Okay, full disclosure: the 80,000-round count is for my two Glock 19 Gen 4s. I got my first Glock 19 Gen 4 in December of 2013. In less than 2 years I had ~55,000 rounds through it and figured I’d better get a backup. So in September of 2015 I got a second Glock 19 Gen 4, this one with “factory” Cerakote (more on that in a minute).
* * *
I find the Glock 19 to be the perfect pistol: perfect size, perfect dimensions, perfect capacity, and perfect efficiency of design. Or if not the perfect pistol, the perfect pistol hobby kit, since modification is something Glocks often embrace or invite and in some respects, I’d say require. Still, no pistol is more worthy of nor responds better to lovingly applied modification than the Glock.
The Glock 19 Gen 4 – shown here in its pristine, stock configuration.
I continue to shoot my original G19 and currently have 58,000 rounds through it. My new one, now eight months old, has 22,000+ rounds through it. So having spent quite a lot of time running this pistol, mostly from concealment in training drills and competition, I’m sharing my impressions and learned lessons here. I hope you find this information useful.
Why Consider the Glock 19?
The first and last reason to consider any Glock 19 is reliability. In all the 58k rounds through my first G19 I never had a single legitimate malfunction attributable to the pistol. My second G19 initially had first-round feeding issues for a while, due specifically to the negligently poor Cerakote job. After a few hundred rounds that issue went away and I’ve never had another malfunction with this pistol, which I now carry and shoot in competition.
My two Glock 19 Gen4s. The original in black on the left and the backup, Cerakote model on the right…after 80,000+ rounds through the pair of them.
Another important reason to consider the G19 is the fact that there are no unnecessary external controls. Glocks are often criticized for their blocky, unadorned appearance, but this appearance results from the very important consideration of removing everything that is not necessary to put rounds on target and change magazines when empty. The Glock 19’s controls are minimized or internalized, resulting in an excellent example of deliberate, practical efficiency. As a design professional, I cannot help but admire the excellence of Glock’s design and recommend it on that basis.
I further recommend that you consider this pistol because it thoroughly blurs the line between concealed-carry and duty pistols. It is both a practical shooter with good capacity for home defense or duty carry and it is easily concealable for civilian daily carry.
Glock 19 Specs:
- Caliber: 9x19mm
- Length: 7.28”
- Height: 4.99”
- Width: 1.18”
- Barrel: 4.02” – 1:9.84” RH twist
- Trigger: 5.5 pounds
- Sights: Polymer “U” dot configuration, rear adjustable (standard)
- Weight: 23.65. w/empty magazine
- Slide Finish: Black Melonite
- Capacity: 15+1 (10 – if you live under tyranny)
- Price: ~$550 (often found for more and for less)
Shooting the Glock 19 – and – Lessons from the First 80,000+ Rounds
I find the G19 to be a joy to shoot. Having put more than 80k rounds through it, it is the standard against which I measure shooting all other pistols. I rarely find it matched in the dimensions of shootability and balance vs. size.
The bulk of the 9mm ammo I’ve run through the pistol is 115gr ball from Federal, Blazer Brass, Winchester, Freedom Munitions, and Stand 1 Armory, but I’ve run over 1000 rounds rounds from an assortment of Federal Premium 147gr Hydra-Shok JHP, Federal Premium 124gr HST JHP, Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P GDHP, Hornady Critical Defense 115gr, Hornady Critical Duty 135gr, and Winchester PDXI 124gr +P JHP, and even thousands of rounds of Copper Matrix frangible 88gr …all with flawless performance.
Here I am shooting the Glock 19 in competition. This photo shows it equipped with the beavertail backstrap, which I no longer use.
As with every other Glock pistol, the G19’s trigger guard transition to the grip is quite angular and typically uncomfortable for the strong-hand middle finger while shooting. Therefore, I suggest that EVERY Glock pistol must have a Dremmel tool taken to the side and bottom of the trigger guard junction with the grip in order to create a smoothly rounded and reduced profile there. There are some who disagree and find the G19 or any Glock pistol to be just fine without this slight modification work. I, personally, would never own a Glock that had not been adjusted in this way.
Malfunctions
The only malfunctions I’ve experienced shooting my Glock 19s had nothing to do with the pistol itself. With my first G19 (58k rounds), the only failures I experienced were directly related to the faulty aftermarket recoil springs I foolishly used for a while. Every single one of them either broke in short order or failed to properly send the slide into full battery on occasion. I quickly reverted to stock factory springs and have never since had a malfunction of any kind.
My second G19 (22k rounds) came with “factory” Cerakote and, much to my surprise and chagrin, included Cerakote inside of the slide rails and on the frame rails surfaces. The addition of this coating changed the dimensions, tolerances, and friction coefficient of these critical components. The result was not surprising, as in the first 600 or so rounds I had a few instances of the first round of a new magazine failing to feed. After a few hundred rounds the Cerakote in/on the rail mechanisms wore away enough to allow for flawless function ever since. I must, however, warn you away from these Accusport Cerakoted (erroneously called “factory Cerakote”) Glock pistols. The Lipsey’s Cerakote is done far better and is only ever applied to the slide (never the frame or rails).
Comfort & Controllability
Firearm fit and comfort are highly personal issues. Even with the palm swell placement on the grip and other caveats (which I’ll detail in a moment), I find the Glock 19 to be quite comfortable. The Gen 4’s varied-size, replaceable backstraps allow for a good number of personal fitting options.
The grip angle on a Glock is different than that of many other pistols. I find the G19’s grip angle to be fine and my training with this grip angle makes sight alignment automatic (even with eyes closed), but some may prefer the more vertical grip angle found in other popular platforms (1911, CZ, etc…). The Glock 19’s grip finger ridges are another sore spot for some shooters. Personally, I love them as they fit my hand perfectly. But hand sizes vary and so will opinions of this grip feature. Some folks prefer to sand them off, but I would never do such a thing.
