Marines allow MARSOC Operators to choose Glock's over 1911's

Military.com ^ | February 19, 2015 | Matthew Cox

[Trailerpark Badass]

No.

[Trailerpark Badass]

oops my bad, you are correct, was thinking of something else.

[JoeFromSidney]

I'm a 1911 fan, but in part that's because it was the issue sidearm when I came on duty in 1953. I had to fire it annually, and liked it. It fits my hand and I can shoot it well.

Yes, the GI version left a lot to be desired. However, the Kimbers I own are really good.

I've fired Glocks, but they don't fit my had well. I don't care for them. However, my daughter loves hers.

If magazine capacity is a consideration, ParaOrdnance makes double-stack versions of the 1911 that hold up to 14 rounds in the magazine.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Can you get the Glock 19 in full auto with 30+ round mags?

[Jack Hydrazine]

How about a Glock 21 with the .50GI conversion kit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj9i2kF5G6Y
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.50_GI

[diogenes ghost]

5000 rounds or 6000 rounds makes no difference.

If you ain't hit him after 4000, it's best to turn it into a club.

[Svartalfiar]

Huh.. Are they also looking at trading their KaBars for butter knives?

But funny, the Army’s currently looking at getting rid of the 9mm and going to something with more power.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty ping.

[MasterGunner01]

Check Brownell’s book shelf for other Heritage Gun Books publications by Jerry Kuhnhausen. His book on the M1/M14/M1A .30 Cal. Service Rifles is the best I've ever seen or owned ($49.95). There's one on the U.S. .30 Cal. Carbines, M1, M1A1, M2, and M3 ($49.95). There are others I can't remember off the top of my head. They're a great addition for your library.

[MaxMax]

Kimber ultra II, 1911, fits my hand perfectly. And keeping it light only depends on the ammo
like RBCD, which is lightweight and has a higher velocity frag round.
Ball ammo is a real drag but good for filling those spare Mags.

[yarddog]

Has anyone tried the FN Five-seveN?

It seems very interesting to me. Some interesting features: Lightweight, 10,20,30 round mags. 5.7mm high velocity 27 grain bullets which tunble on striking.

Downside, expensive, hard to find ammo, stopping power really unknown.

[trebb]

Personally I love the 1911. But then I don't plan on using it to defend my life.

Love my 1911 - over 100 years old and still a sweet shooting weapon. The extra rounds in the Glock makes more sense though - 17 vs 7 is a big change.

[riverrunner]

There seem to be a lot of people here that know how to fix the problems of the 1911 design.

[donozark]

That is my only concern as it is with all GLOCK owners. No external safety. A Marine crawling through mud reaches for his pistol in a hurry and no safety to click off may seem like a good thing, but is it? Not if it goes bang prematurely.

I dearly love my 26. But when a round is in the pipe, one must be exceedingly careful not to touch the trigger. And yet, Uncle Sugar issued over 100K Glock 19s to Iraqi cops. Not sure how many of those clowns shot themselves or each other. But the possibilities are endless...

[papertyger]

Has anyone tried the FN Five-seveN?

Roger that.

5.7 is my go to round for a whole host of reasons.

The only legitimate downside of what you've listed is the price of the weapon. Ammunition is very reasonable and available albeit by online sources.

There is a real issue to be aware of though. This particular round is VERY sensitive to changes in bullet weight. Point of aim vs. point of impact can vary up to two inches between 27 grain vs. 40 grain loads...AT SEVEN YARDS!

Any general change of ammunition should be followed by a sight adjustment.

That said, I don't know any other pistol where I wouldn't feel outgunned by an AK ;)

[MasterGunner01]

The M1911 is a simple beast as semi-auto pistols go. The Army issued a simple L-shaped tool that was a screwdriver for the grip screws and magazine catch screw, and a pin punch. That tool is still made (Brownell’s has them) or they can be bought from military surplus parts dealers (Numrich, Sarco, etc.).

Trivia. I was supposed to stand the 0000-0400 quarterdeck watch on our ship while we were anchored off Vung Tau in Viet Nam (1969). I came up to relieve the watch 10 minutes early and he looked worried.

Watch: “Do you know how to put a .45 back together?”
Me: “Yes, why?”
Watch: “No, I mean really put one back together?”
Me: “What did you do?”
Watch: “This.” He took me into the telephone booth sized compartment where the log book was and opened the drawer of the podium. Inside was a .45 completely disassembled. The only parts remaining in the frame were the trigger and magazine catch — everything else was in the drawer.
Me: “OK. I can put it back together for you. Remember, though, you're going to owe me for this.”
Watch: “Yes, I know, Gunner. Thanks.” And we changed the watch, he signed out and I signed in.

It took me about a half hour to coral, inventory, and assemble the quarterdeck's M1911A1. I checked the safety devices for operation — thumb safety, half cock, grip safety, disconnector safety — everything functioned as designed. I inserted the loaded magazine, holstered the pistol, and went on to a boring 3.5 hour quarterdeck watch.

[yarddog]

Thanks for the info. I would like to try one but my days of buying things I want but don’t need have passed.

There is a long list of guns I once had and wish I had again. A shorter list of guns I never had but would like to try out is still pretty long.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Yes you can, not me but they are available. But that’s really not the point now is it.

[riverrunner]

Glocks are simpler.

[MasterGunner01]

Not necessarily, it's just a point of view. However, there are tons of M1911 parts available and the gun can be customized to an astounding degree. Some M1911 clones are hardly recognizable.

Para-Ordnance, the originator of the first high capacity .45 ACP with its P13.45 frame kit, has developed a double action P14.45 [14+1] in their LDS [light double action] design. It has all the strengths of the original M1911 plus the double action mode for firing the first shot.

Personally, the DA option is a bit over rated. The first shot trigger DA pull is long and heavy, while second and subsequent shots are single action and light in comparison. This requires much practice to get a first round hit because of the differences in trigger pulls. The double action only [DAO] is the absolute worst of all actions because it ALWATS has long and heavy pull that does nothing for accuracy.

With a M1911 style pistol, the fastest and most accurate way us from Condition One [cocked and locked] and the trigger pulls are consistent from start to finish. Glocks are the same in this regard, though they have no thumb safety to manipulate.