Hmmm, What to do with my G26?

[flip180]

I took a three day/1000 round pistol course this weekend and realized that my G26 wasn't the best pistol for me for CCW/combat shooting/training. I know there is a trade off with size and controllability but three days with the G26 was a bitch. I had blisters on the palm of hand by the end of the second day. That's not including all of the hot spots elsewhere on my palm and fingers. I was fed up by lunch time on Sunday and ended up buying a G19 and a set of the same sights that I have on my G26 to finish the course with. I know it seems like curing a headache by cutting off the head but, it was the best move I made. I stopped having to fight the pistol with a sore hand and inceasing fatigue by shooting the smaller pistol and immediatley improved to the point where my fellow class mates were like "holy ????". I was stagnating with the G26 and not improving and getting passed up by my class mates in speed and accuracy. I was one of three people this weekend to change pistols and, for the better I might ad. The G19 made all of the differance in the world. Now, what to do with the G26? I ordered a Comp-Tac Shirt Tucker Sunday when I got home and am already carrying the G19. It is a little bigger and slightly harder to conceal than the G26 but not too much more. I thought about using it for pocket carry but I really is too big for that and the G19 has the IWB duties filled. I guess I really don't need two CCW weapons. I practice with what I carry and don't believe in having a whole slew of guns for CCW like a woman has shoes. It simplifies things in a stress full situation to have one familiar manual of arms that can be used without having to adjust to something different. I still like this gun but it is like being in love with two women and there is room for just one. It took me taking my 642 and my G26 to the range on the same day to find out what the limitations of the little J-frame were. I loved that gun to but ended up selling it in favor of carrying the G26. Now the little G26 has been nudged out by the G19. I thought about giving it to my wife but, if I can't handle it then neither can she. All this time I thought I could shoot my G26 pretty good but it took a class to see otherwise. I know it sound like I made a decision but, I'd like to hear some input.

Thanks, Flip.

 

[pax]

If it were me, I would put it in the safe for six months to a year.

If after six months I hadn't gone back to it for "sometimes" concealed carry, I'd sell it.

Not every gun works for every person!

Oh, wait -- about this

I thought about giving it to my wife but, if I can't handle it then neither can she.

Her hands are not your hands. She is not you. Just because it doesn't work for you does not mean it won't work for her. Ask her if she wants to try it.

pax

 

[Rockstar]

Stick some Agrip on your G26 and try some G19 mags with an A&G sleeve, the next time you play one of the gun games. You might find the G26 more comfortable.

 

[LWS32]

Send it to me

 

[444]

Personally, I wouldn't base my carry gun decision on that class. That class doesn't reflect the environment you will be using your carry pistol in (I hope: for your sake). You may carry that pistol for a lifetime and never NEED to fire it. You can get plenty of practice without injuring yourself. Firing cases of ammo over a couple days is great training, but you might never do that again. Heck, when I finish a formal training class, I am spent. I give it 110% the whole time I am there. When it is over, I am burnt out mentally and physically. I leave it all on the field. A couple days later, I am ready to do it again (I wish I could that often).

But...........................
"I practice with what I carry and don't believe in having a whole slew of guns for CCW like a woman has shoes. "

I do belive in having a whole slew of guns for CCW and I am currently looking for a Glock 26. If the price is right, I will take it off your hands.

 

[Brick]

Personally, I wouldn't base my carry gun decision on that class.

Well, at least he now knows what works best for him. Personally also for me the rise near the bottom of my G27 is rather annoying.

