GLOCK 26: BASELINE EDC

​The Glock is a well-trusted brand around the world. The Glock 26/27 has served in Law enforcement for decades, and still does. It has served as a backup gun and as an off-duty option for decades, starting in the 90's. It has changed as time goes on to make the platform more user-friendly or more durable. The biggest functional changes were to the extractor and barrel, while the other changes were grip and finish-related. Despite the changes, the function and service it offers and provides has remained unchanged. No matter what generation you invest in, the legacy of the Glock 26/27 as a reliable concealed carry pistol remains. It is the OG baby Glock you don't want to turn away. It may not be the BEST option for every concealed carry need, but it is the standard by which other subcompact pistols and micro pistols are judged.

​THE OTHER GUYS

The Glock 26/27 is not the only subcompact on the market. There are other pistols out there with better ergonomics, better triggers out of the box, handle recoil better, and have a longer service life. Most companies have withdrawn their .40 caliber pistol lines, while other still sell them, but in limited numbers. I am relatively partial to .40 S&W still, but I am converting a bit back to 9mm. Here I will try to include a couple of companies that have both 9mm and .40 S&W options, but those are few and far in-between.

​Smith & Wesson sells the M&P Sub-Compact 2.0 in 9mm only. I still have mine in .40 S&W, which suits me perfectly. The pistols are generally inexpensive to acquire, are easy to shoot well, and they are able to take a weapon mounted light like the Streamlight TLR-7 or Olight PL Mini series. They also have a terrific warranty which won me over and made this company my preferred manufacturer, truth be told.

​The HK P2000SK is a pistol that comes in 9mm or .40 S&W. The major problem with this pistol is the fact that magazines are expensive, holsters for it are not too common, and it is a double action system. Whether it is an LEM or DA/SA is based on the kind of trigger you want, but either way it will be a double action of some kind. The magazine capacity is lower than similar-sized pistols and the height of the gun is higher because of the pinky extension that comes standard on all magazines. The only solution is to buy the flat baseplates in order to bring the height down. Beyond the height, holster, and magazine price issues, you have a pistol that will likely cost more than a Glock 27. Is it worth a couple hundred more bucks to get more reliability and recoil control? Your wallet, your choice.

​Canik sells their TP9 Elite SC which is their Glock 26 equivalent. It is inexpensive, has a good capacity, and it is hailed as having a very simple and comfortable grip. I must admit that I like Canik pistols, but they just do not have all the qualities I need in a pistol. In some ways, the trigger they host is light and makes trigger snobs happy, for the most part. There are plenty of holster options out there for this pistol, which makes it a clear competitor in the subcompact market. I am not a fan of the tacky "Elite" name, but I can see why the pistol is well received. accessories are inexpensive and widely available, the pistol doesn't cost much, and it is generally accepted as a reliable brand.

FEATURE FAILURES?

​In most cases, people these days tend to desire outfitting their pistols with accessories. The Glock 26/27 Gen3 is about as basic as you can get, but it is the barbie doll of the gun world. If you don't like something about the pistol, there is a product or a way to change it. It has those pesky finger grooves you can shave off and get rid of. Iron sights are plastic but can be swapped out no problem. The OEM uncompensated barrel can be changed out for a threaded aftermarket option or through custom porting. This is a lot of work to correct and it can be a bit pricey if you get carried away, but where there is a need, there is a fix for your Glock. You can alter this pistol so much that it is barely recognizable as being a Glock, if that suits your fancy. The Glock is your oyster.

​I don’t know about the current culture of gun hipsters, but I am happy with the way the Glock 26/27 comes stock, for the most part. The only change I have made is to fix the grip slightly with a layer of friction tape and put on steel sights. Also, I found it necessary to upgrade the magazine to the 10 rounder that has room to slip the pinky on. This slightly raises the height of the pistol, but not enough to make a huge difference in the overall profile under a concealment garment. I'm an old school dude that likes to go back to the basics often and stick to what works. Instead of spending money on cosmetics and dubious functional alterations, I will take that money and pay for ammo and train around the deficiencies. In the end, I feel it costs less and takes less time. Instead of counting on widgets and gadgets and items to help your piss poor shooting, how about learning how to shoot and putting in the mileage? Novel thought, ay?

WHY NOT A MICRO 9MM?

​The new micro 9mms are all the rage these days, and for good reason. They are as small as a single stack, but they carry as much as the Glock 26, in some cases. However, this tiny gun fetish does not come without some cost. Often these pistols are just too small to shoot really well. The grips on these pistols are so small that a proper grip causes the shooter to obstruct their own trigger finger movement, such as I have noticed on the trendy P365.

​More often than not, the felt recoil on a micro 9mm is quite unpleasant and off-putting for shooters who don’t get to the range often enough to get used to the shock. I have found very few micro 9mm pistols, besides the S&W M&P Shield Plus, that can handle the recoil pretty well. The other pistols like the Springfield Hellcat and the Sig P365 are not very good at controlling the recoil. However, shootability is having a sizable grip and pistol that allow a proper grip and proper recoil control, such as in the Glock 26/27.

FINAL THOUGHTS

​When I think of the Glock 26 platform, I think of the baseline EDC weapon on which all others are judged. It is no-frills and it will function reliably for some time under neglectful mistreatment. The trigger is the standard by which all others are judged in feel, safety, speed, etc. The body of the pistol is not meant to be pretty, but I guess there is beauty in function, for me.
Overall, I am more of a fan of S&W pistols and I would take the M&P Subcompact over the Glock 26. However, I find that the baby Glock is a foundational design that is perfect for shooters of all maturity levels. Whether they are years into their journey of concealed carry or just starting out, the Glock subcompacts are a simple and user-friendly option to help you develop and grow. When a new pistol is released on the subcompact market, the first thing that is done is to compare it to the good old Glock 26/27 to see if it meets or exceeds the standard Glock has set. That is a powerful statement that should not be underestimated.