reliability, every time.
With such a great weapon, you may ask, why would you want to tinker with it? The Glock is not really known as a “customized” type gun; not like the 1911’s you see on the IPSC course, and I even see many 1911s in concealed carry holsters with what I know are customized parts. But some of us can’t help but want to tinker with our Glocks and there are practical improvements that I have found useful. The Glock is at its finest when it is used as a working gun, and these improvements help it to work better, as a combat weapon, and with the advent of competitions like IPSC and GSSF, in competition as well.
Customize to the purpose of the Gun
Sometimes we don’t tinker just to make the gun run “slicker,” like you would a Smith & Wesson revolver. Sometimes we are aiming for practical functionality to serve specific needs. In any weapon used for self-defense, you want to eek out every last bit of combat performance to get every edge in a gunfight. (Remembering that skill and practice are of the greatest importance when it comes to winning a gunfight, and any gadgets will only serve to enhance those.)
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Also, on a gun used for personal protection, I generally don’t like using after market parts for vital items such as trigger springs or other critical internal parts. The guys at Glock know what they are doing when it comes to these pieces and I would like them in my corner of the courtroom if the performance of a gun I am required to use in a gunfight is called into question later. Reliability is still quality #1, and Glock is second to none in that category.
Any customizing needs to take into consideration the mission of the gun. If it’s a gun for self-defense or carry, you don’t disable safeties, or do things that incur liability. Because even if there is no criminal liability issues in your gunfight, the issue of civil liability comes up in almost every shooting incident, even completely justified ones. The plaintiffs often win because the lawyers accuse the shooter of making the gun “more deadly” by some way or the other. For customization on a weapon you depend on for your life, emphasize things that enhance reliability and combat readiness.
Three sets of sights, Meprolight on the left, Trijicon center, and the standard Glock factory sights on the right. |
Shooting the Glock, either for fun or competition is enhanced by picking the right modifications for your gun. |
Trijicon Night Sights (left), Meprolight Night Sights (right) |
Meprolight Night Sights provide a better sight picture than the Glock factory sights, and are much more durable. |
Standard trigger spring (left) will give a trigger pull of 5.5 lbs with a standard connector, while the NY1 trigger (right) will give you a 8.5 lb trigger. |
This mini Glock has been set up for carry. It has a smooth faced G22 trigger, low snag night sights from Meprolight, and Pierce +1 magazine floorplate. |
The nice thing about customizing the Glock, it is so easy to work on. |
If the gun is for competition, accuracy and speed – basically performance, are the orders of the day. Liability can take a back seat because all of our rounds will be pointed downrange. In a competition gun you want speed for rounds on target. GSSF or IPSC, either way you are competing on a timed event. Things such as magazine wells to speed reloads, and a light trigger that would make a civil litigation attorney jump for joy will be the order of the day. Match grade barrels from such groups as Storm Lake and Bar Sto can be had from suppliers like Midway USA to increase accuracy as well.
Once you decide the mission for your Glock, you can start making choices for the things you tweak.
I’m not a competition shooter, so my modifications are more for a defensive or combat weapon. Keeping that in mind, I look to several “must have’s” when I do any modifications to a Glock. However, of those of you who want a competition gun, there are also a lot of “Must Have’s” you may want. I’ll give a few suggestions here.
Sights:
The plastic sights that come with the Glock are OK for the occasional shooter and if you have nothing else, but after a few hundred draws, the front sight loses the crisp edges needed for a good sight picture. The plastic wears down and becomes rounded making accurate shots much harder. The front sight eventually become useless. After fifteen years with Glocks, I have seen a lot of front sights fly downrange while the gun is being drawn, leaving a blank slide at the muzzle and a blank stare on the face of the shooter.
At a minimum I would replace the front sight with a metal one. But I would prefer to go with night sights; in today’s world they’re pretty much a “must have”. Their cost is easily justified when you consider most shootings happen in poor lighting conditions. Makers such as Meprolight™, Trijicon™ or XS make so many variations that there is surely one to fit your needs. Glock even has their own set. These sights can add a margin of accuracy that could save the day (or night as it were) in a gunfight.
Now, if this is a competition gun, I like the Warren Tactical Dave Sevigny sights. The narrow front sight with the generous window on the rear set make for an outstanding sight picture. That’s why shooters like Dave Sevigny use them, and I’m sure it’s why Warren Tactical named the sights after him.
