Glock 19 - purposeful training

[3ngineer]

As a relatively new handgun shooter, I try to shoot my glock 19 more than my other pistols. Reason being, it's not an easy gun for me to shoot. I find the checkering and finger grooves uncomfortable, and the serrations on the trigger dig in to my finger. That being said, my thought is if I can master the Glock I can master any pistol .

I have a some DA/SA metal frame handguns that are probably much easier to shoot, but I don't want to get spoiled by them. Anyone else do a similar thing? Shoot primarily with a more difficult handgun to improve overall skills? Comparable to running with a weighted vest, or riding a road bicycle with heavier wheels.

[LHC30]

I too, have several types of handguns from revolvers to 1911's to Glocks and other striker fired pistols and a 92FS.

In my recently past career, I trained hard with whatever I carried. After that, I simply shot those pistols I wanted to stay current with and there are still some that have been mostly relegated to "safe queens" such as the 92FS.

If the above situation does not fit your circumstances, then I would support the concept of trying to master your least strong skill (or pistol). But sometimes you don't have the resources or time available to master everything. So decide on what you want to get out of your shooting time.

[P5Ret]

If the gun doesn't fit you why keep shooting it? I've always thought mastering fundamentals was more importing than mastering anyone particular handgun. Once fundamentals are solid and repeatable each and every time, then it shouldn't be about any one gun.

I don't think you'll get solid fundamentals down on a gun you don't like to shoot, or is uncomfortable in your hand. Glocks don't fit everyone, like pretty much everything else. Find the one you like to shoot and stick with it to develop proper fundamentals and technique.

[ryan1911]

Practice makes perfect. G19 is an accurate pistol. Lot of dry fires practice. Shoot slow and focus on fundamentals.

[plumbum]

I wasn't fond of Glocks for many years, one thing that changed my mind was actually buying one, messing with it, taking it apart and putting it together, and finally, shooting it.
I don't like the grooved trigger, so i'd suggest replacing it with a smooth faced trigger - inexpensive and easy to do, also you could change out the connector for a lighter pull to help.
The grip shape was never kind to me, but once you spend more time on the range, you won't even know the difference.

[tbc]

[G-forceJunkie]

Sand the grooves off and put on a Brooks Tactical Agrip. Replace the trigger with a factory one out of a Glock 17, they have a smooth face.

[timeexposure]

[3ngineer]

I'll def look into a smooth trigger. I didn't know the Glock 17's came with a different one than the Glock 19.

@P5Ret, I want to stick with my Glock 19 since I'd bet it's the most commonly owned handgun in CA. I love the idea of being very proficient with a firearm that popular.

[tacticalcity]

If your drawing from holster, firing a controlled pair or non-standard response grouping (3-4 rounds) at speed, then reholstering, and repeating. Like you would in a fire fight. You'll quickly find that those DA/SA handguns are infact not easier to shoot. They probably feel more comfy. But the DA/SA trigger is a very hard one to master. You find you're mashing the first trigger pull because it is so long and hard, then you over do it on the drasticaly lighter follow up pull. As you keep doing that you get frustrated and it only gets worse. You can't cheat and skip the DA pull when training realistically...so you start loving them less and less.

This what makes a Glock a Glock. The trigger pull is the same start to finish. The reset is VERY short so follow up shots are very quick. There is no thumb safety or decocker to trip you up. The safety is built into the trigger. This also makes it faster.

When training at speed in realistic conditions, the Glock is by far the easiest gun to master out there. Functionality is where it shines. It might not be as comfy as some other guns. But it is a gun not a pair of shoes. It only need not be comfortable enough that it doesn't hurt. Firefights don't last that long.

That said, I hear you that the finger grooves kinda suck. They were a bad idea. A response to people putting Hogue grip sleeves on their Glocks. What Glock didnt realize was that it was the rubber people liked. Not the grooves. Was long a complaint of mine. On the 17 they fit my hand well. On other models not so much. Ironically, my factory Glock 17 is a Gen 2...no grooves. While my Glock 26 is Gen 3, so grooves. But you get used to them. I honestly don't notice them any more.

As far as the texture goes...did you get an RTF model? Compared to most my polymer guns are pretty easy on the hands with regards to texture. Except for the RTF model, so I avoided it. They made those for SWAT guys and police who have to wear gloves. Too smooth a gun gets slippery when wearing gloves. But thanks to the chemicals in flash bangs, and people needing to search people and luggage and the like need to wear gloves to protect their hands.

[plumbum]

Guns smaller than the ‘full-size’ are subjected to a import point system and the grooved or target trigger is worth more points; all Glocks from Austria are imported with adjustable sights and they are replaced with fixed once here - also due to being worth more points.

[ducatiti]

I shoot my G17 better than my other pistols to include the 1911. I must one of the few oddballs here but the grip angle works for me, finger grooves to include a Hogue Handall Grip makes it perfect for me as well. I like the angle so much as I pick up the sights and target way faster than my other guns. Easiest gun for me to place my offhand palm on the remaining space of the grip. Large area for the mentioned offhand palm and just feels natural for me. Lastly, so easy to customize the trigger weight pull to your liking with trial and error with the vast options of triggers, connectors, springs, etc... not to mention cheap and easy to do.

