Help me choose my first Glock

Here's the deal, I faithfully carry my full size 1911 everywhere I go. I have been doing so for better than ten years now. My wife began carrying about two years ago. At first she used my Kimber 3" ultra carry for her ccw gun. But we both quickly learned that it was too much gun for her. She could shoot it reasonably well, but stumbled miserably with malfunction drills. The biggest problem was that the recoil spring was stiff enough that she couldn't easily rack the slide. She would occasionally limp wrist the gun too. She needed a different gun.

Fast forward a bit, after lots of trips to different gun stores, shooting ranges and lots of hands on time, my wife finally decided that a Glock 26 was the best gun for her. She made this decision on her own, I did not try to sway her to get something that I thought was right for her. It turns out she made a great choice! Almost two years later now, she has become very proficient with her 26! I'm quite proud of her. She shoots this gun fast, accurate, and without malfunctions. Watching her run shooting drills at the range leaves me feeling quite confident in her abilities. I have been shooting her gun quite a bit more in the recent months myself. I love my big 1911's don't hear me wrong, but I am amazed at how nice the Glock points and feels in my hand and now i want one of my own!

My dilemma is trying to decide what model to purchase. It has to be a 9mm so that magazines will be interchangeable with my wife's gun. I'm looking at the 34, 17 or the 19. I just can't decide which of these three I want. What are pros and cons of these guns that I'm overlooking? What would be your choice?

You can't go wrong with the G19. It conceals very well, and I am 5'9" 170 and it disappears in my crossbreed IWB. You get 15+ 1 carrying capacity which is great and they will work just fine in the G26. Also you can get the 17rd and 33rd mags so you have many magazine options with the G19.

What are you wanting to use the gun for? Is it only going to be a range gun? You sound like you still plan to carry your 1911, so I didn't know if carry was a criteria.

When I was looking for my first carry gun, I wanted something reliable, large enough to shoot 1k rounds comfortable at a pistol class, then small enough that I could holster it and conceal it on the way home. The Glock 19 is about that "perfect" carry gun for me. Loaded 15+1, it is considerably lighter than an empty 1911, carries lots of rounds of a good modern service caliber and again is small enough to conceal but big enough to fight with. I have 2 Glock 19s because I shoot the 19 about 100 rounds to 1 against everything else I own and having a spare just made sense.

The 17 would be a good size if you are used to a full size 1911. 17+1 capacity and is the flagship of the Glock line.

The G34 is a really cool gun and I'm convinced I need one. It offers a slightly lighter trigger with the factory 4.5 connected and the adjustable sights are okay, but sights are generally the first thing I swap out on a Glock.

So for me, my recommendation would be 19, 34 and 17, in that order. I think once you get ahold of that 19, you might even carry it from time to time. Don't worry, I won't tell your 1911.

You're right. I have no problems carrying my 1911 and have no immediate plans to change to a Glock. But I'm not saying that I wouldn't switch either. If I purchase a 19, find that I shoot it better and really fall in love with it, then I would certainly consider making it my carry gun. It makes sense, If my wife and I are out and about together it would be advantageous to use the same platform. Either one of us could pick up the others gun and know its going to shoot like the one we train with. This could be huge in a life or death situation. If for some reason my wife had to use my gun to defend herself, she wouldn't have to think about the mechanical safety, it would be just like her 26. Or if she needed a spare magazine of ammo, the Glock 19 or 17 mag would work in her 26.

So as far as what the usage of the gun would be, I would say, A nightstand gun with a light on it that either one of us could grab for that bump in the night scenario, a range gun that I could shoot alongside of her and the possibility of a carry gun if it happens to work out that way.

I'm going to throw this out there:

Get a Glock 23. Or 27.

And a 9mm conversion barrel so you can have magazine compatibility if you switch the barrels.

It gives you the opportunity to carry a larger round, and train with cheaper ammo.

And if 9mm or 45 become scarce, you have another 2 calibers you can choose from: .40 and .357sig.

You'll have options at that point should you need them.

I have the G17, G19, and G26. Why not another G26? Same mags fit BOTH guns. Same holters as well. With a mag extension, the G26 has the same finger spacing as the G19. The back strap is a bit different but is close. The biggest reason I'd go to the G19 is the rail for a light. Higher mag capacity is another.

If it's a bedside gun or range toy, I'd go with a G17. For another CC gun I'd go G26 first with the G19 in second.

