Tag Archives: Glocks

Weapons

Glock Generations

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Of the five generations of Glock pistols, the 5th Gen is easily my standout favorite. I remember the almost mythical nature when they first came out. And my first one was a Gen 2 model 17, that at first struck me as very interesting, but I ended up up selling it, and found my way back to a 1911 pretty quickly, and then to an HK USP, SIGs, and the rest. I came back to Glocks later with the Gen 3’s and spent a lot of time with them… Especially the Model 23’s. And pretty much always removed the finger groove thing, because they are awful. The 4th gen guns were, in my mind, gigantic disappointments. They offered nothing anyone actually asked for, and are nother more than a kneejerk reaction to the success of the Walthers and M&P’s swappable back straps. They did change the recoil springs to make the recoil feel a bit softer, but at the same time kinda messed up the formula because all the sudden some guys were experiencing more malfs than normal. So to me the 4ths are like the Windows VISTA of Glocks. That brings us to the 5th Gens. Where Glock finally did what every single person that raised an eyebrow at Glocks suggested – ditch the damn finger grooves. They cleaned up the recoil springs and triggers, and they didn’t futz around with the magazine wells with lips or cut outs or something that has always ruined a good feeling grip. Glock finally got it right. Now, they could have had this right at Gen 2, by simply listening to their customers and just adding in the frame rails for lights. A Gen 2 + if you will. Done. Simple. But I do like the ambi slid stop and reversible mag releases. They’ve come a long way. And the 5’s are wearing a new DLC finish too… Which looks very nice. My Glock Model 45 is easily my favorite Glock ever. And other than the XS sights, it’s completely stock. Because it didn’t need anything else. No aftermarket triggers, no Dremel work to the frame, nothing. This is a first for me. If you’ve not had a Glock in some time or ever… Take a good look at the 5th Gens.

Weapons

Glock’s dominance

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Police One put out an interesting survey.  “What do you think of your Police Sidearm?”

Glock’s dominance in the LEO market is epic.  Over 68% of the market is staggering.  But that’s actually not that surprising to me.
What is, well, not so surprising, but disappointing… is the complete falling of SIG and Beretta.   22.6% and 8.5% respectively.  As bad as that is… is the results of the question “What would you like to carry?”  Those numbers being only 21.3% and 4.6%.

No longer the Choice of Professionals.
No longer the Choice of Professionals.

This very clearly tells us that the time of metal framed guns fired with hammers is going the way of the Flint Lock.   This saddens me.   I prefer the metal-hammer guns over poly-striker guns.  The feel, the weight, the superior single action pull… and that I can pull more accuracy out of a hammer fired gun.

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As unpopular as Cream of Wheat.

What saddens me the most about this though – is that it tells me that Law Enforcement is no longer a Profession of Shootists.  Like the FBI, Municipal Law Enforcement isn’t a Gun Culture anymore.  They no longer want fine guns of refinement and craftsmanship… they only want Shooting Appliances.   They want guns – and this is the secret to Glock’s success – that are simplified down to the lowest common denominator.   Yes, I’ll say it.

Glock is the Common Core of handguns.

Most LE Agencies are not hiring shooters anymore.  They want guys with education in Psychology and Human Development… They want Councilors.  We saw this trend starting 20 years ago.   I think this is why we see so many questionable police shootings… so many cops shooting dogs.   I think a lot of these COP 2.0 guys may be power tripping… because the guys that come from the Gun Culture don’t get worked up or feel the need to power trip and flex their authority so much as these C2.0 guys and gals.

Huh… Oddly enough, all my LEO friends are from the Classic Old School variety.  Good Cops that use Common Sense before using Ego.  Damn good Cops.   Many of them carry Glocks, because of Policy, not by choice.  Some choose the Glocks… and that’s fine.  They can’t shoot that well anyways.  (j/k)

The Sidearms used by the most astute of shooting professionals remain hammer fired, metal framed guns.  The US Navy SEALs, I must point out – having the freedom of using anything they want, use SIG 226’s.  I don’t know any single group that personifies a Gun Culture more than the SEALS.  They take Pistol Craft more seriously than any other group… with US Air Marshals being a close second.  And they want that SIG.   They want a stable shooting platform with as much accuracy as you can have in a Semi-Auto handgun.

In the Consumer Market – sales of SIG’s and Beretta’s are down.  Regardless of quality, and regardless of special offers and marketing efforts, you just can’t sell them like you used to.  The first choice is Glock… followed by the S&W M&P and the Springfield XDM series guns.

I’m not counting 1911’s – that is a market unique to it’s own, and I’ll talk about that in more detail at another time.

For me – I will remain a fan of the SIG’s and the Beretta’s.  I prefer the triggers.  I prefer the safeties.  Now, if you are going to go Glock – get a new trigger system from Lone Wolf.  Get some new sights from Lone Wolf.  And you can make the most out of that Glock, if that’s what you prefer or have to live with.   And I do appreciate the Glock for what it is… and do like them with LWD triggers.  But given my druthers, I’ll take my Beretta over any Glock.

Oddly enough, the guns I want the most are all metal framed, hammer guns of the Revolving variety.  With only a couple automatics.  A SIG M11A1 is one the autos.  The other are Browning/FN Hi-Powers and a SIG P210.  But my beard is grey and I don’t like the music these kids listen to these days.   Oh… and get off my lawn.

Crusader

You need a good AR.

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Crusader Weaponry can build you the best AR you’ll ever own – for not much more than the cost of a production AR with the features you want.

