Glock experts, opinions needed

gofastman · 09-10-09, 08:49

I'm looking to buy my first pistol soon and I have more or less settled on the Glock 20 10mm
I would like some advice for those in the know. I have a very large hand. is the short frame model still a good idea?
Is it wise to go with the compensated model? I understand the 10mm, when loaded properly, is a fairly hot round, but in reality Is the recoil that sharp?
I shot a few other pistols in the past, what does it most directly compare to:
.41 Mag
Glock 22 .40S&W(loved it!)
Taurus .357 Mag
Israeli Arms .45 ACP

JimmyCutlass · 09-10-09, 09:11

I would recommend .40S&W over 10mm because the ammunition is less expensive and more available. I am a big guy (6'3" and 230) and I also have big hands, I have no problems using my father's Glock 23. That's the beauty of Glock's design, it really fits any user. That being said, I prefer the design of the H&K USP.

The recoil falls somewhere between 40S&W and .45ACP. A compensator would probably be unnecessary.

Accumulator · 09-10-09, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by carn00bie

I'm looking to buy my first pistol soon and I have more or less settled on the Glock 20 10mm
I would like some advice for those in the know. I have a very large hand. is the short frame model still a good idea?

Probably. People with large hands usually do OK with that frame. Try some fast magazine changes and see if you pinch your hand when seating the magazine. That's more likely to be "the issue" than anything else IMO.

Quote:

Is it wise to go with the compensated model?

Only if it's a target/recreation gun IMO. For business I'd keep it simple.

Quote:

I understand the 10mm, when loaded properly, is a fairly hot round, but in reality Is the recoil that sharp?

The compensator probably won't do as much for this as you'd think. IMO the 10mm is hot enough in that gun that you oughta have a *VERY* good reason for going with that caliber or else it'll be a mistake.

I'd bet most anything that your follow up shots will be *much* slower than with a lighter caliber.

If you're thinking self-defense, IMO nobody you shoot with it will ever stop/not because of the chosen caliber.

Quote:

I shot a few other pistols in the past, what does it most directly compare to:
.41 Mag
Glock 22 .40S&W(loved it!)
Taurus .357 Mag
Israeli Arms .45 ACP

IMO it doesn't really compare to *any* of those as a Glock in a *hot* caliber is simply different. If you liked the 22 then I'd stick with a .40 caliber.

FWIW, guys like Jim Yeager (who's probably trained more Glock shooters than anybody else) always urge people to stick with 9mm for their Glocks, and the people he's training are very serious, using them in life/death work. Do an internet search on "James Yeager" and/or "Tactical Response".

Plus, 9mm is *cheap* and to get decent with the thing you'll need to burn through thousands of rounds, which would cost a bit in 10mm.

gofastman · 09-11-09, 08:44

I'm still set on the 10 mm for now, thanks for the advise though.
I was reading a bit and one person said you can get a compensated model and buy a separate non ported barrel to have the best of both worlds, any thoughts on this? I'm a little uneasy about modifying guns unless its 100% safe, ya know?

Accumulator · 09-11-09, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by carn00bie

I'm still set on the 10 mm for now, thanks for the advise though.
I was reading a bit and one person said you can get a compensated model and buy a separate non ported barrel to have the best of both worlds, any thoughts on this? I'm a little uneasy about modifying guns unless its 100% safe, ya know?

I don't know *that* much about Glocks so I can't say whether swapping barrels back and forth is feasible. I'd *guess* that it's no big deal and that any minor fitting issues would be simple/easy/cheap for some Glock armorer to do. I mean...most *any* auto can be set up with different barrel/slide/etc. combos, although all of mine like that seem to do better/worse with one particular setup.

If going that route, I think I'd get the gun with the nonported barrel so any fiddling was related to the ported one.

Eh...I'm just not a fan of porting, it's simply a personal thing of mine and I don't want to beat you over the head with it. But, ever shoot a ported gun in a dark environment? Yuck, though it can make for a cool photo.

You oughta check out one of the Glock forums that're undoubtedly out there and see what they say. Just beware of those internet experts with more opinions than knowledge

Candor · 09-11-09, 10:47

Are you buying these online or something? I have a few firearms and before I have bought any of mine, I was able to fire them before buying. Maybe ask your local dealer to shoot a round and get a feel for it?

Pats300zx · 09-11-09, 10:56

I have a Glock 26 (9mm) and I love it. I have shot the Glock 23 and it has a lot of kick for such a small framed weapon. I found the 26 to be much more accurate as a back up gun. If I had to choose a full framed Glock it would be the 22 in 40 cal.

gbackus · 09-11-09, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

FWIW, guys like Jim Yeager (who's probably trained more Glock shooters than anybody else) always urge people to stick with 9mm for their Glocks, and the people he's training are very serious, using them in life/death work. Do an internet search on "James Yeager" and/or "Tactical Response".

Isn't he the guy that got his teammates killed in Iraq for forgetting to disengage a parking brake(which shouldn't have been engaged to begin with) and then panicking. Then he had to gall to blame THEM for his mistake, and later became notorious for having a photographer downrange taking shots of novice students WHILE THEY WERE FIRING

gbackus · 09-11-09, 01:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by carn00bie

I'm still set on the 10 mm for now, thanks for the advise though.

Is there a reason why? You do realise that .40 s&w used to be called 10mm short, because it's essentially the same round as the 10mm lite(same bullet and powder charge, but shortened case for ergonomics) which was developed for the FBI because it was determined that full power 10mm produced unmanageable recoil in addition to stress fracturing frames.

Commercial 10mm is powered inbetween the original 10mm load and 10mm light, .40+p rounds are inbetween 10mm lite and commercial 10mm.

JimmyCutlass · 09-11-09, 01:35

Barrels are super easy to swap out on the Glock, I could do it in a minute or so.

23 has such a sharp recoil because it has such a small frame. Heavier frame = less noticed recoil, lighter frame = more noticed recoil.

Accumulator · 09-11-09, 03:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbackus

Isn't he the guy that got his teammates killed in Iraq for forgetting to disengage a parking brake(which shouldn't have been engaged to begin with) and then panicking. Then he had to gall to blame THEM for his mistake, and later became notorious for having a photographer downrange taking shots of novice students WHILE THEY WERE FIRING

AFAIK neither story is true at least not regarding the Yeager in question. I'd bet my life that the Iraq story isn't true if only because a) AFAIK he never served there and b) he's considered an expert on vehicular operation in combat and he'd ream a student over something like that.

The downrange photog story *does* sound a little familiar, but if the photog was cool with it that's OK with me. (I've had live rounds flying/impacting *VERY* close to me in training, even caught significant ricocet splatter, such stuff is a feature IMO

good prep for the real world. )

Note I've never trained with Yeager/Tactical Response and I don't know him personally, but some of the people I do train with are good friends of his and everyone I've ever met who knows him has spoken highly of him. I only mentioned him as he's very Glock-centric.

WhyteWizard · 09-11-09, 03:46

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