Glock Purchase

[stew2714]

I have a friend in Chatt that is looking to purchase his first handgun. He wants a glock to own, and eventually carry. He is asking for my advice and I told him a compact or subcompact .40. I dont really have a reason for this advice, and was wondering what you guys thought. I am only concerned because my first gun purchase was the S&W Sigma, and I absolutely hated it. I wish I had done some research, but I would really like to help this guy out.

[scoutfsu]

Glock 17 or 19.  He might not like the snap of a .40 as his first gun.

[Randall53]

I have a 30, 34 and 17. I like then all. I'd say decide on caliber, full size or compact and go from there. I'm partial to 45 and 9mm.mm. My belief is you can't buy a more dependable pistol.

[monkeylizard]

Tell him to go to a range that has rentals. Try out several and pick the one that (a ) is comfortable to shoot and (b ) he's accurate with.

 

Unless he has tried a few, he won't know what his best choice is. It may or may not be a Glock.

 

Personally, I prefer 9mm over .40 for both cost and capacity.

[KaNuckles]

I liked my compact. It was a decent compromise between concealability and size/ammo capacity. But that is MY preference. If there is a range where he can rent a couple of different sizes and different calibers that would be best. 

[RED333]

As long as it is a Glock, all the above is good advice.

[bikertrash2001]

I will always second the advice to try something at a range if he can. I wanted to go straight from a .22 for a .45. I rented a Sig 1911 at the range and it scared the crap out of me. I decided to go with a 9mm to start with. After using that for a while, I shot the 45 again, and it was much more tolerable this time. People say 40's have a sharp snap but I have never shot one myself.

[JReedEsq]

I would encourage him to consider 9mm if it is his first handgun.  Mainly because target ammo is cheaper so he'll probably practice with it more.  I've owned Glocks in .40 and 9mm and if I could only have one, it would be 9mm.  

[R4MBO]

Hard to beat the 19 for size, capacity, and concealability if he is only going to have one handgun for a while.

[hipower]

Glock 17 or 19.  He might not like the snap of a .40 as his first gun.

 

 

I have a 30, 34 and 17. I like then all. I'd say decide on caliber, full size or compact and go from there. I'm partial to 45 and 9mm.mm. My belief is you can't buy a more dependable pistol.

 

 

As long as it is a Glock, all the above is good advice.

 

Notice a trend here?

Glock 19, for all the reasons here.

[Patrick Henry]

One thing nice about the Glock .40 cal. is you can buy an aftermarket conversion barrels which allows you to shoot 9mm. or .357 cal. So you have a multi cal. gun, which would be nice to have considering the ammo shortage we face today.

[maroonandwhite]

Hey don't rule out the M&P's either! :up:

 

You really can't go wrong with a Glock or M&P but I would probably recommend a 9mm over a .40 for a first timer. For cost reasons if nothing else.

[Keyless]

 I have to agrre that the mid sized Glock is what I like best overall. A 19 is the 9mm version and probably the best for a new shooter. But if it were me , I would buy the 23 in a 40 and buy the 9 mm conversion barrel as mentioned above . The reason being you can convert the 40 or even the 357 ( G 32 ) to a 9 mm with a barrel and a magazine but you can't go from a 9mm to a 40 without another slide. When you buy the 40 and a 9mm coversion barrel you have basicaly 2 guns in one and double your ammo options.

 

 I have a 32 and plan on buying the 9mm conversion barrel and a 40 barrel for it. in all I have 10 Glocks and cover one of the others ( G 29 ) with a conversion barrel for my 30 . They are great guns but if the choise was one and just one , I would go with a G 19 .

[graycrait]

If it is his first handgun maybe he should get a .22 and shoot 10-20K through it - if we can eventually get ammo.  Lots of folks talk a game but it takes lots of rounds downrange to be able to use a handgun like you use your knife and fork.  Most folks don't have enough money to shoot centerfire enough to become really proficient. Then there is the shooting venue and restrictions.  Some places won't let you shoot off your back, etc.   

