[ARCHIVED THREAD] - G19 or G23? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/15/2007 4:45:27 PM EDT
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I am new to Glocks. Been just about everywhere else on the spectrum. I held a G23 and fell in love with the package. But, I'm a 9mm guy with no experience with "newer" calibers. I've have .380s, 9s and 45s. But now, I am strangely tempted to swap my HG cal from 9mm to 40. I know the 9mm vs 40 threads are pretty beat up, but this adds the model to the conversation. Probably overdone too, but hey, it's snowing. If you feel like commenting, I'm listening. If you think it's overdone, I understand. Thoughts? |
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I had a .40 Glock 22 that was great--but I sold it, the long slide conversion and the hicap mags--as I had reloading equipment for 9 and .45, but didn't want to add another caliber...Further, I mostly bought cheapo 9mm for plinking, CorBon, then Winchester Ranger 127gr +P+ for carry. Those days are gone in today's market. I don't think 1mm makes a difference with today's good ammo, like Ranger. 9mm Surplus and cheap ammo used to be way cheaper than .40--I remember getting Sellier & Bellot at $4.99/50 of 115gr FMJ....but with ammo prices the way they are--there may not be much of a difference any more. If it were me--I'd chose 9 for these reasons--but my reasons aren't really valid any more--I don't know that I helped--but if I ad a bunch of 9mm--I'd stick with it and not wonder about the extra mm. |
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I have 3 19's and 2 23's so trying to tell you which would be a better fit for you would be impossible for me. I can tell you that I like the 40 for reasons that I dont like the 9mm for. Having a 19 is great for target shooting and cheaper to boot, but if I had to have a SD gun, I would opt for the 40 cal. One of the major reasons is if I could only find ball ammo for either gun, I would want the 40 as it is bigger when it comes to the ball ammo arena. |
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What about those folks who say the 23 and 27 are just 9mm guns that a .40 was shoved down? Does the 23 last as long as the 19 or does the hotter .40 'wear' the gun down faster. Another myth is that the 23 KB's more than its older 9mm brothers. Any truth to these concerns? |
+1 What he said. I'd just ditch the standard glock sights and replaced them with proper steel sights (preferably night sights, preferably XS Big Dot sights ). Click on the 2nd video for a great explaination of how they work. Hope this helps, Mike |
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I have a G23 and believe it to be the best combination of size, weight, reliability, capacity, and leathality in any CCW pistol available today. TruGlo TFOs and a good leather IWB holster like the MacDaniel II is my optimum CCW setup. I reload so any ammo price difference between 9mm and .40s&w is irrelevant to me because my premium carry reloads cost me less than the Wolf junk in either caliber. My favorite reloads are 180grn Gold Dots in once fired Speer nickel cases, Power Pistol powder, and Remington primers. Excellent round and it looks like a factory Speer Gold Dot (just in case). And, the 180grn load gives me a weapon that has a less snappy recoil than a G19 firing +P+ ammo. 
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The Glock was designed around 9mm, not .40. If you hear about a problem with a Glock, its usually about .40. Glock 9mm's are some of the best firearms around. Aside from maybe accuracy, there aren't any 9mm's out there that do anything better than a 9mm Glock. Glock .40's are good firearms. There are other .40's out there that do things better than a .40 Glock. |
| I'm turning 21 soon and I'm starting to save for my first pistol. I can't decide from the 2 either. I was thinking about getting a 23 and buying a conversion barrel. But will adding a after market 9mm conversion barrel really turn a 23 into a 19? Is there a difference in accuracy? If there isnt then I think Im going to go with a 23. That way I can get both of best worlds. |
I guess I'm more partial to the 9mm only because Its what My Police Dept issues us to carry.We have a choice between the G-17 or G-19, I work plain clothes so the G-19 has the best of both worlds for me, Every Blue moon I may have to work a uniform detail, to me the G19 is the perfect size for Uniform or for Plain clothes carry.For every day plain clothes carry I wear my G19 in a Blackhawk CQC Serpa holster paddle set up. I've been carrying my G19 for 4 yrs now and to me I feel that the Serpa is the sweetest Holster that I've worn my G19 in.The load that we carry is the Hydra shock 124 grn +P+,My Dept has been issuing Semi-Autos since about 1990 and we have had several different loads, the 124 grn +P+ is the best one so far.I am also authorized to carry a backup/ off-duty gun, So from time to time I carry the G26, But 99% of the time I carry my G19.
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As a rule, the metric glocks (9mm, 10mm) are stronger than the silly american number-system Glocks. IIRC, the 23 is a 19 with a smaller mag and a bigger barrel. That said, all Glocks are tough. As long as you are only putting good ammo in, you have nothing to fear from kBs! in either weapon. That said, if you want whoop-ass power, get a .45. Keep the extra rounds in G19. |
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9mm ammo is less expensive than .40, so you can practice more for the same $. As at least one other poster mentioned, with the current 9mm loads you can get just about the same ballistics as the .40 (9mm Gold Dot, 124gr +P). If it were me I'd choose the 19. But I'm biased since I have more than one 19... 
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Man, all of those federal, state, and local LE agencies sure are clueless! The 9mm/10mm are definitely the least likely to have a KB, but when you discount the use of substandard ammunition, the danger level is minute to say the least. |
| Unless you plan on a dedicated carry gun, get the 19. The .40 is a nice round, but I would upgrade to a .45 for stopping 2 legged threats. The 9mm is great for plinking. target shooting, and can be used effectively in a defensive situation. My 19 is my current favorite HD gun. |
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As already stated there really is no wrong answer. I prefer the 19 for several reasons. 1) the platform was originally made for the 9mm and I like that it's the "original" 2) factory loaded 9mm and factory loaded 40 isn't enough of a difference in power factor, so I would rather have the extra bullets 3) ammunition is cheaper for practice, so I think you'll shoot it more, and therefore get better with it 4) perceived, or felt recoil is less, allowing most shooters to have faster follow-up shots, and also not "flinch" when shooting the gun So there you have my .02 cents. Good luck 
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I have one of the early G19's I bought a long time ago. The only thing I've done to it is put in the 3.5 lb disconnector and a ss guide rod for the recoil spring. This pistol is my favorite even over my Kimber in .45. I may get a carbine in 9mm to keep the calibers limited too. I'm still thinking of getting a Bar stow barrel but that would buy me more ammo if I didn't. With +P+ ammo, I'm not worried about knock down power at all; two to the heart, one to the head  ..........ymmv
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Like many here, I've owned an assortment of pistols over the years. I've never shot anything more accurately than my Glock 19. This includes G22, G23 and G26. The 19 is a comfortable pistol to carry and it just "feels" right in my hand. The .40S&W models just have too much snap in them and I am not as accurate. My $0.02. |
+1 I always shoot a higher score during qualifications with my 9mm conversion than I do with the .40. |
...as I stated in the next line... If you only chuck decent ammo in your Glock, the chance of a kB is so small it's ridiculous - regardless of the caliber. On the other hand, if I had to fire Billy-Bob Hick's handloads, a metric Glock is marginally stronger than than a imperial one. An ordinary shooter firing factory ammo need not have any fear of a kB in his Glock than in any other pistol. |
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I prefer the 19 for the following reasons: (listed in order of importance to me) 1. There are plenty of perfectly effective defensive loads available, argueably more than most other cartridges 2. Cheaper ammo for practice = more practice 3. More ammo in the mag 4. Less recoil = less long-term fatigue = more practice I see you already made your choice (and a good one) but I'm stuck in a hotel room for the weekend and I'm bored. |
. I just liked shooting it better.