Help with the dilemma

[Rob Roy]

I narrowed down my search to these pistols: Glock 19/32. Basically, the only difference is the caliber. Each has pros and cons. I'd love to get 32 as my first choice because I like penetration caps of this round, but it's too expensive to shoot. Please, help to decide. The use of the gun will be SD/HD/SHTF/Range.

[louscamaro91]

Go with the 19 and then buy the conversion barrel and G23 magazine and you kill both birds!

[mean72nova]

meh, 22!

[sirgiles]

reloading will make it easier on your wallet.

[Rob Roy]

reloading will make it easier on your wallet.

Unfortunately, reloading is out of the question for now

[HCz]

Go with the 19 and then buy the conversion barrel and G23 magazine and you kill both birds!

I don't think G19 can be converted to G23 or G32(.357SIG), but the other way around is possible.

If budget is the problem, then go with G19. 9mm are more likely to be found than .357 SIG rounds, (although these days it seems like the other way is true) and is usually cheaper. You can go with conversion route with G23 or G32 and then buying conversion barrel, but I heard that it is not recommended for self defense situation since the ejector might not be the same size.

[i1800collect]

I don't think G19 can be converted to G23 or G32(.357SIG), but the other way around is possible.

If budget is the problem, then go with G19. 9mm are more likely to be found than .357 SIG rounds, (although these days it seems like the other way is true) and is usually cheaper. You can go with conversion route with G23 or G32 and then buying conversion barrel, but I heard that it is not recommended for self defense situation since the ejector might not be the same size.

you're right. you can go from .40s&w to .357sig and 9mm but not the other way around. just swapping the barrel and using 9mm mags usually works, but it's not very reliable. the most reliable way would be to replace the barrel, mag, and ejector to 9mm parts.

imo, it's not really worth switching between cartridges for glocks since they're very hit and miss on reliability and it's really not that much more to just buy the other glock.

[10ring]

Start with the 9mm

You will probably find like most of us folks that you cannot just have one firearm?
It is hard to find one that does it 'all' and there are so many different firearms.
I'd start with the 9mm. Get that dialed in. Then decide. The Glock platform is a solid, reliable, time tested firearm.
I started the same way.

[peter95]

i would go with the G19
Its a fine gun, great size and shoots great also.
Practice enough with it, and just get hollow points and you'll be fine.

[SkiDevil]

Which Glock?

You will probably find like most of us folks that you cannot just have one firearm?
It is hard to find one that does it 'all' and there are so many different firearms.
I'd start with the 9mm. Get that dialed in. Then decide. The Glock platform is a solid, reliable, time tested firearm.
I started the same way.

Some good advice. The reality of the current ammo situation is that pickings are fairly slim. Although, I will acknowledge that I have seen more .357 Sig ammunition for sale than 9mm I would agree with others and recommend the 9mm G-19 over the .357.

Right now 9mm is selling on average for around $15.00 a box, the .357 Sig ammo is twice that amount (unless you score some at WalMart like I did). Simple math tells us that you can get in twice as much range time with the 19. In addition, if for some reason you decide to sell the gun later a G-19 will be easier to part with.

I have owned several Glocks in various calibers and would say that the 9mm versions are superior simply because the pistol was originally designed for it in the first place. There are many 9mm Glocks around with extremely high round counts into the 100Ks. My first G-17, which I purchased in 1990, has somewhere in the neighborhood of the 70-80K round count and it looks new.

The .40 S&W/ .357 Sig are beginning to be described as "gun eaters", high maintenance, etc. They are both excellent calibers, but definitely have drawbacks. If one intends on using the gun extensively this may be something to consider.

Definitely start with the nine first. And if you want more power/ range etc., pick-up some Corbon 9mm 115 +P+ rounds (Buffalo Bore, Federal 9BP, etc). Those rounds would almost be the equivalent of the .357 Sig in energy on target. Just remember that shot placement is key. And nothing will help you become a more proficient shooter than being able to shoot more often.

To conclude, I would suggest either the G-19 or g-17 models with night sights, dependent upon the size of your hand.

Best of Luck
SkiDevil

P.S. I you haven't done so already find a training facility that can really teach you had to use that gun to protect yourself. As (Pat Rogers I believe) a wise man said, "shooting and fighting with a ... [gun] ... are NOT the same".

Gunsite, ITTS, Yavapi Firearms Academy are few proven schools.