Glock 19 more fun than G17?

[HammerStriker]

I know the 17 and 19 are practically the same gun, but does anyone else find shooting the G19 more "fun". Not saying the G19 is an "better" or more "accurate", just that I find it more fun to shoot. Am else feel the same?

[Rex G]

Well, no. Nines with short grips have never been fun to shoot, and that includes the G19, in my somewhat long hands, as the heel of the grip does not reach the “heel bone” of my hand. I have experimented with quite a few such Nines, since the Nineties. I acquired my first two G19 pistols, which were Gen4, in 2013/2014. They fit a special niche, in PD policy, as plain-clothed officers could carry 9mm G19 pistols, as primary weapons, while all uniformed personnel had to tote the normally-mandated Forties. My .40 SIG P229R had been vexing my aging right wrist since 2011, about the time I reached age 50, so I wanted a weapon with a lower bore axis, while also switching to 9mm, if I could transfer to a plain-clothed investigation position.

I had already bought a pre-owned G17, in 2012, so knew that a G17 was “orthopedic,” compared to the SIG, though the G17 was Gen3, which was not a best fit, in my hands, compared to Gen4. The grip width and volume of the Gen4 G19 pistols was better for my hands, than Gen3 Glocks, and the finger grooves actually fit my skinny fingers just fine, but, the G17 had the longer grip, that braced firmly against the heel of my hand. Then, in late 2015, the then-chief OK’ed 9mm duty pistols, for all personnel, and I bought a Gen4 G17, which became my primary duty pistol. In spite of my G19 pistols having a head start, I immediately shot the new Gen4 G17 much better. And, notably, I usually carried the larger G17 concealed, during personal time, as it was always the protruding rear of the slide that was the concealment challenge, and that is the same dimension, on both the G17 and G19.

Then, during my October 2017 “qual,” the G19 pistols started causing actual swelling, and a bit of discoloration, in my right thumb, hand, and wrist. Not just un-fun, but unhealthy. After two weeks, to let the swelling go down, and the pain go away, I qual’ed with my G17, and full-sized, all-steel 1911. No pain, no swelling. I cleaned and put-away my three Gen4 G19 pistols, and traded them away, in 2020. I had thought about keeping them, and only shooting them lefty, but, no, they were not fun to shoot, and not really any easier to conceal. I have added more G17 pistols, since I stopped shooting my G19 pistols; more comfortable, and more fun.

It is worth keeping a G26, and I may actually add a second G26, as they can fit into some truly useful concealment niches. I am not saying that a G26 is fun to shoot, of course.

Regarding accuracy, well, shooting accurately is, to me, an integral part of the fun. Burning through ammo, for its own sake, has never been fun.

[steve]

For me no also. I like the full size 17 size grip. My favorite of them all is the RTF2, I wish Glock would make that grip texture in Gen 5 but they won't because it destroys uniforms.

[Sammy1]

G45!!!

[SwampDweller]

Shooting them side by side on a shot timer and scoring objectively (not just going off "feelings"), I found little to no difference in my ability to shoot my G17 and G19 well. A couple of times my scores were better with the G19, but I don't think much of that. To me, since they shoot the same, I opted to get rid of the 17 and keep the 19 since it's slightly easier to carry and I have a lot more G19 mags than G17 mags. In terms of fun, they feel about the same to me, although I have a slight preference for the 19. I have average sized hands though I guess they could be considered "meaty", but for some reason the shape and size of the G19 grip fits me very well.

[M2CattleCo]

Nope.

Going from a 26 or 19 to a 17 is like a pair of too small, uncomfortable boots to my best pair of bummin’ shoes.

The 17 shoots and tracks noticeably better than the 19/45/19X to me. Extra evident with an RMR.

[RJ]

Hmmm...not 100% sure about a 17, but my 34.5 is much more "fun" to shoot than my 19.5.

Most likely because it weighs more (has brass grip insert, tungsten guide rod) so the perceived recoil is less, plus the longer slide cycles slower (I would guess). I have a set of Talon granulate grips on it for USPSA, so it locks pretty well into my size M hands. And oddly with the M no beavertail backstrap it seems to fit my hand as well or better than my 19. I've heard the Glock grip hits certain hand types in certain ways, and it must be true in my case.

Having said that, the 19.5 is not a problem, shooting. I left it alone as it's one of my two EDC, so it just has an optic on a Forward Controls Plate. I did have a go at smoothing out the connector face as it was a little rough (a minus, if I recall correctly), but for a carry gun the trigger works as advertised with just a drop of oil on the trigger bar interface.

[blues]

My Gen4 G17 is the most accurate Glock I've ever fired. But it's relegated to nightstand duty (with light mounted).

I've only compared it with my G26's and G19.