The Glock 19 is by no measure “snappy,” but instead quite easy to control while shooting. In fact, it’s a soft shooter despite the comparatively short and light slide as compared to many full-sized duty pistols. I have no trouble performing a Bill Drill in less than 1.9 seconds from concealment with it, so the G19 should present absolutely no controllability issues for shooters.
Concealability & Capacity
Even though it is a compact, the Glock 19 is larger than many purpose-made concealed-carry pistols. That said, its size presents little or no obstacle to IWB concealment for many people, especially when positioned on a body angle (4, or 5 o’clock positions) and in appendix position. I have carried the Glock 19 in the appendix position for a long time and never have to worry about printing even when wearing just a light t-shirt.
The 15+1 capacity is respectable for a duty weapon and very nice for a compact carry pistol. If you adopt an advisable practice and carry at least one spare magazine, that gives you 31 rounds; likely plenty for even a messy firefight, should your life prove to be so dramatic.
Components and Materials
The Glock 19’s largely unadorned slide comes in black. Hope you like black. The slide was once produced with a wonderfully hard, beautiful, and durable Tennifer finish, but somewhere along the line that was eschewed in favor of a Melonite finish (for environmental reasons), which has a different texture and aesthetic. I prefer the Tennifer, but the modern finish is okay, too. Just not as attractive or durable.
The polymer frame is serviceable. It’s not as aesthetically busy or as heavy as other companies’ frames, but it does the job of a frame just fine. I’d call it perfectly minimalist. Also, it accepts modification without much fuss.
The controls are in exactly the right place on the Glock 19. Neither the slide lock lever nor the takedown tabs of the slide stop get in your way. There is no goofy “takedown lever” and no external, manual safety to turn intelligent people into unsafe and incompetent operators when the brain becomes disconnected from one’s extremities. I find the Gen 4’s magazine release to be just fine, but if you don’t there are plenty of aftermarket options for this component…and for just about every other component, if you swing that way.
The trigger is, well, a Glock trigger. It’s not the worst and it’s not the best. I find, however, that swapping out the stock trigger connector with just about any 3.5 lb. connector will remove about ½ pound from the pull weight and, more to the point, smooth out the trigger significantly. Shooting a few thousand rounds with your G19 will also pay trigger-smoothness dividends. Do try it.
Glock’s reputation for never-fail functionality is well deserved, as a Glock 19 will continue to function under conditions no other pistol on earth can survive. This reliability has some consequences, though, as it derives in part from the lose tolerances baked into the pistol. This means that pinpoint accuracy is not among the Glock 19’s core qualities. While in no way an inaccurate weapon, the Glock will have small variations in accuracy, especially at longer distances (25 – 100 yards). While this variation is largely insignificant, the Glock 19 is not a perfect nail driver. The upside is that it is more reliable than any other pistol you’re apt to find. If you plan to use your G19 for purely static marksmanship competition, there are plenty of aftermarket options for match-grade barrels.
Customization
Customization and Glock go together like Forrest Gump and Jenny. There is no pistol on the market with so many aftermarket components, add-on prosthetics, and design alternatives. While one need not necessarily opt for component replacement or modification, they are, on occasion, efficacious and fun (Caveat: if you opt for modification of your pistol, make sure you’re either trained to do so or allow a trained professional to do it for you. Altering the components of a deadly weapon is no joke.).
here’s a detail of the stippling job I applied to my first Glock 19. Note the forward position stippling for support-hand thumb purchase (and the frame plug…before I learned the folly of using one).
Some Customization Recommendations:
- Do get your frame stippled; both the grip and the forward area for your support-hand thumb. There is no pistol in the world that has a frame texture that allows for enough grip purchase when your hands are wet (from rain, sweat, or blood) and the G19 is no exception. A stippled pistol is highly controllable and comfortable, to a degree not found on any non-stippled pistol. And, no, do not use adhesive grip tape. If you don’t train enough to melt or otherwise scrap it off, the tape’s grippiness is not going to help you much.
- Do replace the plastic sights with iron sights of your preference.
- Do use a Dremmel tool to round/smooth out the bottom and side of the trigger guard junction with the frame. It makes a HUGE difference in comfort.
- Do not replace the slide lock with an extended slide lock. It’s a LOCK and not a release. An extended slide lock will get in the way of your competent manipulation of the pistol.
- Do not put a plug in the bottom of the grip. That opening is there to allow for your thumb’s access to help remove the stuck magazine in the event of a double feed malfunction.
- Do not replace your slide stop with a trapezoidal, extended slide stop. These extend too far out from the frame and are both uncomfortable for your hand when shooting and will destroy your holster…and will catch on things when you are manipulating your pistol. As for easy fieldstripping, you don’t need to do that so quickly that an extension matters.
As for Maintenance:
- Do replace your recoil spring every 5,000-8,000 rounds – and use a factory replacement (only), not an aftermarket model of any kind.
- Do replace your trigger spring and slide-lock spring every 10,000 rounds.
For more maintenance advice, see this article on maintaining your Glock.
Carrying the Glock 19 Gen 4
I’ve carried the Glock 19 Gen 4 daily for quite a while. I find it to be a suitable and concealable EDC weapon for almost every style of dress, though I prefer a single stack for formal dress.
The Glock 19 Gen 4 conceals easily under a t-shirt.
I carry in the appendix position and use G-Code’s Incog Eclipse holster for the G19 and all of my carry pistols. Even though the Glock 19 is not the smallest compact pistol, it never seems too big or bulky and, due greatly to the G-Code holster, it’s quite comfortable in the appendix position.
The Glock 19 is no pocket pistol and so must be carried in a belt or shoulder holster. Though I find inside-the-waistband to be the best for concealment, I know folks who carry it in OWB holsters and find it conceals well that way, too. Either way, there is significant comfort to be derived from knowing that in the event I have to go to my pistol for defense I’ll have a full grip and excellent capacity in my hand.
