Some help regarding my next purchase (G19 vs G17 vs Shield)

dbp said:

How does that safety work way up there on the serrations?

I had a Glock 26 and liked it a lot. Sold it and got the Shield. Much slimmer and more comfortable for me to carry. I like it a lot even with the safety. I practice drawing and swiping off every day. To each his own I guess.

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It 'works' great. Just had it in there to show what I removed.

)

Really my big issue is that I have no reference point as to what would be comfortable for carry.

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Not many do... It's really trial and error ($$) till you find the right combination of gun, holster, and belt.

Godsgunman said:

Quite a difference in the guns you are considering. I'm not a fan of Glocks because of the crappy triggers. If you like them I would say the 19 would work the best for still being concealable and high round count. If you go with a m&p I would actually suggest a m&p compact over the shield. Basically the same dimensions as the shield except the shield is taller and carries 5 less rounds. Height is the main factor in concealability so the compact has more rounds and more concealable. Size wise it falls right in between the G26 and G19. Just my opinion though. See which one fits you the best.

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The Shield is much easier for me to carry. I have a 9c as well, and it is not a large gun, but the Shield is much slimmer. Shield has a better factory trigger as well. The Shield with the extended magazine is larger than the 9C.

Might just be me, but the Shield is much more comfortable to carry, and I don't feel too under gunned with only 16 rounds of 9mm. Sorry for the crappy pictures, was in a hurry. The Shield is on top in the left picture, on the right in the second.

Edit #2, the first picture is a little bit deceptive, I ground part of the 9C magazine so it does not extend below my little finger, but the Shield does have a larger grip length.

tarosean said:

Not many do... It's really trial and error ($$) till you find the right combination of gun, holster, and belt.

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Totally agree. I have tried several before choosing the Shield. What works for me won't work for everyone.

I'm 6'1" and 260 so I know what you mean. I own a G17, 2 G19's and a Shield. If you want a reliable, slim, light carry gun that you will carry instead of leaving it at home or in the car because it is too big get the Shield. A little Dremel work and the Shield trigger will be as good or better than the Glock trigger. The Apex striker block is worth the money and easy to install. I haven't had one hangup with my Shield since the very first round.

Its very rare to get carry right the first time. Everyone is different so what is right with one person is wrong for another.

There are people who will swear that a quarter inch difference in the thickness of a gun makes it impossible to carry. For others its all about the weight. For myself, the length of the grip makes a huge difference. You just don't know until you put the thing on and live with it for awhile.

I carry a Glock 26, I put it on when I get dressed in the morning and take it off when I go to bed and most of the time I never notice its there. I've also always thought a double width magazine to make for a very comfortable grip to shoot with. The slim 9s don't interest me. I could not imagine trying to conceal a G17 and a G19 would be marginal. I normally carry with a +2 magazine but a G26 gives me the option to go smaller with a 10 round magazine. Nice thing about a G26, you can make it bigger but you can't make a full size smaller.

Whatever you get, get a good holster and most important get a good belt. If you don't have a good belt you will have problems no matter what you get, its the foundation of carry.

If it is between a G19 and a Shield, I'd go with the Shield every time. However, I went with the G26 over either of those two.

Between the three the Shield fits my hand the best, with the G19 coming in a close second and the G17 coming in at a somewhat distant third.

The Shield is my most comfortable IWB handgun. In the past, I have owned and carried a Glock 23. I also presently own a MP40c. Neither compare (for me) favorably to the Shield. The Shield, with its extended magazine, shoots much more like a full-sized handgun than the MPc does because the rear of the Shield's grip (with the extended magazine) is long enough for me to get a firm grip on the gun. The MP compacts have a grip that is too short for a handgun of that size and weight. The slimness of the Shield makes concealed MUCH easier than either the Glock or the compact M&Ps.

The Shield's safety doesn't bother me a bit because my alternate IWB carry gun is a 1911.

I have carried a G17, G19, G26, and the Shield. The best all around gun (IMHO) is the G19 as far as capacity, sight radius, etc. In it's size class the G19 is a great gun. I sold all of the Glocks because my right wrist has limited mobility and the Glocks were uncomfotable to shoot. My EDC in the cooler months is a light weight Colt Commander. In the warmer months I carry a Shield. The most comfortable carry gun of the bunch is a Shield.

I read through this and am not sure what your primary and secondary uses are.

I have owned the G26, 19, 17 and the Shield. Carried the 19, 26 and Shield.

If your ONLY use will be carry, then the slim Shield is a good choice, as well as the Glock 26. I had the Shield and was not satisfied with the low number of rounds carried (and could never stuff in the last round in either the standard or extended mags). So, I went back to the G26 and am glad I did. I have found it no less concealable than the Shield...and I am not a big guy.

*I* found that you really need a good holster for either the Shield or the G26. Weight is about the same. SO....if in a good holster...the choice is G26. Better gun, more capacity, longer barrel and sight radius....more accurate (in my hands).

For you, I would recommend the G26. It has greater capacity and incredible flexibility as a arm. It is comfortable and accurate at the range, and the array of accessories for it are amazing.

IF.....you have an equal desire to have this gun serve are your primary HOME defense weapon as well, AND a range gun, and only want ONE gun, then the G19 would be a better choice. It has a rail for a light and can be accurized for bulls eye shooting at the range.

All in all, I would go for the G26. And if you want a HD and range gun, get an additional weapon.

Hope this helps
Best
J

One thing I can't stand is not being able to get a full grip on a pistol so I'll see how that goes tomorrow.

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Then, if that criteria is a deal breaker, don't even waste your time looking at the Shield unless your hands are slightly smaller than my wife's small hands.

My 2 cents here -- We are talking about a concealed carry handgun used for self defense. If the gun is not comfortable for carry you will (I promise) make excuses for not carrying at all times. The problem with that mentality is that we never know when we will or will not need the gun for defense.

As for accuracy, you should be able to put shots where you want them at 3 to 7 yards with whatever gun you carry. We're not talking about having to make a 25 yard shot as that's most probably not a shot that would be looked upon favorably by LEO as a shot made in self defense.

As for round capacity, I read somewhere not long ago that the average SD scenario ends in an average of three shots. Of course there are those that will want more than the 8 rounds I have in my Shield. Well, that's why I carry a spare mag on me. I have 15 rounds total. I will roll the dice that that will be all I will need. To each his own on that.

Bottom line for me was that while I liked my G26 a lot, I didn't carry it at all times because for me it is just too wide to be comfortable.

Good luck in your search.

MikePGS said:

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up buying a 4th Gen Glock 19. I looked at the G26, but it was too small. I knew it wasn't a large gun, but it was even smaller then I expected.

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OK, where is the range report?

And what kind of holster are you going to carry it in?

May I suggest Old Faithful Hosters or Alien Gear Holsters.

If you like leather at a good price, I highly recommend Jason Winnie. Two or so week turn around time, good price, great product.

http://www.jasonwinnie.com/

Quick replies to email from him as well. Kydex is great, but for EDC, I like leather.

Good choice, the G19 screams "general use and carry." You can always get a smaller gun later for deeper concealment. I mostly carry a P226, sometimes a Kahr K9, would like to add a small 380 to make pocket carry an option but it isn't a high priority.

After 5 years of carrying I've learned a few things. Thickness doesn't really bother me. A G17 is in some ways easier than a G26. Its long but most of it is concealed by your pants and the length is an asset because my body pushes the barrel and slide out and that pushes the grip in. However its a big grip. I think my ultimate carry would be a G17 with a chop job done on the grip to G26 size.