To me, they're all the same as far as "fun" factor.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

I prefer my 4th Gen 17 to my 2nd Gen 19. Since I live in a ban state, my 26 is EDC and I shoot that decently. We are having a small gun match next month. If we ever had the ban lifted would I go back to a 19 for more rounds, I dunno? Might be tempted by one with optics as I don't have that now.

[blues]

I prefer my 4th Gen 17 to my 2nd Gen 19. Since I live in a ban state, my 26 is EDC and I shoot that decently. We are having a small gun match next month. If we ever had the ban lifted would I go back to a 19 for more rounds, I dunno? Might be tempted by one with optics as I don't have that now.

I've not yet fallen under the sway of pistol mounted dots. One on my AR is it. Maybe in 30 years or so.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Glad you got 30 years left. So if I do that, I'm 104. Ouch. We had a shoot the nondominant hand stage, some folks lost the dot. Does a dot protect from or encourage shooting your peepee off with AIWB. There are laser on reports with AIWB suggesting that you don't shoot your peepee but this from expert peepee and gun users.

[blues]

Glad you got 30 years left. So if I do that, I'm 104. Ouch.

104 is the new 50. ;)

I'll only be a spritely 99.

I can't answer the shoot your pecker off portion of your post as I have no intention of going that route.

[HeavyDuty]

I've not yet fallen under the sway of pistol mounted dots. One on my AR is it. Maybe in 30 years or so.

If it has shake awake, the battery will last for years.

[Gadfly]

I have always preferred the 17 to the 19 for actual shooting. For concealing, obviously the 19 gets the nod.

But since I typically carried a 26 to conceal, my “duty” gun was the 17 (Gen 4). If we authorize the Gen 5 as is rumored, I might try a 19…. But in my heart, I know the 17 is king.

[Lon]

I enjoy shooting my 19s and 26 more than any 17 or 34 I’ve ever had. Which is why I only have 19s and a 26. A really fun combo is this 26L.

81716

[High Cross]

The opposite. A glock 19 is my first semi auto pistol and an excellent ccw piece but I find the 17 fits my hand better and is more enjoyable to shoot. The 19 had an advantage for me when NJ had a 15 round limit and 15 round g18 mags had not been invented yet. Now I take the g 17 ti the range all the time and the 19 is largely a safe queen.

[Mark D]

Speaking to the original question, I find a G17 to be softer shooting than a G19.



I enjoy shooting my 19s and 26 more than any 17 or 34 I’ve ever had. Which is why I only have 19s and a 26. A really fun combo is this 26L.

81716

Very nice. Who did the grip chop?

[GearFondler]

Very nice. Who did the grip chop?

That's not a chop... That's some kind of voodoo that's got a 19 slide on a 26 frame.

[Mark D]

That's not a chop... That's some kind of voodoo that's got a 19 slide on a 26 frame.


Interesting. Voodoo indeed!

[Duelist]

I prefer shooting the 19x to just about any other Glock. Maybe a G44 will be more fun for just blowing through ammo and plinking, but for a 9mm, the 19x is it.

The G26 carries easier than a 19, 19X, or 17 or 34, and is more fun to shoot than a 43, so the the G26 is my most carried Glock. 19x is still more fun to shoot, but I’ll shoot the G26 quite happily all day.

[HammerStriker]

I prefer shooting the 19x to just about any other Glock. Maybe a G44 will be more fun for just blowing through ammo and plinking, but for a 9mm, the 19x is it.

The G26 carries easier than a 19, 19X, or 17 or 34, and is more fun to shoot than a 43, so the the G26 is my most carried Glock. 19x is still more fun to shoot, but I’ll shoot the G26 quite happily all day.

19x seems like a good one. Have never shot one and and they cost a LOT in CA since they are off roster. I don't know what it is, but I tend to prefer shooting compact sized pistols. I feel like 9mm compact pistols are soft shooting, yet don't feel like a .22. Something about the G19 size that I just really enjoy. I have shot a G26 and really found that a fun little pistol to shoot too. Have thought about picking one up.

[Bucky]

Another vote no, and prior to Gen 4 make that a HELL NO (Gen 1 possibly excluded and may be the best variation if not for its rarity). To me the hump is all wrong on the 19. A 17 chopped to 19 length feels better to me than a 19 (which is essentially what a Gen 1 was, or so I was told).

A Gen 4 sans back strap is tolerable, but still prefer the 17.

[Lon]

Speaking to the original question, I find a G17 to be softer shooting than a G19.




Very nice. Who did the grip chop?

That’s actually a G26.3 frame w a G19.3 Brownells slide and a LW adapter.

81752
81753
81754

Stipple work by Billy Brown of Make Ready Firearms.

