Small gun comparison -- G43X, G26, 365, CC9, Hellcat, Shield+

[breakingtime91]

G4 26 slide milled by Maple Leaf, 11.95 ounces

Attachment 132362

G5 26 mos slide, 11.85 ounces

Attachment 132363

The 407 CO on the G4 is 1.5 ounces, and the EPS is 1.4 ounces, so that means the two slides, less optic, weigh the same.

Answers that question

[Blades]

Clue me in as to why Gen 5 vs an earlier Gen 26? The 26 has been crazy accurate through all the generations, so it must be something else.

Four things: First, I've never owned any other generation of the G26. Second, the red dot (SCS) made a noticeable difference. The last two are thanks to Pistol-Forum. After reading it over the past few years, I came to two realizations: one, I need to pick a pistol, learn it, and stop chasing the latest releases; and two, my dangling pinky isn’t what’s hurting my accuracy with the G26.

[Navyguns]

While at NRAAM 2025 I got to spend some time with the Glock COA pistols and chat with a rep. at Aimpoint. I have to admit the more time I spent with the G48 COA the more it seems like an ideal every day warm weather carry. I wish they would do a G26 COA but probably won’t happen.

The Aimpoint rep. was really cool. I asked him about red dot optics and astigmatisms. He told me to look at the new shotgun optic with a 9 moa dot. For the first time in my life I saw an actual circle and not a weird shape. The rep. said for people with bad eye sight, they should opt for the larger dots. He sees a 9 moa COA optic in the future.

[HeavyDuty]

While at NRAAM 2025 I got to spend some time with the Glock COA pistols and chat with a rep. at Aimpoint. I have to admit the more time I spent with the G48 COA the more it seems like an ideal every day warm weather carry. I wish they would do a G26 COA but probably won’t happen.

The Aimpoint rep. was really cool. I asked him about red dot optics and astigmatisms. He told me to look at the new shotgun optic with a 9 moa dot. For the first time in my life I saw an actual circle and not a weird shape. The rep. said for people with bad eye sight, they should opt for the larger dots. He sees a 9 moa COA optic in the future.

That tracks with what I’ve seen people with astigmatism post about 6 MOA dots.

[GJM]

I have lots to add on small Glock pistols, the CZ S2 Carry, and the 365 but will break it into different posts to keep things straight.

[GJM]

I have some 365 concerns, which I will elaborate on in a separate post, but the bottom line is I started looking at smaller Glock pistols.

I ordered some Taran +1 and 2 base pads for my 43, as well as the Tango Down +2 extensions. What reliability have folks experienced with these extensions on the 43? For now I am using a 43X upper with a Holosun k optic, with a 43 lower with a Talon Pro decal and flat base pad OEM six round mags.

The pistol is zeroed with Gold Dot 124 (standard pressure). Reaching the range I put up a B8 at 25, and when I opened the rear door, managed to drop my 43 onto a hard surface. No obvious damage and here is the freestyle group at 25 yards.



Next I shot a few arrays with the 43, and I noticed two things -- it definitely shoots like a smaller pistol and it runs out of bb's real fast.

Next I shot a G5 26, using the same ten round OEM magazine that gave me trouble with the G4 26. Five 124 Lawman at 25.



Shot some arrays with this pistol and mag with Lawman and no issues noted.

I have been pondering whether a 19 could be my "perfected 26." Since I carry in a holster the extra length of the 19 isn't a detriment. The 19 gives more velocity, the ability to hang a light, and with a 19 mag scales up easily. I don't have a G5 chopped 19 here, but I did have the pieces to put a Gen 3 together.

Here was five shots of Gold Dot 124 at 25.



Next I shot five Lawman and they grouped ok but hit 3.5 or 4 inches left. Thinking it might be me, I repeated and got the same result. I have not found Gen 5 pistols to have such a different POI. Others experienced this? I asked Ben at Boresight to chop a Gen 5 19, and I am hoping this is my ultimate 26.

I finished up my Glock shooting with that G4 26 that gave me problems recently. Using the suspect mag and Lawman, I had no issues. I had stripped the pistol, cleaned and lubed it but didn't notice anything wrong, and it wasn't particularly dirty or dry.

[GJM]

The brown truck brought the CZ to my LGS, and I rushed home and mounted an optic. I haven't shot more than a handful of rounds through a metal DA/SA since 2020, so I was very curious about this new pistol.

The first thing I noticed was that CZ secures the optic plate with honking big T20 screws. Fit and finish looked good to my non technical eyes. Trigger measured at 9 DA, 4 SA on my Wheeler gauge. I decided to go with an EPS full size 6 moa, for a larger display. The EPS Carry doesn't overhang the slide, but the full size EPS does only modestly. Here is the pistol.







I used the Wheeler laser sighter to get it close. It took a lot of windage adjustment, but since the optic came out of the box, I don't know if the adjustment was centered.

I had a holster for my Shadow 2 (full size) and used that today. Here were my first five shots at 25, 124 Lawman.



I did some adjusting, and shot again at 25.



Next I shot two five shot groups at 25, DA only. One flyer in each group, no doubt my lack of recency with a DA trigger.. The two fingers is my reminder which were the DA groups.





Then I shot two more groups at 25 SA. The second group was Gold Dot.






I did a run of ten at ten yards, but I definitely need some more experience with the pistol to bring out its potential.





So what did I think of the new CZ -- I really liked it a lot. Interestingly, the trigger is nowhere near as good as a full on Shadow 2. As is, or with just a hammer spring, I think it would be a great EDC trigger. I am still learning the trigger (and frankly the whole pistol), and it has some junk you need to get through shooting a B8 at 25. That junk is less noticeable shooting arrays. I have nothing bad to say about the pistol -- it was reliable, pleasant to shoot, seems quite anccurate, and I believe it will only grow on me.

[GJM]

I just heard about a 365XL discharging in a holster during a training class at a well known school. Experienced shooter, coach standing right behind him, they were getting ready to go tape targets when the pistol went off.

I have taken comfort that the discharges seemed to be a 320 thing. However the 320 problems has not been clearly identified and while the 365 FCU is different than the 320, it is still alike in some ways. As an appendix carrier, a discharge is obviously a big problem.

I am letting all this sink in. I really like how size efficient the 365 is and how well it shoots. However you can't have a great hunting dog that bites kids.

[Clusterfrack]

I just heard about a 365XL discharging in a holster during a training class at a well known school. Experienced shooter, coach standing right behind him, they were getting ready to go tape targets when the pistol went off.

I have taken comfort that the discharges seemed to be a 320 thing. However the 320 problems has not been clearly identified and while the 365 FCU is different than the 320, it is still alike in some ways. As an appendix carrier, a discharge is obviously a big problem.

I am letting all this sink in. I really like how size efficient the 365 is and how well it shoots. However you can't have a great hunting dog that bites kids.

That’s not good… at all. Fully cocked striker, no trigger tab has always creeped me out.

[Tensaw]

I just heard about a 365XL discharging in a holster during a training class at a well known school. Experienced shooter, coach standing right behind him, they were getting ready to go tape targets when the pistol went off.

Well,... shit...