[SteelyDan]

I've bird hunted at the same spot with my little brother for the last 30+ years. For the last 10 years, I've brought and shot a variety of handguns at the large farm, but he's always refused to even shoot one. Then, out of the blue, he bought a Glock 26 (a very small 9 mm., for those, like me, who don't track Glock numbers) about a month ago, because of the new Conceal and Carry law here.

So, I'll soon be heading out to the hunting grounds, and my brother will be bringing his Glock. He has a belief, which I do not wish to diminish, that I know "all that can be known" about handguns. He is wrong in this belief, but I do not want him to know that. I mean, I may tell him that I don't know anything about Glocks, which is basically true, but I would then like to pass on a few facts that "everyone knows."

Those of you who have little brothers, and especially those whose brothers ended up making about twice as much as you do, will understand what I'm asking. Can y'all fill me in on the Glock 26s?

[Rich357]

The G26 is highly reliable and surprisingly accurate once you get used to
the Glock trigger. The recoil is mild.

You can find lots of Glock info and parts at Glock Meister.

www.glockmeister.com

Glocks work better if you don't drown them in oil. A little oil in the
right places is all that's need.

Rich

[ruger357]

Wish I didn't trade mine in.:(

[HankL]

The only Glock that I own is a M-26. I have grown to like it for what it is.
Holds 10 rounds and feeds Speer Gold Dots flawlessly. Like Rich said, it takes a little getting used to but after that it's a fun little pistol. While the frame is small rember that it is a thick as a standard Glock. IMHO it is easier to conceal an Officer's or Commander sized 1911 than the little Glock.
HTH

[Graystar]

Just off the top of my head...

The Glock has three automatic safety features. They are all designed to prevent the Glock from firing if the trigger has not been pulled. The safeties disengage as the trigger is pulled. The Glock is the safest gun to carry, but (like all guns) demands that you pay attention to what you're doing. No manual safety to save you from stupidity. However, there's no manual safety to prevent the gun from shooting when you *need* it to shoot! Anyways, don't blindly shove your Glock into its holster if it feels like it's hung up on something!

Speaking of holsters, don't use a thumb-break holster. That leads to NDs. use a holster that grips the Glock by the trigger guard.

The copper-colored "grease" on the rails of new Glocks is nothing special...just an anti-seize compound. Can be replaced with any lube.

The metal parts of a Glock have a surface treatment called Tenifer, and have a nitrate coating. these are treatments, not finishes. It is what allows a Glock that's been keeped in sea water for 6 months to come out in perfect condition.

The black finish on the slide is a standard parkerized finish and will wear off over time. Just have it refinished.

A Glock is only about 75% "cocked" when ready to fire. Pulling the trigger completes the retraction of the firing pin. Without a trigger pull, the pin does not have enough energy to ignite the primer. This is one of the safety components that makes Glocks so safe. If the slide/barrel were to separate from the frame, and the firing pin safety failed somehow, the round *still* could not go off because the released firing pin doesn't have enough energy.

Some people call the Glock firing pin a "striker", but it is called a "firing pin" in the Glock manual.

The Glock trigger pull is long...something like 1/2" It is long because you are retracting the firing pin and disengaging safeties as you pull. People not used to the long pull tend to shoot the Glock low and left (low and right for left handed people.) You just have to get used to it.

The stock sights suck, which I find hard to understand as so much thought went into the rest of the gun. However, replace them with a good set of Heinie sights or whatever your favorite sight is.

More info here:

http://www.glockworld.com/glockfaq.htm

[rappa]

www.glocktalk.com, everything you wanted to know about Glock pistols (fact and fiction). ;)

[jem375]

Graystar.......I'm still shaking my head over your statement that a glock is the safest gun to carry and then make the statement about not using a thumb break holster.......you apparently haven't handled a 1911 style pistol lately as far as safety goes....even the Springfield XD's are safer than a glock with their grip safety.......

[jem375]

SteelyDan..........where are you in Minnesota?.........I bought a G26 also a couple of months ago..........will have to replace the sights on it, because it shoots so far to the left........I bought it for a carry gun, but, after buying a Witness 10MM compact, I don't know if the glock will make the grade....that Witness shoots really great, and with the right defense loads will more than likely be my choice of carry..........Your friend can also use G17 and G19 hi-cap mags in the G26...........

[pax]

Most the basics covered above.