To that point, the Glock 19 is my carry gun, my training gun, and my competition gun. The fact that this pistol crosses all of these lines comfortably means that I never have to fuss with a range gun vs. a carry or competition gun. This flexibility inherent to the G19 means I’ll be a far more competent and prepared individual should self defense become necessary.
Conclusions
Pros
The Glock 19 is the perfect all-purpose pistol. It crosses all lines in pistol purpose. It conceals well yet has an excellent capacity and full grip. The dimensions are near perfect and the controls are perfectly conceived and positioned. The replaceable backstraps allow for a more tailored grip fit. It has fed and fired every type of ammunition I’ve charged into its magazines and it goes bang every time I pull the trigger, without fail.
Cons
Some may find the grip to be uncomfortable. The plastic sights pretty much require replacement. Yes, that’s all.
So for rating the Glock 19…
Shootability (*****)
This is an eminently shootable pistol. The balance is excellent and controlling the recoil during shooting strings is quite easy. It is neither too big nor too small for precision manipulations and keeping rounds on target.
Ergonomics (***)
The Glock 19 is not the most ergonomically designed pistol, but with modification it has the potential to be. The fact that the finger grooves impose a certain specificity to the grip, and it otherwise very nearly requires modification, is why I gave it only 3 stars here.
Accuracy (****)
This is as good a shooter as most pistols, but the looser tolerances in the design mean that slight variations can creep into the results at longer distances.
Reliability (*****)
There is no more reliable a pistol in the world.
Customization (*****)
The Glock 19 is the most customizable pistol in existence. The Gen 4 comes with a variety of backstrap options and there are multitudes of aftermarket components and accessories for this pistol. As I mentioned before, if the G19 is not the perfect pistol, it is the perfect pistol hobby kit. There is almost no end to its potential for customization and modification.
In Summary
The Glock 19 Gen 4 is a challenger to every other pistol in just about every respect. There is no pistol that is so flexible and reliable as this one and I suggest that every pistol owner should own at least one Glock 19.
Excellent review Andy!! I have a G 17 gen 3 and just put a G 19 gen 4 on layaway. I’ll be bringing it home later this month. Can’t wait ! My nephew purchased one and loves it . While I carry my 17 on occasion it is not an EDC . Still a bit more printing than what I feel comfortable with. I’m looking forward to my 19 as my EDC . I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and I can honestly say I think the G 19 is one of the most beautiful guns made ! Thank you again for sharing your experiences . Great validation for a fantastic handgun! Jim
Hey Jim,
Glad you enjoyed the review. I have to believe that you have excellent taste. I find the G19 to be an excellent, almost unsurpassed, EDC. Hope you find it to be the same. Cheers.
Andy. I appreciate your fair assessment of the G19 gen 4. Having owned several types of hand gun over the years I’ve really come to like the Glock. My first one being a G 35 gen 4. Then after the recent terrorist incident in Orlando, Fl. bought G 19’s both for myself and my girlfriend. An aftermarket 3.5 lb trigger made the pistol a very enjoyable shooter. Nearly as much as my favorite range gun the G 35. Again thanks and All the best. Craig
As a novice I purchased a G-19 Gen 3 (May 2019).
As I now see that the G-19 is in it’s 5th generation does it mean that I bought an inferior model?
Absolutely not! Tho all glock are reliable. Most would say the Gen 3’s are some of the most versions of glock.
A little late with my response but hope you held onto your Gen III. It is the best, imho. Just ask yourself why, in 2016 did the U.S. Navy SEALs adopted the G19 Gen III over their previous issue SA, the Sig P226? Why not the Gen IV? It had been out for 6 years.
Gen IVs jam and they always blame it on low-recoil ammo. So??!
Seals use whatever they like usually, and there was no universal “adoption” standard issue varies. Most adopted Glock 19s, generation varying. Gen 5 is the best Glock ever made, by a small margin.
Hi Andy, please help me. I work for the US Embassy in South Africa and we are importing the following for the South African Government, for them to issue us a permit they need to know the following about the Glock 17.
” The Spare Parts Package for GLOCK 17 is vague and does not explain the actual parts which will be imported and if these parts are classified as either firearms (barrels/frames) or main firearm components (slides) in terms of the FCA, 2000.”
Hi Jaco,
Your comment is vague enough to raise my BS radar. If you have an actual question, which you comment does not, please contact Glock, Inc. at http://glock.com/
They should mark all parts with name and part number, plus send a poster with a picture of a Glock with components numbered to help identify them. This will help them and help Block with the sell.
I bought my first Glock 19 Gen 4 (3-15-19). I haven’t been to the shooting range yet. I have been shooting HK since 1997. I currently own a 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 9mm HK pistols.
I’m a first time handgun shopper and this sounds like a winner over others I’ve reviewed. Great review!!!
Nice review. There is a huge misunderstanding when it comes to the finish on guns made after the 2013 mark. First, the finish is completely separate from the metal treatment. The metal treatment is still tenifer…or a tenifer comparable substitute. The “finish” is now a black nitride. The slide is still just as hard and rust resistant as they have always been…but the black nitride sucks. It marks easily, It was a cost savings move. I’m betting most of us would’ve been ok with paying a little more and keeping the hard as nails “frying pan” finish.
Another one of these “umpteen thousand rounds” guys huh? Sorry, but I don’t buy this article. At all.
I’ve run 2 commercial ranges, and also have been an adjunct instructor for both Glock and SigArms Academy. One range is the largest in Western Canada, and due to the nature of handgun shooting being a difficult privaledge to get into, the rental side of the range was/is extremely popular and busy. As in 1 million round lots purchased from Winchester of their lead free primer white box ammo every 3 or 4 months.
I’ve never, EVER seen a Glock pistol go past 50k rounds without some form of catostrophic failure. Ever. Every single round is tracked through computer, and I’ve seen dozens, if not hundreds of Glock pistols go through the rental rack. Sorry, but 80k rounds is just a bunch of BS in my opinion.
