Today I fired the Glock 22 .40-caliber and the Glock 31 357 Sig after three days ago firing the Glock 21 .45-caliber and the Sig P229 .40-caliber -- 50 rounds in each.
I did slightly better with the Glock 357 Sig than the Glock .40-caliber, although for some reason I like the .40-caliber better. I fired .38 and .357 Magnum in my Ruger Security-Six for comparison, and did better than either Glock.
I think that's undoubtedly due to firing single action in my revolver, with DA revolver looking more like DA Glock although still more accurate.
It was interesting that although supposedly the same size magazine loads both shells (both magazines were marked 40), the magazine in the 357 Sig was slightly shorter, and the longer magazine for the .40-caliber would not operate in the 357 Sig.
I didn't force the issue, so there might have been a nuance I missed.
As in most things, practice and familiarity would naturally increase competence and confidence. Double action triggers can be learned to where they can approach single action sensitivity.
Nevertheless, today's experience confirms and slightly expands my opinions after firing the Glock 21 .45-caliber and the Sig P229 .40-caliber three days ago.
If I had to go into a security or combat situation, at least initially I would feel safer handling any of the Glocks. I felt I knew what the gun would or would not do. Their triggers, while adequate, were not anything special to pull.
The Sig still seems less safe to handle but its trigger was an absolute joy. I shot much more accurately with the Sig .40-caliber than any of the three Glocks (.45, .40, 357 Sig). In fact, Sig P229 accuracy was about the same as my Ruger Single-Six .357 and .38 rounds. For me, that's saying a lot for a large caliber pistol.
For my plinking and home security needs, I still feel most comfortable with my Ruger Security-Six and the ability to load either .38 or .357 Magnum. For me it is the safest to handle, what I think is and hear to be the most reliable, and the most accurate although the Sig might match it.
However, I must mention that today after firing about 20 .38 rounds in my Ruger Security-Six, I fired five .357 Magnum, and two of them stuck in the cylinder when I tried to eject them. Dunno what happened. I fired fewer rounds in the revolver than I did in either pistol.
Eventually pried them out after they cooled. Not good. Would sure hamper any reload in a home defense situation. So much for revolver reliability, huh? Guess it's a good thing I still have a Marine Ka-Bar knife for ultimate backup.
For the truest comparison with Glock, I found in further research that the Coast Guard and Homeland Security apparently bought a special Sig P229R DAK that has only a double-action 6.5-pound trigger pull -- one pound heavier than the usual Glock DA 5.5-lb pull and two pounds heavier than the usual Sig 4.5-lb SA pull after its initial 10-lb DA pull.
That might negate the single-action accuracy bonus I experienced in the Sig P229 .40-caliber DA/SA (10/4.5 pull) I fired. It seems to speak to the persistent need military and law enforcement agencies have to discourage light trigger pulls as in the much more sensitive single-action.
Unfortunately, the Sig P229R DAK was not available at the range where I shoot, so I could not compare it with the Glock DAs.
The Sig site also mentioned an SP2022 polymer frame with a convertible DA/SA trigger (which might mean can do either or both, but I'm not sure), and the Army buying 5,000 9mms apparently for tank crews.
The poor military -- many still stuck with what apparently appears to be a too light 9mm while law enforcements are going to .45, .40, or 357 Sig.
Thus concludes my initial phase of trying some large caliber pistols after years away from them. I might try some more occasionally, particularly a Kimber .45, but the next project is to find the optimum .22 rifle and handgun plinkers, which is another thread.
Thanks again for the many incisive and thoughtful inputs, once again demonstrating the immense reservoir of talent and experience across the board by Aces High participants.
