Someone explain the love for Glocks

[bulletsmith]

I've shot a few and they are a nice shooting gun. I'm in the camp that agrees that they are ugly, and this is an issue for me. Guns have a utilitarian quality for sure, but they can also be admired from a craftsmanship perspective. I find an appeal to the look of a quality 92, or 1911, that I just can't see in a glock. I have to like the look of my gun too.

I'm a bit old fashioned too. I just don't get the absence of a proper safety. This design makes about as much sense to me as having to step on the gas pedal to release the emergency brake.

As for reliability, I don't own a gun that isn't reliable. Why would you? I find it difficult to accept that your Glock is somehow more reliable than so many others.

In the end, borrow one and shoot it. If you like it enough to buy one, who cares why. If that gun speaks to you, you should listen.

 

[hdrenollet]

I don't consider myself a Glock "fanboy", because there are several other handguns that I really like and enjoy taking to the range on a regular basis. However, my EDC is a Glock 19 Gen 4, which is my 3rd Glock. I love the way Glocks feel in my hand, it goes "bang" every time, I've put in the range time and it's what I feel most comfortable with if the need ever arises.

 

[gregr]

GLOCK 17 9mm TORTURE TEST

 

[bmbutch]

I shoot them well, have tried 3 now, they've all been sold, just don't like their feel & look.

 

[87iroc]

I drive an F150 and carry a 1911. Does that mean I should buy a civic?

no....a jeep.

 

[mrortega]

I had a customer come into the gun shop where I work. He was interested in a Glock 19 gen 4 and a Springfield XD Mod 2. He went back and forth holding each gun (except we didn't have a 19 and I handed him the 23 because it's the exact frame size as the 19.) I then put the medium extended beaver tail backstrap on the Glock and handed it to him. As soon as he gripped it his eyes got big and he said, "Wow." He wouldn't lay it down. He finally said, "No contest. I want a 19." I checked our 2nd store location and they were also out as were our two main wholesalers that we deal with. I told him I didn't know when we could get one in and he said he'd look for one somewhere else or wait until we got one. Evidently an awful lot of people think the 19-4 is the perfect 9mm.

 

[Vigilant]

Count me as a once RABID, but now reformed former Glock Hater. Allow me to explain myself. Let's set the way-back machine to the year 1989, soon after Glock's initial invasion of our country. It was then in 1989 and at the still impressionable age of 25 I for the first time ever, picked up and briefly held Glock's first ever pistol type the G17 Gen-1. I like many thousands of those who preferred more traditional all steel guns cast it down and denounced it as a ungodly ugly block of plastic that would never prove as reliable or prefer a GASP, gun made from PLASIC over a all steel gun, NEVER GONA HAPPEN!!!!


Well fast forward almost 25 years and a great deal of growing up and education of myself and I with a newly opened mind concerning polymer framed pistols and I by a strange twist of fate was afforded in a single days opportunity to shoot a several Generation 3 Glocks, one a 9mm, a 45acp and a 10mm. All were 100% factory unmodified Glocks belonging to the same owner.

I have to admit despite the fact I still consider the Glock an ugly if not THE most ugliest pistol of all time, I absolutely loved the way those Gen-3 pistols felt in my hand and equally loved how well I could shoot them. To say I was jaw droppingly shocked would be understatement great in measure. I will also openly admit long ago I had matured enough to realize it and then prevent when I am allowing baseless personal bias to exert it's influence on myself, especially on my decision making process.


I had finnaly reached a point in my maturation that although not in all cases, I could allow myself to admit I am wrong and once again consider CERTAIN things as acceptable what I once thought as completely unacceptable. That is indeed the case with Glock pistols. I have been in advance of and preparing for purchasing several of them, researching semi-autos for nearly a year now and I have come to the inescapable conclusion as to why 60% of Americas Police Dept. now issue Glocks to their officers.


That conclusion is the fact that the former shower curtain manufacturer AKA Gaston Glock's pistol is a superb pistol design in all respects of ergonomics, simplicity, shoot ability, and is above all else absolutely dead bomb proof reliable. If this were not true of Glock's pistols they would not presently have captured 60% of the law enforcement market when so many other quite good polymer semi-autos are presently available. For example there are presently more Glocks in use by the NYPD than the Austrian army! the home country of Gaston Glock.

