Thinking of trying the Kool Aide

What should my next carry pistol be?

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speaksoftly

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So here's the deal. I have some spare cash recently and am thinking about buying another pistol. I've scaled my collection down to a Sig P226, P229 SCT, and a Kel Tec PF-9. However, I'm thinking about getting another carry gun and have looked at the Sig P239, M&P .40, Glock 27 and Glock 23. I'm looking for reliability first, comfort second, and capacity third. I'm five foot six and a triathlete-athletic 170lbs. 99% of my weight is in my chest and legs so there's not much waist to work with.

Concerning the Kool Aide, I'm seriously considering seeing what all the Glock fuss is about. I don't think that I'd dislike the line at all (especially the 4 gen ones that are better suited to my smaller hands) but I'm worried about the frame angle. I'm a HUGE Sig fan and they are obviously a much different angle than Glocks. I'm worried that if I get used to shooting one, I'll suck at the other and that's not something I'm willing to deal with. I'd like some feedback from someone who regularly shoots Glocks and other pistols. I'd like to know just how hard it is to transition from one to another.

Thanks for any help.

-Marcos
 
You need to shoot what you are thinking of buying. If I suggested the G23 or what ever it doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what feels good for YOU.

Get a G27.

P.S.

I got a G23 first then I hated it and everything Glock. A friend talked me into trying his G27 - WOW!

You are a triathlete? You can do three different things - You can learn to shoot any bunch of pistols you want. You of all people know it is more about training and practice than anything else.
 
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You are a triathlete? You can do three different things - You can learn to shoot any bunch of pistols you want. You of all people know it is more about training and practice than anything else.
Click to expand...

Agreed. However, now that it's triathlon season it's very hard to find time to shoot. I'm swimming, biking, and running 6 or 7 days a week right now. Also, I'm mainly worried that I'll be missing in a high stress shooting situation. As hard as I train, I know that I'll lose much of that training if put in a situation where I have to unload on someone and don't want to have to add "which angle is this" to the list of things I have to think about before I shoot. And like I said, I'm not sure if this is a valid concern or not but it's the one I'm worried about.
 
Much is made of personal preference in pistols and much of it valid. I would however like to point out that US military personnel must switch branches to switch pistols. Whether a 1911 A1 or an M9, hundreds of thousands of people have been trained with a common one-size-fits-all sidearm.
The better (in my opinion) option would be to choose a carry pistol based on reliability, accuracy, capacity and finally ergonomics. If you already favor the Sig's feel it certainly meets the remaining criteria and would be a great choice.
I cannot speak personally to the Glock's benefits as I have never handled one. (by the way Glock was a curtain rod manufacturer before producing pistols in the mid-80s). Those I know who own them speak highly of them.
I own but do not carry an M&P 40 and it has truly grown on me. I've put about 450 rounds through it in the six weeks I have owned it without incident. 300 of those rounds were reloads with Hornady XTP HP and everything has fed and been spit out. It shoots like a dream with the exception of the heavy stock trigger, easily remedied with an Apex sear. The various grips will fit a large number of hands and Smith offers their Lifetime Service Policy to boot. With the standard size M&P, not Pro or C, you can purchase a drop in conversion barrel for under $150 and shoot 9mm with a new magazine. How practical for carry it would be is for you to determine.
 
I really dont like striker fired anything so any Glock is Ruled out....plus not a big fan of plastic guns....so 2 strikes on Glocks.
Since a do own Sig and drink SIG koolaide.....I would go with that 239
 
I used to own two Glocks. I now own five M&P's. End of story.

Now the rest of the story... I currently own two Sigs.

Of the choices given, I would go for the M&P every day of the week.
 
Get another copy of your primary carry gun. That way, if you have to use your gun in a situation, you'll have a spare.
 
Forget the Kool-Aid--try them all out if possible, and pick the one that you like best. I'm partial to the M&P series myself, but they're all good designs and you'll probably have your own favorite after you've handled and fired them. As for transitioning between Glocks and most other pistols, it's no problem for me because I hold Glocks in a slightly different manner, but for some people they just won't fit. M&Ps will probably fit more people than the others, but undoubtedly some people won't like how these fit them, as no one size (or even three in this case) fits all; for example, while most prefer the more rounded cross-section of the grip, some say that it lacks stability in their hands in comparison to more rectangular grips. Trigger reach for small hands or short fingers is usually not a major issue with M&Ps, especially with the small backstrap/palm swell installed (my mom is 4'11" with normal-sized hands for her height and she can shoot it fine), but it may be for some with Glocks, except for the SF and Gen4 versions.
 
