I am in the market for a pistol for CCW. I plan to go to the range and choose a handful of guns to fire to narrow it done to the one I will buy, but I want some advise on what to choose to rent at the range. This will be my only pistol so I want to do it right the first time. I have had 2 pistol before, XD40 and XDm 40, not a fan of either.
I am willing to sacrifice price for…
Comfort…Will be primarily for CCW. I am a big dude and will be looking at a compact. I dont want something long and heavy thats just going to sit in the truck.
Accuracy…I am thinking of going 9mm due to less recoil and ability to shoot, and move on to the next target as quickly as possible, ACCURATELY.
Also, something else that is very important to me is after market parts (I plan to modify the gun to my EXACT liking) and support. I really like the Glocks for this because there are great forums for support and TONS of after market available.
I am going to look at a Gen4 Glock 19, a compact HK and prob a M&P so far. What else should I add to the list?
IMO the G19 is the best “do it all” handgun out there. It’s small enough to conceal yet large enough to have the feel of a full size. Holds 15 rounds and with good ammo it’s extremely lethal.
There have been several recent threads about the G19 with good info. You would do well in carrying one. I do.
Also, for me, the Gen 3 is just fine. No real reason to wait for the Gen 4 unless you just want to.
I will also echo the comments above. The Glock 19 is one hell of a package. It is fun on the range, it plays a great role for EDC, has a rail if you want to put a light on it for “nightstand use”, tons of aftermarket support (almost too much), and easily aquired spare parts.
Also, if you need to work on it to replace parts, I know of no easier platform to maintain than the glock. Heck, even my kids NERF guns are complicated compared to my Glocks. My son just got one for his b-day and upon taking it out of the package, I couldnt believe all the friggin buttons and the manual of arms to make that thing work! kinda made me chuckle…but i digress…
I would give some heavy consideration to the 19 if it feels good to you at the range. Also have heard wonderful things about the M&P line. I myself would have looked into these, but I am already too invested in the Glock platform to make a change and they just plain work for me.
Stick with the 9mm, trust me…
Best of luck and let us know what you think after trying them all out.
Since you are determined to modify it - I would not recommend a G19. The whole point of the G19 isn’t that it is the best or the most accurate or the most versatile. The point of the G19 is that it is more than the sum of its parts. It is big enough to shoot, but small enough to conceal. It is cheap enough to have it become evidence but of sufficient quality at that price point that it will last for tens of thousands of rounds. Instead of spending money on aftermarket modifications, consider spending it on a second G19 and a bunch of training with tier one trainers.
IMO the only thing you need to “modify” on the Glock 19 (or any Glock for that matter) is sights. I dont care for the plastic stock sites that come with it.
And of course a battery of extra mags, ammo, range time, and training!
I’m a big fan of the G19 because for me it offers a perfect balance between conceal-ability and shoot-ability. Meaning, it’s small enough for me to carry concealed yet big enough to offer the benefits of a bigger gun; full grip, high capacity, decent sight radius, etc.
It’s a gun I can carry concealed to a class, shoot the class, then re-holster and drive home. All with one gun! I think that’s important if I’m practicing and training to use a gun in a defensive situation.
It’s not the only gun I carry; I carry a G26 sometimes too but the G19 fits most of needs most of the time better than any other gun I’ve owned or evaluated.
I’m going to break away from the masses and recommend that you at least try the HK P2000, P2000SK, USPc, and/or a P30 if you are leaning towards a 9mm or .40 S&W. The P30 has second to none ergonomics; however, it can be a little tough carrying IWB due to the grip texture.
If you like .45 ACP, then also consider the HK45c or the USPc. The HK45c is an absolute awesome weapon and is easily converted between trigger variants as is the USPc. The HK45c is an updated USP.
If end-user customization is an absolute must (can’t imagine what customization would be necessary) then the Glock platform is hard to beat. If it is your one and only weapon for concealed carry, then choose wisely. In addition, if it is a weapon that you’ll rely upon day in and day out, you may also want to consider two of the same make and model for the “just in case” scenarios. Two is one and one is none if this happens.
G19: You can set it up EXACTLY the way you WANT it. Night sights, Vickers’ mag release, maybe a 4.5 trigger or 3.5 +NY1 spring trigger. G19/G17/G26 are IMHO, the best 9mm pistols out there.
HK P2000: Damn good pistol, the only thing to add is night sights. I don’t like the LEM myself (don’t like the “heavy” LEM, never tried a “light” LEM), I have traditional DA/SA in my HK P2000. This is a damn good pistol in .40 caliber.
HK P30: I don’t have one in 9mm but I did just pick up a .40 V1 model. It is DA/SA and the DA is lighter and smoother than a HK P2000 with a LEM. This is a great pistol in .40 caliber, you can set it up for the perfect grip for you, but I can see where people complained about the grips rubbing them raw when carried next to skin.
SW M&P: I just picked one of these up in .40 caliber and put an APEX sear on it. Up until I got the HK P30 (above), this was the most comfortable pistol I have ever shoot. I have a full size model, so I can’t comment on the compact models.
Glock 19 Gen 3. Fill out your profile and you might find somebody in your area who’s willing to let you shoot their guns to help you eliminate some of your possibilities.
I’ve owned every 9mm Glock version at some point in time since the early 1990s - They just don’t do it for me. I did have a RTF Glock 17 last that I did like - but I got tired of the ejecting cases hitting me in the head unless I shot in isoceles stance. And, I honestly prefer the SA trigger on a standard DA/SA handgun. I ended up selling it last year
I’m just not a fan of the Glock trigger. After numerous guns over the years (I get bored with different models fairly easily, and then want something else), my current concealed carry gun is a Beretta 92FS. I like it much better than a Glock.
The various HK models also make good carry guns as well. I’ve carried both a 9mm and 45 version of the HK USPc before.
Nothing wrong with a Glock - but try to rent a few guns and see what you end up liking best.
