I carry a G19 and cannot state any reason to not recommend a Glock, assuming it fits your hand and you are comfortable with it. Mine has about 17K rounds through it, and continues to perform flawlessly. The reliability is outstanding.

I chose 9mm because the ammo is more affordable, which means more practice (which I needed).

I don't love the trigger (unlike, say, a good 1911), but it's fine for self defense.

As for stovepipes, I don't have malfunctions when I shoot it, but sometimes my wife will get stovepipes. When she tightens up her grip a bit, they go away. She doesn't have this problem with her M&P. Not sure why...

Just to make sure it's clear, "have the 2 thumbs cross" means cross them like "one thumbnail over the over thumbnail". NOT crossed with the left thumb over the base of the right thumb, behind the grip and under the rear of the slide. That would be what's known as a "self-correcting grip". You do it once, and you find out why it's called "self-correcting". The slide comes back and slices a nice chunk out of your thumb back there - more likely to happen the smaller he pistol is. You generally won't want to be putting your thumb back there again. Problem corrected!

BigDaddy, the Makarov is an excellent pistol, I got one about 8 years ago when they were a glut on the market. Paid 130 for a east german made one (considered the second best in quality, with the russian being the best). I would not have a problem recommending one for carry purpose.
The original 10mm loading, per FBI specs were over penetrating like the 9mm rounds were, but had better terminal ballistics.....
They decided to go with a lower powder charge and shortened the casing, thus the 40S&W was born. Minimal overpenetration with greater improved terminal ballistics vs. the 9mm.

-Bill Liptak

I guess I'll cough up the specs of what I carry.....
Glock model 22 in .40S&W, this is the full sized model. Tritium night sights for low light/night time shooting, extended mag release that I shaved the corners off of for a smoother profile, and an extended slide release. I also put in a 3½ pound trigger connector to get the faster trigger reset and also added the new york triger spring. This was recommended by Massad Ayoob...gives a much smoother overall trigger pull with less "trigger stack" towards the end of the pull. Gives a faster trigger reset for rapid shooting and brings the trigger pull back to a factory 5½ pounds, which may become a critical factor in court if you have to use it in self defence. Takes away the argument of lightning the trigger pull accidental discharge or made a gun that was easier to pull the trigger to kill with. Finally I put a hogue rubber grip over it to have a more secure grip on it when its wet. Being Florida between the rain and the sweat I thought it a good idea.

-Bill Liptak

Are you familiar with the "Trigger trap and reset" maneuver? It works very well on Glocks for a quick second shot (need to practice it though). Pull the trigger on the first round, hold it back, release halfway (until you feel/hear the 'click'), then pull trigger back again for the second shot. Thus you are bypassing the initial trigger take-up and butterfly safety for the second shot.

I completely and totally agree!!!!!

I once saw a person make that mistake with a .25cal semi-auto pistol. What a mess it makes!!!!

The same thing is true of "charging handles" on certain rifles, like the M-16. 1 of my shipmates when we were at the range, failed to lock his handle into place. It came charging back, with the recoil, ripping a 4-5" gash across 1 cheek. It also makes 1 heck of a mess, especially with the way a facial wound bleeds anyway!!!!

I just recently sold two of my pistols chambered for .45 GAP and .357 SIG. Trying to talk about guns on a forum sometimes gets heated so I will try not to set anyone off. I won't knock the glock as it is a fine pistol, and My only advice is that if you buy anything in .45 GAP make sure ammo is easily found. .45 GAP is not a popular cartridge up here, Nor is .357 SIG. If this was a gun that I wanted to EDC it would be a big problem not to have a reliable supply of ammo. There is only one store where I live that holds these rounds and in very limited quantity. I reload my ammo myself but could not ever find even the components for these two rounds.(brass being the big one)I am having an even bigger problem finding components for my .500 S&W. No matter what I buy now, The ammo availability is the first consideration. Thats why I will stick to .45 ACP,.357 MAG, 9mm or .40s&w. A gun that I cannot find bullets for is just a big paperweight.

I own both Glock 17 (9mm full size model) and Glock 22 (40 Cal full size model).

I have owned in the past the Glock 19 (9mm mid size model) and Glock 26 (9mm compact model).

I am issued, for work, a Glock 22C (40 Cal full size model that has a compensated barrel).

If I had one model Glock, it would be the Glock 17 full size 9mm.

It is easy to shoot.
Ammo is readily available.
High capacity magazines are readily available.
I would put Meprolight 3 dot green night sights on it.
I would buy extra parts for it.
I would invest one hundred dollars in attending a Glock Armorer's course. I did and can replace any part on my pistols in minutes. It is that easy of a weapon to maintain.
I would invest in quality training in how to use the pistol.
Ideally I would have two of them.

I am big on one type of defensive pistol as it makes training and support equipment (holsters, mag pouches, belts) easier.

I have fired tens of thousand of rounds, both 9mm and 40 Cal out of Glock pistols. I have carried one for over ten years.

I have had one trigger return spring break on me on a Glock 17. That pistol had approximatley 12,000 rounds through it when that little spring broke. The pistol still worked, all I had to do was push the trigger forward for it to reset and to be fired again.

I carry a Glock anytime I am away from my home.

To me, it is the very best defensive pistol in the world. It is utterly reliable. It is more acurate than I ever will be.

You may have talked me into buying two more! ha

Watch six.

CP

I own several Glocks as well. The 17, 19, 20, and 21. (2 9mm, 10mm, 45). For many years I shot and carried Browning Hi-Powers and Beretta 92's, but these days they mostly stay in the gun safe.

It did take a while to get used to Glocks, and some people have problems with getting them to feed properly due to them not keeping their wrists firm when they fire.

I don't like Glocks, but that is primarily due to the grip angle. I started shooting a 1911 when I was about 12, and never stopped. Carried a S&W 4006 on duty for ten years or so, and liked that, 'cuz the grip angle is about the same as the 1911. My Kahr MK-40 the same. Glock is (or at least feels like to me) about 90 degrees off of the 1911/S&W, so I just can't point shoot it (a very important thing to me) worth a damn. Plus, the trigger, for some reason, beats a hole in the tip of my trigger finger. Don't know why, but it does. But many people love the plastic monsters. If you do not have the muscle memory of a completely different grip angle, you shouldn't have a problem...