Are Glocks really all that?

[Jed Carter]

I really do not like a dealer that down talks another brand, but a Glock pistol is the Best example of a striker fired polymer framed pistol IMO. I have had a G34 for just over 2 years, it is the only polymer framed pistol I have kept. I have tried H&K, S&W and Springfield (owned H&K), cannot see myself buying any of these except an H&K, or another Glock. I have been thinking of getting an HK45. But at $1000, magazines hard to find and $60+ each I will probably pass. As far as value, the Glock is king, cheap, easy to find parts, accessories, magazines. Take Glock, M&P or the XD, they are the most common, I would always take the Glock over the other two. The S&W M&P is a fine pistol, very similar to the Glock. Real friends don't let their friends buy XDs... Just my experience. I would check out another dealer.

 

[shockwave]

In the interest of avoiding a flamewar, I'll reserve my opinions about Glocks. Instead, I'll offer a comment about weapons in general. A good weapon will select you as much as you choose it to be your companion.

Like dating, it may start with a visual appraisal, but there will be some conversation to determine compatibility. With handguns, that starts when you first hold the weapon, feel it in your hand, work the mechanism. For me, anyway, a lot of guns fail at this stage to win me over and no range time is needed.

Conversely, if a gun passes your inspection and appraisal with flying colors, the test drive will be a mere formality.

 

[59Bassman]

It depends. What do you want it to do?

Every gun (every stinkin' one of them) is a compromise. You need to consider accuracy, reliability, cost, size, weight, caliber, capacity, ergonomics, materials, and a pile of other things that all add up to the pistol you see under glass at your local pusher's.

The Glock is a relatively inexpensive, extremely reliable, durable, easily maintainable pistol that will give you a lifetime of service. Parts are readily available. The pistol is everything you'd want a combat handgun to be - high capacity, easy to clean, easy to repair, difficult to break or make malfunction.

But that doesn't mean it's the best for everything. Glocks are accurate for an issued pistol, but there are more accurate pistols available. (OK, before you say it, I know there's at least one person out there who won an F-Class rifle match with a Glock 17. Your pistol is not normal) However, that accuracy comes at a cost. Either the pistol is more accurate but potentially less reliable, or it's significantly more expensive.

In action pistol competition circles (USPSA, IDPA), the Glock is one of the best choices you can make. In Production, you give up nothing to any other handgun. In Limited, you can make it run with the high-dollar S_I guns with minor modification. They're inexpensive, readily available, and easy to run.

Also, Glocks truly are a platform. Get started with a 17, and the world opens up. Change size, change caliber, it's the same basic gun. I don't think any other gun company offers as many different options in size and caliber with the same action as Glock.

So why don't I own one? I had a Gen 3 23. I really, really, really wanted to love the gun. But the truth was, I could never get comfortable enough with it to be accurate. I owned it for about 6 months, and put several thousand rounds through it. I just never got to the point where I could be effective with it.

Also, Glocks can be somewhat problematic for reloaders. I think 9mm is probably fine, but I'm still personally leery of loading .40 for a Glock. Also, the polygonal rifling makes lead bullets a no-no (yes, I know there are folks out there who shoot lead through their Glocks, there are also those who've done so with less positive outcomes).

All in all, the Glock is a fantastic gun at a reasonable price. There are others in that price range that offer different design choices that are probably just as good, but maybe not as well adoped.

If you like them and can shoot them, there's no reason not to own one or a bunch of Glocks.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

And they just plain work. Light, good handling, accurate, consistent, reliable, durable, easy to maintain, cheap mags. What's not to like?

Agreed, although I only like the 9mm models. I dislike the recoil characteristics of the .40 S&W (nothing to do with the guns themselves) and several design oddities in the .45 models. The G19 is, IMO, the most size-efficient (i.e., the most compact that still holds 15 rounds) handguns out there. I've had mine for 12 years now.

 

[yeti]

Very true, you have to be carrying a 1911 for that to happen!

Yuck! I would switch to a Glock if my 1911 caused the waters to part and I had to walk across that mucky bottom. Luckily with the 1911 I can continue to walk across the water.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Some people like Glocks and some don't.
I don't.
I have shot them a good bit and have owned two (for a short time).

A friend gave me a Glock 17. I kept it for several months. I liked nothing about it. I gave it back to my friend.

A few years later the friend gave me a G26. Since I gave back the first gun I really tried to like the G26. I shot it a lot but didn't like it at all.
I figured, what the heck, I'll just use it for a car gun. Trouble was the thing was too unreliable to use as any kind of defense gun (yes, Glocks do malfunction).
I gave the gun back to my friend.


Because the Glock is a no brainier gun I use to recommend them to people that are not, or don't have the time to become and stay very proficient with guns. I don't recommend Glocks any more because these low skilled people had too many malfunctions with the Glocks.

 

[BeerSleeper]

They're good reliable guns, but they're a little overpriced for they are (polymer gun). I don't own one (yet) but I've shot friends' glocks. If I could find a glock that fit my hand like my sigma, or a way to put a glock trigger in a sigma, it would be the perfect gun for me.

