New Glock range review

[mustang69 505]

Ok, so I got to take my new Glock G19 gen4 to the range this morning.  I decided to make it a 9mm day and get a good feel for the Glock in relation to to my other 9mm's.  I brought the following:

 

CZ 75BD Compact

Beretta 92fs Inox

CZ P07 Duty

RIA 1911 9mm Tactical

Walther PPQ 4"

Glock G19

 

I shot them in random order (as I pulled them out of my range bag, in the order listed above).  I shot about 50 rounds through each, with the last 5 on a new target so I could gauge groupings.  These weren't my best groups, just my last group with each gun.  Everything was at 5 yards.  Ammo was 115gr fmj Seller & Beliot - basically the cheap stuff.  All the guns are as shipped except for the Beretta, which has the "D" spring installed and a skeletonized hammer, and the RIA, which has a polished barrel.

 

My best grouping were with the Beretta and the CZ75BD, followed closely by the PPQ and the RIA. No suprise with the Beretta and the CZ75 there since those are the ones I shoot the most. The PPQ trigger is great, but for me the small grip, light weight and short site radius makes me a little less accurate with it. I love the RIA in 9mm - it's heavy so recoil is light and follow-up shots are quick. Im still getting used to the CZ P07 grip.

 

I'd like to say the Glock was saving the best for last, but I can't.  Granted, it was the first time I used it, but my trigger control was the worst with it than the others.  Of the 300 rounds I put down range, 294 of them were all within a 4" grouping on a 6"target,  with 6 "flyers" out to 8".  5 of those 6 were from the Glock, and all were low left.  Clearly I need to work on my trigger pull with it.

 

The Glock has more accuracy in it than I used today.  Overall I'm happy with  it but I need to work on that trigger.  The sights didn't bother me at all, I felt they were better than the Beretta red-dots and the RIA all-black targets, so I'll leave them alone for now.

 

The only issue I had today was with the P07 - the slide didn't lock back after the last round on 2 mags.  I'll chalk that up to a combination of the weak ammo and new recoil spring.  The issue didn't repeat itsel on the last 2 mags.

 

Am I a Glock convert?  Nope - still prefer my 1911's, but at least I can understand a bit of why folks like them so much.  I can't say it did anything great but it did everything it was supposed to when I did my part.

 

Glad I bought it, now I just need to learn to shoot it!

 

 

[n4p226r 105]

not only was it a brand new gun, but you shot 250rds through other guns first.  seems to me like it wasn't the best way to test it out.  i'd assume all of the firearms listed are significantly more accurate than 4" at 5 yards (with a smaller sample size than 300 obviously) so you probably just need more time on it.  then again, maybe its not for you.  

[PD2K 115]

I noticed the biggest thing for most new Glock owners is getting used to the grip angle - more Luger than 1911.

 

But like all modern firearms, they are pretty accurate and practice makes perfect.

[Howard 538]

Why not give it a real test at 10 or 15 yards?  Were the Glock shots mostly low and left?  People not used to Glocks tend to shoot that way, if they are right handed.  The trigger takes a while to get used to.  Why not try it against just the one other gun you shoot best next time, that might give you a better comparison.  You really should get some real sights on the gun too, the factory stuff really stinks.  If you are planning to use it as an HD gun perhaps some night sights, if for competition I highly suggest Dawson fiber optics.

[mustang69 505]

All,

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.  I realize 5 yards isn't a real challenge for it, or for any of them for that matter.  It's all about my trigger control and how consistent I can be.  My intent was to compare it to my other 9mm's.  For all of them my groupings were consistently within 2 inches (all within a 4" circle - some groups left, some right, some high and some low) with the exception of the glock, where I was having more shots low and left.  Most were within that same 4" circle, but some a bit further out.

 

I'm heading to the range again this evening with it.  It's how I'm shooting it and my need to get used to the trigger, and how well I adapt when changing from one handgun to another.

 

My initial reaction is I just find the glock to be more different than the others, if that makes any sense.

[Russell 3]

Glock triggers take some getting used to. Dry fire...A LOT and your groups will improve. 

[Tallday 10]

how about a review of the RIA 1911 9mm Tactical? that seems interesting to me

[mustang69 505]

I took the Glock back to the range yesterday, and used the RIA 9mm as a comparison because I tend to shoot that well.  At 10 yards, my groups with the RIA were all within 2-3".  Not great, but about what I'm capable of with my tired eyes and early arthritis.  (Yes, starting with the excuses).  At that distance with the Glock I don't think I could reliably hit water if I fell out of a boat!  I randomly loaded a snap cap into the first couple of mags to see my reaction to the trigger pull, and I'm politely saying it was lousy.  I flinched with it quite a bit.  Of the 50 rounds I put through the Glock, 10 of them were at the edge of a 8" target.  After realizing how I was fliching I spent the next couple of mags slowly working it, and by the time I was through the box of ammo I was at least showing some signs of improving, but only when I really concentrated on it.

