Posted: 5/5/2013 11:36:06 AM EDT
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Let me start by saying that I already have a Glock 19 and Glock 17.
In the winter I can conceal my G19 perfectly in an MTAC and a hoody but in the summer that is harder to accomplish. After some experimenting with M&Ps, I have decided that I much prefer Glocks for various reasons. I am considering selling or trading in my M&P9c for a Glock 26. My question is, is the Glock 26 that much more concealable than a Glock 19? I'm thinking of giving the Crossbreed Supertuck a try with the Glock 26. |
To me the 26 conceals better because of the shorter grip. Add a set of Gap floor plates and carry on. I also shoot the 26 much better than any of the larger Glocks and that includes the 34 that I traded for the 26 They are the same width though.
My EDC. I am 5'7 160lbs and carry this guy completely concealed without issue. 
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I have all three frame sizes of Glock in 9mm. G26 is easier to conceal due to the shorter grip, but because it's still just as wide as the bigger models, there are limitations to how you can conceal it. I also think that it's a bit thick and heavy for pocket carry. Still, this is my primary summer gun.
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What kind of sights are on that? Look like Trijicon HD. |
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I've been carrying my G26 in a Supertuck for a couple years now. I carry mine at about 4:00-4:30 o'clock and have the holster set up so that it has quite a bit of cant on it. I can conceal my G26 in shorts and a t-shirt pretty well. No one has said anything about seeing it, anyway, and we do quite a bit of running around in the summer. The places we normally go, like Boardman, OH (a pretty liberal suburb of Youngstown), if it printed badly, someone would call the Police on me. The combo conceals pretty well. The advantage of the Glock system, provided your holster is open at the bottom like the Supertuck, is that any of the guns with the same frame size (like, for example, the G17, G19, G26 and G34) will fit in the same holster. The longer guns will just stick out the bottom of the holster, which is no big deal since it's in your pants and concealed. During the winter, when I wear heavier clothes and can conceal them, I sometimes carry my G19 or G22 in the same Supertuck.
If you do get the G26 and want to carry it concealed, do not put a magazine extender on it. As has been said, and I can attest to after seeing some friends with extenders on their G26s and G27s, they are as long as the G19/G23 and don't conceal as well as the gun without the extender. Learn to shoot it with your pinkie curled under. It works pretty well and keeps the small, compact dimensions of the gun intact. If you want, you can carry larger mags for reloads (I carry either G17 or G19 mags for reloads for my G26), but keep the mag in the gun as short as possible for maximum concealment. Having said all that, I'm going to look at guns like the Shield, Beretta Nano and the XDs in 9mm, when it comes out and I get some cash. The G26 is an excellent gun, but it is thick and chunky. A thinner gun should be more concealable and I intend to find out. Bub75 |
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What are the advantages of the GAP floor plates? It looks like they don't extend the grip to allow for proper pinky placement. It is hard to explain, but they force your pinky under the grip and make the grip feel longer than it actually is. The short grips just feels more natural in the hand. It also adds more controllability to the gun and a faster more secure draw. Try a set. I think you will like them. |
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Not to throw a wrinkle in your plans, but I had trouble concealing a G19 at the 4 o clock during the summer and switched to entirely appendix carry in a dale fricke holster. Keeping the pistol concealed is much easier. It's also far more comfortable. I can conceal a G17 this way more reliably than I could conceal a G19 with conventional IWB.
Appendix is body type dependent, but for me it was the best thing I've done since getting my permit. Food for thought. |
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I often carry my wifes G26 in a Brommeland Max-Con V. Its a great overall package. Do it. But realistically a 19 will do just as good If you get a good holster and belt combo and do your part dressing round the gun not the other way around.
I can realistically carry my G23 just as well in an HBE Com III holster with a Beltman belt. Last summer for shits and giggles I CCW'd my SA TRP Operator and my buddy who is used to me carrying a Glock had no idea.= and about shit when I pulled that big iron out of my holster.
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I found that the 26 is a lot easier to conceal in the summer than a 19. I have a Raven Vanguard 2 that I can appendix carry the 26 in a Tshirt with and it has become my favorite carry method. I cant do it with the 19 the grip is just a bit too long and pokes my shirt no matter what.
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What are the advantages of the GAP floor plates? It looks like they don't extend the grip to allow for proper pinky placement. It's not as necessary as you think it is. The way I learned, if you're shooting two handed, you should only be gripping the pistol with your middle and ring finger on your dominant hand anyway. Your thumb and pinky should be relaxed, and your trigger finger will have an easier time being isolated for the trigger pull without effecting your grip. So the grip on a subcompact with your pinking just hanging out underneath the magazine is actually a good habit to get into. I'm not a doctor, so I'm not exactly up to speed on how the muscles in the hand interact, but it made sense, and I was a better shooter after that class was over. |
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Quoted: Quoted: What are the advantages of the GAP floor plates? It looks like they don't extend the grip to allow for proper pinky placement. It's not as necessary as you think it is. The way I learned, if you're shooting two handed, you should only be gripping the pistol with your middle and ring finger on your dominant hand anyway. Your thumb and pinky should be relaxed, and your trigger finger will have an easier time being isolated for the trigger pull without effecting your grip. So the grip on a subcompact with your pinking just hanging out underneath the magazine is actually a good habit to get into. I'm not a doctor, so I'm not exactly up to speed on how the muscles in the hand interact, but it made sense, and I was a better shooter after that class was over. Great infoa as I find myself shooting the 26 better cause I don't have that added pinky finger tension. Also OP the 26 will be way more concealable imo vs the 19 in all sorts of carry postions. ETA: I find that the 26 has les felt recoil at times even with the shorter grip. |
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I think the 26 is much easier to conceal, especially when wearing a t shirt. The short grip helps a lot. I carry at the 4 o'clock in a MTAC. Tried the GAP floorplates, hated them. Found I shot better without.
ETA - the GAP floor plates, as I understand aren't suppose to work as a pinky shelf, they go between the knuckle of your pinky and ring finger. |
| I'm in the same boat, OP. Going back and forth between a 26 and a shield. I know the Shield will conceal IWB just fine, and I find that my 19 prints too much with just a t-shirt. I would ideally like to go with the 26 due to the fact that I can interchange the mags to my liking.... |