Merry CHRISTmas and a question about Compensators

[DennisF]

My brother recently bought a G22 for home and a G27 for concealed carry.  At first he was looking for 22C but I was able to talk him out of getting a compensated model.  An LEO Wanna Be (Aux. Cop) that he works with has told him that he will be sorry that he didn't get the 22C because of controllability problems, which has him questioning his choice (and my advice).  I told him that since he normally shot a S&W Mod. 19 with full power loads and had no problems with the recoil, the .40 cal. might be a pleasant surprise to shoot.  Since the G22 will be used for casual target shooting and possible encounters inside a darkened house, as far as I was concerned, a bright vent of muzzle gas in front of his eyes was the last thing that he wanted.  If he was going to use the gun in IDPA or IPSC the compensator might be of help after several hundred rounds but not for the purpose that he purchased it.  What are your opinions on compensators for inside the house work?

Thanks
Dennis

[Cottonwood]

 Greetings Dennis F

I have carried the G-22 for years CCW been thinking of getting the G-23 though just because I like the shorter barrel without grip loss.  I have no problem hiding the G-22 even during the summer months using a IWB type holster even with polo shirts or tank tops, the works is between the shirt and body, all you do is blouse your shirt a bit and no one can tell.

The G-22 has no control problems with the .40 cartridge any control problems are the shooter not the gun.  His wannabe cop friend is NOT in the know.  If the G-22C was the best for officers to carry why are departments like LV/LV Metro not using the C models and so on.  All the C models do is tame the recoil down to what the next caliber down would feel like.  If he wants to shoot a 9mm get a G-19 or G-17, he wouldn't be under-gunned with either of these as well with the right load of course.

You did advise your brother well about compensation and indoor and night shooting.... FLASH and your sight picture is gone because of blindness in the dark.

The G-22 used in IDPA or IPSC would put him in a differant class of shooter as compensated barrels are NOT the norm.  In IDPA I do not believe he can us a compensated gun but in IPSC he could.

I hope this helps

[Savage]

Dennis,
The adivise you gave your friend was sound. The "C" model Glocks have a couple of undesirable traits, one of which you mentioned in your post. I am in LE and we do quite a bit of shooting from the retention position. The hot gasses can cause some nasty damage to flesh and fabric when fired in this position. I don't know anyone in LE who carries one.
The "C" models are not allowed in IDPA and if your friend wants to shoot IPSC he would be far better served with a mdl 35C.
Stay safe,
Savage

[DennisF]

Thanks for the reply Montanan and Savage, we went out today and shot them some and he now sees that the compensator IS NOT necessary on a .40.  The guy that he was talking to at work knew that he did not have much experience with autos used it as an excuse to impress him with big words and statistics not knowing that he had an older brother that has shot one or two autos in his life.  I will admit that I don't know everything but I do know B.S. when I smell it.  The G22 is no problem at all to control, we both bought G27's and without the magazine extensions, it is a frisky little pistol to shoot but still not at all bad to control.  The mag extenders on mine improve my grip 100% plus give me a 10 round clip instead of nine.  I was just using IPSC or IDPA as examples of shooting a bunch of rounds in a day.  Since most of my brothers pistol shooting has been with a revolver, after his first shot, I didn't have to explain why you never lay the thumb of your left hand behind the slide on a Glock.  After we stopped the bleeding, he shot extremely well with it.  I told him the best thing for him to do was buy all the ammo he could afford and shoot, shoot, and shoot some more (besides it's just plain fun).

Dennis

[KING]

  DennisF.  Ya did good in advising him about the C models.  They are fun to shoot,but are not for use in any kind of dimlight or darkness.  They will destroy night vision as the other guys told ya,at least that has been my experiance with them in that form.  The MONTANAN adised you correctly in that light.  No pun indented.  When someone talkes of a firearm that cant be controlled,in part. a handgun,it is generally the shooter that is the causational facter in that.  I have had a number of smaller officers in training that were having some trouble,but it is them,not the firearm.  They had to learn how to properly grip the weapon to gets its full potential out of it...Then,even in the fastest shooting they were able to control the weapon.  I had carried a G22 for about 5 years after we traded them back to G17's back to Glock for them.  It was not a caliber question,just that our guns at the time,and the trade,made it very stupid for us not to do so.  All new guns for the cost of approx. 30 apiece fer the G22's ,not a bad way to go.  Problem was we had to trade the guns obviously that we carried,and I had always kept my guns when we changed models,or makes,from three differant departments.  Good luck,and have fun.  King

[KING]

MONTY!!!!.  If u are using a flashlight,in the prefered method,you are correct in that your night vision is proably not going to be affected by the "C" models.  But,when its kinda dark,and you dont have a light,such as in a surprise type of situation,it will efect your night vision.  The ammo that is used,can and does vary this a little bit.  I originally shot the "C" model in an instructers course.  We were not using lights,and out of about 30 officers in that course,all went to the normal Glock,not the "C" model because of the damage it did to thier night vision.  The targets we were shooting was a reactive steel target,with no lighting whatsoever.  The differance was very appearant.  The guys without the comp,were just a smacking those steel targets.  The guys with the comp. models,were also hitting them,but not as fast,nor did they have as many hits on target out of shots fired.    King

[Savage]

Have to agree with King on the night firing qualifications. In near darkness using only available light the "C" models did slow down target ID and time between shots. I don't know anyone who wasn't affected by it. The low flash powders help some but it is still distracting. Personally I would not handicap myself with that totaly unnecessary modification on a duty or defensive weapon that would most likely be used in darkness or from the retention position. Great for IPSC though!
Stay Safe