IF I were going to buy a 9mm Glock...which one and what to add/change?

Went to my local club range today. My RXM fed 150 rounds of Tula steel without as hitch, and all shot where I was aiming. I think it could feed empty cases. A good choice, if you make it. Used Glock mags, not the PMags it came with.
 
My own $.02…
I have both a 27 and 35, both in .40 S&W
…BUT…
I also have match-grade 9mm conversion barrels for both of them. In fact, I carry them with the conversion barrels installed as SOP. No further tweaking necessary with the 27 but you DO need a 34 recoil spring in the 35 due to the extra mass of its slide in relation to the lesser recoil of 9mm compared to the.40. But both are reliability machines. Note: for max reliability, you need 9mm mags to use with the conversions.
I A/B’ed mine with the conversion barrels with a friend’s actual 26 and 34, both factory 9mm.

Reliability was identical and I shot them all equally badly.

ETA - I forgot to mention that in keeping with my propensity for having carbines chambered for my pistols’ calibers AND sharing mags in this instance, the Glocks facilitated having KelTek Sub2k’s (I know, I know) in 9 and .40 that take my pistol mags. Practically speaking, a Sub2k folded up in my get-home backpack with a few 35-rnd candy bars that’ll go in either my carbine or EDC pistol just makes sense in my world. I also love the ability to be able to use both calibers by switching barrels and in the case of the 35, the recoil spring. Only takes a second.
 
Last edited:
Personally, I like the Glock reliability, the simplicity of their action and the availability of custom stuff. I HATE their grip angle and refuse to carry one….mostly. I’ve gone the way of Glock Gen 3 clones with 1911 angle grip modules for quite a while now. I started out with Polymer 80’s, went to serialized ones after a while and now carry a BUL Cleaver FS or C almost exclusively. What I liked most about the P80 was the CL frame. Glock 17 upper on a Glock 19 grip. Longer sight radius but shorter and easier to conceal.
Are they still blocky? Yeah, as a Marine though, improvise-adapt-overcome….as long as it has a 1911 angle grip angle! 😀
 
Redcoat3340 said:
So I've owned two Glocks since I started shooting sometime in the very early 1960's. I couldn't shoot them worth a damn (when I was shooting everything else just fine) and sold them almost immediately (Glock 19 and 17).

I'm tempted to try one last time, strictly for range use.

I figure on fitting it out with a bunch of Apex stuff, new sights, and whatever else will improve it.

And I'm wondering which one to buy: 17? 19? Another number. And which version: 1, 2, 3, what's to choose from and why?

There's plenty to read about how to upgrade, so I won't be asking that here...just what one I can get for the least price, invest a couple of bucks making it better, and be able to say I got one (as I have 'bout everything else I need or want, except a Walther P88 which I can't afford, a S&W 1911 which is also out of my current price range & I have a decent 1911 anyway, and a 4053 or 43 which I'm sure I'll find soon.)

I'm thinking of a gen 1 19 or 17, as they are probably not-so-rare and cheaper than anything later..but any and all advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...
RC3340:

Go shopping! look at all of them that you can find. You may not a able to stay in the Gen 1,2,3's but look at them all.

G17, G17L, G19, G19x, G26, G34, G43/x, G45, G48.

What I think or anyone else, does not make any differences, It is only what you like and your feel of the gun. Go hunting!

There are some LGS/ ranges that you can rent a gun to try, maybe that would work. See if you can find a mom and pop range and most guys will let you take a shot or two with their gun.
 
BloodyThumb said:
I’ve owned many over the years and it was my duty gun for many of them.

I don’t carry them anymore now that I can carry what I want.

If I was going to only have one it would be a Gen 3 19.

What to change? Better sights (not plastic) and then only one thing after that and it never ends. Change you ammunition. Put rounds in the bottom and send them out the front. Leave the fashion statements to the fashion conscious effeminate shooters among us and only worry about parts should something break.

These days we seem to be raising a couple generations who view gun ownership as a status symbol or fashion accessory rather than a discipline. I’d rather be partnered with someone who shoots 1000 rounds a month out of a stock gun than someone who shoots 1000 rounds over 5 years with his Gucci Glock for fear of getting a scratch on the burnt bronze super coating or marring up the end of his titanium firing pin or jeweled flat trigger.

Don’t take it’s picture, just shoot it.
Click to expand...
So true these days.
 
New to the gun world, I decided to go for a brand new Glock 17 Gen 5.

No way I'll ever modify it, keep it simple which means keep it stock!

I have no real experience with big caliber shooting (I started shooting 10m air pistol 1.5 year ago, this was maybe the 3rd time I shot with a 9mm pistol), but I can tell, there are no bad Glocks, only bad shooters...