This is what I did.

I also Put a 22 length barrel in the 23 and a 23 length barrel in the 27. Bother are great carry guns I usually carry the G23 with a TLR2.

I wish I could get a Glock 19 frame with a Glock 17 slide and barrel, but I don't want to buy two guns to make one

G19, need to have a last one.

Why so the slide could hang over the end of the frame?

You just buy the 17 and do a grip chop. Or send it to someone that will do the mod for you.

19

no if ands or buts.

A model 19 with night sights and spare magazines.

I have a 17 & 19 and both are excellent to carry with the 19 being a tad smaller.

Yes, I too like my Colt 1911s, a commander and a late 60s of my dad's. They used to be for cool/cold wx carry.

I tried a scandium smith, that gun suk'd. I traded it at a loss gladly for a G26.

I had given the wife a G17 for Valentines day a few years before and the interchangeability of the mags was my main reason for going with the 26.

It rides in a pocket holster inside my cargo pants with a 17 mag in the offside pocket so well that I am really sorry to say, my 1911s have become range toys.

Glock 19 is my fave...covers all the bases. Big enough to be comfortable, small enough to conceal, can rail a light when needed, the gun just works. Wife took my 19(she initially hated shooting it. pinched the webbing in her palm. added a Hogue slip on...now she will not give it back), I carry the 26, and there is a couple of 33 rounders between us and accessible at all times.

G-19 is the sweet spot.

I have four Glocks. However, the G-19 is far and away the most comfortable, concealable, efficient, and practical gun they make.

Shot placement is everything, caliber is nothing.

I own three Glocks, a 17, a 26 and a 34 and I want a 19 soooooo bad

What is it about these damn things that makes them so damn addictive?



HTR,

I figured out a solution, buy all 3 then you will have options

The 19 seems to be the best size for a do it all pistol. It will do everything a 17 will, but will conceal more easily. And, the 19 is almost as concealable as the 26 unless you're going for pocket carry or deep concealment. It will probably come down to which one feels best in your hand.

Why not buy a 19 and then buy an aftermarket 17 slide and barrel?

Or buy a bare frame for a 19 and put it together yourself, with a 17 slide?


If it was me, I'd get a 19, and then buy an aftermarket 17 slide so you'd have both options.

I say G19 and be done with it.

I have a 19 that isn't used very much because I mostly carry .40 cal glocks, with that said its such a good gun i would never sell it.

if you include the Ed Brown beavertail on my Springfield 1911, my G34 is actually shorter overall...I shoot it (G34) as a competition pistol, with only minor modifications.. comes with a better factory trigger, and extended sight radius, but as with all non night sighted Glocks, the sights are terrible....I find it points a little better than my G23 which is the G19 size pistol...my G17 is my backup...if you are tall and thin, the length of the barrel is not that important in a carry pistol...you will have more difficulty finding a carry holster for the 34 compared to the 17 or 19

I went for the G19!! Just got it, haven't had a chance to even shoot it yet!

G19 FTW!

Gen 4

G19 and don't look back.

This.

I love all three, but the 26 is the smallest and is a great shooter. I can always make it bigger by using a 17 or 19 mag, but I can't make my 17 or 19 smaller.

Excellent choice amigo! Just a matter of time you ll crave another Glock...and another....and

Oh I already do. I really want the 34! It will be my next gun

19 was the perfect first choice! You'll love the 34 too.

Why do people always suggest this? I don't get it. Why train with one and carry the other? Why .40? It's not in any way shape or form a "better" cartridge than 9mm.

I just can't find the advantage of carrying a .40 over a 9mm...or .45 for that matter.

I carry .40 and like it just fine. I won't, however, practice with 9mm and carry .40. I practice with exactly what I carry.

THis is all you need for a first Glock - if you want the versatility of multiple calibeers, then get a G23 (.40SW) and get a set of G19 (9mm) and G32 (.357Sig) barrels and mags for conversion.

Same here; Already own a G19 and the 34 is my next purchase... Going for IPSC shooting and I want to fully build a GLock racegun and the G34 fits the bill.

This sounds like a well thought out versatile plan to me. I like options.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with a G19. They conceal well yet carry quite a few rounds. There is the option with other models to get different barrels to practice with on round and carry a another but I like practicing with what I'm going to carry.

I've had my Glock 19 for less than a week...when I got it they also had a Glock 23. I'm about to get it a week from now if they still have it.

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