Go to CrusaderWeaponry.com.  Hit the Contact Page.  Send Joe a message and tell him you want the best damn rifle ever made… Pick your Caliber.  Pick your Configuration – you tell us how you want your AR.  Pick your Finish.  And Joe will give you the quote.  It’s easy.  To make it easier, we have an Installment Plan.  Tell Joe you want to set up your Crusader Account.  You pay what you can when you can… We’ll help you get the gun you want.  Even if it takes you a year to pay for it – We’ll work with you.

We also do custom Glocks and Shotguns.  This OD Green 870 is Available.  749.99 gets it shipped to your Dealer or if you are in Utah, you can pick it up.   This is one seriously badass Shotgun.  A local fellow got one of these guns, in Coyote Tan.  He brought it out to the Range.  Firing it – holy crap – it’s so smooth and can cycle so fast it was like I was running a Semi.  Amazing.

Time to get Serious.  Time to get a Crusader.

If you already have an AR that isn’t a Crusader.  You can still get SLIPSTREAM.  You will be amazed at the difference.   At the last Crusader Tactical Carbine course, some guns were running Slipstream and some were not.  The Slipstreamed guns had no problems.  The others… Hell, even an AK jammed out here in our dusty dirty gritty hot as hell training location.  Slipstream made all the difference.

Crusader, Weapons

Glocks and AK’s.

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Have to say, the guns I go to the most are Glocks, AK’s, and 870’s.
The 23 in .40, remains my most favored handgun for CCW.  The  model 20, in 10mm is coming in second.  The more I use the Glocks… the more I like them.  Not just an appreciation for the function… but liking them for the way they feel and point, the triggers…  The elegant simplicity of them… I just really like Glocks now.  I don’t know… maybe it’s the crash… but I really dig them and the more I’m around them, the 19 and 23’s stand out as the perfect handguns to me – even more so than the 1911 now.  Yup.  They crossed that line for me.  I like them more than 1911’s.  No they are not the prettiest, but they are still beautiful.  Kinda like the Girl Next Door that you grew up best friends with and there is that moment when you realize “You want that.”   That’s Glock.
My Crusader Kalashnikov is more and more my go to rifle.  I just really feel an attachment to it.  It suits me to a T.  It can hit.  It’s reliable.  Mag changes are getting much faster and everything is “Clicking”.  And I get more satisfaction out of running the Kalash well than running an AR well.
For the 870’s, my adopted Police Tactical is my favorite.  I have my other 870’s and they are cool and all… but something about that old wood furniture.  Nothing says I am going to “Jack You Up” like an old wood stocked gun… You just know you are going to get an old school beating.  The warmth it has when you handle it.  Wood is an under appreciated material to a whole generation of shooters and I find that a sad state.  Poly is fine – but Wood is finer.  Especially nice grained wood with character.  Again, Wood stocked guns have “Soul” that Poly guns just don’t have and never will.  They can’t.  I’ve said that before… And when I pick up that old Police Tactical… You can feel it has a History of Kicking Ass and all that experience is backing you up giving you some extra confidence.  A new 870 Tactical with a plastic stock – it’s like a new Police Rookie with his first pair of Mirrored Cop Shades.  The authority is there… maybe even the skill is there… But not the Character and Experience – that Soul just isn’t there.

These are my Guns of Choice.  What are yours?

Weapons

Colts and 1911’s

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I spend a good portion of the day cleaning up a bunch of handguns at the gun store. Some Smiths and such… And a couple of Colts. I’ve come to appreciate the Colts more. The way they are designed and built is very clever and well done. From an old Police Positive to a Python, they are impressive machines. What I didn’t like about them was the very rough machining in hidden non-critical areas. These had some of the worst tool marks and hacked finishes I’ve seen on this side of a Mosin Nagant… But then in the working areas and exterior finishes it’s the best I’ve ever seen. I really liked the little Colt Cobra. Light weight, small, what a gem.
About the 1911’s. I am growing to like them less and less… As serious use guns. Don’t get me wrong… I love them for what they are, and cherish the one 1911 that I have that reminds me of my darkened and probably best forgotten past… But it does still give me the warm fuzzies. But if I hear a bump in the night it isn’t a gun I would grab. I’m becoming more and more of a Glock Guy. By that I don’t mean just Glocks specifically, but all of the newer polymer double stacked striker fired pistols for the purpose of dedicated fighting guns. For serious use, would take one over any 1911 any day.

Weapons

Glock’s 1911

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This photo was posted on WeTheArmed.com:

A dream for some, a nightmare for others.

This is of course a Photoshop.  You can tell because it doesn’t have a funny grip angle.  But it does make one think.  A lightweight polymer framed 1911 with a super tough finish and awesome reliability…. that would be fantastic.  If only… Oh… Never mind.

I think it would be great if Glock did a 1911.  I really like SIG’s 1911’s… A company that shocked everyone by coming out with one… and now they are well proven and are arguably the best production 1911’s on the market.   I’d still like to see HK build one as well.   While I would love for Glock to play in the 1911 market, I’d first like to see them build the long rumored Glock Carbine.  Going back to the early days of TheFiringLine.com rumors from different corners of the internets spoke of Glock developing a Carbine.   This has never happened.   I wish it would.  Other companies are doing well making kits to turn Glocks into Carbines… I’d like to see Glock themselves do a dedicated model.   Pistol caliber carbines sell pretty well.  HK did some for law enforcement and grudgingly let civilians buy neutered versions.  Kel Tec and Beretta offer them and many shooters have turned their AR’s into pistol caliber carbines.   Crusader even did some.   So the market is there.