Glock 36, yea or nay

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I like Glocks I own 4, including a Gen4 21, which I would highly recommend if you wanted a full size .45ACP service pistol.

The G36 wasn’t for me when I tried one a few times at the range. An HK45 Compact would work better for me since I already have an HK45.

The G36 is one that I’d encourage you to range test a few times before committing to buying one.
 
It's OK. Not smaller and lighter, enough, than a 30 or 30S to justify the loss of ammo. Small size and light weight make it slower on follwoups (for me) than something like a 1911 commander or CCO. Shield 45 seems to do the size and recoil better (for me).

Also, depending on your hand size/fit the odd hybrid grip can pinch the crap out of your pinky under recoil, might be an issue might not. Annoyed me.

Pass from me, though the one I had was accurate and reliable.

Small .45 Glock for me would be a Gen 4 30.
 
I have a 36, I purchased it as my truck gun. It is small, it is powerful and it works. Even through there are now some really good 9mm ammo for self defense I wouldn't trade my 36 for one of the same size higher capacity 9's. Bottom line is that I like .45acp and my 36 works.
Lafitte
 
The 36 is what I went shopping for. The 30 came home. And although it eventually broke I bet the 36 would have broken first. Id take an XDs over a 36 at this point but there's nothing like a 30.
 
Good point. I had to swap out the Glock mag extensions for a set of the Pearce versions to get rid of that annoyance.

Even the Pearce didn't really help for my 30S, at least the 10 round. The 9 round with a Pearce +0 was the best, but those fit so tight I usually only loaded 8 in the mag (tired of denting the everliving bleep out if my case rims every time I inserted a mag)

Then I realized I'd just rather have a 1911.
 
Even the Pearce didn't really help for my 30S, at least the 10 round. The 9 round with a Pearce +0 was the best, but those fit so tight I usually only loaded 8 in the mag (tired of denting the everliving bleep out if my case rims every time I inserted a mag)

Then I realized I'd just rather have a 1911.

The Pearce +0 on the 36 work great. Kinda wish I would have tried a +1 when they still made them, but they were a known reliability problem.
 
I also have to admit, had they made the G36 with a normal, full-sized grip, I probably would have bought one 10 years ago.
 
I also have to admit, had they made the G36 with a normal, full-sized grip, I probably would have bought one 10 years ago.

Funny thing about that.

That was the feature that initially steered me away from the G36.

Then a range buddy got one.

Shot it quite a bit and liked it a lot, so I got a couple.

Being a 6+1, mag changes are the order of the day, and tactical reloads being preferred.



And that's were the "knob" at the end comes in handy.

It makes tactical reloading a snap, because the oversized base makes a nice anchor to keep the mag secure in the hand, forked b/t the fingers, while you're jugglin'em.

Important, and good peace of mind.




GR
 
if they would have finished the grip and allowed the magazine to hold 7 rounds I would have kept mine.

I also have to admit, had they made the G36 with a normal, full-sized grip, I probably would have bought one 10 years ago.

I agree with that completely. It also would've saved me the money of buying 4 of the Pearce extensions. I don't know why Glock made that decision with the 36. It's as if they thought of making 5 round magazines, but that makes little sense with this gun that has a 3.8" barrel.

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It’s too bad that the .45 GAP isn’t more than just a niche caliber. A Glock 38 with Speer Gold Dots is a sweet shooting gun, my bud back in PA carries one. The G38 has the form factor of a Glock 19 so there are holsters available everywhere from everybody. And since the caliber was originally developed by Speer, they are still supporting it with factory ammo, but it’s gotten harder to find. But you can load it all day long if you have the brass.
 
Good question. Knowing that could be the difference between a go or no go trade. :scrutiny:

Sorry, been gone for a couple days. I actually did go through with the trade. I traded a Beretta Nano which I paid 199 for. The guy wanted a more pocketable gun. 6+1 in 45 is better than 6+1 in 9 in my opinion. I have another 9 for pocket carry so having 2 was redundant in my mind. Hopefully I'll get to the range this weekend some time. The 36 does feel good in my hands and points naturally.
 
Try the G36. If you have longer fingers you may prefer it to the Shield.
 
Sorry, been gone for a couple days. I actually did go through with the trade. I traded a Beretta Nano which I paid 199 for. The guy wanted a more pocketable gun. 6+1 in 45 is better than 6+1 in 9 in my opinion. I have another 9 for pocket carry so having 2 was redundant in my mind. Hopefully I'll get to the range this weekend some time. The 36 does feel good in my hands and points naturally.

Congrats on the trade. Looking forward to hearing what you think about it after you've fired a few magazines through it. :)
 
Buckeye63 said:
When I got a 30S ,, my 45 conceal carry needs were met

Kind of the way I feel about the .45 Shield.
Usually nothing wrong with the pistol, just the wrong operator.
 
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OP- congrats. Give us a range update when you shoot it?
I've thought hard about a g36 but it's low on the list. G36 should be a great carry gun, hope it treats you well.



It's as if they thought of making 5 round magazines,
I've always thought that too. I use 9 rd mags in my 30 with no baseplate modification just to get the shortest grip possible - it is pretty short but works fine for me.
 
I have owned 7 or more Glocks in my life and the 36 was one that I had for a short time and sold. I didnt have too many hard feelings about getting rid of it, it was the only Glock I ever owned that jammed, once or twice. I remember having buyers remorse because I had a 26, 20,17, 21, 19 and the 36 and I couldnt figure out why I thought I'd carry it or need it. Impulse buy. Not for me.
 
"“Reliability is suspect” Sounds like you have a story. I know mine was totally reliable with factory ammo, and once I figured out how to reload for it. It didn’t like my 1911 reloads."

Just bad luck. I couldn't get the gun to work right at the time. I did hate the recoil pattern while shooting, but that's a personal preference.
 
The 36 is what I went shopping for. The 30 came home. And although it eventually broke I bet the 36 would have broken first. Id take an XDs over a 36 at this point but there's nothing like a 30.

How did your G30 break ?
 
They are just not the Glock that most people want a Glock for - fat/blocky/high capacity.
Exactly! I got mine before there was a G30sf. Maybe if I could have range tested both side by side I may never have chosen the 36 but the 36 fits me just right.With it laying flat on the shooters bench at the range I can grab it one handed, raise, aim and fire quickly(for me) and amaze myself with accuracy(for me) at 10 yards and I really haven't shot it that much.
 
I had one, traded it away to my buddy, he loves Glocks. He never carries it and rarely shoots it. Low capacity, high recoil.
 
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