Glock Talk banner

Help me choose G32 vs G31

12K views 32 replies 25 participants last post by  Railsplitter 
#1 ·
Hi guys,

I decided my next Glock will be a 357sig, but now I'm stuck between G32 and G31. My first instinct is to go with the G31, because I would like to maximize the potential of the round and after seeing some numbers, I think the extra half inch does make a difference. Plus I have a fairly high tolerance for discomfort while carrying and I work from home, so I don't have to be out all day every day wearing my gun.

On the other hand, I'm realizing that while I can't make a G31 smaller, I could make the G32 bigger by swapping the barrel with a longer one, and/or using 15 rounds mags instead of the stock 13 rounders. Even though I can carry a full size pistol, I wouldn't hate carrying something a little more comfortable, and a G32 with maybe a G31 barrel down the line sounds like could be the best of both worlds.

I got some really got info in another thread (don't remember the username of the guy who posted all the data, but that was great, sorry) but I decided to open a separate thread to avoid going too much off topic. The same user who posted all the awesome data also mentioned the longer slide of the 31 being better for fast 180gr bullets, but I'm not interested in shooting .40s so that's not an issue. What I'm interested in is to get a conversion 9mm barrel for some cheap plinking.

I would really like to hear from people who own both and who have done conversions to 9mm, what are the pros and cons of either. Thanks!
 
See less See more
#2 · (Edited)
A G32 can not use a G31 barrel...it won't fit the locking block. A G32 barrel will fit in a G33, but that's it.

Years ago when I bought my first .357SIG Glock, I wanted the best handgun that Glock makes to take advantage of the .357SIG cartridge. That means the G31. I hope, no doubt in vain, for an OEM 5.3- or 6.0-inch barrel model someday.

Underwood 125gr JHP produces MV=1565 fps, ME= 680 ft-lbf, PF=196 from my Gen4 G31.

For EDC, I use a G33 (converted from G27 with OEM G33 barrel). The same load above produces MV=1410 fps, ME=552 ft-lbf, PF=176.

I don't consider the G32 to have much improvement for EDC over the G31, since it is only one half inch less in length and height. But the G33 makes a big difference for EDC.

The .357SIG is a most excellent auto-pistol round. And Glock's barrels for .357SIG have tight chambers and full cartridge case support, even above the feed ramp, all made possible by the bottle-neck cartridge.

I have an OEM G22 barrel for my G31. That makes my Gen4 G31 into a pistol that is every part identical to a Gen4 G22 except for rear sight elevation (G31=>6.9mm, G22=>6.5mm) and ejector (Gen4 G31=>30499, Gen4 G22=>28926).

I also like the G31 because the TLR-4 tac light/laser I use does not protrude past its muzzle. It always looks silly to choose a compact model, then apply a light that makes the overall length longer than a full-size model. :)

Glock sanctions officially only caliber conversions between .40SW (except some pre-March 1998 models) and .357SIG. I won't consider conversion to 9x19mm for serious use because of its half-a$$ed aftermarket nature, but it would be OK for range toy use, I guess.

Welcome to Glock Talk.
 
#10 ·
Having had both, I say G32. This is not a plinking round, it's a stopping round, so put it in a carry gun. I have a G32C now and boy, it shoots like CRAZY! Love my G32. My full size is a G17 Gen 4, and it sees use as an IDPA range toy. The 32 sees some IWB carry. (disclaimer; my S&W 340M&P 357 sees more carry in the front pocket)
 
#6 ·
So if I wanted to get a longer barrel for a G32 it would have to be aftermarket. Do you know by any chance how the aftermarket barrels compare to the OEM at the same length of 4.5" in terms of average speed?

So far 2 votes for the 32 and 1 for the 31!
 
#7 ·
I have a G31 and would recommend it. For summer carry I use a G19 since I don't see the point of reducing the performance of the 357 Sig round. This way the 9mm is sufficiently powerful for close range defense and cheap enough for increased practice sessions. With 9mm +P rounds it's pretty close to the 357 Sig rounds
 
#8 ·
I like both myself. The compact is always nice for discreet carry, but you said you work from home and the full size sounds like it works for you as well.

Best wishes with you decision.

Elwood
 
#13 ·
I was thinking in terms of barrel, not grip. But that is a very interesting option. I have to say, in spite of the poll leaning heavily towards the 32, I'm feeling myself leaning a bit more towards the 31. I really like the idea of maximizing the 357 potential, and since it seems like the OEM barrel gets a bit more velocity than the aftermarket ones, the 31 would probably be the best choice...