You may want to buy him a magazine grip extension as a 'welcome to the dark side' gift. The G26 has an itty-bitty grip that can be hard for some folks to hang onto. (Me, I prefer mine without the extensions -- but I know I'm in the minority that way.) If he loves the one you get for him, he can buy one for each of his magazines.

pax

[Poohgyrr]

Great little "thick" pistols. Accurate, reliable, easy to care for. They are really ugly, but too practical to ignore.

I carry a Glock .40 of some type daily, and find thumb break holsters work fine as long as we remain aware of what we're doing- which we need to do anyway. To me, the main issue with thumb break holsters really is security vs draw time. I figure this is a personal issue for each of us to decide. Whatever you get, buy a well made, quality item.

Whatever gun (safetyless revolver, Glock auto, 1911, Smith auto, rifle, shotgun, etc...) the four rules of gun safety can not be stressed enough. Folks have shot when they didn't mean to with every gun out there.

Best of luck, and yeah, my "little" brother makes way more than I do too. But he's still OK ;)......

[dawg23]

Quote from jem375:.....I bought a G26 also a couple of months ago..........will have to replace the sights on it, because it shoots so far to the left


Very common for new Glock owners to shoot to the left (if they are right handed). It's usually not the pistol. Let an experienced Glock owner try it before you change the sights.;)

[Island Beretta]

The Glock 26 is a nice little pistol. Light, high capacity and a flatter shooter than many gun it's size and weight. It gets the job done easily up to about 7yds. after that you have to work a little harder - steadier hand, more refined sight picture. I am also starting to think that they may be a little overpriced.

It is difficult for me to say it is accurate, as my Beretta walks circles around my Glock 19 and I have been told that the Beretta has only average accuracy. My results have been different but who am I to question experts:uhoh:

In addition my Beretta cost a lot less than my Glock. I have been told by Glock shooters that to make the Glock a better performer I need to change the sights and put in a minus connector. More money :scrutiny:

[Graystar]

Graystar.......I'm still shaking my head over your statement that a glock is the safest gun to carry and then make the statement about not using a thumb break holster.......you apparently haven't handled a 1911 style pistol lately as far as safety goes....even the Springfield XD's are safer than a glock with their grip safety....... If something goes wrong with a 1911 while it is cocked, it may fire. I have heard of stories where a shooter at the line released the safety and the gun fired. If the sear fails, the gun can fire. If a 1911 is dropped on it's nose hard enough, it can fire.

No failure of any kind whatsoever can cause a Glock to fire. If a Glock fires, it is because the trigger was fully pulled. There can be no other explanation. THAT is what makes a Glock so safe.

[Daniel T]

f something goes wrong with a 1911 while it is cocked, it may fire. I have heard of stories where a shooter at the line released the safety and the gun fired. If the sear fails, the gun can fire. If a 1911 is dropped on it's nose hard enough, it can fire.

Er, wouldn't the firing pin block on a Series 80 (or 1991) Colt protect against such an occurance?

[355sigfan]

One thing to add on the Glock trigger. Once you get used to releaseing to the sear engagement (trigger reset point) after the first shot its actually a very short trigger pull.

Jem375 The Glock is a very safe pistol to carry so long as you don't pull the trigger it will not fire. You can drop int on its muzzle, on the back of the slide or from any angle from a helicopter at 200 feet if you wish and it will not fire. I love the 1911 and its a safe fun as well. But if yours like mine does not have a firing pin safety it can fire if its dropped on its muzzle. The grip safety really does not do much other than act like a form of a drop safety. The new Springfield is no safer than the Glock. Most modern pistols are equally safe. If the shooter keeps his finger off the trigger until its time they will not have problems.

SNIP
In addition my Beretta cost a lot less than my Glock. I have been told by Glock shooters that to make the Glock a better performer I need to change the sights and put in a minus connector. More money
END

The sights should be replaced to make them more durable and to have a night sight capability not to make the gun more accurate. The minus connector is not needed but if desired costs less than a meal at a typical resturant. Beretta's are accurate weapons. It has been my experience the 92 and the 17 are usually on par in the same area of accuracy. The 17 has the advantage of not being a crunch ticker so the first shot is usually placed as well as the last. Not something I can say of the Beretta with a average shooter. The weakness of the 92 is that it needs a competant armorer doing reqular maintence on it to keep it running. Trigger springs break on it, locking blocks crack. And unlike when a Glock trigger spring breaks the Beretta is out of action. The Glock will run so long as your not slapping the trigger. If you are there is a simple drill to bring it on line agian.

