Gregory Kielma • November 2, 2025
Choosing Your Glock: Performance, Size, and Use Explained
Gaston Glock: Engineer/Owner of Glock... God's Speed Sir
Choosing Your Glock: Performance, Size, and Use Explained
Gregg Kielma FFL, Firearms Instructor and Gunsmith:
for the record, Glock is KING
in my world. The best engineered, most reliable, firearm I’ve ever owned. German engineering at its finest.
My current carry firearms for the past 35 years is my Glock19 Gen3. 40K rounds run through this firearm and never a jam, ever. The best weapon I’ve ever owned. Nothing better than a Glock, period.
Let’s Take a LOOK
Glock pistols have been a staple among firearms enthusiasts since their release in the early 1980s. At first, they were greeted with suspicion owing to their polymer construction, but they soon established themselves as reliable, long-lasting, and minimalist handguns. Now with a variety of models and calibers to choose from, Glock has established itself as the leader in the handgun industry, serving everything from law enforcement and military units to civilian shooters.
Understanding the various Glock models and their specific uses can be challenging, given the company’s expansive lineup. This article delves into the Glock universe, providing a comprehensive guide to selecting the ideal Glock pistol for various needs, including concealed carry, home defense, professional duty, and competition shooting.
Firstly, Glock’s numerical model series is strictly sequential and has nothing to do with the caliber of the gun or its purpose. It merely indicates the order that the models were released into the marketplace. For instance, the Glock 47 (G47) is merely the 47th model produced.
When it comes to calibers, Glock has a selection appropriate for many uses, from the common 9mm employed by NATO forces and the U.S. military to the heavy-hitting 10mm Auto, which is best for hunting and repelling big predators. The most common caliber is still the 9mm, owing to its dependability, lower cost, and extensive availability of ammunition. Glock’s 9mm family consists of full-size G17 and G47, compact G19, subcompact G26, and the single-stack G43 and G43X, optimized for various carry and operation needs.
Significantly, the Glock 19 has long been a concealed carry favorite, striking a balance of size, capacity, and shoot ability. That said, the new Glock 47 MOS, with its modular design, has presented itself as a full-size model that is capable of utilizing a myriad of slide configurations, including the Glock 19’s.
For those who want optics-ready models, the G45 MOS is a “crossover” pistol with a compact slide and full-size frame that works well in self-defense where a reflex sight might give a tactical advantage.
For .45 ACP users, the Glock 30 SF offers a short frame with a lot of power. In the subcompact category, the G43X presents an ideal combination of concealment and capacity, suitable for every day carry.
For competitive shooting, the extended-barreled G34 MOS presents a longer sight radius and adjustable compatibility for red dot sights, allowing for accuracy and quicker target acquisition.
The Glock family also serves those who like to train or plink with rimfires using the G44, a .22LR that replicates the size of the G19 but with less recoil and cheaper ammunition.
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Being Prepared for the 2026 Hurricane Season By Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training & Firearms The 2026 Hurricane Season is shaping up to be another year where preparation isn’t optional it’s essential. Florida has seen record heat, rising insurance pressures, rapid population growth, and increasingly unpredictable storm behavior. None of that is meant to create fear. It’s meant to reinforce a simple truth: preparedness gives you control, confidence, and options when the weather turns. Whether you’re protecting a home, a business, or a family, the goal is the same build layers of readiness before the first storm forms. Start With Awareness and a Plan Storms don’t give you time to “figure it out later.” Your plan should be written, practiced, and known by everyone in the household or workplace. Key elements of a solid plan: Where will you go if evacuation becomes necessary Multiple routes out of your area A communication plan if cell networks fail A designated out‑of‑state contact A plan for pets, elderly family members, and anyone with medical needs For businesses, include: Who secures the building Who handles digital backups Who communicates closures and reopening A plan removes panic. It replaces it with action. Strengthen Your Home or Business Before the First Storm Florida structures take a beating every year. Small improvements now prevent major losses later. Exterior protection: Inspect your roof for loose shingles or soft spots Clear gutters and drainage paths Trim trees and remove dead limbs Install or test shutters Reinforce garage doors—one of the most common failure points Interior protection: Surge protection for critical electronics Elevate valuables and important documents Know how to shut off water, power, and gas If you own a business, walk your property as if you were a storm: What can break? What can blow away? What can flood? Fix those points now. Build a Realistic, Usable Supply Kit For Your Home or Business A hurricane kit isn’t about stockpiling, it’s about independence. After a major storm, help may take hours or days to reach your area. For homes and families: Water: 1 gallon per person per day (minimum 3–7 days) Non‑perishable food Medications and medical supplies Flashlights, headlamps, and batteries Battery bank for phones First aid kit Copies of important documents Cash in small bills Tools, gloves, tarps, duct tape For businesses: Backup power for essential systems Printed employee contact lists Hard copies of insurance documents A plan for securing inventory and equipment Preparedness isn’t about fear it’s about not being dependent on luck. Protect Your Digital Life In 2026, digital readiness is just as important as physical readiness. Back up important files to the cloud and an external drive Photograph your home, business, and valuables for insurance Store digital copies of IDs, insurance policies, and receipts Keep chargers, power banks, and a small solar panel if possible When the power goes out, your digital preparation keeps you moving. Understand Post‑Storm Safety Most injuries happen after the storm, not during it. Be cautious with: Downed power lines Flooded roads Carbon monoxide from generators Unstable structures Contaminated water If you evacuated, don’t rush home. Wait for official clearance. Your safety comes first. Mindset: Prepared, Not Paranoid Preparedness is a discipline, not a reaction. It’s the same mindset we teach in every Tactical K class awareness, planning, and responsible action. A hurricane is a natural event. Your response is a choice. When you prepare early, you protect: Your family Your property Your business Your peace of mind And you set an example for your community. Kielma’s Parting Shot The 2026 Hurricane Season will bring challenges, just like every season. But Floridians are resilient, and preparation is part of our way of life. Start now. Strengthen your home, your business, and your plan. Build your layers of safety before the first storm forms. If you need help building a plan, creating a checklist, or preparing your family or business, Tactical K Training is here to support you with practical, real‑world guidance.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’ Thursday, April 30, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking
