Written by Phillip

Glock 19 Gen 5 Review

The gen 5 Glock 19 is the latest generation released from the company. It includes many upgrades that push it ahead of the previous generations and allows the pistol to adapt to any hand size like never before.

Since the Gen 5 Glock 19 is the newest revision to the Glock family it will have the most modern features over any of the generations. The vast majority of these changes are in the right direction so let’s break down the overall feel of the gun.

Specifications

Caliber: 9x19
System: Safe Action
Magazine: Standard 15 Optional 17,19, 24, 31, 33
Barrel Length: 102 mm | 4.02 inch
Weight (without magazine):610 g | 21.52 oz
Weight (with empty magazine): 670 g | 23.63 oz
Weight (with loaded magazine): 855 g | 30.16 oz
Trigger Pull: 5.5lbs
Length (Overall): 185 mm | 7.28 inch
Slide Length: 174 mm | 6.85 inch
Width (Overall): 34 mm | 1.34 inch
Slide Width: 25.5 mm | 1.0 inch
Height (incl magazine): 128 mm | 5.04 inch
Line of Sight: 153mm | 6.02 inch

Changes from the Gen 4

Let’s take care of the big one first. The fifth generation was when Glock decided the finger grooves have been around long enough and it was time to clean the frame from their bumpiness. Small-handed people rejoice!

The finish was changed once again. This time with an nDLC coating. I feel like this change is welcome since it matches the color of the frame much better than the previous nitride finish that was introduced with the gen 4s.

The barrels for all gen 5 Glocks have been changed over to the Glock Marksman Barrel. The difference between this barrel and older Glock barrels is that they changed they reengineered the polygonal rifling and added a recessed crown.

I personally don’t see a huge difference shooting with the newer barrel vs the older one but I have never had many issues with Glock accuracy in the past either.

Many parts that are used in the trigger and firing mechanisms have been redesigned for gen 5. This makes the internals not compatible with older generations but the trigger on the gen 5 is noticeably better than the previous offerings.

The slide has seen a few welcome changes. The edges have all been rounded and now feel a lot better than the blockiness of past generations.

A gun is only as good as what feeds it and with this generation, they made a few tweaks with the magazine. They added a bright orange follower that makes it easier to identify a loaded mag from a spent one plus bright colors are easier to find if you need to drop an empty mag during a reload.

The fourth generation introduced the ambidextrous magazine release, now for gen 5 they took things a step further by adding the ambidextrous slide release. I appreciate when companies try to make their products more accessible to all users and this is a step in the right direction.

The bottom of the frame has been flared out to make it easier to quickly change out your magazines.

How Does it Compare to Other Glock Models?

The Glock 19 is the compact option in the 9mm lineup. It is smaller than the full-sized Glock 17 while still being larger than the subcompact model 26.

The Glock 19 has the same form factor as the Glock 23 which is a .40S&W offering.

There is also the options of crossover models in the Glock 19x and the Glock 45. Essentially these guns take the slide of the Glock 19 and slap them on a Glock 17 frame. I am a big fan of this combination as it works very well for people with larger hands.

Who Uses the Glock 19?

The Glock 19 sees professional use with undercover police as well as military use. The most distinguished group currently using the Glock is the United States Special Forces.

With professional use from high-profile units, the Glock 19 has become extremely popular among civilian shooters.

Glock 19 Gen 5 Competitors

The CZ P10C is a very similar contender to the Gloc 19. It has the same barrel length, front slide serrations, the same magazine capacity, and ambidextrous controls.

The grip is very different on the P10C, although it does have interchangeable backstraps the beavertail will always be present. I like this because I find it allows me to get a very natural grip on the pistol.

The trigger on the P10C is also slightly lighter running between 4.5 to 5lbs.

One place where it shines a bit brighter is the inclusion of metal night sights out of the box.

Another contender that might take your gaze away from the Glock is the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 Compact. The 2.0 series of the M&P seen many great revisions to the model including a redesigned trigger that is much better than the previous offering, front
slide serrations, an aggressive texture on the grip.

The M&P 9 2.0 Compact can be found in multiple configurations with barrels ranging from 3.6 to 4.6 inches, with steel sights or suppressor height, and even in different frame colors.

The Safe Action System

You might be wondering what this safe action system is all about. To put it simply it revolves around the pistols having three separate safety systems that operate independently from each other. These safeties include the following:

  • A trigger safety
  • A firing pin safety
  • A drop safety

This design allows the trigger pull to be the same throughout the course of fire, whereas traditional hammer-fired pistols would have a longer and heavier first shot when they are in double-action compared to when they are in single-action.

How Does the Striker Fire System Work?

On a striker-fired firearm, the striker is actually the firing pin. It is under spring tension inside the gun until the trigger is pulled.

At this time the spring releases and allows the striker to move forward and hit the primer on the cartridge that is loaded in the chamber.

When the slide moves backward during the course of fire the striker is then rearmed under spring tension and is ready to fire once again until the magazine is depleted.

What finish is Used on the Glock 19 Gen 5?

I think this new coating looks much better than the previous nitride finish we had in the past.

New for Gen 5 we have the nDLC coating. It boasts increased protection against corrosion and scratching while allowing the handgun to perform well in less desirable considerations.

Beyond that, I personally feel that it looks better than the older nitride coating that was used on the third and fourth generations. The nitride finish did not match the color of the frame whereas the nDLC finish does.

