My GLOCK Journey: There and Back Again

1. I can smell smoke from miles off…flames…Smokey the Bear is saddened by you.

   • puts down copy of “1911 FanBoy Monthly”

     Well well well… lookee here…

     In all seriousness I’ve shot exactly two glocks, for a grand total of maybe 8 bullets. I think one was a .45 and one was a .40. I don’t remember being particularly enamored or displeased by them.. I do remember that the grips seemed unusually big, and I have normal sized hands.

     I am a vintage nerd at heart so they just don’t “do it” for me. I have an inexpensive 9mm I shoot all day and its given maybe two stovepipes, ever.

     • I do love the Glock but I don’t subscribe anymore. The grip angle after seven years of carry started to wear on me and tried to dislocate a finger. It’s the first gun I ever bought and I’ll keep it but I need to get the trigger guard molded for my high grip and change the angle.

       I still recommend them but I carry M&P or Sig for the ergonomic value to my hands. And I preach the ignorance of brand loyalty to the point of advertising whore. I used to do that too. Then I had to find a new edc.

       Easily the best learning experience to be had in pistol shooting. Being forced to shop around out of necessity is handy (if expensive).

       I started with Glock but won’t be back till they sizably change the ergos out of the box.

     • Thats two too many stove pipes. I went around the hand gun world too. First glock 22 then HK, Sig and S & W love em. However I just ended up carrying a 19. You just cant beat the reliability. My 22 never malfunctioned even with cheap steel loads. Ive easily put 10000 rounds threw it. I shoot every day. I can keep it with in a 6 inch group at 20 yards no problem. This 9 I just got is even more accurate. I put a big box of 250 threw it today and man I love glock. The only thing I can keep on target better is the 44 red hawk. Cheap, accurate and never fails. Why bother getting any thing else.

2. Good for you for finding what works for you. I certainly can’t fault you for preferring Glocks, after having personally tried all of the major competitors (including the higher-end alternatives). The only Glock fanboys I have difficulty trying to stomach are the ones who’ve never shot anything else, but still blindly declare that Glocks are the greatest autopistol ever devised.

   When we all know that distinction belongs to HKs.

   • Exactly.

     • I’ve noticed that HK owners spend a lot of time justifying how much they spent on their HKs and become extremely defensive when it is pointed out to them that spending *that* much more for a polymer frame handgun may really not be all that wise a choice. I’ve owned them. Shot them. They are great handguns, but no way they are worth *that* much more.

       • While not absolutely positive, I feel confident Peter was practicing the fine art of sarcasm.

         Quite well at that.

       • SARCASM…I don’t has it.

       • See below. I own both.

         In terms of cost it’s about 1 case of 9mm more than a Glock and if what a person is looking for is a polymer pistol, that is hammer fired, and not a piece of poop like the Sig P250, then an H&K is worth the price.

         My panties. They is bunched. Sniffle. 😛

       • FoRealz: What is this “case of 9mm” you speak of?

   • +2. The P7 PSP is my EDC. However, when I need to carry something lighter I reach for my G26.

     • OMG! If HK would just make a 21st century Polymer P7, I would be in eternal heaven!

       The HK’s are worth every dime, and then some. Their machining, attention to detail, and over all craftsmanship is far superior to the Glock ( I own, carry and shoot both brands). The GLock is the best bang for your buck. And they do go bang, every time. In >20 years, my only failure with a Glock was actually an ammunition failure, and had nothing to do with the pistol (G19).

       • +1. The P7 is the only HK I’ve ever wanted to own or even try. A polymer version would be too attractive to resist.

3. It only seems appropriate to paraphrase Paul McCain at this time: “Let the Paul McCain bashing begin in one, two, three . . . .”

   • If Paul McCain had run a better Presidential campaign we wouldn’t be stuck with that idiot in the White House!

     Wait, I think I may be bashing the wrong McCain…

     • He is a very distant cousin, if that helps.

       : )

       • So it runs in the family.

