Glock 19 vs. 26

B

Bob Locke

New member
Getting ready to buy a 19, and a friend asked me why not the 26 since he knows I will be carrying it. Looking for pros/cons and opinions.

I have pretty big hands, so let that be a part of the discussion. The 17 is out because I can't seem to put it away comfortably.

I have basically made up my mind, but I am not one who is incapable of changing it either.

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
How about 5 extra rounds? Is that reason enough? I haven't bought a 26 because the 27 is the exact same gun, but with 10 rounds of .40 instead of 9. I decided that for the times I'm going to carry a 9mm, I want as many rounds in the gun as I can get comfortably. I bought a 19C yesterday, and at this moment I'm trying to decide whether or not I should go to the range, even though it's raining.
 
I've had the 19, 26, and 27.

I've settled on the 26 as a carry gun.

Salient points:

1. I'm average sized with average size hands
- 5' 9".

2. The 26/27 conceals much better for me.
The shorter grip does it.

3. I shoot the 26/27 just fine. I've taken
classes with it, like the shooting part of
LFI-1 and am competitive with anyone at
realistic gun fight distances.

4. I chose the 26 over the 27 for a couple of
reasons. Reading all the ammo / stopping
literature, I can't really be convinced
that a quality 9mm round is significantly
worse that a 40.

It is significantly cheaper to shoot.
Practice ammo for $5.99 for 50 is
plentiful.

I broke my wrist on my dominant hand and
40s were an ouch for awhile. 9's were
fine.

Thus, I found the 26 to work for me and I do not feel disadvantaged with it.

In reality, all three guns are great. I wouldn't feel bad with any of them.
 
I also have big hands and don't care for anything smaller than the 19. It conceals very well, is comfortable to hold and shoot and hits where I aim (within reason, it's a personal defense weapon not a target pistol).
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by craigz:
How about 5 extra rounds? Is that reason enough?[/quote]

To be honest, capacity isn't a real consideration. I don't see me coughing up $60 for a 15-round magazine when I can buy three or four 10-rounders for that same money.
 
19 vs 26?

-Well the 26 will conceal a bit better.
-You get slightly more sight radius with the 19 which helps most shoot better.
-Full capacity mags will fit both. That is, perhaps carry a 26 with a regular mag and a 19 or 17 mag reload. These mags can be fitted with sleeves to give you a full grip.

You may want to consider the .40 or .357 models as well. With these you can buy aftermarket conversion barrels (along with a magazine change) that will allow you to shoot 9mm. You end up with one gun in three calibers (9mm, .40, .357). You cannot buy conversion barrels for the 9mm models as the breech face is too small.
 
I will side with AndaBeer. A Glock 27 with two spare barrels in 9mm and 357 Sig works. Buy an A&G adapter for the Model 19 and 27 magazines and you will swear you are shooting a Model 19 or 27. Remember, you can use the the 40 S&W magazine for the 357 Sig. Regards, Richard.
 
I own both and unless you want the extra mag capacity of the 19 I would say go with the 26. Reliabity has been 100% with mine and it is more accurate than my 19. It conceals much better for me.
 
I own both, have carried both, and to me, it's whatever you prefer.

I can hide both, using my BS-2 holster from M/D Enterprises, tho' the 26 is marginally easier.

I prefer the Pearce mag floorplates on my 26 as it affords more control without giving up anything in concealability.

I have full cpacity mags for the 19 and that is not a consideration to me either.

Good luck.

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Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!

[This message has been edited by 9x19 (edited July 26, 2000).]
 
My opinions side with those of Glenn E Myer and Tom B. The 9mm is much cheaper to shoot (more practice) and the 26 recoils less than the 27. For concealment purposes learn to wrap your pinky under the flush base pad... the Pearce extenders increase the height of the 26 to about the size of the 19, negating almost every advantage it has.
Good Luck!
 
Most people don't have a problem hiding the front strap on their carry guns. The backstrap, however, is the hard part. A G26 will have a shorter backstrap with or without the grip extender, since all it does is lengthen the front. So, basically what I'm saying is the grip extender will not make it any harder to conceal a G26/27/33.
 
My problem with choosing between two guns is that eventually, I usually end up with both!

