Let me share a life story with you all.
When it comes to centerfire semi-auto handguns, I pretty much only own and shoot either 1911s or Glocks. I think they are both great. So I don't really have a dog in this fight.
About 3 years ago I owned a beautiful original Colt 1911 Lightweight Officers ACP. This little gun had so much potential. Its my favorite size in a defensive 1911, since its my humble opinion that any of the exotic smaller than this versions are either unreliable or difficult to shoot fast well.
As was typical of Colts of that era, it was not totally reliable and had a trigger that felt like you soaked it in 30 wt oil and rolled it around in the sand.
But I was going to make this little beauty into a gem. I was preparing to send it off to Wilson Combat for about $1300 worth of work that would turn it into the ultimate (or pretty close) little carry gun.
Then a couple of days before I was going to ship it out I had both it and my Gen4 Glock 19 out on my bench. Hmm. I laid the Glock on top of the OACP. Hmm. They are exactly the same size. Then I held them up and looked at them from the rear. They were about the same width although with a set of slim grips the 1911 could have definitely been made a bit narrower.
Then I weighed them. The OACP weighted 24 oz, the Glock weighed 20. Hmm.
Then I thought about capacity. OACP - 7 rounds of .45. G19 - 16 rounds of 9mm
Flame me if you would like. But I don't carry a spare mag. But it gets even worse for the OACP if you work the numbers that way.
(13 vs 33)
Hmm. Then I thought about the investment. OACP - Gun value $900+WC work $1300 = $2200 G19 - $550
Hmm.
That was the beginning of the end. I listed the Colt the next day and within a couple of weeks sold it to an interesting guy from this board that did some high profile personal protection work.
I haven't regretted my decision. Now don't get me wrong. I love my 1911s. I've owned Wilsons, Nighthawks, Les Baers, and Brazos Customs, and Dan Wessons. They are all wonderful guns. And I still have every 5" 1911 I've ever bought from any of those companies. But all my carry 1911s are gone
Carry guns are tools. Further, they are DISPOSABLE tools. If I can get a lighter, cheaper, more effective and and more reliable tool, then shame on me if I don't use it.
Oh yeah. And I shot the Glock MUCH MUCH better than I did the OACP.
The end.