4. I own 1 GLOCK, the 21, gen 4. It is the standard by which I judge all other double stack .45 ACP handguns. Ruger and S&W tried thier hands at it, but couldn’t get more than 10 rounds into the magazine. Even Sig, with their new 1k+ P227, can’t beat that. I’ve used a Para double-stack 1911, which had reliability and feeding issues my GLOCK 21 laughed at. Only FN and Springfield were able to match or beat that capacity, and both have their issues. The FN is too F’N expensive, and that grip is just painful without gloves. The XDm is great, right up until the weak little roll pin up top snaps, and you have an expensive paperweight. Truly GLOCK 21 is the best double-stack .45, and I love mine.

   Wait, GLOCK makes other calibers other than 45? Weird, why would they do that?

   • FN expensive… That made me LOL.

   • The G21 is the Glock that, for whatever reason, I am able to shoot the most accurately the most consistently. Go figure.

     • It’s the .45 acp. Most shooters I know shoot a .45 better than a 9 or a .40

       • Why is that? Is it less snappy or something?

     • Weird. I’ve owned 5 model 21’s. Sold them all after 500-1,000 rounds. I just couldn’t shoot straight with them.
       17, 27, 20? No problems at all.

     • I always felt like Glocks didn’t fit my hand just right. Especially the 21. Then I tried a model 21SF. It made all the difference in the world. I still prefer my 1911’s, but the comfort 14 rounds of .45ACP gives me is nice to have on rare occasions.

   • I love my g19, but have never shot a 21. I do own the fnx 45, and I LOVE it. The grip texture doesn’t bother me (I’m a man, no lotion on these hands) and it is just smooth and lovely. Plus 15 round mags of .45 is sex.

     Not sure why cost is an issue, I got mine for about $620 (at a local gun store) which isn’t bad at all. Then again, if I already had a g21 and liked it I wouldn’t bother with anything else.

5. I own 3 glocks all in .40. Bring on the hate – I love them all. Daily carry though is a s&w .38.

   • My EDC is a Glock 23. I love it and I’m confident with it. That’s all that matters.

     • The One Gun To Rule Them All…

     • My EDC is usually a Glock 27 or 23 with Federal HST or Winchester PDX 180 grains JHPs. I may get a 9mm conversion barrel also.

       Then again, I’m also developing a thing for the M&P shield and the VTAC. And the XD. And the Sig 227, and a good 1911, and the FN FNS, and the 226, and a good Smith revolver, and the beefy Ruger GP…

6. I’ve pretty much considered Glocks and Springfield in the same boat.

   • Same with me. Except I also lump the M&P line in there as well.(strictly polymer semi autos, not they’re revolvers)

7. Is it me or is Beretta just not present in any of these conversations? I feel like I have no one to talk to.

   /semi-sarcasm

   • Sorry, I should have mentioned Beretta. I’ve enjoyed owning and shooting the Beretta 92A1 and the Beretta PX4 Storm. Both VERY nice handguns, but what I could not over come is how much I hated the placement of the safety and how it made racking the slide painful. But, two great handguns, to be sure, just not for me.

     I also should have mentioned the Walther PPQ M2. I love it, particularly the trigger, which is, in my opinion, the best “out of the box” striker action available.

     • Without doubt. Tried it out the other day at my local gunshop. So good.

   • Hate the Beretta. I sucked with it in the military and Im worse now. I cant get a constant group past 10 yards. I would do more damage if I threw the gun at the target. However my son who is 14 is a crack shot with it even at 25 yards he can constantly hit on target. Like Anne Oakley said ” the best gun is the one you can shoot good”. If it works for you don’t listen to what others say. I just suck with them so I’m not a fan of Beretta. Glock Glock and more Glock.

8. For 9mm guns used for personal protection it’s hard to beat a G26 in the holster and a G17 in the drawer safe by the bed. It’s pretty much fuck up proof and unless a person has midget hands you won’t go far wrong recommending a Glock to someone.

   Sure, as their tastes mature, they might bitch about the grip or the trigger not being as sweet as a 1911 or CZ75, but if the mythical shit were to hit the fan, not many are going to bitch about having a G17 with a Surefire light on tap when there’s an unsettling thump and bump at the patio door.

   Yeah, yeah I know, you hardcore guys got a Remmy 870, an AK or an AR under the pillow. Point taken. But…

   As for me, I’m digging my USP .45 LEM, but I’m not looking to sell my Glocks. That would be dumb.

   • I have a Mossberg 590 AND a Glock 20 in the bedroom.

