Glock 23 vs Glock 19

The G23 has sharper muzzle flip. Both are great for carry, though I susect you'll enjoy range time more with the G19.

That range time will be cheaper, too. This would be a prime concern for me- if it's a CCW, I would want to practice a lot with that gun.

Get a second 9mm barrel for the 23 then have best of both worlds. Can't do it the other way around though, slide cut is not big enough.

I prefer the glock 19 over the 23 because 9mm is such a practical round. It's so cheap and easy to get. It's also easier to shoot and you'll get +2 in the magazine. I have a glock 26, 19 and 17. They are my most practical handguns.

X-Rap said:

Get a second 9mm barrel for the 23 then have best of both worlds. Can't do it the other way around though, slide cut is not big enough.

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I second that. Both calibers for an additional $100.

Likes of both: Reliability, easy to clean, easy to do end-user maintenance, easy to find parts for, easy to find accessories for.

Dislikes of both: Funky grip angle.

Dislikes of the G23: I don't prefer .40, though I have nothing against it. I know many civilian, police, and military shooters who wouldn't want anything else, and that's perfectly fine too. Go with what you like, not what a bunch of strangers on the internet try to sell you.

Quote:
Originally Posted by X-Rap
Get a second 9mm barrel for the 23 then have best of both worlds. Can't do it the other way around though, slide cut is not big enough.

I second that. Both calibers for an additional $100.

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That is exactly what I did when I bought my 27 and 23. And you can also add .357 Sig to the lineup with the 23, even more versatility. Sometimes people say you should buy the gun in the caliber you want, if you plan on buying barrels for caliber changes then you should just buy the gun in the other caliber, but I don't buy it. Caliber swapping takes a few seconds and they work just fine as a 9mm for range time. Maybe not 100%, but close enough, and certainly not bad enough to ruin your enjoyment of shooting it.

I'd go 23. I did go 23.

I like them both. If you don't mind or can get used to the grip angle, the boxiness of those grips, the twangy trigger, they're light, rugged, great no-frills guns. Very easy to take apart and put back together, with parts readily available from many sources.

Since you prefer not using conversion barrels, I'd go with the G19 because it's going to be a lot cheaper to shoot.

And, as others have pointed out, the .40 is snappier in recoil. Though the recoil may or may not bother you, the extra time required to get sights back on target seems to bother some.

As always, try shooting a sample of each before deciding.

I've got a G23, and decided to go with it for the somewhat greater stopping power of the .40 cal. round. I'll likely buy a 9 mm. barrel at some point and see how I like it. I more typically carrry a G26 because of its greater concealability.

I am sure that there are some instances in which the more powerful .40 cal. round would be better, but I don't truthfully believe that there's a huge difference, if you accurately place your shots. In that regard, the .40 cal. is noticeably more "snappy," and you may find that you are better able to keep the G19, with its lesser recoil, on target.

One other criticism I have heard of the .40 cal. Glocks is that they have an unsupported chamber and are more susceptible to kabooms. There are indeed a few reports of this on the web. I believe it does occasionally happen, though some will attribute it to bad reloads or other exceptional circumstances. I don't think any one can claim to know the frequency of this occurrence--and it is undoubtedly very rare--but it doesn't seem to be an issue with the G19

Factory 32 barrels fit in the 23, the 32 and 23 are exactly the same with the difference that the 32 barrel has a .355" bore, compared to the .400" bore of the .40. Outside diameter is the same, slightly larger than the 19 barrel, so to shoot 9mm you have to get a barrel made for the 23/32. Even if you don't plan on shooting any mm out of it since you prefer to pratice with the same caliber you carry, the .357 should recoil pretty much the same way the .40 does, and sounds like fun to shoot. Also since the cartridge itself is nearly identical to the .40, function will be exactly the same or slightly smoother with the 9mm front end of the .357.

Get tthe 23C.
I did. I also bought a 9MM conversion barrel as well. The 23C is the ported version of the 23 and that helps with the snappy recoil. I just prefer more power in the same size package. I'm also a fan of the .40. (Can you tell?)

I should already know the answer to this, but: it'll take a replacement barrel as well as replacement mags to make the 9mm work in the 40, right?

BTW, while I voted 19, I own & carry the 23 because I'm a .40 man. But I happen to believe the G19 is one of the all time great pistols.

I've owned both -- 2nd gen 23 and a 3rd gen 19. I sold the 23 along w/ my other 40's. i can shoot the 9mm faster and more accurately than the 40.

I just like 9mm much more than the chowderpellet. Glock 19 is just about perfect.

it'll take a replacement barrel as well as replacement mags to make the 9mm work in the 40, right?

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No. The 23 mags usually handle the 9mm just fine. Some people have reported problems and switch to the 19 magazines along with the barrel, but it's a minority of the time.

I had a 23 and appreciated it's virtues. I did not find it to have excessive muzzle flip and it was very accurate and easy to shoot. It was, however, in my opinion, kinda bulky to cc given the .40 cartridge - could certainly be slimmer. But these were designed as duty guns, not civilian carry guns. Since the 9mm 19 is externally the same, I really feel the .40 maximizes the gun's utility as a cc weapon. I eventually switched to a slimmer auto, but the 23 was an excellent firearm.

I've had my own G19 for over 11 years and feel no need to run out and get a 23. I dislike the sharp/"snappy" .40 recoil in lightweight guns.

It really just comes down to 9mm vs. .40. Which do you prefer?

I replied to your other thread

and may have been the first to suggest the 23 over the 19 because of the difference in power. I like the 19 for the same reasons that I like my 23 and my 32. They are very compact and concealable. In my opinion, the difference in recoil between the 9mm and the 40 S&W, is minimal. While I would definitely not feel undergunned carrying a 19, I prefer the added power of the 40. If you need the 2 extra rounds of capcity you probably need to practice more or get something belt fed. I just believe the 40 to be a better round than the 9mm.

Both are excellent but 9mm is cheaper and almost as effective with a high quality load. I vote G19 (and to back up my statement, I have one!).

this is one of those times that you really CAN'T make a wrong choice. it ultimately boils down to what caliber do you prefer. both work, if you do, one should give you faster follow up shots, and more capacity, while the other offers a bit more power. i opted for the Glock 23. i like a bit more power and i find it is not much harder to control than the Glock 19. YMMV.

kind of off topic, but who is a reputable maker of 9mm conversion barrels for the Glock? Bar sto maybe?

Do these conversion rules apply to the G22 to 9mm in the same way, regarding barrels and mags?