That being said, I have a G23 (same size as the G19), and carry it often. I love midsized guns (ie, the G19/23, Sig 229, Walther P99), and much prefer them to the smaller equivalents (Para-Ord P10, G26). However, it's all a matter of preference.

What I can tell you is that I love ankle carry, and if you plan on doing that carrying a 26 will be tough, but a 19 will be almost impossible. Otherwise, I prefer the 19 due to the comfort and the hi-capacity of pre-ban mags.
 
I have a G17 and a G26. I too was concerned about the small size of the 26, because I have big hands. When I finally took the plunge, I was surprised to find out that it was not a problem at all. I don't know what it is about that little pistol, but I shoot the 26 almost as well as the 17. That 26 shoots good, and conceals easily. Also as others have said, if capacity is a concern, carry a G17 (17 rd) mag with you. They work just fine in the G26. Good luck....ol blue
 
I have nothing in 9mm but I do have 40S&W. My only Glock right now is a Model 22. I can't wait to get a 27, but I still wouldn't get rid of my 22. I just love the feel of the full sized handgun. My state does, however, allow open carry so concealment is not a factor to me.
 
I've had my CCW for about four years and have tried out a BUNCH of CCW guns. I bought a G19 about 1 1/2 years ago. It is a great gun and I highly recommend it. HOWEVER, I found that it was just a little too big to carry easily down here in sunny South Florida. I then bought a G26 to carry during the summer. I really really love the G26! It is MUCH easier to carry than the G19. I thought that the grip would be too short, but it really does work (for me). Remember, a carry gun is, by definition, a compromise gun.

The G26 has even become my bedside gun, so that I can start getting used to the "one gun" idea.

If you are buying this gun specifically as a carry gun, I recommend you rent a G26 and try it out, it really is a much easier gun to conceal. HOWEVER, if you are getting it as a range gun, I'd go with the G19.
 
I have recently become the proud owner of a nearly new G26. I, too, initialy thought that the 26 would be too small of a package to shoot well, much less hold on to, but the Scherer grip extensions make it work REALLY well.
The fact that the price was only $339 for an NRA Excellent condition gun (maybe 2-3 boxes of ammo thru it?) made it a deal I couldn't pass up. I'm STILL grinnin'a week later!
My previous CCW gun was a Walther PP .380acp (with premium ammo on board), but this new GEM of a pistol gives me much more confidence in both the hitting and the power behind the hit.
Try the G26, ya just might like it.

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"...that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Abraham Lincoln,The Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863.
"Once more into the breach, dear friends, or close the wall up with our English dead".Henry V
 
I feel your pain.
I could not decide also.
I ended up buying BOTH!!!!! :) :)
I do carry the 26 though!! :D

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Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Glock 26: 17 rounds of concealed carry DEATH comming your way from out of nowhere!!! THAT'S FIREPOWER, BABY!!!"
 
I find that the Glock 19/23 frame fits my hand much better than the subcompact Glock 26/27s. (For licensed carry) the hardest part to conceal is the grip, but with a quality IWB like an Alessi Talon or even a DeSantis Insider, the 19/23 is tough to detect. If you plan on buying only one make sure you try both out before you invest.

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"Get yourself a Lorcin and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."
 
I own 4 Glocks and IMHO, the Glock 19 is the perfect sized hangun, just right, not to big yet not to small. It has high capacity and is supremely accurate, even more so than my full sized 17. The mini guns are not interesting (to large for a pocket pistol and limited ammo capacity) nor what I want in a CCW carry gun. Also the mini guns are not pocket pistols by any stretch of the imigination. When it comes to a pocket pistol, my Kel-Tec P-32 or Colt Mustang .380
gets the nod.

7th

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE, KEEP THEM INDEPENDENT.
 
I had a 26, fantastic piece. A friend wanted it bad enough I parted with it and bought a 27. This (26/27) is just a fantastic envelope. Also have a 23, and the 26/27 is much easier for me to conceal. I, too, love ankle carry. With a quality ankle holster (Alessi), ankle carry is much more comfortable than you would think.It's hot here 10 months a year. No coat or whatever to conceal it under. You get either one of these and you will be pleased.
 
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