Would I Still Buy a Glock? Final Thoughts...

So, for the past week or so, I've posted several reviews comparing new polymer pistols competing with the Glock, and highlighting some of the new features available to shoppers interested in a new handgun today.  All in all, these comparisons show that Glock really has been a bit late to market with new features for its pistols.  Unlike a lot of manufacturers, they haven’t updated their factory accessories.  They still offer only one integrated holster for concealed carry.  Glock didn’t add accessory rails to their pistol until nearly every other manufacturer updated their model lineup for the “lights and lasers” craze.  Glock was the last manufacturer to update their ergonomics for interchangeable back straps to accommodate shooters with smaller or larger hands.  They only recently started offering  a range of sight options for their pistol, which is one of the first changes most Glock owners make on their guns.  Where most manufacturers offer pistols, revolvers, and rifles or carbines, Glock has remained true to the area of their supreme mastery, the semi-auto pistol.

But, and it’s a qualified “but,” I am not sure that I need any of that stuff.  I still use my Glock factory holster for concealed carry, so I don’t need a new retention class holster in my “gun system kit.”  I don’t use a light or laser on my handgun, so an accessory rail lacks purpose for me.  I have never experienced an ammunition failure in my pistol, and I’m very familiar with the slap, rack, and fire technique in the case of a problem, so the “second strike” capability falls flat for me.  I upgraded my sights to excellent TRU-GLO night-sights, but I never found the original sights from Glock as terrible as the press suggests.  Moreover, I’m really accurate with my G19, and cognizant that all of these new features have marketing value, but perhaps little else. 

But, and here’s the qualification that I promised, I do find the standard grip on the Glock to be slightly oversized for my hand. I would like a slightly smaller grip, and the thought of having increased capacity but a shorter barrel to carry and conceal does interest me.  The thing that keeps me from carrying the G27 more frequently is the strange feel of a too-short grip in my hand when I’m called to draw and shoot the gun.

So, I’m glad that with their Gen4 pistols, Glock finally made it to that party, and I remain a Glock fan.  If I were in the market for my first handgun, I would absolutely consider a Springfield XD-M just for the 19 round capacity on the shorter 3.8 barrel frame, which is the only feature on any of the new generation of polymer pistols that seriously intrigues me.   I think consumers are the lucky ones because as manufacturers race to "out-Glock" the Glock, all of the new pistols offer a wider range of features that we would have expected.  Every consumer can find a feature on a pistol that fits their needs and their budget.  For me, I’m sticking with Glock, but I do envy the choices that new pistol shoppers get today.

Would I Still Buy a Glock Today, Part 4

Today's installment covers the final two guns in my polymer pistol review, each of which offers new features for the polymer platform, and compelling options for shooters.

Beretta offers a wide variety of top quality handguns, including civilian versions of the US military’s M9, but their recent developments in their x4 Storm brand most fit the development in the polymer pistol format.  Their Px4 Storm platform offers a modular, hammer fired, polymer frame pistol in multiple sizes and calibers to maximize options for home defense and concealed carry.   The PX4 Storm includes accessory rails, individual grip sizes like the M&P pistol, and adjustable sights. 

When Glock introduced multiple frame sizes, they stared full size, then compact, and finishing with a sub-compact designed for the best concealment.  Beretta shifted the deployment to take advantage of the strong consumer demand for a sub-compact frame, so the most recent PX4 Storm is the mid-sized compact frame in 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP.  All of the pistols are offered with a range of Beretta accessories, as aftermarket options haven’t caught up with the newest pistols. 

Personally, I find even the 9mm model in any frame size to be too big for my hands.   Compared to other pistols, the Beretta has a more substantial, even beefy, profile, the bulk of which positioned in the grip.  I can’t comfortably wrap my hand around the PX4 Storm, and remain confused by such a deep grip for a normal capacity double stack magazine.  The XD-M uniformly increases capacity without adding bulk to the grip face compared to the PX4 Storm, so I’m not sure of the ergonomic decisions made by Beretta.

Finally, Taurus offers a selection of polymer pistols including several new additions in their concealed carry and slim line dimensions.  For the purposes of this examination, the Taurus 24/7 model offers the best comparison.  It’s a full-size, polymer frame, striker fired pistol in multiple popular calibers, as well as accessory rails, manual safety, and site options.  While not technically in the same family, Taurus offers different sizes of this platform as the Millennium and Millennium Pro models for more compact carry guns.

