Popular or not, pretty it is not, but the Glock works.

The handgun hunting purists may not appreciate an article about hunting with a Glock (or a “Block”, or “Flock” as they often call them). I get it, I love hunting revolvers whether double or single action. They are classy, nice to look at, and are fun to shoot. I took my first handgun deer with an S&W 629 Classic about 23 years ago. I still own and hunt with this gun from time to time. Others enjoy Encores or Contenders (I have several barrel configurations) or specialty pistols. Ted Nugent and Razor Dobbs, however, have shown there is room in the handgun hunting family for the semi-auto pistol. I have come to echo their appreciation for the semi-auto, in particular, the 10mm. Kimber, Colt, Remington, and others have also come to realize the 10mm’s capability. The Glock is still affordable, easily maintained, easily customized, even if it is not the prettiest gun in the woods.

I began carrying the Glock 20 in the woods a few years ago. It accompanied me on trips into the Alaskan wilderness as well as my local hunting land. My Glock 20 has hunted, deer, bear, turkeys, hogs, and varmints. When the Glock 40 came out, I was one of the first to get one. The Glock 40 is pretty much stock, with only an aftermarket Lone Wolf factory length barrel. It is topped with a Burris Fast Fire 3. With a solid rest, I can shoot accurately to 100 yards. Today, when I carry the Glock 40 into the woods as my primary hunting firearm, nestled in my chest rig, the Glock 20 rides back up on my hip. Both are loaded with Underwood 200 grain JHPs. 

As a full-time law enforcement officer, I carry a Glock everyday. I shoot my Glock service pistols throughout the year, far more regularly than my hunting handguns. I shoot them well, I am familiar with their operation and trust their reliability. The Glocks I carry daily and shoot often are perfect understudy guns to the Glock 40 and Glock 20 I often carry into the woods these days. Shooting understudy guns and practice with lower powered rounds (44 Specials in a 44 Magnum or 45 Colts in a 454) have long been a practice in the handgun hunting community, particularly with revolver shooters. I’m simply doing the same thing. 

For law enforcement officers who carry Glocks on duty and wish to get into handgun hunting, the big brother Glocks are an easy transition. While frame size varies, grip angle between models remains the same as does the manual of arms. Most law enforcement professionals are not necessarily firearms gurus. I’ve met many who have never fired a gun until the academy. The majority have never had formal firearms training, outside maybe the military. If they carry a Glock 17 or 19 as a duty weapon, chances are they will gravitate toward a Glock 26 or 43 for off-duty or back-up carry. It can work both ways. Familiarity is important. 

The 10mm is not a magic bullet. Please don’t think I am advocating the 10mm is better than the 44 Magnum, 45 Colt, or my favorite 41 Magnums. It certainly is not. However, the 10mm is completely adequate for medium game and larger game within its limitations, in the right hands, and properly loaded. At the end of the day, paper ballistics don’t mean much; the right bullet in the right place is what makes the difference. I’ve come to appreciate the consistency of Underwood Ammo in my hunting handguns. For the 10mm, my favorite hunting load is their 200-grain JHP loads with either the Hornady XTP or Nosler bullets. The 180-grain loads work well too. There is other 10mm hunting ammo available but once I find an accurate load that performs well, I tend to stick with it. I have found no reason to change. 

The 10mm is not a long range cartridge. It is not going to perform at distance like a rifle cartridge will out of an Encore or other specialty pistol. Even the 41 and 44 magnums have much better long range potential. Once again, it is important to know not only your shooting limitations but also that of your firearm. I get it and in situations where the 10mm is not the appropriate handgun, it will not be my primary hunting firearm. I like to hunt close, however, and keep shots short. In this environment, the 10mm is not only appropriate, it shines.

Because I am confident in my shooting ability, confident in the gun, and in the 10mm cartridge, my Glock often accompanies me in the hunting woods. Not because it is any better than any other gun or cartridge, but because its familiar and I know it will perform effectively when I ask it to.