A Nurse with a Gun

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Reasons I Traded Off my Glock

I owned a Glock once. It was a Glock 26. I bought it for concealed carry. I figured I would finally see what the craze was about. I was not satisfied with the pistol, and traded it off after only a few weeks. Here's why.
1. It was fat.
2. It would not carry well.
3. The trigger was spongy.
4. The safety was on the trigger.
5. The sights were plastic.
6. The rear sight kept shifting.
7. It was not all that accurate.
8. It had no soul. It was like shooting a zombie gun.

There were other reasons, more intangible reasons........ I owned my Glock at the time many Glocks began to have frame rail separations. Glock was not responding to it's customer's needs during that time, and that bothered me. Glock took care of their police contracts, and told most civilians to suck eggs. They never recalled the affected weapons.
I dislike the whole Glock Perfection thing. Glocks are only perfection in the closed minded society of the Glocksters. Saying a Glock is perfect because it goes bang everytime is like saying a PT Cruiser is perfect because it starts every time. The fact is, many Glock owners buy into the advertising hype as though it were Gospel, and they become as annoying as a blow fly up your nose. For a man with good trigger finger discipline, a Glock can be an adequate pistol if he is not to picky. Problem was, I was picky. I knew what I wanted, and a Glock was not it.

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23 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I plan to pick up a Glock 30 and a Glock 21 whenever I can... not for any Glock "perfection" thing, or anything. I am just as convinced that if I pull the trigger they will fire, as much as I am with my 1911.

For me it really comes down to two issues that I really like about them:

1) Magazine capacity - On the full-size side of things, though they hold one less round, I also give the tip of my hat to USPs and Taurus on this. I just like the ability to have one mag in the gun, and one at my side, and be carrying the equivalent of 3 mags for a 1911. As for the baby Glock, the notion that it still holds 10 rounds just amazes me (though I like the 9 round mags, just to have a smaller mag for that gun, in any case, it is still more than a standard 1911).

2) Magazine interchangeability - This is the big one for me. The ability to own two different guns, and have the 'baby' Glock take the same exact mags as the full-size is just so brilliant that I am absolutely shocked that other companies don't seem to do this. I mean, it just makes sense on so very many levels, having your backup gun use your spare mags...

Yes, I know, and I have heard it before. People always say "If you can't do it with 6 then maybe you shouldn't be carrying". The problem is, this assumes that you would only ever have to defend yourself against 1 or 2 people. In some of the neighborhoods in Houston, I can see getting mugged by several people. Then again, maybe it comes from living in an apartment community where I regularly see gang bangers walking around, and have even seen them in groups firing guns into the air outside.

Then again, again, maybe I'm paranoid, but I like the thought of having 12 in the gun, 12 in a spare, and 10 in the backup. There's just a warm fuzzy feeling I would get from having that many rounds on me.

Besides, it isn’t like it would weigh me down much, at 6’2” 300 lbs, I can conceal carry a full size 1911 and still feel fine. [shrugs]

9:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Walther P99 magazines fit the P99 Compact. (9mm and .40 S&W)

And they'll fit the SW99 and SW99 Compact, too. You can the the SW99 in .45 ACP...

Sorry to have digressed...

Glocks are, uhm... Glocks!

10:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That was supposed to be "You can the the SW99 in .45 ACP..."

What a dumb-a**. Not proofreading before hitting "publish your ramblings"

10:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Xavier,

I'd really like to get into this in more detail with you. I carry the G19 and like you sometimes feel I could do better. The pros for G19 carry: 1. goes bang every time, 2. 15 round mags (I really dont like carrying extras), 3. fits my hand, 4. easy to conceal. The cons for G19 carry: 1. every thing about it is a trade off, 2. always feel like I could/should have something better.

On a side note I did like your thoughts on s&w j frames, somehow I think one is going to replace the keltec 380 I use for occaisional pocket carry.

EricN

5:29 AM  
Blogger Paul said...

I got a Glock 23 for my first carry gun because it's the most reliable, highest capacity, most practical gun *for the price*. It's easy enough for an idiot like me to maintain, and I find that it carries and shoots just fine.

I'll never understand the "Glock Perfection" thing in the minds of the more rabid fans. They're fairly large guns, their triggers aren't target-grade, and they're not the prettiest guns, either.

But I needed a simple, inexpensive, reliable, durable gun to carry, and the Glock fits the need. The two autos that I knew were my father's 1911 and Glock, and I didn't like the cost and low capacity of the 1911.

As for not having a soul... Yeah, they're fairly generic, aren't they? But when you've been comforted by the thought of a reliable gun when in a bad part of town, it tends to become more of a friend to you...

Intersting post. What do you carry now, if you don't mind my asking?

11:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

'course, if someone wnats to shoot the europellet, the size of the Glock 26 is amazing, for the capacity.

