The Glock 48 is a recoil operated semi-automatic pistol with a striker single-action (SA) trigger made by Glock Ges.m.b.H. The Glock 48 is effectively a slimmed-down the 19 model that holds 10 + 1 rounds of 9mm Luger ammo in the magazine. It was originally designed for Canada, as the model 19 was not according to their law restrictions. But it came out that this lovely pistol has a lot to offer and soon it became very popular among the Americans as well.
As the market is full of different kinds of handguns, there is no surprise that the Glock 48 has a few competitors across the market. Some of the most known are the other Glock models, such as G17, G19, G 26, G 43X and handguns from other companies like the Sig Sauer P365, Springfield Hellcat Micro Compact, Taurus GX4 or S&W M&P 9 Shield. This article focuses on the comparison of the Glock 48 and the Glock 26. Well, to find out more about the similarities and differences between these two lovely pistols, simply keep reading.
Contender #1 - The Glock 48
Source: www.saddlerockarmory.com
The Glock 48 is a recoil operated semi-automatic pistol with a striker single-action (SA) trigger made by the famous Glock Ges.m.b.H.. The Glock 48 is effectively a slimmed-down the 19 model that holds 10 + 1 rounds of 9mm Luger ammo in a stack-and-a-half magazine. This lovely pistol is available in two versions - the one with rail and the one without rail.
Overall, it is 7.28” long with a weight of 20.74-oz when unloaded and comes with a 4.17“ long barrel. Actually it was designed especially to meet the CCW criteria, so the Glock 48 is best carried inside the waistband, but can be hidden in a custom Glock 48 OWB holster as well. Remember, the safety of your gun should be in the first place. And that’s what the well-fitting Glock 48 holster brings you.
Contender #2 - The Glock 26
Source: www.geeplate.com
Let's now introduce another well-known CCW pistol by the Austrian firearms mogul. The Glock 26 is also known as the “Baby Glock" due to its small size and it is available in 3 different generations, from Gen 3-Gen5 and each subsequent upgrade has brought more fans to the table. The G26 is the same as the G48 a modified variant of the previous model 19, which was designed especially for concealed carry purposes.
It is a favourite choice as a backup gun and can be a great choice for not so experienced shooters. Overall, the Glock 26 is 6.5” long with a weight of 21.52-oz when unloaded and it comes with a 3.43” long barrel. It comes with a double stack magazine that can hold up to 10+1 rounds of the 9mm Luger ammo. Due to its compact size, it can be easily hidden in a well-fitting Glock 26 holster.
Glock 48 vs Glock 26 - main specs and features
Although both contenders have been developed by the same company and their design is based in that of the Glock 19, there are a few differences between the two.
When talking about the dimensions, the Glock 26 is more compact, less heavy and comes with a shorter barrel than the Glock 48. Besides that, the other difference is within their magazines. The Glock 48 comes with a stack-and-a-half magazine while the G26 comes with a double stack magazine. Though the magazine capacity of both these Glock pistols is the same - 10 + 1 rounds of the same 9mm Luger cartridge. They are the same when it comes to the firing mechanism, as both are striker-fired.
Let’s now focus on the main specs and features of these two pistols to find out which one represents the better choice for you.
ROUND 1 - SIZE AND WEIGHT
The size is one of the main factors when considering a new concealed carry gun. The more compact the gun is, the easier it is to carry it concealed. This is also a case of our two contestants, as they both were designed for concealed carry. So if you’re looking for a new CCW or EDC gun, the size definitely counts.
As mentioned the Glock 26 is more compact than the G 48. The Glock 26 is overall 6.5” long, 1.26” wide, 4.17” high and weighs 21.52-oz when unloaded. And it comes with a 3.43” long barrel. Compared to that the Glock 48 is overall 7.28” long, 1.1” wide, 5.04” high and weighs 20.74-oz when unloaded. It has a barrel of 4.17” length.
However the Glock 26 is a little wider and more heavy than the G48. So based on the dimensions and weight, I would say, they are both suitable for concealed carry and it’s up to you whether you choose the less heavy and slimmer Glock 48 or otherwise more compact, but also more heavy Glock 26.
