What caliber Glock should you buy in Texas
Seven calibers are in stock. How they differ in cost, recoil, capacity and Texas law.
This catalogue holds 379 Glock listings across 7 calibers. 9mm dominates with 185 listings, then .40 S and W 42, .380 ACP 32, .45 ACP 24, 10mm Auto 17, .22 LR 11, .357 SIG 8. The numbers below are from live stock counts and from Glock published data.
The short answer for Texas
- First handgun, carry, home defense: 9mm. Lowest cost per round, highest capacity, least recoil in the group, most models available.
- Deep concealment: .380 ACP in Glock 42. Smaller frame, lighter, but less energy than 9mm.
- If you already own 9mm and want more energy: .45 ACP or 10mm Auto. Both cost more to feed and hold fewer rounds.
- Training cheap: .22 LR, Glock 44. Same grip angle as centerfire Glocks, much cheaper ammunition.
Caliber by caliber
9mm - 9x19mm | 185 listings
Standard for Glock 17, 19, 26, 43, 43X, 48, 45. Magazine 6 to 33 rounds depending on model. Barrel length 3.41 to 4.49 inch. Weight example Glock 19 Gen5 without mag 610 g | 21.52 oz, with loaded mag 855 g | 30.16 oz. Recoil moderate, cost lowest among centerfire, availability highest in Texas stores.
Texas law: 21 to buy from a dealer, no permit, no registration. Fits all collections: 9mm Glocks, Glock 19, Glock 43, Glock 48.
.380 ACP | 32 listings
Glock 42 only in this catalogue for this caliber. Specs from Glock and distributors: barrel 3.25 inch | 82.5 mm, overall length 5.94 inch | 151 mm, width 0.98 inch | 25 mm, height 4.13 inch | 105 mm, unloaded weight 345 g | 12.17 oz, loaded weight ~450 g | 15.87 oz, capacity 6+1. No accessory rail. Designed 2014 as first Glock in .380.
Use: pocket carry when a 9mm is too thick. Trade off is lower muzzle energy and 6 round standard mag. Good for shooters sensitive to recoil. .380 ACP Glocks and Glock 42 for sale.
.40 S and W | 42 listings
Glock 22, 23, 27 are the common models. More energy than 9mm, snappier recoil, usually 13 to 15 round standard mag in compact. Cost per round higher than 9mm in Texas. Many law enforcement trade ins are .40. If you buy used, check used Glocks and .40 S and W Glocks.
.45 ACP | 24 listings
Glock 21, 30, 36, 41. Larger diameter bullet, lower capacity for same frame size, more recoil impulse. Glock 21 Gen4 weight without mag ~ 745 g. Popular for shooters who already stock .45. .45 ACP Glocks.
10mm Auto | 17 listings
Glock 20, 29, 40. Highest energy in this catalogue. Used for hunting and woods carry in Texas. Recoil strongest, cost highest, capacity 10 to 15. Barrel length up to 6.02 inch in Glock 40. 10mm Glocks.
.357 SIG | 8 listings
Glock 31, 32, 33. Bottleneck cartridge, high velocity, similar recoil to .40. Less common in Texas stores, ammunition more expensive and harder to find than 9mm. .357 SIG Glocks.
.22 LR | 11 listings
Glock 44. Same frame size as G19, weight ~ 415 g unloaded. Designed for low cost training. Not suitable for defense compared to centerfire. .22 LR Glocks.
How Texas law affects caliber choice
Texas does not restrict magazine capacity, does not require a permit to purchase, does not have an assault weapon ban, does not register firearms. Federal law still controls: handgun from a licensed dealer is 21 and over, long gun is 18 and over, ATF Form 4473 plus FBI NICS on every dealer transfer, handgun sales by a dealer to residents of that dealer's state only. So a Texas resident can buy any of these calibers in Texas, but an out of state buyer must transfer a handgun through a dealer in their home state. Details on compliance and shipping and transfers.
Cost to feed in Texas
Based on typical Texas retail in 2026, lowest to highest cost per 50 rounds observed: .22 LR, 9mm, .380 ACP, .40 S and W, .45 ACP, .357 SIG, 10mm Auto. If you plan to train monthly, 9mm costs less to feed. If you reload, 9mm brass is most available.
Which models hold which caliber
| Caliber | Common models here | Standard capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 9mm | G17, G19, G26, G43, G43X, G48, G45, G19X | 6, 10, 15, 17 |
| .380 ACP | G42 | 6 |
| .40 S and W | G22, G23, G27 | 13, 15 |
| .45 ACP | G21, G30, G36 | 10, 13 |
| 10mm Auto | G20, G29, G40 | 10, 15 |
| .357 SIG | G31, G32, G33 | 13 |
| .22 LR | G44 | 10 |
Next steps on this site
- All calibers - 7 pages, each with live count
- All models - 30 model collections
- Glock 19 for sale - common starting point in 9mm
- Glock 42 for sale - smallest frame
- Glock 43 for sale - slim 9mm
- Glock 19 Gen3 vs Gen5 - what changed
Specs cited from us.glock.com product pages for G19 Gen5, G43, G42, G45 and distributor listings that republish Glock data. Counts are live from this catalogue as of today. GLOCK is a registered trademark of GLOCK Ges.m.b.H. No affiliation claimed.