My First Firearm: Glock 22

[tsuehpsyde]

Since everything is better with pictures, here she is (click for full-size):



Glock Model 22 .40 S&W

I took this picture the day I bought it after getting home from the range with it, so it wasn't cleaned yet (only put 150 rounds through it that day though).

I've wanted a firearm for as long as I can remember, but I've never had the funds to back such ambitions. My family and friends have always owned various pistols (revolvers and semi autos), shotguns and rifles. But *I* have never owned my own firearm. I knew I wanted a pistol, semi automatic, and I wanted something I could take to the range to shoot, but also be effective for home defense. I also needed something to fit my "man hands" since I don't like small guns. After much research and discussion with friends/family, I decided on this guy. I picked it up brand new at Academy. I could have saved some cash buying used, but I wanted my first gun to be new so I knew how it had been treated, and what had or had not been done with it.

I shot a very similar Glock back home in PA (I moved to TX last year, insert your Texas gun jokes here ) so I knew I liked the Glock's angled grip, which is a deal killer for some. I also liked how simple it was to disassemble and clean, and their known reliability. I also like having no external safeties, because when I aim at something and pull the trigger, I want to shoot. I also live alone, so I don't have to worry about anyone else fiddling with my firearm. I also read up on kB's and asked around, and it's rather clear that it's not the gun's fault and it's almost always the ammunition to blame (I actually registered just to retort to a thread about that, heh). That said, I have been searching a lot since I purchased this gun, and more often than not it's had me coming back here so I figured I'd register to ask questions and share my purchase with everyone here.

The only bad part is, I now see why people complain it's so costly to go shooting (box of 250 UMC .40 S&W here is $60, and from what I see online that's actually cheap, plus range fees are $7 to go shooting). That and I can see myself buying more handguns down the road. I want a Sig at some point, and a 9mm to take to the range for cheaper shooting. Oh lordy, what have I gotten myself into.

All in all though, I love the gun and I don't regret the purchase in the slightest. I feel more safe at home and I have a blast shooting it at the range. Now I just need to learn how to steady my shot a bit, heh.

 

[tydephan]

Welcome to the high road.

The g22 was my first pistol too. It will serve you well.

 

[triguy]

Great choice ! I've carried a Glock for 19 years in my current job. I've gone from the models 17 to the 22 then to the 27 and I'm back to the 22. The model 22 "prints" a bit while wearing a suit but it fits my large ham hock better and throwing a 22 carrier a 27 magazine could cost a life let alone a pissed off look. Put together a "go kit" of a spare trigger spring, extractor and slide stop lever and you will be set. I'm currently tasked with keeping 80+ shooters up and running and those are the most replaced parts my crew deals with daily. Don't hesitate to replace your recoil spring every 4,000 and you will have a gun that will provide years of service. Have fun and watch your six !

 

[Bullet]

Welcome
I’ve got a G22 also. I like mine. I changed the sights to some Meprolights (night sights) and put on the Glock +2 mag extensions. I also have a Glock light with laser (it’s on my G17 but will fit on the G22 also). Now you will have to take up reloading. Since this is your first Glock you might find this link interesting -

http://glockfaq.com/trigger.htm

 

[tsuehpsyde]

Thanks for the trigger advice. I know I'm doing some of that, so I'm trying my best to avoid it (been practicing dry firing).

As far as ammunition goes, is Monarch good/bad? It's the cheapest stuff I can get in .40 S&W here, but I'm not sure how good/bad it is. Chances are I'll stick to the UMC, but the last time I was at the store I only saw 180gr. I thought that was standard until I fired it and noticed it kicked a lot harder than the Monarch (I'm assuming the Monarch is 165gr). I'm hoping they have UMC in 165gr as well since it's a bit more managable and it's a better round. But if not, I may just shoot the Monarch for the lower grain.

I assume the G22 can handle 180gr rounds without much issue?

 

[Bullet]

I load my own so I don’t know about the ammo you listed.

I assume the G22 can handle 180gr rounds without much issue?

That’s all I’ve shot. No problems.

 

[DENALI]

Hey welcome aboard and thats a damn fine pistol. Why don't you treat yourself to Patrick Sweeney's excellent Book of the Glock or Bob Boatman's Living with Glock's and you'll be all up to speed.....................

 

[tsuehpsyde]

Yeah, the Hydra-Shoks (my home defense rounds) like you see above are 180gr, and I put 30 of them through my Glock to make sure it didn't have any problems with them. It fired them without issue, but they actually kicked less than the 180gr FMJ Remington UMC rounds. I'd just shoot the Federal Premium, but I can't really afford that. I'm just sticking to new rounds since I'd rather not void my warranty and I don't have enough firearms to warrant reloading. Maybe if I had my own land to shoot on, but I don't have that either so it's just easier to head to the range and pick up a box of ammo. Just don't want to shoot something that's going to cause any issues.

 

[Constantine-p89]

Congrats, the model 22 is the only Glock I own and it has NEVER jammed or malfunctioned.

 

[CountGlockula]

Welcome aboard!

Looks like you did all the right things in making the right decision on the Glock.

Great choice.

Here are mine: G35 & G23.

 

[tsuehpsyde]

I never understood what was up with the green polymer frames on some of the Glocks. Are those older models or military issue? I prefer the all black look, so I'm not too worried about it, but it does stand out compared to the all black models.

I considered the Glock 23 (it was between the 22 and 23) but it just didn't sit right in my hands. I thought the 22 was going to be too big, but it's actually just right (in my opinion).

 

[tydephan]

The colored frames were manufacturerd as an option. They are actually quite nice looking in person. I thought they were ugly too until I saw one "in the flesh."

 

[GSDFAN]

If you are looking for more affordable ammo options and don't want to reload your own, check Walmart for the Winchester white box. The are FMJ's and come in fifty or one hundred count. Where I'm from they go for about twenty-four dollars per one hundred. Most of the people I shoot with use it for practice ammo. If you use WWB, pick up your brass! If you don't want it, someone will. It makes for good bartering!

 

[tsuehpsyde]

Well I can get Remington UMC 180gr box of 250 for $59.99 at Academy here, and I think (correct me if I'm wrong) UMC is a better cartridge than Winchester white box. Not to say it's bad, if it was cheaper than UMC I'd pick that up instead, but I think it actually costs more than the UMC. And the Whitebox I've seen so far has all been 180gr as well.