   • I’m digging my USP .45 LEM

     +1

9. I love my G23.

10. What is this “fun” of which you speak?

    • The meaning of “fun” is on a strictly need-to-know basis.

11. I’ve come to love Austrian striker-fired pistols, too.

    Just not Glocks.

    (People who like them aren’t going to get any grief from me. They’re just not my thing.)

    • You like the Steyrs, I take it?

      If so, perhaps you just like Wilhelm Bubits striker fired pistols 🙂

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Bubits

12. First handgun I shot was a Browning Hi-Power, while in uniform, which was a very serviceable weapon. When I took up shooting for fun, the club had a Browning and a S&W 686; but because I wanted to shoot Practical, I wanted a .45 automatic, and at the time I thought a DA trigger was a better option; so the first pistol I bought was a S&W 4506, which I rather liked. Reliable, shot well, but I found I liked the heavy DA trigger less than I thought I would, to the point that I’d draw and then thumb back the hammer for the first shot, which slowed me down. (Spare magazines were expensive and hard to come by in the UK, too – with hindsight maybe a M1911 would have been a better option)

    I’d been unconvinced by Glocks when I first handled them unloaded: top-heavy and with a ‘springy’ trigger I didn’t think I liked. Actually shooting a friend’s G19, though, made me more of a believer; the weapon balanced much better with a magazine fitted, and the trigger worked much more nicely when it actually had a round to fire. It was a bit small for my hands… but then people were complaining that the G21 was ‘too big’. When I picked one up, I knew I was going to trade the S&W for it… which I did. 13+1 capacity, digested my amateurish handloads without complaint or a single stoppage, shot where I aimed it, and – because I only pulled the bang-switch when I wanted to execute a cardboard target – both safe and quick to shoot. Oh, and even in the UK, spare magazines were cheap as chips – not that I needed many with thirteen in each.

    There are a lot of excellent firearms out there; but personally if I had the opportunity to get back into pistol shooting, I’d start with a Glock and then explore from there.

13. Glocks are great guns and I have fired quite a few. I’ve never had a fault with one and they all work as intended. The only problem with Glock is I do not like the way they feel to hold and fire. They do not fit my hands very well and they do not point as naturally for me as my XD40 and M&P9. Both of those guns have their drawbacks also. The XD40 has a capacity problem and the stock M&P9 trigger is mushy. I still wouldn’t mind the Glock in 10mm though.

14. Not to pick, but is the SA/DA whine-fest really a worthy topic? If I have a round in the chamber and I cock the hammer, do I have a single action pull or a double action pull? Correct, I have a single action pull. Why would anyone want a longer pull, with much greater resistance, for that first nervous shot, from a resting hammer position? My first shot will be the same trigger pull as the ones that will follow. It’s a double action for what, that first shot? And that is, for some reason, considered a valid argument when deciding what gun to choose? What the hell, is cocking the hammer too difficult a task to master on the draw, that we spend our time on gun blogs bitching and agonizing over it? Pull the hamned dammer back and viola, it’s all SA from the first shot to the last. No problem-o.

    Tell me, how do you decock the cocked trigger on a Glock…besides ejecting the mag, ejecting the round from the chamber, and then pulling the trigger? Uh-huh.

    • To each his own. Consistency is next to godliness. I sold my DA/SA P226 and was able to fund two Glocks with the proceeds, both of which I shoot better than I ever could shoot the Sig. Not that I don’t love my Colt 1911 and Smith wheel gun, but I can detail strip the Glocks in my sleep, parts are cheap, they always go bang and they’re more accurate than my skill will permit.

      • My “problem” with SIGS is where the put the slide stop, my hands just keep touching it and it prevents slide lock back. Can’t get over it. But SIGS are very fine handguns, just not for me.

        • I have the same issue with H&K pistols. With Glocks, no problem whatsoever.

    • Tell me, why would you wish to ‘decock’ a Glock-brand glock? The mechanism is designed to always have pre-load (compression) on the striker spring; When the striker/spring/spring cups/extension unit is assembled, the spring is partially compressed. Drawing back the trigger/trigger bar loads the striker spring to maximum just at the point the striker tail is released by the drawbar ‘cruciform’ extension. There is no need or reason to ‘decock the cocked trigger,’ mostly because it’s never ‘cocked’ until the point of firing. In any case, the modern-metallurgy striker spring will probably outlast the owner in its partially-compressed condition, and its forward travel is positively prevented by the safety plunger blocking the striker. A Glock trigger also has a return spring to bring the drawbar ‘cruciform’ out of contact with the striker tail if the gun is NOT fired which brings the trigger fully forward and returns the striker spring to its ‘half-cocked’ pre-load condition.

