Rockrivr1
NES Member
I went to the range last week looking to see which 45acp handgun would be better suited for me to carry. For this experiment I tested out two new to me handguns that I bought for this application. They were a Colt Defender 1911 and a Glock 30SF. During this range test I shot 100 rounds of 230gr FMJ out of each gun and tested the following. Ease of getting out of an IWB holster, ease of bringing the gun into action, recoil/follow up shots, feeling of gun in hand, capacity, comfort while in holster, and most importantly accuracy.
This is how they compared.
Ease of getting out of IWB Holster:
This went to the Colt Defender. It may be due to it's slimmer profile and clean lines but I repeatedly was able to get the Colt out of the holster quicker then I could the Glock. For whatever reason I seemed to have a harder time getting the Glock out. As to the holster I was using a White Hat Maxtuck holster with interchangeable Kydex so you can use the same holster base and just swap out the kydex that's molded to the handgun you are using.
Ease of bringing gun into action:
By a very slim margin this one went to the Glock. I could easily line up the sights for both handguns, but the Colt took that extra effort to disengage the safety before I could fire the first round. For the 1911 I was carrying Cocked N Locked. With more practice this category will be even as I'd practice disengaging the safety during my draw.
Recoil/Follow Up Shots:
I was very surprised by this, but the clear winner in this category was the Glock. Recoil in the 1911 was significantly more then the Glock. Shot after shot the 1911 would dig into the web of my thumb right under the beavertail. Muzzle flip was much more pronounced in the 1911 as well, which made follow up shots slower.
Feeling of gun in hand:
This is going to be subjectively different for everyone, but for me the 1911 just felt better in my hand. As has been said by many, the Glock has a blocky feel to it. While the Glock wasn't uncomfortable it just wasn't as comfortable in my hand as the 1911
Capacity:
Hands down the Glock. 10+1 beats 7+1 every day of the week.
Comfort in the holster:
This went to the 1911. It's slimmer profile and clean lines made it easier and more comfortable to carry around the range. Granted I only did about 30 minutes of carrying for each, but the 1911 didn't dig into me on the edges like the Glock did. They both weigh 24oz so the weight wasn't that different. The extra 3 rounds add a little, but nothing really noticeable.
Accuracy:
Once again I was surprised, but the Glock won this category. Less recoil and muzzle flip lead to quicker and smaller groups then what I could do with the 1911. I'm positive I could get the accuracy better on the 1911 with practice. But head to head the Glock won this
If I'm going to be honest with myself I clearly expected, and wanted, the 1911 to outperform the Glock. From above that obviously wasn't the case. Now I need to give some thought on where to differentiate between comfort/ease, which the 1911 wins and functionality, which the Glock wins.
Time for some serious thinking.
Any thoughts on this?
This is how they compared.
Ease of getting out of IWB Holster:
This went to the Colt Defender. It may be due to it's slimmer profile and clean lines but I repeatedly was able to get the Colt out of the holster quicker then I could the Glock. For whatever reason I seemed to have a harder time getting the Glock out. As to the holster I was using a White Hat Maxtuck holster with interchangeable Kydex so you can use the same holster base and just swap out the kydex that's molded to the handgun you are using.
Ease of bringing gun into action:
By a very slim margin this one went to the Glock. I could easily line up the sights for both handguns, but the Colt took that extra effort to disengage the safety before I could fire the first round. For the 1911 I was carrying Cocked N Locked. With more practice this category will be even as I'd practice disengaging the safety during my draw.
Recoil/Follow Up Shots:
I was very surprised by this, but the clear winner in this category was the Glock. Recoil in the 1911 was significantly more then the Glock. Shot after shot the 1911 would dig into the web of my thumb right under the beavertail. Muzzle flip was much more pronounced in the 1911 as well, which made follow up shots slower.
Feeling of gun in hand:
This is going to be subjectively different for everyone, but for me the 1911 just felt better in my hand. As has been said by many, the Glock has a blocky feel to it. While the Glock wasn't uncomfortable it just wasn't as comfortable in my hand as the 1911
Capacity:
Hands down the Glock. 10+1 beats 7+1 every day of the week.
Comfort in the holster:
This went to the 1911. It's slimmer profile and clean lines made it easier and more comfortable to carry around the range. Granted I only did about 30 minutes of carrying for each, but the 1911 didn't dig into me on the edges like the Glock did. They both weigh 24oz so the weight wasn't that different. The extra 3 rounds add a little, but nothing really noticeable.
Accuracy:
Once again I was surprised, but the Glock won this category. Less recoil and muzzle flip lead to quicker and smaller groups then what I could do with the 1911. I'm positive I could get the accuracy better on the 1911 with practice. But head to head the Glock won this
If I'm going to be honest with myself I clearly expected, and wanted, the 1911 to outperform the Glock. From above that obviously wasn't the case. Now I need to give some thought on where to differentiate between comfort/ease, which the 1911 wins and functionality, which the Glock wins.
Time for some serious thinking.
Any thoughts on this?
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