[tacticalcity]

I shoot my G17 better than my other pistols to include the 1911. I must one of the few oddballs here but the grip angle works for me, finger grooves to include a Hogue Handall Grip makes it perfect for me as well. I like the angle so much as I pick up the sights and target way faster than my other guns. Easiest gun for me to place my offhand palm on the remaining space of the grip. Large area for the mentioned offhand palm and just feels natural for me. Lastly, so easy to customize the trigger weight pull to your liking with trial and error with the vast options of triggers, connectors, springs, etc... not to mention cheap and easy to do.

The grip angle thing never made sense to me, because both the Glock and 1911 point just fine for me. I'm just not impacted by it. I do great with Glocks and 1911s both. Love them both as a result. Would opt for the Glock if my life were on the line and I had a choice.

[Lead Waster]

I agree with everything Tactical it’s said!

I shoot my 17 better than my 19. And yes OP I’ve also decided that the G19 would be my baseline pistol. I have much nicer, more ergonomic and FORGIVING guns (9mm 1911 for example). But I don’t want a nicer trigger MASKING my poor technique! The G19 puts it all out there ... if you don’t pull the trigger well, you won’t shoot well. My hands do fit the 17 and it’s finger groove spacing better. But I wanted to see improvement in a gun that is challenging me.

I’m sure that once I improve with it, i’ll Improve with everything else. I am also including an S&W 686 in double action as another baseline gun though I might cheat and lighten the Springs a bit because it’s crazy heavy.

[W.R.Buchanan]

As a relatively new handgun shooter, I try to shoot my glock 19 more than my other pistols. Reason being, it's not an easy gun for me to shoot. I find the checkering and finger grooves uncomfortable, and the serrations on the trigger dig in to my finger. That being said, my thought is if I can master the Glock I can master any pistol .

I have a some DA/SA metal frame handguns that are probably much easier to shoot, but I don't want to get spoiled by them. Anyone else do a similar thing? Shoot primarily with a more difficult handgun to improve overall skills? Comparable to running with a weighted vest, or riding a road bicycle with heavier wheels.

OK; Lots of advice here, some of it actually will help you.

But this little tidbit will help you even more.

You need to go to a real live shooting school. Front Sight, Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, Sig Academy, or some other place that will teach you how to shoot a pistol from a beginning standpoint. IE: Teach you the proper Fundamentals.

You appear to be an Engineer so this concept shouldn't be new to you.

Note I didn't say your local guy. These big outfits run literally thousands of new students thru their facilities every year and they can literally teach just about anybody. There are exceptions!

All the big outfits teach essentially the exact same things because they all teach the "Basic Cooper Doctrine" which is essentially the "Standardized Techniques of Pistol Shooting."

You can practice on your own until the cows come home and never really get it until you get taught the fundamentals of Pistol Shooting. Nobody is born knowing this stuff.

A Glock 17/19 is one of the, if not "the",,, easiest guns to learn pistol craft with there is.

Only three things you can do to a Glock, 1. insert mag,2. rack slide, 3. pull trigger.

This allows you the shooter to concentrate on other things like Sight Alignment, Sight Picture and Trigger Control which are what you need to do after you know how to run the gun.

You complained about it grinding on your hand, and I too have experienced this with just about every gun I have owned in the last 20 years.. So you take a piece of 400 grit sandpaper and wrap it around a 3/4" dowell and also use a fine emery board and work the high spots and sharp edges on the grip until they don't gouge you as much. I do this to all my guns (deburr and dehorn them) because you can't concentrate on shooting if the gun is grinding your flesh into a bloody mess.

These guns are injection moulded Plastic and there will be "flash" around the parting lines of the mould and all the little "features" will be sharp until they wear down. You can accelerate that wear in by judicious use of sand paper and an Exacto Knife.

Sit in front of the TV and handle the gun alot to find all the little high spots and then go after them SLOWLY!!! So you don't make a mess out of your gun! This should take several nights to get where you need it. Also handling the gun alot will help you acclimate to it so it feels like it should be in your hand. IE get used to it.

Next Trim the Trigger Safety back until it is flush with the front face of the trigger when it is fully depressed. This will eliminate the big groove you get in your trigger finger when shooting the gun.

I call this "personalizing your gun"

Then you need to shoot the gun alot to build up some calluses.

In a 4 Day Defensive Pistol Class at Front Sight (frontsight.com) you will fire your gun about 4-500 times plus some dry firing. You will come away from that class being able to draw the gun from a holster and accurately fire two shots in less than 2 seconds. You will also be able to clear malfunctions effectively and be able to run the gun without thinking about it.

It doesn't matter if you know which end of the gun the bullets come out of, they will teach you!

If you are serious about learning this discipline, doing this will get you there faster than any other method I know of.

YMMV

Randy

My G23 which is the same gun as your G19! Just a bigger hole in the end.