      In other words, a Glock glock is NEVER ‘cocked’ fully until the trigger is depressed to the point where the cruciform piece at the end of the drawbar drops off its ‘ramp’ and loses contact with the striker tail. If it never reaches that drop-off point, and the trigger is released, the striker and striker spring assembly will return to its ‘rest’ pre-load position. Once it IS pressed, the striker spring will not become ‘cocked’ again until the trigger is released to the reset point and pressed again to draw the striker backwards. And so on.

      What am I missing?

    • The striker on a Glock is at rest until you start to squeeze the trigger, so unless your booger hook is squeezing, it IS decocked….

    • The DA/SA system is one major reason I prefer Glocks, but, as my article points out, not the only reason.

    • ” Pull the hamned dammer back and viola, it’s all SA from the first shot to the last. No problem-o.”

      Not sure how violas got into this, but anyhow–a lot of SA/DAs (for example the Beretta 92) are designed such that the safety also functions as a decocker. So you now are faced with taking the safety off AND thumbing back the hammer during the draw, with the same thumb. Or carrying with the safety off.

      One SA/DA that is NOT like this is the CZ-75 B (not BD), and all safety-equipped variants, which you can carry cocked and locked.

    • There are many people that value the DA/SA system, the fact that it is popular makes it worthy of discussion. Besides that, most of the advocates of DA/SA believe it to be “safer” then both “safety-less” Glocks or “cocked and locked” 1911s, e.t.c…. They believe, as I have been told I don’t agree, that having the hammer in the resting position means if something goes wrong (like the pistol is dropped) that the hammer cannot fall and set off the round. They also tell me that the longer harder pull of the first shot makes it safer……. In the sense that it prevents a negligent discharge, they tell me.
      As for cocking the hammer during the draw, why the hell would anyone do all that work? if you want the hammer back at the draw, carry cocked and locked. If you want the hammer down shoot DA. Why change it around when time counts.

    • My Taurus is a DA/SA, but it doesn’t have a hammer.

      I’m not even sure why I’m commenting, I’m so confused.

      • I’m right there with you buddy

      • Forgive my noob-ness, but how does that work? Does it have a de-cocker only to drop it to DA after you load with no exposed hammer? What model is that?

        • The Taurus have a trigger bar (like a glock) with a tab on it which can catch the striker and draw it back to the cocked position, if the striker is down. There is no de-cocker. The guns are said to have “second strike capability”.
          The idea being: You load the gun with a round in the chamber. The gun will be cocked on a live round. If you pull the trigger and the round doesn’t go off, you can keep pulling the trigger and the striker will be cocked and strike the primer again until the round fires. When the round fires the action of the slide will cock the striker. So it’s really more of a SA/DA system, not a DA/SA system. I don’t like it, i think its a gimmick. I guess it makes sense in South America where you don’t know if your ammo is crap or not. But if you have ever taken a Taurus apart you will see that to achieve this they have complicated the design significantly over a Glock.

        • I believe this system is universal across all their striker fired polymer pistols now. But I know models like the 709 and the PT145 have “second strike capability”. They are pretty proud of it so the Taurus marketing will list it as a feature for their guns that have it.
          It’s a ploy to win over the striker-fired nay sayers. People who say things like, “I only trust equipment The Military uses and militaries will never adopt a pistol that’s not hammer-fired, because if you had a bad primer or primer strike you have no way to re-cock the pistol to strike the primer again.”
          At one point I thought the same thing. Then The British dropped the Browning Hi-Power for the Glock 17.

        • I don’t entirely understand what samurai is saying. My Taurus is a 24/7 model. Load the magazine, rack the slide, and you can do SA all day long. Or you can use the decocker to make the first shot DA.

          I guess the difference between it and a pistol with a hammer is that with a hammer, once you’ve decocked it, you can always cock it again. If you tried to recock my Taurus after decocking it, the only way to do that would be to rack the slide again, which would eject any chambered round.