Triggers and Other Internal Parts
After the sights, I would consider the trigger spring. You can have anywhere from a 3.5 lb. to a 12 lb. monster from Glock depending on trigger spring and connector combinations.
The best way to pick is to ask what your needs are based on the role of the weapon. For a target gun, the 3.5 pound trigger can be a good option to consider, whereas the 5.5 (standard) or 8.5 lb. (New York 1) is the general rule for police or combat weapons. Lighter ones can be found after market, but the ones from Glock tend to work best in my experience.
The next thing I always have to put in for anything other than a deep concealment gun is the extended magazine release for my Glock. (This is essentially a Glock 21 magazine release put into a Glock 22 or 17.) It gives you more leverage and is easier at dropping the magazine; which is not something you want to be fooling around with in a firefight. The last thing I want to be doing is fumbling around with any more thumbs than I already have, especially when someone is shooting at me.
A competition gun is no different in this respect. You want your magazine changes to be fast and sure, since a fumbled magazine change means lost time and a lower score. An extended release will make them quick and reliable.
There are also some other after-market mag releases, but I haven’t tried them. If the gun is for competition, the aftermarket ones can be larger and easier to use. Now, with the advent of the Gen 4 guns, however, with their larger, reversible buttons, this may change some, but we have yet to see. People who like to mod like to mod and they will most likely continue to mod regardless of what comes stock on the pistol.
For those with the smaller 9mm and .40 S&W Glocks, such as a Glock 23’s or 27’s, I like to do one other addition: I like to put the Glock 22 trigger with trigger bar on. It is essentially the same part, but the trigger and bar for the smaller guns are “target” triggers with ridges on the trigger face. Glock does this for importation points. After a prolonged amount of shooting, my finger can get a little bit raw from all the ridges. (Yeah I know, wimpy fingers…) I have found the smooth face of the G-22 trigger is just more comfortable to shoot with. It is important to shoot your carry gun, and if something impedes your ability to do that, I say it has to go.
I also round the trigger safety to match the contour of the trigger. While I consider the Glock an outstanding weapon, this has always been a pet peeve of mine. They could make the trigger far better by molding the trigger safety to match the trigger face. Since they don’t, we are left with either paying big bucks for an after market unit, or using a discreet amount of elbow grease and emery paper to do it ourselves. Fortunately parts are so easy to get for Glocks that you never have to worry about botching something and not being able to fix it inexpensively.
Mini Glocks for CCW
For the mini Glocks, – they deserve special attention, since these are generally CCW guns, and they serve very well in that position. As a Detective, I carry one everyday, and I’m not alone. In my department’s roster of off-duty guns, the G27 is the most popular by far. For the civilian concealed permit holder, they are an excellent choice for concealment and power.
First off, I dump the factory sights and put on a set of Meprolight’s for night sights. They have a set that is made especially for the mini Glocks, which are slanted somewhat to help them from snagging. I also avoid the extended magazine release since that’s just not my priority for a concealed gun.
I always add the finger extensions for all my magazines. For the Glock 27 and 33 I would put on the +1 extender from Pierce Grips. (This turns into a +2 for the 9mm model.) These add a round, making the capacity a full 10. That extra round can mean the difference between going home or not, so I heartily suggest this addition. It does not add enough to make the gun print through my clothing, at least for me. In addition, that added surface to grip with my little finger, which makes shooting the little Glocks more controllable. If you are using the G27 as a pocket pistol you should try it with and without the extender, and they can make the back end of the Glock more “catchy” coming out of the pocket.
Grips:
Another worthwhile addition you may consider for your Glock are the rubber grip sleeves by Hogue and Pachmayer. These make the gun more comfortable to shoot, and give a more positive grip. This is especially true if you carry the gun in a marine environment like I do: between salt mist and water on the grip, they can get a bit slippery. Some shooters have even used skateboard tape for better grips. However, if this is a concealment gun, these add-on grips can snag clothes, and cause the gun to “print” the outline of the grip through your clothes, which usually is an un-tucked shirt. (It’s pretty embarrassing when someone in the check out line let’s you know, “Hey mister, your gun’s showing??!!”)
