So I think I want a Glock ?

[magnatecman]

I am getting my CFP in Utah and mainly want to carry when bowhunting the back country,(In Utah you have to have a CFP to have a firearm on you during archery season)

However I may want to carry concealed as well.

I am having a tough time making the choice on size and caliber!

Here are some of my thoughts on this, can someone tell me where I'm going wrong?

The 9mm has more capacity and would be cheaper to shoot and thus get shot more often.

But the .40 S&W has more power and would be better against a hungry (Meow Big) or black bear.

I'm not really considering the .45 due to cost mostly.

Then there is the ? of which size??? I like the 26 or 27 with the pinky extension but (not so much without it).

So if you need the extra length any way, should I just get the 19 or 23 for more capacity / control???

But then also, how hard is it to conceal the 19/23's?

As you can tell I'm trying to make one gun do it all here

Also, can you easily swap between calibers with the Glock? ie. one pistol and use two different calibers by swapping barrels etc.?

 

[Zerodefect]

Get a Glock 23. Or maybe a 19.

They conceal about as well as the 26 or 27. Get a G22 or 17 mag to carry as a reload. I like Crossbreed the best for Glock concealment and Raven Concealment for OWB.

Swapping calibers is a waste of time. Shooting 9mm, then carrying the 23 in .40 is counter productive. The recoil control between the two is too different.

 

[DustyDawg48]

Some will tell you to get the Glock 29...Compact 10mm to lay a whoopin' on whatever comes your way. it's about the right size, just a tad wider than the 9mm/.40 cal sized frames but the right holster can help conceal even the largest autos. With the right shirt I can carry my Glock 21 OWB. The Glock 19/23 do offer the best compromise of capacity, size and concealability. The 9mm with the right defensive ammo can be incredibly devastating...the right answer is: Get a 19 for every day carry and a Glock 20 or 29 for those backwoods hiking trips!

 

[BP Hunter]

Get a Glock 19. It's smal enough to conceal and large enough for better grip and control. With the right IWB holster, you can hide it under a regular T shirt. I have a Kholster that fits me perfectly.

 

[Smaug]

Another vote for the 19.

It is big enough to shoot comfortably and accurately at the range. (four fingers on the grip) Not huge or heavy to carry concealed. Affordable ammo. With good hollow points, it will have enough oomph to get 'er done.

For bear protection (not that I think you'll need it) get some +P ammo, in a hard cast, flat point load. I think Buffalo Bore makes something like this.

 

[Smaug]

Additionally, the 9 mm might not stop or kill the bear right away, but at least he will bleed out and die after he's made a meal of you.

 

[NG VI]

As far as the 19/23 vs 26/27 goes, the 19/23 isn't really hard to conceal. It's a very nicely sized gun.

However it can't compare to the 26/27 as long as you are using a good thin holster for the little guns. Personally I fooled around with the +2 basepads on my 27 so I could get an extra finger on the grip, and you know what? It didn't help control, and I shot worse. Also they don't carry as well that way. Personally I'd say 27 for the win, it's a phenomenal pistol. Kind of hard recoiling at first, but that's alright. You get used to it quick.

 

[TreeDoc]

glock 22C, bear protection? probably better than some calibers but not by much. Get the meanest loads you can find and practice often.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I carry a 19 and it suits me fine...even on those hot, humid,southern afternoons in shorts and t-shirts. I don't feel that 9mm is that underpowered compared to a .40. Shot placement is far more important, an if I'm making good hits, I could care less if it is 9mm, .40 or 45. All the tests show big differences in tiny numbers. Carry what you are comfortable with and practice often.

As far as bear goes...you're under-gunned with a .40 or a 9mm.

I carry in a holster that is similar to crossbreed's IWB holster.

I recently switched to an OWB holster that is similar to Raven Concealment's Phantom. The jury is still out on OWB for me. So far it works great in jeans and a cover shirt (no, not a baggy or long one, either).

 

[magnatecman]

I realize that both the 9mm and the 40 are not the best bear medicine, but I'm not going lookin for trouble with bears, it's just that if it comes to it I want to feed a bear some lead before he tastes me!

Has anyone done the coversion with the glock, and how does it work?

 

[ForumSurfer]

it's just that if it comes to it I want to feed a bear some lead before he tastes me!

