M&P 45 vs. 1911 Accuracy & reliability

I'd go M&P 45 more reliable. Plus the saved money will get a good amount of extra mags. That is a lot of boom boom.

Great feedback

This is a very informative thread. Great information for a novis such as myself. I can't wait to get my first M&P 45. Thanks everyone. I look forward to talking with you.

M&P thumbs up

S. Kelly said:

I picked up a used M&P45...suck trigger and a terrible finish (lots of factory milling marks and divots that were melonited over)...

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My M&P 9 Pro Series has the same factory quality all my SIG Sauers have had (no mill marks, great finish). Shoots 100%.

I've been dabbling in the "should I go 1911" world, too. Thanks for the posts.

I read that per the 1940 War Department field manual, mean radius at 25 yards with muzzle rest was 0.86" with 800 fps GI ball and a 5-6.5 lbs trigger pull.
*I* can't do that!
I do know that all the ones I owned or that were issued to me shot anything fired through them without problem, and I have often gone to the range with our professional military son, taking a 1911 (not an A1), a WWII 1911A1 that appears original to the era, a Series 70, a (modern) Remington, Sig Scorpion Carry, Springfield Champion Operator Lightweight, S&W 1911Sc and PC-RB, and bounced golf balls out to 30 meters or so off-hand with all of them. My Sig 220 can do that, too.

While I have observed what might have been so-called "limp-wristing," I have never experienced it even when holding the gun loosely in my hands.

Armorers told me that magazines are critical to 1911 reliability. I've seen that proven myself. After that, the recoil and firing pin springs are important, and the relief of the chamber mouth is critical to hollow point ammo. Even so, I've fired hollow point ammo (Speer Flying Ashtrays and Federal Gold Dot) in every one except the non-A1 with no feed problems.

People who say cleanliness is critical forget the gun was designed to shoot when full of dirt, and in Vietnam I shot one dry and filthy with dust with no malfunctions. Ones built to tight tolerances will have problems that must be identified and addressed.

Butchersmithing is common, and owner so-called polishing of that chamber relief, or the feed ramp of pistols that have them, is almost a guarantee of trouble.

I have a S&W M&P357 that is utterly reliable with everything I shoot through it. The striker system is true "point and click" simplicity. I recently put the 1,000-th round through it, not including those fired in competition. It gets cleaned when I think about it, greased and oiled at every use, and I've fired it with a heavy light mounted on the rail. It just doesn't stop.

Better? Best? Pointless questions. If it works and you like it, shoot it.

I have both. For quite a while I carried my S&W 1911 as a duty gun. It's always been reliable and I can shoot it well. That said I was always aware of the weight of the gun and low capacity while strapping on my duty belt.

I have 3 M&P .45s in the safe. My mid size has the Apex DCAEK kit. It's lighter, has more bullets and I shoot it darn near as well as my 1911. After some consideration I made the change to the M&P as my duty gun. No regrets.

Which gun do more people say is finicky?
The other one is the more reliable one.

Unless I'm bullseye shooting, any modern handgun is accurate enough for social work and nit picking is internet busywork.

Wow, a 5 year old thread. Meh, this discussion will rage for many decades so, why not?

cb4017 said:

That said I was always aware of the weight of the gun and low capacity while strapping on my duty belt.

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Interesting. You went to an M&P 45 because of the low capacity of the 1911? Do those two more rounds really make you feel that much better?

McE said:

Which gun do more people say is finicky?
The other one is the more reliable one.

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Hogwash! I don't care what people say. It's what's really true that I'm interested in.

People "say" that the Glock is super reliable. If that's true, why is it the brand I see malfunction the most?

I wanted to give a 1911 a try, picked up a new sr1911 cmd. Loved the looks, the history, the way it felt in hand ...but...it was not reliable. Could not get through a box of ammo without ftf,fte. Bought some Wilsonz mags and same problem. Sure could have sent it to ruger to have it worked on but I bought it for hd/ccw and I would never trust it. Sold it for a m&p45c and Havnt looked back. The m&p has been 100% reliable out of the box. Very accurate, softer shooting than my 1911, carries great. Ironically to get the 1911 I sold off a fs m&p 45...what goes around comes around

shutupdata113 said:

I wanted to give a 1911 a try, picked up a new sr1911 cmd. Loved the looks, the history, the way it felt in hand ...but...it was not reliable. Could not get through a box of ammo without ftf,fte. Bought some Wilsonz mags and same problem. Sure could have sent it to ruger to have it worked on but I bought it for hd/ccw and I would never trust it. Sold it for a m&p45c and Havnt looked back. The m&p has been 100% reliable out of the box. Very accurate, softer shooting than my 1911, carries great. Ironically to get the 1911 I sold off a fs m&p 45...what goes around comes around

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Interesting. You tried one gun and the whole concept is garbage.

