Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Need purchase and choice advise in 9mm ccl carry.

I have all frame sizes mentioned above, the G26 sized frame is easier for me to conceal than a G19 sized frame, the G43 is easier than the G26 sized frame. Most days these days I carry a 27 with a plus 2 extension which is still shorter in the grip than a 19, I like my 43 and its more comfortable to carry than the thicker guns but I just these days feel more comfortable with more cartridges in the gun. This is not my photo of my pistols but serves to illustrate the point.

If they are truly honest, most people shooting the G26 side by side with the G43 will prefer shooting the G26 & generally shoot it better.

In practical terms, the G26 is really no harder to carry than the G43 as the G43 is NOT a pocket gun so by the time they are both holstered, there's really no clear carry advantage with the 43..............which would be the only real reason for its existence.

The 43 tries to fill a gap that doesn't exist except in some people's minds & loony-ism .

MM

I disagree completely. I've owned several G26s over the years and have sold them all because I didn't find them any easier to conceal than a G19. The G43 on the other hand completely disappears anywhere I carry it - IWB, OWB, appendix, and I do pocket carry it on occasion. To each his own, but in my opinion the G43 is a winner and the G26 is the tweener gun that doesn't have a place in my battery.

Well, you know what they say about opinions.............................

In a Remora holster, the 26/27 completely disappears for me; I'm 6'1" 225 lb..........................wimpy guys may have more trouble with concealment though.

MM

Exactly.

A lot of guys don't know they're printing.

Excellent post by Cheyenne, follow-up by Kevin & I completely agree, based on carrying the guns he's discussed as well as various weight & size Beretta's & 1911's.

While I'd surely rather be shooting a G19, G23, G17, Beretta 92 full size or compact, 1911. LWT or all steel, Commander or Govt., size & weight do matter.

Concealment, within reasonably acceptable parameters, is not difficult, depending on attire, but size & weight cannot be ignored no matter the dress code.

Whenever in doubt, I will always lean toward, & prefer the bigger gun..............it's just that sometimes that doesn't work best for a given situation.

While the G26/27 is as small as I routinely want to carry there are a few occasions when I need to drop down to a J-frame or even a Ruger LCP II, but that's not my preference for EDC...................just necessary sometimes.

As with holster selection & preference is a very personal choice, so is the actual gun an equally personal preference.............................guess that's why there are so many variants to pick from.

MM

I own a G43 and a G27, the 27 is thicker but no more difficult to carry than the 43. I have G19’s and G17 but the butt is longer and the longer barrel makes the gun less comfortable to carry when sitting, plus it’s a bit harder to conceal. You might be surprised at how well you can shoot the 27.

The only subcompact Glock I ever had was the one in 40 S&W, which I guess is the 27. I didn’t shoot it very well. I like more grip to hold onto. I also didn’t think it carried comfortably, but then it could have been that particular holster. This was quite a few years ago, and for all I know, if I got another one today I’d feel completely different about it.

I agree that without the pierce mag extensions I would not like the gun as well. Many years ago I had a gen two 26 and felt I did not shoot it well, I have relearned my grip on the glocks and I hit better with any of them now. It may seem odd but I think the shorter barrel glocks are pretty accurate.

Normal size to large hands need the mag extensions with the 26/27's. Makes a world of difference.

MM

Sounds like you have decided on the weapon. Personally, a Glock has never impressed me. If you like 1911 controls, you can get those features in the Sig P938. It comes in 9mm and feeds reliably. I have fairly large hands, but this little friend fills my hand and does not feel like a small pistol. Anyhow, it is one option for a bit over $500.

Agreed. And when you lay the mag-extended 26/27 on top of an old, no-rail G19 or 23...

The gun market is different all over, but around here the G26 and G27 are mostly called "trade-ins".

Yep, now you're talking a grip length about like the compact Glocks.

See jimmyp's pic a couple of pages back...............& carry whatever suits you.

Maybe a 8 3/8" Model 29, eh?

MM

'That's not a gun, THIS is a gun.'

Bullet selection: Modern propellants seem to have minimized the need for longer barrels in handguns (not eliminated, just minimized), so I use Hornady Critical Defense. As a fellow rifle guy, you'll probably agree with me that handguns are huge compromises, and I just haven't been convinced that 10 grains more or less of bullet weight out of a 4 inch or less barrel makes all that much difference. YMMV

G26 vs G43: I have both. If you carry the G26, have a backup G19 (15 round) magazine in your hip pocket, just in case. That's pretty much the only benefit. I carried a G26 as a backup to my duty weapon, so that in case of failure, I could continue the fight with my G26 and my duty G17 mags. That said, the G43 WITHOUT the little pinky rest extension will disappear in your pocket, especially with a Blueforce Gear or Remora pocket holster. Carry the biggest gun you can, but if you have to go light, that slim little G43 is tough to beat. Even going out to get the paper when you're still in sweatpants or whatever, the option of having that pocket rocket is very nice.

Guns to avoid: Most guns have improved past what they were, but every manufacturer turns out the occasional "Friday afternoon" gun, where the QC just isn't there. Glock, S&W (sometimes), and Sig are all tough to beat. Remember, good enough is actually usually pretty good. For instance, I used to drive a Toyota Camry.

Sig 938

Actually, I agree with that.................many novices & a lot of women are led into those guns & the 40, especially, can be right sporty to shoot, much less shoot well.

And so they become unhappy with the gun due to no fault of the gun itself; but it's surely not a novice gun or a gun for the vast majority of women.

Saw a guy come into one of my buddy's shop one day & obviously he was attempting to be a manly man in front of his equally obvious novice girlfriend/wife & insisting that she (who clearly stated she had never fired a pistol) buy a G27 since a 9mm was just not enough gun for her oor anyone else.

MM