I’ve been carrying a full sized Glock for many years now. First model was an issued G31C that I carried for 5 years then I changed dept. and was able to carry a G17. I’ve carried it for about 3 years now. I’ve always carried either a G19 or G26 off-duty.
I then transfered to a new unit at my dept. and I’ve found myself in plainclothes and carrying my G19 almost exclusively. I only carried the G17 for uniformed duty and tac team callouts/trainings.
I recently had two weeks of vacation that I just finished up and I did a shit load of shooting, mainly focusing on my pistol skills since my rifle had been taking up most of my training time lately. I began to find that I consistently shot my G19’s better than the G17’s. My draw and presentation was more consistent and my follow-up shots were more accurate. I thought it might have just been a fluke so a few days later I hit the range again and, sure as shit, the G19 out performed. :dirol:
Since I’ve been carrying the G19 95% of the time and when putting myself on the timer running different drills I was consistently the better shooter with it, I decided to let my 2 G17’s go. A fellow officer had two G19’s (one near NIB and the other an older two pin Gen3) and he was looking to get G17’s we did a straight across swap. I now have 4 G19’s and 2 G26’s and really couldn’t be happier. The biggest hurdle I had to get over was, strangely enough, not carrying a full sized handgun for uniformed duty/SWAT :ph34r:. When it really came down to the nut-cutting the G19 does everything I need it to do and the G17 doesn’t offer me anything that the G19 can’t handle. So after many years I’ve finally converted over and don’t feel like I’m missing anything.
I had virtually the same path as you. Only run 19’s or a 26 now. I still like the full size frames, I just shoot better with the compacts. My 17’s sat for a year unfired after I got the 19’s before I finally got rid of 'em.
There’s just something about the compact sized handgun that makes it a better overall defensive pistol. Like you, I also carried full sized pistols on duty and off…only with agency Sigs. I moved to the P229 and have found it to be a better overall pistol for me, and I shoot it better than the P226 or P220.
I think it was wise of you to move entirely over to the G19 camp.
Just the opposite here… Only have a couple 17’s now, a primary which I use/abuse, and a JIC back-up which lives in a box and likely will remain there as I may never need it…
Had a couple 26’s and a couple 19’s in the past, but IMO the extra 1/2" and couple ounces more is totally worth living with to get the better grip and ergos of a G17.
While they’re considered a “full-size” pistol, they’re still pretty compact and svelte next to just about any other “full-size” like a P226, 92FS, 1911, etc. and IMO if one can hide a G19 they can hide a 17 (and the guys I know who say they can’t make more of a case for carrying a G26 when giving examples to why a 17 won’t work).
Personally, I think a lot of guys think “compact” automatically equals better for CCW, and don’t necessarily even look at supposed “full-sizes” as an option.
That said… if you shoot a 19 better, than that’s the best choice.
I found the same thing happened between by USPc LEM .40 and and my P2000SK in .40; I was consistently a few points better with the smaller, lighter P2000SK at quals.
I shoot both. Yet I prefer to shoot G17’s during extended sessions only cause I do not get slide bite with them where as I get bit by G19’s. Though in certain situations I feel I shoot G19’s more effectively. Though I have no idea why.
Well, I don’t carry, never have, never will. However, on occasion when I head out to the woods to shoot, or do some hiking, I will wear my G17 in a sidekick holster. I can’t imagine carrying a G17 all day on a daily basis with a full magazine. To me, it gets pretty heavy pretty quickly. I’d want something smaller and lighter.
When I chose the G17, it was between the 19 & 17, and the 17 won out cause the full size felt better in my hand. I don’t know if you have ever watch any of Hickock45’s YouTube videos, but he owns several G26 and G19’s for the exact reason you do. He shoots them better, and he has big meaty hands. It’s all about what works for you, and changing things around to fit you better as you change with the years.
I’m really more a 1911 guy, but I have a couple of Glock 19’s, and I do carry them frequently. I’ve toyed with the idea of getting a couple of 17’s or 34’s to play with, but somehow I always end up reasoning my way back to the Glock 19. To me, it just seems to strike the right size/performance efficiency balance for this type of pistol. Some of the things I initially found irksome about the Glock 19 when shooting other people’s examples, are things I find advantageous, now that I’ve spent quality time with my own Glock 19’s. For instance, while I won’t say they’re comfortable, I find the Gen 3 Glock 19’s finger grooves do force my fingers higher up the front strap, encouraging a grip that really goes well toward mitigating what little muzzle flip a 9mm pistol does exhibit.
I’ve been eyeballing the M&P’s for a few years now… I’d be all over an M&P sized like a Glock 19.
I’ve also thought about going this route. I carry a G17 at work, but now that I have a G19 that’s all I carry off-duty.
There are a bunch of NYPD guys, including ESU, who seem to have no issues with that size of gun for patrol/uniform and SWAT work.
Over the years I have I carried a 4" .357mag, a S&W 5906, a G22, a G35, and a G17 off-duty and concealed, the G19 is easier to hide, and still shoots like a full size gun.
I ran a G17 with a Hogue grip during a 800 round class and was very convinced that it would be my “Go To” pistol, but my 5’7" 140# frame makes concealing one challenging, so I was stuck with carrying my G26.
Then I got a G19 and hated the G19 and Hogue combo, until I discovered pictures of Boresight Solution’s modified G19s with trigger guard reduction to get a higher grip on the gun. Wow, what a difference that mod made (did it myself). My G19 and Hogue combo feels so perfect in my hands now that I’m reevaluating the need for my G17s. I haven’t had a chance to CCW it yet as I’m still waiting on a Milt Sparks VM2 (6 months wait), but I’m able to shoot it as well as my G17s.
They aren’t my favorite pistols. They’re not even my favorite 9mm pistols. I do have considerable esteem for them, though, and they’re definitely not for sale.
And six less rounds. I think it makes sense to “let those who ride decide” If you shoot it better it is a no brainer. I switched from a 23 to a 22 and like the bigger gun better. I have a huge hand the extra length in the grip really helps.
I give you credit for letting the weapons go. I had to give up much of my weapons for “financial” and other reasons around my college years. It about killed me. Since that time, I let one weapon go about 10 years ago, to a good friend none the less and it still bothers me to this day. I definitely have a problem, but it won’t happen again. Not at least until I am dead and then my son will get em.
It can be painful selling guns. I just thinned my collection out quite a bit. I sold stuff I really enjoyed and some that just took up space. I made the sales a few weeks before beginning chemotherapy for a relapse in my Hairy Cell Leukemia. It’s kinda interesting how your mortality makes you think differently. I finished my chemo last week and I’m feeling pretty optomistic.
The good news is OP ended up with two new guns and a pair he shoots better so no loss number wise and an increase in effectiveness.
I’ve done the same. Thinning out the herd is slightly painful, but it has made me focus on one particular platform which has allowed me to break through a shooting plateau.
I sold my 17 for a 19 & 34. Currently the 34 gets the most trigger time, but the 19 is the do it all.