15. I’ve owned sigs, berettas, rugers, revolvers, 1911s, M&Ps… Now I only own glocks. And if I could only have 1, it would be a $400 police trade-in gen3 g23. A lot of things that make Glock superior, but I love the fact that you can pick one up with night sights for $400 and know it will never ever wear out. Much like HKs, M&P, FNH, there’s no such thing as “round count”.

16. I’ve tried a lot of them, but for going out and punching paper and plinking around give me my old S@W Model 14.

    • Phuggin’ A. Smith wheel gun for the win.

      • You and Chuck Hawk, jwm… old school rules.

        http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_home_defense.htm

17. The more I try to get away, Glock pulls me back in. I don’t usually end sentences with prepositions, but in this case it is just right. After escaping the gun tyranny of the Northeast, I went out and bought a Glock 22 in 1993. I still have it, it still goes bang. Though I have been admittedly unfaithful at times, I still return. I have several pistols now, some that shoot better, Glocks have turned out to be the great utilitarian tools that are relatively inexpensive and useful on a daily basis.

18. I like Glocks… except Glock-brand-Glocks.

19. Loved my G17. Love my G19. Going to love my G26 asap.

20. I have no objection to Glocks. When I was deciding on my first pistol a few years ago, I was torn between a Glock 19 and PPQ. I chose the PPQ. Thousands of rounds later, I have never regretted that decision. (Except maybe when I paid $45 for a 17-round magazine.) But I have chosen to use a CZ P-01 for concealed carry. I just feel safer carrying a DA/SA pistol with a decocker.

    • The Walther PPQ M2 is, in my opinion, the finest striker-action handgun available. The price is reasonable, the capacity is great, but for me the sight radius is a tad on the short side, plus, it is not quite compact enough for me do EDC with as often as I prefer.

      But the PPQ is amazing and the short reset on the trigger is simply fantastic.

      • It is a bit big for concealed carry but guys who can carry a Glock 19 could carry it. I actually prefer the PPQ M1. I know some guys hate it, but I love that paddle mag release.

        • I carry a PPQ M1 at 4 o’clock in a hybrid at about 10 degrees cant and the backstrap tucks in neatly below my ribs. Extremely difficult to see if you know its there, even in t-shirt. At 6’3”/ 200lbs I’m not exactly a behemoth, so almost everything ‘prints’… except that setup. So, it can be done. Just a matter of finding the right rig/fit.

      • True the reset is nice on the PPQ, but it has been beaten by the Slovakian made “Grand Power” handguns 😉

21. I feel the same about my hi-points

    • So, what are the “high points” about your “hi-points”? I am entirely unfamiliar with them.

22. I’ve had everything as well. what do I always return to? Gen3 G19.. no matter the price tag or sexiness of other guns, nothing beats it.

    • I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never shot a G19.

      • Paul! You SHOULD be ashamed of yourself! 😉

      • you’re not missing anything. and that’s why it’s a good gun. it’s so practical it’s boring. perfect size, weight, price, capacity.. zero failures.. all I do is flip the rear sight around so it’s less distracting, load up with Ranger +P+, snap it into an IWB kydex and go about my day.

      • You should never admit it even if true. The 19 is a decent gun. the 21 is a better gun. At least in my hand.

        I currently own neither.

      • In their double-stack 9 products, I think the G19 is a real winner. It is “just right” in terms of size, capacity, weight and handling. IMO, I’ve shot most all the products that Glock has shipped, and if pressed to recommend a gun for a shooting newbie that can function as “a pistol for CCW, home defense, target practice, perhaps practical shooting games” all at once, the G19 bubbles up to the top of my list.

23. I ran about 50 rounds thru a G17 yesterday. I wasnt real impressed, something about the grip didn’t suit me, I kept having to find the sights after each round. With both my M&P and my XD, the sights simply drop into alignment again ready for the next trigger pull. With practice I could probably shoot one well, but it just wasn’t comfortable.