One last “must ” I have is purely cosmetic. I like to put the after-market plugs in the back strap of the Glocks. While the amount of dirt that actually gets up into the gun that way is very minimal, with the water environment I live and work in, I feel better with the gap plug in. It also just plain looks better to me. (I know, oh, the vanity of it all…)
Other Ideas…
Some additional ideas are out there as well. Companies make “match grade” barrels that will really tighten groups up, but while that’s a necessity in a competition target gun, I am not convinced it is as necessary in a combat gun. The Glock will fire reliably with the barrel from the factory and give ample combat performance. I do not know the reliability factor of these other barrels, good or bad, but if you lose reliability to go from a 4″ group at 25 yards to a 1 ½” group at 25 yards, then I don’t see it as a benefit.
There are all sorts of other accessories for the Glock, such as various light attachments and laser sights. These are useful under different circumstances, but you need to evaluate them each for their own merits. Flashlights are really useful when its dark, and laser sights can be used as a good attention getter. Translation, nothing says, “Get the Hell Away from me!” like a small red dot on a would-be attacker’s chest.
Beyond What you Can Do Yourself
There are other accessories and treatments to Glocks that go beyond these listed above. If you don’t like the finish on your Glock (I don’t know why…) you can always get them plated with NP3 from Robar, or other similar finishes.
There are also companies that will customize the grip of your Glock pistol, slimming it down, making different textures, and making it even more compact. They will even put cocking serrations on the front of your slide for those who really want it. Bowie Tactical and Robar both do this well. The sky is really the limit for what you can do. I have seen quite a few Glocks that after all the work was done on them looked, well very un-Glock like.
The Things You Don’t Want…
OK…so there are a bunch of things you can do, but what are the things you shouldn’t do?
A few things I have learned over the years is that you never, ever, do things to a combat handgun to make it ripe for some liability lawyer to use against you. These are the things such as lowering a trigger pull weight unreasonably (I usually say under 3 ½ – 4 pounds) that can make for a negligent discharge.
Another thing, while I know it looks “hard core” to put on a rear slide plate with a skull and crossbones on it, think again. Imagine that you use that weapon in self defense and possibly injure or kill your attacker. That plate on your Glock will be exhibit #1 for someone who is suing you afterwards. It will not matter one bit that it was a fully justified police or civilian shooting that you did everything right, things like that plate will make it possible for counsel to paint you as bloodthirsty. (Mr. Plaintiff, can you say just how many zero’s you want on that check for damages…)
In the end, you need to evaluate these custom changes for yourself. Some may work for you, others not. There are surely some other add-ons I haven’t even mentioned.
Good luck, good shooting, and above all, be safe.
I am new to Glock. I have one. I like the gun, detest the trigger. To my mind, somebody needs to make a trigger for my Glock 19 that fires from the trigger full forward position, which will work with a thumb safety. And the thumb safety should act as a thumb rest when in the ready/ fire position. Yup, just like the 1911 pistol.
Great article and great advice that can really be used across the board of most of the plastic fantastics. As you stated in your article Glock’s are a perfect when used as a working gun. For a firearm that it’s meant to fit the masses it strikes that perfect balance of simplicity and reliability. http://www.RookWorx.com #rookworx
I’ve owned a G22 since 2008 and in the almost 6 years I’ve had it I’ve only had 1 stovepipe with some Remington UMC ammo. I’ve change the mag release, slide stop and sights and have never had a problem with it. Practice, practice, practice is all I can say. When I went for my CCW there were some people there who seemed like they woke up that morning and thought it would be a fun thing to do- I even had to load one lady’s magazines for her because she didn’t know how.
Every pistol nowadays is as reliable as the next; it really comes down to how it feels in your hand and what your price point is. Sure you could spend over $1000 for a 1911, Sig, or HK but why if a Glock fits your needs, budget and hits where you aim?
Have shot 1911 for 20 years in target competition. Carry and shoot a Glock 19 just as long. You 1911 fans, do you carry hammer cocked and locked? The Glock is safe yet ready to go, while a locked and cocked 1911 is holster only and practice a lot! Over many years I have heard the same thing about the stopping power of the .45ACP,(Glock now has a number of .45’s) but nothing about how you carry the 1911 safely, yet able to bring in play without a lot of movie hero moves. (pull slide, or cock hammer with round in chamber? really?) As A native NYer who respects and loves the NYPD, I can tell you there’s a really good reason every NY cop carries a Glock and not a revolver any more(yes I know about the NY reload,second gun) and it has nothing to do with shooting skill. If NY went with the Glock is has to be simple and stone cold reliable.What auto can you say that about?
