Your help is needed in picking a duty weapon!

[gabeja]

Long time lurker here. I have finally signed my conditional job offer with a department here in Southern California, passed my psych this last week and just waiting for my medical exam and my start date.

I've been told by my background investigator that I will be given the choice between carrying a Glock 17 or a Glock 21 as my duty weapon. I am not here to debate which caliber is better or what is going to be a man stopper, etc. etc. I know enough to know that modern day ammunition weather it be .45 cal or 9mm they will both do the job.

I'm looking for insight from current or former officers that have had personal experience carrying both. My biggest draw back to carrying the G 21 is ammo capacity as opposed to the G 17. 13+1 plus extra mags or 17+1 plus extra mags. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I have shot both firearms and love both, that is why I am torn on what to carry. I'm very proficient with both which makes the decision harder to make. My academy firearm was the G 22 which I love but the department does not allow a .40 cal option only 9mm or .45 cal. As far as my back up weapon I'd be looking at the G 26 (which I already have) or the G 30s (an excuse to buy another gun).

Thank you again for your insight and knowledge.

[74c5]

You pick the one that lets you put the most accurate rounds on target, the quickest, from odd positions. That's the one that has the best natural fit in your hand and has a sight set that works with your eyes.

There really isn't a pat answer. Pistols vary and work differently with different people.

My best combat pistol is the G22. Bummer they don't like .40.

[Samuelx]

If I was going to carry a G26 as a back up, then I'd go with the G17 as my primary...

[ls2monaro]

Shoot both and pick which feels/shoots better. If you have smaller hands the g21 grip might be a little too big.

[veeklog]

Long time lurker here. I have finally signed my conditional job offer with a department here in Southern California, passed my psych this last week and just waiting for my medical exam and my start date.

I've been told by my background investigator that I will be given the choice between carrying a Glock 17 or a Glock 21 as my duty weapon. I am not here to debate which caliber is better or what is going to be a man stopper, etc. etc. I know enough to know that modern day ammunition weather it be .45 cal or 9mm they will both do the job.

I'm looking for insight from current or former officers that have had personal experience carrying both. My biggest draw back to carrying the G 21 is ammo capacity as opposed to the G 17. 13+1 plus extra mags or 17+1 plus extra mags. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I have shot both firearms and love both, that is why I am torn on what to carry. I'm very proficient with both which makes the decision harder to make. My academy firearm was the G 22 which I love but the department does not allow a .40 cal option only 9mm or .45 cal. As far as my back up weapon I'd be looking at the G 26 (which I already have) or the G 30s (an excuse to buy another gun).

Thank you again for your insight and knowledge.

I have both, but my current duty weapon is a Glock 17 with a Glock 26 as a backup. I love the combo, but only wish we could have gone back to the Glock 19. I have small hands, so the 19 fits my hands better.

With today's modern duty ammo, I feel the 9mm round is good.

[Socaliente]

M&P .45

[Zedrek]

YOU are the one that has to carry it and depend on it so YOU should try both and decide which is better for YOU. Just saying.

[gabeja]

Thank you for everyone that has responded. I have shot both and love both hence why I am having a hard time choosing. I shoot my G 30 on a consistent basis and has the same size width grip just not as long. What I'm really trying to decide if I really want to carry 12 less round while on duty or do I want to carry 12 rounds more.

[Gutz]

Glock 17 FTW. More rounds = Better.

Faster follow up shots also.

[Samuelx]

I thought you said you didn't have a G30 in your OP?

I would either go with the G17/G26 combo or the G21/G30 combo - compatability of magazines/ammo.

If you're worried about the total round count, one more mag of .45 will make up the difference. What would be more of a concern for me would be the 4 round difference in the initial magazines - that being said 14 initial rounds of .45 is nothing to sneeze at either. Btw, I would go with at least 4 mags of each regardless.

Again, this is "all else being equal" - based upon the assumption that you are equally in love and proficient with G17 v G21 and G26 v G30.

[hermosabeach]

Both rounds work if you do your job and get hits in the right place

1st thought
I would shoot both and use the one that gives you the best balance of speed, accuracy and follow up shots

2nd thought.
If you are rolling Adam, then carry the same as your partner. Swapping mags can be a good thing.

[rolncode3]

Which weighs less fully loaded? All those other things are great, but if they're basically otherwise equal I'd carry whichever is lighter.

[gabeja]

I thought you said you didn't have a G30 in your OP?

I would either go with the G17/G26 combo or the G21/G30 combo - compatability of magazines/ammo.

If you're worried about the total round count, one more mag of .45 will make up the difference. What would be more of a concern for me would be the 4 round difference in the initial magazines - that being said 14 initial rounds of .45 is nothing to sneeze at either. Btw, I would go with at least 4 mags of each regardless.

Again, this is "all else being equal" - based upon the assumption that you are equally in love and proficient with G17 v G21 and G26 v G30.

I do have a G 30 but the original G 30 not the new G 30s that has the slimmer slide about the same thickness as the 17/19 I believe.

[gabeja]

Both rounds work if you do your job and get hits in the right place

1st thought
I would shoot both and use the one that gives you the best balance of speed, accuracy and follow up shots

2nd thought.
If you are rolling Adam, then carry the same as your partner. Swapping mags can be a good thing.

I didn't think about what most of the officers in the department carry. In an emergency being odd man out would be a problem.

[SHEPHERD321]

Already said but again, the g17 if you have normal size hands, or the g21 if your beaters are larger.