 

 I don't think it matters if the .22 is a replica of the centerfire to be owned.  Lots of trigger time, having fun with some disciplined time.  Once in a while I go shooting with a couple of retired LEO.  One can shoots the pimples off a gnats .... with a handgun, the other one not so much.  However, the one with a bit less accuracy can shuck that hogleg and send rounds downrange 5X faster than the "bullseye" specialist in a relatively tight pattern center mass.   They always kid with each other.  Good thing all three of us avoid places and people who are apt to require lethal force.  We ain't getting faster as we get older.   

[Patton]

He should get a Glock 19 over a Glock 23 so he can drive all over town looking for 9mm ammo. I find 9mm ammo to be almost extinct. If he would like to shoot my Gen4 Glock 23 before he buys one he is welcome to. Tell him to bring the ammo. Edited March 8, 2013 by Patton

[Guest Razz]

I recently had this same decision to make. I bought a Glock 26 because I can take ANY glock magazine that holds a 9mm round and slap it into my gun. With a grip extension on a ten-round mag, the pistol fits my hand as well as a G19.

As far as ammo goes: I would not make a decision based on the current availability. I have seen the same amount of 9, 40 and 45 at different times. All are hard to find but not impossible.

[Guest WJStaff]

If you and he wants to. We can meet one day. I have the G17, G23 and a G26. That way he can try them all out. We can meet at Shooter's Depot. Just tell him to bring his own ammo or her can buy some there.

[glock55]

I recently had this same decision to make. I bought a Glock 26 because I can take ANY glock magazine that holds a 9mm round and slap it into my gun. With a grip extension on a ten-round mag, the pistol fits my hand as well as a G19.

As far as ammo goes: I would not make a decision based on the current availability. I have seen the same amount of 9, 40 and 45 at different times. All are hard to find but not impossible.

 

i would recommend the glock 19 over the 26 for one reason, it has a light rail were the 26 does not. if he wants to use the weapon for home defense he may want a weapon mounted light. the 26 does not give this option.

[Guest Victor9er]

I'd recommend the 19 or the 23, depending on which caliber he would prefer to go with. If he's a new shooter he may prefer the 9mm, but honestly I don't find the .40 to be that much more snappy. I have the 19, it was my first gun, and it's a great gun... but if I had it to do over again I'd probably get the 23 instead and you can always pick up a 9mm conversion barrel.

[tnhawk]

He should try a 9mm and a .40 at the range before making a decision.  While the 9 shoots well, it's become a problem to find 9mm ammo.

[npgunner]

Can't go wrong with a 19 or 23. I have some of both. I find that .40 ammo is easier to find now a days though ...

[Duck]

A Glock 19 or a 23 handle about the same to me. Things have changed, 9mm when you can find it is priced the same or more than 40s&w. I just recently purchased my Glock 19 and I regret it. I was expecting it to shoot better than a Glock 23 but after shooting my dad's and my brother's, their 23's are better guns than my 19. Their 40 caliber Glocks of all sizes are more accurate and their brass does not hit them in the forehead. I am also jealous of their ability to find ammo more easily.

[D3vo]

Their 40 caliber Glocks of all sizes are more accurate and their brass does not hit them in the forehead.

If you are getting hit by brass in the forehead, sounds like you should send you gun back to Glock? Are you a southpaw?

[Patton]

Wait a minute. Where are you finding 9mm?

You should get an aftermarket extractor for Glocks experiencing BTF. The Lone Wolf extractors seem to be the best. A few people have used older non-dipped extractors from Glock with semi-good results. Edited March 9, 2013 by Patton

[Guest Razz]

Wait a minute. Where are you finding 9mm?

I have purchased 2 boxes of 9mm from my LGS, every visit, over the last two weeks.

I will say again, however, that I don't think it wise to choose a pistol based on current ammo availability unless you can afford multiple firearms. Whatever conventional wisdom you were using before December should still be applied, today.

Like .40? Get a pistol that shoots .40. Same goes for 9mm and .45.