Glock 21 or 19?

[tundraman]

Which Glock would you buy for home safety?

[rorschach]

G21.

If it doesn't start with a four, don't bring it to the war.

[tundraman]

I too have a very large hand. I was told by the local gun shop today that I should stay away from the 1911 for home safety because of the light trigger. He said way to easy to have an accidental discharge. What do you think about his statement?

[JHC]

You'll have to decide between the superior knock-down power of the .45 or the lighter recoil of the 9mm. Either one will stop a badguy if you use it correctly. I'd get both, the 21 for me and the 19 for the wife.

[tundraman]

You'll have to decide between the superior knock-down power of the .45 or the lighter recoil of the 9mm. Either one will stop a badguy if you use it correctly. I'd get both, the 21 for me and the 19 for the wife.

That is exactly what I am thinking. I am just trying to decide if i need a .45 or a 9mm for myself. I want to know I can stop an intruder in a worse case scenario.

[JHC]

In the worst case scenario either gun will only stop a BG if you are well practiced and mentally and physically prepared, alot of people buy pistols for home defense and never practice with them or even keep them loaded for that matter. They collect dust up on a closet shelf with a gun-lock installed with the key lost and the ammo still at Walmart.

I keep my .45 in a gunvault http://www.gunvaultsafe.com/ under my side of the bed,target practice regularly with it, and believe I will be able to do what I have to if the situation arises (hopefully I'll never find out).

I'd reccomend trying out both models at a range and see what you're most comfortable shooting in the context you're buying it for and go from there.

[tundraman]

JHC, how do you like your safe? I have been looking at the same one for my home. Is it quick access for an emergency? Would you recommend this safe after using it, or would you get something different?

[WRENCHHEAD]

depends what you can use more effectivley. for me my 21 shoots off to the right, bad grip i guess. my 17 and 22 are dead on all the time.

[JHC]

I definately like mine, it works as advertised, and is easy for me to open even when I when I'm sleepy and it's dark ( I sometimes practice opening it when I get up for a 2AM piss). I also like that it will tattle-tell on my kids if they try to open it or are playing with the buttons.

[WokMaster1]

G19 here. Cos' it's the one I practice a lot with since my wife took my Para 14for herself. Something about Yankee girls....

[Ryan HBC]

G19 if you are a little girly man.

[Joe]

g19, because ammo is half the cost so you can practice twice as much.

[Turbinator]

G19 if you are a little girly man.

Harumph.

Pick the one that you shoot best with. Personally, I prefer the Glock 19 because it's easier to carry around the house and always have on my person. The Glock 21's a bit bigger and not as easy to keep concealed when doing yardwork..

Turby

[KimoBBZ]

ditto

G21. If it doesn't start with a four, don't bring it to the war.

Amen.


There's a reason many special operations groups in the military or law enforcement go with the .45 - if you're going to be limited to 10 rds "go large". With practice you'll be able to control as well as the 9mm... follow up shots will be a tad slower, but in a home defense situation the likely hood of having to squeeze off more than a couple of rounds is slim.

I know you were only looking at the Glocks, but you might consider the XD Service or Tactical 45 if the grip size is an issue. I can get my stubby paws around it much better than the G21, so much so that I'm picking one up tomorrow and hitting the range right after.

[slick_711]

You ".45 only" guys are too closeminded. Don't get me wrong, my #1 pistol is a SA 1911, but there is nothing wrong with a Glock 19...

Like others said, go with whatever YOU are most comfortable with, and what YOU shoot best with. .45 is indeed greater stopping power, but if you're slower with it, not as accurrate with it, or your follow up shots are off target... that stopping power is worthless to you. Home defense, and ultimately any comat situation, is about shot placement not the size of the projectile.

Practice being accurate and comfortable with your gun, when you can very quickly put 3 rounds into an 6'' circle center mass on a man sized target you are ready to defend yourself, and whatever gun you are most comfortable doing that with is the one to use. I cannot stress that enough, shot placement! 9mm will kill a man just like .45 will, especially with a good quality hollow point. 25 years ago this may not have been the case, but the variety and quality of the 9mm rounds available has drastically changed since then.

Just remember... shot placement! And when I say placement I don't mean shooting a group the size of a quarter, that is useless to you in a combat situation. But put your shots center mass, and quickly, then you are fine. Air in, Blood out... spacing your shots center mass will do much more damage than punching three holes into the guys left lung...