Accuracy - glock vs 1911

[chrisintexas]

In your experience which is more accurate a glock or 1911?
Thanks

[Spats McGee]

I'm just signing on for the spittin' contest that's coming. Where's that popcorn smiley when I need it?

[TunnelRat]

Really? Really? Biggest piece of troll bait I have seen recently.

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Troll bait...

[TunnelRat]

Heck, I'll bite.

Most guns have more potential for mechanical accuracy than skill of their shooters. By this I mean, the "average" shooter won't notice the difference. Now there's also the fact that some folks find certain brands shoot really well for them in terms of the way that brand fits their hands, the sights, grip angle, etc. That might not be the case for other shooters, so I tend to disbelieve in a golden rule of which gun is most accurate for all.

Now, there are some shooters that are so skilled that they can shoot all systems reasonably well regardless of the brand and model. For those select individuals they might be able to discern the difference in mechanical accuracy. I make no claims to be one of those people. In my limited experience, all else being equal (which is almost never the case) barrel to slide fit makes the most difference in mechanical accuracy. The tighter the barrel to slide fit the greater the potential for accuracy, just IMO.

Now a nice crisp, light trigger helps the shooter take advantage of that mechanical accuracy. Many competition shoots use single-action only pistols for that very reason, though it is not always the case. Still a nice trigger certainly helps the shooter overcome any difficulty in taking advantage of that inherent accuracy.

Now there are 1911s with very tight barrel to slide fit and those that are looser. The tighter the tolerances, however, and there is usually a trade off in reliability. I will say that most 1911s I have used have a tighter barrel to slide fit than say a Glock. That coupled with with a very nice single-action only trigger and would say a 1911 has more accuracy potential than a Glock. But again, the average shooter might not be able to notice.

[laytonj1]

Having owned a few Glocks and many 1911's so I can tell you the 1911's win for accuracy. That's not to say that an individual Glock may not shoot better than an individual 1911. I had a Glock 19 that would shoot sub 1.5" at 25 yards all day long. But, I have a few 1911's that will do better than that. Of course, those 1911's cost a whole lot more than a Glock too.

Jim

[PatientWolf]

I can honestly say I have never had a problem with the accuracy of a 1911. I have NEVER hit anything with a Glock.


Of course the fact that I've never fired a Glock may have something to do with it, but my statement is true.

[James K]

I would say that on average, they are close to the same. But I think the 1911 type (if a good quality gun to begin with) is easier to "accurize", whether by the factory or a good pistolsmith, and turn into a target pistol.

For one thing, the single action 1911 type trigger can be made a lot better than any Glock trigger.

Jim

[JWT]

It ain't the arrows, it's the Indian...

[BuckRub]

Indian post correct. 1911s and Glocks are far more accurate than the ones holding them. It's what you can manipulate better or got better point of aim that you're use too. For myself, it's a easy question and my answer is my glock 22 but that's all I ever shoot. I have a 1911 put up that I haven't seen other than periodic cleaning. To me that steel is heavy. My duty gun 22 is lightweight, higher mags and after I got used to it, it is awesomely accurate.

[jmr40]

All things being equal most people will shoot most 1911's better. That does not mean the accuracy potential of Glocks cannot be just as good. Unless you have a 1911 with an awful trigger almost all will have a better trigger.

Glocks are surprisingly accurate. I've never run across anyone who gave one an honest try that could not master the different trigger and grip angle. A crappy photo, but they can shoot.

[laytonj1]

It ain't the arrows, it's the Indian...

Indian post correct. 1911s and Glocks are far more accurate than the ones holding them

While that may be true for new and average shooters there are many skilled shooters who can readily find the difference.
Example, jmr40's target above.

Jim

[51.50]

I have a Dan Wesson 1911 in 10mm and a Glock G-20 (10mm).
The 1911 is more accurate. The Glock holds 15 rounds, the 1911 8 rounds. I'm not willing to part with either.

[RBid]

Ease of accuracy: 1911. 5" bbl + easy mode trigger.

Mechanical accuracy: roughly equal

Unfair advantage: custom 1911s. Springfield Professional model, and a slew of others which guarantee extreme precision from rest.


I wear a Glock every day, but I can't sit here and act like a top end 1911 doesn't do a lot of the work for the shooter.

[k511]

in MY experience....i am far more accurate with any of my 1911's than my glocks....still love my glocks

[.40cal]

That's like comparing apples to hamburgers. Just doesn't sound like they belong in the same sentence.


1911 I guess??? Too many variables... brand, customization, sights, grips

[jfrey]

I own both 1911s and Glocks and I can tell you, in my hands the 1911 wins hands down. Reliability is equal.

[BusterValentine]

Unless you're a serious bullseye shooter with years of experience, you won't notice a difference. 99.9% of "accuracy" falls squarely on the shoulders of the shooter.

[Noreaster]

CQB you'll probably do better with a Glock but I've found the 1911, like a Sig classic series, are more accurate 15 yds and further. Just my experience.

[stephen426]

As most people have already mentioned, a decent 1911 should be more accurate for most shooters due to the single action trigger. A 1911 can also be made much more accurate than a Glock. The biggest issue with bone stick Glocks are their sights. While Glock sights are great for quick sight alignment, the are not great for high precision. I changed my stock Glock sights for some Meprolight 3 dot tritiums and my precision improved dramatically. I don't carry my 1911s due to their size, but I did carry my Glock 26 before I bought a Kahr..

[LED]

In real life it is your accuracy not the hardware. Focus on that, and either kind will do what you ask of it.

[Seaman]

"I wear a Glock every day, but I can't sit here and act like a top end 1911 doesn't do a lot of the work for the shooter." [Rbid]

Pretty much sums it up.

Two other guns that do 'a lot of the work for the shooter' are the HK P7 and the Walther PPK.

[Ruger45LC]

I would agree that most people shoot a 1911 better, it's almost hard to shoot one badly. Mechanically, I'd say a good 1911 has a slight edge, but to call the Glock inaccurate would be wrong.

Once someone masters the Glock trigger, they come to really like it. Accuracy wise a Glock is more accurate than the person shooting it is able to shoot it. Even .40's can shoot one ragged hole groups, so as the old saying goes, it's not the arrow, it's the brave.

[blackamos]

I love my Glocks but a 1911 with a tight bushing and a good barrel will out shoot a Glock most days.

[JHansenAK47]

Once someone masters the Glock trigger, they come to really like it. Accuracy wise a Glock is more accurate than the person shooting it is able to shoot it.

My police officer uncle who is his departments trainer tells me whenever they get an officer that jerks the trigger they make them shoot a revolver in double action for practice. Double action revolvers require a smooth trigger pull from start to finish otherwise you tend to jerk the gun off target.

In your experience which is more accurate a glock or 1911?

In my experience it tends to be stock glocks against 1911s that have been accurized. So of course the 1911s outshoot the glocks in that comparison. Most people in my experience can't pull the glocks trigger with the same precision of a good 1911 trigger. So they get bigger groups and in typical fashion blame the equipment accepting no part of the responsibility.
BTW I am a glock hater but they are more accurate in my experience than people can shoot them.