One thing to consider is that with a g19 or 26 you won’t have to immediately purchase any additional support gear. All of your magazines and mag pouches will work for the smaller gun and your holster should work as well, even if it isn’t ideal for your mode of carry.
im strong, i can run faster than train
Originally Posted by RevolverRob
In that case I'd vote shotgun or semi auto carbine.
For me carrying, which had to be very surreptitious for a very long time, built upon itself. The more often I carried, the more uncomfortable I was when not carrying.
I would choose a next gun to balance self-inducement into more frequent carry with avoidance of a fallaciously small gun. .38s and .380s are back up guns, and in that role they’re awesome, but I at least find myself putting on a given shirt or whatever, shrugging, and tossing on the J frame as primary.
I have recently decided my G43 is not shootable enough to be a primary.
I can carry a G17 or GM in comfort much of the time but for me the smallest gun I shoot to my highest degree of competency is the Lightweight Commander // CCO. Obviously you should get one of those, but barring that it looks like the G19 or G48 might be a great choice.
Ignore Alien Orders
I concur with the general idea that no one should be without two different sized handguns. And by that I mean one "belt" gun and something else that can be pocket carried.
Here is the aforementioned GSSF program for buying Glocks - http://www.gssfonline.com/GSSF_Pisto...nformation.pdf - If one owns a G34, the next logical weapon is the G26 or G43. Followed by a 19 at a later time. The 34/26 or 34/43 combo will solve most carry "problems".
In regards to your stated goals. A gun you're going to carry regularly trumps anything else.
That said, after I sorted out my CC pistols, I'd really want to get a long gun. Shotguns are great the Beretta 1301 is the correct choice. The other choice is the AR15. Both end up costing roughly the same once kitted up.
What do these guns do that the G34 doesn’t? What do you need to do that you can’t do with the G34? Answering those kinds of questions honestly will help determine what you are trying to achieve.
On the other hand, you don’t need a reason to buy a new gun, because buying a new gun is fun! Is there a dot in your future? Might want to ponder options to allow you to do that, perhaps. Obviously if you can actually shoot them first, it really helps.
I’ve owned a Glock 34, a 19, a 26, a 43X and a 48. I sold the 19, 26 and 43X and kept the 34 (USPSA) and the 48 (EDC). The 48 is on me as an type this in a DSG AIWB holster. It’s perfect, for me. Lightweight and slim, like what I understand a 1911 is. Guys who talk about a 1911 Commander as the perfect AIWB gun aren’t far wrong. It’s fairly close from what I can tell.
So I would suggest a 48, but I’m kinda biased.
Last edited by RJ; 03-05-2021 at 08:44 AM.
If the goal is to eventually live an armed lifestyle (i.e., to be armed wherever and whenever you are legally allowed, especially when you leave the house), then having a weapon you can comfortably and discreetly conceal 100% of the time is necessary. And if you live somewhere where it’s hot and you want to be able to wear properly fitting clothing (versus a muumuu-like top), then a Glock 19 is not going to work well. You’ll need something a lot smaller, like the single stack pistols or j-frame sized revolvers recommended by others.
For me, pocket carry is an important niche that small semi autos don’t fulfill as well as small spurless revolvers, especially with pockets that have vertical openings. So if I already had some kind of 9mm pistol, my second handgun would be a small revolver.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
This is only based on my old body. I carry OWB as it negates having to worry about pants sizes. Having a floppy shirt or jacket life style, I found the G26 fit the bill with enough rounds for a reasonable number of opponent, time in the fight calculation with an extra mag. Since I shot a 19 and now 17 for years in classes and matches, I know the gun style well. I did take a class with the 26 and the instructor wasn't happy, you need a bigger gun but I shot as well as all the other newbies at the time. I shot the 43 and it was Meh to me.
Pocket - bought a first wave G42 and it was a horror and needed to go back. I still don't trust it that much. It doesn't drop an empty on mag release, you have to drag it out. Do I want to play with it - it might become a 43 if things loosen up. Thus, the J frame pocket gun - note as I've said ad nauseum, I've spend significant time shooting Js. One of my last IDPA matches, I shot two different Js.
About the long gun, having taken Givens and Moses shotgun classes and shooting matches with my Winchester 1300 (works fine), I'm a carbine guy for home SD. The shotgun will suffice if the local bear comes in the back door (a rare occurrence and not a real worry).
That's my two cents. I think about an optic on a new Glock - I don't know. Shooting here has to free up before more experimentation.
Seems like a lot of good advise......
Not trying to derail but the 15 round mags for 48/43x have been recommended several times. Last I read here they were still problematic.?
Once I started carrying and shooting a G26 my 19s have not left the safe. When I really want to just shoot it's a G34.
If I had to have just 2 Glocks, it would be 26 and 34. A 17 is almost as good as a 34.
My experience is that the 26 just shoots extremly well for a gun of that size. Throw a pinky extension on and it's even better. My performance is improved with a 19 but the 26 conceals much easier for me and I don't need to dress around it.
Reply With Quote