I don't hate Glocks

I've written many times in these pages about the pros and cons of various weapons; and on occasion I make fun of Glock and HK shooters.

Seriously, how can you not? The Counterstrike Commandos are so insane in their advocacy of their chosen weapons (most of whom have never fired one, and if they have, its usually the ONLY weapon they've ever fired) that they simply MUST be mocked.

Seriously, I don't actually hate Glocks, in fact I've owned... five I think; and I own an HK right now (a custom USP compact .45), probably my sixth or seventh.

I just like making fun of Glock zealots (or HK or 1911 zealots for that matter). As I said yesterday, chest beating for brand loyalty never made much sense to me.

I actually often recommend the G19 as a first concealed carry gun. It's small, it's relatively inexpensive, and it just works.

Thing is, I don't own any Glocks right now. I've owned them because they were good guns, but I alway end up selling them (same with my HKs, and I'm thinking of selling my current HK); because although they "just work", I just don't like them that much.

Why not?

• Even when worked on by experts, their triggers are at best mediocre.
  
  
• The 9mm versions are comfortable enough in the grip, but they're kinda big, thick, and bulky for 9mm. I have smaller 9mm pistols... hell, I've even got smaller .45s
  
  
• I have huge hands, and even for me, the grip frame for their .45 and 10mm guns is like gripping a 2x4.
  
  
• Have you ever looked at one? Seriously, they're ugly as hell. I mean, I firmly believe that form follows function, but some style, grace, elegance... might be nice.
  

I really wish they'd make more of their single stack models. Yes you'd lose capacity, but it would fix my biggest ergonomic complaint.

Basically, Glocks do everything competently, reliably, and without complaint; but other than reliability and durability, they don't do anything to the degree of excellence.

I don't mind paying a bit more, and taking a bit more effort, for excellence. Why have function alone, when you can have form AND function?

So, to my mind, the Glock is for somebody who wants to have a reliable gun, doesn't care how it looks, doesn't much care for "feel", and doesn't want to think about it too much.

That's a fair number of people... Some of whom will eventually graduate to 1911s.

See, I can't help it. The Glocknuts get so pissed when you do that to them.

... and like I said yesterday, don't even get me started on HK. It won't be pretty. Let's just say, they're good, but they aren't THAT good; they're expensive, they have horrible customer service, and they (and their partisans) have an attitude that makes Mac owners look apathetic.

Let me close with the words of Larry Correia:

HK - Because you suck, and we hate you.

Hallelujah, praise the lord, and pass the ammunitions

From Global Security:

"The US Special Operations Command [USSOCOM] issued a solicitation in August 2005 to obtain commercially available non-developmental item (NDI) Joint Combat Pistol (JCP) system, Caliber .45 (ACP). The Program (which absorbed an earlier Future Handgun System program) will use full and open competition to fulfill the JCP requirement. The JCP will be delivered in accordance with specification entitled "Performance Specification Joint Combat Pistol" to be provided with issuance of the solicitation. Two configurations of the pistol will be required. One configuration will have no external safety and the other configuration will have an external safety.

The Combat Pistol System consists of: a Caliber .45 pistol and its ancillary equipment including: Magazines (standard and high-capacity); Suppressor Attachment Kit for operation of the pistol with and without sound suppressor; Holster; Magazine Holder (standard and high-capacity); Cleaning Kit; and Operator's Manual..."

I've been saying this was coing for a while now, first it goes to SOCOM, then we may see general issue. The Contractor grapevine has been buzzing that the RFP was written just for HK to get the bid, but we'll see.

Oh but this requirement... I mean DAMN:

"When fired from a rest, at a range of 50 meters, the mean radius of a 10-shot group fired from the JCP shall not be greater than A) 3.15 inches or B)1.8 inches over baseline ammunition performance, whichever is less (T). Baseline ammunition performance is defined as the average mean radius plus two sample standard deviations of three 10-shot groups fired from a test barrel at 50m."

That's serious match pistol performance. COnsidering it's expected to have an MRBS (Mean Rounds Between Stoppage) or 2000 rounds, that's gonna be tough. Theres only one .45 pistol I know to have done that, with that level of accuracy, and that's the Springfield FBI model.

Then theres this:

"The JCP shall have a standard magazine capacity of no less than eight [8] rounds (T), greater than eight [8] rounds (O) of .45 ACP ammunition. The JCP shall also have a high-capacity magazine of no less than ten [10] rounds (T), fifteen [15] rounds (O), of .45 ACP ammunition."

Hmmmm... somebody is either thinking HKP2000/USP Compact, a SIG P220, or a 1911...

and these two narrow it down further:

"The JCP length, with standard barrel, shall be less than 9.65 inches (T). The JCP width shall be less than 1.53 inches (T).

The JCP shall function in double action/single action (DA/SA) or double-action only (DAO) including Striker-Fired Action (SFA) (T). The JCP should have a modular action mechanism that allows reconfiguration at the unit level without modification to the weapon’s major assemblies (O).

All DA/SA pistols shall have a consistent trigger pull of eight to ten [8-10] pounds on Double Action, and a consistent trigger pull of four to six [4-6] pounds on Single Action and all DAO pistols shall have a trigger pull of five to eight [5-8] pounds (T). All pistols shall have a trigger pull that is consistent within one [1] pound from average pull (T). When pressure is applied to the JCP trigger and then released, the trigger shall reset to its forward-most position, even if the pistol is not fired (T). The operator shall be capable of pulling the trigger, without shifting the firing grip."

Uhhh yep, looks like a SIG or an HK to me, and HK is "owed" a major military contract. Actually the more you read, the clearer it is that this was indeed written for HK to win. Read the whole thing.

HT: River Dog