First handgun I ever purchased was a S&W Model 66-2 (4" barrel) in 1985 when I turned 21. I still have it and will never part with it. In 1991 I bought my first auto pistol - a slightly used 5904 (still have that one as well). First of 2 children was born in 1992 - so I kind of got out of shooting. In the last year - with children moving out and other life changes, I'm getting back into it.

Jan 2016 - I bought a Ruger SP101 .357 with 3 inch barrel. Always wanted one since they were first introduced in 1989. In May 2016, I picked up a M&P 15 Sporter II. In Nov./Dec. 2016 I picked up 2 6906's in gun auctions.

I've always been more of a S&W guy. (My father was a LEO in a small southern IL town who always carried S&W's - Model 19, then 39, etc.)

Last Saturday I was at a local range with a couple guys in a shooting club that one has just started. I was shooting my 6906 and both revolvers (above). I let one guy shoot my revolvers - he was WAY impressed with the model 66. I shot his Glock 17. Another guy let me shoot his Glock ? in .380. That was the first time I had ever shot a Glock.

With both Glocks, I was hitting more accurately and in tighter groups than I was hitting with my 6906. (I was hitting a little low and to the right with my 6906.)

During the week I had a co-worker/friend that wanted to buy one of my 6906's - I sold it to him.

Today - 2/4, I went back to the range by myself and shot a Glock 26 rental. Again, tighter groups and more accurate than either my 6906 or the SP101 I was shooting today.

I finished shooting. Hit Carls Jr. (or Hardees for those in other parts of the country) - downed a couple biscuits w/ gravy; then went straight to my "go-to" LGS.

In a manner of minutes, I walked out with a brand new Glock 19.

I was trying to hold out from the dark side - simply by never shooting a Glock. I did not want to "like" Glocks - but man, once I shot 3 of them, its hard to deny that they are a sweet piece of engineering technology. I'll never get rid of my Smiths or stop shooting them, but.....I have now officially succumbed to the Dark Side.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

I also, stayed away from Glocks since they emerged until about a year ago when I purchased my first Glock; a Gen 4 Model 19. I had night sights installed and the NY 1 trigger to stiffen up the trigger a bit, and later installed the 3.5 lb connector resulting in a stiffer than factory, but more consistent trigger pull. Shortly after "configuring" my 19, I purchased a Gen 4 Model 23 and had the same configuration with the addition of the Alpha Wolf .357 Sig barrel also as an option.
I find that I don't shoot either the 19 or the 23 as well as my other pistols, but I have grown to respect the Glocks and sometimes CCW them. I don't see myself selling them, and I do appreciate what they offer.

We've owned a Glock 43 for two years or so (wife's carry gun). The majority of my other semi-autos are S&W. My best 7 yard target ever, which is extremely excellent BTW, is from the 43. But to do so, I have to remember pressure from my left hand. Otherwise it's low/left. The feel just doesn't come as naturally, due to the rake angle of the grip. Never the less, the Glock has been flawless. We shoot a very high amount of ammunition during the warmer months.

I went over briefly, decided it was a mistake... sold both.

My only Glock is a six-inch barreled model and I love it. I have to admit though, that those 19s sure seem to hit a sweet spot for a lot of people and organizations.

I had a chance to buy a Glock recently from a private owner.
Could not bring myself to do it.
To me they are like belly buttons....everybody has one.Kinda like the GM 350 engine!
Dare to be different!

My duty gun is a G17 (Gen 1) and I too find it shoots low/left in my hands. I did have a Glock Sock when I was in a sole charge station, but lost it somewhere along the way after a promotion.

I did get my mitts on a Gen 4 17 a few months ago and with the
fullest blackstrap insert it felt pretty good. Problem for me is that our duty guns are fitted with the NY trigger (11 lbs???) so shoots a whole lot different than my CZ75 or 1911's.

And I can "feel" the plastic frame flexing under recoil.

