Am I missing something, or Is the Roster just Meh for service pistols?

[rodralig]

Personal preference and opinions aren’t facts.

1. The roster is, in fact, much better than what it used to be just 5 years ago (wasn’t hard to do admittedly).

2. Walther PDP and Springfield Echelon are, in fact, better than Glock in the features they offer, ergonomics and triggers.

Candid question:
Have you ever shot a P320, Echelon, and PDP? Do you have first-hand experience with the other things you talk about?


- Glock guys are the Harley equivalent of the motorcycle community - most riders know what I’m talking about

It’s the insufferable bunch of harley guys that have never tried anything else in their lives, but are convinced Harleys are THE best bikes on Earth and everything else is “meh”.

You sound the same, convincing yourself going in circles while ignoring the good out there.

I say this as a Harley and Glock owner…
and owner of many other things.

Men should experience more and talk less.

Go buy an Echelon or PDP already (or else).
If you’re not broke in money, then why be willfully broke in mind?

I never said Glock was the best. What I said was that, for me, there’s nothing among the newer service pistols on the Roster that gives me enough of a performance gain over my Glock to justify reinvesting cash into another platform.

So please, enlighten me: what exactly makes the newer pistols good enough for me to spend more money? I haven’t shot a PDP, but I know Walthers are good. I own both the polymer and steel-frame Q5 Match, with the OEM performance trigger. I’ve also shot the 320 during the Pro Shooter Vegas class back when Max Michel was still with Sig, shot the Echelon at one of the Prado open range events, and just shot an M&P 2.0 today in my Vegas road trip. They’re all good guns. I’m not denying that. I just don’t see a meaningful benefit that makes me want to dump money into switching platforms.

And as for the “should experience more and talk less.” comment - I think I’m experienced enough in the stuff that actually matters: hits on the target and the shot timer. Not spec sheets, not internet hype, not brand tribalism. Just hits and time.

 

[DesertDepotArms]

I am in the same boat. I like the new M&Ps except to the safety. I can overlook the mag disconnect, but that safety is aweful. I wish they had put a safety like the shield, there but essentially not lol

for like $20 you can remove the safety and add the frame plugs.

 

[Gawernator]

I never said Glock was the best. What I said was that, for me, there’s nothing among the newer service pistols on the Roster that gives me enough of a performance gain over my Glock to justify reinvesting cash into another platform.

So please, enlighten me: what exactly makes the newer pistols good enough for me to spend more money? I haven’t shot a PDP, but I know Walthers are good. I own both the polymer and steel-frame Q5 Match, with the OEM performance trigger. I’ve also shot the 320 during the Pro Shooter Vegas class back when Max Michel was still with Sig, shot the Echelon at one of the Prado open range events, and just shot an M&P 2.0 today in my Vegas road trip. They’re all good guns. I’m not denying that. I just don’t see a meaningful benefit that makes me want to dump money into switching platforms.

And as for the “should experience more and talk less.” comment - I think I’m experienced enough in the stuff that actually matters: hits on the target and the shot timer. Not spec sheets, not internet hype, not brand tribalism. Just hits and time.

M9

 

[Maaartin]

I never said Glock was the best. What I said was that, for me, there’s nothing among the newer service pistols on the Roster that gives me enough of a performance gain over my Glock to justify reinvesting cash into another platform.

So please, enlighten me: what exactly makes the newer pistols good enough for me to spend more money? I haven’t shot a PDP, but I know Walthers are good. I own both the polymer and steel-frame Q5 Match, with the OEM performance trigger. I’ve also shot the 320 during the Pro Shooter Vegas class back when Max Michel was still with Sig, shot the Echelon at one of the Prado open range events, and just shot an M&P 2.0 today in my Vegas road trip. They’re all good guns. I’m not denying that. I just don’t see a meaningful benefit that makes me want to dump money into switching platforms.

And as for the “should experience more and talk less.” comment - I think I’m experienced enough in the stuff that actually matters: hits on the target and the shot timer. Not spec sheets, not internet hype, not brand tribalism. Just hits and time.

Good that you got all the experience with the other guns. In that case then you know where the others shine.

If you prefer Glock, you prefer Glock.

I don’t believe it makes sense to compare G17 gen 3 with say an Echelon.
One is 20 (30?) years older.

But here goes (so I don’t look like I have nothing to back up the claims).

Top of mind stuff the Echelon has that the G17 does not:

Slide:
- serrations actually grip
- front serrations
- dove tails front and rear (amazing for press checks and else), and much easier to use with less force or if hands are slippery.
- optic ready for most big names without adapter plates.
- iron sights that are actually metal and high viz and night front sight. G17 has the cheapest plastic sights, it’s ridiculous to me for a duty gun.

- ported barrel and slide option

Grip:
- better ergonomic grip design. G17 was made for the lego man’s hand.
- agressive grip texture that actually works.
- same texture on trigger guard and sides of grip for thumb rests.
- adjustable back strap.
- fully ambidextrous (it can matter when you get shot in the dominant arm or break a hand - it’s a duty/defense pistol after all).
- mag release much better than glock ones that are just a sharp square and too far a distance for many people.
- slide release is closer and easier to slap down than glock because better design.
- The trigger has sharper break and better profile (finger pad feel).
- small mag well flare makes reloads easier (the little things that add up).


Now did any of this change your mind?
Probably not. And it’s fine it’s your choice, but kind of makes my point.

I understand your investment in the Glock platform. Other than holsters and mags, what investments are we talking about?

Or is it that, like many Glock owners, you spent $500-1000 on every Glock to upgrade them to something that shoots nicely, and so now it makes parting with them a lot more difficult to swallow?
That part is understandable too. But if it’s the reason then you already know some other pistols are better and it’s only a question of time before you make up your mind and switch over.

- Come to the dark side Luke! We have nice triggers, ported barrels and grips that feel much nicer than holding a 2x4 in your hand. You can still get those stickers for your truck too! -

 

[ChallengerScatPackClub]

Once you shoot 2011’s, nearly everything else seems the same and boring. 2011’s shoot so fast and flat. Makes shooting so fun and easy like you entered a cheat code. After a while it does get boring because its so easy. I end up shooting my S&W 36 more for practice as its carried and harder to aim and shoot.

 

[rodralig]

- Come to the dark side Luke! We have nice triggers, ported barrels and grips that feel much nicer than holding a 2x4 in your hand. You can still get those stickers for your truck too! -

Once you shoot 2011’s, nearly everything else seems the same and boring. 2011’s shoot so fast and flat. Makes shooting so fun and easy like you entered a cheat code. After a while it does get boring because its so easy. I end up shooting my S&W 36 more for practice as its carried and harder to aim and shoot.

Shot the XC today... I am fancying it!

Thread 'I said the Roster was boring… Then I shot a Staccato XC'

Jul 26, 2026

Range Report - A few days ago, I posted about how boring the California Roster feels for service pistols, and how I didn’t really see anything worth uprooting my Glock ecosystem for - spare parts, mags, holsters, optics setups, etc.

Well, I was in Vegas these past few days and stumbled into a public indoor range after grabbing ramen at one of my usual spots away from the Strip. I ended up renting a couple of Staccatos, the P 4.5 and XC, and yeah… I finally get the hype. The XC feels like a cheat code for shooting fast and accurately.

Here’s a short snippet at 10, 15, and 25...

• rodralig
• Replies: 16
• Forum: General Discussion