What's wrong with Glocks?

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Like you said, they're ugly.


If they were the best damn pistol out there, I would be willing to ignore their horrible aesthetics and get one just for function. But I think pistol design and construction has gotten to the point where they are all about the same in terms of quality. Sig, Glock, Walther, XD, HK, etc are all on par in terms of quality. So it really comes down to personal taste.

I went with the Walther P99 because it's ergonomics and looks appeal to me. If someone else fins a Glock more comfortable or better looking, good for them. But they aren't getting a better designed or more durable weapon than my Walther.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

The first time I fired a Glock it was a 23. It was the most accurate placement I ever had for a "first". The irony of it is I didn't like how it felt and bucked in my small hands so I bought an XD40 and a Kimber 1911 .45. I like them both and of those two I am more accurate with the 1911. I guess I just feel better with the beavertail. Irrational?

 

[ROMAK IV]

Nothing! I just don't care for them or most double action automatics in general. I prefer single action autos, and the grip angleis a bit too much for me as well. Whenever I really slam them, it's all in jest.

 

[mballai]

What's wrong with the Glock?

Nothing that cannot be solved unless you have really small hands. Basically decent sights, a trigger job and preferably some body work and the gun is good to go.

Most guns need new sights and trigger work and maybe a grip change. So the Glock is different than other guns because? Perhaps because you can do most of the work on a Glock yourself if you are motivated.

 

[orionengnr]

Mostly the overbearing attitude of their proponents.

I get pretty sick of some people staunchly defending the position that Glocks are the be-all, end-all. I've owned a couple, they are functional, but nothing special.

There is no one perfect pistol. We all have our opinions. Some of us refrain from trying to enforce our opinion on the rest of the world.

 

[Kentak]

No re-strike capability? That's a real disadvantage. In 25 years of handgun shooting I've never needed to re-strike a round.

I like the Glocks I have. Would I claim they are perfect or insist that everyone must like them? Of course not. But, I haven't shot every other gun on the market, either. Nor do I want to. I don't want a SA. I don't want a traditional DA. I don't like some DAO's. I never had a problem with the grip angle or fit. I like the trigger. Go figure, I shoot well with them. Others may have an opposite experience. Use what works for you.

I've heard some good things about the M&P. I'll try one sometime. Maybe I'll like it better than Glock. I'm not married to the darn things.

All in all, they are a very competent weapon and work for me.

K

 

[S&Wfan]

If one shoots a lot, like a lot of us serious handgunners in the crowd here, guns tend to be really cheap . . . vs. the cost of all the ammo that you put through the specific gun.

That's why many of us reload! It keeps the cost of "feeding" the monster quite low . . . and you soon have saved enough to buy another handgun!

Herein, to me, lies the Glock's fatal flaw.

1. The rifling in the stock barrels disallows the use of the cheap, lead bullets . . . thus driving the costs involved in reloading waaaay up . . . especially if you cast your own lead bullets for all your other guns.

2. The unsupported chamber is sheer hell on the brass . . . and you surely don't want to reload that brass many times. New brass is the most expensive component in reloading. I've seen several Glocks blow up at matches, and I always suspect a blown-apart cartridge that was reloaded several times was the culprit.

Unless you are a cop with unlimited access to free factory ammo, or a novice who will never shoot much, the Glock can become more expensive vs. competitive guns without the Glock-type barrel rifling and the unsupported chamber.

Those two problems are the real "deal-breakers" to me.

T.

 

[Onmilo]

S&WFan, that barrel issue is why manufacturers such as Bar-Sto produce barrels with supported chambers and conventional rifling.

I know this is aftermarket and an added expense, but there is no reason why one cannot reload lead bullet ammo and still shoot a Glock.

What is wrong with Glock?

The guns are so well made and designed that they make it extremely hard for other manufacturers to sell their products in the quantities they would like.

But then again, I plan on keeping my Model 629 .44 Magnum for deer hunting, my .45 Colt SAA revolvers for Cowboy shooting, and my .22 rimfire pistols for small game hunting and target shooting/plinking.
Glock doesn't dominate all arenas and that is a good thing.

 

[10-Ring]

IMO, Glock makes a nice firearm -- light, accurate, durable & very reliable...what's not to like?

 

[mballai]

Just a note on the barrel. You can buy a replacement barrel that drops in for about one Benjamin. I did that on two Glocks and sold the factory barrels. Net cost was maybe $50 for two guns. The actual cost inside of six months of shooting lead is zero.

FWIW, the Beretta 92 has a twist that will lead a factory barrel in short order--they don't recommend lead either. And there is also the HK with their unique barrel.

