Written by Phillip

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): 605 g | 21.34 oz
Weight (with empty magazine): 665 g | 23.81 oz
Weight (with loaded magazine): 850 g | 29.98 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 inc
Line of Sight: 157mm | 6.18 inch

The Glock 19 gen 5 MOS is essentially a Glock 19 gen 5 that has the slide cut out to accept a base plate for a red dot sight.

Not to say that the gen 5 by itself is a bad pistol, it is in fact my favorite generation of Glock that is currently available.

Let’s check out some changes between this and the previous generation.

Glock 19 Gen 5 Review

Probably the biggest change from the fourth generation was that they got rid of the finger grooves. These were a pain for small-handed people since the third generation and many are happy to see them gone.

A new nDLC coating is used on gen 5 Glocks. I am a big fan of this new coating as it matches the frame much nicer than the older nitride coating seen since the release of gen 4.

All barrels on gen 5 models have been changed over to Glock Markman Barrels. These barrels are new for this generation featuring redesigned polygonal rifling and a recessed crown.

I have shot both gen 4s and gen 5s in the same sessions and do not notice a difference in accuracy but then again I haven’t personally had many issues with this in the past with Glock products.

There have been changes in the internal parts that are used for the trigger and firing mechanism. With this new design, the trigger on the gen 5 feels less “Glock Like” and is a definite improvement over the previous design.

I notice a smoother take-up and break even when the gun hasn’t been broken in yet. What is the same as previous triggers is that the more you use it the better it will get.

The slide has seen some love on the gen 5. Now all the edges have been rounded off which really helps get rid of that blocky look and feel of older Glocks and front serrations have been included as well.

Even the magazine has seen change. All gen 5 magazines have an orange follow. The bright color makes it simple to determine if your mag has run dry and makes it easier to spot on the ground if you drop an empty mag for a reload.

Continuing on the route they went for the fourth generation, Glock has further improved the usability for all users with the addition of an ambidextrous slide release. This with the previously added backstraps and swappable magazine release truly makes this generation a pistol that can work for anyone.

A flared magwell has been added to make reloads even easier than before and a half-moon cut-out was added on the bottom of the frame on the back to help remove stuck magazines.

While the flared magwell is an awesome feature on any gun I feel the cut-out isn’t necessary since all modern Glock mags have been steel reinforced so they won’t warp. But then again I don’t use the gun in adverse conditions that may make this feature useful.

How Does it Compare to Other Glock Models?

The gen 5 Glock 19 MOS is the exact same form and function as the regular gen 5 Glock 19 with the added cut out to accommodate a base plate for a red dot sight.

Similar to the base Glock 19 model, the MOS version is a compact pistol being smaller than the full-sized Glock 17 and larger than the subcompact Glock 26.

Who Uses the Glock 19?

The Glock 19 has seen widespread use in policing and the United States Special Forces have also started using the Glock 19 to complement their armaments.

Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS Competitors

If a larger optic ready pistol is more your style and Glock does not work for you then the Ruger American Pistol Competition would be right up your alley. At the time of writing this article, both pistols are selling for a similar price too.

The Ruger American Pistol Competition comes with a target-style rear and fiber optic front sight. It features the same ambidextrous features that the gen 5 Glocks ship with and the Ruger has a magazine capacity of 17 rounds.

Of course, I would recommend the CZ P-10 C Optics Ready. I am partial to the CZ product since they have never let me down in the past and offer great features for the price you pay.

Honestly, I think these guns are the perfect choice if you want something a little different that isn’t one of the bigger brands.

It has everything that the Glock 19 does while being the same size besides the aftermarket, but then again I don’t think that any pistol can compete with the vast support that Glock gets for their products.

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 MOS?

The Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS ships with the new nDLC coating, a welcome change from the older nitride finish that was used on the gen 4 and later gen 3s. The nDLC coating does a much better job to match the slide color to the frame and is less prone to corrosion and wear.

Best Ammo to Use in the Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS

A gun is only as good as how you feed it. Having a few brands you can count on for range work is key since availability flip flops from time to time. As with most other tasks that require repetition to improve consistency is key.

This flows down to the grain weight of the projectiles that will be coming out of the barrel of your gun. Even though the differences may seem small on paper you will notice a difference on the felt recoil when shooting various grain weights.

When it comes to 9mm ammunition 115 and 124-grain weights are going to be the most common you will find so sticking to them will help you out in the long run.

Range Ammo:

CCI Brass Blaser is my usual go-to round for playing around at the range. They are offered in assorted grain weights and are a good bang for the buck.