...then I just grip the 1911 and it's all over

 

[happy old sailor]

i have a little 26 and like it, but, i have never fired 1K consecutive through it. never fired 1K straight through anything. at 100 rds i am bored with whatever it is and switch guns. i cannot envision a gunfight lasting 3 days and requiring a case of ammo. this is a job for my Garand and air support. sometimes when i strap on my 17 with 2 more mags, i think of ppl that rely on a 5 shooter in .38 spec and feel a little silly. just an ego thing with me, i am sure. i have begun carrying my 5 shot ,41 mag snubby more and more frequently. considering going to a SnW 642 as the wife has one with Crimson Trace grips and i really like it. it is her primary so why not me? seems weightless after the 9mm setup and is a good little shooter for the both of us. but, as in everything else, to each his own. i like choices and am unafraid of changes. if it is reliable and i can use it effectively, what else do i need?

i am not saying keep, or lose, the 26. use what works for you. i will say nothing derogatory about anyone's choice.

 

[middy]

I have to agree with happy old sailor. A carry gun is for firing a few defensive shots, not for extended running battles... that's what rifles are for.

The G26 is the only centerfire handgun I own after trying a half-dozen others. I put a few hundred rounds a month through it, concentrating on smooth presentation, fast sight picture, and "good-enough" accuracy.

 

[g1726]

I'm at the point of selling my 26 as well. The only reason is because I found a good used 17 that I modified by cutting the grip off to the size of the 26. I carry IWB, so the extra barrel doesn't matter and I have the concealable grip of the 26. I love the extra sight radius of the 17.

I do have to agree with others that you shouldn't base your carry gun on an intensive shooting class. But have a full size and compact gun that operate the same is a VERY good idea, IMO. You can take classes with the larger, easier to handle gun and all of the training transfers over very easily to your normal carry pistol.

 

[..]

Carry the 26, shoot the 19.

 

[albanian]

"I'm at the point of selling my 26 as well. The only reason is because I found a good used 17 that I modified by cutting the grip off to the size of the 26. I carry IWB, so the extra barrel doesn't matter and I have the concealable grip of the 26. I love the extra sight radius of the 17."

That sounds like a Glock "Covert" type of pistol. The Kahr Covert is a P-9 with the shorter grip of the PM9. A lot of people feel that the P-9 Covert is the best of the Kahrs for CCW. Maybe there is something to this idea?

For me, I would rather have the extra grip and lose some of the sight radius and bbl. For me, controling the gun through the grip is more important than getting a good sight radius.

I have mixed feeling on the oginal post. Why I trust that you have learned what has worked best for you in the course, will you ever need to shoot that much ammo at one time through that gun again? If the gun doesn't work for you because you don't shoot it well, fine. All I am saying is, my CCW gun is a S&W 642 and I am sure that there are other guns that I could shoot faster and more accuratly but that is not the number one priority in a CCW. For me the number one priority is reliabilty and second is being compact enough that I will actually carry it. Capacity, comfort and power come later. You have to know what is most important to you and be prepared to compromise on what is not quite as important.

If you can CCW a G-19 and you will carry it just as often as the G-26, go for it.

 

[flip180]

I've been carrying the G19 everyday since getting back and, I'm getting used to it. It a little bigger/heavier but those are things that one gets accustom to. I'm looking at ways to relagate the G26 as a nitch gun. I mean use it for thing such as running and mountain biking. I can take the clip off of the Shirt-Tucker and use the holster part to keep the trigger covered while I ride with it in my cammel pack. I have a similair thred going on glock talk and between the two threads, I have gotten great responses. I think that I have two great carry guns by having both the G16 abd G19 and, I'm trying to find ways to squeeze them in together with the G19 being the primary. The really good thing about having both if them is the same manual of arms with interchangable mags. Hell, up until buying the G19 to finish the class off with, I was using three G17 magazines in the little G26.

Flip.

 

[larry starling]

Sell your Glock and buy a Colt....

 

[Edmond]

Let the wife shoot it and give it to her if she likes it. If she doesn't want it, stick it in the safe for a few months and go back to it. There could be situations where you want that smaller weapon for whatever reason.

 

[longeyes]

It is accurate, of a good caliber, carries a lot of ammo, and, above all, is dependable. Moreover, the G26 fits comfortably in a small fanny pack. This is one of the best guns available.

That said, I like the G19 too. Nice to have both.