I want to see if I can find a place that has both so I can hold them. I went to a range to rent several 9mm handguns, for RESEARCH! And I tried the G19 and G17 which should be exactly like the G32 and G31. For some reason in my memory the G19 felt like it had a thinner frame and was softer shooting, when in reality I understand that that doesn't make sense because the frame width is the same and if anything the 17 should have been the softer shooter. The 17 was also the last one I tried of a series of 10 guns so memory and fatigue were probably factors... I would still like to hold them both side by side before biting the bullet, just in case there is something weird about the 17/31 frame that I genuinely don't like.
 
#19 ·
I carry a G31 and shoot competition with a G31. You always want the largest frame gun in a caliber that you can manage. The same ammo will be more difficult to control in a G32 and even more in a G33. You are talking about the one shot, that you have to take in your whole life, I'd rather have the G31 than the G32. For the same reason I would rather have my G17 than my G19, for the same reason I would rather have my Shield than my 640 Jframe. I have 9mm conversion barrels that I got as match product, and they work ok, not 100% without changing the ejector and extractor and running hotter loads because of the heavier barrel. But so does an OEM G17 barrel in a G31/G32. You wouldn't think it would, because the 9mm barrel OD and breech tab are smaller, but I did it just to see, and it worked, good accuracy, don't know what the long term wear would be. But it doesn't really matter, because I have six G17's anyway....
 
#21 ·
I have a G33, I love that gun. I was considering a G32 as a buddy has one, however, it really is not much smaller at all compared t a 31. I really don't think Glock's "compacts" are that compact at all. I may get me a LE trade in 31 gen 3 if I can scoop one for a fair price. Until then I run my 31 barrel in my 22.
 
#22 ·
I have two G31's, a G32 and a G33, all gen 3.

I hafta say the G31 has less muzzle rise than the other two simply cause it's a full size pistol and of course the G33 has the sharpest muzzle rise.

I wear baggy clothes and I've carried
all three. IWB at 3:00 with a strong forward cant in a Theis Two Clip holster the G31 is heavier but it's more comfortable cause the longer slide doesn't poke, prod and jab me like the shorter slides. The longer slide lays flat on my side making it more comfortable.

With the clothes I wear the G31 isn't much more difficult to conceal than the other two so I carry the G31.

The G31 gets my vote.
 
#24 ·
I don't understand why anyone would agonize about velocity loss in a cartridge that produces substantially more velocity than any other semi-auto handgun round.

There's plenty of people who chose the 9mm over the 357 Sig and don't feel like they're getting cheated out of several hundreds of feet per second of velocity so why stress out over even a hundred feet per second?

I've chronographed a number of handguns and rifles, and was surprised to find that individual barrels of the same length Can differ in how much velocity they produce as much as 100 fps though usually the difference is less.
 
#27 ·
I just ordered a gen4 32 and sights today and should have it by Friday. I really like 357 but haven't had one in a while and I just couldn't warm to the FDE color on my Vickers 19 so a trade was in order. I shoot a gen4 19,23,32 better than any Glock I have owned and I have owned most models.
 
#28 · (Edited)
Hi guys,

I decided my next Glock will be a 357sig, but now I'm stuck between G32 and G31. My first instinct is to go with the G31, because I would like to maximize the potential of the round and after seeing some numbers, I think the extra half inch does make a difference. Plus I have a fairly high tolerance for discomfort while carrying and I work from home, so I don't have to be out all day every day wearing my gun.

On the other hand, I'm realizing that while I can't make a G31 smaller, I could make the G32 bigger by swapping the barrel with a longer one, and/or using 15 rounds mags instead of the stock 13 rounders. Even though I can carry a full size pistol, I wouldn't hate carrying something a little more comfortable, and a G32 with maybe a G31 barrel down the line sounds like could be the best of both worlds.

I got some really got info in another thread (don't remember the username of the guy who posted all the data, but that was great, sorry) but I decided to open a separate thread to avoid going too much off topic. The same user who posted all the awesome data also mentioned the longer slide of the 31 being better for fast 180gr bullets, but I'm not interested in shooting .40s so that's not an issue. What I'm interested in is to get a conversion 9mm barrel for some cheap plinking.

I would really like to hear from people who own both and who have done conversions to 9mm, what are the pros and cons of either. Thanks!
If I had to chose between the two I would take the G32 simply because I can get G31 advantages with it but can't get G32 advantages out of a G31. I can put a G31 magazine in a G32 to get extra rounds a 5.3 inch extended barrel in it to increase barrel length. But even without the extras the G32 will take care of business very nicely. The G32 and G33 are my two carry guns the G31 is just not comfortable for me to carry.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top