During my career in LE I spent 31 years as a Director of Public Safety at a college. In 1983 when I first took the department, my officers carried Model 19 S&W revolvers (nickel). During my prior LE work we carried Model 10's so naturally I was a S&W guy. Due to LE training, industry standards, etc. in the early 1990's we had to transition to semi-automatics to stay current. I decided to transition the department to Glock 22's with night sights. (We traded in the Model 19's on the Glocks and most of the officers bought theirs afterwards from the dealer.) I carried a Glock 23. Great service weapons, durable. low maintenance, easy to transition from revolvers and very accurate. Qualification scores went up.

When I announced my retirement, the department ask me what kind of pistol I would like as a retirement gift. I told them I really didn't want or expect any gifts but I that really liked the new (at the time) S&W Shield. At my going away I was surprised to be presented with a 9mm Shield.

I guess you could say I came back from the dark side. The Glock is an excellent pistol for the purposes for which it was designed.

I admire the simplicity of the disassembly, and the reliability. But I shot my buddy's G17 a few years ago, and didn't like the way it felt in my hand. I don't know what Gaston Glock's hand looked like, but it must be different than mine. Unlikely I'll ever own one.

I'll admit it. Last week at indoor range actually rented a glock 19. Could adapt to it easily, and do own 2 xds's and a xdm.

The Gen 4 Glock tried did seem to have a hitch right at the end of the trigger pull.

I tried a lot of polymer pistols before settling on the Walther PPQ. I admit, though that I thought the Glock 19 gen 4 felt good in the hand and had a decent trigger, although not nearly as nice as the PPQ. Much better than the standard M&P.

What I don't get is why the glock sells for so much. I liked the glock better than the stock M&P, but not $100 more than the stock M&P. And it is $40 more than the PPQ I ended up buying, although I did get a very good deal on it.

Been carrying my lil Glock on Sunday's lately. Lots of crazy stuff right now. But it just don't look as nice as a nickel J frame for Sunday dress. Only three more rounds.

I have a Gen 4 G19 simply because it's a reliable, accurate double stack that I won't cry over if it gets damaged, stolen, or does time in an evidence locker, should I need to use it for self defense. A stock Glock is relatively inexpensive and easy to replace compared to my S&W revolvers, Ruger single actions, and Sig semiautos. It's a good value in a defense/combat handgun.

The Glocks are affordable and they work. I can't ask for much more.

I've been at the dark side with a SP2022 and briefly had a shield9......and it struck me one day that it wasn't polymer that was distasteful to me but it was strikers.....I'm an unapologetic hammer guy....and lately the dark side has swung me to HK's...admission price to that dark side is a little pricey but my groups are a lot tighter than some of my 3rd. gen SW....except for my 4506-1

__________________
witty signature goes here

After watching a segment with the Gunney on the Glock Model 34 on TV, I decided to buy one. The gun is light and very accurate especially with a red dot optical sight which this model is nicely set up for. The only drawback is here in New York we are limited to 10 round magazines.
Don't feel bad about owning a Glock. Glock started the polymer frame design which a lot of others have copied.

In my opinion you cannot go wrong with a Glock, if you shoot it well. I have numerous carry options in handguns and I choose to daily carry a Glock 43. Occasionally I will switch it up but more often than not it is the 43 on my side. I shoot it well and it is utterly reliable. BTW I only own the one Glock 43 and it is more of a tool for me.

__________________
Regards
Paul

I preface what I am about to say with the fact that my 4" SW M-686 (no dash) is my favorite all time handgun and I would give up all of my others before that one. My department first made the switch to Glocks in 2001, going with G-22's for Patrol and G-23's for CID and Admin folks. I was the department range master then and arranged the trade of our SW 5906's for the Glocks. A few years ago we "upgraded" to the new Gen 4's of the same models. I probably shoot Glock handguns as much as anyone in North Georgia and see a lot more being shot by other officers. The simple fact is that they work when they are supposed to and confidence with our chosen carry pistol is extremely high. I personally own 10 Glocks and will probably end up with more. If Smith and Wesson would design a nationwide competition like Glock's excellent GSSF, then I would be first in line for an M&P 9mm.

