Today I shot my first handgun, a 9mm Glock model 19 (vanity)

self

[rudy45]

I hope I got the model right. It holds 10 rounds, and is hammerless.

Questions:

Why is the spent shell hitting me in the face? I thought it's supposed to go off to the side.

I had a tendency to flinch and blink when I fired. Should that go away with practice?

Was I loading the magazine the right way, by inserting one round at a time and pushing down on the ones already in the magazine? Wouldn't it be easier to have some lever or slide on the outside of the magazine, that would depress the "floor" all the way, thereby making loading easier?

How does this model compare (in terms of size, weight and recoil) to Sig P232 .380?

Thanks.

[smc]

Are you a lefty (left handed type...not commie pinko type)?

I am, and the getting-hit-in-the face-with-spent-shell thing happens to me with some handguns, as they eject out the right (wrong) side of the gun.

As for the flinching on recoil, yes...you'll get used to it and anticipate the noise/reaction better with practice.

[holymoly]

"I had a tendency to flinch and blink when I fired. Should that go away with practice?"

I usually introduce new/first-time shooters to the sport using a .22 rimfire. This is just a thought, but you might consider investing in a Ruger Single Six; the ammo's cheap, and they're great fun to plink with. Later, when you're more comfortable with firing a handgun, move up to the 9mm.

[Drango]

Was I loading the magazine the right way

If you don't know...might I suggest a local NRA class...That's what I did.

[Bikers4Bush]

1.) Because your holding it sideways like you're in an action movie.

2.) Maybe yes, maybe no.

3.) And just how would the lever not hit anything as the magazine loaded into the gun thereby pushing the "deck" down and keping the clip from chambering another round? Yes you were loading it the right way.

4. No clue, never fired one.

[Cagey]

It holds 10 rounds

You can thank Bill Clinton for that.

[Loyal Buckeye]

The natural instinct is to anticipate the recoil. You will notice that you will often shoot high as a result. You will have to work on ignoring the recoil.

[Zathras]

I like my M19.
There should be a tool with the mag which assists loading.
I've got one of the older M19s with the 15rd clip. You can still find them around.

The 9mm is a much better round than the .380
In 9mm, the M19 is as light as a beginner should go (IMHO).

[jmaroneps37]

Feels good, doesn't it?

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Don’t worry the Glockers will be along shortly and tell you that every problem known to man with the Glock is the result of user error and bizarre phenomena known as limp wristing.

I’ve shot several models of Glocks and I owned a 19 for all of 72 hours and they either tossed the brass into my face or in the case of a full size 45 straight up and then down my shirt.

Do yourself a favor and get a Sig or an HK

TMMT

[johniegrad]

There is a small plastic device that depresses the spring in the clip to assist in loading it. I found it very useful especially in cold weather (Minnesota) when hands begin to feel like claws after awhile. The device is only a couple of bucks and should be available at any good shooter's outlet.

[HurkinMcGurkin]

I'd suggest taking an inexpensive firearms safety class if you are not familiar with handguns. Surely the NRA offers a class in your area.

You did purchase a good gun. The Glock doesn't really compare with the Sig you mention.

[Allegra]

PING

[FateAmenableToChange]

Questions: Why is the spent shell hitting me in the face? I thought it's supposed to go off to the side.

Are you left handed? If you are left handed, and the empty case (shells are for shotguns) ejects rearward and rightward, you'll get hit in the face. Alternatively, your grip and stance need to be adjusted. You may be using an isoceles stance that fails to keep your arms nearly locked out in front. You may also be "limp wristing" the pistol, which will often cause a failure to eject the spent case, but may also eject the case back toward your face.

I had a tendency to flinch and blink when I fired. Should that go away with practice?

Don't do that. Keep your hands relatively relaxed around the grip, contract only the muscles of your trigger finger. Don't anticipate the recoil. Press the trigger rearward until the gun goes bang. Dry fire a lot.

I loading the magazine the right way, by inserting one round at a time and pushing down on the ones already in the magazine? Wouldn't it be easier to have some lever or slide on the outside of the magazine, that would depress the "floor" all the way, thereby making loading easier?

No.

How does this model compare (in terms of size, weight and recoil) to Sig P232 .380?

It's bigger. The ammunition for the G19 is 9x19, 9mm parabellum, or 9mm luger (different names for same round). It has substantially higher muzzle velocity, bullet weight (on average), "stopping power" and muzzle energy. A .380 is also known as the 9mm Kurz (9mm "short"). It's nice for a backup gun, but not as powerful as the 9mm luger.

[ko_kyi]

As far as flinching goes, maybe you need better ear protection.

With good earplugs and repetition the flinching will go away.

[FateAmenableToChange]

It's nice for a backup gun, but not as powerful as the 9mm luger.

Of course, I meant as "powerful", relative to the 9mm luger. The 9mm luger is not a particularly powerful round.

[HurkinMcGurkin]

The device is only a couple of bucks and should be available at any good shooter's outlet.

Unless the poster bought it used, the Glock should have come with one. Mine did.

[eXe]

Questions:

Why is the spent shell hitting me in the face? I thought it's supposed to go off to the side.

With glocks this happens sometimes. With practice and correct grip it should not happen all that often

I had a tendency to flinch and blink when I fired. Should that go away with practice?

I have a glock 17 (slightly larger version than the 19 and yes, with practice you will no longer flinch. It's just a matter of time and you will see that it is not going to explode in your hand, you WILL get used to it.

Was I loading the magazine the right way, by inserting one round at a time and pushing down on the ones already in the magazine? Wouldn't it be easier to have some lever or slide on the outside of the magazine, that would depress the "floor" all the way, thereby making loading easier?

You were doing it the right way. Glock gives you a loading tool which makes it easier but after time, this gets easier also. Just takes practice. This is also why you have extra mags pre loaded, this way you don't have to load them up every 10 rounds.

How does this model compare (in terms of size, weight and recoil) to Sig P232 .380?

From most of the handguns I have shot the glock seems to me to have the lightest of recoil. A .380ACP , I have been told will have more recoil however my .380 (walther PPK type clone) seems about the same.

Thanks.

Have fun shooting and get lots of practice. As someone else said, you might want to take a basic handgun course from the NRA it helps a lot. Also make sure you know how to clean the weapon when you are done shooting.

[FateAmenableToChange]

Don’t worry the Glockers will be along shortly and tell you that every problem known to man with the Glock is the result of user error and bizarre phenomena known as limp wristing.

I don't know - I did have a Glock blow up in my hand and we never did figure out how to blame that one on limp wristing. Eventually, we decided that the problem was caused by thinking about limp wristing on the previous shot, which caused the slide to fail to return completely to battery, which eventually caused the next round to be unsupported by the chamber.

The great thing about Glocks is that when they do blow up in your hand, not only don't you notice it much because the gun vents the explosion downward, but also you just have to return the gun to Tupperware for replacement of the module parts that you've destroyed.

[Lizard_King]

As usual, the statements coming from people with gun brands as religions are barren of useful information.

I personally prefer the .45 caliber Glocks, particularly the 30, over the 9mm, but I can't recall having an issue with the brass ejection. Unless you are in fact left handed, it might well have to do with the flinching you mention as well as some angling you might be doing with your hand prior to shooting. I think the above recommendations to dry fire a great deal, as well as practicing your breathing and squeezing with your whole hand rather than just the trigger will iron out these issues with time.

Good luck with that.