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Why Do People Constantly Complain About Glock's Grip Angle ??

9K views 22 replies 17 participants last post by  __jb 
#1 ·
I've never understood this. And the more I hear it, the less I understand it, and the more foolish it sounds. All this complaining how Glock pistols have, "the wrong grip angle". What is a right one? Just because something is different than what you're used to does not make it, "wrong". I hear these people constantly complain that when they point a Glock they're looking at the top of the slide, instead of the sights. And somehow because of that the grip angle is, "wrong". Well how about this for a novel idea... Move your wrist so the sights are actually where they're supposed to be.

These same people don't complain when they transfer from a Ruger or Colt single action to a semi auto. Why not? The grip angle is far more acutely different. It seems they only whine when it's a Glock. It makes zero sense. The 1911 grip angle (all 1911 variants, Springfield XD, etc.) is more nearly square to the slide (about 18 degrees off square), while the Glock grip angle (Luger, Steyr M series, H&K P7, Ruger Mk II, etc.) is more raked (about 22 degrees off square). Are these people really trying to say they can't shoot the gun properly because the grip angle is different by only 4 degrees? That's ridiculous. If you don't like the looks of the gun, that's fine. If you think it's too expensive to fit you're budget, that's also an acceptable reason to not want one. Even if for some reason you like your pistols with 27 different levers, buttons, and grip safeties. I can understand that. But to whine about the grip angle is just plain foolish. People aren't born with fused wrist joints. I own all but countless handguns in most every conceivable action type, size, and grip. I can go from one to the other by simply adjusting my grip and my wrist to suit that particular handgun.

And it's not as if Glock just decided to manufacture this pistol on a whim, without giving any thought to the grip, or the angle. Gaston Glock consulted many doctors, and did many studies concerning the physiology of people and the use of their hands before settling on the grip angle of the Glock. I'm not trying to start a flame war here, but it would seem after all of that, along with the fact millions of Glock handguns have been successfully put into service over the last 30 years, that there is nothing "wrong" with the grip angle. Only with the shooters who cannot adjust to using the gun properly.
 
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#6 ·
If its dark, and I have to point & shoot @ bad guy, I'm grabbin for the 1911. More natural pointing design & better trigger. But it is 38 oz, single action and only holds 7 rnds. (and I ain't carrying that thing cocked & locked while its pointing at my jim-jim).
Have a Walther PPQ M2 with a far better factory trigger than any of my Glocks (and I have polished the innerds and put 4.5# connectors in them). But it is wider than the glock, mags cost 2x, 17 rnd mags are "odd". etc.
Point being - there is no perfect gun, people like to mess with stuff, the glock grip angle is a few degrees from ideal for most people and it's something they can't change too much, so they bitch....don't need Scotland Yard for this one.
But I own 1-1911, 1-Walther and 4-Glocks....what does that tell you. (lighter, hi capacity, cheap mags, reliable, no protrusions/unnecessary controls, simple design/fewer parts, affordable, size & caliber selection, military/police track record, etc.) They got a lot of things right back in the day and most striker polymer pistols that have come out since are very similar.
 
#7 ·
I don't think either is better... They're just different... If you shoot one a lot and change to the other, you'll find it odd for a while...

This doesn't affect plinkers very much... just adjust your aim until the sights line up and pull the trigger...

However, if you shoot competitively, or practice self defense shooting, the different grip angle makes it difficult to shoot accurately with speed...
 
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#10 ·
Why Do People Constantly Complain About Glock's Grip Angle ??

Cause they don't have anything better to complain about.
 
