djdotcom
08-27-2005, 15:58
Hey everyone. This is my first post here as I found the site looking for info on the Glock 39.
I've been considering purchasing a handgun for a couple years now. I don't particularly have any specific NEED for added personal defense, although sometimes I can imagine situations I am in or have been in, that if they had gone a different way, a handgun could have been a great help. I guess I've had too many situations I walked away from feeling "lucky" things didn't go a different way. I feel a handgun would help keep some of my "luck" out of the equation if situations like that were to escelate.
One other big reason I feel a need to buy a handgun is because I can. I want to excercise my right to own one. Since the school shootings in recent years, I've seen signs that in time, we may not be able to purchase firearms we can today. In our school district, a teacher (20 days from retirement) was suspended for 3 days without pay this last year for allowing a child to demonstrate how to clean a gun barrel as a speech class presentation. The school was locked down and the child was also suspended. Mind you. The kid brought only the barrel of a handgun to school. A useless hollow tube. That same week, another teacher and student were suspended when the child brought (2) spent shell casings to school for a paper mache art project. I remember when I had firearm safety class after school here in this small town. It was not uncommon to see kids showing each other their dad's favorite shotgun, or rifle they were taking to class with them, right in the hallway. Or, out in the street after school during deer season. Shotguns everywhere as some were headed out hunting.
I am a total novice when it comes to handguns. My only experience with a handgun is taking my brother's S+W 9mm out to a junk pile and shooting at refridgerators and things. I could barely hit a refridgerator at 20 feet. Maybe 6/10 shots. That was about 10 years ago. My brother is a cop now, and I've learned alot about handguns from him over the years. Recently, I've decided not to ask him much about buying my own. In the little bit we have talked about myself get a conceal/carry permit, I think it makes him nervous that if I ever made a mistake with a handgun of my own, it could have a negative impact on his career. I guess I feel like I've been in situations that not having one could have had a negative impact my life. I think his opinion is it's better to stay out of those situations. I agree, but... ?
I recently worked with a guy that did 3 years in prison for shooting 3 men that broke into his apartment. Stories like that do make me nervous about kowing for sure when deadly force is justified. I guess every time I think about it, I come to the conclusion that if I ever did have to kill someone, and they decided I had to do time for defending myself, at least I'd be alive. Did you try running away from the situation first? QUestions like that are scary to me when discussin this subject.
Anyway. The Glock 39. Is it the right choice for a first CCW? I'll list the attributes that have brought me to this choice of weapon:
1. It's a Glock. From what I've read, heard, and seen, they just look to be the most thought out hardware on the market.
2. It's a .45 GAP. I've heard several times now, that if you're going to shoot something. It's better that it ends up dead. The .45 GAP seems to have the most stopping power (for this size frame). I've been looking at the G30 for over a year now, until my brother showed me a G39. He wondered what the "GAP" stood for, so I googled it, and it just sounds like a better way to go than the G30.
3. Small frame. From most opinions I've read and agree with, a CCW should be a balance of concealability and stopping power. The lighter weight should make carrying it over long periods easier. The small size should expand the number of possibilities for where to keep it put away.
The biggest issue I've heard about in the subcompacts is the short grip, some say they make them not balanced well, and akward to hold onto, possibly distracting the user from the shot.
The other issue I noticed pretty quickly was I assume because of it's small size, they eliminated the accessory rail completely on the 39. It looks to me like they had enough room for a shorter accessory rail on it. I realize that having a light protruding out beyond the barrel defeats the purpose of a subcompact, but it does take away many options. Why wouldn't they have left the possibility there for an accessory, just in case someone decided they wanted one? The reason this annoyed me was my plan is to get a laser for it, hoping my accuracy will improve faster using it. From what I've read you should never depend on it, but it can help confidence when learning to use the open sights.
I can't think of any more questions for you guys right now. Just looking for some feedback on whether I'm leaning towards the right hardware for me or not. I understand most of you here love the 39, but is my choosing it for the right reasons?
