[DrewBone]

...3) I don’t want him to get an XDs...

Don't you think this choice would best be left up to your son, and not you?? You're not doing him any favors by making choices for him.

Below is my every day carry piece, an XDs 3.3 in 45acp. It's surprisingly accurate, easy to manage even with my bad RA, it's very concealable, in fact, I often don't even realize that it's there when carrying it OWB at 3:00, and it goes bAnG every time I pull the trigger with whatever it's being fed. I carry it with the standard mag (5+1) but keep a 6 round extended mag in my front pocket. Now, if I can't get it done with 12 rounds of 185gr Golden Sabre jacketed hollow points(?), I shouldn't be carrying anything but a sign that reads "Please don't shoot me!"...

Glock pistols can fill certain nichés, but they're far far from the end-all, so please let your son decide for himself what he likes and needs.

 

[Bren]

I've never had a Glock 36. I have had a lot of Glocks in 9mm and .40 and have shot them a lot. In the real world, I have never found an unreliable Glock. I have found unreliable shooters, that I can hand a gun that has been 100% reliable for years and thousands of rounds and they can't shoot 3 consecutive shots from it. I can't even duplicate that performance intentionally.

So when the only place I find information about unreliable Glocks is the internet, I tend to think I'm reading the opinions of unreliable shooters. The internet is the only place I've seen people complain that the 36 is unreliable.

I'd get the Glock 36 without hesitation.

 

[Mr.Black]

Bren, I know you are a highly respected member on this forum at least I think so. But I wholeheartedly disagree with you on this one.

I am not an unreliable or inexperienced shooter and have been shooting firearms nearly my whole life. I also can often take many types of firearms from people that are having problems to include not very often even from my wife and they will run fine.

My gun had problems with a 10 page thread documenting everything in here. I seem to recall you were one of several that went into that thread telling me I was doing something wrong yet you never had any skin in the G36 game. I've been ridiculed by many over the years speaking up in any G36 thread in here for just telling my experience and I do think it's a bit unfair. Sure, maybe there have been times where I may not have posted in a polite manner and some may have taken it as I were trolling. I do apologize to any who took it that way over the years.

I also had a million people tell me that all G36s were perfect after the first batch yet mine was built in 12 or 13 and bought new and taken right out of the box.

It's the only firearm I've ever owned that I wasn't able to beat into submission. After many years have passed I do kinda regret not sending it back. Instead I just sold it for a huge loss and did tell the new owner it was problematic.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are tons of folks with working G36s but those problems were real. And the malfunctions were to the the point of being a dangerous carry weapon.

Did it leave a bad taste in my mouth? absolutely. The only way I'd try another G36 is if they gave it to me for free. Otherwise all my money is going to the Shield 45 if I were in the market.

Alas I've been perfectly content with my 30S. Maybe someday I'll get that free 36 and be happy with it and shoot off into the sunset.

 

[heavyduty]

I had an early 36 for about 10 years. I just never bonded with it - I had BTF issues, but other than that it was reliable and accurate.

After I sold it off to a friend, I started missing having a compact .45 and picked up an XDs 4.0 which in two years of ownership has proven to be a decent gun. I’m unlikely to buy more SAs, but this was a good choice for me.

If Glock ever decides to do a 30s Gen 4 or 5, I’d probably move to that. I don’t see myself with another 36.

 

[srjdsmith]

Don't you think this choice would best be left up to your son, and not you?? You're not doing him any favors by making choices for him.

Glock pistols can fill certain nichés, but they're far far from the end-all, so please let your son decide for himself what he likes and needs.

Sorry, but, that’s exactly what I said? It’s his decision, but we talk things over and help each other. What fits my hand and eye may have nothing to do with what fits him. I love my Glocks, but he doesn’t. We are worried about some things we have heard about the reliability of both the G36 and the XDs. Obviously, some of every kind of gun work and some don’t. My question was ‘what have others heard or experienced?’ There are some people here who ‘confirm’ that there were some early problems, but the fact remains that he doesn’t like Glocks, and he doesn’t like the way a S&W handles, and he’s got concerns about XDs reliability.