 

[brnmuenchow]

I don't own a Glock, but I have shot them many times. They are great guns, but I wouldn't say they are any better than other brands like H&K, or Sig Sauer. I think the Glock "fever" has been overplayed a tad I alway's tell people find the one that is right for you. One of my relatives ran into a situation where they went to the gun store and the clerk kept pushing a Glock on them, tried talking them out of a .45 H&K but eventually went with a Sig Sauer P220 model simply because it fit them.

 

[okc-zee]

I want to like them... I just don't...I've set out to get a G26 at least 3 times that I remember...I pick it up and fondle it for a moment or two, then decide again I can't stand the way it feels in my hand,then I get something else...I really tried though..

 

[Jolly Rogers]

My opinion and for me...no.
Don't fit my hand. Not my idea of attractive in appearance. I shoot them well enough but they are uncomfortable for me to shoot. Not worth the $ at all to me. No ammount of Kool Ade ™ can change my mind on this. The counter worker ( I can't call him a salesman) won't sell the same number of guns as a salesman that listens to his customers.
Joe

 

[Taurus_9mm]

I very much like my G22 and a G21 is on my short list for future purchases.

 

[Strahley]

Yes, they are great handguns and would serve you very well. They may not have the best trigger on the market, but they will pretty much run non-stop every single day, every single time you need it to go bang

That said, I wouldn't buy a gun from someone like that. Unless he was comparing it to an old Jennings or something, he shouldn't be trying to sell you a gun by saying other guns are crappy and will break on you. That's likely far from the truth, and poor salesmanship

 

[tomwalshco]

It depends. What do you want it to do?

Every gun (every stinkin' one of them) is a compromise.

Exactly right, Bass.

Glock is a very good gun and a good value. Thinking about CCW inside your pants, look elsewhere. Kahr, Walther, Kel-Tec more suited for that. G36 is their skinniest gun and it's a 45 - but I've got one and carry it sometimes with winter clothes on.

 

[augustino]

Are Glocks Really All That???


Yes I like Glocks based upon a few things;
They're very easy to work on, modify, revise or trick out if you're into that, without having to be a gunsmith or needing any special tools.

In a SHTF scenario they are reliable. They've always gone boom when I wanted them to do so. Never went boom when I didn't.

Parts are very easy to purchase.

They can take a licking and keep on clicking!

They're reasonably affordable especially if you buy used.

Is the grip kind of weird? Well yes & no. On some models like the G19 it feels like it was MADE for my hand. Then again on other models like the G30 they take some getting used to. I feel the G30 is a fantastic 45ACP in a small package with 10+1 capacity. But for what one gets verses the adjustments one must make, it's more than a good trade off. I'm more than able to fire a G30 without any issues. Remember the human is very adaptable, so adjusting to this is nothing but a "THING" in my opinion.

Are there better pistols out there? Well that's kind of subjective. I like the HK P7. But it's no longer made, it's more than double the price if you can find one new. It only has a 8+1 capacity of either 9MM or 40 cal. But when you get into a double stacked P7 or a 40 cal the ergonomics change a bit and suddenly it feels like a Glock. Not slim any longer. As far as 'smithing on one, forget about it! Let a professional 'smith deal with it in fact send it back to HK.

So if society were to break down I would feel very confident in having a Glock in 45ACP as well as one in 9MM both with extra spring kits just in case. That way I would know I could most likely locate ammo for either and fix either with a screwdriver, pliers and a cheap booklet for some directions. Then in under 30 minutes I could rebuild darn near the entire pistol.

With most other pistols this isn't possible.

So is the Glock line all that? Well they revolutionized firearms, are extremely reliable, have a finished surface second to none in terms of durability and many other manufacturers find it necessary to copy the Glock design in order to compete.
Is Glock all that and a bag of chips as well? Not perfect but darn reliable combat ready pistol to have on hand.

By the way just because you have a Glock or two doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't have a 1911, HK, Sig, Colt, or whatever. The more the merrier as long as the budget can support!

 

[RandomPerson]

Half the posts(at all times) in the Autoloader are Glock posts...does that answer your question?

I don't think his answers anything. Volume does not equal quality.

More people shop at Walmart than Brooks Brothers. Which one makes high quality goods?

More people drive Toyota than Rolls Royce. Which one is higher quality?

How many hotdogs did High Roaders eat last year? How many Filet Mignons?

 

[BADUNAME4]

Recently sold my $2500 semi-custom 1911 and replaced it with a Gen 3 Glock 17. And I really don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Strictly a subjective opinion, but I like it a lot. Plus, the magazine just keeps going.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

And they just plain work. Light, good handling, accurate, consistent, reliable, durable, easy to maintain, cheap mags. What's not to like?

They're ugly. There's no reason to drink cheap liquor or own an ugly gun...

They've always gone boom when I wanted them to do so. Never went boom when I didn't.

Truly unremarkable. My Daisy Red Ryder that I got in 1959 has never failed to go "phhht" when I pull the trigger...and never goes "phhht" when I don't...

