Turning 21 in 3 days, help me choose a glock!

[aliasneo07]

Hey guys, question. Here in Marylandistan, glocks seem to be in short order. I originally wanted a G17. I'm looking for a super reliable 9mm to plink/target shoot/home defender. I will have many more pistols in the future, but I have a 30 day wait in between purchases in MD, so I wanted my 1st pistol to be a 9mm.

Well, G17s are in short order. None of my local shops have one. Well, not true, I found a used one for $615 (No, I'm not kidding.)

But, I found a new G19 for $579.

My question is, how is the recoil compared to the G17? Is the G17 more comfortable to shoot, and is the G17 noticably more accurate? I'm assuming the responses I will get will indicate both are comfortable and accurate, but I want to check. Should I hold out for a G17, or is the 19 just as comfortable and accurate?

Thanks in advance!

 

[psyopspec]

Unless you're particularly recoil sensitive, you won't notice much difference between the two. Same goes for accuracy; you'd have to be unnaturally good over an unnaturally short amount of time in order for the barrel length to make a difference in your shooting.

As for which you should get - completely up to you. I noticed CC wasn't on your list; if it was I would recommend the 19 hands down. Both are still great pistols nonetheless.

 

[Steve H]

I'd pick a XD

 

[rob b]

the g17 or the g19 are both great choices
I liked the g17 over the g19 seems it fit better for me
got it last week
it was used but I am happy with it and it shoots great


rock out with your glock out

 

[Jbabbler]

I'm not a Glock guy. In fact, I sold all of my Glocks. However, your post was about the perfect Glock. In that regard I can only say that the Glock 19 is without a doubt the perfect Glock. Small enough to be concealable, large enough to shoot accurately, more reliable than any pistol ever produced, easy to find parts and accessories, probably the most popular Glock ever made.


That being said.... see if you can find a Steyr S9

 

[REAPER4206969]

Glock 19

 

[Fetus]

glock 19 -- i just bought one about 2 weeks ago -- its great.

 

[Dr_2_B]

I own 6 glocks, none of which is a G19. However, I'm convinced the G19 is the crowning achievement of Gaston et al. It's just one of the finest handguns ever made. IMHO the intersection of the ideal in compactness, capacity, reliability, affordability, accuracy, ergonomics, ruggedness, controllability, light-weight & historical timing.

I'm not saying it is 'perfection' and it's certainly not the right ergos for everyone. But I am not aware of a better compromise of competing needs.

 

[ShadyScott999]

S&w 686

 

[bhp9mm]

get the 19

 

[welldoya]

You won't be disappointed with a G19. It's Glock's biggest seller for a reason.

 

[stormspotter]

I know you said Glock, but if you can also check out a CZ 75 or P01 9mm.

 

[Dan Crocker]

The 19 is great!

 

[tank mechanic]

You cannot go wrong with a Glock 19.

 

[fridayxiii]

For the price...

...you owe it to yourself to check out the Beretta Px4 in 9mm. Before getting mine I rented the G19, Sig P6, and S&W M&P, and prefer the Px4 over all of 'em for the ergo's, rotating barrel (= reduced recoil), Beretta rep, and the fantastic Italian looks.

 

[Hostile Amish]

Glock 19. Low recoil, etc. etc. Good for CCW. Then, if you want something a bit stronger, you could trade-in for a Glock 23 somewhere down the road. Same size, but in .40

 

[badbadtz560]

in my opinion, u should've made a poll.. but I'll vote for g19 b/c it feels like the g17 to me.. but seems more concealable

rumor has it that you could get a g23 w/ a 9mm conversion barrel and have it shoot reliably in .40 and 9mm reliably. I was looking to do that until I lost interest in .40

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Your first handgun and your already reaching for the combat Tupperware? I may only be seven months your senior sunny, but damn! You got to learn to walk before you can run, to dance before you go to the prom, and to love before you enter a long term relationship that ruins your life!

Get a 1911. To prove to yourself you want one, simply ask your local firearms dealer to let you hold one. You'll start to feel strange, a mixture of amazement and desire. By the time they ask for it back, you'll hand over some amount of money just to hold it more.

I myself only held a Sistema for about ten seconds before I was in, for lack of a better word, love with the 1911.

 

[murdoc rose]

well at least ur buying a decent gun for your first pistol personally don't know y your looking at either glock but im just not a fan of such things. Doing some research a while back for a friend of mine(i'd vote in the same exact situation) you just going by popular demand. Between your options Id get a 19 however my advise would be a 22 of some kind, however just go buy whatever looks and feels good to you also maybe go shoot some. again if your dead set on a glock my pick would be a 19 but they really should be just about the same gun as far as that goes

 

[michiganfan]

Carry a 19 every day.

 

[Oro]

I would get a 23, then drop in a 9mm conversion barrel and buy two 9mm mags. Some say their .40 magazines work great for 9mm, so all you need is the barrel ($100). Then you have a carry .40 and a plinking 9mm all in one. I was going to do this, but just decided the glock grip and the bulky slide was a negative enough for me to move away from Glock. I think the Glock has many virtues and is a great design; just the grip was too weird for me. I decided to get a Colt Commander for the rare times I want to cc an auto (usually I cc a revolver if I cc). If it works for you, then great. But I think the 23 .40/9mm convertible is a cool option. It doesn't work both ways - the breachface of the 23 will work with the 9mm, but the breachface on the 19 is too small for the .40 and it's a no-go.

I was very impressed with the function and reliability of the 23 - I tried to get it to bobble a round or misfeed with light-loaded magazines and keith-type LSWC bullets, mix of TC, HP, and LSWC ammo, factory loads and reloads, etc. I have 1911s that do that, but not all do out of the box. It fed and cycled everything in every magazine and was accurate and easy to shoot. As I said, I was impressed with the gun.

You also might want to look at the different "generations" and the grip strap changes. I liked the Gen 2 the best; some people are saying the current gen. is annoying and grating to shoot, but usually in bigger calibers than 9mm so you might look into that if new is an option for you. Also, there is a mag compatibility issue with the current/new gen. The ambi mag release feature apparently means that, I think, old mags won't work in new guns, but new mags will work in earlier generations. Anyway, check into that; I'm not Glock expert but had heard this during my brief Glock ownership last month. I sold my Gen. 2 Glock 23 locally here with four mags in it's original box for $500 - that was the going rate on Gunbroker, et. al. If you don't find what you want locally, buy one there and have someone transfer it in for you. You could also look in the ar15.com classifieds and at Glocktalk - you'll find a couple of used ones in those two places - 19, 23, whatever you want.

 

[sparkyguy66]

It's amazing to me the responses ppl give to such a simple, straight-forward question. Help me choose a glock! Where did he lose some of you? Was it.."Help me choose..." and then you're off on your own tangent? "I'd pick a XD"...
To me, the young man has made a wise choice going for Glock. Reliable, affordable, accurate and holds it's value. I owned a G17, and found it to be incredibly accurate and never had a FTF/FTE. Good luck with your decision and skip over the non-helpfuls.

 

[legion3]

The Glock 19 is the ticket.

Nothing wrong with the G17 but if Glock had made the 19 first...he might not have made the 17 at all

 

[CDW4ME]

Get the 19. Recoil isn't a factor. The 19 is easier to conceal, when you eventually get a CCL.

 

[Davionmaximus]

I would choose the 19. I love mine. But take a look at the XD prior to purchase. Point both guns straight out and look where the barrel ends up. XD grip angle may be better.