[nitesit(+ an e)]

Or, is it just a terrific pistol for making holes in cardboard?

Or is it BOTH?

 

[John_AZ]

The 9mm is so anemic you’re lucky if it punches through the cardboard at all. I had to stop using the IDPA silhouette cardboard targets because they were too thick. Have to use the 12 count soda can boxes flattened out.

 

[indivi]

I find the G26 to be more effective if I throw the whole pistol at the target rather than trying to shoot into it.
That much weight crashing into these targets tends to cause a lot more catastrophic damage compared to bullets that just bounce right off.

 

[fastbolt]

Well, considering I've seen the performance results of some of our former duty JHP's do well in hosted 4LD/organic gel testing - fired out of an even shorter 3" barrel - I consider the almost 3.5" barrel of my G26 to be sufficient.

Besides, for many years our full-size 9mm duty weapons had 4" barrels, and the compact "detective" versions had 3.5" barrels. It was back in the mid/late 90's when we started hearing how the major American ammo makers, who did a lot of LE/Gov business, started revising their JHP's to have a slightly lower velocity threshold for their JHP designs to expand, since they knew LE plainclothes folks often used pistols with shorter barrels than full-size duty weapons.

Now, some ammo makers may offer revisions of their JHP designs for the commercial (non-LE) market, and include in their advertising that their commercial non-LE products may have been designed to meet different standards than LE Duty ammunition. Buyer be informed, and make an informed decisions, based upon anticipated individual needs.

In the meantime, I carry all the same loads in my 3"-3.5" 9's that I carried in my previous working 3.5"-4" duty weapons, and my off-duty weapons. Including my G26.

 

[ActanonVerba70]

Or, is it just a terrific pistol for making holes in cardboard?

Or is it BOTH?

The G26 is sufficient for SD velocity (IMO).

Here is a video of Hickok45 with results of velocity tests for G26, G19 and G17:

His results for Hornady Critical Duty ammo:

G26 1069fps (avg)
G19 1087fps (avg)
G17 1098fps (avg)

At 2:35 in video - his results.
At 5:00 in video - his comments.

Training and shot placement is more important than a difference of +18 or +29 fps. (paraphrasing his comment). I agree.

 

[Patchman]

The 3.5 barrel is so short that even when shooting +P out of my G26, I can see the bullet along its trajectory flight using only the nakked eye.

 

[G26-Has-my-6]

yep, those projectiles were running so slow, I had to install one of these sights just to accommodate the drop at 30 ft...

 

[Redeemed]

Sometimes when I’m shootIng the old G26 and I realize I flubbed the shot, I just walk out and catch the round before it hits the target. That way I can reload the round and it’s like a free do-over.

 

[FullClip]

Bullets out of the 26 are easier to dodge.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Just chrono the dang thing and then you will know.

 

[Borg Warner]

Or, is it just a terrific pistol for making holes in cardboard?

Or is it BOTH?

You only Gain/lose +- 50 fps per inch of barrel and one barrel off the same assembly line can produce +- 25-50 fps more or less velocity than another. I once chronographed 357 magnum revolvers using the same ammo where a 2 3/4" Ruger Security Six developed a six shot average of a velocity that was within 12fps of the velocity I got out of a six inch barreled model 66 S&W.

Of course, there are more variables involved with Revolvers than semi-auto pistols, but the fact remains that there are fast barrels and there are slow barrels depending on very small differences in the tolerances of the rifling and it's the same thing with rifle barrels.

Another time I chronographed several 303 SMLE's and there I found a consistent pattern after slugging the bores, and tighter barrels gave consistently higher velocities than barrels that were of a larger diameter. I later learned that the Brits had a certain range of tolerance for their bore diameters and during war production when the tooling was new for cutting the rifling it produced a tighter bore than when the tooling became worn and would be replaced after it no longer produced bores within allowable tolerances.

The Glock 26 has a barrel length of 3.43 inches A Glock 19 has a barrel length of 4.02 inches, and a Glock 17 has a barrel length of 4.49 inches. The G19 has a little more than a half an inch difference compared to the G26 and the G19 had a hair less than a half an inch difference, and that's only 25 fps difference more or less.

You do the math. (I'm no good at adding or subtracting decimals) and remember that figuring a loss or gain of 50 fps per INCH of barrel length is only approximate and depends on the individual gun and the only way you can know for sure is is to chronograph YOUR gun with the ammo that you intend to use for defense. And if you aren't happy with the results, go to a Plus+P load.

 

[IBreakthings]

 

[cciman]

If you miss, it does not matter.
If you can penetrate a soft squishy part, that is under higher hydraulic fluid pressure, then even the 380 or .32 or 22 will work.
Multiple perforations leak faster and better than single holes.

17>19>26>43>42

 

[CAMSDADDY]

Ive wondered if the velocity would make a difference between the 26 and 19 barrel. I dont know how would test short of firing a particular bullet into gel or something and seeing how it performs from each barrel.

 

[G2670Boss30A]

I truly dont have a clue but it does makes nice holes in cardboard. I carry a G26 ccw but would like to see some stats. I carried G27 for years..

 

[G29guy06]

The 9mm is so anemic you’re lucky if it punches through the cardboard at all. I had to stop using the IDPA silhouette cardboard targets because they were too thick. Have to use the 12 count soda can boxes flattened out.

That post should get you an award!

 

[G29guy06]

Here’s what I do know in regards to the OP:

a PF9 worked fine for George Zimmerman and it has a shorter barrel than the G26…works for me

 

[Glock4life!]

If this isn't a post of sarcasm here are a couple of good videos by tnoutdoors9 shooting Federal HST out of a Glock 26 and another video shooting Federal HST out of a Glock 19. He seems to prefer 147gr HST as do I.

 

[oldmick]

When I take my G26 to the range I only shoot targets at 6 feet or less. Any farther and the bullet hits the ground before reaching the target. But since most self defense shootings happen at close range I should be fine.

 

[Borg Warner]

Well, considering I've seen the performance results of some of our former duty JHP's do well in hosted 4LD/organic gel testing - fired out of an even shorter 3" barrel - I consider the almost 3.5" barrel of my G26 to be sufficient.

Besides, for many years our full-size 9mm duty weapons had 4" barrels, and the compact "detective" versions had 3.5" barrels. It was back in the mid/late 90's when we started hearing how the major American ammo makers, who did a lot of LE/Gov business, started revising their JHP's to have a slightly lower velocity threshold for their JHP designs to expand, since they knew LE plainclothes folks often used pistols with shorter barrels than full-size duty weapons.

Now, some ammo makers may offer revisions of their JHP designs for the commercial (non-LE) market, and include in their advertising that their commercial non-LE products may have been designed to meet different standards than LE Duty ammunition. Buyer be informed, and make an informed decisions, based upon anticipated individual needs.

In the meantime, I carry all the same loads in my 3"-3.5" 9's that I carried in my previous working 3.5"-4" duty weapons, and my off-duty weapons. Including my G26.

And you can aways carry a G27 where velocity doesn't make as much of a difference and is the same size as a G26 (Except for the dumbass Gen 5's)