Contextual Valuation, Diminishing Returns - Part 4
Let’s go ahead and cover Pistol B on the curve along with considerations we might have. Check out Post 8, Post 9, and Pistol A for the origin of this series.
I’ll make a quick controversial statement to address fanboys - Glocks are not perfection. Perfection is simply a marketing slogan. Perfection would eliminate 4 generations of guns and the in-line production updates that has been implemented to address problems in the past. They are functional guns with a great track record, but nothing made by man is perfect, regardless the label we put on it. You can send me hate mail here.
My recommendation for pistol B is the Glock Gen 5 pistols in 9mm- 19, 17, or 45 specifically. The price points are more or less the same on these 3 models, and the price will change based on the sights they come with and if they are optic ready (MOS) out of the gate.
30+ years of proven service world wide
Common police and military gun - NATO approved since 1988
Consistent gradual evolution of a design
Most commonly referenced baseline for handgun comparisons
Everything is available for a Glock
MOS availability
3 different sight offerings available out of the box
Gen 5 offers many upgrades over previous generations
Discounted pricing for veterans and first responders (Blue Label guns only)
Street price starts around $540, Jan2022, Ohio
While the Glock 19 is the easiest model to conceal, I personally can’t shoot one worth a darn. The Glock 17 and 45 share frame ergonomics that are much easier for me to shoot quickly and accurately but are slightly harder to conceal. The point is rent one of each before you make your purchase. The Glock 19 is the most commonly referenced baseline for handgun comparisons for good reason. It offers a great balance between price, physical size, reliability, ammunition capacity, holster selection, ease of maintenance, and aftermarket support.
Glocks generally ship with plastic sights that are functional for most people. Also available out of the box are Ameriglo CAP sights or Glock’s night sights. Being one of the most popular guns on the planet, it is possible to put a dizzying array of sights on a Glock if so inclined. For factory offerings, I generally recommend the Ameriglo CAP sights or the standard plastic sights. I recommend modifying the plastic sights using a sharpie to black out the rear.
At this price point MOS options are starting to make sense, but as always they aren’t a requirement. Glock MOS models are usually around $100 or so more than the non-MOS equivalents and come with a variety of plates for the most popular optics in production. The plates are generally cheaply made, and I have found multiple defective factory plates (warpage, twisted, etc.) along with documented cases of the plate failure. Quality aftermarket options are available starting around $65, with optics pricing varying greatly.
These pistols are great offerings for many people. It’s at a point on the diminishing return curve where a lot is offered without an excess of cost. The guns are not easily outgrown as a shooter’s skills increase, and usually need minimal maintenance. Spare magazines and individual spare parts are extremely easy to find at affordable prices. If you find yourself having excess money each month, attending training courses, spend more on ammo than the gun, or want to just buy once/cry once, Glocks are a great place to look.
The biggest negatives of these guns revolves around people not wanting to leave well enough alone. Just embrace the gun for what it is, buy more ammo, and get training instead of buying parts to fix the shooter's inadequacies. From a reliability stand point, Glocks tend to have a larger problem with shooters who do not have a satisfactory grip for the gun to recoil against. A qualified trainer/diagnostician is a blessing for this and many other things.
Glock warranties tend to be one of the least frequently used parts of a Glock (that's a good thing). Their turn around is about 2 weeks and you will need to pay for shipping to get a gun there. If you require warranty work the cost of shipping will work out to 10% or less of the cost of a new gun, and occasionally you may be able to get a reimbursement of the shipping cost. This % ratio and historical odds of needing it is dramatically better than the Taurus covered in Pistol A.
~Mike
Sources
Glock USA website
1st hand experience in high volume gun store/range