On the right is a Glock 33 in .357Sig. The package is almost identical in size to my still-viable Ruger SR40c. They are both designed around the same basic cartridge, and I would love to have a .357Sig barrel for the Ruger, but alas, nobody makes one.
I've learned that the Ruger has the sexier, and bit more comfy, shape due to the fact that the angle of the grip is less steep, and the dual-stack magazine is "stacked" less densely than the Glock, making it one finger longer, and a bit slimmer. The Glock is about as skooshed-up as possible, but both magazines hold nine rounds. Still, the Glock 33 is positively tiny compared to the Glock 21, which, aside from long-slide models, is about as big as Glocks get.
Having extra barrels for my Sig P229 and P239 in .357Sig helped me reconsider my choice of calibers, again. The .357Sig, a necked-down .40S&W case, was designed to propel medium-to-light .355" bullets several hundred FPS faster than regular 9mm or .38 rounds. Energy, on paper, approximates .45ACP, but with less recoil. Many police agencies and other users, including the Secret Service, have done performance tests that show a good combination of accuracy, low recoil, and enhanced lethality. Many of the loads are supersonic, even in short-barreled handguns, giving it a scary bark along with a nasty bite.
As with my other Glocks, I have a few "must-have" accessories on order. Trijicon sights and a tungsten double-spring recoil guide are important. The factory barrel is better supported, and closer to SAAMI specs than the "loose" Glock factory .45 barrel, so I didn't need a replacement, although I did order a .40S&W barrel from Bar-Sto. These $215 barrels have enabled me to have the equivalent of two or three handguns at once, and have proven to be a great investment. My next trip to the range will provide a comparison between the Glock 33 and my trusty Sig P229 in .357Sig. Swap barrels, and both become different handguns.
Another gadget I ordered, but may not install right away, is a Hatfield Gunsmithing "Tactical Racker" for Glocks. I have one on my Glock 21 and 36 due to the super-slippery finish on the slide of the G36. It was so slick I could not get a reliable grip on it when retracting the slide. This aluminum piece, which replaces the plastic slide cover, not only fixes the "slippery" problem, but also allows one-handed slide manipulation using a table, door jamb, or even shoe heel.
The only downside for me is getting poked in the side a bit with IWB carry. Since the G33 slide isn't so slippery, I may not install it, but it's always good to have it in the parts drawer, rather than trying to order only to find out that they won't make another batch for four months, which recently happened with the Demon Tactical takedown pin for the AR15. With luck, I'll have a range report next week.
My Remington 870 Tactical also received an upgrade. It's a new stock from Mesa Tactical, and it seems to be a vey practical and comfy modification. There are probably now a half-dozen ways to mount a sling on this shotgun, although I can only use one at a time.
My only quibble is their logo. Unless it's the arctic, or an explosive atmosphere, my instinctive reaction is to associate a masked face with "bad guy". Liberals not only have cows over "ugly guns", but "ugly advertising", too.
I've seen too many times some statist holding a box of ammo with some scary name or image on it, and spouting some BS. That's why my marketing plan would involve packaging defensive ammo in boxes with image of puppies and kittens, and a name like "fluffy bunnies". Can you imaging Schmuck Shumer trying to incite hysteria while denouncing something packaged like that? :)