Category: G19

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G19 Glock Springfield Armory XD45

I Decided to Switch My Carry Gun

I’ve switched from carrying the Glock 19 gen 4 to the Springfield Armory XD45 subcompact in Mod 2 format.

Why the change?

I’d always been interested in the XD45.  I bought this used (see my last post).  It appears to have a very low round count…there’s slight barrel wear (just the black finish has worn) and there’s one place on the slide that has finish wear.  I took it to the range and shot a bit over 100 rounds from it.  It has VERY manageable recoil (remember, it shoots .45ACP) for a firearm it’s size.  I had no issues firing it…there were no hiccups or malfunctions.  I shoot this better than I do my 1911 of the same caliber.  The grip safety doesn’t bother me and I’ve carried the 9mm counterpart in the past so I’m familiar with the platform.

There was nothing to not like about the gun.  It is a good bit smaller than my G19 and I’d been thinking of going back to my XD9 anyways.  The XD45’s raw price was $320 but after all the fees, it was $420, which is still a great price for a basically new firearm.  I can basically switch carrying the XD45 to the XD9 (and back) without any issue.  I did that during my last range visit and because the two guns share the same platform, I had no issues being accurate or getting used to triggers when switching between both handguns.  Recoil happens after the round has been fired, so it doesn’t affect my accuracy (unless I’m anticipating it).

I’d been using the Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 holster with the XD9 subcompact shell when I first started carrying.  The XD45 will fit in that holster without issue.

Magazine capacity is 9 rounds with the normal magazine, although it comes with a 13-round extended magazine as well (which I use as a backup mag).  I’ll be getting a few other 9-round mags soon, so that when I go to the range, I don’t spend most of my time loading up mags.

The sights are great, but are not good in low-light situations, so I may have to get new sights.  I’ll probably not go with XS Big Dots this time.  If I can find a set that have the same profile as the current ones but are night sights, I’ll be fine.  Or, I can keep them as-is and not mess up a good thing.  I’ll figure out which direction I want to go soon.

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G19 Glock 19 P320C Sig Sauer voluntary upgrade

Quick Note – Applied for P320 Voluntary Upgrade

So, I’m carrying the Glock 19 now.  I’m struggling, actually.  I guess I’m so used to smaller handguns that I’m having issues adjusting to the grip (it’s large compared to the other handguns I’ve been conceal-carrying).  Since I’ve invested time, training, money, and mods into the gun, I’m pretty much stuck carrying it for at least a year.  I want to give it a year to assess if I’ll get used to it (I probably will).

So, I was thinking I could’ve carried my P320 instead.  I’ve the P320C but have a subcompact grip module that would allow me to have a small grip but still have 12-round mags.  So, while I’m currently carrying the Glock 19, I’ll send the P320 to Sig for the voluntary upgrade.  If you guys don’t already know, Sig had issues with the P320 firing when dropped.  They’ve fixed the issue and I’ve sent correspondence to them asking for the upgrade.  Once I’ve the upgrade, I’ll probably get another N82 IWB holster for the P320 and get either XS Big Dots or sights comparable to those.  Then I will probably carry that handgun next.

Again, though, I’ll be sticking with the G19 for at least a year just to give it a fair shake.

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Big Dot ETS G19 Glock XS

Glock 19 as a Carry Gun?

I’ve decided to give my Glock 19 (Gen 4) a chance at concealed carry.

I can start carrying it immediately but actually want to get a few things first. Firstly, I already have a holster (an Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0) and have the Glock 19 shell for it, but I ordered a N82 Tactical Professional IWB holster specifically for the Glock 19.  I’ve this same holster for my PX4 Storm and it is exceptional.  It will take awhile for me to receive it, though, since they are made to order. I also ordered new sights.  What did I order?  A set of XS Big Dot sights.  They should arrive tomorrow.  I can shoot well enough with the OEM U-sight system, but wanted something that would help me quickly focus on the front sight.  Since my eyesight is getting worse, I need an edge and I think the Big Dot system would give me that edge. I bought three (3) ETS mags 15-round mags, as well, since my particular Glock came with three (OEM) 10-round mags.  I need to try to sell the 10-rounders…I want more than 10 rounds in the firearm when carrying. There is one thing I need to get over when carrying the Glock.  I’m not used to carrying a firearm that’s striker-fired.  This firearm has no safeties (other than the internal and trigger safeties).  At least when I carried the XD Mod.2, I could rely upon the grip safety.  I’m well aware of the fact that I should “keep my booger hook off the trigger”…remember, I’ve been carrying awhile now, but firearms can and do go off without fingers touching the trigger, mainly during reholstering.