My M&P 45 failed to feed a few times when it was new. I have three 1911s that have never failed. Hmmm, using your logic, the 1911 is the way to go, right?

The answer is no. No gun model or manufacturer is perfect. To declare a type or model garbage based on one gun is ridiculous and ingenuous.

I know it is an older thread, and the OP has probably made his decision, however it is still interesting.

I have been trying to decide between my Lightweight Commander and my M&P 40FS (not a .45, but I'm not worried about either round).

Both have been reliable, and are of similar size (the M&P being wider). I have trained with both, and have carried both. the M&P has more rounds, it a newer design, and is theoretical more friendly to a lefty like me. I want to like it more, but when it comes to walking out the door, I'll take the 1911 over it most of the time. Can't quite explain it.

YMMV,

RSD

Zombie thread? What better to put it down than a GI 1911 with ball ammo?

hoc9sw said:

Zombie thread? What better to put it down than a GI 1911 with ball ammo?

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Are you implying there's something categorically wrong with old things that won't go away?

This has been a GREAT read for anyone considering the M&P 45 or the 1911.
I have a first gen. Kimber 1911 & love it. I went thru build guns, Colts & other plane jane's but nothing has been as reliable & accurate as my Kimber. that being said, I'm considering the M&P .45 & it looks like I'll have to go out & give one a try for comparison. I have a compact M&P 9mm 2.0 & love the grip & handling. the M&P .45 full size has the same texture & feel in the hand. also, thoughts about my Kimber 1911 sitting in a Property/Evidence room after a good shoot makes me pause a bit (I use to do that type of work & saw many a fine firearm languish & collect dust). it's much easier to see a M & P sit there than my Kimber.
Thanks for the help fella's. Tom

I am a 1911 aficionado. I do not own an M&P 45 but will say. As a first gun the ease of use, reliability and and accuracy of major name brand plastic is probably a good choice over the 1911. (XD45 owner)
It would be like asking about getting a newer car vs an old classic.
If you mind the maintenance and dont plan to practice with the safety youre better off with plastic.

Edit. I just noticed the date. please let this thread rest in peace now.

Exactly, which is why my shield 45s, note plural, are my carry choice over my Sig Ultra any day. Not that I don't love my lil Sig, but it's heavier and worth well over double the cost of a Shield 45.

Currently own commander and officer size 1911s from S&W, Sig, and Rock Island Armory (don't knock them). Apples to oranges when comparing them to an M&P. The grip angles and bore axis alignment are different. Polymer frame vs. alloy, scandium, and/or steel. Double stack mag vs. single stack.

It's just hard to beat the 1.0 M&P 45 overall when it comes to accuracy, shoot-ability, weight, reliability, and cost. Note all my 1.0 M&P 45s have the Apex trigger and sear. They are very accurate out of the box and easily met, and exceeded, my minimum requirement of 2"-2.5" group @ 25 yards off sandbags. Even better w/ a storm lake barrel drop in.

walkin' trails said:

Furthermore, consider a pistol used during a lawful self-defense shooting will be confiscated as evidence until the case clears. I'll cry less having to hand over and possibly never seeing my $500 M&P than my $1,200 - up 1911 again.

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I have both, a Colt Series 70 1911, and a Shield 45. If I could only have one, it would be the M&P. 1) I don't like external safeties on a home defense/personal protection handgun. And, 2) It took the requisite 300-500 round break-in, plus a few trips to the gunsmith before the 1911 became reliable enough to depend on. My M&P's ran right out of the box. YMMV.

I remember all too well when almost every professional shooter was using some form of 1911. Then Glock and some of the other plastic makes offered free guns to shooting teams in order to endorse their product into the sports.

BGM109 said:

This has been a GREAT read for anyone considering the M&P 45 or the 1911.
I have a first gen. Kimber 1911 & love it. I went thru build guns, Colts & other plane jane's but nothing has been as reliable & accurate as my Kimber. that being said, I'm considering the M&P .45 & it looks like I'll have to go out & give one a try for comparison. I have a compact M&P 9mm 2.0 & love the grip & handling. the M&P .45 full size has the same texture & feel in the hand. also, thoughts about my Kimber 1911 sitting in a Property/Evidence room after a good shoot makes me pause a bit (I use to do that type of work & saw many a fine firearm languish & collect dust). it's much easier to see a M & P sit there than my Kimber.
Thanks for the help fella's. Tom

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Why revive a necro thread? Why not start a new one?

lots of info is a good thing, adding on to old info is even better!!