Would getting a Glock 26 be redundant if I own a Glock 19?

Status
Not open for further replies.

bos19

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Messages
108
Hi everyone, I am trying to figure out what I should get for a future handgun purchase. I own a Glock 19 already and am considering getting a Glock 26. I originally planned on using the 19 for concealed carry, but determined that it would be best suited for concealed carry during the cold months and is definitely too big for me to conceal carry during the warm months, as my summer clothes aren't big/baggy enough to make it not obvious I have a gun on me. I was thinking about keeping the 19 for home defense/range shooting and getting the 26 for concealed carry all year round. I really like the Glock platform, so I'm open to other suggestions besides the 26 if something else would work better for concealed carry. Thoughts?
 
I think it depends on what purpose you're buying the gun for. I own a Glock 19 and a 26 and I bought them specifically for the redundancies.

My 19/26 are the only guns I carry. I like the fact that they are identical in terms of operation. I like the fact that I can carry the same spare (19) magazine with both and I especially like the fact that there have been times at the range and in classes that I've forgot which one was in my hand.

If I had to get rid of one it would be the 19 because the 26 is just that little bit more concealable but I can still use a 19 or even a 17 magazine in it.
 
I have a 26 and find it a bit challenging to conceal because of the widths (chunky pistol and chunky me). I also have a 48 and that conceals nicely for me, but of course I sacrifice mag compatibility with the double stacks. Still, it is a thin 19, a 48 (or 43x) might be worth considering.
 
The issue I ran into is I was planning on carrying my 19, but after I put it into the holster with my regular every day summer clothes on (t-shirt and khaki shorts), I noticed that depending on how my body was oriented, it was obvious in some cases that I had a gun on my side. It's not like I wear super tight clothes, but I'm also not wearing ridiculously baggy clothes. I definitely could make carrying a 19 work in the colder months where I'm wearing baggier clothing, but not in the warmer months.
 
If you have the 19 for cold weather, try a 43 or 48 for warm weather. I recently sold my 26 after picking up my 43. Now the 43 sets in the safe because of a Sig P365.
 
Just a question - do you use a gun belt and is your holster/belt combo pulling in the grip to keep it from poking out? That's a common printing issue along with general thickness of pistol... Your carry setup might just need a little fine tuning?
 
The issue I ran into is I was planning on carrying my 19, but after I put it into the holster with my regular every day summer clothes on (t-shirt and khaki shorts), I noticed that depending on how my body was oriented, it was obvious in some cases that I had a gun on my side. It's not like I wear super tight clothes, but I'm also not wearing ridiculously baggy clothes. I definitely could make carrying a 19 work in the colder months where I'm wearing baggier clothing, but not in the warmer months.

Your clothing is only part of the issue. What type holster do you use? Do you have a purpose designed gun belt?
 
Just a question - do you use a gun belt and is your holster/belt combo pulling in the grip to keep it from poking out? That's a common printing issue along with general thickness of pistol... Your carry setup might just need a little fine tuning?

I don't have a gun belt, no. Any suggestions for one?
 
I don't have a gun belt, no. Any suggestions for one?

I have several from Hank's https://www.hanksbelts.com/pages/se...2=1+1/2++Inch&rb_snize_facet7=Men's+Gun+Belts

But there are plenty of very good makers out there and the prices can range to 50-100, etc... Some swear by nylon gun belts such as the wilderness belt, never head anything but good but I don't have one. The main thing is it has to carry the load firmly against the body without twisting or otherwise allowing the grip to poke out. A standard dress belt from a store is not going to work.
 
I think it depends on what purpose you're buying the gun for. I own a Glock 19 and a 26 and I bought them specifically for the redundancies.

My 19/26 are the only guns I carry. I like the fact that they are identical in terms of operation. I like the fact that I can carry the same spare (19) magazine with both and I especially like the fact that there have been times at the range and in classes that I've forgot which one was in my hand.

If I had to get rid of one it would be the 19 because the 26 is just that little bit more concealable but I can still use a 19 or even a 17 magazine in it.
Don't forget the 33 round G-18 mags work as well.

I own the 17, 19, and 26; but now I also own the SIG P365 - same or greater capacity than the 26 but thinner, smaller, and lighter.
 
I carry with a Beltman horsehide belt with internal stiffener. After trying several leather and nylon options, the Beltman is the only one that has held its shape and not developed a sag after 18 months of use.

OP, I'm also curious what holster you're using. The G19 didn't enter into my carry rotation until I tried an AIWB rig with both a wedge and a claw. Prior to that I'd tried multiple holsters including one of the well-reputed INCOGs from Haley Strategic. It printed terribly, and for a long time I thought it was the gun but it turns out the belt and holster make more of a difference that I thought.
 
I carry with a Beltman horsehide belt with internal stiffener. After trying several leather and nylon options, the Beltman is the only one that has held its shape and not developed a sag after 18 months of use.

OP, I'm also curious what holster you're using. The G19 didn't enter into my carry rotation until I tried an AIWB rig with both a wedge and a claw. Prior to that I'd tried multiple holsters including one of the well-reputed INCOGs from Haley Strategic. It printed terribly, and for a long time I thought it was the gun but it turns out the belt and holster make more of a difference that I thought.

I have the Concealment Express IWB Kydex Hholster.
 