Well if you're going against a bear that is attacking you and all you have is 9mm or.40, I think your best bet is to eat unhealthy foods and hope you give him ingestion.

 

[magnatecman]

Well, currently the only thing I own is a Ruger .22 so anything else would be an upgrade to that.

 

[harrygunner]

Get a Glock 29. Small enough for concealed carry in urban or rural settings. You can get a .40 S&W barrel (and/or .357 Sig) for it if you feel the need. I don't. I just change the the kind of 10mm ammo.

I load 200 and 215gr WFNGC from Double Tap when I'm in the wild.

 

[G19G36]

Agree with folks suggesting the G19. Go try to rent one. Probably best all-around, decent capacity, decent to conceal.

You can shoot this Glock all day without fatigue, and better yet, clean it once a year. LOL

 

[Jeb21]

Glock 19 bullet placement is the key and with the low ammo cost you can afford to practice more. If you go with a 40 then get the 23 it is a great gun as well.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I had a 23. I sold it and got a 19. the cost of ammo is like night and day.

Also, 9mm ball penetrates just fine, if that's a concern.

 

[SammyJankis]

I just bought a Glock 23 Gen 4 and like it a lot so far but I've got to say, Ive shot the 27 a good bit and it is a great gun especially if youre looking to carry it a good bit. its small and still packs a good punch and like all glocks its crazy durable/reliable. also, there is a little clip like on the side of a writing pen that can be attached to the slide of any glock so you can clip it to your pants/belt/whatever without having to carry a holster. cant remember who makes them but they're not hard to find. you really cant go wrong with a glock

 

[michiganfan]

23 or 19 are very easy to conceal.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Get a G26 and a can of bear spray. A pistol is a compromise and you are trying to stretch that compromise too far. You can't make a carry gun into a Redhawk, there are reasons they are that big. 10mm would not be an awful choice for black bear but its not the best either and its really not that great as a carry gun. If I had a Redhawk in my hand and a can of bear spray I'd use the spray first and disrupt his stalking tendency once you start shooting its kill or be killed and its a freaken bear.

 

[GLOOB]

I have carried my G19 exactly once. The grip angle and hump make the gun much longer than a G26, muzzle-to-hump. It's more difficult and/or uncomfortable to conceal under light clothing for me. Think of the bobbed-grip 1911s. Increase the grip angle and add Glock-hump. That is the first part that will print (and possibly poke you in the ribs, if you carry appendix with a forward rake). To anyone that tells you a G19 is just as easy to conceal as a G26, ask them if they conceal carry their G26 with a 15-round mag, since it's the same.

As for caliber, you should probably shoot it before buying. I've introduced my Glocks to a few people at the range, and most are shocked at the recoil of the G27. One fellow was considering buying a Glock 40, but I could tell by the look on his face that he had changed his mind after the first shot.

Changing caliber takes all of 20 seconds. All you have to do is swap the barrel.

 

[miles1]

My vote would be the 19 with +P rounds although none of the glocks unless chambered for 50 cal are gonna do more i think then piss the bear off.

 

[iblong]

I have the 19 and the 27 My 19 is a great little pistol but my 27 gets the nod for carry, accurate much easier to conceal with out the extentions
which I find no real advantage shooting wise personally.
If you feel you need the extentions get the 19.
I can conceal my gov.1911 as easy as the 19.

 

[jrenscore]

I believe I'd talk with folks who've had experience with black bears...44 mag or hot 45 LC out of a DA revolver, imho.

 

[Armedleprechaun]

I'd go with the Glock 19. I have one with Trijicon night sights, and love it! It's cheap to shoot, and is a great size for both CCW and range use. +1 on JohnBlitz's post. I hope this helps.

Armedleprechaun

 

[ET]

I carry a Glock 27 because I like the power if affords and the size since I cc almost exclusively. I'm with you as to the feel without the mag extension. I prefer to shoot it with the extension, but when I CC I keep a standard mag in it for stealth reasons. When carrying it around the house or OCing I use the extended mags. I also use a 357sig barrel in it when I want better penetration. Plus I use a 40-9 conversion barrel while shooting at the range for the cost savings of the 9mm ammo. The platform seems to fit my needs very well.