The very first 2 shots with the gun at 25m:

IMG_6614.jpg

IMG_6617.jpg

Second time at the range, first 5 shots at 25 meters:
IMG_6733.jpg

Honestly, the trigger is not as bad as I expected considering all what I read on the internet...and I really like the stock sights, very crisp.

I like it so much that I'm considering buying a second one, can't decide between a Gen 5 Glock 19 or 26.
 
My first Glock was a 22 that I won at a Friends of NRA function. Started shooting USPSA with it and caught the bug. Since then have switched to 34 for competition. Carried a 30sf for a while til I switched to a gen 4 19 which I carry to this day. Just purchased a 49 which is a 19 frame and 17 slide. It is in transit.
 
It would depend on what ammunition you plan on firing from it. I would recommend a Glock 17 or 34 to ensure you get proper muzzle velocity and expnsion.
 
1bayouboy said:
Love the G34 for general shooting and occasional matches. For carry I prefer the G48 over the 43X for the slightly longer barrel and sight radius
Click to expand...
Definitely my favorite Glock. I've heard some say that the G34 is too big but I think it is the perfect size (i.e. it is just about the exact same size as my 1911, which everyone knows ... is the perfect size pistol)
 
Have had my G19 Gen 3 for years! It's MY EDC. My G17 Gen 3 gets a lot of use also. My G41 Gen 4 is a fine 45 caliber pistol. Did recently get the G34 Gen 5 MOS and the G17L Gen 5 MOS. As I get older my eyes need better sights so the Gen 5's make sense for now.
 
I’m not a big Glock fan, but the 19 was always the best for me. I didn’t really like the grip on any of them, but the 19/23 was the best feeling of them.

Now, I’d go with a Ruger RXM. And I did. I was Glock-less for a lot of years but bought an RXM this year.

$399 and the grip is slightly different (but improved for me) and comes with steel sights.

I’m still not in love with the Glock design at all, but think the Ruger RXM is one of the best deals going right now.
 
BarryinIN said:
I’m not a big Glock fan, but the 19 was always the best for me. I didn’t really like the grip on any of them, but the 19/23 was the best feeling of them.

Now, I’d go with a Ruger RXM. And I did. I was Glock-less for a lot of years but bought an RXM this year.

$399 and the grip is slightly different (but improved for me) and comes with steel sights.

I’m still not in love with the Glock design at all, but think the Ruger RXM is one of the best deals going right now.
Click to expand...

Agreed

I borrowed an RXM recently from a brother officer and put 250-ish rounds through it. If I did not already have a 19.3 I would consider one myself if I was in the market for a Glock. Ran perfectly with both Glock and MagPul mags. I shot 115, 124 and a little 147 ball, and some 124 Gold Dot. Zero issues. It seems to be quite a good value.
 
In 2019, I won a Glock as a range door prize.
My choice any model, I chose a Mod 17 4th Gen.
It took a while to receive it, nearly 6 months from Glock USA.
Nice piece, 3 mags. several grip inserts for larger hands, hardcase.

It made great trading fodder, even Steven for NIB Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec 45 ACP
 

Attachments

  • 1911.jpg
    1911.jpg
    27.5 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
I own 4 of the plastic fantastic, a 29, 2 20s, and my EDC 43. I have owned dozens of them in the past and used most of them as trade fodder. One of my G27s had the S/N BUG001, which I thought was kind of cool.

I'm not emotionally attached to Glocks. But they work, every one has been 100% reliable. I recommend them as first guns for new shooters due to the simplicity of operation and dependability.

They're not pretty. They are reliable.

And to the OP, for a range 9mm I'd go G34.
 
I bought my Glock 17 new in (I think) 1991. I carried for many years. Thousands of rounds. At least 4000 in 2007 when I got my name in the Glock Report.
 

Attachments

  • my Glock sm.JPG
    my Glock sm.JPG
    78.9 KB · Views: 0
If I ever buy a Glock (not a knock; they are undeniably great, iconic pistols but they just don't trip my trigger), it would be a G19 as an homage to the Marine Corps' 'M007'.
 
I have a G43x MOS - went with Night Fission sights, Holosun 407k RDS, Shield 15 rounders with their release.

Just puts every round into predictable, boring, tiny silly groups. If you yank a round off center you know it when you’ve done it. No “mystery flyers” or “Ah musta limp-twisted it” or any silly nonsense. It just works.

Plus it is small enough to carry. Only conceivable drawback is that with 15 rounds in it the pistol is a tiny bit dense. I often do not carry a reload mag because I am not an actor fighting a dozen 30-story tall robots from an alternate dimension in a Michael Bay movie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top