24. Luv my combat tupperware…the G26 is an excellent EDC gun.

25. Glocks are great!
    My grandma loves hers!
    I carry a 1911 blah blah blah.
    best gun ever blah blah blah.
    your Tupperware gun is junk blah blah.
    but seriously my 1911 is a tack driver, never shot better with anything else.
    does that make me one of those aholes now?
    but even those aholes don’t like me because I didn’t drop $2000 on a gun.
    🙁

26. I have had a similar experience, Paul. My first pistol purchase as an adult was a G17. After that, I wandered happily through the forests of SIG, FN, Ruger and others, but my EDC today is a G27. (I keep the FNX .45 on the nightstand, though – I rather prefer putting an obstacle or two between my groggy trigger finger and a fired round.)

27. Glock 21 SF the best pistol Glock makes. Love my 1911’s but the 21 would be the one I grabbed in a situation without a doubt.

28. But does their blue hue glow when goblins are near 😕

29. “Fourth, there’s the simplicity of the GLOCK. Chiefly I’ve come to realize that I dislike external safeties. Hate ‘em.”

    I’m with you there, Paul.

    When I was pondering choices for self-defense weapons, it was Glock simplicity that kept drawing me toward them. Mag release, slide lock, and a happy switch. That’s all. When milliseconds count, I figure I won’t have time for manual safeties.

30. If you can’t keep your weapon pointed in a safe direction, with finger off the trigger until ready, you probably shouldn’t be relying on a safety anyway…

    And if you can, the external safety is just one more thing to get in the way.

    Did our forefathers put safeties on their handguns? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_1851_Navy_Revolver

    heh…who’s got the popcorn?

31. What a disappointing thread, not a single “1911’s rule, Glocks drool” comment.

    I came for the flame war and all I got was this lousy comment.

    • You know…checking back, I expected some good deforestation but…it’s like a bonfire with a bunch of drunks. Something is burning, no one really cares and it’s not fun to fling burning pieces of wood.

      Out of all the flame war potential threads, this came out a real sputter. I revise my original comment.

      Smokey the Bear is pleased.

      • It has been a remarkably, and refreshingly, acrimony-free discussion.

        Is it possible for there to be a calm conversation about handgun choices on TTAG? I believe so!

        Of course, we are still under 100 comments on the thread and it is my working hypothesis, bordering now on a theory, that no matter what the conversation is on the Internet, once it goes past 100 comments, it is generally hopeless any longer to expect it to remain relatively civil and constructive.

        But, hope springs eternal….

        • As of my page refresh it’s at 99 comments with no smoldering embers in the thread. Unless there’s an alarm for trolls to douse civil conversations with accelerants sounding somewhere from the depths of 4chan…I would venture playing Devil’s Advocate is a good move today.

          Color me amazed right with you.

    • Come on, people are very predictable and subjective.
      I’m sure that the pre-1911 revolver crowd heaped great piles of scorn on the 1911,
      “It’ll jam all the time or why so many moving parts” etc.
      The 1911 is a hundred year old design that has stood the test of time and several shooting wars.
      Browning was a prolific genius and the vast majority of modern firearms will still exhibit some component of his legacy.
      Is the 1911 the best pistol ever designed ?
      I can’t say but, it is more like a “Holy Grail”, to understand it’s secrets is to understand all other, successful pistol designs.
      In eighty years or so, our offspring will probably see a 100 year old Glock in some museum and they’ll be wearing wrist bands printed with WWGGD.

32. Glocks have a grand total of 33 or 34 parts, completely stripped. Very easy to clean and maintain. Other guns have 60-70+ easily. That’s what caught my attention. Been a Glock advocate ever since.

33. I’m with you. I’ve had Sigs, HKs, a stupid expensive 1911, A gaggle of Smiths, a Beretta and a Ruger. In fact I still have some of them. But Glocks and Kahrs are the only pistols I still bother shooting enough to stay half proficient with. To me, the favorite features is that they work reliably, and FEEL THE SAME WAY regardless of caliber and frame size.

    Of all my guns, My p220 still the one that does it for me, and if I were to be stuck with only one open carried gun from now ’til forever, it would be the one. But I’ve had bad luck with any smaller version; and even the small ones, just aren’t all that small. With both Glock and Kahr, it’s all the same; from the smallest CCW sized gun, to their “Practical-tactical” laserbeamers.

34. I shunned Glocks for the longest and I gave 9mm the same treatment…

    S&W, Ruger, Sig, Taurus, revolvers, 1911s, .38, .40, .380, .45, I tried all the major ones. None of them felt like “my go to EDC”, there was alway some issue that kept me on the look out for another gun/caliber.