Firstly, to reload costs an average of .20 per round for 9mm, and more for decent factory ammo. So, you’re telling the readers that you spent 16 thousand dollars on JUST 9mm ammo in just over 2 years, and fired all of that through just 2 pistols, pistols which seeing anything past 20k (the Glock service life as per their own documents) without major failure is extremely unlikely?
Also, claiming to shoot “a few days a week”, means over this 2+ year period you would have to be shooting 600 rounds every time you went out and shot, to reach your 80,000 claim. Sorry, I just don’t believe it. Having spent 7 days a week for 10+ years at my own range or training elsewhere, I have a pretty good idea on just how much shooting this is – even for an active world class competitor.
So, unless you’re very rich, or very sponsored, I just can’t see how you can claim to have spent 16 thousand dollars on a single caliber in just a couple of years time. Did you keep receipts for all this ammo? Keep a log book for your training? Ya, that’s what I thought. No, right?
Hi SerHaha,
I appreciate the time you took to write your response to my article. Sorry to hear that you find fault with the facts conveyed in it, but the nice thing about facts is that they’re not dependent on your anecdotal experience.
I do, indeed, keep accurate records for every firearm in my collection and every round fired through them. In 2014 and 2015 I shot 900+ rounds every week. As shown here http://gunpath.com/my-2014-firearms-training-annual-report/ in 2014 I shot 45, 036 rounds and in 2015 http://gunpath.com/my-firearms-training-annual-report-for-2015/ I shot 47,480 rounds. Nearly 78,000 rounds through my two G19s in just those 2 years.
So while I appreciate your attempt to get specific and expose falsehood, publicly calling me a liar is somewhat less admirable and more embarrassing for you. My name is Andy Rutledge. Notice you didn’t share yours: this is not a forum for anonymous paper tigers to start arguments with hyperbole and insults. It’s a commercial blog run by folks who see me at their range every week.
Maybe you’re not used to decorum or manners or substantiated facts tied to actual people (by name), but we are. Good luck with your instruction and range running.
Oooooh.SHOTS FIRED. Nice retort sir. :)
I really like your annual report. Did you create that or is it a software package?
Hey John,
Thanks. If you’re referring to the annual reports cited in my comment above, those are just graphics that I put together. However, I just created a live, ongoing tally of my shooting and training at http://andyrutledge.com/gun-stats/index-2016.html . This is similar to the ones above, but it’s a web page and a live tally of my shooting. Thanks for asking!
Andy,
Can you please share during this time is you had any parts fail (not counting the aftermarket recoil spring). Like did any of the Factory parts fail? Any other cool info you can share for having such a high round count.
Thanks for taking the time to type this up! Very cool!
Hi Joey,
Sure. I several times replaced the recoil spring, trigger spring, and slide stop spring, and have replaced the extractor, magazine catch spring, striker spring, and spring cups once each. I write about this very thing in another post here
https://www.eaglegunrangetx.com/maintaining-your-glock/
Hope that helps!
Another guy probably with a SigSauer boner who can’t stand positive reporting about Glock.
And down goes Frazier!!!
I believe you shot that much but a 1.9 bill drill from cc is absolute bull..
Thanks George.
Here’s my 1.93 Bill drill from concealment video while stepping off the line (slower)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkWuwJLwhHc
Have a nice day.
You have to show the timer for it to be real bud. Also, the timer starts at 10 seconds and your last shot is at 13 seconds. Sounds like a 2.9 to me.
Sir, I’d like to draw on your experience possible?
Which pistol that is comparable in size and capacity to the Glock 19 would you recommend based on your experience / knowledge?
Thanks, Dallas
Hi, not the author, but based on your criteria “comparable in size and capacity to the Glock 19 ” i’m guessing he’d go with a Glock 19. if you mean, not a Glock, CZ 75 compact (various iterations, i have a P01 that i love) is a great gun.
Serhaha. Perhaps the one doing the bs ing here is you another Glock hater determined to denigrate a perfectly good weapon and besmirch an honest man. Get a life internet troll.
Andy. Great article. I wouldn’t care if someone shot a million rounds through two Glocks in a year. I wouldn’t bully them like SerHaHa. Anyway. I’ve had just about all the variations of Glock (except the 10mm) over the past 25 years. I’ve had all the other high end brands as well but I keep coming back to the Glocks for EDC for the same reason you mentioned in your article. Keeping it simple. I was carrying a Gen 4 Glock 23 for the last year and a half. I also have a Gen4 Glock 26 on FDE with new Trijicon HD sights with orange front dot. And Pearce +3 mag extention. A few weeks ago I picked up the new Glock 19 MOA. I had tall Trijicon suppressor height night sights added then took my Trijicon RMR off my M&P CORE and put it on this pistol. Now I use this Glock 19 for EDC and for home defense use my Glock 23. At night both guns are equipped with Streamlight TLR 1 HL (630 lumen) lights. For holsters I use IWB M tac Minatour holster and shaved down the top part to for the RMR. OWB I have either a custom belt kydex that fits with my Streamlight on it, or a Shadow Concealment if not using the light. I used to use a Blackhawk Seeps retention holster but found it much easier for me not to have that retention when trying to draw quickly. The only time I use it is when I’m mountain biking or hiking for the extra retention. Anyway. I love the Glock 19 and Rom now on will try to always have one in my collection.
Andy, you mention carrying a single stack as well. The 43 I assume? Care to elaborate? Thanks man, great review. I had the pleasure of shooting one today and it just felt right compared to about anything else. I think it will be my edc.
Thanks Eric. Glad you enjoyed the review.
I typically carry my G43 while at home and if I’m dressed up fancy, where something smaller and lighter is more comfortable or required by clothing. Otherwise I carry my G19 and a couple of backup mags. I, too, find the G43 to be a good-in-the-hand pistol among single-stack nines. If you’re opting for a more concealable 9mm, I think the G43 is in the top two. Only other competitor in my mind is the Springfield XDs 9. Cheers!
