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  #1  
Old 07-28-2018, 08:21 PM
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Default Why are 9mm pistols ‘more reliable’?

I’ll proviso with this: I love 45 auto. That said, I get the impression that .45 auto models, when compared to 9mm counterparts, are less reliable. Here are examples:

SIG P226 vs SIG P220: while both are reliable guns, there are many reasons to think the p226 is more reliable compared to the P220.

1911: I love my 1911s. But to be honest, it’s not a platform that’s as consistently reliable as others. Of all the modern handguns that have problems, the 1911 tips them. This is not to say some are not 100 percent. Some are. But many are not, even the top shelf ones. Blaming the magazines, the ammo, or the extractor tension only proves how ‘finicky’ the 1911 tends to be.

CZ 75 vs 97: the CZ 75 is a legend in reliable 9mms. The CZ 97 seems to get more varied reports in reliability, especially with JHP

Glock 17 vs 21: the 45 Glocks seem to have more problems than the 9mm counterparts. This is not a controversial statement

The only 45 autos that seem to really shine no matter what are: S&w 45xx series, HK USP, and Ruger P90.

Think of the Beretta M9 (13,000 rounds before stoppage), Glock 17, and the old German SIG p226/228. There are more ultra reliable 9mms than there are 45s.

Opinions? Why do 45 pistols seem less reliable compared to 9mm
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:38 PM
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I own five 45 acps, including a 1911, a 1911 clone, a Star, a Ruger P series, and an Argy 1911. They all are nearly 100% with jacketed and 95% with cast lead.

In contrast, I have four 9mms - a mod 39-2, another Star, P38, and a P08. They all are finicky and require a different loading for each.

So my theory is the opposite of yours.
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:39 PM
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This is only theoretical, based on what I've read. I have no idea how accurate these ideas are, so take them for what they're worth.

One reason I've read has to do with the length-to-diameter ratio. Supposedly, the .45ACP is a short, fat round, so it can be trickier to get to feed reliably.

Another reason I've read is that the 9mm casing is slightly tapered, narrower in the case mouth than at the rim, so it (supposedly) has an easier time getting into the chamber than the straight-walled .45ACP.

Now with the Beretta 92 series guns, being the owner of a 92FS I can say that one reason for their reputation for reliability is that a round being stripped out of the magazine has nearly a straight shot into the chamber. It doesn't require as much of a "bounce" off the feed ramp like the .45 does in a 1911. I can't say if this applies to other 9mm guns or non-1911 .45s.

Again, I don't know how accurate these ideas are, but they're the ones I've come across.
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:41 PM
Mike, SC Hunter Mike, SC Hunter is offline
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Opinions are like exhaust pipes.......We all got one.
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:44 PM
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This is news to me. If there is truth to reliability issues it can not be significant. Lots of Elite Military/LE use 45 acp. I have never heard a Glock 17 is more reliable than a Glock 21. ? .001% ?
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:47 PM
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Multiple reasons but I think 9mm being tapered vs .45 ACP being non-tapered gives the 9mm a slight advantage. One of the reasons for AK-47 pattern rifles reliability is the heavy taper of the M43 round.
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:48 PM
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All depends on what you read and where. I not had any issues with my Sig 220s, 229 .357, or CZ 9s or .40

I have read of trouble with all brands and calibers. I have yet to see any scientific evidence of any this vs that.
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:52 PM
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Opinions are like exhaust pipes.......We all got one.
I will second what you said!
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Old 07-28-2018, 08:58 PM
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I will second what you said!
And I'll third that one!
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Old 07-28-2018, 09:24 PM
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I've always read that the slight taper of the 9mm gives it a reliability edge. Even read it on the net once, so it has to be true!
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Old 07-28-2018, 09:31 PM
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Frankly, my experience has been quite the opposite with 9mm's being significantly more finicky about overall length, bullet shape/type and very small differences in powder charge.
I've got about a dozen guns in each caliber and do not have a gun-by-gun comparison but significant range time shows this to generally be the case.
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Old 07-28-2018, 09:49 PM
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The slight taper of the 9mm, and the length to diameter ratio, makes sense.