    Finally, a friend convinced me to try the G26, I dropped my preconceived notations, and never turned back. It wasn’t the best gun, it was just the best all around gun, for me, and that’s what I was looking for all along.

    Now, the 9mm family of Glocks are my go to guns, I sold everything else, except a .380 and .38 for back up/pocket carry.

    I’ve thought about switching over to the M&P line, but I can’t justify the time and money to fix a system that isn’t broken.

35. I have a G17 and G21 both Gen4. Plus, I also have a Kimber Pro Carry II. While I like the Kimber, I prefer the G21 as my EDC. I do like the Kimber, especially, how it fits exactly into my hands. However, there is something about the G21 in my hands that just can’t be described. I mean, it just feels great for me. I’ve already shot over 2,000 rounds on the G21. Whereas, on the Kimber, I’ve only shot slight over 1,000.

36. Glocks rock everything else sucks sock.

37. One more thing about Glock-brand Glocks I should have put in my list:

    They are incredibly simple to field strip and even detail strip, when you want to give them more of a deep cleaning, like de-gunking the firing pin channel, etc.

38. I could have wrote this.

    I got my first Glock 22 in 91? I got rid of it for an XD at some point. There were others, DS/SA guns…hate them. I am back to Glock’s will never switch again.

    They are tools, I practice a lot with them. The 17 is probably my favorite in 9mm. The 26 is my EDC. Like someone else said, I shoot my friends 21 really well and I am not a 45 fan. That said I may get one.

    • As your grammar is horrendous, I’m glad you didn’t.

39. Glock’s just don’t fit my hand good. The trigger reach seems long to me. If it’s not comfortable then I won’t shoot it well. After learning about semi-autos while in the military my, my first love will always be a 1911. The two M&P’s I have now are superb. No failures or issues whatever. They take everything I run through them, including lead wadcutters, and ask for more. I and my wife both hit what we aim at and they are dependable. Works for me. I’m not saying Glocks ars bad, they just aren’t for me. The best handgun is the one that YOU shoot well.

40. Glocks don’t feel right and they don’t shoot right for me. If it works for you, great! Cost is a minimal factor over the life of the pistol. The cost of 1000’s of rounds is more than the pistol. I have two HK’s (P7 PSP and a P30L) which I shoot better than anything else… even my 22 at times. I also own an FHP as well. So I have three “not worth it” guns to many. To me it’s a world of a difference. Sure it’s heavy and old but my P7 is my favorite carry gun, why? I can shoot it the best. Until I can find another like it, it will stay that way.

41. “Cost is a minimal factor over the life of the pistol.”

    Maybe if do not have children or make gobs of money, but I do and I don’t, so cost is a huge factor.

    Obviously ammo holds the bulk of the cost, given you shoot a lot, but there are more cost associated to the price of gun than just purchase price.

    Mags, night sights, quality holsters, factory replace parts, and other aftermarket accessories.

    All these things cost and usually cost more on less common and more expensive guns.

    If you’re talking one for one, yes, it is minimal. But, if you acount for owning more than one handgun, the interchangeability of those handgun, purchasing other types of guns (rifles, shotguns, bolt guns, etc), and all other of life’s general expenses, than it’s not minimal.

    The difference between the $1000 handgun and the $500 handgun is the difference between having just the $1000 gun with nothing else, or having the $500 gun, mags, holster, ammo, night sights etc.

    All for the same overall cost. It adds up.

42. When I first started getting into shooting I owned 92fs, an sti 9mm, and sig 226 and could better with these than the first glock I owned (a used 17 police trade-in). But when it came time to conceal carry and to shoot IDPA the glock was the perfect balance of everything (reliability, weight, dimensions, ease of use) so I just had to suck it up and learn how to shoot with the glock grip angle. Shoot a g34 for IDPA, carry a g19 daily. My only complaint is the my big hands ride high and will cause the slip stop to engage on a full mag from time to time. The 92fs hated the location of the safety so that was out, the full sized 1911 too heavy and grip too long, sig was just too heavy and bulky.