The G43…wonderful weapon. It replaced the G26. I have since sold the G26. After reading your review of the G19 I have decided to get the G19. But I am waiting for the G19 Gen4 FS (Front serration) model. Any idea when it will be available? “They” say in June of 2017 but that might mean towards the end of summer. Anyways, terrific review…80,000 plus rounds you must be some kind of monster.
Thanks for a vertical good and informational review.I am sold on any glock even though I’m an amature shooter.I’v not shoot near the rounds you have so your experience is especially appreciated by.One question, I have a 19 gen4 and now own a 27 gen 4 which I put a 9mm barrel in to replace the 40cal,reason being more accurate with 9mm.Is hornaday critical defence good home protection and also getting confused about whether to use the same in 19 or as someone told me use critical duty for 19 .Thanks
Thanks Joseph,
Glad you enjoyed the article. You should be the only one to determine if a particular ammo is good for your specific gun. Guns can be finicky (not Glocks, usually) and you need to shoot a couple hundred rounds at least to ensure your gun eats it without choking. For pure ballistics info, I recommend Lucky Gunner’s huge ammo tests http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/ for defensive performance data. But shoot plenty of whatever ammo you decide to carry so that you are confident and safe rather than the alternatives. Cheers!
Hi i dont own it but have seen so Much reviews telling That it is the Most durable gun That i dont understand why in the us Army it have not replaced the Beretta 92 yet.Please tell me if it wont Hurt a recoil sensitive Person with weak hands and if it have the same recoil than Glock 17.Also tell me if the trigger pull is confortable for Small fingers and if it Can b really customized to 3-3.5 lbs.Thank You very Much for your reply
Hi Kevin,
I think the G19 has very similar felt recoil to the G17. I find it to be quite soft shooting. As for military, the US Navy SEALs have recently switched to the G19. I think that’s a good move. I can’t say if the trigger is good for a person with small hands, because “small” is not an objective standard. I think you’ll have to try it out for yourself. The trigger weight can be reduced and the action made better simply with the exchange of the stock connector with a 3.5lb connector. However, the connector replacement does not take the trigger to 3.5lbs, but rather down to about 4.5lbs. To reduce the trigger weight further would require replacing several other components and I’d recommend that only for expert shooters and only for their competition pistols. Hope that helps!
While you guys are speaking WAY over my pay grade. I went into the gun shop, asked to see the Glocks with least recoil, the sweet man behind the counter brought out three…I held each one…love at first feel with my 19.
I was just about to get my LTC, used it, killed the targets in the right spots.
Great article! Loved the retort to Serhaha’s post on the durability of the Glock pistol. I do have to point out however, if he has ran two commercial ranges and has seen the firearm fail at 50k rounds, why did he continue to “rent” them to the tune of dozens if not hundreds? Perhaps if he felt so strongly about the lack of quality in the pistol why did he not change to a different one? I own seven Glocks, two of them being 19’s, and I agree there is not a more durable, trouble free pistol in the world. Own a few AK’s as well and they are the Glocks of the rifle world in my opinion. AR-15 is more accurate though I think.
Thanks!
I disagree. The glock lacks ergonomics, decent sites and it now has an inferior coating since they did away with the tenifer coating. The Walther PPQ M2 is far superior to this nasty old gun. It’s 2016, how about putting a real trigger and some ergonomics into the glock? The PPQ has far better ergonomics, a great standard trigger ( far better than anything glock offers custom) and Walther has the tenifer coating that the glock once had. No comparison!
I own a Walther PPQ, a Sig P320, and just picked up a G19. I’ve owned several Glocks…..not sure why I sold them, but I found the 19 to be an above-average firearm. Shoot what you shoot well, and let us not bash another’s choice.
Thanks for a very helpful and comprehensive review of the Glock 19. The tried-and-true lessons learned and detailed practical advice you offer is most appreciated by this new Glock 19 owner (and novice shooter ).
Cheers!
Andy: Good read. Thank you. This is the first article I read that mentioned not to install the plug at the bottom of the grip. You make a valid point concerning malfunctions. I have the plug on my G26 however I use G19 mags with Xgrip so I have space to grab if needed. However, I will reconsider not adding on my new G19.
Wonderful review sir. I use my first Glock or first handgun ever yesterday 23rd of December 2016 before that it was a 22 rifle when I was with Cadets 32 years ago. I used a Glock 17 the one I get in that believe is the 19 or something but going to take a week for me to get it so I’m hoping next Saturday. As I said I’m a first time user no I should have just like I kept on aiming low even knowing I was aiming for the center position or the hot area whatever you want to call it and then shooting a little low and then when I try to angle the gun up a little bit more miss the target altogether even though I was trying to line up the three dots in the center of the Iron Sites or plastic in this case so what I’m asking is when I have the three dots lined up is at the top of the site that I need to be used for any like the flat part or do I line the three dots up on the bullseye per se and then take my shot I think I was also pulling trigger and not squeezing so that was probably a factor as well any insight that you have for me please email me
First off great article Andy, I would hope to get over 20,000 rounds out of any quality firearm I buy without catostophic failure, and I believe most glocks could do that with out any problems ( other than maintenance), I may could see some problems with the 10 mm glocks at that high a round count. My CZ po 9 probably has @ 10,000 rds through it with no signs of stoppage to be seen , but it also went through Cajun gun works for sights & springs a couple thousand rounds ago. I’ve been looking for a nice EDC gun & have interest in the glock 19, what would be a good trigger @4 lbs & what brand low profile night sights would you recommend? Terrence, you may wanna try to aim at the top of the Bullseye (top center?of the target ) or aim so the top of your center dot on your sights is just above the other 2 like this •*• then adjust your aim down from there till your center of the bullseye ?. Hope this helps
Thanks Jason,
Glad you liked the article. As for a Glock 19, I recommend them as EDC. Like any gun, they’ll require good maintenance and some parts replacements periodically, as described here https://www.eaglegunrangetx.com/maintaining-your-glock/ . As for trigger, I find that simply replacing the connector with a good 3.5lb. connector will bring the trigger down to about 4-4.5lb and smooth it out a bit. It’s all you’ll need. For sights, I recommend TruGlo FTX Pro – good for day and night (tritium and fiber together). Hope that helps!