Look, I'm not saying .45 is an unreliable round. I'm not saying that SIG P220s or 1911's are unreliable. I'm not saying that there are 1911's that can't go 10,000s of thousands of trouble free rounds.

It's like when someone says, 'Men, in general, are taller than women', and then someone raises their hand and insists that opinions mean didly because they know a very tall woman.

In general, it's harder for me to find ultra reliable 45 auto pistols, or as many of them, as there are 9mms.

Here's another way to think about it: If you had to carry a NIB pistol without test firing it, which one would you pick: A Beretta m9 or a Colt 1911? Sure, there are plenty of ultra reliable 1911s. But statistically, i'll go with the 9mm Beretta. Same with Glock 17 vs 21.

Just my observation

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Old 07-28-2018, 10:02 PM
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Default I'm in the camp.....

...I shoot more 9mm guns than .45s. All of the 9mms are 'different' from each other. Some will eat anything very reliably and some are picky. But then I shoot ALL KINDS of ammo, bought and reloaded. I'm in the camp that can't make a blanket statement about 9mms being more reliable than .45s. If I had one gun, 9 or .45, I'd buy and make ammo specifically for that gun, but I don't just own one gun. I've got too many in fact, and have a hard time getting good at any one of them.
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Old 07-28-2018, 10:22 PM
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Frankly, they aren't...

Seriously, you're comparing a .45 made in the early 1900s to 9mm made in the 80s and are arriving at the conclusion that the 9mm cartridge is more reliable based on that?

Heck, you even point out how modern .45s like the H&K USP are perfectly reliable, yet somehow you overlook the fact that your whole basis for the .45 ACP cartridge's supposed unreliability is by and large based on the fact that .45 auto pistols are less reliable than much more recently produced 9mm pistols.

As for the CZ75 vs the CZ97, well... Seeing as the CZ97 is just a scaled up CZ75B despite the fact that the 9mm Luger is a completely different cartridge with a completely different shape which operates at significantly higher chamber pressures, reliability is about as good as you can expect. Typically, firearms which are modified for completely different cartridges don't perform as well as the original chambering.
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Old 07-28-2018, 10:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dirty Harry Callahan View Post
Frankly, they aren't...

Seriously, you're comparing a .45 made in the early 1900s to 9mm made in the 80s and are arriving at the conclusion that the 9mm cartridge is more reliable based on that?

Heck, you even point out how modern .45s like the H&K USP are perfectly reliable, yet somehow you overlook the fact that your whole basis for the .45 ACP cartridge's supposed unreliability is by and large based on the fact that .45 auto pistols are less reliable than much more recently produced 9mm pistols.

As for the CZ75 vs the CZ97, well... Seeing as the CZ97 is just a scaled up CZ75B despite the fact that the 9mm Luger is a completely different cartridge with a completely different shape which operates at significantly higher chamber pressures, reliability is about as good as you can expect. Typically, firearms which are modified for completely different cartridges don't perform as well as the original chambering.
Thanks for the good points. I think you gave me good reasons for why more 9mms today seem more reliable than the 45's available today.

Your reasons: 1) The 1911 was invented more than a century ago, and compared to modern 9mm's today, it won't be quite as reliable.

2) Many .45's today are 'upscaled' from 9mm platforms (the SIG P220 was originally a 9mm, as was the Glock and the CZ). When you upscale a gun in caliber, there could be issues. Like when the Beretta 92 was upscaled to the 96, the frames took batterings, and the guns were not quite as reliable.

Good points. Most 9mms are more modern designs, and many 45's today are modified 9mm's, which cause some problems.
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Old 07-28-2018, 10:45 PM
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Gentlemen, please, let me muddy the waters of this debate.

