Question re: Carrying 1911 vs Full Size Glock

bluelineman · 06-12-2010, 13:18

How come is it lots of guys will readily carry a full size 1911, yet a full size Glock (much smaller than 1911) seems too big to carry? I know personal preference and all, but this seems to be the general consensus from what I've found.

Tactical black · 06-12-2010, 13:20

The Glock is much wider I've carried a full size Glock before but the 1911 and BHP both conceal easier because they aren't as thick IMO

Jim S. · 06-12-2010, 13:23

Not sure I follow this.
My 21, which I carry 99% of the time, is not noticably smaller than a 1911.
Not any lighter either because of 14 rounds of 45 in her.
Most people who carry a 1911 would not have a problem carrying a full size Glock.
So who says they are too big to carry?

bluelineman · 06-12-2010, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim S.

Not sure I follow this.
My 21, which I carry 99% of the time, is not noticably smaller than a 1911.
Not any lighter either because of 14 rounds of 45 in her.
Most people who carry a 1911 would not have a problem carrying a full size Glock.
So who says they are too big to carry?

It just seems to me that a lot of people carry a compact or sub-compact Glock but think the big Glocks are too big to carry. Yet on the other side of the fence, a lot of guys carry a full size 1911 with no problem (and for the most part, 1911s are bigger than most full sized Glocks). Maybe my post wasn't worded very clear.

MD357 · 06-12-2010, 13:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim S.

Not sure I follow this.
My 21, which I carry 99% of the time, is not noticably smaller than a 1911.
Not any lighter either because of 14 rounds of 45 in her.
Most people who carry a 1911 would not have a problem carrying a full size Glock.
So who says they are too big to carry?

I do.

Well, not TOO big but 1911s conceal much better IWB.

Carrying a G21 IWB is way too cumbersome from my experiences but to each their own.

glock2740 · 06-12-2010, 13:30

It all comes down to the belt and holster being used.

RonS · 06-12-2010, 13:39

Perception. If mini 1911s were as reliable as mini Glocks more people would find Government and Commanders too big. The smallest 1911 I would want would be a CCO sized gun though.

Glolt20-91 · 06-12-2010, 14:22

There's really no comparison; IWB 1911 Gov't is thinner (slide) and more comfortable to carry than my G20s or G17. I've also noticed that during summer months, especially monsoon season, 1911s require less effort drawing from leather holsters than Glocks.

Wearing layered, outer clothing OWB, carry choice depends on environment and also adds revolvers to the CCW list.

I wear a 1 3/4" belt, which fills the slots of most holsters. This belt size also makes for a more comfortable carry, OWB/IWB, compared to narrow belts in wide holster slots.

Bob

Trey83 · 06-12-2010, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tactical black

The Glock is much wider I've carried a full size Glock before but the 1911 and BHP both conceal easier because they aren't as thick IMO

I think this is part of the equation.

I also think it is because there is such a hardcore following for the 1911 and the smaller varients have received less than favorable reviews over the years.

dakrat · 06-12-2010, 15:22

I can conceal my full size 1911 better and more comfortable than my Glock subcompact

. YMMV

HAIL CAESAR · 06-12-2010, 16:28

I've carried both. A 1911 with a slimmer profile was easier to carry. Add a LW 1911 frame and it thoroughly whooped the Glock. Add a LW Officer frame and a Commander slide and the Glock never had a chance.

bac1023 · 06-12-2010, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluelineman

How come is it lots of guys will readily carry a full size 1911, yet a full size Glock (much smaller than 1911) seems too big to carry? I know personal preference and all, but this seems to be the general consensus from what I've found.

Huh?

How is a G17 much smaller than a 1911? Its about the same size and a good deal wider.

MD357 · 06-12-2010, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by HAIL CAESAR

I've carried both. A 1911 with a slimmer profile was easier to carry. Add a LW 1911 frame and it thoroughly whooped the Glock. Add a LW Officer frame and a Commander slide and the Glock never had a chance.

