Glock 19 vs 23

[Rob Roy]

Which one would you choose and why, considering current ammo situation? Also, since I want my wife to be able to use it for SD/HD, I am considering 23c if to go the fotay route. What are your thoughts?

[JTROKS]

For home defense I would rather have a 9mm than the 40. I would load it with 115 grain jhp. Reason being is the less chance of over penetration putting my neighbors in danger in case I forget my firing zones. I personally have a Glock 23 with set up for 40 as it will be my main CCW piece. I use 9mm for my first line of defense at home.

[RockinCali]

Go with 9mm so you can shoot more. Yes you can buy a 9mm barrel for the 23 but I wouldn't take the slight chance of something going wrong.

[JeffM]

G23 with 135-155gr JHP. No porting.

[vta]

g23 not compensated. More velocity from a short barrel. 40 is easier to find than 9 in my recent experience and it's not always cheaper to shoot 9. For easy plinking, get an extended and ported 9mm barrel for the best of both worlds.

[bigbob76]

I already had a 19 when I got a chance to buy a 23 at a good price. I already had 2 sigs in .40 but I bought the 23 because I liked the idea it fit into the holsters I already had for the 19. I couldn't stand shooting it and couldn't wait to get rid of it. I don't know if it was because the weight, balance, or shape was so different from the Sigs but with the 23 it seemed snappy and no fun to shoot. I have other Glocks in 9mm and .45 acp that I shoot well and enjoy shooting so go figure.

[yellowfin]

9mm is a little better for the recoil sensitive.

[zippo]

I have both, I will pick G19 b/c ammo price is less then 40sw
but G23 U can get conversion barrel for 9mm or .357sig for exter $100-180

is your call.... all glock will be service your well

[mds2004]

If going for the 23 wait for the Gen 4. Im not sure why, but supposedly they are less felt recoil.

[SJgunguy24]

They're the same gun, your only choosing a caliber. If your choosing a HD gun don't go with anything ported. 1 shot and you night vision is gone and it'll cover up the front sight with carbon, especially if you get night sights.

[9mmepiphany]

i've found that the Glock 19 is almost the definitive Glock among non-glock fans (Sig, H&K, Walther fans)

it just points right (usually better than the 17) and is the original Glock chambering for which the pistol was designed. i've always found the .40 snappy except in my Beretta 96

[nitrofc]

23...I like the snap.

[Miltiades]

Hard to choose...

I've had both a G19 and a G23 since the 90s, and have the standard magazines for both. I've shot them both quite a lot, and would not part with either one. Both are good all around guns for range, carry or home defense. I think the .40 caliber has a little more effect on a living target than a 9mm that hits in the same spot, but the difference is probably small, so either is good for personal defense.

The G19 is easy to shoot because of modest recoil, while the G23 is somewhat more challenging and could bring out a flinch if you are prone to that sort of thing. In terms of ammo cost and availability, there is plenty of both 9mm and .40 out there for sale if you pay the market price. I just bought 500 rounds of new 9mm CCI Blazer for $10.50/50 and I have seen .40 selling for about $13.00/50 at a couple of places. So the .40 always costs about 25% more per box.

[RogueSniper]

If you decide to go with the G19, load it with a heavier round (124gr or 147gr). Less recoil from my experience. You'll have to check data for penetration (body and building walls). Myself, I'd probably go for a G23 because I will have the option of shooting 9mm in it. Lots of good, quality aftermarket barrels out there. I'm shooting a G22 and changing it out with a 9mm barrel isn't a problem and I have never had a failure in the aftermarket barrel.

[fr0ng]

.40 hurts your hand after a while.