Stephen A. Camp
Moderator In Memoriam
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 2,430
Hello. I have never been a hardcore fan of Glock pistols, but have respected that they do work well for the most part. Having been a police firearms instructor for 11 years, I've seen plenty of them used in calibers 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP and in the various models offered for each.
I just never could "cotten up" to them.
After retirement, my orbits became very tame compared to my "previous life" and I began the search for the "perfect" (lawful) pistol to carry concealed. Operating under the "Laziness is next to Godliness" theory and for my lifestyle and climate, pocket carry was most appealing although I do carry a belt gun concealed on ocassion.
I initially tried the Kahr P9, but mine was an early one and plagued with premature slide-lock when using +P ammunition. I traded it in on a Glock 26, the same Glock 26 I have now. (More on the Kahr comparisons later.)
Though at the absolute limit of what I can carry concealed via a Galco pocket holster in some of my pants, the thing can be toted quite easily in a Fobus paddle holster. These are the only two holsters I own for this pistol and they suit me. Certainly, there's a wide selection for other G26 users.
The Pistol: My G26 has been very slightly altered from factory configuration. I replaced the plastic sights with AroTek black-on-black fixed sights. (Though the site's under construction, it can be found at www.arotek.com). I had to get a lower front sight than the usual recommended one to get my pistol printed where the sights were aimed and though this took a couple of tries, the folks at the company were very considerate and easy to work with. Even though not in the afflicted "serial number range," I replaced the plastic FLGR with the two-piece steel one offered at Wolff Gunsprings (www.gunsprings.com) and use the standard factory recoil spring. I also added one of those little plug thingys that fits in the hollow behind the magazine well. I did this after several months of pocket carry. I noted that lint, dust, etc was in this area and it wouldn't have bothered me except that this hollow has a small opening at the top and I could see a spring or part through the hollow. I know that with "Glock Perfection," I should not have to worry, but I prefer any "serious" pistol" to be as clean and reliable as possible. I also don't believe in "Glock Perfection," having seen them mess up, usually with small spring breakage, but they almost always work and work well. Having tried various connectors and spring weights, I just stayed with the factory set up with regard to trigger pull.
Not stellar in the "looks department" to me, this pistol has about 2K rounds through it; it has NEVER malfunctioned.
Ammunition: I didn't do any handloads this time as it's been my observation that these pistols are primarily carried for self-defense. The ammo focus was on some self-defense type ammo along with some ball rounds that many might use for practice. Bullet weights ranged from 65 grains to 125 grains. I am not a fan of the heavier bullets in 9mm and didn't have anything in the 147 gr weight as I'd used what little I did have in a previous range report.
The G26 was fed a variety of JHP and ball ammunition today and worked fine. It's never been picky.
Eight different loads were tried today. They were also chronographed from the Glock 26. The data listed is based on 10-shot strings fired about 10' from the chronograph screen and include extreme spread and standard deviations for each round.
Fiocchi 115 gr FMJ:
Average Velocity: 1180 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 57
Std. Deviation: 21
PMP 115 gr FMJ:
Average Velocity: 1046 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 38
Std. Deviation: 15
(This is the most lightly loaded factory 115 gr ball that I've tried.)
Winchester "USA" 115 gr FMJ:
Average Velocity: 1097 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 87
Std. Deviation: 40
Federal 115 gr JHP ("9BP," std. pressure):
Average Velocity: 1111 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 34
Std. Deviation: 13
Hornady 124 gr "CQ" Tap (XTP):
Average Velocity: 1100 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 38
Std. Deviation: 16
Winchester RA9TA 127 gr +P+ JHP:
Average Velocity: 1246 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 33
Std. Deviation: 13
Corbon 125 gr +P JHP:
Average Velocity: 1188 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 43
Std. Deviation: 17
Aguila 65 gr "IQ" Zinc HP:
Average Velocity: 1517 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 64
Std. Deviation: 23
The latter round was included as it appears to be standard pressure and I'd not fired any of it and was curious.
