This feels weird- I may buy a Glock

[chaim]

I have been a gun owner for over 15 years now and I have never bought a Glock. I've considered them several times, but they never quite did it for me. Now, I'm in the market for a .40S&W carry gun, and the more I think it over, the more it seems that Glock is the way to go this time around. I started with a bunch of guns on my list, and the Glock 27 and 23 near the bottom, but I think I will buy one or the other Glock.

I wanted something that wasn't too big or too small, not too heavy or too light, something big/heavy enough for lots of practice, but small/light enough to carry. The G27 seems to be one of a few "just right" guns.

So, I guess my question is, which of the two CCW Glock .40s should I buy?

All else being equal, the G27 seems like the better choice for my uses. With the mag extension it is big enough to get my whole hand around the grip, yet it is quite short for concealment. It will be a great carry gun. However, I found a new Glock 23 G3 online for $70 less than the next closest new G27.

The G23, while larger, is still small and light enough to make a more than reasonable CCW gun. While I'd prefer the smaller G27, it is nice that the G23 can hold 4 more rounds with a flush fitting mag (both can take the larger 15 round G22 mags for reloads). It seems to be similar in size to my .45ACP SIG P250C (the Sig is 0.08in shorter in length, but the Glock is a little shorter in height and it is thinner) so it should be carryable 90+% of the time.

So, as a CCW gun, which would you suggest? Who carries a G23? Anyone who owns a G23 that thinks it is just too large to carry?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[Panzerschwein]

.40 has excellent stopping power.

I would get a G27 Gen 4.

 

[chaim]

.40 has excellent stopping power.

I am a longtime fan of .40S&W for outside the home CCW (I prefer other calibers for home defense).

I would get a G27 Gen 4.

Do you think the advantages of the G4 Glock 27 are $100 stronger than the G23 G3? The one 3rd Gen G23 I saw is $70 less than the next cheapest 3rd Gen G27s, which are $20-30 less than the 4th Gen G27s. So, are the advantages of the 4th Gen G27 worth an extra $100 over the 3rd Gen G23 I saw?

 

[DaisyCutter]

I carried a Glock 22 & 27 combo on duty for about 8 years, until 3 weeks ago when I changed to a Glock 41 & 30S. My department is phasing out 40 S&W.

I can't say I've shot a 23, but it's right in the middle. Here is my take.

Accuracy is identical for me. My qualification scores were always similar. For 25 yard shots, I used to need a smidge more time to get the perfect sight picture. At 15 yards or less, it was a non issue. Follow up shots are fast with either. Reloads can be tricky to seat with the short magazine on the 27, because my support hand tends to bottom out on my strong hand before the mag catch engages. I discovered this, and work around it without issue. Also, my 27 has no light rail.

BUT, the 27 is ankle carryable, and I did it for years. I stitch extra felt to the inside of the ankle holsters to help pad it, because it is a relatively heavy bruiser resting against bone. You can't ankle carry a 22 or 23 (reasonably).

The 27 quickly became my off duty gun. I took it everywhere. It's been beat on hard, hitting brick, concrete and car doors as I worked. It even hit the asphalt in a motorcycle crash. Never a problem. I sweated on the 27, profusely, and it's never shown rust.

Now my Glock 27 is retired to home hideout duty, and the 22 is loaded with Underwood cartridges for hiking.

I won't ever sell either. Firstly, they work perfectly. Secondly, they are too ugly on the outside to be much value.

For concealed carry, I'd recommend the 27. It opens the door to more options. I'd recommend metal night sights too.

 

[1KPerDay]

You can also get a G23 and saw off the grip to G27 length if you want.

 

[JTQ]

The reason there is a Gen 4 Glock of any kind was to fix the problems with previous generation .40 S&W guns. If you are buying a .40S&W Glock, you should buy a Gen 4 gun.

 

[LiveLife]

I went from Glock 17/19/26 to G22/23/27 and competed with 2 G22s.

