Alternate training caliber

[BK14]

I exclusively own 9mm pistols, carry 9mm off duty, and on duty in an LE role. I’m pretty set on 9mm Glocks, however I’ve got an opportunity to double the training rounds I’m issued.


If you carried a 9mm, but due to various factors (ammo shortages, agency, storage, etc.) could get better access to .40 or .45, which translates to your 9mm skills better?


My agency issues rounds per month based off caliber. So for example, while I carry a personally owned 34.5 on duty, a 26.4 as a backup, and a 19.4 off duty, I still only get 50 rounds of 9mm a month, since they’re all 9mm. However, if I traded in my issued 17, for say a 22 or 21, I’d get 50 9mm rounds, and 50 .40 Cal (or .45, etc) per month, doubling my training volume.


The rounds we get varies all the time, but the baseline of round per caliber stays the same.


The other wrench, is that I’d be way more apt to carry a .45 on duty than .40 if it ever came to that, however, the .40 would be the same feel/holster/mag size as my 34.


Thoughts? Thanks in advance!


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[TicTacticalTimmy]

.40 because the grip, ergos, etc. Will be about identical.

[JRB]

Gun vs gun I'd go with a G21 over a G22 anyday, but given your circumstances I believe the G22 is the way to go, as having the same frame size and using the same holsters/gear/etc make a G22 a much more transparent transition to the 9mm's.

I'd go with the 'G17 for G22' swap and keep on keepin' on with the combos you've got for duty use, using the G22 for your practice ammo allotment.

[GyroF-16]

In this situation, I’d recommend “practice with a .40, carry a 9”.
As previously mentioned, the gear and ergonomics will be identical, which is a plus on both fronts.
And, in my experience, if you can shoot a .40 well (accuracy, shot-to-shot recovery, split times, etc), doing the same work with an identical 9mm will seem easy.
In my experience, training exclusively with a .40 for over a year really forced me to master my grip and focus on isolating the trigger pull (with an LEM, no less!). When I went back to shooting mostly 9mm, the gun barely moved in recoil and returned to point-of-aim almost automatically.

YMMV, but that’s what I’d do.

[Hizzie]

.40 because the grip, ergos, etc. Will be about identical.

This

[BK14]

This

Guess the .40 it is. I’ll try to start shooting major in matches, and get some more of those funky chicken running videos you dig so much (highland_tactics btw).


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[Sammy1]

Part of me says an extra 50 rds a month isn't worth the trade up, but if I did it, I would do a 40 cal.

[ST911]

If you carried a 9mm, but due to various factors (ammo shortages, agency, storage, etc.) could get better access to .40 or .45, which translates to your 9mm skills better?

Not your suggested option but... When I want to shoot a caliber other than my primary (9mm), I go to my 38 snubs. Excellent way to refine my trigger discipline.


My agency issues rounds per month based off caliber. So for example, while I carry a personally owned 34.5 on duty, a 26.4 as a backup, and a 19.4 off duty, I still only get 50 rounds of 9mm a month, since they’re all 9mm. However, if I traded in my issued 17, for say a 22 or 21, I’d get 50 9mm rounds, and 50 .40 Cal (or .45, etc) per month, doubling my training volume.

I'd not change. 50 rounds a month, 600 rounds a year, is literal but not meaningful "doubling."

Are you a good shooter? What would be the effect on your timing, cadence, recoil control if you go back and forth between calibers? Then again, you're already split three ways in your 9mms, and each behave a little differently. What's the point of the three different sizes of 9mms?

I'm not sure I understand this part: You're carrying a 34/26/19, but are issued a 17? If you don't have to carry the issued gun, try trading it in for the gun in the caliber you can most easily trade to someone else for something you actually want. But again, it's only 50 rounds at a time.

[pangloss]

I'd swap the G17 for a G22, but I'm not 100% sure it'd be worth it. Still, 600 rounds a year is worth something. If you change your mind, can you pretty easily switch back?