Is the Glock design for everyone? No of course not. Is it the greatest ever? that's strictly a matter of opinion, is there a more proven reliable pistol for use in a law enforcement application or by private civilians for self defense? not according to my research. Are there pistols just as reliable? yes there are. Is it as ugly as a performance by Rosie. O'Donnell at an all-U-can-eat buffet? yes it is, but in matters of self preservation only a fool would allow him or herself to permit aesthetics alone to deny themselves to consider owning any otherwise superb firearm platform such as the Glock. Also consider this, I could mistaken but IMHO, in the history of handguns (especially post WW-II) almost no other design has had a greater influence on pistol design development than Glock has. Think about it, prior to the Glock very few companies if any were making polymer frames pistols, now every single major handgun manufacturer makes one, admiitedly a lot of it has to do with cost and profit because a polymer framed pistol is easier and considerably cheaper to make than a all steel handgun to be sure.

In short I'm trying to say that what ever reasons influence a person NOT to buy a Glock pistol, it is unlikely IMHO they would be ones of concern about the pistol ever failing them in in a situation where that situation involves using it for preserving their lives or the lives of their loved ones.

For those wondering I do not at this moment or ever in the past have owned a Glock, so ownership has not influenced my opinion. I have shot enough of them recently to know I WILL be buying at least two in the extreme near future along with at least two M&Ps. I will be buying a Glock 20 Gen-3 SF in 10mm as my hunting/scouting/hiking/woods gun. As I own a great deal reloading components in 45acp I will be buying either a G21 or a FNH FNP 45, but admittedly the G21 is $200 cheaper and aftermarket everything is available EVERYWHERE for the G21, not so for the FNP is having a lot of influence on my decision in the matter.

I have shot many full sized 9mm M&Ps at the same time with Glock G3's to know I would love either. Unfortunately no M&P variants come chambered in 10mm, and a Glock 21 capacity in 45 is markedly higher than the M&P, and max capacity matters to me. So it's looking like 2 Glocks (45acp & 10mm) and 2 9mm M&P's for me.

So IMHO, with the exception of how a Glock fits in ones hand, peoples dislike for Glocks is like so much else in life and is far more likely based on a matter of personal opinion and or preference than function or reliability.

Pretty excellent response!

 

[ART338WM]

Pretty excellent response!

Thank you,
Compliment noted and appreciated.

 

[Birds Away]

I don't really have anything against Glocks. It's just so much fun watching the fanbois get all lathered up when someone says something bad about them.

 

[SSGSAD]

I don't really have anything against Glocks. It's just so much fun watching the fanbois get all lathered up when someone says something bad about them.

Amen, to that !!!!!

 

[Defensive Shooting Concepts]

People love Glocks because they are one of the best guns ever made! Just like the 1911 when it was made! In 105 years from the time it was released to the market people will still be buying Glocks. Also just like the 1911 people will still be buying someone's version of the Glock. Remember some of the guns that different people like are here because that company was trying to make something to compete with a Glock. Thank you to Glock, and thank you to those other companies for pushing each other to make great guns. As a gun nut that makes today firearms market very interesting. Lastly thank you Glock for finally getting back in the game with the 43. It is only 15 years late but at least it is finally here.

 

[JACKD7]

Lot of aftermarket parts, sights, drop-in triggers, grip tape for competition but does anybody carry one? HK Holic.

 

[paul24]

Cheap, available, parts and mags available, huge aftermarket (if that is your thing), tons of holster options, etc. etc.

I can quickly take the entire gun apart myself and don't need a gunsmith. All business without the good looks. Accurate and able to take a beating.

I didn't like them either at first until I shot a G21. The rest is history and now Glock is all I own, shoot, and carry.

If you see someone at the range with a 17 or 21 ask to shoot it.

Agree with this completely. I love the fact that I can take the entire gun apart quite easily. Also feels pretty good in my hands. Not the best, but certainly better than many others. Gen 4 feels better due to the smaller grip frame.

 

[churchmouse]

Grave robbing.....

 

[bulletsmith]

Agree with this completely. I love the fact that I can take the entire gun apart quite easily. Also feels pretty good in my hands. Not the best, but certainly better than many others. Gen 4 feels better due to the smaller grip frame.

So, Glock owners have small hands? Just trying to understand.

 

[Birds Away]

Grave robbing.....

bully

 

[Birds Away]

We seem to spend an awful lot of time worrying about what everyone else is doing/carrying. It's your money, buy what you like.

 

[Expat]

We seem to spend an awful lot of time worrying about what everyone else is doing/carrying. It's your money, buy what you like.

Easy hoss. Maybe they are just insecure in their choice and seeking your approval to make them feel validated :-)

 

[Birds Away]

Easy hoss. Maybe they are just insecure in their choice and seeking your approval to make them feel validated :-)

Oh, well, can't help them there.

 

[Expat]

Oh, well, can't help them there.

Bully