While G23 is more comfortable to shoot, I can replicate G22 shot groups with my G27 at 7-15 yards and I practice with spare G22 magazines. Due to smaller size, I find myself grabbing G27 most often and find greater enjoyment shooting defensive drills with cheaper 9mm ammo with 40-9 conversion barrel.

For concealed carry, I would suggest smaller G27.

While I like to practice with Pearce +1 mag base extension for 3 finger grip, I am comfortable shooting with G22 magazines. Below is a picture of G27 with +1 mag base extension and conversion barrel.

Here's a tip for you to improve accuracy out of the box. Dry fire the pistol while watching the front sight. If the front sight jumps/moves when the striker is released, keep dry firing different pistols until you find one that doesn't. This will give you smaller shot groups from day one and as trigger surfaces break in, you will get even smaller shot groups. Before I bought my last Glock, I went through several pistols before I found one where the front sight did not jump.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

While I'd prefer the smaller G27, it is nice that the G23 can hold 4 more rounds with a flush fitting mag

Flush fitting glock mags are completely overrated. I almost always use g17 mags in my g19 since g19 mags pinch the bottom of your hand when you slam it in. I only use g19 mags for concealed carry.

I'd go with the G27. That way you can use a full size mag (without pinching your hand) and use shorter mags for concealed carry. Anything with a g23/22 mag will stick out as a g23/22. However, you have the option of going shorter.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The G23 is the same size as the G19----the pistol considered by many to be the finest combat handgun on the planet.

 

[LiveLife]

Omaha-BeenGlockin, OP asked specifically which would be better for CCW purposes. While I would agree G23/G19 would be a better compromise as a "combat" pistol from G22/G17, smaller G27 would provide more concealed carry options.

So, as a CCW gun, which would you suggest?

 

[hamp sandwich]

I bought a used G23 Gen3. I've never been a Glock fan.. I'm still not, but I decided to give it an honest try by actually training with one. So far, it's a solid gun. I didn't prefer one with a grip any shorter, and i really didn't want one longer. So, the 23 is just right for me in grip length. It's concealable without losing a proper grip... I still need a good holster before I actually try any correct training... So, that's all I got!

 

[JTQ]

For what it's worth, Tom Givens of Rangemaster Training, carries a G35.

http://www.rangemaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-12_RFTS-Newsletter.pdf

 

[Bobson]

.40 has excellent stopping power.

LOL that this is the first sentence of the first reply.

I'd go with a G23. Easy enough to conceal, and gives you a bit more to hold on to, plus extra capacity. I never carried a G23, but I CC'd a G19 (identical in size to the G23) for nearly three years in central Arizona - including during the summer heat. Never had a problem concealing it.

 

[jjones45]

G23 is the most versatile handgun made in my opinion. Small enough to easily conceal and large enough to shoot like a full size gun. Great size vs capacity ratio and weight. Conversion barrels galore which makes it capable of firing 4 calibers in one gun (9mm, 40&w, 357 sig, 22lr). Has a rail for lights/lasers and can put in a factory 22 round mag for nightstand duty. If concealed carry is the sole purpose of this purchase however I would go with the 27 just because its smaller. That's literally the only advantage of the 27. The 23 conceals very easily for me as its the exact size of the 19, the most popular glock and probably 9mm in general

 

[burk]

The reason there is a Gen 4 Glock of any kind was to fix the problems with previous generation .40 S&W guns. If you are buying a .40S&W Glock, you should buy a Gen 4 gun.

There were two issues with pre-Gen4 .40 Glocks:

The lighter springs didn't always completely chamber not so perfectly to spec reloads and in some cases they would be not completely loaded and the result could be a "kaboom". The cases of this happening with factory ammunition in well maintained firearms was no greater with the Glocks than any other factory guns (.40's and .357 sigs tend to be more kaboom prone - higher pressure anyway). But you could solve the problem on a pre-Gen4 Glock simply by using heavier springs or not shooting reloads. And remember this was still by any standard not a common problem, there are hundreds of thousands of Glock 22's and 23's in LE service.