Great article. Jason
Just put my gloc 19 on lay away hope I made the right choice it has been about 30 yrs since I had a handgun and always went with revilvers (Colt 357 mag trooprr III) after lots of research. I finally put one in my hand today and feel I made a good choice. Thanks for all the information on this weapon, hoping I have good luck with it……
I really like the simplicity, reliability, and durability you describe above, but am concerned about ejection issues with the gen 4. I’ve read online both that this was a problem only involving earlier production and it’s been fixed, and that the problem only effected a few pistols and was wildly over-blown (and everything in between).
Can you offer any insight?
Thanks for the great review.
Stephen,
I own three G19 Gen4s and I’ve never had an ejection problem with any of them. I’ve also never seen or heard of that issue. I have read of it before and have to believe that either a) something else was a factor or b) that was an early issue that Glock fixed quickly. Wish I could share more insight, but that’s my take.
I rented a gen 4 last weekend and “brass to face” was a problem. I found a lot of chatter on line about this. Hard to tell if it’s real issue to be worried about or it’s simply an acceptable production hiccup that’s amplified because so many Glocks are sold. It could also be the pistol I rented wasn’t well cared for. I’ll try renting again at a different shop and see what happens.
Thanks.
Stephen,
As I mentioned, I own 3 of them and have never in almost 100K rounds had any sort of ejection problem. Anecdotes from 1-time uses happen, but I’m glad you’re going to try a different one.
Stephen,
As I mentioned, I own three of them and have never in almost 100K rounds had any sort of ejection problem. Anecdotes from 1-time uses happen, but I’m glad you’re going to try a different one.
Andy,
Just wanted to correct one thing in your article. Your Cerakote Glock is NOT a Lipsey’s model. All of our full FDE and full Grey Glocks have the frames molded those colors at the factory. We then have the slides Cerakoted to match by a factory authorized applicator. There is no way for our models to have Cerakote on the frame rails. I can tell from your pics that the Cerakote that was applied to your frame is starting to wear off as well. Again not possible with our guns as the frames are not painted. There are several other Glock distributors that are copying out models by having the complete guns Cerakoted. From what I can tell the work is not that great as we get many complaints from consumers who were told it was a Lipsey’s gun only to find out it is not once the serial number is confirmed. Another quick way to tell is all our guns are Austrian made where as most of the imitators are US made guns. If you would please contact me I can run your serial number to verify. You can call me at 1-800-666-1333 at the office Monday thru Friday.
Thanks
Jason Cloessner
Lipsey’s
Thanks Jason,
…and thanks for your time and phone conversation yesterday. I appreciate you sharing the details about Lipsey’s and others’ cerakote processes. Very enlightening.
For the benefit of readers here, if the slide is a USA slide or if the frame is cerakoted, it is NOT a Lipsey’s cerakote gun. Lipsey’s guns frames of any color other than black are ALWAYS molded in that color polymer, never cerakoted. Therefore, Lipsey’s will not put cerakote on the frame rails and, as a consequence, disrupt the function of the pistol.
Outstanding review and very well written. I’m a long-time shooter (50 years) and former LEO. I began carrying a G17 in 1986 when our department allowed the transition to auto loaders. Having carried a multitude of handguns off duty as a cop and for the last 25 years as a civilian and private investigator, I am returning to the G19 Gen 4 for EDC. The reasons are in this article–no need to rehash those. I will add that dramatic improvements to defensive 9mm ammo is a contributing factor to my transition from the venerable.45 ACP, which I still love. I just can’t carry 16 rounds in a 1911. Thanks for the great article and fun read.
Thanks Mark. Glad you enjoyed the piece and I’m with you on the modern ammo improvements and capacity considerations. Cheers!
Andy,
I read your report and purchased a Glock 19 Gen 4 last night. I only fired 30 rounds but was very impressed. This is my first handgun and I had additional help from the gun shop pro. Your report helped me make a very knowledgeable decision.
Thanks
Hey Rick,
That’s great. I’m glad you enjoyed the article and glad it may have helped. Congrats on your purchase. I wholeheartedly approve. :)
Dear Andy,
Thank you for a great insight into the Glock 19. I’ve been researching the various compact carry pistols; I plan to compete in the new IDPA CCP division. Every trail I take leads me back to the G-19. You suggested staying with the factory recoil spring; I’m using a steel one in my G-34 gen4, and I’m keeping an eye on it in case. For competition only: How far can I go with aftermarket parts including recoil spring? I’m a middle of the pack shooter and I live smooth triggers; 1911 spoiled me.
Hi Marc,
If you shoot a G34 now, a G19 would be a logical choice for the CCP division, as the grip angle would be the same, etc. There is no reason to change the recoil spring, but if this is ONLY for competition, I see no reason you can’t change whatever you want. A failure would not be a life-altering event; just a competition loss. No worries.
Andy,
Thanks gor a great review. I won a G19 gen 4 in a raffle today and cant wait to pick her up. I guess first thing is getting the sights replaced with the tru glos.
Great article, just a few questions. On your “do and don’t” list you mentioned not adding an extended slide stop or plug at the base of the gun but in your last picture of your first G19 it appears you have added both of those things. I have my 19 set up this way with the same attachments and am trying to decide if that is a good idea or not.
Hi Derek,
Right. My observations are not baseless, but come from experience. Both of those things are failure points, especially for fighting. Get a double feed and you’ll be hard pressed to get the magazine out to fix the failure if you have a grip plug in your gun. You’ll probably die. The extended slide lock lever gets in the way of proper grip and won’t allow the slide to lock back on the last round, so you’ll waste time trying to fire an empty gun. You might die, then, too. Food for thought.
Awesome right up! Thank you for writing such a quality article. I read some of your other stuff and I quite enjoy your writing style.
My question is about the frame stippling. Did you do the work yourself and can you explain the prep work that was done before stippling. I ask because some people grind the frame down smooth and some people just go for it right over the stock texturing. I want to know your thoughts on the subject.
Thank You
Thanks Nate.
For aesthetics, it’s generally best to grind down the present texture before stippling. If you don’t necessarily care about the aesthetics, it will not matter at all to the result, other than some appearance details.
For Gen 4 frames, I will always grind down the texture before stippling. For Gen 3 or earlier, it’s not as necessary. Hope that helps!
Just stumbled across your site. Nicely done write up. My gen 3 19 is modded like yours and I love it. Shoot it in production/3 gun with surprising results. I am jealous of your rounds counts. Bet it is fun hanging out with you. Take care sir.
Andy,
I throughly enjoyed your article and appreciate your writing style. I grew to like Glocks SLOWLY. I cut my shooting teeth on 1911s. These ranged from the military 1911s to exotic race guns. I later worked my way through Ruger’s, Barettas and SIGs. I still love these firearms and enjoy them. Only late in life did I discover Glock. I began while looking for a replacement for my aging S&W 3913 EDC. The G43 was a pretty good match as a replacement. As I became familiar with the 43, the more I wanted to know about this design. That led me to explore the G26, G36 and FINALLY the G19. I grew to appreciate the elegance of the design. Plus the physical appearance of the pistol satisfies my minimalistic estetic. Experience with the various Glocks demonstrated how ideal the G19 size is for my use. While the pistol is just a tool and no tool is perfect, I want the focus of my shooting time to exploring the use of the gun to the best of my ability. I am sure you have heard the old adage, beware of the man that only owns one gun. I want to be that guy!
Thanks again and I look forward to receiving your newsletters.
Ron
Thanks Ron. Glad you enjoyed the post and I’m happy to hear about your journey to the Glock 19. Good on ya.
Good read!!! Do you have any write ups or “how to” on doing the trigger guard and stippling the frame?
Hey Brian,
No, there are plenty of these sorts of things on Youtube. I do what’s is appropriate specifically for me and not generally for anyone else. If you’re interested I urge you to experiment (on non-valuable media first).
Hi Andy,
Congratulations on penning an excellent article, i am in the debating position with regard to purchasing my first pistol but now my mind is made up a 19 it is ( contrary to that other nameless idiots comments).Again well done.an enlightening article very beneficial to the guy/girl making their initial handgun purchase,as it covers virtually all of the aspects of such a gun.clarifying any doubt in the ‘grey’ areas prior to purchasing.
Hi Andy,
After reading different reviews on the 19 gen4 vs gen5. I have to say that this review sold me and I picked up a gen4 today. I can’t wait to get to the range and try it out. Thanks for your opinion and have a happy new year
Thanks John. Right back atcha!
I’m currently researching my possible first handgun purchase. Today I shot a kimber 380, glock 9mm (not sure model), and a 22 (again not sure what model), and a 45 (again… didn’t ask what kind). And for fun an AR15 but probably not going to go with that – ha ha.
Anyway, my grouping was best with the 22 and 45, surprisingly. But the 45 would definitely be too much for me for frequent shooting and 22 not recommended for self defense. With my research glock 19 gen 4 has been coming up. However I didn’t shoot any handguns today that were double stack and I’m a bit concerned about that. I have fairly small fingers and an average to slightly below average palm size (for a woman). Do you think the width of this would be an issue? I will if course try out a gun before buying but trying to narrow down a list then reach out to local ranges to see what they carry. Also, in general do you have any recommendations I should look into?
Thanks Jessica.
It’s good that you are trying out different models. It’s possible that a double stack, like the G19, would not be suitable for your hands. If a single stack is best for you, Glock has the Glock 43 9mm. it is a subcompact, but doesn’t feel like a mouse gun. To go a bit larger, you might consider the Walther CCP https://www.eaglegunrangetx.com/shooting-review-the-walther-ccp/ or the M&P Shield https://www.eaglegunrangetx.com/shooting-review-mp-9-shield-m2-0/ . Hope that helps!
Hi Andy great read! I am getting ready to purchase my first handgun and I am looking at a gen 4 G 19 MOS model and also just the Gen for G 19. They are only about 50 or $60 difference in price. Not sure if I will ever put an optic on it but thought if I wanted to, it is better to have the option available to me. Any thoughts at all? Thank you Andy your article it is the best and I have researched and read.
Thanks Bob. Glad you enjoyed the article.
Can’t really advise you on the MOS or reg. choice. Your logic seems sound. If it’s a G19 I expect you can’t go wrong!
Excellent article for the most part, except for a few, relatively minor mistakes.
There is no difference in grip angle between a Glock (109 degrees) and 1911s (108 to 110 degrees.) the difference is the “hump” at the bottom of the Glock back strap. Picky, picky, picky!
Glock manufacturing tolerances are, actually, extremely tight, which is a substantial part of the legendary liability. Tolerances are acceptable variations in manufacturing; whereas, clearances are differences in dimensions (fit) among interacting components. Some clearances in Glocks may be a little greater than some other pistols, but Glock’s factories, both in the US and Austria, are absolutely state of the art, and tolerances are extremely tight! Again, picky, picky, picky, but a looser fit can have a tighter tolerance.
The slide lock is not the part that holds the slide to the rear. That is the slide stop. The slide lock is the part that we pull down to field strip. Picky, picky, picky.