Anyway... in the beginning, when I started accumulating, I used to understand that whole "beauty" or "soul" thing. It made sense to me then.

Anymore, I have started to gravitate more and more toward a pure utilitarian approach, and personally think the 'ugly black plastic' ones look better, simply because they seem to be so much more functional. By that same token, the most beautiful gun to me on the planet at the moment, is an HK 91, but I know that no one in their right mind would agree with me... oh well.

As for mentioning the SW99... DARN YOU. I had never seen that before. Now I'm going to have to sit here for the next week researching it to see what I think of it. Yargh...

I really am only interested in .45 ACP at the moment.

6:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hrm... only 10 rounds and way more expensive in .45 ACP? No thank you.

6:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Erm...

I happen to agree that the HK 91 (semi-auto G3) is mighty fine looking. As are most of the HK long guns.

According to GunsAmerica.com, the Glock 21 holds 13 rounds, so the SW99 is 3 rounds less... Glock 21 NIB $529 to $585, SW99 (.45ACP) NIB $539 to $555... I know GunsAmerica isn't necessarily accurate, but it should be in the ballpark.

SW99 has a decocker, I don't think the Glock does... The SW99 has changeable backstraps, in three different sizes, so you can adjust the grip. I don't think you can do that with the Glock...

Get what you want, it's your gun. I'd recommend finding a gun store that has one and fondle them both side by side.

If you're in the Portland Oregon area, I'll let you shoot my P99 in .40 S&W, so you can see what it's like.

Again, it's your gun, get what you want.

11:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm slowly becoming more of a Glock fan.
I picked up a 30 for concealed carry. It was used off Glocktalk, the price was right, and it had night sights.
A week before, I'd have never wanted a Glock. Grips were wrong, the trigger pull was... just.. toyish. But then I got to shoot one at the range, and it *shot* really well. The trigger was fine. (When it goes *poink* dry-firing is not noticable in live fire as the slides slamming back, etc. :) )
So, I got the 30. Still getting used to it. I shoot well enough with it - my H&K USP will outshoot it IDPA almost every time.
But magazines are cheap (Not H&K). I can use G-21 mags (can't use full-sized H&K with the compacts, as someone noted), and often carry 1 21 mag as the spare. With a good CTAC, it disappears. Has never failed to fire, or jammed. (Ok, I've only had the H&K jam with 1 type of ammo (Speer Lawman),and my 1911 never has, either.

The GF is getting a Colt Combat Commander for Christmas... might have to see how that does some days. If she'll let me borrow it. :)

2:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a stand up guy Freddy, but no, I'm out in Houston. And I admit, my opinions come from someone who is absolutely clueless (Grew up in the Seattle area and never really held one in my life until moving here 5 years ago) and so am just learning as much as possible as fast as possible.

Anyway... yeah, 10 rounds is more than the 8 a 1911 holds, but it still doesn't stack up to a Glock's 13 (I said 12 only because I was reducing it to the lowest common denominator, with the USP and the Taurus).

Oh well... anyway, thanks man. [smiles] Due to my cluelessness I'm usually a taker for any shooting time I can get, and try to go to Carter's Country up here every chance I get.

8:37 PM  
Blogger Firehand said...

I've fired Glocks on two occasions and a: they were quite accurate enough for self-defense use, and b: they fit my hand like a slightly rounded piece of lumber. Can't stand them. And when I took my daughter to try various handguns, she picked up a Glock, shook her head and refused to shoot it.

I do like the idea of lots of rounds for backup, but while it is a cliche, if I can't deal with it by either ending the fight or getting to something long-gunny with 15 rounds of .45, I'm probably screwed anyway.

11:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

But darn it, you never know when you will be attacked by flesh eating zombies? Why does no one prepare for these contingencies anymore...

OK, fine, I am poking fun at myself, but still... mobs can still be a problem. Mostly I just had to post because it struck me as humerous though.

1:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've got the GLOCK 17 in my inside pants holster and a spare mag(+2) in my jacket pocket.
I've changed the sight to all steel Heine sight and put in the 3.5 pund trigger.

12:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Windaria,

Springfield Armory is about to release
an XD in .45 acp. It's 13+1.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/

7:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Started out 30 years ago with a Combat Commander---couldn't find a lightweight at the time---after a friend was mugged. I'd been carrying a .25 Browning. Then I heard that my friend had faced a sawed-off 12 double and decided I'd better get serious. I'm port-sided, so I got a trigger job and a left hand safety. It was my daily carry gun, first in a cheap clip-on (I drew one day---no emergency, luckily, and got gun and holster both. Called Milt Sparks for a 'Summer Special'.)
Had a complete 'carry-custom' job done, including a NM 5" barrel with the extended muzzle Magna-ported.
Now I have a Kimber Ultra CDP II ordered. Crimson Trace sights like the Commander. No one has mugged me yet, though it's been tried. I try to think ahead---if I'm going 'in harm's way' I take a MAC 10. A pistol is so you're armed when you don't think you have need. I usually carry two 8 round spares on a daily basis.
I'm an inner-city landlord in Detroit. I've had to fire in anger but never needed to kill someone. Had more than one instance of meeting someone who 'brought(something else) to a gunfight. My experience says there's nothing that'll take the place of a 1911.

5:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have a Glock 19 along with a lot of other pistols and revolvers that I shoot on a regular basis at the range. I've carried most of them for a short time. Always go back to my Kimber Compact Custom 1911 and a 10-round spare magazine. 'nuff said.

10:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to agrre with many of your comments on the Glock 26/27 package size, but for perhaps slightly different reasons. I've had both the 27 (.40 S&W) and the 26 9mm, the 27 stock, the 26 "melted and NP3'd" by Robar. I had a weekend class coming up, shortly after a broken wrist, and decided to use the 9mm rather the .40, for the difference in recoil only. This was a Firearms IIa class, by invite only, 500 plus rounds and damn fine training, both day and night shooting and tactics. After about four hours of trying to insert both the heel of my shooting hand and the replacement magazines, I switched to my 23 in .40, expecting to pay a price in recoil pain. Surprisingly, the recoil of the medium size frame felt less to my wrist than the sharper, shorter 9mm "baby" frame. And I could do eyes off reloads without drawing blood. Oh yea, I'm only 5'9" and a size 9 hand, fairly "normal" for an old fart.

As to their "legendary" status, yea, Like Callahan said, "... in your own mind." We run stages, matches, and training and believe me, Glocks go down as often as other hand guns in stress situations. Some of the malfunction problems may be shooter induced, but hey, if I could bring Ransome Rest to a gun fight it would probaly have a GE 134 mounted on it! MTC, YMMV

Blasternaz

2:23 PM  
Blogger Alan said...

Glocks are like politics and red-headed women...You like 'em or you don't and there are reasons for both sides. I have had two in 9mm and then I went to the .40 Short&Weak and bought a 22 and a 23. I agree that the trigger is the pits, and I do understand that you can get them dolled up, but I never mastered the Glock for reasons that are probably as much my fault as the Glock's. The trigger is one I never got myself used to. I liked the "tough as nails" side, but I went back to my .45 ACPs and stayed with Kimber single stacks and, to carry a lot, a Para C-7.45 LDA and an AMT Back-up DAO in .45 ACP. I could "make-do" with any Glock if need be, but I could make-do with a big stick or a rock if "need-be". I want to do better than that if I can.
Alan Yates

2:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to agree with the previous comment about Glocks, either love them or hate them. I had a few years when my agency mandated we could carry any duty weapon as long it was a glock 22 in .40S&W. I carried a SIG P220 previous to this and now carry a 1911. During my Glock years, I noted there was a few times it would malfunction with both practice ammo and duty ammo. The inside of the slide has started to experience peening to the metal. I took this pistol to an experienced machinist who also has extensive experience with firearms. The advise. Get an HK right away. Seriously there are some good points to the glock concept but they are far from perfect. Wish glock would pull their head out of the sand and listen. I eventually was fortunate enough to get a new chief who realized some of the limitations of the Glock and I now have went to the 1911. I'm a firearms instructor and rifle instructor and would offer this advise. try and shoot a large variety of different pistols before making your choise. one size does not fit all. Also consider how you will be carring this weapon. some holsters are very uncomfortable and this will be obvious very quickly. also practice with how you plan to carry your pistol. keep the safety rules in mind at all times.

7:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I used to own a Glock 17 & a Glock 23, I have come to the following conclusions from my experiences.
1. Glocks are uterly reliable
2. Accurecy is good enough
3. Magazines and acessories are plentiful
4. They ate any factory ammo, regardless of make I fed them without a problem.
5. They have a grip that was designed by the same guy who makes 2X4's at the saw mill
6. They are not double action only, as the company advertises
7. They have a mechanical safety that can be rapidly disengaged by placing your finger on it.
8. I will never own another product that is made by this company.
9. the correct punction on their litterature is

" Glock Perfection? "

I will continue to carry the 4 competing brands of pistols I own
"Beretta, S&W, Ruger, Taurus"
for SD, and a glock will never again darken my door step.

8:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

After reading the comments, I guess it is what you are comfortable with. I own Springfield XD in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP. I just picked up a Glock 27 and so far am very pleased with it. So, to repeat, to each own. I also ride a Honda and wouldn't have a Harley in my garage. It is all personal preference.

1:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If I could just find someone to swap a pristine S&W Model 14 for my 21C, life would be perfect.

1:08 PM  
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5:45 AM  

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