Has the Glock 19 been surpassed?

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Price and grip shape are the two advantages other manufactures have over Glock, sorta.

I prefer Glock's grip shape to any S&W or Sig I've ever held. Might be because I've spent a lifetime adapting to hand tools, not adapting the tool to my hand.

The overall price of a Glock is pretty close to others if you factor in the cost of several extra magazines and any other part it might need.

The reliability and overall quality has me sold on Glocks. I was going to buy a $300 budget gun last weekend but I can't get myself to do it because I can save up just a little more and buy a proven reliable design of the Glock. The initial price difference isn't worth it to me.
 
I've owned serveral G19 over the years and have recommended them to serveral clients when they just wanted something basic.

I've carried and competed with my Gen2 G19 with complete faith in its reliability.

But the G19 has been superceded by serveral newer polymer 9mms. That it can still compete for contracts against newer pistols is a testament to it's good basic design features. That is isnt winning all the contract, even with huge manufacturer incentives, tells you how far beyond the G19 the bar has been raised.

My personal choices in polymer are currently the S&W M&P9 and the SIG 320 X-series
 
"Surpassed" is a complex term. I bought my first G19 years ago out of curiosity about the obvious groundswell of movement to Glock. Found out that its combination of weight, capacity, reliability and economy was enough to cause me to transition my overall set up of holsters, magazines etc from 1911s to Glocks. Now have 2 19s and 2 23s, and now the support system of holsters, mag pouches and so on to go around them. There are pistols out since that feel a little better in my hand but nothing has so "surpassed" the Glock to cause me to ditch everything and start over. I put a lot of stock in knowing that the pistols positioned around my world all feel and work the same, are simple to use and have so far been utterly reliable and are very familiar to me. Recently added a 43X to have a very concealable pistol and of course, one that felt at home right from the start. I tour the dealers and shows and see lots of the "latest and best ever" pistols but they all shoot the same ammo, accomplish the same fundamental task and none have made me want to start over again.
 
How do you surpass something that was the original? HK VP70 jokes aside, the polymer framed, striker fired, 4" barreled compact handgun conversation cannot exist without mention of the G19.

The problem is that in many ways, Glock has not been the leader of innovation, but reactionary, and not changing their design or offering of models until another manufacturer (or several) does so. This is a viable reason for the discussion on the G19 being surpassed by a market full of great options.

I concede that I am biased - I have looked for decades at Glock models through the years and have not bought a single one. Before you dismiss this as simply a brand opinion, step into my shoes for a minute. Think about this in general terms at first before focusing specifically on the G19. As someone who needs to shoot left handed, the Gen 3 (1998) is totally a right handed gun. In Gen 4 (2010), they at least provided a reversible mag release, but it took to the 5th generation (2017) to put a slide release on both sides of the gun, making it lefty friendly when you flip the mag release. Before someone from the greatest generation says "Why don't you just deal with it, use your index finger to drop the mag, and slingshot reloads." consider this:

HK has been making a fully ambi gun for literally decades in the USP and since 2001 with the P2000 series, just not striker fired until the VP9/40 (2014). S&W started the M&P series in 2005 with an ambidextrous slide release and a reversible mag release, just not in G19 size until the 2.0 Compact.

I get that I am in the minority in this respect, but my personal "surpassed" reasoning is literally the same as other satisfied Glock owners: I started with pistols that had features I liked, that fit me well, and that shot well. I invested in accessories for those pistols, and now, see no need to switch. While I recognize the historical value of the G19, with a lot of high quality alternatives, I don't personally see a reason to buy a gen 5 and start over.
 
All Glocks are the same. They just a frame stretcher or shrinking and call it a different Generation! All the parts on the same. Kinda like Sig change the slide 1" make it another color and bingo a new gun!:);)
 
For me? No.

Not since Glock finally offers a 19 with no grooves and no cutout.

I just get along with Glock trigger better than any of the other striker triggers (and I've tried all the current offerings). They don't feel great in my hands, but I shoot all of them very well, and my particular 19 MOS Gen 5 I shoot as well as any of my 1911 inside 20 yards.

stchman said:
Beretta APX Centurion. IMO that is what a G19 should be. The grip is way more comfortable, than the G10 or P10C and you can swap out the frame for the APX Compact, get some mags, and you have an APX Compact.
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I have a Centurion and it's a great gun, I thought it was a Glock killer until I got it to the range. I just don't shoot it nearly as well as I expect, even with it's excellent ergonomics and trigger (even better with the competition striker spring, try it if you haven't).

Plus, for carry (I go IWB at 2 oclock) the thicker and even more square (if that's even possible) rear of the slide prints a lot more than my 19. For reference, the APX slide is pretty much as wide as a Glock 21, making the 26/19/17 seem sleek and slim in comparison.

Still, the APX is an excellent gun and a whale of a deal for what they are selling for these days. Mine goes in the backup to my carry gun option, or cheap gun to carry on a road trip or airline flight category.
 
popeye said:
I've got 3-19's. A GEN3, GEN4, and GEN5. One upstairs one downstairs, both with acc. rail lights, and one spare/carry. They all work at least as well as any of the competition and take the SAME MAGAZINES.
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That's funny. My M&P Double Stacks all take the same mags too. Must be a trend.
 