FWIW, here's some data on other rounds chronographed through the G26 on a previous day:
Corbon 124 gr XTP +P Ave. Vel. = 1229 ft/sec
Glaser 70 gr Silver Pre-frag Ave. Vel. = 1514 ft/sec
Federal 124 gr. Nyclad HP Ave. Vel. = 1063 ft/sec
Triton 115 gr Hi Vel JHP +P Ave. Vel. = 1280 ft/sec
Triton 125 gr Hi Vel JHP +P Ave. Vel. = 1245 ft/sec
I noticed that the older Corbon XTP load averaged a bit more than the current load using the Sierra bullet and have noticed this in 9mm pistols having longer barrels as well. The Sierra bullet is an aggressive expander and this is plenty warm enough for it to "work." Though hard to find now, I did have extremely good luck with Triton's 125 gr "Hi Vel" JHP out of both this pistol as well as Browning Hi Powers. Notice also that the 70 gr Glaser Safety Slug is rated at +P. I am assuming that the Aguila is not; at least I cannot find any +P notice on the box or ammunition. Bullet weights and velocities are equivalent.
Shooting: Shooting today was done at ranges of 5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards, and 25 yards. Groups fired at 15 & 25 yards were fired using a 2-hand hold and a rest. The reason was simply that I was trying to shoot groups and the short sight radius on this pistol doesn't lend itself to do this, at least for me. The "fast" stuff was done using a 2-hand hold and a Weaver stance. (Please no emails eatting me out again for firing at the "wrong" distances. Some of us want closer and some farther. I don't have the money to buy ammo to do tests at all distances.)
Not Camp Perry accurate, I find this little gun easier to hit accurately with than my usually-carried S&W J-frame.
One can see from these two pictures that the Glock was pretty consistent with most loads tried and plenty accurate enough for its intended purpose, self-protection.
I'm sure that the gun will shoot tighter, but it will have to be in other hands than mine.
Again, this slow fire group will not win any bullseye competition, but I think most will agree that the gun was never intended for such. Still, I much prefer to have a pistol that's capable of shooting tight groups. I strongly suspect this one's capable of considerably better.
This 5-yard group consisted of five "double-taps," i.e.: one sight picture for two shots fired, the second being fired as quickly as possible with muscle memory hopefully getting it near the first. I don't like to advocate not using the sights and personally will NOT beyond this distance.
More practiced at "controlled pairs," one sight picture for each shot, but done as quickly as possible, I tried 5 sets @ 10 yards. For me, this is the "method" I practice most often. You do what you think's best for your situation.
Continued....
I just never could "cotten up" to them.
After retirement, my orbits became very tame compared to my "previous life" and I began the search for the "perfect" (lawful) pistol to carry concealed. Operating under the "Laziness is next to Godliness" theory and for my lifestyle and climate, pocket carry was most appealing although I do carry a belt gun concealed on ocassion.
I initially tried the Kahr P9, but mine was an early one and plagued with premature slide-lock when using +P ammunition. I traded it in on a Glock 26, the same Glock 26 I have now. (More on the Kahr comparisons later.)
Though at the absolute limit of what I can carry concealed via a Galco pocket holster in some of my pants, the thing can be toted quite easily in a Fobus paddle holster. These are the only two holsters I own for this pistol and they suit me. Certainly, there's a wide selection for other G26 users.
The Pistol: My G26 has been very slightly altered from factory configuration. I replaced the plastic sights with AroTek black-on-black fixed sights. (Though the site's under construction, it can be found at www.arotek.com). I had to get a lower front sight than the usual recommended one to get my pistol printed where the sights were aimed and though this took a couple of tries, the folks at the company were very considerate and easy to work with. Even though not in the afflicted "serial number range," I replaced the plastic FLGR with the two-piece steel one offered at Wolff Gunsprings (www.gunsprings.com) and use the standard factory recoil spring. I also added one of those little plug thingys that fits in the hollow behind the magazine well. I did this after several months of pocket carry. I noted that lint, dust, etc was in this area and it wouldn't have bothered me except that this hollow has a small opening at the top and I could see a spring or part through the hollow. I know that with "Glock Perfection," I should not have to worry, but I prefer any "serious" pistol" to be as clean and reliable as possible. I also don't believe in "Glock Perfection," having seen them mess up, usually with small spring breakage, but they almost always work and work well. Having tried various connectors and spring weights, I just stayed with the factory set up with regard to trigger pull.
Not stellar in the "looks department" to me, this pistol has about 2K rounds through it; it has NEVER malfunctioned.
