Is the Glock 32c a viable carry gun?

[Greywolf]

I was all set to get a Glock 19 (have owned Glock 17s and 26s for years) but recently discovered the Glock 32. I like the ballistics of the .357 sig, but was wondering if the Glock 32 was a viable carry gun. Recoil, muzzle blast, etc.

Would the reduced recoil of the 32c be outweighed by the extra noise and muzzle flash (esp. in night-time situations)?

Would appreciate all input - thanks!

 

[Archangel]

I think the Glock 32 would make an excellent carry gun, provided that you can shoot it well.

I would not recommend the 32c, though. (See this thread for a discussion on the viability of porting on defensive hanguns.)

To me, the advantages of porting are not worth the danger of blinding myself when firing in low light, or the problems caused by hot gasses and flames directed toward your body / face when firing from a retention position.

 

[pcf]

Personal, non scientific opinion, from shooting ported rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Flash from a ported a barrel is no worse than whatever muzzle flash you may have from an unported barrel.

If you use ammo or reloads with "flamethrower" powder, your going to have muzzle flash and affected vision, ported barrel or not. If you use Self defense ammo or reloads with low flash powder (i.e. Vihtavuori) muzzle flash is a non issue, ported barrel or not.

I've held my hand 6 inches above the ports of a G22C firing Speer Lawman, and hot gas hit my hands but it did not rip holes in my flesh, or leave blisters and burns. Would I want it 6 inches from my face? No, but I wouldn't want to fire any handgun that close to my face, because, plenty of hot gases, debris, and shell casings come out of the ejection port already.

I don't carry a ported handgun because 1) my CCW was revoked, and 2) I don't have a ported handgun I want to carry. Porting would not be a determining factor.

 

[Pistol Toter]

I personally don't think that I would want a ported gun especially for CCW. But as for as the .357 sig chambering, there are a number of law enforcement agencies including the Tennessee Highway Patrol that are carrying it and I believe that Virginia and Delaware are also. I have considered purchasing a .357 sig for carry. I would imagine it would make a pretty good SD firearm; and as far as carryability of the GLOCK, I've got a 21 on my side now, under a pull over shirt. You can't see it. But as with concealing most anything else, are you willing to dress / change whatever life style that is required, to do just that - BE CONCEALED? P.T.

 

[Greywolf]

Living in FL, I wear shorts and t-shirts most of the time. But on walks with the dogs and when I need to go CCW, I just put on a button down short-sleeve shirt, leave it untucked, and have no problem with concealability of my Glock 17.

 

[RyanM]

.357 SIG doesn't have much of an advantage over 9mm, even in penetrating hard barriers. Plus the factory loads available are much more limited. You basically get all the disadvantages of the 9 (less wounding effect) with all the disadvantages of the .40 (fewer shots, more recoil).

http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=000581

Same size temporary cavity as .40 cal, with the same expanded diameter as the 9mm. Not much of a compromise.