 

[milo z]

Not generally interested in them, but there aren't really a lot of competitors to the G26 (in terms of cost and reliability - Springer EMPs are hard to find and 'spensive, the regular Walther PPS hasn't hit the ground yet). And if I get a 26 then I'll need something larger and more accurate to help master the Glock trigger... G17 or G19?

 

[iiibdsiil]

The drift that I have gotten is that it's more like an inside joke on the forum. There's people that like Glocks, then there are those of us that won't stoop that low...

It's like the Ford vs Chevy thing. My Chevy starts every time, your Glock fires every time. Yada yada yada.

 

[Monkeybear]

I didn't like Glocks for a while either.

I had a friend that took me to the range for the very first time. Showed me his G26, told me he cleans it once a year "because its a Glock!" and laughed. About two minutes later he is looking at it funny because of a FTF. He let another guy use it and it jammed on him too. Maybe that marine straight from Iraq was limp-wristing? Who knows; it didn't jam on me but I hated shooting that damn thing.

Every time I go into a gunstore I either hear all the reasons I should get a Glock, unless its a 1911. I go to work and I hear "Glock is the perfect pistol". No matter what I say everyone wants me to get a Glock.

Basically you either own four Glocks of the exact same model and think that they are they are God's gift to handgunners or you think they are Ok and are annoyed with the former.

True story-

"Do you carry holsters for a HKp200sk?"
"Why don't you get a Glock?".
"Well I don't really need one right now but I just bought this HK I need a holster for"
"You should have gotten a Glock, they are great pistols"
"I just noticed you had a some holsters on the wall back there and I was wondering if you had anything for HK but if you don't thats cool, have a good day"
"Why did you get HK?"
"I just liked it"
"Nothing wrong with Glocks, I got one. Works great."
"Thanks, have a nice day."
"You know the beauty of a Glock is..."

Happened again at the same store with the same guy when I was looking at AKs.

As to the trigger: Spend time shooting DA revolvers and it feels wayyyy too short and light. Spend time shooting 1911s and its wayyyy long and spongy.

Grip angle is fine for some people and horrible for others.

Finger grooves are horrible and I can't understand anyone wouuld make them. They only have the potential for discomfort. Even the case has finger grooves. Good thing I have average sized hands because they fit me fine.

Sights are supposed to be junk that will fall off after the first couple of boxes though it, I guess I will find out.

Anyway its not a perfect gun by any measure, if there were such a thing I would only own one handgun, but I own a G19 and boy howdy I like it.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Glocks are the standard. They are the top dog, the most popular. Therefore they draw the most criticism.

I love Glocks, my favorite brand of pistol.

 

[Sylvan-Forge]

Of the stock G19

Love:
The simplicity.
The weight and size.
The low profile slide.
The parts availability and options.
The ease of carving on the frame.
The fair to good quality of manufacture.
The reliability - sofarsogood.

Hate:
The trigger!
The overly fat "one-size-fits-all" grip and contending with "GlockFinger".
The grumpy magazines. Getting 15 in there takes a little more work than it should. I have not tried taking down a mag yet, so no opinion yet.


The first 2 hates can be fixed with relative ease.
All in all, I like what the G19 CAN be.

 

[dscottw88]

The U.S. gets bashed all the time for being the best.

 

[TNT.45]

All my Glocks go bang when I pull the trigger and make holes where I aim them. So theres nothing wrong with them to me.

 

[Kevin108]

I have two Glocks. I have several other pistols including a 1911. The Tupperware has never given me any problems. I can't say as much for the others.

Glock's factory 5 lb weird trigger can be remedied in just a couple minutes. In each of mine I installed a factory 3½ lb connector and a Glockmeister spring. They have a light, consistent pull. I have friends that hate Glocks that love to shoot mine.

I don't think there's anything wrong with Glocks.

 

[lanternlad1]

When it came time to choose, I chose a CZ PO-1 over a Glock 17. The ergos were better for me. But it was tough. The Glock is the AK-47 of the pistol world. Not perfect, but damn close. They have been torture tested and are as reliable as an autoloader can be. In fact, you could get a Glock 26 for carry and pop a 33 round mag in it when you get home and have darn good HD weapon. If you can only have one weapon, they are hard to beat.

 

[stevemis]

From a general perspective, nothing but their fans. It's a firearm, not a miracle, and the abilities of said firearm get overstated... by a lot... frequently.. and usually loudy... accompanied by a healthy dose of crass ignorance.... and a willingness to demonstrate such. It's a good gun with plenty of nice folks who shoot it. However, if i don't know you, and you want to talk about your glock, the fanbase has pretty much trained me to think you an idiot until you prove otherwise.

