Why Glock? Why 9mm?

[Colorado Osprey]

I too carried a 1911 tuned for reliability on duty. I was hired on another department that used Glock 22's and bought one to become proficient before I had to trust my life to it.


Took both to in indoor range and dumped the usual 500 rounds... 250 through each.
Targets ranged from 5' to 25 yards. Slow precision aimed fire to timed stress shoots with multiple mag changes.

Long story short my groups in almost all targets were 1/2 the size using a Glock...and it didn't matter what model or caliber. I shot them all the same from the 380 through the 10mm or 45acp.

Soon after that faithful day I sold all of my 1911's and ended up with about a dozen glock in differrent calibers and sizes.

Today I have only one Glock... and no 1911's.
G20 10mm and it is my go to gun.... but I wish I kept 2 and never sold the G26 9mm for it's concealability.

I no longer work where I need to potentially defend my life every day so the handgun inventory has gone waaay down.

[Spinone]

Interesting write up. I have tried to like Glock's but I just can't get used to the grip angle. Every time I pick one up I find that they just don't point naturally for me; they point low and I have to cant my wrist up to line the sights up. The sights on my H&K, Kahr, and 92fs seem to line up perfectly for me. Am i doing something wrong? This issue has always led me to believe that Glocks were all about hype because I doubt that I am the only one with this issue. It sure seems that a lot of first time handgun buyers purchase Glocks.

I don't carry for my job but because I carry daily I have to feel completely comfortable with my choice. Glocks have never given me this comfort. Who knows, maybe it's because I don't shoot enough and I don't shoot in stressfull situations. Thanks for the thought inducing write up!

[275RLTW]

. I shot them all the same from the 380 through the 10mm or 45acp.

Where did you get ahold of a G25/28?

[SA Friday]

I cannot disagree with your conclusion or the validity of your information, but I take a little different view on the matter. Pick a high quality pistol that fits you and shoot the piss out if it till you shoot it like an extension of your body. Don't go below 9mm in caliber and don't go over 45 ACP unless it's a pistol for specialized use. Any high quality pistol will get you there, and Glock does qualify as high quality IMO. If you can put 10,000+ rounds through it without mechanical failure or multiple FTFs or FTEs it quality is good enough.

The key is shooting the piss out if it. I can give you the most pointable, reliable, and shootable pistol in the world, but if you are not practicing it might as well be a saturday night special. Practice is NOT standing at 7 feet slow shooting 50 rounds and then going home. Practice is drawing, shooting multiple rounds on multiple targets, moving, and reloading, and all under stress.

I have to throw this last piece in too. I have a friend who is a thorasic surgen. He has operated on way more shooting victims than I've ever seen. When he says 9mm will do it, but 45's make a mess out of the human body, I listen. Shoot what you shoot accurately first. Placement is key, but if you can shoot the 45 just as accurately, it never hurts to hedge your bets.

[KFinn]

The key is shooting the piss out if it.

+1

Practice is NOT standing at 7 feet slow shooting 50 rounds and then going home. Practice is drawing, shooting multiple rounds on multiple targets, moving, and reloading, and all under stress.

Exactly, which is why I have a hard time paying to go to Firing line or other ranges now adays. I have spent enough initial time at them to build a a decent foundation to make my time at open ranges more valuable to me doing things like draw and rapid fire and rapid multiple targets, etc. I do still like hitting the firing line and such occasional to at least maintain or brush up on basic skills when I have had long gaps between any range type of shooting though.

Shoot what you shoot accurately first. Placement is key, but if you can shoot the 45 just as accurately, it never hurts to hedge your bets.

I couldn't agree more. If you can afford .45, practice with .45. I guess my tips were more for hitting the mind of those that I have seen on the bored that they can't or don't want to afford expensive ranges, can't afford a lot of ammo to practice etc etc etc..... So at least they get some valuable tips for an option that fits their lifestyle.

[Cochese]

I can attest to everything said by the OP.

I am a die hard 1911 fan. I have a Springfield EMP I carry off duty and just ordered a Springfield Custom shop PC9111LR based duty gun.

Both are 9mm.

My Glock collection includes a G34, G26 and G19 in addition to my wifes G35/G23.

I went through firearms instructor and multiple SWAT/active shooter schools with my Storm Lake barreled/stippled/ATS sighted G34.

I carry it on duty every day. I trust not only my life, but another 200,000 peoples lives to it everyday.

[KFinn]

I can attest to everything said by the OP.

Help me out... What is OP?

[Jer]

OP = Original Poster