Posted: 10/22/2009 10:41:11 PM EDT
I have been looking at Glocks recently. I fired my friends the other day and... I think I am a convert  .
I cannot decide between the G19 or G23. I currently have a home defense gun chambered in .45, so thats covered. I am thinking about using this gun as my concealed carry and range gun. I like the 9mm, I have another pistol chambered in 9mm and enjoy shooting it. It has a lot of sentimental value (belonged to my Father) and is no longer manufactured and want to keep it safe and pampered. So this gun will replace it as "active" shooting gun. I know .40 S&W has more "knock down" power but, it seems every time I read about a Kaboom its always a G22 or G23. I know it is a very very very slim chance of this happening but still I dont have the best luck in life, lol.......  .
any advice and help will be much appreciated, thank you. Will |
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19 without a doubt.
Loaded with Federal HST, Win Ranger, Gold Dot, or any 4th generation hollowpoint it is as good or better than any .40 plus practice ammo will be cheaper, higher magazine capacity, etc. Read all the ammo FAQs in the handgun ammo forum. Most people here dismiss any "knock down" power myths of common handgun cartridges. (9mm, 40, 45) |
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Quoted:
19 without a doubt. Loaded with Federal HST, Win Ranger, Gold Dot, or any 4th generation hollowpoint it is as good or better than any .40 plus practice ammo will be cheaper, higher magazine capacity, etc. Read all the ammo FAQs in the handgun ammo forum. Most people here dismiss any "knock down" power myths of common handgun cartridges. (9mm, 40, 45) This... You really can't go wrong with the G19. |
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The G19 really is the "jesus" pistol. it's perfect in every way.
but my everyday CCW / home defense / range gun is a G23. Why? I like the way the G23 feels when I shoot it. I'm willing to sacrifice 2 rounds for bigger rounds. Now it's well known that modern 9mm defensive ammunition is sufficient in stopping a bad guy, it's just how much stopping power do you want. comparing identical rounds from a given manufacture, 9mm < .40 S&W < .45ACP.... no matter how you cut it, each step up will give you more ft/lbs of energy. (unless someone cares to show me some ballistic tables and prove me wrong). My advice would be to go to a range and shoot them both. Run each gun through a series of tests like grouping (slow fire), grouping (rapid fire), controlled pairs into a target, long(er) range (i.e. 25m) etc. etc. and see which gun you are comfortable with. EDIT: oh ya but then again you really can't go wrong with the G19. If you plan to mount a light, then the G19 will function flawlessly with it mounted. The .40 S&W Glocks on the other hand seem to be the luck of the draw. Personally I run a TLR-1 on my G23 and have had zero issues, a lot of other people have had problems with .40 Glocks and lights. So it really is if you get a lucky Glock or not. |
| I'd rather go with the G23 but that's me and I like the .40S&W. I like the fact that I can purchase a 9mm conversion barrel and 9mm magazines along with a .357Sig barrel and have the capability of having 3 different guns. Shoot both and see which one feels better to shoot and also which one you hit better with. |
Both are great guns but, I really like my G23. Its powerful and accurate. For a 9mm I have a G26 wich I wouldnt part with. If you are gettin a gun with some size on it might as well get a bigger cartridge. Thats just the way I see it either way cant wrong though!
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OP, they're both great guns.
The Kaboom issue is internet hype, put it out of your mind. I've put thousands of my own .40 reloads through a Glock23 (gasp!), never had an issue. You're getting a great pistol either way. For some, .40 is slightly snappier than 9mm, some of us don't notice it that much. The 9mm will give you 2 more rounds of capacity. But .40 is a great round also. Then again, so is modern 9mm. .40 is a bit more expensive, ammo-wise, but not if you reload. So it's up to you.................they're both great fighting pistols either way. |
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Welcome. Don't believe the Kaboom crap. It happens, sure, but it's not every other gun, as some would have you believe. I like the .40s&w, but not enough to pay extra for it. 9mm has been getting the job done. It has since 1902, even in FMJ form. I'd be comfortable carrying a 9mm, even in FMJ, simply because I know I could put several shots on target, far faster than with .40sw or .45acp.
All that said, I'd go with the 19, so you could practice more. But, in the end, you'll have to decide which one you like more. Shoot them both side by side. Most likely, you'll prefer the 9mm recoil and target reacquisition to the .40sw, but there are many who aren't recoil sensitive. You may be one of them. You just gotta find out for yourself. Can't go wrong either way, so good luck! 
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G19. There are issues with 40 caliber Glocks having feeding malfunctions. This has been documented on sites such as 10-8Forums, Lightfighter, etc. It is a very real issue that not only I have experienced, but a large metro agency in my state (Milwaukee PD.)
Until Glock acknowledges the issue and demonstrates a specific correction for it, I will not ever carry nor recommend a Glock 40 again without substantial reliability testing. |
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19 without a doubt. Loaded with Federal HST, Win Ranger, Gold Dot, or any 4th generation hollowpoint it is as good or better than any .40 plus practice ammo will be cheaper, higher magazine capacity, etc. Read all the ammo FAQs in the handgun ammo forum. Most people here dismiss any "knock down" power myths of common handgun cartridges. (9mm, 40, 45) This... You really can't go wrong with the G19. |
I had the same dilemma in July, and went with the G19. Fantastic gun. Even though I have the 19, I'm going to pick up a G23 EVENTUALLY. However, I'm not too stoked about Generation 4. My 19 is, obviously, 3rd Generation (sans the "gills"). BTW, since you already have a 9mm, ammo will be cheaper to buy/reload in bulk with the 19. Purchase the 19 and look at getting the 23 in a year or so 
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Have both and can speak from experience. Get the G19. Both my issued G23 and personal G23 have three sets of serial numbers (i.e. one for barrel, one for slide, and one for frame). They went Kaboom with factory ammo. We are finding broken pins from some of our SAs during quals. Remember that the 9mms were out first and then Glock saw S&W's 0.40 SW at SHOT, then beat S&W at their own game with their own 0.40 pistols fitted to 9mm frames.
Never had a problem with my G19. Runs well and puts people down well with quality ammo. |
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Not sure if anyone cares but, I went to a range and rented the 19 and 23 this weekend. I liked both equally. recoil for the 23 was not as bad as i thought it would be (my friend had a 19 btw). I drove home and thought about it over lunch and decided that I would START my Glock collection with the G19 and work my way up the latter. Went and picked up a G19 and put 250 rds through her today... lovely weekend.
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Quoted:
Not sure if anyone cares but, I went to a range and rented the 19 and 23 this weekend. I liked both equally. recoil for the 23 was not as bad as i thought it would be (my friend had a 19 btw). I drove home and thought about it over lunch and decided that I would START my Glock collection with the G19 and work my way up the latter. Went and picked up a G19 and put 250 rds through her today... lovely weekend.Good job! Once you have one, you'll get another. Kind of like BRD. Now go find a 33rd mag.
FWIW, I talked to our armorer, he said that Glock revised the locking block to take care of the pin issue. Has anyone noticed that the new railed Glocks have more polymer in the rail section. Flip your frame upside down and look at the serial number plate. If it's recessed, it's the new version. This was a result of the light/gun issue several departments and agencies were having. |