Let’s face it Glock is popular because it works. Very well I might add. Since it’s release in 1994 the Glock 26 has arguably been the most popular concealed carry gun ever made. So far, it is my personal favorite for concealed carry. It is completely versatile from being a simple “grab it and go” option or and “all day carry” solution.
My purpose in this article is not an exhaustive review and critique of the G26 “Baby Glock”, but simply my view of this gun from a concealed carry self-defense choice of pistol.
The primary considerations for my concealed carry gun are size, capacity and caliber. The Glock 26 Gen 4 is a well-rounded blend of all three of these qualities. My formula is to choose the smallest overall sized gun that does not severely limit ammunition capacity and shoots an effectively, lethal self-defense round. The Glock 26 fits the bill for me and it just may be your best choice as well.
Glock 26 Size: The overall length of the G26 is 6.49 inches. Which makes for an incredibly easy to conceal and pleasant to shoot concealed carry weapon.
The thickest dimension in width is 1.18 inches and the most important dimension to me is height at 4.17 inches tall.
Height is the single most emphasized determining factor for me when considering a gun for concealed carry. Height is the dimension from the floor plate of the magazine to the top of the rear sight. This length is critical when considering the gun you will carry. It is this dimension that represents the most visible portion of a firearm in the most popular concealed carry positions such as Inside the waistband or Appendix IWB carry. Even the best IWB concealed carry holsters like the FusionPac by TactiPac cannot prevent printing of a gun handle that is too long for concealed carry.
There is no greater frustration to me to see the modern “slimmed down to nothing” concealed carry specific guns that are as tall as a compact or full size firearm.
Personally, I find no purpose in reducing the width of a gun to under an inch thick, but increasing the overall height by an inch or greater to gain a one round capacity. The G26 boasts of a 10 round magazine capacity, plus one in the chamber. I personally will deal with the extra 2/10ths of an inch thickness in favor of 5 additional rounds of 9mm.
While we are on dimensions I would also like to mention that the G26 weighs in at almost 22 ounces unloaded. Add ammo and roughly you gain another 4 ounces just depending on what self-defense ammunition you choose.
Glock 26 Capacity: The standard Glock 26 magazine holds 10 rounds of 9mm. Optional magazines are available in 15, 17 and 33 round capacities.
While we are talking magazine capacity, I will take the opportunity to mention the interchangeableness of Glock magazines (many other makes do this as well). I also own and carry the Glock 19 Gen 4 and the magazines fit the subcompact 9mm G26 also. I do not carry spare G26 magazines when I carry my G26. I carry 15 round G19 spare magazines in my pocket or inside the waistband.
Now that I have mentioned size and capacity, let’s talk about the caliber of the Glock 26 concealed carry sub-compact pistol.
Glock 26 Caliber: The Glock 26 is chambered in 9mm. Why do I choose a 9mm over a larger caliber? I have owned and evaluated the modern .45 and .40 calibers and it can be a long discussion. However, I will offer you several simple reasons to pick 9mm over the larger calibers for self-defense.
First, magazines hold more 9mms than they do larger calibers, and second, the 9mm round recoils less than either the .40 or .45. So, the guns hold more ammo and recoil less, but what about lethalness? Thirdly, and in my limited understanding of ballistics, modern self-defense round technology makes 9mm perform just as well as the larger calibers, so for overall effectiveness in size, capacity and caliber why not carry a 9mm? This is my take on the subject, but obviously that is a decision you need to make.
Now that we have seen what I consider to be the most important factors when considering the Glock 26 as a concealed carry gun, I would like to mention some other considerations you may want to look at before making a purchasing decision.
One of the biggest selling points for me, in addition to size, capacity and caliber is versatility. Glock is popular, very popular and because of this the firearms accessory market is flooded with Glock compatible gear and accessories. If you need it, somebody has it for a Glock 26. In fact, when I launched TactiPac years ago Glock was the gun (and still is) that customers demanded most.
I love Glock for their versatility, simplicity, proven reliability and overall value. However, the one thing that I personally dislike about Glock are their stock sights. Many people love Glock stock sights. I do not.
I personally prefer Trijicon night sights for two reasons. I like a 3 dot sight alignment as opposed to the front dot and rear channel sight alignment. I also prefer to be able to quickly acquire my sights in the dark and the Trijicon night sights allow me to do that very easily, in the darkest of conditions. So, the only thing I change out of the box on my Glock pistols are the sights.
While this is not an exhaustive review of the Glock 26, there are some additional features worth mentioning in considering this handgun as a primary concealed carry option. The G26 has a modular back strap system. The modular back strap design lets you instantly customize its grip to adapt to your individual hand size.
The baby glock in the Gen 4 has a revamped grip texture. The textured surface of the G26 frame has the new “real world tested” rough textured technology. In my opinion it is aggressive enough, but not too aggressive. You can literally hold and shoot it all day if necessary.
The G26 Gen 4 also provides a reversible, enlarged magazine catch that is easily changeable to accommodate left or right-handed shooters.
Finally, the Gen 4 G26 has an improved recoil spring. The new Glock dual recoil spring assembly substantially increases the life of the operating system. Glock used to last a lifetime, but now that’s doubled. Too bad we only have one life to live.
Overall, in my choice of an effective and reliable concealed carry handgun option the Glock 26 is the highest on my list. It is the perfect combination of size, capacity and caliber that goes unmatched in the industry.
One of the greatest things I can say about this little “Baby Glock” is value. The price point for this powerful, subcompact concealed carry weapon is right at $500.00 to $550.00 retail. A law enforcement or Glock Shooting Sports discount can get the price down to as low as $399.00 . The Glock 26 is a supreme value that is very hard to beat. Combined with Glock’s versatility, simplicity and known reliability, puts this little powerhouse at the top of my list and I don’t think this will change anytime soon, but you never know.
About the author: Anthony Battaglia is the founder, owner and developer for TactiPac – Tactical Solutions Provider and the founder of The Louisiana Concealed Carry Association . He is a Christian, Husband, Father, business owner, U.S. Navy Veteran, CCW permit holder, gun enthusiast and outdoorsman. You can receive more information or contact Anthony by visiting AnthonyBattaglia.org or Tactipac.com.