Now, opinions:
Stippling. First of all, there are only two places on the frame that need more grip: the bottom of the back strap where the bottom of the right palm rests and the part of the frame under the slide stop that accommodates the palm behind the left thumb. Second, stippling is rough-textured for a while but, eventually, smoothes out with use. For me, grip tape is better but only in those two places. Caveats: grip tape from local hardware stores or Wal-Mart wears out rapidly. Get a sheet of “Grizzly” or “Mob” the skateboarders use. They last a lot longer. Second caveat: grip tape adhesive is not strong enough to hold the piece at the bottom of the back strap. Use super glue and wrap it down tight with masking tape to cure overnight. When the grip tape starts losing its grip, simply peel it off and glue on another piece.
I do use the slide stop as a slide release for reloads, and I like one very slightly extended, translate, the Vickers slide stop. Other extended slide stops protrude enough for my left hand to lock the slide in mid-string, as I grip the gun very high with the left hand, ala Robert Vogel.
I do put a “Seattle Slug” plug in my Limited competition guns. Must say, I have never heard of using the hole in the bottom of the frame for removing a stuck slide–will have to try it to see how well it works vs. replacement base pads, such as those from Vickers.
Anyway, great article, and I am a consummate Glock “fan boy,” with my fifteenth Glock, a Gen5 34, on the way!
Keep yore powd’r dry.
I have been a Glock L.E. instructor and armorer for 30 years, and two years ago discovered the S&W line of M&P pistols. They collectively turn the Glocks, including the Gen 5’s into stone block antiques. I feel so disloyal saying that, but it is true. They are so ergonomically superior to the Glocks that i am embarrassed to have discovered them so late…
Andy, I enjoyed your article on the Glock 19, and I agree with you on staying with Glock original parts when things ( i.e. springs etc.} need to be replaced. I bought my first G17 in early 1987 and then second one in December that year. I really liked shooting these guns, they felt like you could not wear them out. So when the G19 came out, I picked up one in Feb. 1988 and it became my favorite shooter since. The only change I made was to go to Glock Gen. 4 magazines for all my Glocks, because they fall freely when you hit the mag. release, loaded or unloaded.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the great article. I just switched my EDC from a gen 3 G23 to the gen 4 G19, and I’m a bit confused by all of the backstrap choices. I’m currently running the Medium Beavertail and while I like the hand position, I can’t help but wonder how much I’m giving up in concealability. I noticed that you dropped the whole backstrap thing…what were/are your thoughts on them? Also, if one is to utilize one of the interchangeable backstraps, is there an objective way to establish which size is most appropriate, versus just trying each one to see how it feels and shoots?
Thanks again for the great article,
Herbie
Hi Herbie,
Thanks. Good move! The backstraps are specifically to allow you to create the grip feel/size/function that suits you best. The most important element is your reach to the trigger. Different sizes of grip will affect how much of your finger is on the trigger–with a proper grip. If you like the feel of a particular backstrap, but your finger is too short or too long on the trigger shoe, you may have to augment your grip to suit. It’s best if you don’t have to do that, but that’s your business.
I was using a single double action pistol when I first started shooting IDPA but wanted to go to DAO so I started shooting around and I didn’t realy like the look of the glock till I picked it up and the sight alignment was right on target the first time I brought it up. So I bought it and have loved it ever since. The only ammo problem I’ve encountered is with dousonic ammo with my can installed. I don’t keep track of my round count as well as you but I know I’ve put several tjoudnd rounds through it. I don’t disagree with anything in your post.
This is a wonderful piece of work Andy. I heard a lot about Glock 19 pistol, they are efficient, reliable and durable. It does not cost you much maintenance cost. I would prefer IWB holster for my firearm. This is the greater comfort to have this small efficient pistol. It is ideal for the more versatile role when compared to other size option.
Wonderful review! I purchased my Glock 19 Gen 4 about a month ago. It’s my very first gun and so far I adore it! Thank you for giving your professional opinion. I feel even more comfortable with and love mine even more now!
Gracias por la información. Soy usuario de una G23 G3 , me encuentro cómodo con el calibre .40.-
Después de leer su reseña me decidí por una G19 G4 .-( que disfrutara mi esposa).-
En este momento aparte de la G23, tengo una tanfoglio combat en 9 mm y otra en .40.-
Impresionante su descripción, nuevamente gracias.-
Thanks for the info. I am a user of a G23 G3, I am comfortable with the caliber .40.-
After reading your review I decided on a G19 G4 .- (that my wife will enjoy) .-
At this time apart from the G23, I have a tanfoglio combat in 9 mm and another in .40.-
Impressive description, again thank you.-
Thank you I learned a lot from from reading this !
Nice review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Glock19 Gen4.
Hi Andy,
I really like your review, however I have a question which I am sure you will be able to answer.
I recently (May 2019) bought a G-19 Gen 3. The G-19 Gen 5 is now available. Knowing absolutely zilch about hand guns I want to know if the G-19 Gen 3 is still a good buy in 2019?
Hey Hendrik,
Your Gen 3 is absolutely fine. In fact, Gen 3 is widely considered the best model Glock has produced. I prefer Gen 4 (to either Gen 5 or 3), but that’s a personal preference. Enjoy your G19!
Thank you for writing a review, it is detailed and explains a lot about the firearm, how to maintain it, and suggestions as to customization! Even took some notes!! As a first time firearms owner, I feel more confident about making my purchase. Is there any other advice you could lend?? I haven’t gotten my Conceal Carry or other permits yet. I’m putting a lot of study into the hoops, laws, etc first before I dive in.
I am fairly new to glock,
question: you have tow glock -19’s
is this for competition “having a gun for replacement if you have a problem”?
…or do you you keep one specifically for carry?
if you have 80,000 rounds+ why get a second one?
Thank you for a very interesting and enlightning text. I have no experience with the Glock 19, but I shot the Glock 17 in the army and immediately liked the gun. I have recently bought a Glock 17 5th gen for ipsc-shooting, and its a pleasure to shoot. Have you tried the 17 gen 5 yet? Greetings from Norway!
Nice article Andy. As a new shooter my first pistol was a P320 full size. I just added a Glock 19 gen 5 MOS. I love them both.