Best Ammo to Use in the Glock 19 Gen 5

On any gun consistency is key to executing effective practice that will transition to real-world and competitive scenarios. That is also the case in your ammunition. It is important to find reliable ammo that you will be able to find easily and can be found in an ideal grain weight for the gun you plan on using it in.

115 and 124-grain bullets will function well in most handguns and Glocks are no exception. Always search for brass cases and avoid steel if possible.

Here are some of my go-to picks when looking for 9mm ammo.

Range Ammo:

CCI Brass Blazer is a fantastic round that can be found in multiple grain weights and functions very well in many firearms. It can run a little dirtier than some other brands on the market but since Glocks are so easy to field strip this is pretty much a no factor.

Another great choice is PMC Bronze. They can be found commonly in the 115-grain weight and come packaged in very small boxes while still having the typical 50 rounds of a standard range box.

Since the packaging is compact you will be able to store extra ammo in your range bag and ammo cans than with other brands.

Defense:

Federal HST is my go-to for defensive pistol needs. Yes, they can be more expensive than other offerings on the market but when it comes to a defensive situation do you really feel like you should be cheap out on self-protection?

Best Accessories for Your Glock 19 Gen 5

A tactical device such as a laser or a light for the accessory rail is a great piece of kit to have. They can both greatly enhance your effectiveness in low-light situations.

A quality holster that suits whatever needs you to plan of filling with your Glock is a great option. Feel free to purchase multiple, one for each of the situations you plan on using it with. Be sure to train with your carry holster at the range if they allow it so you can become proficient with your draw before you need to put it to real-world use.

You can never have too many magazines so pick yourself up a couple of extras. Glock mags work in many pistol-caliber carbines so consider it an investment for the future.

Lastly, change out those polymer night sights for something metal that will take more abuse if you ever find yourself in a tough situation.

Best Modifications for Your Glock 19 Gen 5

The only thing I could really think about modifying on the gun would be the trigger if you are looking for something that will be more competitive. That being said make sure you purchase a quality aftermarket trigger as the factory one might outperform some of the cheaper options on the market.

Pros:

Trigger

With the tweaks and refinement, the trigger saw during this update. I find it to be a very nice improvement overall compared to the previous offerings. The gen 5 really does stand out as different when shooting it and a gen 4 or previous Glock and I feel it is better than what the company had in the past.

Safe

Glocks safe action system is extremely safe. There are no external safeties to manipulate when going to shoot just point and click and you are good to go.

Reliable

Reliability and durability have been a staple for the company since the beginning and gen 5 is no exception to the long-standing quality that is expected from Glock.

Simple

With only 34 major parts to the pistol Glocks keep it simple so there is a smaller chance for failure due to mechanical wear or otherwise.

Accessory Rail

The integrated accessory rail makes it easy to mount tactical devices such as lasers and lights onto the pistol.

Barrel

All gen 5 Glocks are equipped with the new Glock Marksman Barrel. Which is an update to the polygonal rifling that Glocks have been sporting since day one.

Accurate

These new barrels are very accurate and will be able to perform out to long ranges.

Concealed Carry

The compact size of the Glock 19 makes it a very good contender for concealed carry purposes.

Versatile

But that’s not all, the Glock 19 is very versatile being able to serve multiple roles and purposes.

Magazine

After enhancing the magazines in gen 3 with metal reinforcement I thought the mags were already great but the new orange follower takes it a step further by making it easier to find them on the ground when they get dropped when empty and to just overall see when a mag is dry at any time.

Did someone say extended magazine?

Maintenance

With field stripping being able to be accomplished in under a minute you can bet that maintenance for the Glock is super simple.

Backstraps

Adjustable backstraps have been a feature since gen 4 and they can really make the gun fit much better in your hand whether you have big or small

Glock decided to take things one step further in making their pistols work for anyone. With the gen 5s, there is a slide release on both sides of the slide making it easy for both left and right-handed shooters to use effectively.

There is growing aftermarket support for the fifth generation. Since Glocks are extremely popular you rarely need to wait long for your favorite parts to become available.

Ergonomic

The fifth-generation is the first generation where I put my seal of approval on Glock ergonomics. The slide has been beveled to finally get rid of the rougher edges that the brand has been known for since its inception.

Finger Grooves

We can finally say goodbye to the finger grooves because they have been deleted on the gen 5s. A very welcome change for people with smaller hands who did not have a comfortable grip on the change that was seen in both gen 3 and 4.

Front Serrations

Another thing I am happy with in the gen 5s is the addition of front serrations. Sure they are not a make-or-break thing but I do like having the option to chamber check or rack the slide using the front of the slide.

Cons:

Sights

The only gripe that I still have with Glocks after this new generation is that they are still using polymer sights on their handguns. Many other companies nowadays include steel sights standard out of the box.

Sure you can upgrade to steel sights for a significant price increase but it would be nice to see these offered more openly.

Keep in mind that because some parts have been re-engineered from the previous generation, not all parts will be available to be enhanced using previous generation upgrades.

Glock 19 Gen 5 Overall Review

The Glock 19 gen 5 is right up there with the Glock 19x and Glock 45 in my books. They are all my favorite offerings from the company and any of them would be a solid addition to your arsenal.

They are equally competent being used as a range gun as it would be as a concealed carry option. Gen 5 fixed some issues that I had with previous generations and is probably the closest thing to “Glock Perfection” right out of the box for me.

Overall review 5/5

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