Saturday, July 30, 2016

Quick Rant: Glock

Many people, new and old shooters alike, come across or choose Glock as their first handgun for either carrying or home defense. I don't think anyone has ever been captivated by it's trigger or shoot-ability. It seems that the legendary status of the Glock is due to name and reliability. Kinda like Nike during the '90s, the brand has penetrated into modern lexicon as something that is the benchmark for all handguns.

In actuality it's, to me, an average handgun that fits the bill for a wide range of shooters. By that it is good for Duty due to it's reliability and the beginner because it's affordability, value is really good, and the fact that the amount of maintenance involved is rather low. However it doesn't mean it's the end all for a handgun nor is it something that everyone should be pressured into owning.

I will confess that it would be the first gun that I'd recommend to someone who doesn't know what they want or know much about firearms. Glock is a gun that I can easily say that you'll be happy with since you don't know the joys of a good trigger, the manual of arms is as easy as an AK, and your friends will be impressed that you chose a Glock. It meets the trifecta of the Glock owner who doesn't use it as a duty gun, it goes bang when needed, it's the socially accepted firearm that no one questions you on, and an idiot can handle it.

To me the dimensions aren't any better or worse compared to other pistols in the same category like the M&P or XD series. There are definitely better firearms out there yet the person buying their first handgun doesn't know better or unbeknownst to them self is a Glock fanboy who thinks that it's something mystical. To me, it doesn't matter, when I ask "hey, how do you like your Glock?" and they say, "yeah man, it's really awesome! do you own one?" I'll say no but I do like them and when they start to challenge my mancard with a Glock I'll ask if they own any other guns. When they say, "why? the Glock is all I need!" I'll just end the conversation knowing way too much about them, some stereotypes are true. Of course they can say they do own other firearms but rarely do I hear it's the best end all gun or they actually do love their Glock and will readily admit it humbly and say that it's just the one that works for their situation in life, which I can totally understand. Just so you know, if you put down money for a Glock because it's all you can afford or your limited to one gun because your social coordinator, that's all you have to say and I'll understand completely.

I do think Glock has some fantastic firearms, I'm personally looking at buying a G19 because it's a G19 and I should own one... because even the Civil War gun collectors have one in their personal collection somewhere. It's one of those guns that no matter what your a fan of, eventually you have to own one. My other choice would be a G42, now many questioned Glock on the introduction of the G42 before the G43. If you can comprehend the gun market at the time was mainly focused on sub-compact, single stack 9mm handguns. It is my belief they were testing the market for smaller calibers that weren't 9mm. The .380 acp has very limited amount of handguns bigger than a mouse gun, many were older styles from the Beretta 84 on back into history. Now it seems like manufacturer has a larger than a mouse gun, such as the Browning 1911-380, Walther PK380, Bersa, Beretta Px4 380, or the EAA Pavona. There aren't many .380 acp handguns that aren't trying match the Ruger LCP. I think it's great they have launched into that market and it shows some willingness to try new things.

Many know that I'm making an 80% that is a Glock 17 "clone," if you want to call it that. I by no means think Glock the best gun in the world, I think I've heard it said that it's more like the Toyota Corolla of guns and I think that is spot on. Personally I'm a fanboy of many brands and models, I love the AR rifle but I know the disadvantages, I'm a 1911 fan but I know the disadvantages, and I'm a CZ fanboy but it's the perfect gun and why you don't own one is beyond me because there aren't any disadvantages...

Be adventurous in the gun world,

-Van


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