The latest generation of 24/7, the G2 models, offers interchangeable back-straps and a trigger safety similar to Glock and other manufacturers while still preserving the thumb activated safety.  Grip geometry reminds me of the venerable H&K USP, another top quality semi-auto pistol.  The 24/7 G2 continues the Taurus tradition of “second strike” capabilities, rare for striker fired pistols that allows the user to pull the trigger again on a round if there’s a misfire in the chamber. 

Much print in gun magazines has been spent on the relative merits of this feature.  No shooter likes to hear “click” when they expect to hear “bang,” so on the surface, this feature should have some value.  But, with modern factory ammunition in such uniform high quality and misfires relatively rare, the actual incidence when this second strike capability comes into play is probably not noticeable.  Why I like the feature is that I can practice mag changes, target and sight alignment, and dry firing repeatedly without racking the slide after every “click.”  It’s a nice feature to practice dry-firing, which is the shortest path to mastering a new pistol.

Would I still buy a Glock today, Part 3

Today, we'll take a look at FN-Herstal's impressive FNP and FNX series as Glock competitors. 

Fabrique Nationale, FN for short, simply means national factory, but when it’s included with Herstal, as in FN Herstal, it represents one of the premier firearms and weapons technology manufacturers in the military, law enforcement, and civilian markets.  In addition to innovative rifles and PDW class guns like the SCAR and P90, they make one of the best new tactical pistols available to consumers, the  FNX system of handguns.  Like the others, FN offers the FNX in a variety of calibers, but so far only in a mid-full sized frame.  Still suitable for concealed carry, these weapons are still serious full size tactical weapons with the highest quality tolerances.

The FNX platform differs from those described above in that they are all hammer-fired pistols in the Browning tradition, and include an ambidextrous decocking lever and thumb safety.   The double action/single action format needs a strong first shot, followed by a racy 3-4 LB single action follow up shot. 

The FNX-9 and -40 remain largely identical, but in .45, FN changes the game.  The highest level of innovation for the FN platform, the FNP-45 Tactical, was developed for the Joint Combat Pistol Program, a competition to replace the M9 pistol currently in service, and to see the innovations available for .45ACP ammunition since the Army retired the 1911 in 1985.  The FNP-45 Tactical offers the same rails and back straps as the other fine FNP models, but the geometry of grip alignment looks and feels more consistent with the venerable Colt 1911 geometry.  Built with accessories in mind, the FNP-45 Tactical includes fully ambidextrous controls, and modifications for suppressor compatibility.  Designed with special operators in mind, the FNP-45 Tactical includes a threaded barrel for suppressor attachment without modification, as well as high profile combat sights designed to function with or without a suppressor attached to the gun.  Finally, the stainless steel slide is built to accommodate micro-dot and red-dot optics without modification, setting this pistol apart from all of the competition.  The pistol appeals to shooters interested in competitive shooting events like IDPA and IPSC, right out of the box.

Would I still buy a Glock today, Part 2

Given all of the new features offered on the latest wave of polymer pistols to compete with the Glock platform, would I still buy a Glock today if I were shopping for my first handgun?  In our last installment, I looked at the various benefits of the Springfield Armory XD-M.  Today, I look at the S&W M&P platform.

Smith and Wesson responded to the Glock pistols originally with their Sigma pistol beginning in 1994, one of the first direct competitors to the Glock polymer pistols.  In fact, the pistol was such an obvious copy that Glock sued the manufacturer for patent infringement, which S&W settled out of court for undisclosed sums and a promise to change the pistol.

However, the genie was out of the bottle, and S&W continued to evolve designs for the polymer platform.  Today, the modest Sigma is sold alongside the far superior M&P platform, which has been adopted by several law enforcement agencies, and is available to civilians.

Like the Glock, the M&P platform is available in different sizes and most popular calibers including 9mm, .40S&W, .45ACP, and .357Auto.  Some manufacturers may offer a sub-caliber kit to their pistol to convert it to fire 22LR ammunition, but S&W will soon offer a training version of the M&P handgun in .22LR on the full size frame.  Owners will be able to practice their fundamentals with the same trigger, sights and frame, but at a fraction of the cost of defensive quality ammunition.