Yes there are better guns out of the box but glock has the best aftermarket support, is pretty decent at every task but most importantly they have best reputation. Glocks will continue to be the most popular in their segments.
 
All things considered, I don’t think the G19 is going anywhere. What it comes down to is really a matter of personal preference. I personally find the Springfield XD pistols fit my hands better than the G19. I find the Smith & Wesson M&P pistols more comfortable in my hands than either the Glock or the Springfield. Nine times out of ten, I carry my old Gen3 G19 in an open carry holster when the occasion calls for open carry. It’s like a well worn pair of boots. I know where it’s gonna shoot and she’s bullet proof reliable. The DeSantis holster I carry her in is broke in just right. All are good pistols...just comes down to whatever floats your boat!
 
<*(((>< said:
Jump on in the water's fine, haven't had any issues with my 4 Shield Arms magazines yet, changed out the mag release and good to go. Can't wait for someone to put out an aftermarket milled slide for the G48.
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I've been thinking about it, and if I went for it today I'd probably get it milled for an RMR with a Suarez adaptor plate. The last remaining hangup is a rail for a solid light that's brighter than the TLR 6. Glock has these in Europe, so I'm hoping they get released stateside in the near future!
 
@psyopspec that's why I haven't bought one. I know Glock will eventually come out with an MOS version with a rail, at that point katie bar the door, I'm coming.
 
The Glock 19 is not going anywhere as long as Glock continues to be the marketing monster that they are. They practical give them away to law enforcement and government contracts. They are heavily entrenched in the movies and television and the G19 pops up quite often.

Walk into many gun stores and I bet they will be promoting the G19 as the go to beginner gun.(fixed that line.. not all...but many)


As has been mentioned in this entire thread, all kinds of guns surpass the G19. But it's not going anywhere soon.

And for the record over the years I have owned lots of Glocks including a couple of G19's. They are all long gone exfcept for a gen 3 G17. That's my favorite Glock and not going anywhere.

These are all opinions. But I do notice the fanboys jump to defend the entire Glock line, not just discuss the G19 on it's own.
 
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tarosean said:
when exactly did it become the litmus test? meh
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Since like the 80's, I'd bet that 80% of striker fired, polymer frame guns are glocks. They were an innovative design and have become universally proven performers with amazing aftermarket support due to their popularity. They've sort of relied their following without changing much in recent years, competition has surpassed the glock 19 in a shooting sense with guns like the cz p10c and M&P2.0 which are also quite a bit cheaper than a G19. But glocks still have their advantages, more compact, lighter with more aftermarket parts available and cheaper mags.
 
Jordan Louie said:
They've sort of relied their following without changing much in recent years, competition has surpassed the glock 19 in a shooting sense with guns like the cz p10c and M&P2.0 which are also quite a bit cheaper than a G19.
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If you have a successful design, why would you change it. People are fickle, if they like something they like it. If a company changes a design, even a little, customer base explodes with negative. Glock comes out with something as benign as a silver slide and the internet goes ape****.
 
rskent said:
If you have a successful design, why would you change it. People are fickle, if they like something they like it. If a company changes a design, even a little, customer base explodes with negative. Glock comes out with something as benign as a silver slide and the internet goes ape****.
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Technology progresses, the ford model T was successful and served its purpose well but there were improvements that could be made. The glock design overall is good but the gun has minimal features, poor ergos(subjective I suppose) mushy+heavy trigger and terrible sights. Still a good gun for sure but its overpriced IMO at 500US, 700 CAD.
 
rskent said:
If someone without any experience asked you to recommend a personal defense firearm, what would you recommend?
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I would recommend we go to a well stocked range with rental guns. I would bring a selection of mine and let them see what works for them.

Personal defense can mean CC, it can mean home defense only. So that also comes with a discussion on what they want the gun for. I can discuss pros and cons of most platforms and sizes but in most cases do not recommend anything smaller than a 19 but so many good options only they can really make that call.
 
Jordan Louie said:
Technology progresses, the ford model T was successful and served its purpose well but there were improvements that could be made. The glock design overall is good but the gun has minimal features, poor ergos(subjective I suppose) mushy+heavy trigger and terrible sights. Still a good gun for sure but its overpriced IMO at 500US, 700 CAD.
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All pretty subjective. I like the minimalistic design. A gen 4 G19 fits my hand like a glove. I like the 5lb trigger. And you can put any sights you want. I do like the Glock night sights, But I have HD’s on my G19.
My first G19 replaced my P228. The P228 cost a heck of a lot more than a Glock.
 
weisse52 said:
I would recommend we go to a well stocked range with rental guns. I would bring a selection of mine and let them see what works for them.
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So basically, no recommendation at all.

I have to confess that when people ask me, I just tell them to pick any top tier gun that tickles their fancy. They are all pretty darn good.
 
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