Ammunition: I didn't do any handloads this time as it's been my observation that these pistols are primarily carried for self-defense. The ammo focus was on some self-defense type ammo along with some ball rounds that many might use for practice. Bullet weights ranged from 65 grains to 125 grains. I am not a fan of the heavier bullets in 9mm and didn't have anything in the 147 gr weight as I'd used what little I did have in a previous range report.
The G26 was fed a variety of JHP and ball ammunition today and worked fine. It's never been picky.
Eight different loads were tried today. They were also chronographed from the Glock 26. The data listed is based on 10-shot strings fired about 10' from the chronograph screen and include extreme spread and standard deviations for each round.
Fiocchi 115 gr FMJ:
Average Velocity: 1180 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 57
Std. Deviation: 21
PMP 115 gr FMJ:
Average Velocity: 1046 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 38
Std. Deviation: 15
(This is the most lightly loaded factory 115 gr ball that I've tried.)
Winchester "USA" 115 gr FMJ:
Average Velocity: 1097 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 87
Std. Deviation: 40
Federal 115 gr JHP ("9BP," std. pressure):
Average Velocity: 1111 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 34
Std. Deviation: 13
Hornady 124 gr "CQ" Tap (XTP):
Average Velocity: 1100 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 38
Std. Deviation: 16
Winchester RA9TA 127 gr +P+ JHP:
Average Velocity: 1246 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 33
Std. Deviation: 13
Corbon 125 gr +P JHP:
Average Velocity: 1188 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 43
Std. Deviation: 17
Aguila 65 gr "IQ" Zinc HP:
Average Velocity: 1517 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 64
Std. Deviation: 23
The latter round was included as it appears to be standard pressure and I'd not fired any of it and was curious.
FWIW, here's some data on other rounds chronographed through the G26 on a previous day:
Corbon 124 gr XTP +P Ave. Vel. = 1229 ft/sec
Glaser 70 gr Silver Pre-frag Ave. Vel. = 1514 ft/sec
Federal 124 gr. Nyclad HP Ave. Vel. = 1063 ft/sec
Triton 115 gr Hi Vel JHP +P Ave. Vel. = 1280 ft/sec
Triton 125 gr Hi Vel JHP +P Ave. Vel. = 1245 ft/sec
I noticed that the older Corbon XTP load averaged a bit more than the current load using the Sierra bullet and have noticed this in 9mm pistols having longer barrels as well. The Sierra bullet is an aggressive expander and this is plenty warm enough for it to "work." Though hard to find now, I did have extremely good luck with Triton's 125 gr "Hi Vel" JHP out of both this pistol as well as Browning Hi Powers. Notice also that the 70 gr Glaser Safety Slug is rated at +P. I am assuming that the Aguila is not; at least I cannot find any +P notice on the box or ammunition. Bullet weights and velocities are equivalent.
Shooting: Shooting today was done at ranges of 5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards, and 25 yards. Groups fired at 15 & 25 yards were fired using a 2-hand hold and a rest. The reason was simply that I was trying to shoot groups and the short sight radius on this pistol doesn't lend itself to do this, at least for me. The "fast" stuff was done using a 2-hand hold and a Weaver stance. (Please no emails eatting me out again for firing at the "wrong" distances. Some of us want closer and some farther. I don't have the money to buy ammo to do tests at all distances.)
Not Camp Perry accurate, I find this little gun easier to hit accurately with than my usually-carried S&W J-frame.
One can see from these two pictures that the Glock was pretty consistent with most loads tried and plenty accurate enough for its intended purpose, self-protection.
I'm sure that the gun will shoot tighter, but it will have to be in other hands than mine.
Again, this slow fire group will not win any bullseye competition, but I think most will agree that the gun was never intended for such. Still, I much prefer to have a pistol that's capable of shooting tight groups. I strongly suspect this one's capable of considerably better.
This 5-yard group consisted of five "double-taps," i.e.: one sight picture for two shots fired, the second being fired as quickly as possible with muscle memory hopefully getting it near the first. I don't like to advocate not using the sights and personally will NOT beyond this distance.
More practiced at "controlled pairs," one sight picture for each shot, but done as quickly as possible, I tried 5 sets @ 10 yards. For me, this is the "method" I practice most often. You do what you think's best for your situation.
Continued....