The 45 round, regardless of platform, has a reputation of being a heavier recoiling round and has a tendency of being "limp wristed" by shooters anticipating the recoil, causing the platform to malfunction. Very rarely have I encountered the "limp wristing" issue with the 9mm.

I know that when I am shooting a 2700 match, towards the end of the match as I get tired I tend to "limp wrist" my 1911 a little and get the shooter induced malfunction.
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Old 07-28-2018, 10:46 PM
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Why does it seem to be so? Because you have convinced yourself it is so.
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Old 07-28-2018, 10:51 PM
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It's all in the execution and manufacture of the gun in question not in the caliber in my opinion. Put a ****** magazine or gun show reloads in a pistol and they aren't going to be very reliable. Same with manufacturing, if everyone on the production line does their job properly most any modern gun design will work just fine. If one person allows their mill or press or cutter blade to get out of spec or dull then the gun won't work too well. Taurus turns out a great gun most of the time but their quality control team will let a lemon slip through the cracks occasionally. Glock is the same way and they turn out a few lemons but their quality control is much higher, but it DOES happen.
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Old 07-28-2018, 10:51 PM
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I don’t shoot a lot of 9x19, but I do shoot .45 nearly every week. I have too many 1911s. They range from old Colts to fairly recent S&Ws, Kimbers, SIGs, Les Bears, Springfield’s, etc.

Most of the ammunition I use is handloaded for target shooting. In spite of that, all of my .45s have been sufficiently reliable that I would be OK with carrying any of them. I really don’t see that caliber (9 vs. .45) has a lot to do with reliability.

I do think a lot of folks tend to load up their 1911s with after-market parts made by a variety of vendors, in an attempt to customize the gun to their tastes, and this can have a bad effect on reliability. Quality of these parts varies from lousy to wonderful. Some need fitting, some don’t - often because they are made to “drop in” to almost any gun, as a sales aid. Naturally, haphazard additions of after-market parts is liable to have a bad effect on the reliable function of any firearm. JMHO, FWIW.
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Old 07-28-2018, 11:22 PM
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OP, What verifiable evidence do you have that supports your premise that 9mms are more reliable than .45s?

If we go by the theory that the 9mm is more reliable then the .45 auto because of the 9mm tapered case, then, the 357sig has to be extra-double reliable than the 9mm because of its tapered bottle-necked cartridge. No?
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Old 07-29-2018, 12:16 AM
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OP, What verifiable evidence do you have that supports your premise that 9mms are more reliable than .45s?

If we go by the theory that the 9mm is more reliable then the .45 auto because of the 9mm tapered case, then, the 357sig has to be extra-double reliable than the 9mm because of its tapered bottle-necked cartridge. No?
There are many gun writers who have noted the increased reliability of the .357 SIG round due to the taper. This is not obscure observation
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Old 07-29-2018, 12:35 AM
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Well there ya' go!

If the gun writers are sayin' it then it's bound to be so.
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Old 07-29-2018, 01:27 AM
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Have a Sig P6,Sig P239 in 40 S&W, one almost box stock Beretta 92FS, a ex Israeli FN Browning HP and one 1943 Ithaca 1911A1 and one 15 year old Springfield Armory 1911A1 tricked out. I've shot the two 45's in steel plate matches where you must make major power factor which is easy for the 45. The Ithaca and the SA 45's just keep trucking along. The 9mm's with the exception of the high power which hasn't been shot yet have had no malfunctions whatsoever. The fancy Springfield did give me some problems which I think were me. You have to learn the nature of the beast. Used to be I shot the SA45 about 10K a year. getting older so shooting 45 a little less. I'd bought the 92FS as my first 9mm shot the dickens out of it. Took off the stock rear sight and stuck an elevation and windage adjustable sight on it and will continue to do so. Funny but my West German police P6 for me shoots like a house on fire.Most easiest and comfortable 9mm I own. Had a problem with the SA 45, thumb the hammer back touch the grip safety and the gun would fire. Not good. Gunsmith time and replaced the grip safety and all is well. Frank
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Old 07-29-2018, 02:36 AM
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I AM A FAN OF THE .45 ACP, AND THE 1911 PLATFORM. THE ORIGIN OF THE WEAPON WAS IN THE MILITARY, WHERE IT WAS DESIGNED TO SHOOT FMJ "BALL AMMO". THE WEAPON IS EXTREMELY RELIABLE, WHEN USED AS DESIGNED. I CARRIED WW II VINTAGE 1911s IN VIETNAM, THAT RATTLED LIKE SPRAY CANS. NEITHER OF THEM EVER FAILED TO FUNCTION WITH GI AMMO.....