    On hk I love this quote from taran butler, “hks are like driving a covered wagon in a nascar race”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFwiF1lakpQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=2180

43. Nice article. I was Glock carrier and lover for many years with the 26 being my EDC of choice on the street and the 20/29 in the woods. About a year ago, after a year or better of testing, I converted over to an M&P 9C and then a Shield in 9mm. No malfunctions or issues with either gun. I simply shoot them better than a Glock. The 26 will still find its way into a holster every now and then.

    A family member has decided to start carrying concealed. He asked for some guidance and I told him to carry a Glock 26. Over the years, I have had many people ask, and that is what I always tell them to start with. IMO, without a doubt, the best overall CCW/home defense gun out there.

44. Glocks are a lot like the Dallas Cowboys… Pretty decent overall, but the fans are unbearable

45. Kudos to you for figuring out what works for you! We should all be so fortunate…

    For me, it’s CZs. For you, it’s Glocks. For somebody else, it could be a classic 1911.

    Fanaticism aside, it’s all about using what works best for you. That’s the thought that matters here…thanks for sharing it with all of us.

46. Just getting the comments to 100

47. a HK MK23, a HK USP 9mm Expert, a HK45 and a FNX 45

    I tried to resist—really. I’m just feeling too ornery today, and it was just too painful to read. I’ve never seen four wrong articles in a row.

48. Thanks, Jay, for proving my “100 Comment” theory.

    Once an article goes over 100 comments, the comments are pretty stupid.

    • Paul…it doesn’t seem like true flame material. That just ain’t vitriol. It’s asinine but I admit my inner grammar police was a bit miffed. It ain’t exactly the best manners but it ain’t really kindling or tinder for the flames we predicted.

      You can run with it but those attempts were meager at best and don’t even attack the content of the article. Just grammar inconsistencies that most text addicts don’t even know exist since auto correct doesn’t catch them.

      Flames for the usual purposes on TTAG are ad hominem, opinionated blistering or refuting anything stated on principle without a basis other than being contrary. I’m not seeing that here and I’ve been victim to all three in one section. If not all 3 in a single comment.

49. See how stupid the discussion just got?

    Yup, 100 is pretty much the magic number.

    • Well I guess I’m made out of asbestos. I expect more out of stupid and flames than grammar knocks. If this is the worst you’ve got for this thread…I’d count myself lucky.

50. Paul, I agree with you on reasons 1, 3, 5 & 6.

    Trigger: I’m used to far better triggers than any striker pistol provides. There’s not much that can be changed in the striker pistol area to give me a trigger that I’d classify as “good.”

    External safeties: I’d like to see something as simple, proven and reliable as a Glock have a grip safety. I know we probably differ here, but I think it would save some people from red-legging themselves (eg, members of the NYPD) if the Glock had such a safety.

    • If I could change the grip angle and add a safety I’d turn the gun into an XD. While I own one I haven’t kept any for too long. I’d like a .40 XDM but…oh well.

      There was a story here of a guy who was buckled into the car and the seat belt got caught and he died sitting in the car seat. A grip safety would’ve saved him assuredly.

      • In my opinion, carrying your sidearm on your belt while buckled into a vehicle is a pretty bad idea. I have mine accessible immediately to my side while in the car, and I do not have to dig around trying to unholster it, if I need it.

51. Before all you salty old “Nam vets pull out your K Bars, I am NOT related to your former Defense Secretary, really, not at all. There, disclaimer out.
    Paul, I took the same journey as you and came to the same conclusion.
    It’s not that I don’t like or admire other pistolas and I’ve owned plenty, it’s just that for my purposes and abilities, I can find nothing better than my Glocks.
    As a retired Sheriff and ex RCMP member, I have carried and shot a variety of service pistols starting with the wonderful old Smith model 10 [sweet old thing] to my last carry gun, the Glock 22.
    After reluctantly turning in my 5906, I received my “plastic” gun with some reservations.
    My misgivings dissolved after the first range qualifications with the Glock and all our scores improved significantly. It was the trigger. Once you master that neat bang switch, combat accuracy is a given, providing you do your part.
    The reliability and simplicity of use caused us to look upon the Glock with a ton of respect. We trusted it with our lives.
    It’s one thing to be safely shooting on a target range and wax poetic on the minutia of tactical shooting but, when you carry a firearm to defend lives, one that must work under all conditions and allow you to master it instantly and under extreme duress, you must have complete trust in it. I guess that’s it.

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