My opinion on carrying a G19 vs G26

[Hydrilla]

I just got my High Noon Hideway model IWB holster in horsehide for my new G19 today. I think this gun/holster combo has eliminated the need for the G26 for me. I have the same holster for both and the G19 doesn't print any more than the G26 does with my style of dress and body type, and it is no less comfortable. Not knocking the G26 of course, it's a fine weapon, but I'm really impressed with how well the G19 conceals IWB. If anybody is in the market for an IWB holster, I highly recommend this one. I've owned 3 now, the other one being for a Kel-Tec P-32, and I haven't seen a better IWB holster than this.

[striderglock]

I'm glad you had a better experience with High Noon than I did.

[Hydrilla]

What happened to you striderglock? I've had mine for a couple of years with no probs. Have owned Galco and some others and have liked these the best.

[ambassador]

When I had to make the decision as to whether to buy a 26 or 19 for routine personal carry, I approached it like this: First I decided on the type of holster I was going to use most often, IWB vs ankle. I decided on ankle since I am dressed in shirt and tie most of the time.

Next I determined which part of the weapon was going to be the most difficult to conceal. Which part was most likely to print. I decided it was the grip. The slide would be running down my leg with an ankle holster and would not be a problem.

Next I went to the gunshop and examined the 2 weapons closely and got the feel of them. I realised immediately that the G26 grip was too short for me, my pinky was hanging off the end. The salesman told me that I could get a magazine extension to make me feel more confortable. He brought me a 26 mag with the extension and you know what, with the 26 mag extension, the grip on the 26 was the same length as the 19!

So since the problem area (the grip) was the same on both pistols, I picked the one that was more versatile, the G19. Longer sight radius, less felt recoil, and no more difficult to conceal than 26 IMHO.

Galco Ankle Glove and my G19...perfect for me.

[Dandapani]

No G19 for me until Glock fixes them permanently. (New ones, not the old, venerable ones.)

[BusterDog]

I purchased a G19 a year ago and have had no problems what-so-ever.

[Dandapani]

Originally posted by BusterDog
I purchased a G19 a year ago and have had no problems what-so-ever.

With premium JHP such as GD? The "bad" G19's eat ball all day long, then gag on JHP.

[SeanK]

Couldn’t disagree more with choosing a Glock 19 over a 26 for conceal carry.

First item for people to get over, the grip. I've shoot and owned both the 19 and 26 and I know how incredibly weird the 26 grip feels the first time you pick it up.

Don't choose a 19 over the 26 until you SHOOT a 26. Don't judge a book by its cover.

There is absolutely no difference in accuracy, recoil, or most importantly comfort once the brass starts to fly, esspecially more so with 9mm mini's then with other glock mini's. Once the pinky finger goes underneath the mag, its a incredibly natural feel.

The short 2 finger grip is a huge advantage when carrying a gun concealed because it’s the grip that prints though clothes not the barrel, if carrying in the waist band. A glock 19 will print though a shirt much more then a 26 will, especially when you’re sitting down. But in the end to his, his own. If you go over to the sub club you will find many people that can hit 50yrds away with a 26 standard mag, consistently and most are just as accurate with a 26 out to 25yrds as any other pistol that’s larger, I know I am.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I have both, and I shoot them equally well. I prefer my late F-series G19 for carry because it's more comfortable to me. The short butt of the 26 digs into my side. Also, after sept I may actually buy some hi-caps for the 19 which would just be one more reason to carry it over the 26.

[Hydrilla]

SeanK, I know where you're coming from, and before I shot my buddy's G26 for the first time, I thought I would hate it. The second time I shot one, I shot my own because I immediately went out and bought one. It is a very natural shooting gun even with the last finger off the grip, and you're right- most people are surprised at how well they can shoot with it. I just find the 19 more comfortable yet, and with my style of dress it doesn't print anymore than the 26. Both great guns.

Now, when I get my G36 here in a few days, I've been told I'll like it best of all for a CCW ;)


Originally posted by SeanK
Couldn’t disagree more with choosing a Glock 19 over a 26 for conceal carry.