If CCI Blazer is out of stock I will gravitate toward PMC Bronze. These are found most commonly in 115 grain but 124 grain does also exist.

One added benefit to these rounds is that they are packaged in very small boxes so I can carry more rounds in my ammo box and in my range bag compared to similar boxes from other brands.

Defense:

Federal HST is my go to choice for defense rounds.

Federal HST is my go-to round for defensive purposes. During testing with these rounds at the range into

Best Accessories for Your Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS

Since the MOS version of Glocks is designed to attach a red dot to the slide the first recommendation would be to go out and purchase a quality red dot sight for the pistol.

Red dots come in many shapes and sizes but for a handgun, a good idea would be to keep it as small as possible.

If you want to go for the full tactical look then adding a laser or light to the accessory rail will complete the appearance while adding low light effectiveness.

It's never a bad idea to pick up some extra magazines for a Glock. They are cross-compatible with many pistol caliber carbines and since the Glock 19 can accept many different capacities find the one that works best for you in whatever you plan on using the gun for.

Best Modifications for Your Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS

An aftermarket trigger will be able to help you squeeze that extra bit of performance out of the Glock 19. Just make sure that you do your research to be sure that you are picking up a good one.

The Gen 5 trigger is already better than the trigger of previous generations and you don’t want to spend the money on a product that is just as good as the one you are replacing.

Pros:

Trigger

Even on the older generations I still recommended the factory trigger but the new-gen 5 is an obvious improvement over the previous offerings so it’s a definite yes.

Safe Action System

All Glock models since the beginning have used the safe action system. There is no external safety to worry about on these guns. Just point and click as simple as that. This makes safety a key feature of the brand.

Reliability

Reliability and durability are a long-standing staple of the Glock brand. You can trust that these guns will be able to perform in the adverse conditions that you can find.

With only 34 major parts in the firearm, Glocks were made with simplicity in mind. There are fewer things to go wrong and break when there are fewer pieces used to put it together.

Accessory Rails

Since the third generation, double-stack Glocks have had an accessory rail that can be used to attach a laser or a light to the pistol. Not only does this give style points but also increases usability in low light.

Barrel

The new Glock Marksman Barrel is great. It allows the gun to perform out to long ranges without issues and is durable enough to last thousands of rounds. Please note though all polygonal rifled barrels will experience excessive wear if you put unjacketed lead projectiles through the gun.

With a brand new barrel and a long sight radius for a compact pistol accurate shots are easy to achieve.

Concealed Carry

Concealed carry was the original thought behind the development of the Glock 19. As such it works very well as a carry gun.

But that is not all. The size of the Glock 19 is perfect to serve multiple roles. This Versatility means that you can use it as a primary pistol, a backup gun, a range king, or a decked-out competitive abomination.

Magazines

Magazines for these guns are great no matter what size you choose. The Glock 19 is cross-compatible with the larger G17 mags and beyond so if you think extra rounds are a force multiplier then be my guest to slap in a big stick.

Glocks have always been a very simple gun to field strip, literally you can do it in under 30 seconds. Since it is so easy to take apart, maintenance is a breeze.

Backstraps

Being able to change out the backstraps is a great way to make the gun have that custom fit to your hand no matter what size you are.

Ambidextrous

With the addition of the ambidextrous slide stop, the Gen 5 Glock is the most user-friendly Glock you will find on the market.

Aftermarket Support

Since Glock is a super popular manufacturer, there is a healthy amount of aftermarket support for the brand. There are compatibility issues with some internals on the gen 5 so make sure whatever parts you plan on purchasing will work on your gun.

Slide

The new slide design adds a lot to the ergonomics of the pistol. I was very happy to see the front serrations and rounded edges incorporated into the pistol.

No Finger Grooves

With the deletion of the finger grooves, the frame has seen a much-desired change. The bottom of the frame has also been mixed up with a flared magwell and a half-moon cut out to help remove stuck magazines.

Sights

Although I would usually put Glock sights in the cons category since this is a MOS model you will be able to attach red dot sights to the pistol which can drastically enhance usability since you do not have the traditional sight alignment to worry about.

Cons:

Nothing really to report here. The things I would typically rant about in the Glock products have been solved either by the gen 5 or the MOS system.

Glock 19 Gen 5 MOS Overall Review

The gen 5 Glock 19 was already one of my favorite Glocks available on the market today. With the MOS system giving the added benefit of red dot support this may be the perfect handgun to adapt to any role that you see fit.

Overall score 5/5

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