Thanks
I did try my brother's dept. issue G22? 27? recently. This was the result from 20 feet on a 50ft target. I was surprised it was this much better than his S+W 9mm I tried 10 years ago.
http://12.157.197.253/g27-20ft.jpg
I've been considering purchasing a handgun for a couple years now. I don't particularly have any specific NEED for added personal defense, although sometimes I can imagine situations I am in or have been in, that if they had gone a different way, a handgun could have been a great help. I guess I've had too many situations I walked away from feeling "lucky" things didn't go a different way. I feel a handgun would help keep some of my "luck" out of the equation if situations like that were to escelate.
One other big reason I feel a need to buy a handgun is because I can. I want to excercise my right to own one. Since the school shootings in recent years, I've seen signs that in time, we may not be able to purchase firearms we can today. In our school district, a teacher (20 days from retirement) was suspended for 3 days without pay this last year for allowing a child to demonstrate how to clean a gun barrel as a speech class presentation. The school was locked down and the child was also suspended. Mind you. The kid brought only the barrel of a handgun to school. A useless hollow tube. That same week, another teacher and student were suspended when the child brought (2) spent shell casings to school for a paper mache art project. I remember when I had firearm safety class after school here in this small town. It was not uncommon to see kids showing each other their dad's favorite shotgun, or rifle they were taking to class with them, right in the hallway. Or, out in the street after school during deer season. Shotguns everywhere as some were headed out hunting.
I am a total novice when it comes to handguns. My only experience with a handgun is taking my brother's S+W 9mm out to a junk pile and shooting at refridgerators and things. I could barely hit a refridgerator at 20 feet. Maybe 6/10 shots. That was about 10 years ago. My brother is a cop now, and I've learned alot about handguns from him over the years. Recently, I've decided not to ask him much about buying my own. In the little bit we have talked about myself get a conceal/carry permit, I think it makes him nervous that if I ever made a mistake with a handgun of my own, it could have a negative impact on his career. I guess I feel like I've been in situations that not having one could have had a negative impact my life. I think his opinion is it's better to stay out of those situations. I agree, but... ?
I recently worked with a guy that did 3 years in prison for shooting 3 men that broke into his apartment. Stories like that do make me nervous about kowing for sure when deadly force is justified. I guess every time I think about it, I come to the conclusion that if I ever did have to kill someone, and they decided I had to do time for defending myself, at least I'd be alive. Did you try running away from the situation first? QUestions like that are scary to me when discussin this subject.
Anyway. The Glock 39. Is it the right choice for a first CCW? I'll list the attributes that have brought me to this choice of weapon:
1. It's a Glock. From what I've read, heard, and seen, they just look to be the most thought out hardware on the market.
2. It's a .45 GAP. I've heard several times now, that if you're going to shoot something. It's better that it ends up dead. The .45 GAP seems to have the most stopping power (for this size frame). I've been looking at the G30 for over a year now, until my brother showed me a G39. He wondered what the "GAP" stood for, so I googled it, and it just sounds like a better way to go than the G30.
3. Small frame. From most opinions I've read and agree with, a CCW should be a balance of concealability and stopping power. The lighter weight should make carrying it over long periods easier. The small size should expand the number of possibilities for where to keep it put away.
The biggest issue I've heard about in the subcompacts is the short grip, some say they make them not balanced well, and akward to hold onto, possibly distracting the user from the shot.
The other issue I noticed pretty quickly was I assume because of it's small size, they eliminated the accessory rail completely on the 39. It looks to me like they had enough room for a shorter accessory rail on it. I realize that having a light protruding out beyond the barrel defeats the purpose of a subcompact, but it does take away many options. Why wouldn't they have left the possibility there for an accessory, just in case someone decided they wanted one? The reason this annoyed me was my plan is to get a laser for it, hoping my accuracy will improve faster using it. From what I've read you should never depend on it, but it can help confidence when learning to use the open sights.
I can't think of any more questions for you guys right now. Just looking for some feedback on whether I'm leaning towards the right hardware for me or not. I understand most of you here love the 39, but is my choosing it for the right reasons?
Thanks
I did try my brother's dept. issue G22? 27? recently. This was the result from 20 feet on a 50ft target. I was surprised it was this much better than his S+W 9mm I tried 10 years ago.
http://12.157.197.253/g27-20ft.jpg