Agreed! It seems every time I run across a TactiSchmuck, he's either got a Glock or is about to get one. Most recently, last night, my wife comes home from work and asked me what the Glock 40 was. I told her Glock doesn't make a model 40, although they have several models that shoot 40 caliber.

She tells me this story about a co-worker of hers who stated he was going to the range to shoot his "Glock 40". She told him most of our pistols were 1911's and CZ's, and he didn't know what she was talking about. She said the CZ's are from the Czech Republic, and he was really blown away that it was imported. Aren't Glocks made in Austria? They then started talking about the price of ammo, and my wife said that we just picked up a conversion kit that would let us shoot 22 out of our 9mm CZ's. She made it pretty clear the guy didn't understand anything she was talking about.

He did, however, know what an AK-47 was... but he doesn't even know what model Glock he owns or where it was made. The scary part is both the model and location of manufacture are clearly marked on the gun. It's also in the owner's manual, along with the safety rules, which he probably never read.

I know Glocks are decent pistols, don't get me wrong. Unless something drastically changes with the ergos, I'll never own one. The grip angle is a deal breaker, and I am not interested in pistols without a tangible hammer or visibly effective safety. I'm not going to run out and buy a Glock (or a Desert Eagle) just because I saw one in a movie.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

It's all taste, perception, and personal opinion. They're a fine bang for the buck design. I'm not a fan because:

Taste:
- I am more comfortable with C&L than double action.
- The asthetics and ergonomics don't appeal to me.

Perception:
- It's hard for me to accept plastic over machined steel as being better.
- They're thick, and don't even try to make the grip area ergonomic, as say a CZ or a BHP doublestack.

Personal Opinion:
- I've been spoiled by the short, light, crisp 1911 trigger.
- Double action triggers just don't feel as good to me

 

[Vic303]

Glocks are decent pistols. DH owns a couple. I do not care to shoot them, though I DO shoot 1911's in 45. For me, the grip angle & size are deal breakers. They are uncomfortable. The only pistol that has felt worse to me is the S&W M&P line.

For me, I prefer something either directly linked to JMB, or a derivative of his designs, like the XD.

 

[S&Wfan]

Actually, I bought a Glock this year, a fine shootin' M23 in .40 Short & Wimpy.

I've always shot Glocks well and this one was no different.

Thinking though about where I'd rank this piece of Tupperware in my preferences of a gun to pick up to defend my family, I quickly realized that it would fall far below my many S&W revolvers and my 1911s.

Why? The Glock's grip was far below that of the above mentioned guns. The damned grip just wasn't right in the hand. For others it must be different.

1. The trigger chafed my trigger finger, which amazed me.

2. The trigger pull was far below the precision crispness of my other firearms. VERY PRECISE SHOT PLACEMENT at SPEED is most important to me, and I didn't like pressin' a sponge.

3. Where the two halves of the plastic frame were moulded together had a sharp edge (which is common on Glocks). Sure, a few moments with "Mr. Dremmel' would solve this problem. Then again, three seconds on the assembly line buffing out the edges would make a product better "finished" like I've come to expect from guns I buy.

I could go on and on, but I suddenly realized the gun had no soul, no beauty, no refinement. I'd have no pride of ownership felt with it ever . . . unlike what I have for the '64 S&W nickle Model 36 snubby that's currently in my front pocket (which shoots as tight a group as the Glock but with a better trigger).

Then I remembered TWO things . . .

1. My oldest son, who is a new father, has wanted a Glock for years.

2. My daddy, now deceased, gave me my first handgun . . .

I quickly knew what I had to do . . . and I made the phone call that made both father and son VERY, VERY HAPPY!

Just as soon as he got his CCW, I gave him the Glock 23 along with three magazines, lots of .40 cal ammo and a new Bianchi 105 leather concealment belt holster to carry it in.

Somewhere, in the most hallowed places in Heaven, I'm sure my dad was smiling!

Alas, I'm now back to my Smith revolvers and 1911s . . . and totally cured of any desire to own another one, ever.

T.

PS: I recently asked grown son #2 what kind of handgun HE wanted, since he'll be the next to be blessed. DAMN! He wanted a Sig!

Thus, he'll have an ol' "Crunch/Tick" in his future I guess.

Man, this new generation likes lots of bullets more than incredible triggers. I don't understand that. Then again, I don't have to.

Grown son #3? He's cool. He wants a nice Smith wheelgun. MY KIND OF GUY! First though . . . I gotta pony up for a f___g Sig Sauer "crunch/ticker."

To each his own though . . .

 

[greenparrot]

I like my Glocks along with all my other handguns.

Nothing wrong with Glocks IMO.

 

[rosco22]

Nothing .