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[Bill Lumberg]

No reliability issue. Just a low capacity for that sized gun.

 

[esq_stu]

But he’s heard that the G36 is the least ‘reliable’ of the Glocks. Any truth to this? Suggestions?

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I have had many Glocks, including the 21, 30SF and TWO 36’s. i currently have five plus a spare lower.

The only Glocks that ever failed for reasons other than weak mag springs was my two 36’s. I found the 36 to be ammo sensitive - failed to feed with some ammo. They failed with Federal American Eagle ball ammo, of all things. After that I just couldn't justify having them.

Later I got away from 45’s in general so I only have 9’s and 357’s with conversion barrels for my 33 and 32 to seitch to 40 and 9 (the latter for use on the spare lower w/9mm ejector).

 

[SLY-GUY]

So, I’m a Glock guy. I really like the two I have, but I have a question. Actually, it’s been asked before but lots of models have been introduced.

In choosing an every day carry, my first criterion is that it will shoot and cycle every. Time. I. Pull. The. Trigger. No jams. No misfeeds. No stovepipes. No light primer hits. Just bang and cycle another live round into battery. After that, I have to be able to shoot it- it has to be accurate enough and I have to be able to be accurate enough with it. For me the G43 (for sub compact) and G30s (for compact) do just that.

But
1) my son doesn’t like my G43,
2) wants a .45,
3) I don’t want him to get an XDs,
4) wants sub compact or as close as he can get,
5) and he doesn’t like the S&W.

But he’s heard that the G36 is the least ‘reliable’ of the Glocks. Any truth to this? Suggestions?


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I am a Glock guy all the way. I own and have owned several different handguns and I will always put my G19, G26, & G43 at the top of that list and never get rid of them. Saying that, let me say this too. I thought I would never get a XDS and I had a chance to pick one up from a guy that had never shot it and had sent in for all the extra mags for $250 so I jumped on it thinking I could trade it in for something and maybe get $300 to $350 out of it. Because I had it I had to take it and shoot it and the honest truth is I will never get rid of it now. I love that XDS. I didn't think I would ever be able to shoot a gun as well as I do my Glocks but I was wrong because on some days I shoot it better! No lie. I have since added it to my EDC rotation. I have a 1000 rds trough it and have never had an issue. I do own a S&W Shield and a S&W M&P 9c that I will never get rid of because they are great guns too. Now when I take my son who is 21 to the range he doesn't like the G43, or the XDS but does like the G26, Shield, & M&P 9c so he went with G26 for his EDC. He has +1 mag so he has 12 in the gun and a spare 11 on his side. This is the same EDC I follow if I'm wearing a jacket or heavy shirt. If I'm in a t-shirt I would go with the G43, Shield, or XDS. He also likes the M&P 9c so much that he is thinking about picking on up for himself too. I hope this helps a little. There are a lot of great choices out there.

 

[Salthart57]

As your asking for anecdotal accounts, I’ll chime in. The 36 for me was the most unreliable Glock I’ve owned. Stove-pipes, double feeds...it was tortuous! Was I limp-wristing?? Certainly possible. I will say I traded it for a 30 and it was flawless. Was the additional weight a help in handling the .45? Also possible. Unfortunately I did my research on the 36 after the fact, and found of all Glocks the 36 has the most issues. Was there a defect in a run? Did Glock correct the issue? Idk! As you can see by the response here, many own the 36 and it’s flawless for them, so take my anecdote with however many grains of salt you wish. I loved the 36 package but will never “experiment” with it again. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[walkin' trails]

Years back, I saw some G36s used by LE have problems on the range. The first case was probably teething problems. The second case may have been 1500 rd recoil spring issues. The later caused the LE agency to replace them with G30s. Again, that was a few years back. The only suggestion I can make is to buy a 36 and run it to see how it fares. 3-500 rounds break-in is mandatory, as is a good cleaning a proper lubrication before firing as soon as the gun comes home from the dealer. Glock is pretty good at addressing problems even if they don’t publicly acknowledge them. Best thing to do is let your son get it out of his system, especially if he is spending his dime and not you’re.

