[RWB214]

Does anyone here own a Glock? I'm thinking about getting either a 19 or 23. From what I've read the main difference between the two is the caliber. What are the pros/cons with Glocks?

Thanks

[SmithersGS]

Guns are for the unskilled. If you're worried about protection, just get a stick. You've got to be a bad sum***** to go up against somebody who's holding a stick.

[War Eagle]

Don't currently own one, but had one a few years ago. Glocks take a little getting used to. I decided I just didn't like that safety on the trigger. While fine for the most part, there have been a few cases of accidental discharge because someone wasn't familiar with the trigger. I also like my pistols to have a hammer.

[Ross]

Never fired one but I new someone who had a problem with it jaming during rapid fire. It happened once at a very bad time not sure it is a common problem. I not sure what model it was.

[Knight1989]

I own quite a few Glocks, including a 19 and a 23. Your right that the only differance between the 2 is the Caliber. The 19 being 9mm and the 23 being .40cal. Glocks are very reliabe and accurate. They do take some getting used to since they are a double action only pistol Personally I really enjoy them. I've carried a Glock 22 daily for the last 3 yrs with a Glock 27 as backup.

Pros for glocks are easy, very reliable, easily the most ruggad and reliable handgun out. Accurate. Due to the Double Action Only(DAO) many people feel that your followup shots are more accurate since you have a consistant trigger pull each time. Because of the lack of external safeties or decockong levers, there is less to snag when drawing from a concealed position. I for one dont feel a need to have a external safety on my guns, I just make sure I have positive control over my gun at all times. They have a high magazine capacity as compared to other automatics of similiar calibers.

Cons- Many people find the glocks a little to big for thier hands because of the widder pistol grip. This is nessecary to acomidate the double stack mags. Some people dislike the heavier trigger pulls that are associated with Double action. Traditonal autos are single action after the first shot so it has a lighter triggerpull, which does often make for a more accurate shot. However usually when you transition from double action to single action your 2nd shot suffers as a result in the dramitic trigger pull differance. Some people are made uncomfertable by a lack of an external safety, however in reality the glock is considered to be one of the most safe pistols on the market due to its 3 internal safeties.

I think I hit just about everything, feel free to ask more questions.

[lupinsea]

Glocks have a reputation for being very very reliable fire arms and are used by many police forces throughout the country. If I remember correctly there are three different "safties" internal to their design. Basically, if you don't have your finger on the trigger, it's extremely difficult (if not impossible) to accidentaly discharge one.

As a side note, the weapons gained a certain notoriety years ago because the public freaked out based on media reports that there was now a "plastic gun" that could get through metal detectors at airports. At the time Glock was one of the first if not the first mainstream maker to incorporate polymer frames into a pistol. While the polymer was indeed undetectable to metal detectors the barrel and slide were still manufactured out of steel alloy and thus completely detectable.

Time and industry have caught up with Glock's lead and now there are numerous manufacturer's offering semi auto pistols with very similar features, from the internal safeties to the polymer frame. The poly frame lighten the pisolt considerably. Some people like this, others like the weight of an all alloy pistol. Personally, I think the Glocks are a bit ugly for a pistol but for some that's their charm. . . like the original Hummers.

If you are looking in the same price range as the Glocks you might consider some of these other makes/models:

• HK USP
• Walther P99 (I have one in a .40 cal and like it a lot, it feels just right)
• Beretta FS92/96 (all alloy frame, very nice weight to the pistol, current standard sidearm for US military)
• 1911 model pistol (now made by many manufacturers, big, heavy, reliable)
• Sigsaur (not sure on the model line any more)

Your best bet would be to head down to your local firing range and rent different pistols to see how they operate, function, and feel. Talk to dealers to get background info, too.

[Knight1989]

Originally Posted by Ross

Never fired one but I new someone who had a problem with it jaming during rapid fire. It happened once at a very bad time not sure it is a common problem. I not sure what model it was.

More than likely a bad round. Most jams like that are due to ammo, not gun. Or even operator, if you have a weak grip the gun will often jam or fail to cycle on any auto. Never once had a jam in any of my glocks.

[SlinkyTJ]

I have a .40 cal Glock and love it. I have never had it jam, even with cheap ammo. I try not to use the really cheap stuff though. Glocks are known for being very reliable and in my opinion are great guns. I guess I pretty much second or third what they said above.

