More Glock Talk
Noting the instances of Glock Leg, James says that for folks just getting into shooting, that he cannot recommend the GLOCK:
I try very hard to avoid prejudicing my students towards or away from any particular type of firearm, with a few exceptions. Most of the guns that I suggest they avoid are the really cheap weapons that wear out quickly. Since the students are just starting out, and regular practice is the way to develop and maintain proper skill, it would just be a waste if they spent money on a gun that couldn’t handle 10,000 rounds or more before major repairs were called for.
But that’s the cheap end of the scale. I also urge them to pass on buying anything from Glock, which produces robust and effective handguns.
Why would I do that? Mainly due to the fact that Glocks have few external controls, which makes an accidental discharge more likely if the gun is in the hands of a beginner.
Though I have not instructed as many newbies as James, readers should not be surprised when I disagree. When I take a newbie to the range, my focus is three things in order:
1- gun safety
2 – sight alignment & trigger squeeze
3 – having fun
The Glock is excellent at all three.
1 – James thinks that the lack of an external safety can lead to an accidental discharge. I wholeheartedly disagree and think that such features are more likely to cause an accidental discharge. A manual safety, particularly for newbies who are still at the tinkering phase, can instill a false sense of security. A newbie is more likely (like I did when I was new) to take the gun, practice loading, dry fire, etc. while getting accustomed to the new weapon. Safeties fail and people fail. Forgetting you chambered a round and other stuff can lead to bad stuff.
A Glock forces the newbie to abide by the rules of gun safety. Period. There’s no false sense of security inherent in a manual/external safety that is superior to treating all guns like they’re loaded; keeping your finger off the trigger unless you’re ready to pull it; and pointing the weapon in a safe direction. Period. By this rationale, I think revolvers and the various lines of DA or DAK triggers are also excellent. Friends don’t let newbies shoot Berettas, too many contraptions and gizmos that take away from sight alignment and trigger squeeze.
2- The Glock trigger squeeze is the same every time. No double/single action trickiness. None of that cock/don’t cock stuff. One consistent, steady trigger pull. Newbies need consistency. This consistent trigger pull leads to focus on sight alignment since the choice to cock or not and DA v. SA trigger pulls are never an issue.
I’ve let newbies shoot the Sig DA but only after they shoot the Glock. Most comment on the trigger pull difference being very different and somewhat distracting.
3 – Glocks are fun to shoot. They go bang every time.
August 15th, 2005 at 10:18 am
helpful as well, thanks again.
August 15th, 2005 at 12:45 pm
I’ve read that before, and pretty much thought the same thing. Except I was more along the lines of “Does this guy teach them to randomly pull the trigger or what?”
August 15th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
My first pistol I owned myself was a Glock and loved it. Still have one today, although I don’t shoot it much anymore. I wouldn’t consider buying one now really because well, I just don’t think they are stylish or unique anymore.
August 15th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
To me, it’s not that glocks don’t have a manual safety that’s the problem. It’s that the trigger pull on a factory glock is way too light for a pistol without a manual safety.
Fingers aren’t the only things that can pull a trigger, after all. Clothing, etc., can snag on a trigger even when rule 3 is followed religiously, and a 3-4 pound trigger is much more likely to go off in such a situation than a heavy double action trigger.
So I think they need either a manual safety or a heavier trigger.
-m@
August 15th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
I’ve never liked Glocks myself, due largely to the lack of an externally visible hammer. I realize it’s just my own personal neurosis, but for some reason, hammerless handguns just bug the crap out of me.
August 15th, 2005 at 7:35 pm
I bought a Sig .45 as my first gun and find it rather awkward and somewhat impossible to “pull the trigger” accidently when it is decocked (i.e. getting caught on clothing/holster). I think most of the Glock ” I shot my leg when it got hung on my belt” cases are really “I shot my leg because I had my finger on the trigger and dont want to look like an idiot so I say it got hung on something else”.
August 15th, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Thing is, if the short and light trigger on a Glock is OK without a thumb safety, then every rifle or shotgun should be OK to carry with no safety, assuming they have the Glock’s internal safeties to prevent inertia firing. Most people who are comfortable with Glocks wouldn’t be comfortable carrying a loaded rifle that way.
I actually like almost everything about the Glock except the light trigger/lack of thumb safety. They’re super reliable, super corrosion resistant, the price is fair, the mag. capacity is great, and you can get them in all sizes and calibers. If/when I get one for serious use I’ll put a NY trigger in it and be happy.
August 15th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
I think justin nailed.
Les, when you carry a rifle, it’s usually on a sling (i.e., trigger exposed). When you carry a handgun, it should be holstered (i.e., trigger covered). They do install external safeties on glocks for about $120.
August 17th, 2005 at 11:06 am
Boy you guys that think the factory Glock trigger is to lite would really freak out if you fired my Glock. I’ve got the 3.5# in mine.
I’m just extra careful when re-holstering to avoid shirt snags.
Plus I use a solid plastic holster (Comp-Tac) that fully covers the trigger.
There’s no way I’d carry w/ a soft holster.
Especially since I carry w/ one in the pipe.
August 17th, 2005 at 8:25 pm
I keep the standard trigger in my carry Glock and the 3.5# in my match Glock. Nothing but hard plastic or rigid leather holsters that cover the trigger guard. Les, if I carried my rifle or shotgun with a trigger cover, I wouldn’t need a safety on it either.
August 19th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Carnival of Cordite #27
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, gather ’round for Ye Olde Carnivale of Cordite! * * * First, two exciting things: As those of you able to count can tell, this is Carnival of Cordite #27. That means there have
August 20th, 2005 at 8:10 am
When I take a newbie to the range, my focus is three things in order:
1- gun safety
2 – sight alignment & trigger squeeze
3 – having fun
Since I mainly deal with victims of violent crime, my focus is on gun safety and defense. The people who seek me out aren’t in a fun frame of mind.
Keep in mind my record. More than 600 students so far without a single accidental discharge, let alone an accident of any kind. It might well be that my opinion (Glocks are inappropriate for beginners) is wrong, but so far it seems to be working.
Ravenwood on August 15, 2005 at 12:45 PM said…
I’ve read that before, and pretty much thought the same thing. Except I was more along the lines of “Does this guy teach them to randomly pull the trigger or what?”
If you ever get to the point where you’ve equalled 1/2 of my efforts to promote the shooting sports and support the 2nd Amendment, then you might have an opinion worth listening to. Judging by the comment I’ve excerpted, though, I really doubt you have the brains.
James
August 20th, 2005 at 11:35 am
Reason Number 1 is why I just bought a revolver as my first gun. I want to ingrain the habits of gun safety before I move on to anything else. The lack of mechanical safeties means that I have to practice safe handling at all times. My gun is always “live” unless I can see that the cylinder is open. I also consider the simplicity a safety feature. Pull the trigger and the gun shoots. I feel that, if I have to fiddle with the gun to make it shoot, that I might end up pointing the barrel the wrong way while I rack the slide or check the safeties or the chamber. Again, all of this will be learned in time, but I don’t want my learning curve to endanger other people.
August 20th, 2005 at 1:47 pm
Why is the lack of an external safety an issue with a Glock and not the identical issue with, have we forgot it’s name, a revolver? The two are virtually identical in operation. Some revolvers even have enclosed hammers for concealed carry.
As to the difference with a rifle and a Glock, a slung rifle is in danger from accidental triger pulling, especially during hunting. Same as with military rifles. Rough handling makes the difference.
Personally I don’t like Glocks, we just don’t seem to get along well with tagets. But that’s just me. I stick with my 40 year old 1911.