IN CIVILIAN LIFE THE COLT GOLD CUP, SERIES '70 WAS MY EDC FOR 3 DECADES. THE FEED RAMP OF THE 1911 IS OGIVE SENSITIVE. "FLYING ASHTRAY" JHP DESIGNS ARE PRONE TO PROBLEMS. CHOICE OF AMMO IS CRITICAL......

I FAVOR CORBON Pow'RBall AMMO WHICH FEATURES A POLYMER BALL, CRIMPED INTO THE CAVITY OF THE JHP CARTRIDGE. ITS SLIPPERY ROUND OGIVE SOLVES ALL FEEDING PROBLEMS, PROMOTES DEEP PENETRATION, AND RELIABLE EXPANSION.....

I ALSO UPGRADED TO CHIP McCORMICK "SHOOTING STAR" 10 ROUND MAGAZINES, WHICH PROVED TO BE 100% RELIABLE......

OTHER THAN RESTAKING A FRONT SIGHT THAT SHOT LOOSE. I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM........
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Old 07-29-2018, 03:16 AM
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Default Not my experience

Both my .45 1911’s, a highly modified Brazilian Springfield Armoury and an almost stock Norinco Ranger run well all day long on the range. Provided that I load proper ammo, keep the gun clean and take the usual care in use. Both will shoot most reloads, lead or jacketed, as well as factory rounds. 230 gn LRN, 200 gn truncated lead flat point or 200 gn plated TFP.

My two 9mm’s, a pre Witness Tanfoglio P19 and a Kimber 1911 are so different. The P 19 needs slightly shorter than normal ammo to function properly, and I have only this week found a load it likes. A max load of Tightgroup under a 124 gn plated RN bullet.

The Kimber always looses the top round out of the mag while in the gun. It just sits there ready to go up the ramp, but a missed and two rounds drop out when the mag is pulled.

Neither 9mm is as accurate as those .45 loads, particularly the 200 gn PTFP. 8” plates at 45 meters are no problem to hit with a .45. But a 9mm is a horse of a different colour.

And let us not forget, the 9mm is an even older cartridge than the .45 auto, (1908 V 1910). The 1911 is just proof that JMB got it almost right the first time around.
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Old 07-29-2018, 06:07 AM
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I will also add that sometimes reliability is relative to caliber in which a pistol was initially designed around. For example, I have sometimes heard the 1911 is much more reliable in .45 than in 9mm. Also, the Beretta 92 has an excellent reputaion for reliability in 9mm, but 96 in .40 does not seem to share the same reputation for reliability as the 92.
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Old 07-29-2018, 07:15 AM
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Ccantu357 has heard correctly about 45 ACP being more reliable than 9mm in 1911s as a general rule. It is a magazine length issue since the mag wells on a 1911 are the same for both cartridges. Since the mags have to have the same front to back dimensions and a 9 is shorter than a 45 the mag has to have a block somewhere. Different mag manufacturers tried different ways of making the mags work w varying degrees of sucess. The same is true w 10mm being more reliable than 40S&W IN 1911 PLATFORM PISTOLS.