This means that the first round ends in … a TIE.
Round 2 - THE MAGAZINE AND CAPACITY
Both Glocks come with the same initial magazine capacity of 10 + 1 rounds of ammo. They both rely on the use of the famous 9mm Luger ammo. The only difference between them is that the Glock 48 has a stack-and-a-half magazine while the G 26 comes with a double stack magazine.
Although the magazine capacity of both these pistols is quite sufficient for concealed carry pistols, it is still not enough for some folks. So if you’d rather have a higher magazine capacity, it can be increased with an extended aftermarket magazine. The aftermarket magazines for G 48 come with a capacity from 15 + 1 up to 30 + 1 rounds. For Glock 26, there are a lot of options when it comes to the extended magazines as well. You can choose these capacities - 12 +1, 15 +1, 17 +1, 19 +1, 24 +1, 31 +1 or 33 +1, all chambered with the 9mm Luger ammo. The extended magazines cost from approx $15 to $89, depending on the type and capacity of the magazine.
Based on the magazines and initial capacity, it's another round ending in … a TIE.
ACCURACY AND RANGE PERFORMANCE
Your concealed carry gun can be the safest, most ergonometric, and reliable gun in the world, but if it can’t reasonably hit the target at which you are aiming, it is worthless. You should also remember that ammunition is still a big variable in accuracy and reliability.
Choosing ammunition for a concealed carry self-defense gun shouldn’t be a price-based decision. When it comes to accuracy of the Glock 48, this pistol shoots pretty well. The trigger broke nicely and cleaner than any factory Glock I’ve handled. It allows you to get enough of both the firing and support hand where they need to be to steady the shot, albeit without any room to speak of left over. It has just enough mass to hold relatively steady as you break the shots and the hits come without the effort required for many subcompacts to connect. With the Glock 48 you are able to consistently go five for five on an 8” plate at 35 yards while keeping a practical tempo to break each shot in four to five seconds.
Compared to that, due to their small size, the G26 subcompacts tend to be a little harder to shoot accurately and require more practice to achieve accuracy. The smaller grip changes the way you grab the Glock. It forces you to tuck your small finger underneath the grip which requires some getting used to. But in case you're an experienced shooter, the accuracy it brings is quite nice too. And for the less experienced shooters it might be helpful to add some attachment, such as light or laser to increase the accuracy.
As both these pistols seem to be accurate enough for concealed carry guns, it is really hard to say which one is better. So in my opinion this is more about the preferences and other features to be taken under consideration when deciding which one to choose, not the accuracy.
Based on the accuracy and range performance, we're still quite even as it's yet another … TIE.
Round 3 - CALIBER AND FIRING MECHANISM
When it comes to the caliber and firing mechanism of these two lovely Glock pistols, there is not much to compare as they both rely on the use of the same 9mm Luger cartridge and use the same firing mechanism as well. The 9mm Luger cartridge is known as the 9mm Parabellum as well.
When talking about the firing mechanism, both Glock 48 and the Glock 26 are striker-fired pistols. Now what does that mean? Simply put, a striker-fired pistol engages a round via a striker hitting the firing pin. The firing mechanism is built into the pistol and fully covered by the pistol’s slide. Such a mechanism results in slightly lower firepower, especially when compared to hammer-fired pistols. However, it also means that both the G48 and G26 are composed of fewer parts, which significantly reduces the threat of any hardware malfunctions.
Now this is getting quite boring, right? It's yet another … TIE.
