Recently I’ve been trying to fill any real gaps in my gun collection when I realized I don’t have any real suitable CCW handguns(never really needed one out on the farm, always had a rifle). I thought maybe this should be my next purchase.
I’ve been considering a G19 since it looks like it looks concealable, but I big enough I can still shoot it often enough to get good with it. I handled a G26 and thought that it would be too small so I figure the G19 would be about right. Any comments on my choice? Also other than ammo and mags is there anything else my gun might need like a light or night sights? I’m pretty new to the idea of a CCW gun, so I thought I better get some solid advice.
Well, I don’t want to speak for anyone but from reading other threads I believe alot of folks on here are going to say you made a wise choice. Heck, I’m not even a glock guy and I’ll say you made a wise choice.
Lights on a CCW gun is really a matter of personal preference. The G19 will suit you just fine, as it is probably the most popular CCW gun on this site.
For weight and concealment issues, I do not carry a light on my G19. Rather, I carry a Surefire in my pocket for use if necessary.
A good holster is vital to the completion of a good CCW setup. Even the best rigs can be limited by the holster, so make sure you get one that you’re comfortable with.
That’s a great sized gun. I’ve tried to make myself a Glock guy but they just don’t fit my hand. I carry an XD45c which seems to get some bad marks on this board but it works for me. The Glocks do take a beating and ask for more so its a great choice.
Slugger
My personal favorites by size(smallest to largest)…
M&P compact 9mm
Glock 19
M&P full size 9mm
I no longer own any Glocks but if i remember correctly…
The M&P compact is a little larger than the Glock 26.The full size M&P is a little larger than the Glock 19(smaller than the G17).I personally wouldnt go any larger or smaller than those listed.
The M&P is much more laser friendly(Crimson Trace).It played a role in my switching to M&P from Glock.Night sights and a laser are a must have for me on a handgun.A mounted light can be tricky for CC.If you can make it work they’re great.
As for your other question I would say go on the night sights if that’s your preference. If you like them I can’t see where it would hinder, only help. On the light I would say no go. For the record I have never tried it so this is all opinion. I like a light on a house gun and if I was mil or le (I’m not) and it was acceptable to carry in a drop rig I would say yeah sure. For conceal carry (especially with an IWB holster) it seems like a lot to try and hide. Seems like it might be a pain in the ass both literally and figuratively.
As for advice, I would suggest you sign up for some training with a tier one outfit. The Training forum here has a wide range of locations and instructors from which to choose.
You simply cannot go wrong with the G.19 for concealed carry. The one I have has the Trijicon Night Sights and I find that it helps out some in low light/light deficient environments and I don’t have the SF.X300 attached to it fulltime.
I own a number of G19s…perfect balance IMO between shootability and concealability. One of my G19s will shortly be off to to be cut down to handle G26 mags.
J-frame with Crimson Trace grips in Kramer pocket holster for when temps are pushing triple digits.
Believe that the Smith M&Ps are well worth a look…they weren’t available when I made the switch to “tupperware”.
Tne G19 is like a Ford truck. If you don’t really want to do a lot of research and just want to buy something “blind” that you can trust to work right, you’re fine just getting a Ford … it will probably do everything you will ever need, even if you don’t know what you need. If you do a lot of research, there’s a decent chance you’ll still end up picking a Ford.
Having said that, what features are you looking for? Choosing on size alone or even size & reputation isn’t necessarily going to net you the best gun.
Given that you don’t CCW often, how will you carry? The G19 might be plenty small or could be far too big depending on what you’re going to wear, what holster (or other method) you’ll be using, etc.
As for add-ons, I’d put night sights on any serious carry gun. For the light, it depends on a lot of things but for most people a dedicated mounted light and CCW don’t go together. Still, I’d want to have a gun that was designed to mount a light either for as-needed use or when it had to serve as a nighttime/home gun.
whereas I love the G19…I have to say, its the least used Glock I own (and I should preface this by saying I own FIVE semi auto handguns…all 9mm Glocks)…
at any rate…what i’ve found…
in circumstances where deep concealment isn’t a huge issue and I could carry a G19, I can just carry a G17 (which, I should also say, is my favorite Glock…and I’m a big guy, so a G17 conceals fine for me)
in circumstances when i need to go deeper concealment and would want a G19, a G26 works better for me…
which brings me to my next point…
if you are going to buy more than one, get a g17 and a g26…the 17 is a better “big gun” (better grip, longer barrel, higher capacity) and the 26 is a better deep concealment gun (smaller, shorter barrel, lighter, for some can be carried in a pocket…but it has to be a big pocket)
if you are going to have just one, the G19 admirably fills the role of both of those guns to the point where it will do 90-95% of what either of the other guns will do just as well…
Welcome to CCW, and I’m new to it, too! Got my Glock 17 in today…
You need to throw on some good night sights, and you may want to add a Vickers Tactical extended mag release.
Spend some money on a good belt and holster. That’s probably the most valuable piece of advice I have learned about CCW. I brought a Milt Sparks summer special 2 from Brownells (they keep them in stock, but it has not arrived yet) and I purchased a Ted Blocker belt because I got a tip they were often in stock, so an email verified this and my belt shipped and arrived promptly.
I’ve been carrying for over 30 years and have found nothing, in a service-size platform, that carries or conceals as well as The Sleek & Classy Browning High Power or M1911 does.
G19, 15rd
P226, 15rd
(extended mags available for both)
The P226 is substantially longer at the muzzle, longer at the butt, and wider than the G19. Which isn’t a slam on the P226, I carried one (or the nearly identical size P220) quite a bit while working at SIG.
Neither sleek nor classy are criteria I evaluate when selecting a weapon.
Agree 110%. I don’t really care what the gun looks like as it’s concealed and no one should be seeing it. I want the gun which I am carrying on a daily basis to be comfortable so I wear it, 100% reliable so I know it will work if I need it, and I want something I know I can shoot very well.
I use an M&P9 Compact with Warren 2 dot sights. A Glock 19 or 26 were the other weapons I was looking at when I chose the M&P. My deciding criteria was the thumb safety on the M&P, but the G19 was very close second.