Next I don't believe that there is a general rule about 9mm being more reliable than 45. I've seen both that would jam. I do know that the absolutely most reliable semi I have ever owned or even fired was a box stock S&W 645. The ones I have used would feed empty cases. I have never seen any other model semi that would consistently do that every timw.
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Old 07-29-2018, 08:05 AM
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“Why are 9mm pistols ‘more reliable?”

This is news to me. Never heard of this before.
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Old 07-29-2018, 08:23 AM
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Not true at all.

I think it comes down to quality or the firearm and the quality of the manufacturer.

My Les Baer 45 has never had a single FTF in thousands of rounds. Not just one. My new production 226 and 210, I would not hesitate to take when the zombies come either.

I have seen malfunctions in competition to a Wilson Beretta 92FS. It was apparently finicky to the bullet shape. Older issue Berettas were thought of having the slide crack....there are 1000s of stories around but to say in general 45 ACP guns are less reliable than 9MM it is definitely not the case from my observations.
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Old 07-29-2018, 09:19 AM
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A firearm may be unreliable due to design, material or workmanship but the caliber of its cartridge is irrelevant.
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Old 07-29-2018, 10:10 AM
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I've got 5K through my M&P40 Pro Series without one single hiccup. JHP to FMJ. it's like the Energizer bunny. Luck of the draw?
Can't say that about any other semi auto in the safe, 380, 9mak. 9mm. or 45acp.
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Old 07-29-2018, 10:50 AM
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Opinions? Why do 45 pistols seem less reliable compared to 9mm
Because the 1911 format is a 107 year old design..... And a lot of improvements have been made in the past century... As to why people still insist on shooting/carrying a 2-1/2lb pistol that was designed over 100 years ago bewilders me...
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Old 07-29-2018, 10:53 AM
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The only problems I ever had with my K22 and model 10-8 was I had to tighten the tensioning screw on the .38! .38 is ALMOST 9mm, isn't it? I guess we're not debating wheel guns though. I do have a .45 Colt that has never failed, but, it's not a semi, either, is it? I can reel off 6 shots as fast as my 9mms, though! (Note to self: use a glove on left hand when "reeling off" 6 shots quickly with the .45 SAA!)
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Old 07-29-2018, 11:13 AM
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Quote:
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...
Glock 17 vs 21: the 45 Glocks seem to have more problems than the 9mm counterparts. This is not a controversial statement
...
My comparison would be a 19 vs 21. My 21 ran great (just like my 19). The 21 never missed a beat. 9mm ammo has been so cheap compared to .45, I stopped shooting the .45 and sold the 21. Bigger/thicker than a 19 - yes. More expensive to shoot than a 19 - yes. Less reliable than a 19 - no, at least not the one I had.
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Old 07-29-2018, 11:50 AM
44wheelman 44wheelman is offline
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hmmmm....needs some parameters, like my beretta 92 is more reliable than a tisas 1911 ($389 Turkish import).

Seriously, totally gun dependent. My 645 used to cycle empty cases from the magazine.
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Old 07-29-2018, 12:30 PM
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In my opinion, the 1911 is the worst designed gun ever made. They are pure junk and now officially "MILITARY SCRAP" The scrapping process started way back it the 1940's when our military wanted a 9 mm pistol like the Germans were using to kick our tales with. This is where the S&W Model 39 was born. Here, give this a read. There is a lot to be gleaned from it!!!!!!! By the way, .38, .38 S&W, .38 special, 357, .380 ACP, 9 mm corto, 38 super and Luger rounds are all .355 ( 9 mm ) in diameter. The Makarov is the only odd ball at .364/9mm. The Russians didn't want us using their ammo off the battle field. We just picked up their Makarov pistols to use their ammo. The Makarov is still a fantastic pistol and still very much in demand today. Absolutely reliable simple and superb design like the AK 47. Cheap to make and they just don't wear out.

ref:

Smith & Wesson Model 39 - Wikipedia

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Old 07-29-2018, 01:10 PM
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Part of it comes from the movie/TV industry.