This is what I've found to be true aswell. I have Milt Sparts VM2s for full size, compact and sub-compact glocks aswell as 5", 4", and 3" 1911s. The 1911s beat the glocks hands down across the board in terms of concealability.

GlocksterPaulie · 06-12-2010, 16:40

I carried 1911's until 1986 then switched to Glocks, The Glock is my pistol of choice but the 1911 conceals better being it is slimmer than the Glocks.

Paulie

Monte#2 · 06-12-2010, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by bac1023

Huh?

How is a G17 much smaller than a 1911? Its about the same size and a good deal wider.

Beat me to that question...

I think the "blockier" grip and square profile of the Glock slide compared to the rounded profile of the slide itself and single stack slim grip of the 1911 is what lends to a more comfortable carry when comparing a 1911 to a full size Glock...at least in the case where I carry an IWB set up. The grip area of the gun is the hardest to deal with for concealment...at least for me...and the 1911 wins hands-down in that category with the single stack. And true as stated earlier...good leather (holster AND belt) are a necessity. And of course...everyone has their different levels of "comfort".

keninnavarre · 06-12-2010, 17:37

to quote the title of a Stephen king novel.....Thinner.....

CMG · 06-12-2010, 18:59

I don't like full-size guns for CC regardless of the design.

When I carried Glocks full-time it was a Compact or Sub-compact.

When I carry 1911s full time it is either a Kimber Pro or Springfield EMP.

bluelineman · 06-12-2010, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by bac1023

Huh?

How is a G17 much smaller than a 1911? Its about the same size and a good deal wider.

Close to an inch I guess in length. Ok, maybe I shouldn't have said much smaller. Sorry, 1911 noob here. I'm asking stupid questions & soaking in all the wisdom.

John Brown · 06-12-2010, 20:10

My Glock 20 feels like a 2x4 compared to a 1911.

keninnavarre · 06-12-2010, 21:03

With a good IWB holster, any of my 1911s can be concealed easily. My glocks are uncomfortable to me IWB. It takes a different hole in my belt between the 2, the Glocks are that much thicker.

FM12 · 06-12-2010, 21:17

Sometimes I carry both, at the same time, or sometimes just one, so there!

keninnavarre · 06-12-2010, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by FM12

Sometimes I carry both, at the same time, or sometimes just one, so there!

Well, thats okay, too!

drc767 · 06-13-2010, 05:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluelineman

Close to an inch I guess in length. Ok, maybe I shouldn't have said much smaller. Sorry, 1911 noob here. I'm asking stupid questions & soaking in all the wisdom.

For the most part, slide length does not come into play when it comes to ccw carry. The two main things that make for a more comfortable, concealable carry pistol is width of the slide and grip, as well as grip length. That being said, my full sized 1911's conceal much better than my full sized Glocks, without question. As stated in an earlier thread, throw in a LW frame and even a step further with a bobtailed grip, and it is not even close. The only thing the 1911 gives up to the Glock is capacity.....Some think that is all that matters, others don't. I happen to fall in the latter group....And when I feel the need for hi-capacity, I can have the best of both worlds, although to the purist, I am not sure this qualifies for 1911 status. In my world.....it is close enough.

CanIhaveGasCash · 06-13-2010, 05:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluelineman

Close to an inch I guess in length. Ok, maybe I shouldn't have said much smaller. Sorry, 1911 noob here. I'm asking stupid questions & soaking in all the wisdom.

The slide is the easiest part of the gun to conceal, its the grip and butt on the pistol that is most difficult to conceal since when carried IWB they are above the belt line. These parts of the 1911 are quite a bit thinner, and thus much easier to conceal.

93GT · 06-13-2010, 09:13

I switched from a full size 1911 after 5 years of carrying it and ruining shirts with the metal frame putting holes in them. That wasn't the only reason, but wife was doing a lot less complaining when I replaced it with a Glock 34. As far as difficulty to conceal, I didn't notice any considerable difference between either.