Have shot 1911 for 20 years in target competition. Carry and shoot a Glock 19 just as long. You 1911 fans, do you carry hammer cocked and locked? The Glock is safe yet ready to go, while a locked and cocked 1911 is holster only and practice a lot! Over many years I have heard the same thing about the stopping power of the .45ACP,(Glock now has a number of .45’s) but nothing about how you carry the 1911 safely, yet able to bring in play without a lot of movie hero moves. (pull slide, or cock hammer with round in chamber? really?) As A native NYer who respects and loves the NYPD, I can tell you there’s a really good reason every NY cop carries a Glock and not a revolver any more(yes I know about the NY reload,second gun) and it has nothing to do with shooting skill. If NY went with the Glock is has to be simple and stone cold reliable.What auto can you say that about?
I really enjoyed the article and thank you for taking the time to post it. When I was in my late teens back in the ’60s I used to reload my own and had several firearms including a nice .30cal M1 carbine, an Astra 600 9mm and a Colt .38spcl among others. I went into the Army and once out have had zero to do with firearms for the past 45 years. Now there’s a blitz on the 2nd amendment. I joined the NRA just to put some money against those attacking our freedoms. My concern over this nonsense only incidentally re-kindled my long dormant interest in shooting. Thus in little more than a week I will take into my possession my first new handgun since the wretched ’60s. A Glock G19 upon which I settled after much dithering between all the larger bore calibers. I seriously looked at the Sig Sauers and the H&Ks but could not warrant paying the extra dough. I’ve fired them all and the Glock may not be quite as comfy as the H&K but it’s less than half the cost and I can hit the target just as well with it. Although not useful for bringing rhinos to their knees all the 9 millimeters are just plain fun to shoot not to mention relatively economical compared to some of the larger bored pistols. Also, I suspect if needed for home defense it could at least discourage intruders.
I am a pro staff member for CZ-USA and I cannot brag enough about the new CZ P-07 Duty. So I am talking with my son about my new CZ and he brings up that he bought a Glock 19 and really likes it, I kind of gave him a hard time because I was never a Glock fan and only due to ignorance. My son then asks if we can go to the range when he gets into town and of course any chance to shoot I will. My boy gets here and I have to show off my CZ and while he is checking mine out I ask to see his. Wow I said, it was very comfortable in my hand, so off we went to the range. I have to say after shooting his gun I was having a change of heart. The very next week we had our local area gun show and of course I was looking at the Glocks. What really did it for me was the fact that you can customize them so easily and when I stumbled into the Ghost Maker rep showing their new trigger job I was sold. Bought a 23 had the complete Ghost Maker kit and night sights, everything. I went to the range the minute I received it and all I can say is WOW!!!! Now I have two G23’s and fixing to buy a G27 and looking at a G17 to send to SJC to fully customize it for opens, boy i’m hooked, what a product!!!!
You may want to reconsider changing out your compact trigger for a non-target type from a G22 or G17. I say this because the compact Glocks need to meed certain “Checks” to allow importation. The Target Trigger meets one of those Checks. This means that you may own an unlawfully modified/imported firearm. Also, trimming the trigger safety may look just as good to the prosecution as a light trigger pull. “accidental discharge wounded/killed the victim.” This is all just my humbly/concerned opinion. Regardless, make sure your shooting is a justifiable one; this may only keep you from being found guilty, not from going broke and being labelled as a “rightwing gun fanatic.”
I’ve owned a G30 since 03. It has had one failure in that time, and that was shooting a friends reload rounds. I’ve had a Kimber TLE/RL 1911 for 5 years. The Kimber was double the cost of the Glock. If I have less than 3 malfunctions per trip to the range, I’m happy with my 1911. Granted, I haven’t put 5k rounds through it, and maybe it needs some more break in, but none the less the bottom line is this; out of the box, my Glock has worked without fail with not a single modification. Out the box Kimber states that “a 500 round break in period is required before you should consider something an issue and return to Kimber for inspection.” For defense purposes, the choice is simple….or you could ask the bad guy to hold on while you clear a problem with your beautiful 1911. And don’t get me wrong, I love my Kimber 1911. It’s the gun LAPD SWAT carries for christ sake, I know it can be a dominating force, but I’m not shooting thousands upon thousands of rounds a year (Dam sure not lately when you consider .45’s cost nearly .40 cent each these days) I have them both, I love them both, but day to day you’ll find me with a Glock on my side.