#15 ·
I've never understood this. And the more I hear it, the less I understand it, and the more foolish it sounds. All this complaining how Glock pistols have, "the wrong grip angle". What is a right one? Just because something is different than what you're used to does not make it, "wrong". I hear these people constantly complain that when they point a Glock they're looking at the top of the slide, instead of the sights. And somehow because of that the grip angle is, "wrong". Well how about this for a novel idea... Move your wrist so the sights are actually where they're supposed to be. These same people don't complain when they transfer from a Ruger or Colt single action to a semi auto. Why not? The grip angle is far more acutely different. It seems they only whine when it's a Glock. It makes zero sense. The 1911 grip angle (all 1911 variants, Springfield XD, etc.) is more nearly square to the slide (about 18 degrees off square), while the Glock grip angle (Luger, Steyr M series, H&K P7, Ruger Mk II, etc.) is more raked (about 22 degrees off square). Are these people really trying to say they can't shoot the gun properly because the grip angle is different by only 4 degrees? That's ridiculous. If you don't like the looks of the gun, that's fine. If you think it's too expensive to fit you're budget, that's also an acceptable reason to not want one. Even if for some reason you like your pistols with 27 different levers, buttons, and grip safeties. I can understand that. But to whine about the grip angle is just plain foolish. People aren't born with fused wrist joints. I own all but countless handguns in most every conceivable action type, size, and grip. I can go from one to the other by simply adjusting my grip and my wrist to suit that particular handgun. And it's not as if Glock just decided to manufacture this pistol on a whim, without giving any thought to the grip, or the angle. Gaston Glock consulted many doctors, and did many studies concerning the physiology of people and the use of their hands before settling on the grip angle of the Glock. I'm not trying to start a flame war here, but it would seem after all of that, along with the fact millions of Glock handguns have been successfully put into service over the last 30 years, that there is nothing "wrong" with the grip angle. Only with the shooters who cannot adjust to using the gun properly.
I don't think it's a big deal unless you pick up the gun and you have to tweak your wrist at an odd angle for you. We are all different. If I hold a just for example 1911, or a sig and hold the gun up with my eyes closed, then look through the sights. The exact way finger is pointing with my finger resting on the side of the slide. The Sights are in line. If I do that with a glock when I open my eyes I have to tilt my wrist at and odd angle "For me" to look straight through the sights. And when I say odd angle it feels off from how I would naturally hold a gun. Is it a big deal? No I can deal with it. But that's just it. in a stressful situation or a competition situation alike. Your dealing with focusing on so much sometimes to save your life. It is one more thing that can cause issues. But if it's not an issue for you. It's not, If you like Glock and it's an issue, practice until it's not. Me personally I don't like it when I can pick up other guns and not have this issue.
 
#16 · (Edited)
[You are opening a 6-year-old thread]
I agree with most of that. I own several 1911s, a Walther PPK/S, & a Glock. In Glock's desire to get the grip as high to the bore as feasible to reduce felt recoil, they raised the top of the grip. However, that put the angle of the trigger finger on the trigger somewhat down, which could be uncomfortable. I think they then adjusted the angle of the grip to make it easier to put the trigger finger on the trigger. That means you can't just pull the trigger back; you pull it back & slightly down. Ugh. I don't care for that.

Whatever, If you bring the sights up to on target, it's not a problem. If you are trying to point-&-shoot a gun (which is a valuable skill if you need it in defense), your "1911 grip muscle memory" doesn't quite work with the Glock: At 60 inches (five feet), you are 4 inches low high. At 3 yards, it's 7 inches, & so on. Since I am a "sights on target" kind of shooter, I don't even notice it, let alone am bothered by it. For other shooters, it can be an important issue.
 
#17 ·
Oh I totally agree and if it works or you that's great I didn't realize how old it was somehow it linked me with something else I was reading I was just pointing out why people say that. They are reliable guns and they have had their issues, but so has every good gun manufacture. All for all it's a good gun. I never liked the trigger pull but that again is personal preference. This is just a Chevy Vs Ford Vs Dodge conversation that in my opinion people treat with the conviction of religious fanatacizim and I think people need to see that and calmn down. I actually just wanted to give a little calmn explination to what felt like the start of that. Again I didn't mean to start up something new I only saw the one comment until I posted it and realized what it was. I hope everyone enjoys what they enjoy.
 
#21 ·
Yup, it's dumb. Everybody's hands are different..sometimes it's just people want to slam the success of Glock. 'Poor trigger', 'poor sights' and of course, 'poor grip angle'..hogwash. I own a 42, 48 and -17..all different and I shoot them just fine. Son has Beretta 92, a Browning SA-35...I have owned a couple of Ruger somethings and if anything, I PREFER the grip of the Glocks. I also shot a Springfield 1911and besides having 4 failures in 50 rounds(rented it to see what all the hub-bub was about), didn't like that grip At All.
 
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