I mentioned in this post some time back that I might consider getting a Glock. Well, I did. I am no the (proud?) owned of an ever so slightly used gen. 3 Glock 19. I traded in the Ruger LC9 for the Glock that was so sparingly used/well taken care of that the gun shop (Shooters in New Milford, CT) could have told me it was new and I would have believed them.

After having put a few hundred rounds through it my impression so far is (and I’m comparing it to my Springfield XDM Compact 9mm) that it is a crudely made gun (and I say that in the best possible meaning). The XDM feels like a much more finely engineered and tuned pistol. While you’re holding it in your hand and just checking it out. But from the very first shot I fired with it, I was much more accurate than with the XDM. For all its “crudeness” – the Glock trigger has a “rough” feel to it, but it also breaks cleaner and more predictable than the XDM – I am just better able to place the shots where I’m aiming than with the XDM.

I think the main problem with the XDM is the trigger. While it is very smooth, it also has very long pre-travel, an unpredictable break, and a fairly long reset. I ordered and installed (I’m a gunsmith now!) a trigger kit from Powder River Precision in Oregon that greatly improved the feel of the trigger, and also, my groupings at the range, but still not as good as the Glock.

So at this point my heart is with the XDM – I really like the feel of the gun – but my head is with the Glock; I simply shoot it better. I still have some ideas on how I might improve the XDM, though, and haven’t given up all hope. I’ll keep y’all informed.