[Lost River]

I have big mitts.

The 19 is a great carry gun, but I shoot the 17 better, without question, and I find very little difference in when it comes to concealing them when using high quality holsters. I shoot the G17 better than the G19, and the G34 better than the G17.

I have tried a few different times to carry/shoot a G26, but performance wise, they are the tipping point for me. I just don't shoot them anywhere near as well as a G19, so the 19 is as small as I am willing to go in the series.

I have always had the thought process of "what is the smallest gun you are willing to get into a straight-up gunfight with, against one or possibly two shooters?". That generally speaking has been the G19, so that is what I stick with. That is why I don't generally go with the convenient little pocket autos that are so popular today, because I don't want to get into a habit of putting something in my pocket that I will really wish was a more appropriate choice when the bullets go to flying.

Sorry, got off track there.

Anyways, the 19 is as small as I generally go, but shoot the 17 better.

[GlockenSpiel]

The recoil is smoother on the 17, the grip is better, and no chance of pinching myself on the reloads. There will always be a new fashionable choice, but for the best specs for a duty gun they got it right from the beginning.

[Lost River]

I consider Glock 17/19s like a high-quality utility knife. Much like a Stanley box knife. If you feed it good blades, keep it well oiled, it will last you a lifetime. They are not even slightly exciting, just simple, very reliable utilitarian pieces. You load them up and go to work.

https://i.imgur.com/OetBgu5.jpg?1

[Mark D]

That’s actually a G26.3 frame w a G19.3 Brownells slide and a LW adapter.

81752
81753
81754

Stipple work by Billy Brown of Make Ready Firearms.

Thanks Lon. Cool setup.

[Cool Breeze]

I consider Glock 17/19s like a high-quality utility knife. Much like a Stanley box knife. If you feed it good blades, keep it well oiled, it will last you a lifetime. They are not even slightly exciting, just simple, very reliable utilitarian pieces. You load them up and go to work.

https://i.imgur.com/OetBgu5.jpg?1

Sorry - Don't mean to hijack the thread but is that an optics cut Milt Sparks 55BN? How do you get one of those?

[Lost River]

Sorry - Don't mean to hijack the thread but is that an optics cut Milt Sparks 55BN? How do you get one of those?

More or less, yes.

I don't know if the guys at the shop ever put a name on it or not, and this one is a prototype that I have been using for this past year. But I am sure if you call and say you saw it on the Pistol-Forum, they will get you hooked up. Since I don't work there, I could not tell a thing beyond that about prices, how long the wait is, etc. I am friends with the guys, but don't even live in the same part of the state. Usually, my wife is calling this time of year finding out what I have on order, to make her Christmas shopping easier: cool:

[Cool Breeze]

More or less, yes.

I don't know if the guys at the shop ever put a name on it or not, and this one is a prototype that I have been using for this past year. But I am sure if you call and say you saw it on the Pistol-Forum, they will get you hooked up. Since I don't work there, I could not tell a thing beyond that about prices, how long the wait is, etc. I am friends with the guys, but don't even live in the same part of the state. Usually, my wife is calling this time of year finding out what I have on order, to make her Christmas shopping easier: cool:

Nice! Thanks for the heads up. I love their leather buy my current 55BN has been sidelined due to a G19 MOS with optics I've been carrying.

[Lost River]

Found a pic with my 17.2 and RDO.

Like I said in the previous post, mine is a prototype so there may be slight differences, but this is it.

https://i.imgur.com/yTvcOMr.jpg

edit to show back side of holster

https://i.imgur.com/tn34kaF.jpg

[Cool Breeze]

Found a pic with my 17.2 and RDO.

Like I said in the previous post, mine is a prototype so there may be slight differences, but this is it.

https://i.imgur.com/yTvcOMr.jpg

edit to show back side of holster

https://i.imgur.com/tn34kaF.jpg

Damn - That is nice. I may have to call them and tell them Lost River sent me. :cool:

[Cool Breeze]

Sorry OP for the derail - G17 for me for fun factor. That being said, every time I look at my G19 compared to my G17 I am amazed by how competent of a pistol it is for its size and weight.

[the Schwartz]

Nope.

''Accuracy'', ''familiarity'', and ''comfort'' are my kind of ''fun'' so my Glock 17 (acquired in 1995) is ''it'' for me. It's seen plenty of honest wear, use, and competition (most of it 'informal') and it'll be the gun I rely on 'til my final day.

[Gun Mutt]

I find the 19 to be the cat's ass, can't imagine not owning multiples. From there, I oddly gravitate to the 20 or 34...and I don't even currently own a 34. I'll remedy that someday. I anticipated loving the feel of a 45/19x, but my reaction is completely meh when I handle them.