Pat

[denfoote]

Graystar,
Damn!! :what:
You mean to tell me that I spent $750 on the wrong gun!! :eek:
Boy, I had better sell this expensive :cuss: for what I can get for it and buy another Glock!!! :rolleyes:
Only trouble is that I already have all the Glocks in the calibers I like and that fit my hand!! ;)

Boy, after damn near a century, surely sombody would have noticed by now how unsafe these 1911 suckers are and successfully had them banned!!! :evil:

If nothing else, the shooting public should have gotten tired of all the carnage caused by it's unsafe design and stopped buying them!!

Sheesh!!! :rolleyes:

[Quintin Likely]

I think it says so in the instructions that come with the pistol, I forget, but just a reminder, lead bullets are a no-no in Glocks. Jacked stuff only. Lead fouls the polygonal rifling, which may lead to increased chamber pressures.

[dhoomonyou]

search on Glockfaq.com & Glocktalk.com

[Graystar]

Er, wouldn't the firing pin block on a Series 80 (or 1991) Colt protect against such an occurance? Yes it would. But what if that failed too? That is the root of what I'm getting at. On a Glock, if every single safety feature failed, the gun still won't go off. Not so on your Series 80. If the pin block failed at the same time the sear decided to give, the gun will fire.

[Graystar]

If nothing else, the shooting public should have gotten tired of all the carnage caused by it's unsafe design and stopped buying them!! WHOA THERE COWBOY! I never said that a 1911 was unsafe. I just spent $1400 on my new 1911 and I wouldn't have done that if I thought the design was unsafe. I would be very comfortable carrying a 1911 cocked, with a round in the barrel and the manual safety off. I think the grip safety works great and is really all one needs.

However, technically speaking, a Glock can be just as ready to fire as a 1911, and it will be technically safer because no failure of any kind will fire the gun.

[355sigfan]

Yes it would. But what if that failed too? That is the root of what I'm getting at. On a Glock, if every single safety feature failed, the gun still won't go off. Not so on your Series 80. If the pin block failed at the same time the sear decided to give, the gun will fire.
END

Thats silly if the the passive safety's failed on a Glock it would fire just as if the safety's failed on a 1911. The firing pin safety on a 1911 is simular to the firing pin safety on a Glock.
Pat

[Graystar]

Thats silly if the the passive safety's failed on a Glock it would fire just as if the safety's failed on a 1911. The firing pin safety on a 1911 is simular to the firing pin safety on a Glock. The Glock wouldn't fire. The firing pin doesn't have enough energy stored to ignite the primer when the gun is in its ready state. The pulling of the trigger completes the retraction of the firing pin. Only then does it have enough energy to fire a round.

[Rich357]

jem375
" SteelyDan..........where are you in Minnesota?.........I bought a G26 also a couple of months ago..........will have to replace the sights on it, because it shoots so far to the left........"
-------------

Hi Jem375,

Have you carefully dry fired the your new G26 to see if the sights deflect a
little when you pull the trigger? Are you using an extension on the magezine? Your little finger on the extension can also cause you to move the pistol when pulling the trigger. It is surprising how well you can shoot with your little finger under the grip. It makes you use your two middle fingers.

As dawg23 mentioned it is not unusual for new Glock shooters to have their groups over to the left. That's what happened when I started shooting Glocks. Shooting a small Glock, like the G26, without a finger extension helped greatly in the way I shoot all my Glocks.

Good luck,
Rich

[355sigfan]

The Glock wouldn't fire. The firing pin doesn't have enough energy stored to ignite the primer when the gun is in its ready state. The pulling of the trigger completes the retraction of the firing pin. Only then does it have enough energy to fire a round.
END

Your not looking at the whole picture. If you dropped a GLock on its muzzle with faulty internal passive safety's it would fire as would the 1911. If you dropped a glock with broken trigger safety on the back of the slide it could fire. A broken gun can fire if handled in a negligent manner. I do know a thing or two about glocks being a certified armorer and all.
Pat

[Graystar]

Your not looking at the whole picture. If you dropped a GLock on its muzzle with faulty internal passive safety's it would fire as would the 1911. If you dropped a glock with broken trigger safety on the back of the slide it could fire. A broken gun can fire if handled in a negligent manner. I do know a thing or two about glocks being a certified armorer and all. I certainly am not questioning your knowledge of the Glock, as I'm sure it's far better than mine. However, I think that you went into areas that I did not intend. Let me try to rephrase.

Sometimes, in normal use, a part of a gun can fail. Depending on the part, and the sequence of events, that failure can cause the gun to fire when the user does not want it to fire (that is, fired unintentionally.) A case in point is the 1911 that fired when the safety was disengaged. So this is the first senario I now present...internal failures during normal operation. I submit to you that there is no way in hell that a Glock will fire unintentionally because of an internal failure. I believe this to be true because the Glock firing pin isn't fully retracted until the user fully pulls the trigger.

