Glock vs. Beretta (9mm)

Myself | 07/29/2002 | New Horizon

[New Horizon]

FReepers,

I went and checked out 9mm handguns today. I was looking at the Glock 9mm (mid-size), but was impressed with the Beretta 9mm.

The Glock was light, felt like plastic (or carbon)...what is that material?

The Beretta instantly felt better in my hand (heavier, all metal, etc.)

I am looking for opinions as to which gun is the better of the two. Also, the reasons for your opinions. In any case, I'm looking at the 9mm as a personal protection handgun.

As always, your comments mean a lot to me. Thanks.

[Double Tap]

You cannot decock a Glock at all. That is because the striker is never fully cocked until you apply pressure to the trigger. The first 1/4" of take-up is what pulls the striker back to firing position. Doing what you descibed will allow the striker to move to the forward most position, but as soon as you chamber a round, the striker is positioned back on the trigger. It is not cocked at that point though.

[Zathras]

Demo, demo, demo.
I was happy with my Glock 19 for years until I shot a Kimber .45.
Bought a Kimber Gold Combat two weeks later and havn't shot the Glock since.

[TroutStalker]

I have a Glock .45 and my son has a Beretta 9mm. Both are fine firearms and I'll recommend either, although for personal protection I think .45 is way superior in stopping power.

BTW, that extra heft can feel like considerably more weight after carrying for some time.The best carry gun is one you will carry comfortably and that you can handle and shoot accurately. There is a good article in the current American Rifleman magazine from the NRA on this issue (August) that is worth reading.

[JennysCool]

Whoa...I thought this was a Robert Blake thread!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I owned all plastic semis until I put a Springfield Armory "loaded" .45 in my hand and did some impulse shopping. After carrying and using the light stuff, holding steel in your hand really feels good.

send me your email address I'll email you a pic of me holding a wild spawned, high mountain lake, rainbow trout that I was catching last week.

Ernie

[FireTrack]

Check out the H&K UPS .45. Like you I didn't like the feel of the Glock but love the UPS. It's used by the Navy Seals and has many great features (i.e. corrosion resistant finish, left or right hand models, great decocker, reliability, reduced recoil, accurracy and more).

[Lion Den Dan]

I am a Civillian trainer working for the U.S. Army. I work with the M9 (Beretta 92) and have a very low opinion of the weapon for durability - firing pin breaks and can result in a discharge when decocking - guns are prone to failure to feed - firing pin block actuator is prone to breakage during assembly. It is a difficult gun to shoot well.

Glocks are no more likely to discharge unintentionaly than any othe pistol if you don't pull the trigger. I shoot combat courses and see many Glocks and seldom see a Beretta. Glocks have feed problems too but I believe they are generally associated with the .40 S&W hand loads so is not an issue for your choice. Glocks seem very durable and while I do not like the plastic feel of the gun, it points very well. After market equipment to adjust or tune your trigger to different weight pull is readily available and not too spendy. The Glock is, in my opinion, a superior pistol compared to the Beretta.

I will not enter the .45 vs 9mm argument. I have my on oopinion but you desire a 9mm and I assure you that you can buy ammo delivered to your door for $120 per thousand. Only thing cheaper is a .22. With any caliber, you have to put the bullet where it needs to be put. Do that and all will be well.

[TroutStalker]

I'm not going to give up searching for better firearms, just speaking from my own experience so far. Looking ahead: SA, Kimber, H&K.

email addy is coming by FReepmail.

[FireTrack]

Correction = H&K USP

[Wm Bach]

Having owned and shot both the Glock and Beretta (in .40 cal) for many years, I found it easier to shoot tighter groups with the Glock. That being said, I became a convert to the Colt 1911 .45, and prefer it for everyday protection over both the Glock and the Beretta. (fewer rounds but feels flatter, shoots better)

For hiking, camping etc. I still go with a wheelgun in either .357 or .44 magnum. Taurus and Ruger are fine choices, but go with stainless.

[donozark]

You may wish to look at a CZ -75. Can still get hi-cap mags. Accurate, dependable. A bit heavy, but not for most. At $350, cheaper than most.

My Glock 26 (pocket rocket) is a nice little pistol. A bit small for a hog-head like myself. Be sure not to "limp wrist" it. Also, I've noted they tend to shoot down and to the L. Practice makes perfect.

Some will tell you a 9MM is an insufficient man-stopper. Yet, 9MM have been killing people for years. Try Gold Dots. Or Cor-Bon. Main thing is to get what is right for YOU!

Inspite of owning numerous pistols, I keep a PYTHON .357 Mag for a "pillow gun." Wheel guns are dependable beyond all. And in .357Mag? If used for home defense, you'll need to call Service Master afterwards...

[donozark]

Only people that can afford SIGs are Feds and bankrobbers. Which are you? HaHa!

You may be "only a girl," but you have excellant choice in weapons! That will be my next purchase in handguns...if/when the stock market recovers.

[Mulder]

I would recommend that you check out the Sig 226 (home protection) and the Sig 239 (for carry) before buying anything.

[Dale 1]

Forget about 9mm’s. Think - Slide-action Shotgun.

Picture yourself in a quite house with a suspected prowler downstairs. You simply shuck a round into the chamber and the universally recognized sound and globally feared acknowledgement of a shotgun in the area will do the trick.

OR – Picture yourself in a noisy setting being pursued by a really bad guy with a gun. Use a shotgun – hard to miss.

[vetvetdoug]

I got a Glock .45 and a Baretta Cougar .45. I say screw the 9mm idea and get yourself one or the other in .45. The Para-Ordinance .45 P-14 is the best of the three IMHO.

[ezo4]

These post make my day!

[Wisconsin]

"Forget about 9mm’s. Think - Slide-action Shotgun."

two words:

Double barrel.

[ezo4]

I became a convert to the Colt 1911 .45, and prefer it for everyday protection over both the Glock and the Beretta. (fewer rounds but feels flatter, shoots better)

Id agree with this statment

[sheik yerbouty]

Yrs. It's balance of characteristics make it the best(though it's better with a ten round clip)

[True Grit]

If you plan to carry concealed you might want to consider the lighter Glock. If you are buying the gun to keep in the house then consider the heaver gun if it feels better in your hand. The Glocks will out shoot about anything on the market but the absence of a safety bothers a lot of folks.