2) On the pre Gen4 23's and 2s's, the guns wouldn't always cycle with a weapons light mounted on the rail. This was more of an issue with practice ammo than hotter SD ammo. Again the problem could be solved by buying after market heavier springs.

For the OP these issues are only an issue on the 23, the 27 Gen3 had HD double springs from the factory. And it doesn't have a light rail. Unless you need the grip enhancements there is no reason to buy a Gen4 over a Gen3 in the 27. With the 23, considering the cost of heavier springs and an extra mag the Gen4 is probably a better buy.

 

[bannockburn]

Never have felt comfortable with the smaller size G26/G27 grip nor with it's overall shape and dimensions. I would go with the slightly larger G23 if I were looking for a CCW gun.

 

[JR24]

I've found the mag extension on the 26/27 makes them effectively as difficult to conceal as the 19/23, and I find the 19/23 easier to shoot.

So for me, the choice would be the 23, no question. I had no issues with my old Gen 3 Glock 23. In fact it was the only .40 I enjoyed shooting. Were I to decide to buy another .40, it would be another Glock 23 (probably Gen 4 though).

I eventually dumped my 23 as I didn't find 40 as fun/accurate to shoot as 9mm or .45 and my Glock 19 and 30S fit the bill whenever I would want to carry/shoot the 23.

YMMV, of course.

 

[poboy6]

Springfield Armory XD40 for sure.

 

[chris in va]

Have you rented one yet? Rented any other brands?

I personally can't stand the Glock mush trigger and goofy grip angle...and yes I had one.

 

[Anmut]

I carry a 27 when I'm not carrying a wheel gun in 357

 

[Shootshellz]

The Glock 22 in 40 S&W owned by my son has much more felt recoil than my Glock 21 in 45 ACP. IMHO try to shoot 9mm Luger, 40 S&W and 45 ACP in each sub model Glock you are considering (full size, compact, sub-compact) before making a final purchase decision.

 

[Deog]

I have a 26, 19 and 30. Oddly enough, I shoot the 30 better then any other pistol. It's chunky, up you get used to it.

 

[Smitty79]

Don't get a gen 3. I have a gen 3 Glock 19. My training with other guns has me gripping guns very high, for recoil control and follow up shots. If I do that with a gen 3, the slide bite is terrible. Some of the gen 4 back straps have more beaver tail.

Why 40? The latest data I've seen says it's not better than 9 with good modern ammo. I go for more rounds.

 

[GoPappy]

Chaim, I just bought a Gen 4 G27 this week. I chose it for 4 reasons:

1. You can make the G27 bigger, but you can't make a G23 smaller. I've got some full size mags on the way already.

2. The G27 is my only .40S&W, and I wanted a .40 available if/when we have another ammo shortage.

3. For less than $100, you can make the G27 or G23 into a 9mm. I've got a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel on the way already.

4. It was cheap - about $400 (including night sights, box, 3 mags, backstraps, etc.). I found it very gently used at a LGS marked at $425, and my 5% discount for being a range member got it down to almost $400.

My advice is to buy the one you like and you'll soon forget about the cost difference. If you settle for one just because it's cheaper, you'll remember the money you saved every time you shoot it.

 

[Quentin]

It's hard choosing between the G19/G23 and G26/G27 sizes. Then you have to choose between Gen 3 and Gen4. Burk made some good comparisons above that I agree with so take a second look at that post.

I have the G23 and G27 and prefer the G23 most of the time but the G27 is better for CCW. I went with the 23Gen4 because the fit was right for me and I like the rough texture frame. Surprisingly, I liked the 27 better in Gen 3, it just fits my hand better than Gen4 and the RTF is a bit rough against the side for CCW.

I would say get the G27 but try both sizes in both generations. And think about 9mm as well. Remember it's easier to make a small gun bigger than a large one smaller.