I went back to revolvers and haven't owned an automatic--sorry, that's what I grew uo calling them--in years. But I owned a couple of 2nd generation Glocks, a 22 and a 19. I liked them both, but the 19 seemed to be just a fine, carryable, all-around pistol.

I'll stick with my revolvers, but I damn sure wouldn't shed tears if somebody wanted to give me a G19.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

Congrats!

My first semi-auto pistol was a Glock 19. There isn't a single stand out feature that sets a Glock apart from others. It's an overall average gun that executes it's intended function reliably. The simple efficient design, minimal parts count without sacrificing function, are what contributes to its reliability and ease of end user maintenance. I appreciate Glock's for what they are, a tool.

__________________
-John

" Glock started the polymer frame design which a lot of others have copied."

The HK VP70, IIRC, was the first polymer frame semi auto pistol.

I've had a few Glock's and currently only have a 43 that I carry when riding my Harley - won't break my heart if it goes bouncing down the highway.

I appreciate your story. It's hard to beat a Glock. Very basic and one of if not the most reliable plastic guns out there.

If you Glock did bounce off the bike the best part of it being a Glock is it won't go off while it's bouncing and it will still work as good as it did before.

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

So you installed the much despised NY trigger and found out you cannot shoot it as well as your other handguns? Doesn't seem like a coincidence to me

Everybody should have a 19 whether you want it or not. Indestructible, infalllible and easily replaced.

I only buy guns that are made of forged steel and walnut. The 19 rides in the truck along with bolt cutters, jumper cables and such.

I am a lover of blue steel and walnut, and own several nice examples of the famous brands of wheel guns, and autos, but I will admit I have several polymer guns as well, Glocks 17L,19,26,35,42,, Steyr M9a1, Sig 250, CZ's polymer75, and a pair of Cannick's TP9 pistols and they are all very good shooters.
in fact had a bunch out yesterday at the range with the family
so I am a believer in the plastic guns,
I don't believe they will ever attain the collectability of the old steel guns but they shoot very well and are easy n the belt when it comes time to carry

PS don't ever shoot a Cannick TP9sa or you will be second guessing the glocks

I resisted Glock for several years. I've owned and carried more guns than I can remember. I still own an M&P 9, XD 45 Tactical, and several others. But I only carry Glock guns.

They fit my hand ok. Not as well as the M&P. It's just that Glock is the best in one regard. Availability of parts and accessories.

These days a Glock 19 and 43 serve me well. I'm always tempted by other guns but when I come back down to earth I remember how much I have invested in my carry guns and how easy it is to find parts and have them installed while I wait.

The new Canik Elite has caught my attention however.

__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I grew up shooting steel guns. Glocks seemed like cheap toys when they first arrived on the scene. But now, I own one, a .45 ACP compact.

Glocks: very good guns, but in my opinion, soul-less. Unlike an S&W Model 19, it's hard to have "pride of ownership" with a Glock. It's just a gun, nothing more than that. Very utilitarian, very pedestrian, very...(*yawn*)...




-----------------

OP...Welcome..and enjoy your purchase! If you can only have one handgun, own a Glock.

20.00 new mags detail strips in seconds down to every part out of the gun parts for them are every were and cheap no wait thinner than most other competitors allways function whats not to like

My two carry guns are a J frame and a Glock G30S.
Neither of them are guns you would shoot for pleasure. They are both lightweight carry guns. And they are both reliable.

"Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your guns. Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for... Smith & Wesson. So, you have a Glock. Enjoy it while you can."

Just a couple years ago I purchased my first striker fire Glock......a Model 26 and love it as a high capacity sub-compact carry 9mm.
Recently I added my second Glock....a Model 19, and so far I am very pleased with accuracy and reliability.

__________________
Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Brought my FIRST GLOCK home last Fri.. A 42 in 380acp...
Probably gonna be like kissing a porcupine.. Very Carefully..