 

[Cmbttupperware]

My agency currently has g21s. I have a g30sf. In spite of this, I have considered and wanted a g36 for quite a while. I would buy one except my agency is going to 9mm in the near future. Even so, I still want one. I've heard of some mostly early issues, but I can't see glock not fixing them over the course of the production run. I think it could be a great summer gun for carry when you don't see very high of a threat. Kind of like when I carry an airweight now. Biggest drawback in my mind is the six round mag, and no ability to slap a g21 mag in there for a reload.

 

[sunfish]

So, I’m a Glock guy. I really like the two I have, but I have a question. Actually, it’s been asked before but lots of models have been introduced.

In choosing an every day carry, my first criterion is that it will shoot and cycle every. Time. ..... Suggestions?


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Summer of 2010
Couldn't find ANY 45s that felt like a good fit to hand in this small town, even Gander Mt nor Academy nor gun store would fit to insure bullseyes, so bought G27 in 40. This is his first criteria/filter.

Today, Springfield is the main Glock competitor and if available in 2010, would have instead bought 45 in Mod.2 as best fit. They also make a single stack today. Hickok45 video or two compares some of these side-side (he's a Glock guy, esp. G27), I'm now a Mod.2 guy.

Weekly practice

As as someone wise mentioned previously, top drawer ammo!

Reliability can be a mucky discussion
but the bells & whistles desired for Mod.2 were ready and kept me out of its guts
while Glock has many internal temptation upgrades that can affect the performance ... poorly for beginners while they wait for the ideal external part to arrive.

Too bad your range doesn't rent what's under consideration?

 

[Lawdog3]

I had a 36 a few years ago. It would digest any thing I fed it. It simply set in my safe. I shot it every few months but it was just too big for me to conceal. I would not discourage the 36 If this is a first handgun I feel there could be better options. Ultimately it’s his choice but he will have to live with the consequences. Is this his first handgun? It sounds like your helping him get it? It might be a lot of handgun to cary and conceal. It is a great reliable handgun. I like the M&P as a second choice.

 

[TxDoubleAgent]

I like my XDs - nothing wrong with it and the new 2018 model (MOD.2) looks even better. (grip change only)

Good to see that the Grip Zone memo finally got to the top!

 

[Shift1]

Never have seen a 36 fail? Other choice for me would be a shield 45 . It shoots much smoother than the XDS.

So, I’m a Glock guy. I really like the two I have, but I have a question. Actually, it’s been asked before but lots of models have been introduced.

In choosing an every day carry, my first criterion is that it will shoot and cycle every. Time. I. Pull. The. Trigger. No jams. No misfeeds. No stovepipes. No light primer hits. Just bang and cycle another live round into battery. After that, I have to be able to shoot it- it has to be accurate enough and I have to be able to be accurate enough with it. For me the G43 (for sub compact) and G30s (for compact) do just that.

But
1) my son doesn’t like my G43,
2) wants a .45,
3) I don’t want him to get an XDs,
4) wants sub compact or as close as he can get,
5) and he doesn’t like the S&W.

But he’s heard that the G36 is the least ‘reliable’ of the Glocks. Any truth to this? Suggestions?


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[Bozz10mm]

The Shield 45 is pretty awesome.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

3” Kimber 1911 with 230gr Ball Ammo in one pocket and a fistful of Worther’s Origionals in the other pocket, if he just absolutely has to have the soul killing .45

 

[David Frost]

I know the OP said his son didn't care for the S&W, but I have found that my .45 Shield is one of the best shooting compact .45's I've ever experienced. It is reliable, accurate and durable, not to mention extremely concealable.

 

[OldDad]

I had a G36 through which I ran over 1K rounds with never a single hiccup. I'm not sure what generation it was; It had a rail, which was new at that time, I believe.

I sold it because I found it punishing to shoot for a range-day fun-gun. I never did carry it.

 

[heavyduty]

Almost posted FUD. Oops, deleted!