 

[sarduy]

Will they be the bottom of the barrel? not unless it's a very, very expensive collection

and yet again, you'll find a G18

 

[sarduy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by wristtwister
After you get over the idea that when you walk up to the lake, the waters will part if you're carrying a Glock, you can get realistic.

Very true, you have to be carrying a 1911 for that to happen!

What your guy was implying that no other pistol would be durable or worth your money is pure hogwash, so don't worry about that. Many (probably most) other brands of pistol are just as durable as Glocks. Find yourself a range that offers gun rentals. Rent a Glock, then rent other types of pistol and decide for yourself. See if you like the feel while shooting, the grip, trigger, accuracy, etc. Does it point naturally? Are you comfortable with Glocks safety system? (an issue for many non-Glockophiles) Decide for yourself. Nothing wrong with liking Glocks, but it is silly to close your eyes to all other brands because there are lots of other nice pistols out there.

only to find that lake closing in once you are in the middle and send that 1911 to the bottom of the lake.

i believe that sig, glock, hk, sw, all are great guns, just differen ergonomics

 

[GLOOB]

Like dating, it may start with a visual appraisal, but there will be some conversation to determine compatibility. With handguns, that starts when you first hold the weapon, feel it in your hand, work the mechanism. For me, anyway, a lot of guns fail at this stage to win me over and no range time is needed.

Conversely, if a gun passes your inspection and appraisal with flying colors, the test drive will be a mere formality.

Huh? No range time needed?

That's the funny thing. I, like many others, thought the Glock was blocky, ugly, slippery, and uncomfortable during my initial appraisal. Those impressions all changed after the first magazine. That first range time showed me there was more than one way to make a good pistol grip, sights, and trigger.

The P228 (just my own example. I like some SIGs, not this one), OTOH, passed my initial inspection with flying colors, but she turned out to be a dud. I tired 3 times to "date" this gun, and she just couldn't dance.

 

[TheProf]

Here's the scoop on Glocks...

1. Fired over 1500 rounds in my G26 without any failures of any kind.

2. My G27....99.5 % success rate (and most likely the error was human error and me not cleaning the mags like I should).

3. So......the hype about reliability is true.

4. They are durable. The phase that comes to mind is "tough as a tank". I suppose that if the Glock was a dog, it would be a junkyard bull-dog. Not necessarily pretty. But
it looks tough and it is tough.

5. I'm not mechanically inclined...but, I may just have the courage one day to actually break it down to its minute parts. (Hey, for those that know my limited mechanical skills, that's saying a lot for the simplicity of the Glock system.)

6. While I clean my gun after every range trip... I like knowing that my gun can function should I miss the opportunity to clean my gun from the previous range trip.

7. I did say it was reliable, right?

8. For some reason though, I prefer to have a "hammer fired" system. I like to see the hammer at rest...and actually see it in my peripheral vision "cock and strike" as I fire the gun. I don't like the idea of a partially tensioned striker. From reading various posts, people keep assuring me that it will never fire unless the trigger is actually pulled. Still...if only Glocks came in a hammer-fired system...

9. I'm tempted of switching to a Sig...maybe P229? But the simplicity and reliability of the Glock keeps calling me back.

10. My M9 is a bit more accurate...but at SD distances, the Glock is accurate enough. And I did mention that its tough and reliable...right?

11. Did I drink the Glock kool-aid? No. Just realist.

12. Are Glocks concealable? My G26 disappears when carried IWB.

13. Are Glocks ugly? Well, I don't think "pretty" the primary trait you want to have in a guard dog...or defensive gun for that matter. Glocks are as pretty as USMC Drill Sgt. I don't think they are pretty like the M9 or a 1911... but there is a "tough" look about them that is hard not to admire.

14. Are Glocks "thick"? Well they are...but it actually prevents my thumb from accidentally pressing the slide release control (which I regularly did when firing the Kahr 9mm). (Sold the Kahr. Got the Glock instead.)

Well...there you have it.

 

[HKGuns]

Here we go again. No they aren't.

 

[davidatcs]

I shoot a Glock 21 and a Glock 23

 

[Brutz]

wow...didn't think this many people would reply so quickly. Well, if I were to buy a glock I would definitely buy from this guy. Like I said he told me repeatedly if he wanted to he could sell me something like H&K or Sig. He didn't all out bash on the guns per say, he just told me their problems. i.e. when I explained I was in the market for an M&P he told me that after 50K+ rounds the slide would crack. (search on net proved this to be true; done by toddg). He also said that there is a part on the xd that is plastic? I checked and couldn't find that piece on mine. Anyway, this guy was very polite and just really loves the kool-aid, and has convinced many a man to buy glocks, including our local pd and the county pd. So thanks for the replies, I have really appreciated the biased and unbiased comments. I have decided that before I buy one or don't buy one I really need to fire it against the other models I'm interested in, and being that it will be a ccw whatever i get im sure i can make work with a great belt and good holster.

 

[CajunBass]

The only thing I don't like about Glocks is the fact that everybody and his cousin has one. I know why they do. They're good, accurate, reliable handguns. Just kinda boring IMHO, so I don't have one.

My wife does, but I don't.