First item for people to get over, the grip. I've shoot and owned both the 19 and 26 and I know how incredibly weird the 26 grip feels the first time you pick it up.

Don't choose a 19 over the 26 until you SHOOT a 26. Don't judge a book by its cover.

There is absolutely no difference in accuracy, recoil, or most importantly comfort once the brass starts to fly, esspecially more so with 9mm mini's then with other glock mini's. Once the pinky finger goes underneath the mag, its a incredibly natural feel.

The short 2 finger grip is a huge advantage when carrying a gun concealed because it’s the grip that prints though clothes not the barrel, if carrying in the waist band. A glock 19 will print though a shirt much more then a 26 will, especially when you’re sitting down. But in the end to his, his own. If you go over to the sub club you will find many people that can hit 50yrds away with a 26 standard mag, consistently and most are just as accurate with a 26 out to 25yrds as any other pistol that’s larger, I know I am.

[SeanK]

What I find astonishing is how people buy guns based on what others prefer themselves.

The only thing that needs to be looked at when buying guns is the manufacturer, not so much the models. Once a manufacture has gained a good reputation, and a couple of professional gun writers have reviewed a particular model, then pick what ever model or caliber that YOU like, not what someone else likes. If a glock 19 works for YOU then by all means buy it, but not with out shooting something else based on someone else’s opinion.

Many people just like having that extra finger on the grip, not to mention an extra 5 rounds. For me the Glock 19 is simply not small enough for concealed carry, I would be able to hide it i’m 6'2" and 200lbs but it just doesn’t work for me, I also have a pet peeve about carry guns that can hold more rounds but I choose to keep Clinton mags. Maybe that 11th round in the mag was the one that I needed to save my life in a shoot out, but with a gun that holds only 10rds, you know that’s all you could have, I don't know I’m just weird when it comes down to that.

I wouldn’t wait and hold my breath on the assault weapons ban, theirs no way that a president with an approval rating that’s at 45% will get reelected, no matter how bad we want it, it just doesn’t happen when that statistic drops below 49-50%. Kerry will probably be elected and that assault weapons ban will be passed in no time. Remember it passed with ease with the Manufacture Protection bill that was killed anyways. This is why Feintstein, Shumer, and Kenndy are not putting up a big fight with it right now, they know they will get it passed right after it expires anyway.

[Rusty Shackleford]

"Now, when I get my G36 here in a few days, I've been told I'll like it best of all for a CCW"

I've found my 36 to be the perfect size (for me) - between the 26 and the 19. Smaller than the 19 for concealment, bigger than the 26 so that the butt doesn't jab me in the side.

[another okie]

I don't find the pinky extensions necessary, but shooting is about 80% mental, so if you need it, use it. I would like to point out that saying the grip is the hard part to conceal is true, but it can be broken down a little more. It's normally the rear part of the grip that prints, and the pinky extensions just make the front longer. The extensions do make the grip the same length as the 19 magazines in front, but the back is still shorter.

[GlockST]

Glocks in 9mms are really reat pistols. I prefer the G26 because o fconcealability and interchangeability of barrels with the G19. I have less felt recoil compared with the G19 maybe due to the springs. Buy both and enjoy.

[Hydrilla]

Another thing I've found in the short time I've owned the G19 is that I draw significantly faster, I assume because there's more of a grip to grab onto.

[Michigun]

I traded off my G26 for lack of use… didn’t find my G19 any harder to conceal & would rather have the extra 5 rounds.

(My G19 came before my G26, but the G26 came only a few months after the G19… shot them side-by-side until just recently. My G19 was one of the 1st 3rd gens available so I’ve had it a while.)

If I needed anything smaller then the G19 I always skipped right over the G26 & went for one of my Kahrs.

FYI, I’m just about at the 6’ mark & go just over 200 lbs… I mostly carry one of my G34’s (next most CCW’ed is one of my G17’s) in an OWB kydex FIST holster at 3:00 under only a non-skintight T-shirt… I just don’t see the hard part about concealing any GLOCK!