M1911 vs. M9

The Sight M1911-A1 ^ | unknown | unattributed

[Dawgsquat]

Thought this might be of interest to gun enthusiasts. I've used several models of 1911-A1s since my Navy days where I won two marksmanship medals with one. I'm of the opinion that no better combat pistol was ever designed. Today I own a Charles Daly FS that I'm very pleased with. I prefer the 230 grain ball ammo for reasons of reliabilty.

[Dawgsquat]

Rats! The pics were there in the preview. What happened?

[Illbay]

And this is of scintillating interest to FReepers generally, exactly HOW?

[Chad Fairbanks]

9mm is fine for Europeans, but for dangerous people, ya need a .45 ;0)

[Dawgsquat]

Read my comments and look at the topic it was posted under.

[Euro-American Scum]

I've used several models of 1911-A1s since my Navy days where I won two marksmanship medals with one. I'm of the opinion that no better combat pistol was ever designed.

I'm with you on this one. And although I have since been won over by the Glock .45 caliber handguns, I still have a 1911 .45 in my collection and use it often.

I never got the rap that the recoil is a problem with a 1911. With practice and experience it can be controlled. And the level of marksmanship is not contstrained so much by the gun as the shooter.

As for the ever-eternal 9mm vs. 45 caliber war, I just prefer the .45. Call me crazy, but I find all that firepower very comforting.

[gnarledmaw]

Bang!

Will this question ever be settled?

[SERE_DOC]

BERETTA is a piece of crap, during a tour in Panama with NSWU8, we carried Sig 9mm, and refered to the Beretta as "jam-in-the-sand berettas'"

I use a H&K 9mm & Thompson 1911A1 PitBull 45.

[Redleg Duke]

Because many of us Freepers are not as intellectual or sophisticated as you obviously are.

The M1911A1 is a superb firearm and if one is properly trained to use it, should give superior service and performance. Adoption of the 9mm is a vestage of the NATO experience. In the thirty plus years I served, I never had a M1911A1 jam or misfire. I personally think it was a mistake to replace them.

[glock rocks]

[Dawgsquat]

I agree. Considering the weight difference between the Glock and the 1911-A1, is the recoil of the Glock a detriment to getting off a quick second shot? I've never fired the Glock in .45. How long is the barrel on yours?

[Dawgsquat]

Thanks friend!

[glock rocks]

. I shoot .45 with much greater accuracy than I do 9mm, so it is more rewarding for me to shoot .45 for fun and competition.

if i swap between 9 and .45 on the same day, i'll put the 9 all over the paper. however, if
i just shoot one or the other on a particular day, my scores are almost identical... also,
it helps to have a glock model 30 (.45) and model 26 (9mm) to swap between... almost
identical in the hand, trigger reach, etc... the 9 is overall smaller.

the only major difference i notice is my recoil timing for the double-tap... but... practice practice practice.

[RogueIsland]

Pretty concise, accurate article devoid of the usual John-Moses-Browning-Is-God chest thumping. I own examples of both breeds. Both are excellent pistols -- the Beretta is far easier to take down in the field, feeds virtually flawlessly, and the manual of arms is simpler for green recruits to handle safely. The 1911 is easier to shoot accurately (IMHO), but they seem to have an unusual tendency for ammo sensitivity in tighter-tolerance specimens, perhaps because of the lack of a real feed ramp and inadequately designed mags (I understand the loose-tolerance GI ones were very reliable with ball, though). And Marshall and Sarnow not withstanding, I'll take .45 ACP over 9mm for stopping power every time.

The 9mm choice was made for both capacity and NATO standardization reasons. U.S. doctrine has tended toward smaller caliber, more rounds for several decades, for good or ill.

[Dawgsquat]

Amen to the "practice". My wife got a Taurus ported .38 snubbie. Although I'm proficient with my .45, I don't think I'll ever be very good with that "pea-shooter".

[RightWhale]

too powerful and difficult to control for those having only nominal training with the weapon.

The Armed Forces have more than nominal firearms training, and some training is with weapons even more powerful than the pistol, hard to imagine but true.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

'swhyI got the Mod 22 in .40 cal. More punch than the 9 mm but in the same package.

[Dawgsquat]

I concur about the feed ramp. I've had trouble with Hydro-Shock hollow points. I stay with the ball ammo. Was thinking of polishing the ramp to see if that helps.

[HadEnough]

I own a Kimber Gold Match 1911 .45 and a Glock 21. For IDPA/IPSC stock matches I shoot 185 grain Montana Gold HPs in front of 9.5 grains of AA5. They chrono right at 980 FPS.

The Glock is definitely softer to shoot, most likely due to the polymer frame absorbing some of the recoil. The Kimber is more accurate beyond 25 yards (which doesn't matter in IDPA matchs or most real life shootouts).

I have a drop-in match barrel and compensator for the Glock and that really helps reduce the recoil for this faster load. Follow up shots are easy with the comp'ed barrel in the Glock 21.

[glock rocks]

And although I have since been won over by the Glock .45 caliber handguns, I still have a 1911 .45 in my collection and use it often.

Pete-R-Bilt let me shoot his Kimber Ultra Carry a couple weekends ago... good deal more
kick than the G30, but every bit as accurate. smoother than silk trigger, super fine finish. excellent.