Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

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Rentsy

Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by Rentsy »

Oh how things change. I've shot quite a few guns in the last few weeks, but the one that was the most fun was a Glock. Never had any problems feeding, no problems with the trigger, shots grouping nicely where I pointed the sights (I was told that I qualified for some police shooting exams, which says more about those than about me).

In terms of caliber, I'm thinking 9mm for shootability (It was genuinely fun to fire a Glock 34, quite literally painless). That, coupled with the lower price and general higher availability than other calibers makes it my choice.

Unfortunately, they've come a long way since the Glock 17, and now they have a bewildering array of very similar models.

Basically, I need help choosing.

I also have heard rumors about a thing known as "Gun maintenance". A short explanation of how to care for a handgun would be nice.

Someday I'll have the time/money to take the plunge buy a nice 1911 in .45. Until then, I'd like to buy a good pistol and learn technique.
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mekender
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Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by mekender »

maintenance on a glock??? no such thing... clean it every 1000 rounds and run a bore snake through it after every range session.... tear it apart real good for a cleaning every 10k rounds... it will out last you.
“I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democrat Party has adopted our platform.” - Norman Thomas, a six time candidate for president for the Socialist Party, 1944
DougWojtowicz

Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by DougWojtowicz »

Glock 17 is just fine, the Glock 34 has a sweet trigger and balance, and the Glock 19 is the perfect size.

Everything else is just caliber preference, though the bigger caliber 10mm and .45 ACP Glocks have harder grips to handle.

(Oddly, the 21 with no grooves sits FINE in my hand, while the Glock 30 makes my hand feel like it's stretching to hold it properly.)
Joe ex PNG

Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by Joe ex PNG »

As Doug said, with Glocks it's all a matter of caliber and size. For 9mm, your choices are:
G-26: Sub-compact. Short barrel and grip, good CCW gun.
G-19: Compact. Very good all rounder.
G-17: Full sized.
G-34: Long slide. More for shooting competions, but great if you can carry openly or professionally.
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randy
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Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by randy »

I would recommend checking the firing pin channel occassionaly and cleaning any debris out or it.

A friend of mine did field testing of the Glock for the Hawaiian Maritime Patrol (don't remember the exact name of the organization). He carried it every day on duty and brought it out to the weekly combat pistol match to use.

Other than swabbing out the barrel, he performed no maintenance for several thousand rounds. First failure he had was caused by brass being shaved from the cases by the extractor, and eventually enough of the shavings built up in the firing pin channel to prevent the pin from hitting full force.

Blowing into the channel and tapping out the shavings cleared the problem.

Don't know if it's a continuing issue with the extractor design (this was close to 20 years ago now), or just the brass he was using, but something to keep in mind.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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Aglifter
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Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by Aglifter »

Is an XD out of the question?
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A gentleman unarmed is undressed.

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Aaron
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Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by Aaron »

Aglifter wrote:Is an XD out of the question?
Beat me to the punch. However, my biggest reason for recommending the XD is that it has the same benefits of the Glock without a grip that makes many people feel like it was designed by aliens.

If he's comfortable with a Glock, I say go for it. Although borrowing an XD and trying it out might not be amiss.

In either case, aesthetics will just have to wait until he gets a 1911... :roll:
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sam

Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by sam »

If it is just going to be a "fun" gun, get the 34, or 17. If you are going to carry it, 19 or 26.

I know a guy who torture tested his G35 (.40S&W), not cleaning it except for occasionally swabbing out the barrel. The frame split at about 70,000 rounds. He's an FFL, so not a big deal for him to get a new frame.
Rentsy

Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by Rentsy »

sam wrote:I know a guy who torture tested his G35 (.40S&W), not cleaning it except for occasionally swabbing out the barrel. The frame split at about 70,000 rounds. He's an FFL, so not a big deal for him to get a new frame.
That's torture... for the guy shooting. What's FFL

Note to all: Thank you for all of the responses. I will now have to spend some time considering the XD...

[edit] About sights... I really just want no-nonsense sights that will stay zeroed. What, if any, modifications would I consider to a factory Glock (Or XD, because "thou shalt have no other gun before me" isn't a commandment)
Last edited by Rentsy on Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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randy
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Re: Need advice on the purchase of a Glock

Post by randy »

Rentsy wrote:What's FFL
Federal Firearms License (or licensee in this context). What anyone selling a firearms as a business needs to do it legally.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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