I have a target 1911 that is tight, accurate, guaranteed to shoot 1.5" at 50 yds. One of those guns that everyone claims should be unreliable because it isn't loose and doesn't rattle. I have had it for about 5 years, probably approaching 10,000 rounds through it. It has NEVER malfunctioned. Not even once. Ever.

I have had my revolver malfunction - I've had dirt/powder/something get under the ejector star and jam up the cylinder. I also had the ejector rod unscrew and tie up the cylinder. So it can happen, and if it does, you aren't going to be able to fix it 'right now'. Your odds of recovering from a malfunction with an auto is a lot higher.

That said, I got a 642. It it will do the job, the odds of it malfunctioning are extremely remote, and it is easily replaced.