[BK14]

Not your suggested option but... When I want to shoot a caliber other than my primary (9mm), I go to my 38 snubs. Excellent way to refine my trigger discipline.



I'd not change. 50 rounds a month, 600 rounds a year, is literal but not meaningful "doubling."

Are you a good shooter? What would be the effect on your timing, cadence, recoil control if you go back and forth between calibers? Then again, you're already split three ways in your 9mms, and each behave a little differently. What's the point of the three different sizes of 9mms?

I'm not sure I understand this part: You're carrying a 34/26/19, but are issued a 17? If you don't have to carry the issued gun, try trading it in for the gun in the caliber you can most easily trade to someone else for something you actually want. But again, it's only 50 rounds at a time.

Decent shooter. Not master class, but not shitty. Slow fire accuracy is more of an issue for me than speed, so any trigger press helps.

I carry a 34 as my primary, a 26 as a backup in my pocket. 19 is off duty/plain clothes. 34 is always the duty gun, 26 is always just a backup. Just a little too lazy to carry a 34 off duty....

To be clear, the 50 rounds was an example. That’s not how much we’re actually issued. So, yeah 600 a year alone may not be worth it, but 1,200, 1,800 etc. may make it worth the time.

Re: swapping ammo..... Policy issue/hardly anyone that actually trains in this agency uses .40 (irony).


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[JAH 3rd]

Not suggesting you go with 10mm as an alternative training caliber. I think the comments here about 9/40 is a good spot to be in.

About 2 months ago, I started to look at an alternative caliber with the idea of expanding my caliber options. I have a Glock 21 gen 3. The thing I don't like about the grip is it is not very grippy......especially when compared to my Gen 5 Glock 17. So what the heck...roll the dice and get a Glock 20 Gen 4.

So I ordered the Glock 20 Gen 5 with 15-round magazine capacity. I ordered it on 10/1 and it arrived at my FFL on 10/19. Hopefully I can get it sometime next week. Recently had hip replacement surgery. Recovery is going quite well. Not doing back flips yet....gimme a couple more weeks. So I will have a new toy to drool over while I continue my recovery.

[DaBigBR]

Part of me says an extra 50 rds a month isn't worth the trade up, but if I did it, I would do a 40 cal.

The question is: can you perform at 100% of your ability with either of the other calibers? This is a duty gun. Carry what gives you the greatest survivability.

[03RN]

I say go for the 22. I shoot mostly .357 and .45. When I do shoot 9mm there is no lag time to get used to a different recoil, cadence, etc.

I shoot my g19 1-2 times a year and shoot it nearly as good as the 1911s and revolvers i carry, and shoot weekly. Ill pick it up shoot out to 50 yards, fast, up close,etc and hit steel way farther than I think I should. Then I carry it for a week and remember why I dont carry it:p

More ammo is more ammo.

[medmo]

Yes, I think it translates in my experience. I have a 96A1, with 9mm conversion, that I’ve pretty much completely self “Langdon-ized” with LTT parts/upgrades. Since I’m sitting on a stock pile of old PMC 40S&W, and 9mm is hard to come by, I’ve converted it back to 40S&W for practice only in last couple of months. I’m keeping my 9mm stock pile on ice and using the PMC 40S&W for practice/drills sparingly. I haven’t shot 40S&W seriously in a few years and am glad I held onto it. I’d recommend going with it, increase the trigger time and round count.

[HCM]

I exclusively own 9mm pistols, carry 9mm off duty, and on duty in an LE role. I’m pretty set on 9mm Glocks, however I’ve got an opportunity to double the training rounds I’m issued.


If you carried a 9mm, but due to various factors (ammo shortages, agency, storage, etc.) could get better access to .40 or .45, which translates to your 9mm skills better?