Also, I’ve been carrying small handguns the last few years.  The grip on the G19 is bigger than what I’m used to.  Hopefully, I can get used to that.  I’ve been carrying in the house without a magazine the last two days just to get used to the grip (and so I can get used to carrying a striker-fired handgun).  The Grip isn’t all that much bigger than the GP P11’s grip, so I don’t know why I’m having a difficult time with the G19’s grip.

All of these changes are due to me not being able to find viable sight options for the Thunder.  That’s a damned shame…that’s the ONLY thing I don’t like about the Bersa, but I NEED to be able to see the front sight.

UPDATE 1:  The sights arrived.  They are now on the gun.  Some comments:

  • With this set, only the front sight has tritium.  The rear does not.  That surprised me and now I know why the sights were so cheap.  I may later pony up for the rear tritium sight (I believe I can purchase it by itself).  I’m not returning them…they’re on the gun and it would be a hassle to remove and return them…as well, the OEM sights that I removed got scarred up and can’t be re-used (I suppose they could but screw that).  I think I need to find some soft-tipped punches.
  • The front dot’s tritium isn’t as bright as I thought it would be, but maybe I’m being a bit TOO critical.  I mean, I can see them easily when I’m in a dark room.  We’ll see how long they last.
You might hate James Yeager, but he absolutely makes several great points, as well as a great demonstration of long distance shots with the XS Big Dot sights…they are indeed accurate…you just have to read the instructions on how to use them, and understand bullet drop.
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Bersa Dragon Fire EFK G19 G22 Glock 19 Glock 22 Thunder Plus

Latest Happeninigs

What’s been going on?

I ordered a new OEM recoil spring for the Glock 22.  In fact, I ordered two of them.  I still haven’t contacted EFK Dragon Fire regarding the failed Glock 22 recoil spring that I bought last year.  Well, I contacted them via e-mail but they never responded.  I can contact them via phone but I feel if they’re ignoring their emails, I may as well review the spring in a negative light and write off the failure and not do business with them in the future.

How’s the Glock 22 with the new OEM spring?  It’s good enough, although the gun’s recoil is still quite strong.  I took it to the range, thinking the high grain would dampen the recoil some.  Nope, it’s not enough IMO.  The high recoil of this handgun is why I bought the EFK Dragon Fire spring in the first place.  I think the better route would be for me to get a Gen 4 Glock 22…the double spring is almost certainly going to handle the recoil of .40 Cal better than the Gen 2’s single spring, but I only bought the G22 because it was cheap and because I could use the RIA 22TCM9R convert kit with the G22 frame.

As well, the G22 sights aren’t helping me…the tritium vials are dark so the sights are difficult to use.  I do not really want to spend huge amounts of money on this particular handgun.

Now, even though I shot the G22 and noticed the recoil wasn’t what I’d like it to be, I appear to be a bit more accurate with the gun now with the new OEM recoil spring.  That’s something, at least, but the recoil was enough to where I only shot 30 rounds from the gun (2 mags).  I brought 180-grain Remington green/white box ammo.  There were no failures.

I then bought 150 rounds of 115-grain Wolf steel-cased ammo from my Gen 4 Glock 19.  There were no failures.  The gun now has 310 rounds through it.  I’m not used to it.  It has recoil that I’m not used to, probably due to the fact that I’ve been carrying and shooting metal-framed handguns the past 2-3 years.  I’ve been thinking on carrying this particular gun but will need lots of time shooting it before I’m comfortable with the shooting characteristics.  Plus, I want to get 15-round OEM mags for the gun (it came with 10-round OEM mags).  We’ll see.