I picked up a gen 2 19 back in the early 90’s because I thought they were going to get banned due to the hype about getting through metal detectors. I really didn’t like the look at the time but wanted one just in case. I still have that gun in addition to a gen3 30 and a gen4 27. Over the years I had 4 colt 1911’s of various styles and each one needed work to make it reliable with anything but 230grain hard ball ammo. After several thousand rounds through my Glocks, I have had no breakage and the only feeding issues were with bad hand loads. In fact I have had more issues with revolvers than with the Glocks. With that said, I am no Glock fanboy. I have several handguns that I enjoy shooting, including one colt 1911 that is a work of art. Its like comparing them to a Harley and Honda. One is beautiful and fun to sit on and show off and the other is what I use when I am actually going to ride all day without working on it.
Shot a lot of guns before making my choice for concealed carry.
Practice like you play. And this ain’t no game. Keep it simple so it
becomes second nature. Bottom line is you put the rounds where they
belong and hope the bad guy’s or girl’s don’t have one. That would be
the Glock 27.
I just had to say it. I hated Glocks. Yes, hated. I swore I would never own one. I decided on a .40 caliber based on the ballistics for my next handgun purchase. I then researched, researched, and researched some more firearms. In the end, I couldn’t find a single firearm out there that compared to the Glock 23 for reliability, performance, and intrinsic accuracy. I chose the Glock 23 and have been happy with the purchase. Minus the front sites, which burred after the first day.
Oh, and about the 1911’s. I literally laugh out loud when I hear people sing their praises and bash a Glock. Sure, they are beautiful guns, and “status” symbols. But I am telling no lie here. I have seen a Colt 1911, Springfield 1911, and a SIG 1911 jam. And this was in the hands of VERY experienced shooters (especially myself using the Colt). You CANNOT, under any circumstances, run hollow points through these firearms reliably and feel secure that it will go “bang” on the second shot. The reliability isn’t there and that’s 3 manufacturers! You can’t blame it on the manufacturer. So what it is then? It’s the design, plain and simple. Go ahead and argue, I have personal experience with these firearms and grew up shooting the Colt. 1911 models have become a fad, much like the AR-15 or a truck with an 8″ lift and 38″ tires.
Bottom line, when my wife or daughters life is in jeopardy, I will trust ONLY a firearm I have seen perform everyday without fail. That would be the Glock.
By the way, Ruger P95’s are pretty nice too.
I’ll carry my 13+rd Glock 23 for protection over a 7 or 8rd Colt any day of the week. Glocks are meant to be carried and used while Colt’s,Kimbers,Wilsons are meant to be collected and saved. Both are great hand guns but i’d trust my well being on a Glock
When I was much, much younger I acquired a couple of wonderful handguns but managed to ruin one of them while trying to take it apart. If Glocks had been around then, I would have one fewer regret. I very much enjoy the Glock’s ingenious combination of reliability and simplicity. I can detail strip mine in minutes and (miraculously) get it back together in the same few minutes and it still works. I have made many of the mods suggested above (extended mag release, extended slide stop lever, smooth trigger, “lighter” connector and a few others) but I want to point out that all of these are completely reversible in a matter of minutes. So…I can jazz up my gun for a Steel Match and then, while I am cleaning it up afterwards, put it back together as a stock “semi-lawyer-proof” carry gun. For me, this gun is really a great value and a lot of fun to tinker with and to shoot.
My 1911 is great until the elements get ahold of it. Then it jams and won’t fire until I strip it and clean it. My glock takes the elements and ammo and never stops.
Glock =proven reliability
Former law enforcement here, turned attorney. When I was in the police academy back in the early 1990’s, all we were allowed to shoot were revolvers (they’ve since changed and allow semi-autos). I graduated the academy shooting the second best. On qualifications, I was shooting 118 to 119 out of 120. I then purchased a Glock 23, shot 50 rounds out of it. I went to formally qualify with the G23, and shot a perfect 120 out of 120, without anything even being close to the borderlines. Sure, you can always say that a certain firearms for a certain person is what fits, but you certainly can’t go wrong with a Glock.
I couldn’t have said it any better myself than Mr. Barbour has. I liken the Glock versus 1911 debate to the 9mm versus .45ACP debate. There is always going to be people on both sides of the argument that refuse to accept or acknowledge that either weapon has its purpose and serves that purpose well. No doubt the 1911 is a solid design and the proof is not open for argument. This gun is made today just like it was 100 years ago. That is impressive to say the least.