[Hanzo]

No, in the case of Glocks, they have a VERY stiff recoil spring. You need a rock solid grip or it'll jam much quicker than any other handgun on the market.

I was a professional shooting instructor and gun salesman for a number of years. Myself and 90% of my collegues HATE the Glock.

It is a very simple firearm and that can be either it's strength or weakness. It has no REAL saftey. Every modern handgun must pass a drop test, so to say "it'll only go off if your finger is on the trigger" is the same as every other handgun out there. There have been stories of people moving the Glock around and having the trigger get caught on something and accidentally shooting themselves. Glocks also have no decocking lever. They have no external hammer. All of these things make it simple, but simple takes away options. They're not bad for people who aren't real familiar with handguns, but then again, if you're not familiar with a handgun, you shouldn't own one. As far as them being reliable...yes, they are. But so are most other quality firearms if they're maintained. Glocks pass various torture tests which are unrealistic. Sure, you can freeze it and it'll still fire, but not as accurately as many.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from Glock. If you want a polymer framed handgun, go with HK. If you just want the best handgun for your buck, go with Kimber.

[Knight1989]

• HK USP
• Walther P99 (I have one in a .40 cal and like it a lot, it feels just right)
• Beretta FS92/96 (all alloy frame, very nice weight to the pistol, current standard sidearm for US military)
• 1911 model pistol (now made by many manufacturers, big, heavy, reliable)
• Sigsaur (not sure on the model line any more)

Just to comment on some of these mentioned, the HK USP and the entire Sig line are about $200 more expensive than the Glocks, however they are excelt pistols. I use a Sig P228 for competing. Very very good guns, but pricey.

The Berretta are similiar in price to the Glocks, usually within about a $50 differance depending on your dealer. I love the Beretta's, I own 2 and carry one every night at work for the AF. Very good guns, but they are about 2 inchs longer than the Glock 19 and 23 and as such harder to conceal. They traditional wont last quite as long and are more prone to rust and other corrosion than the Glocks. a glock is darn near impossable to rust, trust me GLock has tried. The magizine capicity is 2 shots less when using high caps. However this is a great gun, I use one of mine with a tac light as one of my home defense guns.

The 1911's are almost an exact opisite of a Glock. While very close in price for a base 1911, they quickly start getting expensive. If you want a good one for defense, you'll end up paying almost double what the glock costs. The 1911's are a pure single action auto. Once again every shot has the same trigger pull, just like the Glock, but you either have to manually cock the wepon for the first shot or carry the gun locked and cocked. Its a personall preferance. Many people swear by the 1911's saying they are the only true gun out there. I like them, own one, but its deffintly not my favorite.

[Knight1989]

Anouther good gun to think about as a sugestion, might be a S&W 4006TSW. Its a traditonal auto with decocking lever and safety, and it has a magizine disconector safety. So you can have a round in the chamber and if the magazine isnt seated in the gun, it wont fire. I've used one for about the last 6 yrs, used to carry it untill I started carrying the Glocks, and its anouther gun I compete with. I have never once had any problems with it and its very accurate. Its a .40cal, so you get good stopping power, and its the same lenght as the Glock 19/23. It will run you about $100 more than a glock but its still very moderatly priced.

[birkdog]

I have a Glock 27, which is the .40 cal subcompact. It was recomended to me by a SWAT sniper that uses it for his off duty handgun. I live in TX, so I wanted something smaller that I could carry when I get my concealed handgun license.
I have shot about 2000 rounds through it and never had a problem. I enjoy it and would recomend it. Many cops that I have talked to like them for their durability and reliability.

[Brock]

I have a Glock 19C and now regret not waiting for the the G23. The 40 caliber is more hard hitting than the 9mm. Also, don't bother getting the compensated barrell unless you don't mind being sprayed with gunpowder as it is fired. I have never had a problem with jamming, but I just shoot for fun and never have used it in a combat/competition environment.

[Alec]

I agree on the getting used matter, its a process.

As a personal preference I would rather stick with a 45 colt. More compact, cheaper, and still very reliable. It would need some lighter springs and stuff to make it smoother, but there is a wealth of aftermarket options to customize your gun.

Glock = Big $$$ - I you have them and dont mind the bulk on the glock, go for it.

Different folks, different strokes.

[JeepKidd]

Ive got a 19C. its incredible. I love it.