Police bodyguards protecting the Royals and the Prime Minister are being armed with ‘baby’ guns in a bid to recruit more women officers to the role.
Often seen as a ‘girl’ gun in the hands of female detectives in TV programmes like CSI Miami and Criminal Minds, the Baby Glock is smaller, lighter and easier to use for those with smaller hands.
Full Story – HERE
If you can’t shoot a Glock 17, you aren’t going to be able to shoot a Glock 26. Giving the women the option of the G26 as their primary gun is a mistake if you ask me. The G26 is approximately 1.25″ shorter in height, which make make it a bit easier for some of them to hold, but the barrel length is around 1″ shorter on the G26 which isn’t a great when accuracy is paramount. I’d much rather see them train on both guns, and have the G26 as a backup. Another big downside is the fact that the standard capacity of the G26 is only 10 rounds, compared to 17 rounds for the G17.
From my personal experience, the G26 is much more susceptible to malfunctions; especially when it comes to limp wristing my full size Glocks are a lot more forgiving. Anyone else find this as well?
Finally, I could be wrong, but I doubt there are too many women out there that are thinking to themselves “I’d love to be a police officer… if only the guns held less ammo, and were a bit shorter for my little hands”
Comments
20 responses to “Scotland Yard Female Bodyguards To Get Smaller Guns”
Well I think I have to disagree with you on this one. Wouldn’t the G26 require a bit more skill to shoot well (on target under stress) as opposed to the larger G17? I have found the smaller the firearm, the more practice it requires. Incidentally a G26 with a 17 round or better yet a 33 round mag is oh so sweet! :-)
I think you’re agreeing with me Ron.
hehe yea you’re right, the G26 with the 33 round mag is just pure AWESOME.
I will have to disagree with this point. I don’t know if you have ever fired the G26 (from your comments, it sounds like you have not) the G26 is an extremely pointable and accurate firearm. In fact if you read the comments on glocktalk.com you will realize that there are many people (myself included) that actually achieve better target scores with the G26 than the G19 or G17.
I own a Glock 26. Some users may be able to shoot it better than a full size, some might not.
I have a G26 and I’ve never had a problem at all with limpwristing. Also they make extended mags that hold 13 which honestly is almost necessary given the short grip.
The inch difference in barrel really won’t account for that big of a difference in accuracy. The shorter sight radius might make it more difficult to shoot well but most people aren’t good enough at shooting for the difference there to be significant.
Those extensions make it the exact same grip length as the G17 though. If they decide to use those then they are basically using a G17 with a shorter barrel, so it would be pointless. One other thing I don’t like about the extensions is that you really have to watch you don’t pinch your hand when you slam the mag in.
Isn’t the grip size on a G26 the same as a G17? I know the length(height?) is different, but the distance from the rear of the grip to the front of the trigger is no different, right? The smaller dimensions of the G26 vs the G17 makes it easier to CARRY, not necessarily to shoot. If you want a gun that easier for small hands to SHOOT, you need to shorten the length from the rear of the grip to the front of the trigger. Try a G17 4th gen where it actually IS a shorter distance there.
Or, go with a single-stack magazine design that allows for a thinner grip frame, which in turn allows a smaller hand to get a better grip on the circumference of the grip.
Don’t just imitate TV and movies.
Yes the grip circumference on the G17 and the G26 is the same. My guess is they think it will be easier to shoot due to some ridiculous tea-cup style grip they will allow for shooters with small hands, so they can feel like they are holding onto the gun better. I agree, the G26 isn’t the best choice for their requirements.
“Baby” gun. “Girl” gun. This is the kind of sneering, “I’m your moral better” attitude I’ve come to expect from the British press.
Yea seems like an odd choice of words. It’s funny how the article says:
LOL like Glock would ever call it the “Baby” Glock… that is just a shitstorm in the making.
Lets not forget that a smaller, lighter pistol, with the same chambering, will have worse felt recoil than the full size version. This follows the same logic that a snub nose .38 is a great first gun for women… which is bad logic, IMO.
Well, someone should remind the British press that James Bond carried a baby/girl gun.
It’s a pity I live here. Annoying gun laws, and even more annoying gun press. I see you Americans sneering at the UK as if we’re all below you, and, to be honest, I agree. As soon as I am old enough, I’m getting out of here, moving to Switzerland and starting up a dairy farm. :)
Right on! I hear Switzerland is the mecca over there for gun ownership and recreational shooting.
I am a fairly large man (6’2″ 210) and I love the G26 so much that I have 2 of ’em, 1 for me and 1 for my wife. To me, if you want a larger capacity, just put in the G17 magazines, but if you want concealable, put in the G26 magazines. You can always make a G26 “bigger” but you can’t make a G17 smaller.
For me, when I carry a full size firearm, I opt for my G20. No sense in carrying a larger gun without getting larger firepower in return.
I agree, the G26 is very versatile. Good choice of the G20 as your carry gun!
I like my G26 also and Im 6’3″ and ham handed. I run G17 mags in it to give a larger grip. But Im selling it to steamline my gun calibers to .45acp and .357mag only.
Cool, I haven’t shot a .357 Glock yet. They seem to be a lot harder to come by than the usual calibers.
In actual fact, I will make my objective Russia. I hear they have 11 vacancies :)
Why not just compromise and go with the G19, or better yet let the person using the gun use the one that they feel more comfortable with.