Glock 26 vs 19. Which Is Better For Concealed Carry? [2023]

Some people accept nothing other than a 9x19mm Glock, and if you're going to carry one on the daily, that inevitably leads to deciding between the Glock 19 vs. 26. Both of these pistols are wildly popular among police officers and civilian carriers. Take a peek in basically any gun store, and they'll have both of them behind the counter.

But which to get?

Both guns are solid choices, but each gun has a couple of minor drawbacks that will make one a better choice for some people. It's like getting a car; plenty of people like pickup trucks, but it's not a very good choice if you live in an urban environment. Likewise, a Mini Cooper probably isn't the best choice if you live out in the sticks.

So really, it comes down to what's best for you. But what is going to make one better than the other? We're going to find out.

The Glock 19 is more or less a "Goldilocks" gun. It's big enough to hang with the full-size guns in terms of accuracy and performance. It holds 15+1 of 9mm and will even run 9mm +P, which is on par with most service pistols or close enough that it makes little difference. It will even accept Glock 17 magazines for an additional two rounds of capacity if desired.

What About The Glock 19x 9mm?

The Glock 19X is a pistol that was designed to fill the needs of both military and law enforcement personnel. It is a hybrid of the Glock 17 and the Glock 19, two of the most popular Glock models.

The Glock 19X is a striker-fired, 9mm pistol that has a 4.6-inch barrel and a capacity of 17 rounds. It also has a reversible magazine release and a reversible grip to allow it to be used by both left- and right-handed shooters. The Glock 19X ships with two magazines, one with a 17-round capacity and the other with a 10-round capacity.

The Glock 19X has been praised for its accuracy, reliability, and ergonomics. It has also been criticized for its high price tag. So, if you're looking for a 19 with a few extra rounds, go with the 19x.

Glock 19 Concealed Carry

The Glock 19 is considered the default concealed carry pistol. It's compact, light, has good carrying capacity, and hits a sweet spot between being easily concealed and being easy to shoot.

They have been proven over and over again to be rugged, reliable and accurate. The Glock 19 is considered the Honda Civic of handguns for a reason. There may be better ones out there, but you'll never go wrong with one.

The only drawback is that some people find the Glock 19 to be a bit too much gun to carry and conceal every day, and that's where the Glock 26 comes in.

The Glock 26 was conceived as a small handgun for the concealed carry market and as a backup gun for law enforcement, and it has been a very popular pistol for that application since it was released back in the mid 90s.

As far as subcompacts go, the Glock 26 has a lot going on for it. It's compact enough to be easily carried and concealed. However, it's big enough to avoid the usual pitfalls of pocket guns. The G26 has sufficient barrel length to get some performance out of ammunition and to preserve accuracy.

Truth be told, no matter which gun you pick between the Glock 19 vs Glock 26, you're getting a solid firearm. Both are accurate, reliable, and shoot very well. Granted, neither is a tack drivin' sniper pistol with a custom shop trigger. Glocks are merely hard-working guns that will go "bang" when you need them to and will generally hit what you aim them at.

Everything you need, nothing you don't...but you'll probably find one is better for you than the other.

The Glock 19 occupies a fantastic middle ground between a service pistol and a carry pistol. They're compact enough for most people to carry every day, but some people find them to be more gun than they want to deal with.

The G26 is obviously a little smaller and a little lighter, which makes them easier to deal with as a carry gun.

However, the wrinkle has always been that they are a little livelier once you start pressing the trigger. The Glock 26 is a little snappier, a little livelier than a Glock 19, so you're going to have to deal with muzzle rise.

The short grip gives some people fits, leading to either an adjustment in technique - such as curling the pinkie of the shooting hand under the magazine - or using either an extended magazine base plate (i.e. a pinkie extension) or an extended magazine. After all, Glock 19 magazines work in the '26.

The best thing to do is to handle both and shoot both. Get to a gun store or range that rents guns out for testing purposes. Shoot both, get a feel for them. You'll get an idea for which one you'll be most confident with, which will be the one to acquire. But keep in mind...

G26 or Glock 19 Concealed Carry Success Depends On You

While excellent workhorses, Glocks aren't necessarily perfect. Some find their ergonomics difficult to deal with and the factory triggers aren't necessarily outstanding, though the Gen 5 pistols are certainly an improvement.

Maybe it's not perfect, but Glock 26 handguns are some of the most popular and reliable firearms available today. The reliability and user-friendliness of Glock 26 pistols have earned the trust of law enforcement officers as well as everyday civilians. It's no wonder why so many stake their safety on the Glock 26, its outstanding performance and easy operability speak for themselves.

Ultimately, you are the most important part of the equation. If you can't make hits, it doesn't matter what gun you carry. Therefore, the only thing that really matters about your choice of concealed carry gun is that you are proficient with it.