Should I just get a Glock 19???

Everybody is different. People have different hand sizes, different vision, different defensive needs, different skill levels, etc. So for everybody there is a specific gun than works individually for them. And that gun is a Glock 19.
 
I am new to guns and afraid of striker fired guns in general :-D plus, I just really like hammer fired guns more. But it is really, really hard to beat glock in the utilitarian department.

I have studied the glock design a lot... it’s genius, an more genius that they got it right since gen one. Mechanically it is impossible to have a ND in a functioning glock... having said that, the trigger being light makes it less forgiving for human error, that is a fact.
 
I've holstered and unholstered my Glocks hundreds of times now. Still no NDs as a result. In 18 classes with the majority of the people using striker fired pistols I still haven't seen an ND while holstering or unholstering. Do they happen? Yes. People also have NDs while not holstering or unholstering at all. Muzzle management and trigger finger discipline apply regardless of the weight of the trigger pull. Clearing the cover garment is also very important. I can't think of any foolproof system as no system removes the greatest source of error when it comes to firearms: the users. I'm not convinced at this point that Glocks etc. pose a notably greater risk while holstering than a DA/SA pistol or similar.
 
I was eyeing the new g19 gen 5... Untill I got one in my hands...

Nope.

The cutout up front sits right under my pinky in an uncomfortable manner.

Inserting the magazine, I experienced a snag due to the cutout.

I really liked the lack of finger grooves. The g17 felt pretty good.
 
The cutout doesn't bother me nor have I found it to cause snags on insertion, but I definitely can see how it's possible. One thing I have found that helps is to try to have the rear of the magazine contact the rear of the magazine well first. It doesn't have to be much of an angle but it helps keep from snagging up front. Frankly if they didn't flare the magwell they wouldn't have needed the cutout. I've yet to find the flare useful so I wish they'd left that out.
 
Last edited:
I've holstered and unholstered my Glocks hundreds of times now. Still no NDs as a result. In 18 classes with the majority of the people using striker fired pistols I still haven't seen an ND while holstering or unholstering. Do they happen? Yes. People also have NDs while not holstering or unholstering at all. Muzzle management and trigger finger discipline apply regardless of the weight of the trigger pull. Clearing the cover garment is also very important. I can't think of any foolproof system as no system removes the greatest source of error when it comes to firearms: the users. I'm not convinced at this point that Glocks etc. pose a notably greater risk while holstering than a DA/SA pistol or similar.
While I agree with the thrust of your argument a DA/SA gun with a 10lb+ DA trigger pull when decocked is much less likely to result in a ND while holstering than a Glock type trigger. The additional weight needed to manipulate the DA hammer makes a huge difference.

That said I have always believed that Glock gets a bad rap for ND because of the sheer number of Glock pistols in the real world market. When you add the commercial market plus the LEO market there are more Glocks in and out of holsters on any given day than any other make. The raw number of NDs are going to be higher but the statistical difference between Glock and other platforms when you look at it as a % of the number deployed I believe it is no higher than any other gun.
 
I agree there's a difference but as I said above I don't think the risk is notably higher. That's my own experience and opinion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I agree there's a difference but as I said above I don't think the risk is notably higher. That's my own experience and opinion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
For me the other big difference is with a DA/SA gun I can put my thumb on the back of the hammer as I look the gun into the holster. If the trigger where to snag on something which causes the hammer to move rearward I will "feel" the movement on my thumb and be able to stop. This is not the case with a stiker fired gun.

This does not mean the striker fired gun is less safe it is just different and does not give you the same level of resistance or tactile feedback as a hammer fired gun does IMHO.
 
Should I just get a $&!@ Glock 19???

If you're looking the gun into the holster how will you not see an obstruction before you feel it? My experience is that most people that have NDs when holstering were hurrying when they shouldn't have been. While I get your point of riding the hammer, the goal is to clear obstructions before you start holstering. I'd add too that people seem to forget it's not just an obstruction that causes an ND when holstering. It's an obstruction that gets passed the trigger guard and actuates on just the trigger itself. I've seen folks get garments caught while holstering and luckily the trigger guard did its job before someone corrected him or her. I can tell you that at the academy the major cause of NDs while holstering is actually people forgetting to get their fingers off the trigger before going to holster.

