Glock g22 gen 3 or g23 gen 4?

J

jmstr

New member
I live in California. 10 rounds is my max. Where I live, ccw is highly unlikely.

My firearm choices are for range fun, maybe a contest here or there, and nightstsnd duty.

I have a BHP in .40 that i will always keep. Just love the feel.

I have an M&P .40c also.

I have a line on a 23 gen 4 with 100 rounds through it, but also have a line on a 22 gen 3, at a better price.
 
Make a decision.
-Buy both.
-Buy the one you'll have trouble finding later (the Gen4 as it's generally not obtainable by you in CA).
-Don't buy anything.
-Buy something else.

Separate issue. Research again the concealed carry thing. Each year, the various things change in the 58 counties in CA. What was previously unobtainable might be obtainable today.
 
If you don't plan to conceal carry it I would go with the G22.

Having recently retired from Law Enforcement, I have carried both the G22 and G23 for concealed carry since the mid-1990's. My preference between the two for open and concealed carry is with the G22 as I find it better balanced in my hands and nor more difficult to conceal.

Upon retiring I purchased a new Gen 3 Glock 22. Shortly thereafter, I purchase after market barrels and magazines in both .357 Sig and 9mm. I also have a .22 LR conversion kit for it as well. So technically the G22 is now four different caliber firearms in one.

Just my opinion on your question... either way you should be happy with whatever you decide to purchase as both are fun to shoot.
 
The G22 is the full size version and the G23 is the mid size. So whichever one you are more comfortable holding and handeling is what I would go with. I shot both and personally prefer the size of the G23. I like it so much that I even bought its 9mm twin; the G19.
 
I'd go with the G23 out of your options.

I like that the mid-sized guns like that are a good size for both carry and the range. While it is possible the full sized gun will be a better range gun, it is also fully possible that the mid-sized gun will be a great range gun. From most of what I read the G23 is a terrific gun at the range, large enough to be accurate, heavy enough to be comfortable to shoot. If it is a more than sufficient size to be a good range gun in the caliber it is chambered for, the only reason I see to go bigger is for a larger capacity gun. Since you'll already be using neutered mags in the G23, I see no reason to go bigger.

As for carry, I wouldn't be so quick to assume CCW will never happen.

I live in MD, I understand an anti-gun state. The only way MD (or CA) ever goes shall-issue is if the courts order it. But, look at IL, they were never going to go shall-issue, and then the courts ordered it. Eventually, I believe there will be a case through the courts that make our states go shall-issue, it definitely seems to be the way things are going. Maybe something will hit the Supreme Court that gets us nation-wide shall issue and maybe even reciprocity.

You also may not have to wait for that. You may not see yourself moving anytime soon. However, in your case you wouldn't even have to move to another state to be able to get a permit. Many CA counties are nearly shall-issue. You never know what the future holds. Just when I was so sure I was not leaving MD any time soon that I was shopping houses, it looks like I'll probably be moving to PA (a shall-issue state) next spring/summer.

I get not basing your decision upon the "maybe" of CCW, but don't base it solely upon your current situation either as that may change.
 
Since you have a BHP in .40 and M&P40 (I have these also) I would bet money that you will not like shooting a G23 or a G22 (I have these also) any where near as much as you enjoy the BHP 40 or the M&P40. .40 caliber is simply not Glock's strong suit.

The M&P40 is a wonderfully soft-shooting .40 caliber pistol. It is among the very best .40 caliber pistols and a joy to shoot. But the G23 and the G22 are much harsher feeling. Having had and used all of these pistols (and others) I'm quite confident in this opinion.

I would suggest that you rent or borrow a G23 or G22 to fire before spending your money buying either.

If I were you, I'd buy a M&P45 Compact or Full size. Or a Sig P320 45, 40, or 9. These are fantastic pistols which I believe you would find much more enjoyable to shoot.

If you simply must buy a Glock, may I recommend a G19, G30SF, G21SF, G17, G26?

If you buy either the G23 or the G22, I would recommend buying a Lone Wolf 40 to 9 conversion barrel, 9mm extractor, 9mm ejector, 9mm recoil spring, 9mm spring loaded bearing, and some 9mm magazines so you can really enjoy shooting the pistol in a caliber for which they are truly well suited: 9mm. These parts are very easy to install in your Glock and will ensure a thoroughly reliable conversion from 40 to 9.
 
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