I said I’ve been thinking on carrying the G19.  Why?  Because I also shot my current carry gun (I only carry one firearm at a time), the Bersa Thunder 380 Plus, and I’m still experiencing sharp biting on the web of my strong hand.  I shot 100 rounds of Speer Lawman 95-grain FMJ this time around.  I shot this same ammo the last two times I shot the Bersa.  My range notes say that I noticed sharp bites in May 2017 as well.  When I shot the gun prior to this last range visit (Oct 2017), I didn’t noticed the sharp biting and I shot that same ammo.  I’m tiring of the biting, so it may be time to train on a different handgun.

I can still carry my Beretta PX4 Storm, but it is rather thick…that’s the only turn-off in carrying that handgun.  I can also carry the Sig SP2022 but it’s not a small gun either (roughly the same size and thickness as my PX4).  I’ve the XD Mod 2 that I can start carrying again, or even the Grand Power P11 (once I have Eagle Imports investigate the fails to return to battery).

Lastly, I’m having an issue with arthritis in my fingers and it sometimes makes shooting uncomfortable.  This really sucks because there’s no real way to mitigate shooting complications caused by arthritis, other than to move to low calibers, which I’m not going to do.  As well, I carry a .380 and that still causes pain (not in my fingers, but in the webbing between thumb and finger).  I may have to just put up with it or medicate myself before a range visit.  :/

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22TCM9R conversion kit G17 G19 G22 Glock 22 Lone Wolf

Glock 22 Inbound!

I came into a bit of money this month (owner of the company I’m working for gave me $200 as an impromptu bonus since I’m still a contract-to hire worker).

I used the money to fund a Glock 22 Gen 3 purchase.  It’s funded 2/3rds of the cost of the gun.  “Say what?” you say?  I found a used police trade-in Glock 22 Gen 3 at Sportsman Outdoor Superstore.  For $319.  I’ve not seen it yet but they sell them as Fair Condition.  The comments of previous buyers say that they received theirs in better condition than listed.  Plus, they sell with one 15-round mag but many people have been reporting that theirs arrived with 2 mags.  Some of the guns have metal sights and even tritium sights.  I’ve no idea what mine will have.

This will be my first .40 caliber handgun.  I’ve fired .40 before so I know what to expect.  Well, maybe not.  The .40 I fired was a Sig.  This is a Glock.  I’m not sure there will be a difference but we’ll find out.

I intend to use this as a range gun.  I may not even fire much .40 out of it because I’ve an ulterior motive in buying the gun.  I’m going to buy a 22TCM9R conversion kit for it.  9R ammo a tad shorter than the normal 22TCM ammo…it’s designed to fit into 9mm/40 mags.  I will not have to worry about finding non-spec mags to use with this conversion.  The kit comes with a slide and barrel.  The slide is compensated.  Whenever I feel the need to go back to .40, I can just swap back the Glock barrel, slide, and recoil spring assembly.  Hell, I can convert my 22TCM 1911 to shoot 9R…I already have 1911 mags that fit in the gun (it came ready to shoot either 9mm or 22TCM)…all I need is 9R ammo to use the 9mm mags, otherwise I have to use .38 Super mags.

So, the used Glock was $319.  The conversion kit is very difficult to find and if I order from Armscor, it may take up to a year for them to get one to me.  The pricing is high for the kit, as well.  MSRP is $431 but I’ve seen others reporting getting them for $100 less.  So, I’m going to end up with a $650 specialized Glock.  So be it…I don’t care.

Now, I could’ve gone another route in doing this.  I also have a Glock 19.  They’re planning to make a similar kit that’ll fit G19s and G23s, but I’ve been waiting for them to hit the streets for about a year…I’ve heard nothing but crickets.  The G22 conversion kit will also fit G17s, but I wanted the option of firing .40.  Hell, if I wanted I could get a Lone Wolf 9mm barrel for the G22 and that gun would end up firing 3 different calibers out of it.  🙂

We’ll see how things develop.  As it it, I may have to wait awhile for the 9R conversion kit…everyone appears to be sold out of them.