The second senario, when I mentioned dropping a 1911, I did not make as clear. What was going through my mind as I was writing that was of a properly functioning weapon that can be made to fire, even though no part has mechanically failed. The Ruger Mark II has the same issue as a standard 1911. I've heard of one person that had a Mark II locked in his trunk and it fired during a car accident. There was nothing wrong with the pistol...it just happens to have a free-floating firing pin. A Glock would never do this.

I think that's as clear as I can get it. If I'm wrong please correct me, as I'd rather have correct information than some delusion of winning an argument. :D

[Graystar]

Okay, I thought of one senario. If you fire a Glock and hold the trigger, and just as the slide returns to battery the "retractor bar" part of the firing pin breaks off (what's the name of that part anyway?) then the Glock will fire. I guess if you could put a disconnector mechanism on the firing pin safety, where the safety is reengaged after a round is fired, then that problem could be avoided.

I still think it's the safest :D

[Redlg155]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20041&highlight=range+report+g26

Take a peek there. Mr Camp has an excellent report on the Glock 26.

As for myself, this is the second G26 that I have owned. I had a 26, traded it for a G27 and now several years later I have a G26 again.

Nifty little pistols and deadly accurate. I have yet to find a pistol this size to match the accuracy of the little glock. Night sights are the next thing to be added.

Good Shooting
Red

[355sigfan]

One thing if by free floating you mean that the 1911 has a firing pin under no spring tension this is wrong. It has a spring that holds it back. An AR15 has a floating firing pin with no spring. A 1911 with a firing pin safety will not fire if dropped on its muzzle. The Glock has a spring loaded stricker. It would fire if dropped on if its internale drop safety broke. Would it fire in the shooters hands no. Yes the 1911 could fire if the sear broke and the safety is released.
Pat

[Graystar]

An AR15 has a floating firing pin with no spring. Sorry then, that was a bad term to use. I know the 1911, like the Mark II, has a spring to return the pin to the ready position. What I meant was that there is no mechanism designed to block the pin.

[SteelyDan]

Thank you all for the good info on these things. To be honest, I was hoping to hear some negatives, just so I could "tweak" the kid a bit. Alas, sounds more like something I should probably buy. God help me, I greatly admire reliability, and I know Glocks excel in that category, but....they're still Glocks. This is painful, but I might, repeat might, have to try one.

[355sigfan]

Well the firing pin safety in series 80 Colts and in Kimber Series 2 guns does not allow the pin to travel. Its simular in function to the Glock system
Pat

[Poohgyrr]

Steely Dan,
Yup, I'd really suggest taking a good look at any or all Glocks. I do think they are UGLY , but they are sooooo practical. And FWIW, I like the sight picture of the stock sights, but do think the front sight gets dinged up too easily. A good set of night sights fixes this. There are other good pistols out there too.

[denfoote]

GrayStar,
Sorry!! I was deep into sarcasm mode!! :D

But, just to egg you on a little further, I carry my 1911-A1, IWB: COCKED AND LOCKED!!!!!!!! :what: :eek: :neener:

[AUTIGER04]

Im saving my nickels and dimes to buy either the Glock 26 or 27.:D
It may take awhile but Ill have one or the other.:D

[Graystar]

But, just to egg you on a little further, I carry my 1911-A1, IWB: COCKED AND LOCKED!!!!!!!! Wuss! REAL men carry cocked & UNlocked! :neener:

[Rich357]

Hi SteelyDan,

Good luck on honestly finding a real down side to the mini Glocks.

The subcompact Glocks perform very well. You may not like the "plastic", you may not like the trigger, you may not like the feel of the grip, but with a little time at the range you will find they are easy to shoot well. Add to that high reliability and high capicity and you have a fine little pistol.

I prefer my mini Glocks with Trijicon night sights. You should use a good holster that covers the trigger.

If you want to impress your brother bring a SIG P239. They aren't as small the G26 and they don't have quite the capacity but they are very nice.
Just don't be surprised if the Glock is faster and more accurate in double taps drills.

Rich

[G27]

the same size only .40 caliber.

Go to American Gunsmith Institute Armorers Course (http://www.americangunsmith.com/armorers_courses.html)

It cost $29.95 plus $5 shipping. But it for you and your brother. Tells you all you want to know and then some. Its the Glock video tape that you want.