[carolina flatfoot]

I have been shooting an H&K usp 45 tactical for a couple years now. It is a great gun, but I just dont shoot it as well as I do glock. So I getting rid of it and going exclusively with Glock. I currently own a 34 (9mm) and shoot it well, however the more I talk and train with the Ex-Delta guys and such, the more I hear 9mm or mainly 40 cal is their preference(higher mag capacity, faster shooting less muzzle flip). I WAS leaning towards carrying a 21 SF on duty, however I am considering the 35 (40 cal). I really like the Tactical/Practicals(smooth trigger). I have heard you all say that the 40 is harder to shoot than the 45 due to the snappy recoil. What do you all think.
Two things 1st- I will carry it on duty and want the most effective performance for putting the bad guy down AND I will eventually start with the IDPA or IPSC, I know they prefer the 40 cal for the same reasons. Is the 40 that much harder to shoot than the 45 that I should not consider it? Thanks folks!

[h2osport]

I would go with the Glock 35 if I were in your shoes. It shoots great. This would be a great carry gun. It is also the best of your options for all around USPSA shooting. You can shoot it major in limited, limited 10, and download some rounds for production minor. I am not into IDPA, but I think it works well there also. I think the 34 and 35 are awesome weapons, and you will not be disappointed.

The .40 is a high pressure cartridge, hence more of a snap than the .45 but not at all hard to shoot. You do not want to get into a discussion of 9vs40vs45. It has been hashed out for years, and you can find plenty of opinion via the search function.

[carolina flatfoot]

thank you, very intelligent reply!

[G-ManBart]

For duty use (uniformed or plain clothes?) I'd probably lean towards the G21SF if it fits your hand as well as the 34/35 does. Every G21 that I've seen has shot really well. I can't count how many times I've seen guys shoot their issued G22 and do well, then switch to their personally owned G21 and just tear it up...much tighter groups....and these aren't guys with huge hands either. For some reason I think the G21s are a little more accurate out of the box than most of the .40s.

The added length of the 35 might be a concern if you spend lots of time in a car, but that's something you can figure out for yourself. Personally, I'd be more than happy with 14 rounds of .45acp versus the 16 rounds of .40 in the 35. I carry either a G22 or G23 and a G27 and don't feel I'm at a significant ballistic disadvantage, especially with the new Win Ranger Bonded 180gr ammo, but a little bigger, heavier bullet rarely hurts!

Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. I would, however, keep one gun for duty and use another for matches...they're close enough that it's not going to hurt your performance by switching guns and you can do things with sights, triggers, springs, etc on the match gun that you wouldn't want to do to a carry gun. I'm not suggesting radical changes, but maybe a fiber optic front sight instead of night sights...stuff like that. R,

[chirpy]

See if you can find a range with rentals of what you want and try them out. Also locate local clubs and go to practice nights and see if you can try stuff out (you might get some factory ammo to use instead of reloads).

FWIW

Richard

[carolina flatfoot]

I will shoot the 22 as well as the 21 before I make my choice. A nearby SWAT team switched from the 22 to the 21SF recently and they said their scores went up. It's funny you hear so many different suggestions- The Delta guys shoot 40 and 9mm, the competitors shoot more 40 and police seem to be moving towards the 45. I currently own a 34, so...I'll take it and a 22 and 21 to the range and see which one I shoot best. The guys a Blackwater liked the 9mm a lot as well. Well whatever i go with I will eventually get an Advantage Arms slide and supplement my practice and hopefully pick the one I shoot best.