A lot of "1911's" are really Star B's in 9mm. The stated reason was that the 1911 wasn't cycling .45 blanks reliably, while the Star did fine with 9mm blanks.
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Old 07-29-2018, 01:11 PM
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the 1911 is the worst designed gun ever made. They are pure junk

This is where the S&W Model 39 was born....
oh my gosh....this is hysterical
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Old 07-29-2018, 01:23 PM
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hmmmm....needs some parameters, like my beretta 92 is more reliable than a tisas 1911 ($389 Turkish import).
Hmm, I have both guns. For the Tisas, I immediately bought a bunch of cheap 7 rd mags from Sarco (!) and I only shoot FMJ (Blazer Brass, Magtech, Freedom Munitions), with zero malfunctions.
Maybe it will have problems with some HP rds, but I've yet to see anything. So far, the price has been a great bargain ($299 used).

Can't say the Beretta chokes on anything either. I've put HPs through it in addition to FMJ.

Other "reliability" tidbits- lots of 1911s are going to be target guns, with tight tolerances for better accuracy. They usually recommend a break in period, I assume reliability during that phase might not be 100%. In contrast, a decently made 9mm duty gun will be cheaper and will be designed to feed almost anything... you just don't get the same potential accuracy.

For what it's worth, I own a lot of 9mms, I've yet to have anything that would cycle an empty case, including my 3rd Gen S&W.
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Old 07-29-2018, 03:45 PM
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I only have two 45s and neither is a 1911. They both function 100% with the limited different types of ammo I have tried.

I have a slew of 9mm pistols of various vintages. My Baby Desert Eagle took exception to certain weak sauce 115gr ammo after I messed with the springs to make it recoil less with +P.

My Steyr GB choked once on my buddy and I suspect it is another gun designed for NATO 9mm that dislikes certain downloaded 115gr ammunition. It runs very well with 124gr FMJ and +P is indistinguishable to shoot. The gas brake system seems to like it.
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Old 07-29-2018, 04:52 PM
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In my opinion, the 1911 is the worst designed gun ever made. They are pure junk and now officially "MILITARY SCRAP" The scrapping process started way back it the 1940's when our military wanted a 9 mm pistol like the Germans were using to kick our tales with. This is where the S&W Model 39 was born. Here, give this a read. There is a lot to be gleaned from it!!!!!!! By the way, .38, .38 S&W, .38 special, 357, .380 ACP, 9 mm corto, 38 super and Luger rounds are all .355 ( 9 mm ) in diameter. The Makarov is the only odd ball at .364/9mm. The Russians didn't want us using their ammo off the battle field. We just picked up their Makarov pistols to use their ammo. The Makarov is still a fantastic pistol and still very much in demand today. Absolutely reliable simple and superb design like the AK 47. Cheap to make and they just don't wear out.

ref:

Smith & Wesson Model 39 - Wikipedia
LOL!!! For something that you claim "is the worst designed gun ever made", it has been in continuous production for over a century by countless manufacturers, was in US military service for seven plus decades and was recently reissued as the M45.

Browning locking system is the basis for an number of handguns, handguns like the legendary Hi-Power and Cz75 and their numerous clones.

Speaks volumes about the poor design of the 1911 and the Browning locking system, doesn't it?
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Old 07-29-2018, 05:29 PM
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I wasn't aware that the Germans kicked our tails. Where in history may this be found?

"By the way, .38, .38 S&W, .38 special, 357, .380 ACP, 9 mm corto, 38 super and Luger rounds are all .355 ( 9 mm ) in diameter."

All of them? So Barnes "Cartridges of the World" and a host of reloading manuals have been wrong all these years?

This is what not quite "perfection" looks like in very popular 9mm handgun models. A Glock 17 failure to extract.



To be fair it's the only failure ever experienced with the pistol, purchased used and probably fired only around 1000 times at most.