My agency issues rounds per month based off caliber. So for example, while I carry a personally owned 34.5 on duty, a 26.4 as a backup, and a 19.4 off duty, I still only get 50 rounds of 9mm a month, since they’re all 9mm. However, if I traded in my issued 17, for say a 22 or 21, I’d get 50 9mm rounds, and 50 .40 Cal (or .45, etc) per month, doubling my training volume.


The rounds we get varies all the time, but the baseline of round per caliber stays the same.


The other wrench, is that I’d be way more apt to carry a .45 on duty than .40 if it ever came to that, however, the .40 would be the same feel/holster/mag size as my 34.


Thoughts? Thanks in advance!


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Wouldn't a G41 in 45 acp also fit your G34 holsters ?

[JSGlock34]

Oddly the G41 MOS has been on my radar lately as a .45 alternative to my G34.5 MOS, considering they can share holsters. Of course, the grips will differ. It almost seems strange that the GEN5 .40s will no longer be able to use the same holsters as the 9mms, but there's a .45 that will.

[Totem Polar]

Gun vs gun I'd go with a G21 over a G22 anyday, but given your circumstances I believe the G22 is the way to go, as having the same frame size and using the same holsters/gear/etc make a G22 a much more transparent transition to the 9mm's.

I'd go with the 'G17 for G22' swap and keep on keepin' on with the combos you've got for duty use, using the G22 for your practice ammo allotment.

^^^This.

It’s not like you’re upsetting any part of the actual using tool applecart. Trading a dept owned gun for another functionally identical dept owned gun, plus more ammo seems quasi-no brainer to me.

[Jimichanga]

I would not buy a new gun for only 600 rounds a year. For the price of the new Glock 22 I would buy a Dillon Square Deal B. Not the sexiest progressive reloader but you can pick up the range brass, buy coated bullets and other components and be off to the races.

[HCM]

I would not buy a new gun for only 600 rounds a year. For the price of the new Glock 22 I would buy a Dillon Square Deal B. Not the sexiest progressive reloader but you can pick up the range brass, buy coated bullets and other components and be off to the races.

Given the current availability of components, particularly primers,’now is not really the time to start reloading.

Primary production rates are one of the key bottlenecks keeping factory ammo production from closing the gap with demand.

Locally we have competitors loading 9mm with small rifle primers because they can’t find small pistol primers.

[GyroF-16]

I would not buy a new gun for only 600 rounds a year. For the price of the new Glock 22 I would buy a Dillon Square Deal B. Not the sexiest progressive reloader but you can pick up the range brass, buy coated bullets and other components and be off to the races.

But he wouldn’t be buying a new gun. Rather, trading his department issued G17 for something in a different caliber, plus more issued ammo.

[Whirlwind06]

Oddly the G41 MOS has been on my radar lately as a .45 alternative to my G34.5 MOS, considering they can share holsters. Of course, the grips will differ. It almost seems strange that the GEN5 .40s will no longer be able to use the same holsters as the 9mms, but there's a .45 that will.

I have 41 and 34.5 with the large backstrap on the 34 the trigger reach is almost the same the grip is thicker on a 41 but not by a lot.
I'm seriously thinking of getting my 41 cut for a dot and working up some powder puff loads. I have a fair supply of small primers and a quite a bit more large pistol primers.

[JAH 3rd]

Well I finally got to FFL dealer today and picked up the above referenced pistol. In an earlier post in this thread I explained that I went with the 10mm Glock for an additional caliber option. Given the ammo situation I guess more options are a good thing.

So I got the pistol home, cleaned and lubricated it. The trigger pull isn't quite as nice as my Gen5 17 but it is definitely at a good starting point to break-in. I like the grip texture, much more grippy than my Gen3 21. Standard plastic sights which I will replace at some point. Even though my Gen3 21 is an SF model, this G20 with no backstrap feels a bit less bulky in the hand. I like that.....a pleasant surprise. Hopefully I can get to the range within the next couple of weeks. Still doing the rehab thing from hip replacement.