
Why the switch?
I carry more the last few years. Not 100% but damn close.
I started reloading. If you reload you know why a person would want to conoslidate though most of the consolidation of calibers took place in my rifle collection. I am down to three calibers that serve my various needs.
Our steel plate range. I love shooting steel. I've always been pretty fair at shooting hanguns toward paper bullseyes slowly and accurately. However transitioning and speed came into my practice/training and the holes in my handgun arsenal arrangement have become obvious.
So how did it go so far?
It started with a G22 a fellow traded me for a S&W 65 I wasn't enamored with. My initital impressions. It's a Gen 4 and the first Glock I've ever held. I liked the large grip right away. I added the largest beaver tail backstrap and like it even more. The trigger, meh it was ok. Nothing special but not awful. Somehow that gun tames the supposedly snappier 40 S&W very well. The more I shot it the more I liked it. As for the whole grip angle thing, maybe I'm just not a good enough shooter to appreciate the difference?!
Now I have...
Glock 22 gen4.
Glock 19 gen 4.
Glock 26 gen 3.
Glock 41 gen 4.
Notes on those models...
All were brand new exept the G22. The fellow I got it from is a constable and it was a blue label gun. He had put 20 rounds through it.
All of them got a Flitz/felt Dremel polishing of the friction surfaces. The G19 was really bad at first, very gritty and even slightly mushy. The polishing made a huge difference in this one. It helped the others too but only the G19 was so in need of help that it would have been noticed when actually shooting versus dry firing, by me anyway. If you've wondered about the .25 trigger job it seemingly does make a very noticable difference on some guns in my limited experience. This one got a set of Truglo TFX sights. This one wears the largest beavertail backstrap. I really like the tritium/fiber optic combination for a carry gun. I just wish they didn't rob a shooter of so much sight radius.
The gen 3 G26 supposedly has a slightly bulkier (in width) stock than the gen 4 model and I do have huge hands. I added the grip force adapter. I'm sorting out some grip options to possibly help it fill my hands in even more but it's very usable as is. I haven't missed my Shield at all. The Shield had talon grips and an Apex sear but I couldn't shoot it as well as the G26. The G26 is bulkier but I'm not small. I can pocket carry or IWB carry it well. I carry this one or most often the G19 in an N82 holster. I'm loving that holster but reholstering could be an issue. I'm very careful reholstering into that stretchy retainer on the N82. This one got a set of Trigicon night sights.
The gen 4 G22 got a set of Glock factory night sights. I use the largest beaver tail backstrap and it just shoots.
The gen 4 G41 also got a set of Glock factory night sights. I'm setup to reload .45 and I simply enjoy shooting that round. I've also been kicking around the idea of attending a few competitions mostly to improve my own skills and learn more about areas I can improve on. This gun came with the factory - connector. I'm not a fan. Maybe it it was my only Glock. While the trigger pull may be lighter it's mushy and to me led to an unexpected trigger break compared to my other Glocks. I am waiting for the dot connector to arrive and I expect that to bring it into compliance with my other Glocks. It just didn't comply with my intended goal of having the trigger feel the same on all of them.
So far I only have a few concerns about having made the switch. Reloading for the Glocks does require an extra amount of due diligence to the brass. Other than that I'm pleased with the change. I guess I have the one concern. Even the gen 3 Glock 26 trigger is so close to the gen 4 models that I can hardly notice.
I won't be adding any aftermarket parts inside my Glocks. Other than maybe improving the grip on my G26 I won't be adding anything other than sights to any of them. I like the factory grip texture on the gen 4 models. For the role I need from my hanguns this has been a good change for me personally. You mileage may vary.
I do plan to eventually get a gen 4 G34 at some point.
I'm sure most of you know all the above but for me this was a big change, a slightly risky one but so far I'm well pleased. I haven't had a single malfunction of any kind from any of these guns so far. The only one I'm not 100% on is the G22. I'm no set up to reload .40 and it does seem that the whole unsupported chamber thing is a real risk for reloaders, especially with the .40. I don't want to try and turn it into a G17 with a conversion. I just don't trust it. Their value has plummeted due to so many LE switching to the 9mm. It is fun to shoot something a little different but really I would like to be down to two calibers only. Perhaps because I admire and respect LE a good amount I do kinda' like that it's a blue lable gun I couldn't get otherwise. That's kinda silly though.
Thoughts? Comments? Criticism?
TC