Confessions of a SHOT Show Virgin The People vs the Glock 44
Hello. My name is Chef Emily Sprissler and I anticipate recoil…
The weeks leading up to SHOT are filled with the sneak peaks from
firearms companies. Glock released their contribution the .22 pistol
community with the Glock 44. I was interested in taking a look and did
some reading up. The gun community seemed split between wanting to
like the 44 based on loyalty and hate based on lack of utility. This seemed
odd since the community has been so cohesive of late. Reading the
cacophonous commentary was a bit like getting ones’ teeth drilled at the
dentist. Unavoidable but sometimes necessary.
I’m in the former camp, I’m a Glock girl. From 19 to my 26.

At the Glock booth I had the opportunity to try the 44 out. Truth be told, I
hadn’t wanted to. I was anxious to get to Colt (see my previous post).
Shirley Watral, an NRA certified firearms instructor, recommended we go
first thing. She pointed out the 44 would be a game changer for training.
The similar platform to the 19, a shooter could use the less expensive
ammo to take on a more vigorous and dynamic training regime. Yep, that
was an “Ah-ha” moment. So off to Glock we went, meeting up with the
charming Cindy Noyes en route.

Here’s my take. The feel of the 44 is so similar to my 19 & 26. Picking up
the pistol felt familiar, like donning a favorite sweater in the Fall. The pistol
with a full magazine weighs less that the 19, but about the same as the 26.
The trigger itself is standard factory issue, but the trigger pull is smoother
than I had anticipated. I chewed effortlessly through a full magazine. The
slide of the Glock 44 is polymer (plastic) with steel inserts for the rails
instead of being all steel as in the centerfire guns. This makes it light
enough to function with the lower power of the .22 Long Rifle cartridge. As
far as I could tell all of the moving parts in the Glock 44 are steel on
steel, with of course the exception of the trigger safety tab.
After the first magazine, I was sold. I could see the future applications for
the 44. Not only for progressive training, this platform could be
instrumental in introducing new shooters to pistols. I’m not a trained
instructor, but I have taken women to the range who have never even held
a pistol. The intimidation factor for many women is huge. Putting aside the
overall background commotion surrounding guns, the physicality of the
shooting experience can be frightening. The roar of the projectile exiting
the barrel, the jerk of the gas expulsion, and the ejection of the hot
cartridge is so outside the normal experience for some women. The Glock
44 can open up the pathway for first time shooters, young and old. With
some of the commotion of a 9 mm or a .45 removed, the first-time
shooter’s experience may be more fluid and more positive.

I feel that with the global brand recognition of Glock being sturdy and
reliable, the 44 will be standard in the introduction and training of novice
shooters. I personally have added the Glock 44 to my inventory. I have
battled recoil anticipation as long as I have been shooting. Many fabulous
coaches (Lanny, Cindy, Sheila, Kay, etc.) have schooled me, given me tips,
and dry firing exercises to work through this. Standing at the Glock bay
with the 44, I could feel the possibility of self-correction. I appreciate the
value the Glock 44 will bring to the arena of women shooting sports.