I'm not overly concerned whether someone does or doesn't think striker fired pistols are less safe. Each shooter has to make the call about what works best for him or her. I'm just sharing my experience. As most here know I carried DA/SA for some time, with the idea of added safety being the main reason why. My views have changed but I still get the premise.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
I chose the G19 gen4 for 2 reasons. The first was my wife's baby brother is Special Forces & an Officer. It was his recommendation that I got the Glock.
Second reason was that the G19 is almost impossible to screw up.

To me, a G19 or a Ruger GP 100 are tools for protection & nothing else. I Don't care about beauty. I don't care about beauty. All I care about is that it goes bang and where I want it to go every time. The it goes bang every time is the Pistol or Revolver. Where I want it to go is thru a ton of practice. If one does not practice occasionally with a pro to correct or refine technique, then don't bother carrying.
 
A Glock user here since the 90's. Never ND'ed on the draw.

Here's a take on the XD grip safety for those who have draw-grip-holster qualms. FYI - take it or leave it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PShoOEUjlGg

The one time I was almost shot in an ND it was from a 1911 that was supposedly on safe with the finger off the trigger.

This another ancient debate of I'm scared of the striker fired pistol with no grip safety (say Glock). Just train up and use a quality holster. Yes, that is a cliche.
 
Glock makes a good pistol... They work, and tend to be reliable. I am not the biggest fan, but I do respect them for what they are.


But as far as doodads to "make the gun safer"... I'm not a big fan.

I am of the mindset, that if you are the type to not properly check for a clear holster and trigger guard when holstering your pistol... You are not going to properly use the "doodads" properly or consistently either.

That applies to manual safeties, grip safeties, riding hammers, "gadgets"... and basically anything that isn't an automatic passive device that requires no conscious thought to use/work.


I have read of an ND that happened when a person removed their jacket. They got a pull string or other part of the jacket caught in the holster, but it did not go off when they holstered the pistol... It did go off after, when they pulled off the jacket.

Basically... No doodad could have prevented that ND... Only proper procedure when re-holstering their pistol and ensuring it was clear first would have.


Seriously... While you might only have a split second to draw your pistol... You have all the time in the world to re-holster... Take the time to do it properly.
 
Last edited:
^ well said. There is no reward for being the fastest back to the holster. If you're holstering in a defensive situation you're doing so because you've determined the threat is no longer present. While I get wanting to get back to the holster say before law enforcement arrives, discharging errant rounds helps no one.
 
Ultimately, I chose to get the CZ P07.

Not because I hate Glock. Not because I live in fear of shooting myself from a holster :)

I just plain really love the gun and shoot it really well. That's really all it comes down to, and I'm looking forward to learning the DA trigger system more fully.
 
Plus, the P07 has a half cocked position making the DA pull a little easier to master. And you can also Cajunize it for a lighter smoother DA and SA trigger. Personally I love mine just as it came from the factory. I've been shooting DA in revo's for almost 40 years, and the key is a nice smooth non stop pull on the trigger. And yes, this can be done with speed after a lot of practice and still be accurate at SD distances.
 
OP if you think nobody can beat the glock 19 then just buy it, I've owned 5 of them and I have not come to the same conclusion as you have, I sold them years ago and will not own a glock in the future.
 
OP if you think nobody can beat the glock 19 then just buy it, I've owned 5 of them and I have not come to the same conclusion as you have, I sold them years ago and will not own a glock in the future.
I concluded that the CZ beats it for me, shooting them side by side.

What I meant was nobody can beat them in the sense of significantly chipping away at their business. If nothing else they have the aftermarket cornered.

Case in point: I believe my newly purchased P07 has a total of three night sight options??? :)
 
I was eyeing the new g19 gen 5... Untill I got one in my hands...
I’ve never gotten into Glocks or liked striker pistols. I evolved and looked at many and decided the Gen 4 Glock 19 was a nearly perfect fit for what I wanted and have been very happy with my choice. At the time I was blissfully unaware of the soon-to-arrive Gen 5 19 but having looked at them, I prefer the Gen 4 though the Gen 5 has some nice features. The 19 Finger grooves fit me perfectly and the slightly smaller Gen 4 grip fits perfectly with grip extensions.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top