Glock 36 for concealed carry?

[targatop]

I'm looking for a good reliable autoloader for when I can by with a larger gun than my j-frame. My round of choice is .45ACP, and I was wondering if anybody concealed carries with the Glock 36? It looks like a pocketable gun during the winter months, and would definitely ride well in the car.

So far I'm looking at the S&W M&P Compact series, and the Glock 36. I'm drawn to the Glock because I've heard good things about reliability, it's a bit thinner, and is chambered for .45acp (which would prevent me from having to have yet another ammo type - I've already got .38s/.357, .44mag, and .45acp. I am one of those people that finds the .45acp round to be one of the best shooting rounds. I find it has low recoil and high stopping power. I'd like to stick away from the .40 cal rounds, but I might consider 9mm for pure capacity and price.

That being said, I've been a Smith&Wesson fan for a while, and don't own any other brand.

 

[longeyes]

I own one but can't carry it (I'm in Los Angeles). I would.

My G36 has been highly reliable over about 2800 rounds and I consider it easy to shoot and control for a lightweight .45, shooting either two-handed or one-handed. Accurate too.

For those who think it doesn't hold enough rounds you can get a good +1 extension (Scherer, via Glockmeister). 7+1 ought to handle most situations.

 

[wes]

or you can check out the 30....it's a bit wider but with the double stack mag it holds 10 rds of .45 acp. I just bought one myself and am in the waiting period but I liked the way the rental at the range felt and shot.

 

[Rumble]

I just acquired a used Glock 30 myself. While I'm not enamored of the trigger at this moment (it's a NY1 trigger, which for some reason stacks brutally right at the end of the pull--at least, that's how it seems to me), it is a solid gun and shoots well. I'll be putting in some different trigger parts, and I have to move the rear sight (it's visibly not centered, which accounts for me punching holes well left of POA), but excepting those two relatively simple fixes, it's a nice, relatively compact, excellent gun.

I will say, however, that I was originally looking for a G36, but after holding the G30, I decided it would do the job very well. I have not been disappointed (save for the previous owner's decisions on trigger internals).

 

[buck00]

I would second that advice. Go to a gun shop where you can handle and holster both the G36 and the G30. The Glock 30 is fatter but you get more bang for your buck- 10 plus 1.

However, make sure the grip is ok. If you have small hands, you should be ok, but if you have big hands (for the G30) you'll need a Glock 21 mag (which gives you 13 plus 1) but makes it less concealable.

A big advantage of the G36 is it is slimmer and possibly more comfortable for carry. But 6 plus 1 doesn't compare to 10 plus 1. In fact, when wearing heavier clothing I have no problem carrying my G30 with a G21 mag- 14 rounds of .45 is an absurd amount of back up.

With either- the recoil of .45 is very low. I find .45 recoil (in a glock) to be better than a .40 or even 9mm, which can tend to be snappy.

As I said- try out both and see what you like.

This article talks about the G36 and the author also talks about the G30 a bit:

http://www.remtek.com/arms/glock/model/45/36/index.htm

 

[BBsteel]

I'm not a Glock buff but I just handled the G36 over lunch hour today and the grip in my hand was great. It has potential to make it home with me some day.

 

[Autolycus]

The Glock 36 is supposed to be a great carry gun. I wish they would make a slimline 9mm and Slimline .40 S&W to go with it.

 

[glockarmourer40517]

DO NOT buy a G36, its the only lemon glock makes. Its a known entity that, despite plenty of working 36s, there are an EXCESSIVE number that are unreliable.

there has been a consensus on this on glocktalk.com now for almost 3 years.

and Glock INC. will admit in passing that far far far too many G36s have been sent back for unreliability, without being able to be fixed.

the gemetry of the slide and the way the gun opperates makes it an untrustworthy gun.


get a G30, in over 5 years, ive never heard a single moan about the G30

however the G36 has countless / endless complaints of unreliability. PERIOD.

do not buy it.

 

[SniperStraz]

I've heard some compplaints about it too. Turns out a .45 in that short of a slide travel leaves no room for error.

 

[glockarmourer40517]

the common fool posts "well, heck, ive got a working glock 36, so you must be crazy".


illogical nonsense.


the Pontiac FIERO was recalled BECAUSE IT WAS A LEMON.........this however does not negate the fact that there were many many who DID and DO own a Fiero that works/worked FINE, and love same.

a LEMON does not imply that "all are bad" in most cases, unless the design is utterly flawed...

but that an "excessive number" are unreliable etc.

while i am a gun nut, i must admit that most gun nuts are far far less than intelligent.

