txpete - nice lookin' ruggie.
PA-Joe - dang good idea.
WNY_Whitetailer - I dunno pal, I know that glocks are reliable and that lots of folk like them but I'm not one of them. My brother had one of those compacts in 9mm and it just did not fit and feel the way I felt a handgun should feel in my hand. I didn't care for the short barrel, the muzzle blast and the recoil (whip) of the pistol and it was just a 9mm - the 40 isn't going to be any better. He trained hard for quite a while with his AF hostage rescue types but just couldn't get all that comfortable with his glock. He finally sold it.
Whenever I'm in a gunshop and have the opportunity to overhear someone looking for a carry piece, I am both amazed and appalled at the comments I hear coming from some of the more 'knowledgeable' behind the counter types and general passer-throughs. I mean, it's sort of like - where the hay do these idjits come from. You really have to consider the quality of the advice you receive from some sources (behind the counter types).
I will suggest that you need to go to a dealer you can talk with, tell he or she what you want (carry piece of substantial caliber) and ask that dealer if you can handle/fondle some of the choices you are leaning toward. I would go with the proviso that if the dealer cooperates, you may purchase from his stock. If he's a buttsniff, go elsewhere.
But, the issue is that you need to be able to put your hands on 2, 3 or more specific handguns and make your choice.
Now, in my opinion (note, my opinion), the 40 S&W isn't a choice. Sorry, I know lots of guys and many PDs own, carry and prefer that caliber but it just doesn't do anything for me. If you're not chasin' down bad guys or getting into running gun battles you surely do not need a 10 shooter. If this is for personal protection you might be as well served with another type of handgun in another caliber. Please understand that from my perspective, some of these highly concealable pieces are really meant for expert handgunners, either with lots of field/range/street experience or cqc experience. Many of these things sure look sweet but won't serve you for jack in a hot situation without that kind of cold hard experience. A good example is taken from some of the readings of PD shootings (actually, just discharges of the entire magazine), where LEOs with high range scores use up an entire magazine (15 or so shots) at near point blank range, with the bad guy doing the same, and both walk away unscathed. What you have in this scenario is 30 shots going in two different directions with no 'intended' hits - that's not good.
You mentioned that some of your friends have a particular model of the glock - how do you like shooting it???? If you can shoot it well (well enought I hope) that's one thing. But, if you are not an experienced handgunner I would strongly recommend another consideration - one with options of using different power ammunition, possibly better sights, different grip packages, etc.
All considered, this is just my 2 cents worth but I hope it helps. Mikey.
