Shot one today at the range. It is light, it is small, and it is fun. So, this must be a girl gun, right? 
What’s a reasonable price to pay? Think I’d get bored with it? I just started going to the range again after a couple of years.
Not a big fan of the 36 myself. Makes reacquisition more trouble than it’s worth. Then I’m not a big Glock fan anyway.
It’s the .38 snub nose of semi-automatics. Short barrel means low accuracy, compact frame means few rounds in the magazine. Is there any reason not to get the full size pistol?
Is it going to be for target shooting or self defense? If just punching holes in paper, I’d opt for something that requires ammunition that isn’t as expensive as .45 ammo is.
Target shooting. Something light. Yes, cheap ammo is always good. What else should I try?
For just plinking, I would suggest a .22. Ruger, Walther, Smith and Wesson, Sig Sauer, they all make .22 pistols. A box of 550 shells costs about 12 dollars.
Missed the edit…
The MSRPs for .22s on those sites range from $308 into the thousands for match quality handguns. the average seemed to be between $400 and $500.
A good rule of thumb is that the higher the caliber, the more expensive the ammo ( the .17 HMR is an exception).
I would recommend Smith and Wesson for any handgun you decide to get if you don’t go with a .22 (I don’t have a .22 pistol, but do have a .22 revolver that’s older than the both of us!). Check pawn shops. They have used guns on the cheap and not-so-shady.
.22LR is the ultimate in cheap ammo, and you can get a good semiauto new for <$300. The ones I hear recommended most often are the Rugers, Beretta Neos, S&W 22a, and the Browning Buckmark. I’d stay away from the SIG-Sauer Mosquito–very unusually for SIG there have been some significant quality-control issues and, even for a .22, are very picky about ammo.
If you would like something that would be more suitable for self-defense as well as target shooting, 9mm and .38 special are the most reasonable of the centerfire handgun calibers in terms of cost. Of course there are a multitude of choices in those calibers but if Glocks fit your hand well you should consider looking at the Glock 17 or 19. The G17 is the full-sized pistol; the G19 is a bit smaller (not a concern if you don’t plan to carry) and is also a fun pistol to shoot. The 9mm Glocks cost $500-550 new; the .45ACP guns run about $50 more. If you look around you can find good deals on used guns. One place that is in state for you that sells used police guns is J&G Sales in Prescott.
An exceptional value right now that you can look at is the SIG-Sauer P225–it’s a slim, reliable single-stack 9mm. These are being imported used right now from Germany, and can be had for $300-350. These are retired police guns so they have been carried a lot (mine has a decent amount of holster wear) but generally have been shot little so are in excellen mechanical condition.
Personally, I’m not a fan of “Tactical Tupperware” (polymer framed pistols), I’m more of a Metal fan, especially Heavy Metal
My personal favorite pistol design is the Beretta “9x” series (92 and 96, 85 and 86), the ones with the open top slide, it’s just such a classic and classy design, plus they’re dead reliable and nearly impossible to get a stovepipe jam
I own the Brazilian offshoot of the Beretta 92, a Taurus PT-99AF, basically a B92 with adjustable sights, and the safety on the frame where it belongs, not on the slide, the Taurus 92/99/101 series are actually based off the first-generation Beretta 92, made on actual Beretta equipment in a former Beretta factory (now owned by Taurus)
the nice thing about my 99 is that aside from being solidly built, dead reliable, and an absolute dream to shoot (it’s recoil is somewhere between the snap of a “Tuppeware” 9mm and the gentle push back of a .45 ACP, that heavy steel slide and solid alloy frame soak up a good amount of the recoil generated by the light, fast 9mm cartridge) I can also get magazines ranging in size from an anemic 10 rounds all the way up to 30 rounds, the most common mag capacities are 10, 15, 17, 20, and 30 rounders, I have a 10, 15, and 17, so I just need to get a 20 and a couple 30’s, just to have them
take a look at the Beretta or Taurus “9X” series, they’re great, solid, well built guns
the things I don’t like about the “Tupperware” pistols are mainly that they’re top-heavy, and the balance point changes as the magazine empties, they get more muzzle-heavy, plus the “brick with a handle” styling leaves much to be desired, they all have a roughly similar “cubist” form to them, that said, the Glocks do have a rather enviable reputation for incredible reliability and indestructibility, you don’t need to “baby” them, you can basically ignore them
the biggest problem I have with the Glocks in particular though is they have no manual safety, I grew up with manual safeties, and a firearm without one gives me the willies, no you should never trust any mechanical safety, and the best safety is that mushy gray lump between your ears, but still, I prefer some wav of verifying that the gun is locked down when not in use
the best safety in the world? keeping your booger hook off the bang switch!
You mentioned this in the other thread. I own an 18 year old PT-99, which I use when I work Armed Security (like this Saturday). I use it over a heavier caliber because in those 18 years, it has never failed or malfunctioned. Never. And I’d rather carry a rock-solid 100% reliable firearm than anything else. Forget caliber, penetration, stopping power, coolness or cache’. If I ever have to use the damned thing, I want to know it’s going to work.
For simple plinking, I’d have to recommend the Taurus 9-shot .22 revolver. Can’t remember the model number. Nine rounds means less reloading, revolver means really simple to use and clean.
When I worked Armored (big armored trucks, armed guys), there were the Glock lovers, and the Glock haters. Some guys would ONLY carry a Glock. Some guys wouldn’t touch them with a 10 foot pole, and a few of those were former Glock owners. Me, I’ve never owned or fired one, so I have no opinion on them, other than that I do own a polymer DA weapon (S&W), and I’m not a big fan of that sort of thing anymore.
I’m not a Glock fan either, but that’s because I don’t like the feel of them. I’ve never shot the 36 but it looks as if I’d like it more than the others. Seems to be intended more as a carry piece, so if you’re thinking of that it sounds like a good choice.
If you enjoyed shooting it and can afford it, go for it.
Ammo prices being what they are, .22 has a lot to recommend it right now (avoid the Walther P22, although I have one and haven’t had problems, it’s just not getting good reviews). If you’re into target, I don’t think you can beat a Ruger MkII 6 7/8" in the price range. But that’s a huge step from a .45 to a .22, not really in the same class at all.
Normally I’d recommend a 1911, but if you like the Glock you might not appreciate the 2x4 feel of the 1911 grip.
I think having a Glock as my first handgun may have helped me develop good trigger discipline, as I subconsciously knew that the only thing keeping it from discharging when it is in hand is keeping my finger off the trigger.
I do always store any loaded handgun in a holster that protects the trigger. The only time they come out of the holster is when I am going to shoot them of clean them.
I think that’s the Taurus M94. I hear generally good things about them, and they are one of the few companies making an affordable DA .22 revolver. I’ve been meaning to pick one up (so many guns, so little money…).
There are people who don’t like the grip of a 1911? That sounds like heresy to me. :dubious:
I own two Glocks; a 17 and 26 - fullsize and subcompact 9mm (primary and backup). I like them both, but prefer the 17. I am actually going to sell the 26 - too bad you weren’t closer.
The 26 or any other subcompact Glock has aftermarket clips that have grip extensions on them - gives it a better feel in your hand. You can also buy aftermarket barrels for them - I have a stainless barrel in my 26.
I also own two Browning .22LR pistols and they are a lot of fun. For target practice, I most often use the Brownings just because they are so much cheaper to fire and I can have just as much fun shooting them for almost 1/10th of the cost.
The Glock 26 also looks interesting. Is it light? I must be the only wimp who gets tired when target shooting.