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.