Now, Glock doesn’t have the years that the 1911 has but it also has a proven track record. We are nearing 30 years the Glock has been around. In that time, many people have attempted to disprove the reliability of the Glock pistol without success. Just like the 1911, it is a proven, reliable weapon. The Glock is not meant to replace the 1911. Both weapons were developed to meet a set of strict standards to meet the harshest of environments, combat.
So, which do I prefer? I have both and when I choose my carry weapon, it is a G23. I think the key statement the original poster typed above is this, “Any one can pick up a garden variety 1911 and with a few bucks dress it up and tighten it up and have 100% reliabilty and compete with the best.” I have not met one person that has purchased a 1911 and not sent it to the shop or tinkered with it, myself included. Whether it is polishing the ramp, tuning the extractor, changing springs, or jacking around with the slide, the 1911 needs a little work to make it reliable with any ammunition out there.
With the Glock, it comes out of the box and begins chewing up anything you feed it. I have never owned a handgun prior to this that has fired like a Glock has. It made me a believer when I didn’t want to believe.
Regardless which side of the fence you are on, there will always be the debate as to which is better. The best one is the weapon that you shoot the best with. So, whether you are the “tupperware” fan or the “nickle plated sissy pistol” there is only one thing we can all agree on and that is to disagree. Happy shooting!
Not too fond of your Glock; Give me a nice straight forward COLT 1911A1 .45ACP every time; power, simplicity, the feel of steel and less felt kick to the hand. It’s on or off with the flip of a safety lever and works every time. Nothing wrong with a Glock and I wouldn’t cry if it was all I had but …well…why mess with the proven success of a good ol’ COLT 1911A! .45ACP.
Any one can pick up a garden variety 1911 and with a few bucks dress it up and tighten it up and have 100% reliabilty and compete with the best. No, keep your fancy Glock…the 1911A1 COLT .45 works just fine for me and many others before me…
You sound like the proverbial old man saying “well back in my day. . .” I like 1911’s too – who doesn’t? BUT, to say “keep your fancy Glock” is foolish on many levels. I don’t know why you think a Glock is more “fancy,” but the way I see it, they aren’t made to look pretty or fear-inducing, Glocks are just made to work – period. Now 1911s on the other hand . . . well just go look in your local gun shop and get back to me. I treasure both designs while also acknowledging that they each have room to be improved upon and we should embrace that!!
Whether it’s Mac vs. PC or 1911 vs. Glock, there will always been fanboy wars, I suppose.
Like many, I thought as an avid handgun shooter who owns several Glocks and Colt revolvers I should have a 1911. I drooled over Colt Gold Cups, etc. since I was a teen. I purchased a full sized steel 1911 a few months back and I was instantly taken aback by the weight. After a month of ownership and one trip to the range I was back at my LGS where I traded the 1911 for a Glock 30. The heavy weight of the all steel 1911 and the limited (by Glock standards) magazine capacity made me happy that there have been design improvements since 1911. I respect 1911 owners who love the platform, but for me as a CCW, I prefer more modern polymer frame double-stack magazines. That’s my $.02.
clown
Must be someone who was issue one in the service, and is up there in age. Why would I dare say this, because everyone in my club who is 60 plus years refuse to consider a Glock over their 1911 even though the club is geared towards the Glock.
Do you still ride a horse too ?
Just plain dumb. I won’t sugarcoat the issue just to appear polite. Finding a 1911 that runs flawlessly is more rare than finding a Glock that doesn’t. It is nothing more than amateur bafoonery to catagorize the 1911 as a better fighting pistol than a Glock. The 1911 is more complicated in design, more complicated in operation, significantly less firepower, has a necessary lubrication requirement, and is in no way considered even remotely as reliable in all-envornment conditions. It is an outdated platform that sings days of yore, and clinging nostalgia.
It is 2015, not 1915. The Glock platform beats the 1911 in every aspect except mechanical accuracy, and even then that is a moot point at combative ranges.
……yea until you drop your new polymer gun on the ground and realize you just broke your new Legos.frame…but you are the guy they never makes mistakes, never backs down from a fight, and never misses.
1911s are tough, magazine capacity is lacking, however i’m not afraid to ding with the fear of breaking it. I have seem both weapons fail, they all do. the 1911 recoil spring is a major culprit if you shoot a lot (temp fix at the range is to bump the back to get it into battery. With Glocks I have seen the slide lock springs pop out and induce one round firings, locking the slide back after every round. cracked frames.
Each weapon has flaws that could end in disaster, its how you train and how much you train. confidence does not equal competence.