Why choose Glock 19 over 26?
- Thread starter OhioGuy
- Start date
The 26 was the worst feeling gun I've ever owned. The "baby" glocks my be the worst sized pistols on earth when you consider weight and width to size ratio. I think that's why the Taurus G2 is so popular, thinner than a 26 but with enough grip you don't need a silly extension while being smaller and thinner than a 19 also.
The 26 loses out to the Shield or G2, the 19 to the P-01...and some days everything loses out to the LCP.
The 26 loses out to the Shield or G2, the 19 to the P-01...and some days everything loses out to the LCP.
I shoot the the G26 as well or better than the Browning HiPowers I carried for decades. I am perfectly comfortable shooting it with the flat based 10rd mag.
Lately, I have been using the Magpul 12rd mag, which provides a short extension, and which has functioned perfectly at the range.
When I grip the G26, the hump nestles right into the pocket in my palm, and locks it in.
I don't own a G19, but my first Glock was a G23...I find the G26 much easier to carry.
As I wrote earlier, I often carry a full size G17, concealing it without too much difficulty. However, I have carried the 1911 or the Beretta 92FS in the past, so I am used to dressing to conceal a large handgun. The light weight of the G17 makes it a breeze.
For me, the G26 provides a small, easy to carry and conceal pistol which shoots, for me, like a full sized gun, and can use any double stack Glock 9mm mag.
Last week, I spent my time at the range shooting the 10" round steel plates my club has at various ranges out to 80yds, and I had no problem ringing them with the G26.
Not bad for a pistol that disappears under a T-shirt.
I have a 15rd G19 mag with a grip extender, but I don't use it a lot. The G26 is one pistol that transitions easily from All day CCW to home defense pistol. Sometimes I will pop in the G19 mag at home.
Lately, I have been using the Magpul 12rd mag, which provides a short extension, and which has functioned perfectly at the range.
When I grip the G26, the hump nestles right into the pocket in my palm, and locks it in.
I don't own a G19, but my first Glock was a G23...I find the G26 much easier to carry.
As I wrote earlier, I often carry a full size G17, concealing it without too much difficulty. However, I have carried the 1911 or the Beretta 92FS in the past, so I am used to dressing to conceal a large handgun. The light weight of the G17 makes it a breeze.
For me, the G26 provides a small, easy to carry and conceal pistol which shoots, for me, like a full sized gun, and can use any double stack Glock 9mm mag.
Last week, I spent my time at the range shooting the 10" round steel plates my club has at various ranges out to 80yds, and I had no problem ringing them with the G26.
Not bad for a pistol that disappears under a T-shirt.
I have a 15rd G19 mag with a grip extender, but I don't use it a lot. The G26 is one pistol that transitions easily from All day CCW to home defense pistol. Sometimes I will pop in the G19 mag at home.
I had a chance to try both, back-to-back recently. It was a Gen 5 19 and a Gen 4 26, so not precisely apples-to-apples, but I can't honestly say I could tell much of a difference between a Gen 4 or 5 G19 anyways, so I think it was fair enough.
Truthfully, I couldn't discern much of a difference between them when the 26 had a 15 round mag with the extension sleeve. The overall length difference isn't that profound. Now I've never carried AIWB with anything longer than a subcompact, so I imagine that extra length could dig into my leg a bit. The length issue would be a non-issue if I carried more like 4:30 position.
Now the G26 with the 10 rounder was a weird little beast. I have a PPS M2 that is about the same grip length with its flush magazine, and I shoot that better with a 2 finger grip than I did the 26. The 26 is kind of porky without a grip extension. I had no issues shooting with either the 12 round or 15 round mags though.
I can carry 8 in my PPS, so I wouldn't step up to a G26 for the sake of 2 extra rounds. However, seeing as the G26 can grow to 12 or 15 rounds easily and still be plenty concealable, I still see it as a very flexible platform. Single stack 9s pretty much top out at 7+1 before the grips get pretty long, and extra capacity can only come from extra mags.
I probably will stick with my XD Subcompact for the long run though. It's sized almost exactly between a 19 and a 26 and shoots quite well. I can carry 16 round mags if I need to, but 13+1 packs a lot of punch into a small space. I'd say that's roughly equivalent to a G26 with the 12 round magazine.
I carry AIWB mainly because it's the most convenient to frequently take the rig on and off my body (necessitated by locations I have to visit regularly). If I knew I could carry all day, everwhere, I'd probably get a dual-clip holster to wear at 4:30, and then anything G19 sized would be easy to carry.
Truthfully, I couldn't discern much of a difference between them when the 26 had a 15 round mag with the extension sleeve. The overall length difference isn't that profound. Now I've never carried AIWB with anything longer than a subcompact, so I imagine that extra length could dig into my leg a bit. The length issue would be a non-issue if I carried more like 4:30 position.
