I've blogged mostly about AR-15 rifles here so far. I think it's only fair to talk a little bit about handguns as well, as I (hopefully) have a few law enforcement and handgun enthusiasts reading here also. My history with handguns is a LOT more recent than my experience with shotguns and rifles. I got my first handgun about 5 years ago and before that had really only shot a Browning Buckmark .22LR. I then became interested in getting a concealed carry permit and began the pursuit of "perfection".
Well not REALLY. I was not a fan of Glocks at first. I didn't like the grip angle and frankly I thought they were ugly. I used a Sig P228 and a Springfield 1911 for several years before taking the plunge and getting my first Glock, a generation 4 G23. I have to be honest, it took a fair amount of practice with this gun to get the hang of the grip angle and to be able to get hits consistently. If you haven't contrasted the two, the grip angles of 1911's and Glocks are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. (By grip angle i am talking about the angle between the slide and the handgrip/magwell).
Needless to say, once something "clicked" and I started shooting the Glock more consistently, I have used the G23 as my concealed carry daily exclusively. I'm a 100% proponent of the .40S&W as a duty caliber or personal defense weapon. The ballistics advantages over 9mm are well documented and significant in my mind, and the only negative I have experienced is slightly more felt recoil/snap from the gun. Not enough to sway me back to 9mm. And in fact, you now see and hear about a lot of PD's going to .40S&W in duty weapons. I'm not completely in-the-know, but I think the number of officers carrying 9mm for duty are probably in the minority now. The Glock 22 is a really popular choice among PD's. The G22 is essentially a G17 (the original Glock/9mm) in .40S&W.
I have enjoyed my Glock 23 so much, that I also purchased a G19 for shooting competitions. I tried the G23 in a couple of competitions but was disappointed with my results, namely due to the added recoil. Follow up shots with a 9mm are so much faster, and I was rewarded with better results when I first utilized my G19. You'll see a lot of top notch competition shooters using G17's or G34's due to the almost non-existent recoil of the 9mm cartridge. From now on, I'll use 9mm exclusively for competing and .40S&W for defense. Unless I feel like a 1911 (a conversation for another day!)
If you are interested in how the Glock was improved with release of the new Generation 4, there are a couple of key upgrades over the previous Gen3. A dual-spring recoil assembly, textured grip, adjustable backstraps, and a larger mag release button are welcome additions. The dual recoil spring was previously only employed on the G26 and G27 and helps with minimizing recoil. I am particularly a fan of the large mag release button, as I have smaller hands and the diminutive release on the Gen3 pistols is hard for me to manipulate. The textured grip helps to solve a huge problem shooters have had with Glocks for years. Shooters have been adding skateboard tape and rubber slip-over grips trying to get more grip on their handguns for a long time.
If you are looking for a new competition, personal defense, or duty handgun, I strongly encourage you to give one of Glock's excellent models a look. Glocks have been proven over many years to be dependable, rugged, and capable of winning the fight consistently. They are also easily customizable and ready to accept lights and lasers easily. Try one (if you havent already) and I think you'll like the experience.
For a more in-depth review of the Gen4 Glock changes, see my Glock 23 Gen4 Review.
Be safe and see you next time.
~Mac
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| Perfection..... |
Well not REALLY. I was not a fan of Glocks at first. I didn't like the grip angle and frankly I thought they were ugly. I used a Sig P228 and a Springfield 1911 for several years before taking the plunge and getting my first Glock, a generation 4 G23. I have to be honest, it took a fair amount of practice with this gun to get the hang of the grip angle and to be able to get hits consistently. If you haven't contrasted the two, the grip angles of 1911's and Glocks are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. (By grip angle i am talking about the angle between the slide and the handgrip/magwell).
 |
| Glock (110degree) vs 1911 (103degree) Grip Angles |
I have enjoyed my Glock 23 so much, that I also purchased a G19 for shooting competitions. I tried the G23 in a couple of competitions but was disappointed with my results, namely due to the added recoil. Follow up shots with a 9mm are so much faster, and I was rewarded with better results when I first utilized my G19. You'll see a lot of top notch competition shooters using G17's or G34's due to the almost non-existent recoil of the 9mm cartridge. From now on, I'll use 9mm exclusively for competing and .40S&W for defense. Unless I feel like a 1911 (a conversation for another day!)
If you are interested in how the Glock was improved with release of the new Generation 4, there are a couple of key upgrades over the previous Gen3. A dual-spring recoil assembly, textured grip, adjustable backstraps, and a larger mag release button are welcome additions. The dual recoil spring was previously only employed on the G26 and G27 and helps with minimizing recoil. I am particularly a fan of the large mag release button, as I have smaller hands and the diminutive release on the Gen3 pistols is hard for me to manipulate. The textured grip helps to solve a huge problem shooters have had with Glocks for years. Shooters have been adding skateboard tape and rubber slip-over grips trying to get more grip on their handguns for a long time.
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| Gen4 Adjustable backstraps, oversized mag release, and dual recoil springs |
If you are looking for a new competition, personal defense, or duty handgun, I strongly encourage you to give one of Glock's excellent models a look. Glocks have been proven over many years to be dependable, rugged, and capable of winning the fight consistently. They are also easily customizable and ready to accept lights and lasers easily. Try one (if you havent already) and I think you'll like the experience.
For a more in-depth review of the Gen4 Glock changes, see my Glock 23 Gen4 Review.
~Mac
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