 

Shown here are two targets - the first is with the RIA and my last 5 rounds with it.  Not my best, but acceptable.  The second target is with the Glock, also my last 5 rounds with it.  These turned out to be the best I could do with it that trip.

 

It's all in how I'm reacting to the Glock trigger.  It's a nice shooter but will definitely take some getting used to.  I've read a couple of reviews that suggest changing the trigger from the serrated to the smooth version.  Does anyone have experience with that and is it worth the effort?

 

Don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming the pistol.  I'm just having a tough time getting used to the trigger.  I usually can adapt to a different firearm within a few mags, this one is just taking me longer.

[mustang69 505]

how about a review of the RIA 1911 9mm Tactical? that seems interesting to me

 

The RIA in 9mm is a 1911, with everything that goes with that platform except it's got less "kick" than the .45acp.  The slide is heavy for the cartridge so I can almost feel it cycle when fired ( I haven't tried a different recoil spring).  Think of it as being in between a .45 and a .22lr.  I'm a 1911 fan, they fit my hand like a 6th finger.   It's a nice shooter but I find it's reliability to be enough of an issue that I would never consider carrying it.  On mine, the feed ramp in the barrel is a bit off center and causes some FTF when the gun gets dirty.  I've been trying to get a new barrel from RIA but they are constantly out of stock.  I bought the gun used from someone who polished the barrel and the feed ramp so I can't send it back under warranty (or at least I haven't tried).  When it shoots it's a tack driver, but I don't know if that has more to do with the platform or the work the previous owner did to it.

 

If you want an inexpensive 9mm 1911, it's a good choice to try the platform.  If you decide you like it, it can be upgraded just like any other 1911.

[n4p226r 105]

I took the Glock back to the range yesterday, and used the RIA 9mm as a comparison because I tend to shoot that well.  At 10 yards, my groups with the RIA were all within 2-3".  Not great, but about what I'm capable of with my tired eyes and early arthritis.  (Yes, starting with the excuses).  At that distance with the Glock I don't think I could reliably hit water if I fell out of a boat!  I randomly loaded a snap cap into the first couple of mags to see my reaction to the trigger pull, and I'm politely saying it was lousy.  I flinched with it quite a bit.  Of the 50 rounds I put through the Glock, 10 of them were at the edge of a 8" target.  After realizing how I was fliching I spent the next couple of mags slowly working it, and by the time I was through the box of ammo I was at least showing some signs of improving, but only when I really concentrated on it.

 

Shown here are two targets - the first is with the RIA and my last 5 rounds with it.  Not my best, but acceptable.  The second target is with the Glock, also my last 5 rounds with it.  These turned out to be the best I could do with it that trip.

 

It's all in how I'm reacting to the Glock trigger.  It's a nice shooter but will definitely take some getting used to.  I've read a couple of reviews that suggest changing the trigger from the serrated to the smooth version.  Does anyone have experience with that and is it worth the effort?

 

Don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming the pistol.  I'm just having a tough time getting used to the trigger.  I usually can adapt to a different firearm within a few mags, this one is just taking me longer.

 

 

does your glock have any mods at all?

 

i changed my trigger to the g17 smooth style but i don't think it will make much of a difference for you.  if your flinching with the glock, there nothing you can replace to fix that really other than dry fire practice and give it time in my opinion.  but there is one thing to think about and thats the stock sights.  they are a little weird.  if you are lining them up correctly, the ball on the front gets cut off on the bottom.  i'll try to find a picture of it and post.  but even at home, look at the sights against a wall and when you line up the top of the front and the top of the rear a portion of the ball gets cut off.  

[n4p226r 105]

http://glock.pro/attachments/glock-pistols/4951d1375882009-problem-sight-picture-glock-sights-sight-pictures.jpg

[mustang69 505]

Thanks.  I'm looking to replace the sights, but that is to increase visibility in low light.  The only thing that will help with my flinching is practice.

[redtornado23 0]

i just picked up speedsights for my Glock 23...in looking for new sights to replace the stock setup, i was doing research and heard a lot of good things.  i should have them in the next couple of days and hope to make it out to the range at the end of the week.  i had the same issue with the dropped circle that is shown in the pic n4p226r posted and decided it was finally time to try something new.

 

[rauchman 3]

I have a variety of pistol including a few Glocks.  For me, I find that if I switch to other platforms and then have the Glock mixed in there, I don't do all that well with the Glock.  If, when I go to the range, I just bring the Glock, I wind up shooting well with it.

 

Dry fire the snot out of your Glock to get used to the trigger.  Use some flavor of snap cap though.  I cracked the breach area of my Gen 2 G19 from dry firing A LOT w/out snap caps.

[voyager9 3,434]

Thanks. I'm looking to replace the sights, but that is to increase visibility in low light. The only thing that will help with my flinching is practice.

Tangent question. Why do you flinch more with one pistol over another?