Now the G26 with the 10 rounder was a weird little beast. I have a PPS M2 that is about the same grip length with its flush magazine, and I shoot that better with a 2 finger grip than I did the 26. The 26 is kind of porky without a grip extension. I had no issues shooting with either the 12 round or 15 round mags though.
I can carry 8 in my PPS, so I wouldn't step up to a G26 for the sake of 2 extra rounds. However, seeing as the G26 can grow to 12 or 15 rounds easily and still be plenty concealable, I still see it as a very flexible platform. Single stack 9s pretty much top out at 7+1 before the grips get pretty long, and extra capacity can only come from extra mags.
I probably will stick with my XD Subcompact for the long run though. It's sized almost exactly between a 19 and a 26 and shoots quite well. I can carry 16 round mags if I need to, but 13+1 packs a lot of punch into a small space. I'd say that's roughly equivalent to a G26 with the 12 round magazine.
I carry AIWB mainly because it's the most convenient to frequently take the rig on and off my body (necessitated by locations I have to visit regularly). If I knew I could carry all day, everwhere, I'd probably get a dual-clip holster to wear at 4:30, and then anything G19 sized would be easy to carry.
Follow-on to my earlier point...
For those here who carry a G19 in AIWB (or something similar to a G19, which is a very long list of guns)...
How do you keep that thing from digging into your leg when you bend, squat or sit? With my XD 3" or my PPS, it's short enough that I can hike my belt up a little and then the muzzle clears my leg, but adding almost another inch to the muzzle???
I'm 5'10, 180 lb. If I were 6'10 I'm sure it would be a non issue
For those here who carry a G19 in AIWB (or something similar to a G19, which is a very long list of guns)...
How do you keep that thing from digging into your leg when you bend, squat or sit? With my XD 3" or my PPS, it's short enough that I can hike my belt up a little and then the muzzle clears my leg, but adding almost another inch to the muzzle???
I'm 5'10, 180 lb. If I were 6'10 I'm sure it would be a non issue
I think it largely depends on where your waist is located. My son can't appendix carry a 43 but I have no problem with a 19.Follow-on to my earlier point...
For those here who carry a G19 in AIWB (or something similar to a G19, which is a very long list of guns)...
How do you keep that thing from digging into your leg when you bend, squat or sit? With my XD 3" or my PPS, it's short enough that I can hike my belt up a little and then the muzzle clears my leg, but adding almost another inch to the muzzle???
I'm 5'10, 180 lb. If I were 6'10 I'm sure it would be a non issue
Tactical Jackalope
New member
17 and 19 all the way. The Glock 26 is mainly a back up gun in my mind's eye.
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Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
I'm trying to get at why people see the 26 as a backup gun...
With the 10 round magazine, it's a backup to its big 19 and 17 brothers. With a 15 round magazine, it's a 19 with a 1/2 inch shorter muzzle, right?
I guess I was asking, why buy a gun that's only a full size, when you could buy one that can be a backup gun OR a full size equivalent?
Had both at one time. Sold of the 19 and instantly regretted it (especially since I have 22 conversion). Traded the 26 for another 19.
Can you guess where this story going?
Now I want another 26. Might grab an inexpensive PD trade in 27 and get a conversion barrel.
Actually found the 26 easier to shoot than the 19. Something about that short grip puts your hands in the perfect position each and every time. Even with my pinky hanging off.
I carry a back up 17 mag with either model.
Regarding pinching. My 26 never pinched me on mag changes because I'd use a longer / larger cap mag - either a 19 or 17 mag for mag changes.
Can you guess where this story going?
Now I want another 26. Might grab an inexpensive PD trade in 27 and get a conversion barrel.
Actually found the 26 easier to shoot than the 19. Something about that short grip puts your hands in the perfect position each and every time. Even with my pinky hanging off.
I carry a back up 17 mag with either model.
Regarding pinching. My 26 never pinched me on mag changes because I'd use a longer / larger cap mag - either a 19 or 17 mag for mag changes.
Mine is located in 1987.
That is the versatility that people appreciate, if they don't mind the short grip. If they hate the short grip too much to ever use it with a flush mag, the 1/2 inch difference in top length doesn't make much difference to them. I'm among the former, but it isn't unanimous.
because I use the G19 a lot more than concealing it
using it for concealed carry is the least of my concerns, for people that want a better handling shooter the G19 is a better choice
the G19 is compact enough, I dont really like sub compacts for regular use, the only advantage is easier to carry since it's sub compact
the 26 is like the Walther PPK it's extra compact for concealment.
using it for concealed carry is the least of my concerns, for people that want a better handling shooter the G19 is a better choice
the G19 is compact enough, I dont really like sub compacts for regular use, the only advantage is easier to carry since it's sub compact
the 26 is like the Walther PPK it's extra compact for concealment.