 

[JohnBT]

 

[targatop]

Thanks for all the good responses. I went to the shop today and really liked the feel of the S&W M&P Compact. They had it in .40 and 9mm. I held the Glock 26 and 27, as well as the 36. Based on the above responses I'll stick away from the 36. The Walther P99C was a great looking gun, and it had a nice feel to it, but I've heard too many horror stories on that platform to consider it.

 

[oscarswanson]

I am one who got a lemon 36. I sent it back and it is much better now, but not perfect. They say you need to shoot a few hundred rounds then it will become reliable.
I think it's a turd.
I have a Taurus Millenium Pro .45 that has been perfect so far and costs 1/2 the Glock. It also holds 10 +1. But is a couple ozs. heavier.
Just my 2 cents.

ps. I do have a Glock 27 that is my favorite.

 

[targatop]

I ended up going with the S&W M&P compact. Fired 150 rounds through it without issue. Chose 9mm in the end so my wife could use it as well. I needed a gun around the house she wouldn't be afraid of. All in all it's a sweet gun.

 

[ipscshooter]

DO NOT buy a G36, its the only lemon glock makes.
.....there has been a consensus on this on glocktalk.com now for almost 3 years.

and Glock INC. will admit in passing that far far far too many G36s have been sent back for unreliability, without being able to be fixed.

the gemetry of the slide and the way the gun opperates makes it an untrustworthy gun.

This common fool posts....well, heck, I've got a working Glock 36, so you must be crazy.

There is also a consensus on GlockTalk that a lot of people can't shoot any Glock because of "limpwristing" does that make them all bad?

If Glock thought there was an inherent problem with the 36 they would fix it or stop selling it. The liability exposure of manufacturing a known defective firearm is enormous. Who is this Glock official you have passing conversations with?

The geometry of the slide and the way the gun operates and cycles is like any other Glock. The design parameters for the slide are cartridge, slide weight, and spring rate.

I carry my 36 daily and it has never failed me.

Regards,
Common Fool

 

[Rabbi]

My carry 36 is 100% reliable in every way. Accurate, to be sure, and easy recoil in my arthritis ridden hands.

I placed a man-target at the fifty yard line and placed 11 out of 13 rounds into the COM kill zone.

I did a frame reduction on mine so the backstrap is more like a 1911 than a clam shell. I also removed that insipid Euro-hook gizzy on the trigger guard.

If I get another Glock, it will be a 30 and go to a pro for the grip frame reduction.

 

[denfoote]

or you can check out the 30....it's a bit wider but with the double stack mag it holds 10 rds of .45 acp. I just bought one myself and am in the waiting period but I liked the way the rental at the range felt and shot.

I knew it wouldn't take long for the G30 crowd to muck up the waters!!
They have been at it ever since the G36 came out, trying to discredit the best gun Glock ever made!!

I've been carrying the G36 I traded back my G30 for, since the turn of the century!!! It was made in Nov 2000, which makes it one of the first to come in!! The only problem I have ever had with it was jamming caused by me foolishly installing the extended slide stop!! As soon as I realized what was going on, I changed it back and it's been good ever since!!

 

[JWWW]

Glock 36 accuracy help

Another Newbie with a Glock 36.
Bought used, first practice today, I couldn't hit
a cardboard box at 3 yards. Maxed out L/R sight
adjustment was not enough, full sight deflection plus
front sight dot in lower right corner got me able to hit the box,
but hardly the target on the box. Was shooting slowly, seated, both hands,
recoil not bad, don't think I "flinched", would aftermarket sights be better?
Didn't expect the accuracy of my Ruger MKII, but can't believe that
I shot so poorly. Initially blamed the sights, but can (learning curve)
(what is "limpwristing?) lack of practice/training account for not being able to
hit the side of a barn with this gun? Suggestions? or directions to
discussion of this (FAQ) I doubt I am the first to ask. PSE no flames
everyone started once, like me.

 

[wes]

I knew it wouldn't take long for the G30 crowd to muck up the waters!!

i wasn't marking up the waters, OP was asking for opinions.
ASK AND YE SHALL RECIEVE
I even qualified my response with the fact that I just bought one....and have only tried it out.
I never claimed to be an drip under pressure (ex-spurt)

 

[denfoote]

I have owned two G30s and a G29.
So God knows I've given the gun more than one chance to please me!!
My problem with it is not mechanical, but ergonomical. It was to fat for my hand!! That effected my accuracy because my wrist had to be slightly cocked in order to trach the trigger. It was unnatural for me, so they went bye-bye!!

At some point, I think I might want to get another G29 just for a range pistol.