Hi everyone, I am trying to figure out what I should get for a future handgun purchase. I own a Glock 19 already and am considering getting a Glock 26. I originally planned on using the 19 for concealed carry, but determined that it would be best suited for concealed carry during the cold months and is definitely too big for me to conceal carry during the warm months, as my summer clothes aren't big/baggy enough to make it not obvious I have a gun on me. I was thinking about keeping the 19 for home defense/range shooting and getting the 26 for concealed carry all year round. I really like the Glock platform, so I'm open to other suggestions besides the 26 if something else would work better for concealed carry. Thoughts?
I CC'd a G19 for 3-4 years, but eventually decided to step down to something a little smaller. I didn't care for the way that G26 fits my hand. (Don't ask me why the double-stack G19 fits me better than the double-stack G26, but it does.) Anyway, I looked into the subcompacts & single-stacks: XD-S, Shield, G43. I came away with a Shield 1.0 in 9mm and have never once regretted the choice. Granted, that would deprive you of some interchangeability (mags, some holsters (maybe?), etc.), but the Shield fits my hand like a glove, points naturally, and carries like a dream.

I don't have a gun belt, no. Any suggestions for one?
I'm a very big proponent of having a proper gun belt. At this point, literally every belt I own is a gun belt. I started with an Aker B21 that I still use while gardening, cleaning the garage, etc., ~10 years down the road. I eventually replaced it with a Beltman belt with the internal stiffener. Somewhat pricier than the Aker, but an outstanding belt. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, but still a really good deal, is the DeSantis Econobelt that I use for a black dress belt. I used one for ~7 years and just replaced it with a second one. Frankly, the old one still looked good, but I've put on some weight. I considered replacing with a black Beltman belt, but $ is a little tight right now, and the $35 price tag is hard to beat.

Here are just a few of the other gunleather companies I have bookmarked from the last time I went belt shopping.
AG Custom Gun Leather
Beltman
Bigfoot Gun Belts
Bullhide Belts
Mean Gene Leather
RG Leather belts
 
I have the Concealment Express IWB Kydex Hholster.
Ok, so free advice being worth what you paid for it and all of that. I've never cared for holsters that had belt clips "stacked onto" the gun. Or single clip holsters. I like dual clips on either side of the holster. Those have slimmer profiles than "clip-stacked" holsters and I don't need any more thickness through my middle than I've already got. So far the best two holsters I've found (for me, obviously) are the Desantis Speed Scabbard for OWB leather and the Stealthgear Revolution for IWB hybrid.
 
The Glock 26 is just as fat as the 19. You may want to consider a slimmer pistol like the G43 or 48. I use the S&W shield, which can be found for as low as $300.
 
You can carry the 26 in places you cant carry the 19, so Id say go ahead and get one, I doubt youll be sorry.

I have 17's, 19's, and 26's. I still dont really see the point to the 19's, but a lot of people seem to like them. None of them are hard to conceal/carry. I carry a 17 on a daily basis, year round, and have no difficulty concealing it under a normal sized tee shirt in the summer. I also carry a 26 most days in the summer as well, usually in a Smart Carry.

The 19 is kind of in a limbo spot as far as size goes. Its really not all that much smaller than a 17, but its big enough, that you cant carry it where you can the 26. Ive always found their grip to be a bit cramped too, and the early, and now later Gen guns have a "mag rip" cut out on the front strap, that just makes the grip even more annoying.

The difference size wise between the 17 and the 26 is a difference.

The width of any of them isnt an issue for carrying them, unless maybe youre trying to stuff one into a pocket on a pair of tight pants.

As far as belts go, Ill triple the Wilderness FF belts. They work well and are comfortable. They also dont look as much like a gun belt as a lot of the others of that type, especially if you go with plain old black, and not one of the tacti-cool colors. But, anyone who knows what they are, knows what they are.
 
I still dont really see the point to the 19's, but a lot of people seem to like them.

I live in a ban state. It doesn't matter if I have a 19 or a17 I only get 15 rounds. So I choose the more concealable gun. I also think the 19 fits my hand like a glove.
 
When I first decided to consolidate to one platform I bought a first gen M&P9 and a 9C. I really liked the M&P and in fact I still own it but the 9C just didn't fit my hand well.

After a year or so I sold the 9C and bought a Glock 19. The 19 was small enough for home carry and big enough to shoot well for concealed carry. About a year later I got a chance to shoot a Glock 26 in a class and I was hooked. I bought a 26 that day.

The M&P9 fits my hand well. The Glock 19 does and the 26 does. The 9c does not. I have zero interest in the M&P 2.0
 
I have (an irrelevant) 22, a 26, and a 43.

The 43 is easy to carry OWB with a light cover garment, such as an unbuttoned shirt over a t-shirt.

Since I do IWB instead of OWB, the 26 is a little too thick to be comfortable for me. However, if I am traveling, I like to have an LCP or LCR on me as I drive. When I arrive at my destination, the 26 is nice to have as a "nightstand gun". Of course, under a real coat, concealing the 26 is NBD. I really like that the 26 can take an extra 19 mag (you can get a nice little plastic extension to cover "the gap")

I shoot the 43 surprisingly well, but shoot the 26 just a bit better.

 
Last edited:
I've had a G26 and found it no easier to carry than a G19. FWIW a Sig 365 with 10 or 12 round magazines in it is considerably smaller and easier to carry than a G26. With 10 round mags in it the size is very comparable to the G43. They make 15 round mags for it and it appears that it would be smaller even with those. But I have no personal experience with those mags. At least not yet. I paid $450 for mine
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top