I still think of the 1911 gun as a "best" handgun design and have been well treated by it. Only a Colt Gold Cup has ever proven even slightly finicky and I don't view it as really the same "breed of cat" as a good usin' 1911 gun.

The junk iron on hand here.



Truth be told I could have take a photograph of a 1911 hang up or two at some time in the past but they've been almost nil for me over the past 40 years and many rounds of 1911 fun and frolic. I think the design is just as good, just as relevant for us now as it was 107 years ago. I like it best because I much prefer the all-steel construction and the single-action trigger and the .45 goodness. Oh yeah, and then there's the personally experienced reliability record.
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Old 07-29-2018, 07:48 PM
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Sadly I own several of the "worst designed handgun ever made". As yet I have had no problems with any of them, they cycle, shoot, cycle again and shoot again. I also just bought a 19 year old Sig Sauer 45acp. Took it out today and shot 100 rounds of reloads without a problem. Guess I'm just lucky. To be fair, I've never had problems with any of my 9mm's either.
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Old 07-29-2018, 08:56 PM
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Quote:
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If you had to carry a NIB pistol without test firing it, which one would you pick: A Beretta m9 or a Colt 1911? Sure, there are plenty of ultra reliable 1911s. But statistically, i'll go with the 9mm Beretta. Same with Glock 17 vs 21.

Just my observation
Don't know about Berettas, I just don't like the looks.

A few years ago I DID buy a NIB 1911 and right off the bat with factory ammo it went thru over 500 rounds before a malfunction. Maybe if I had cleaned it that wouldn't have happened.

My Dad's 1917 made 1911 (not an A1) has been owned and fired by us since 1972, and it has yet to malfunction. Of course its not target accurate, but at least a 1MOA of criminal.

My 39-2 is close behind. Its a fine firearm. But carrying, a 1911 every time.
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Old 07-29-2018, 09:42 PM
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What I find interesting is that the Germans werre kicking out tails with 9mms. They did have some excellent weeapons and did make for a tough enemy, but I think history shows who kicked whos tail AND that the 1911 got the job done.

Just keep smoking that stuff.
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Old 07-29-2018, 10:01 PM
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In my experience, my 45 autos are just as reliable as my 9mm autos. And that's pretty darn good. Both have been very reliable.
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Old 07-29-2018, 10:30 PM
Old Arkansawyer Old Arkansawyer is offline
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Please don't tell my old Springfield 45 acp, you might hurt its' feeling.
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Old 07-29-2018, 10:38 PM
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I always assumed the entire notion sprang 100% from the fact that some 45 ACP auto loaders have issues with certain hollow points, being that the 45 hollow points tend to have very wide open cavities that are more likely to have feeding problems. The same 45 ACP you shoot nothing but ball and wadcutters through might one day hiccup on a big hollow point you don't shoot because it just doesnt' agree with the feedramp.

9mm Luger having a pointerier bullet in general, and smaller mouthed hollow points, is in theory going to have less problems in the overall with feedramps, at least potentially. Lot less surface area to contend with. Then again, maybe we just don't hear about feed problems with 9mm's as much as old 1911's because one general group doesn't report it as much as others.

Interesting topic in any case.
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Old 07-30-2018, 12:54 AM
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Your reasons: 1) The 1911 was invented more than a century ago, and compared to modern 9mm's today, it won't be quite as reliable.

To be honest...I don't get what the hell the big deal is. Really. I've shot maybe two handguns that just didn't work right--one was a modern .32, the other an XDS in .45 that didn't feed if you tried to slingshot it (but was 100% otherwise).

So I can infer three causes:

(1) My hands have a gift from God that heals sick semiautos.
(2) People buy ****** ammo, and I don't.
(3) People have ****** technique, and I don't.
(4) People like to complain and exaggerate.
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Old 07-30-2018, 07:09 AM
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Quote:
Why are some 9mm pistols more reliable?
Because others are less reliable
Didn’t you learn antonyms in 2nd grade?
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