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Tried a Glock 19 yesterday at a local indoor range. Honestly, I didn't really like it. The trigger felt heavy compared to my P95 (when shooting SA) and I didn't really like the grip. It was, however, more accurate and generally "tighter" then the Ruger, but there are other firearms that can do that with better ergonomics.

Bank the money, wait until after the triathlon season, hit up the local ranges and try their rentals then decide. No need to go off and buy the gun *now* just because you've got the cash burning a hole in your pocket. Plus, a little more time will let you save away a bit more money.
 
Don't care for the Glock. Like the XD much better. Like the 1911 better still. Great guns for sure, just not my cup of tea.

The M&P Compact isn't compact, much like my XD SC I like so well, which isn't either.

P239...not a Sig fan either. Looks like I can't help much.
 
If you are a huge SIG fan, as you say, why not continue the SIG line get a model that you don't currently own? I personally think that the SIG is an exceptionally fine operation. Clearly, you do, too. There's no need to drink the Kool-Aid, if you ask me.
 
i voted for the 27 on the basis of the op's criteria

reliability-it's a glock 99.99% of the time it will fire.

comfort- the subcompact is both comfortable to carry and shoot.

capacity- 9rds of .40 (more with 23 or 22 mags or mag extensions on the 27) is plenty.
 
I just really love the way the 27 socks into the palm, and it shoots like it was designed for it.
 
I find it hard to understand why, if someone is a enamored of Sigs, Berettas, or S&W they simply have a favorite firearm brand, but if someone dares to own mostly GLOCKS people act as if they have joined a cult. GLOCKS are appreciated for the same reason people like older S&W revolvers. They are basic, they work, and they are affordable. You don't have to be the follower of the antichrist or something to appreciate a good value.
 
Like a late night infomercial you get twice my opinion for the same low price! One "simple" question and a multitude of answers. Please allow me to muddy the waters a bit more then and offer, with no personal experience, the S&W SD40, due to be introduced at the NRA convention on 5/14. The SD stands for self-defense, it retains a Sigma-like angled grip and resembles the svelt younger sibling of the M&P. Also available in 9mm (SD9), it comes equipped with a rail and front night sight. Full retail is $530 which is more than I paid for my M&P 40 ($719 retail) and it's said to have an improved texturing to minimize slip.
Another post noted that it was better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6 and I fully agree. If, however it comes to that, you might be glad you chose a Smith for name recognition alone. I would bet all twelve jury members have heard of S&W and that 2/3s know the name Glock. Fewer still will have heard of Sig Saur or Springfield. Why the big deal? You don't want them thinking you're a punk with a cheap no-name "gun" (again we're talking about an uneducated public in general) that blew someone away. S&W says to the jury this guy carried a "professional weapon" not "Glock Glock mother f$&@er!" Never underestimate a jury's ability to demonize a law-abiding citizen. If a lawyer has to explain that special forces and government agents carry Sigs you will have lost them already. Just one more consideration with a carry gun and why I don't carry a Kel Tec, Taurus, etc. (Can you imagine the jury hearing about how John Q. Innocent shot his attacker with his "Judge" or worse yet "Raging Bull" ?).
 
Well guys I looked at some Glocks today and have decided against. I was attracted to the line as something new and something sturdy but the angle COMPLETELY turned me off. Every time I held up the gun with my best imitation of "instinct" I would end up with the gun pointing a few degrees higher than I intended to point. I don't know if that makes sense but bottom line is that I don't want to have to think about which pistol I'm shooting if it comes to grabbing one. Sorry to the Glock guys, that's not a problem I'm willing to introduce into the equation. Thinking more and more about the M&P line though the Sigs are nice as well. (scratches head)
 
When choosing a carry gun, #1 is comfort, or you won't carry it. With that said, the P239 is a perfect carry gun. The slim grip is easy to conceal, the angle of the grip hides better than a Glock does. Don't care for rails on a carry gun, either, too blocky in the nose. You posted some fine weapons, with great reliability, so that point is a draw. You also sound like a Sig fan, so carry what your comfortable with, and what your used to;) I had a 239 in 9mm and loved the way it carried, just didn't care for decockers and DA first shot.
 
I learned that I could not be highly skilled with SIG triggers while dabbling with Glocks. A range session with a Glock would degrade my performance with a SIG. As I could not shoot a Glock as well as a SIG, anyway, the Glocks went away.
 
My vote would be for the Springfield Armory XD9sc. I has the same grip angle as the Sigs(I own Sigs and XD's), and has a nice trigger for a striker fired gun. Try one before you buy anything else. 14rds of 9mm in a sub-compact with a great trigger for less than $500. Who could ask for more!
 
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