The M&P also offers the Springfield style package of a carry case, molded holster and mag carriers, gun lock and loader with the pistol purchase.  S&W also offers versions of their M&P in the popular Flat Dark Earth (FDE) frame to suit operators in more arid environments.  To the best of my knowledge, though, the M&P hasn’t been adopted by serious military assaulters or foreign military units, so this feature is most suited to individual consumers looking for an alternative to the typical “black pistol” options.

The notable innovation of the M&P involves their approach to ergonomic options.  Instead of changing the grip size with a simple back strap, the M&P offers modular grip fittings that adjust size and circumference for a more customized fit.  With their grip system, the M&P provides the widest and most comfortable options for virtually any shooter’s hand size.

My biggest concern about the M&P is the long heavy trigger.  I had a hard time controlling the trigger and the inconsistent slack.  It felt sloppy to me, but I didn’t spend a lot of time training with the pistol.  Ergonomically, though, it offers one of the best grips in the business, great sights, and is easy to bring on target.

Would I still buy a Glock, today? Part 1

While H&K created the original polymer pistol with their VP70, in 1982 Glock’s G17 made the option for a polymer pistol a mass-market reality.   For a time, Glock led innovation in the industry with new calibers, compact and sub-compact models, and compensated models for competition and tactical shooters.  Recently, though, Glock seems to be late to the game with the type of features consumers most demand, like accessory rails, integrated holsters, and ergonomic grip options. In light of all of the new products in the market, I find myself asking the question, “If I had to buy my first handgun today, would I still pick a Glock?”

Today, nearly every manufacturer has their version of a Glock: a polymer frame, striker fired, semi-auto pistol in multiple calibers and sizes.  Springfield Armory, S&W, FN, Berretta, and Taurus all offer quality guns in the format with Smith and Springfield getting most of the recent press.  Glock’s newest Gen 4 pistol also includes the newest development of ergonomic back straps and revised grip textures to improve grip purchase and handling.

Springfield Armory offers the most compelling Glock alternative for my purposes.  The XD-M is an evolution of the XD platform imported originally in 2002from Croatia.  The XD-M improves on the XD frame by adding a match barrel, increased modularity, better ergonomics, and an upgraded slide design.  The XD-M is available in all the popular calibers (.45ACP, .40S&W, and 9mm), and in full or compact sizes.  The gun has two levels of safety without resorting to an independent safety actuator.  The Glock style trigger looks just like my G19 trigger, and ensures that the gun will fine only when an affirmative trigger grip is used.  The XD-M also integrates a grip safety similar to those on the iconic 1911, which requires a full grip on the pistol for operation.

With top quality sights, excellent ergonomics, a 4.5” barrel, the full size XD-M offers competition quality accuracy.  In 9MM, the gun handles 19 rounds in the magazine, giving the shooter the highest capacity pistol with a standard magazine.  The newest model in 9mm and .40S&W makes a new spin on the compact frame.  With a 3.8” barrel, the XD-M compact pistol closely matches the size of a Glock G27, and includes a 13 round flush-fit magazine.  Springfield’s innovation came from their modular grip frame that integrates a full 19 round magazine (in 9mm) with a grip extension that gives the compact frame pistol the same grip area as the full sized pistol. 

Glock originated this feature on their sub-compact frame guns, but Springfield has improved on this feature and offers in my opinion the best grip options with a small or sub-compact frame pistol.  In the XD-M Compact, a consumer can comfortably carry the pistol with the flush fit magazine and not worry about printing the gun under their clothing.  A quick switch to the X-Tension magazine offers the shooter all of the ammunition and grip area of the full sized pistol.  It’s one of the industry’s best innovations for compact carry pistols.

Like all XD type pistols, Springfield includes a complete system with the purchase of the pistol.  A molded carry case, fitted holster, magazine holder, mag loader, and gun lock are included in the XD and XD-M purchase.  It’s a full-service option that leaves few accessories for a new owner to purchase.  With dovetailed sights and an accessory rail, the XD-M leaves options to the owner to upgrade to various sights and optics, as well as rail-based light or laser systems to suit their defensive shooting needs.

Next time - the S&W M&P...