Comparison of the most important specs
Well, this battle seems to be a dead end, right? It's not that I can't decide which of the two Glocks is better, but they really work very similarly, both construction and functionality-wise. That's why the only sensible way to decide which one
|
|
GLOCK 48 |
GLOCK 26 |
|
Caliber |
9mm Luger |
9mm Luger |
|
Width |
1.1 inch |
1.26 inch |
| Overal length |
7.28 inch |
6.5 inch |
|
Height |
5.04 inch |
4.17 inch |
|
Weight (loaded) |
20.74 oz. |
21.52 oz. |
|
Barrel Length |
4.17 inch |
3.43 inch |
|
Magazine |
Double stack |
Double stack |
|
Mag Capacity |
10+1 (flush) |
10+1 (flush) |
|
Trigger |
Hammer-fired |
Striker-fired |
|
Slide Material |
Stainless Steel |
Stainless Steel |
|
Production Year |
2019 |
1995 |
| Price | ca. $559 | ca. $650 |
Looking at the main parameters of these pistols, one would say there are more similarieties than differences, don't you think? But I'd still say the Glock 48 is the better option. Why? Well, for one, the pistol is a bit cheaper, but the real deal-breaker for me is that the G48 is much more modern than its contender. Introduced only 2 years back, it's simply more modern and there's probably more attention given to the service of this model than the slightly outdated (but still excellent) Glock 26.
BTW, if your favorite is the G48, feel free to read more about this gun in this awesome review by our friend Pat Cascio from the Survivalblog.
How to upgrade your glock?
As the Glock pistols in general are well-known, there is no surprise that there are a lot of aftermarket attachments available for them as well. You know, there is always a space to upgrade your gun and with appropriate gun accessories it can be easily done.
Even though the G48 comes without an accessory rail (the version we had a look at), which makes it more difficult to upgrade it, it's not a mission impossible. Such a nice example are the TRUGLO TFX Tritium and Fiber-Optic Xtreme Handgun Sights bringing unmatched visibility in all shooting conditions, night or day. They are equipped with Front sight Focus-Lock Ring for even faster focus. And for more the TFX Sealed Capsule Design provides maximum protection and durability. These Glock 48 night sights cost $106.94 (the price accurate at the time of writing).
There are a lot of Glock 26 aftermarket attachments available as well. Such as the Tritium Green Gun Night Sight made by TRUGLO. This Glock 26 night sight brings transition from standard white dot sights during the daylight to glowing green dots in the dark. It utilizes quality Swiss tritium for maximum brightness and unmatched visibility in all shooting conditions. These Glock 48 night sights cost $52.29 (the price accurate at the time of writing).
If you want to upgrade your Glock (no matter which one you end up getting), feel free to check out our tips on the best Glock lights, some more Glock night sights, or even alternative grips for Glock pistols.
How to conceal carry your glock pistol?
Based on the dimensions of these pistols and the purpose they were made for, it is obvious both the Glock 48 and the Glock 26 are suitable for concealed carry. For some folks, the G 26 might be a winner because it is smaller with a shorter barrel. However it is wider and more heavy than the G 48, so it’s really hard to say which one represents a better CCW choice. Well, either you choose the Glock 48 or the Glock 26, you should definitely provide an appropriate security to your pistol. It can be easily done with the Glock 48 holsters or the Glock 26 holsters according to your preference.
If you end up picking my personal favorite, the G48, feel free to check out our list of the best Glock 48 holster, available here.
CONCLUSION - WHich glock is best for ccw?
Finally we’ve come to the end of this ultimate pistol battle and now it’s time to announce the winner. As mentioned before, it is really hard to choose the winner between these two lovely Glock pistols. They both come with a similar design assuming the features the Glock is well-known for. Both are compact enough to represent a great CCW option, or even to become a part of one’s EDC.
They are quite reliable and many folks simply love them. But there is one thing that can help you to make a choice and it’s the price. As the Glock 48 costs about $60 less than the G26, it gives you the chance to save the money for a new holster or ammo. However, I would say that either one of these guns would be great to take home.
But if you really need just 1 definitely answer, for me, it's the Glock 48. It's newer, it's cheaper, and it just works splendidly if paired up with a well-made Glock 48 holster.
Do you fancy some more light reading? Then carry on with these articles:
The 5 Best Holsters For Pistols With A Red Dot Sight
Frequently Experienced Glock 48 Problems [And How To Fix Them]
Glock 43 VS Glock 43X - Which Version Is Better?