Help me pick - Glock 19 vs 23

Trust me, I am not trying to start another caliber war. I am picking up a new glock on saturday, and can't decide whether to go with the M19 or M23, both new Gen 4. What would you do in my shoes?

Here is some background on me.
I currently own the following:
17 - Gen 4
26 - Gen 4
20 - Gen 3

I have shot the G23 and G22, but not in Gen 4. I actually owned a G23 Gen 3and sold it because I needed some cash.

The primary use of the new gun? Daily concealed carry. Don't get me wrong, I love the G26. But I want something bigger for carry with a little more capacity (I do carry a spare G17 mag).

Obviously, the G19 has some benefits. I can share mags with the 17, I have tons of ammo, the recoil feels much less, and ammo is cheaper. Lots of demand for the G19 if I ever want to sell it. I use speer gold dot 124 +p, so it's an adequate round.

While I always hear you can get more practice with the 9mm because it's cheaper, I don't think that's totally accurate if you have other guns to plink with. Reason is, people typically practice with the cheap 115 gr stuff, which is probably not what they actually carry. I haven't found a cheap 124 +p round to practice with. On the other hand, with my speer gold dot 180gr for the 40, I can get some wally world 180 gr stuff and will give me a closer "feel" of what I would carry in the 40.

But, the G23 is making this decision hard for me. It's only got two less rounds, the 40 is more powerful (my favorite comment from someone else is that you always hear that the 9mm is almost or just as good as the 40, but you never hear it the way around), and heck, while the recoil is worse, I can handle it. I am a big guy. Although of course, follow up shots will be slightly slower. And I do believe it is a good compromise between the 9mm and 45 (which I also owned), as it is more power than the 9 while still being high capacity in a smaller package.

At the end of the day, I will eventually probably have both in gen 4. But this Saturday, I have to pick one for now.

So in my shoes, what would your pick be between the two? And no, I am not considering any other ones at this time. And no, I would not carry the 17.

by the way, it's been great reading everyone's feedback over the years. While I have only just registered, this is my favorite place to read everyone else's opinion. hopefully will get some good feedback for my purchase this saturday.

in case you can't tell, i am leaning towards the m19. but the extra kick from the 23 (and from my m20, you can probably tell I do have a thing for more power) and the fact that most LEO use it (i know, some bureacracy and politics in the decision) is getting to me. But a G23 is harder to sell than a g19. While I am fine with the recoil, most prefer the 9mm.

I agree with you TAK, I am a big fan of the 9MM.

I keep telling myself I need a 40 though. But in no ways do I believe a 9mm is underpowered (at least compared to other handgun calibers).

However, I do believe that the 40 is more powerful, just as I believe the 45 is even more powerful than the 40.

good point Thanatos.

Yes, both would be Gen 4s. Both come with 3 magazines, so if I got the G23, I would have to pick up one extra magazine (I like to have at least 4 to cycle them).

Mods - sorry, I probably posted this in the wrong forum. Please feel free to move as appropriate - I am guessing "General Gun Discussion"?

Thanks for the suggestion Doc. Will go to a gun show to check out the NATO ammo. They are pretty much every weekend here in Dallas!

still cant decide on the glock 19 or 23. I have the feeling that whichever I pick, I will buy the other one when I can afford it.

The other thing I have been thinking about is selling the G17 gen 4, then picking up both a 19 and 23.

Bodam, you could probably get much more for it on Texas Gun Trader than you could from me

I pay $460 all in for my new gen 4s, and I bet you could get at least $500 for yours on the site.

king, now you got me leaning to a 23. Although - I hope I am never in a situation where I feel a need to draw my weapon outside of the range or a course, but if I did, I imagine I would need more than 1 shot to stop the threat.

i actually did carry the 20 for a while. i did it in a backpack every now and then. Ive learned the 26 is much easier

the neverending "debate"!

I am now leaning towards the 23. They have the 19 on hold for me, but the 23 is not in stock so would have to wait a few weeks.

Reasons for 23 - I already have the 26 if I want to carry a 9mm (and also a 17). If I get the 19, I am stuck with the 9mm for carry (which is very good, but limits my options). I don't have any other easily concealable calibers for carry.

On the other hand, if I get the 23, I can have my choice of what to carry. If after hundreds of rounds, I really feel I am better with a 9mm, then I will stick with my 26 until I can afford the 19 (and possibly sell the 23). If I get pretty comfortable with the 40 (which I suspect I will, I plan to put several hundred rounds through it after I get it), then I will start carrying the 40.

I think the differences between the two calibers are minimal, but still exist.