G23, Gen 4 or Gen 5?

Trey Veston · Jul 7, 2020

I've been wanting a G23 for a while, but with the advent of the Gen 5 pistols, I had hoped Glock would come out with a Gen 5 G23.

Finally, three years later, they announced it.

My Gen 5 G19 was enough of an improvement over my Gen 4 G19 that I considered it worthwhile to hold out for the Gen 5 G23.

However, now I hear that the Gen 5 .40 S&W versions will have a 2mm thicker slide and frame, which means all of the holsters for my G19 will be useless. And I consider the G19 at the upper level, size-wise, of comfortable daily carry. Having carried a P365 the last few months, my G19 now seems like a giant.

So, I thought perhaps I should grab a Gen 4 G23.

However, due to the current gun-buying frenzy, the few I've found are pretty high, and the police trade-ins seem to have dried up or gotten stupid expensive.

So, worth it to just hold out for a Gen 5 G23, which likely won't be available to civilians until next year, or suck it up and pay a bit more for a Gen 4 G23?

I suppose I could call my local Blue Label dealer and see if he could get me a Gen 4 G23 and cash in my certificate for the year...

LiveLife · Jul 7, 2020

Gen4/Gen5 ... And some of us in CA are just happy to be able to buy Gen3 Glocks ... Thankfully they are still on CA Roster of Handguns ... Patiently waiting for the day I can claim resident of a different state ... Finally talked wife into the idea and may happen in a few years.

Congratulations regardless of generation of Glock you end up with.

As to your dilemma, why not get both?

So buy a Gen4 23 this year and cash in the certificate and Gen5 23 later, especially if Gen4 looks to be discontinued.

Trey Veston · Jul 7, 2020

Looks like I won't have to worry about it for a while. Called my dealer and he said there are no G23 pistols available anywhere in the Blue Label program. Only 9 Glock G23s on Gunbroker available nationwide, and they are $150 to $400 more than my Blue Label price. Guess I will not be picking up a G23 in the foreseeable future.

rbernie · Jul 7, 2020

The 40S&W Glock's have always needed more slide mass; the G22/G23 slides weight approximately the same as their 9x19 counterparts, and that's given them a reputation for being snappier than needed. I concur with that reputation. If the Gen5 40's can correct that, I consider that a win.

Having said that, I really shoot my Gen4 19/17 better than my Gen5 19/17, and I credit that to the finger grooves. I understand that many folk don't like them, but they do seem to work for me. The perfect G22/G23 for me would take the RTF2 shipped with some Gen3s, apply it to the Gen4 frame, and use a heavier (Gen5?) slide.

I guess the point of the rambling is to suggest that buying what you shoot best is probably the best choice, whenever it becomes available.

LiveLife · Jul 7, 2020

rbernie said:
I really shoot my Gen4 19/17 better than my Gen5 19/17, and I credit that to the finger grooves.

I thought that was the reason for adding finger grooves to Gen3 Glocks.

Of course, it sucked if your finger size did not match the finger grooves.

rbernie · Jul 7, 2020

The finger grooves are in the correct position for my skinny fingers, but many folk with meatier claws just could NOT fit the Gen3/Gen4. Rather than come up with a way to make the grooves work for more different types of folk, it would seem that the Glock answer was to delete them entirely in the Gen5.

Back to the future!

Trey Veston · Jul 7, 2020

Wow! Searched all the normal online sources for firearms that I've used in the past and there is just nothing out there. Bud's Guns had exactly "0" .40 S&W caliber Glocks available. That is amazing to me. I was interested in trying out the Beretta APX Centurion in .40 S&W and there is none to be found anywhere.

I don't see this changing anytime soon. Looks like I missed the boat, for now.

Hartkopf · Jul 7, 2020

Trey Veston said:
Wow! Searched all the normal online sources for firearms that I've used in the past and there is just nothing out there. Bud's Guns had exactly "0" .40 S&W caliber Glocks available. That is amazing to me. I was interested in trying out the Beretta APX Centurion in .40 S&W and there is none to be found anywhere.

I don't see this changing anytime soon. Looks like I missed the boat, for now.

I don’t need a gun but wanted one last Glock to finish off my collection (for now

). I gave up when I happened on to an auction for a new Glock 30 and the bidding was up to

$900.

Trey Veston · Jul 7, 2020

Yeah, I certainly don't "need" any more defensive pistols. Just thought it would be nice to add a G23 to the stable. Should have thought of that months ago, apparently.

LiveLife · Jul 7, 2020

Trey Veston said:
Yeah, I certainly don't "need" any more defensive pistols. Just thought it would be nice to add a G23 to the stable. Should have thought of that months ago, apparently.

IMO, now's not the time to BUYguns.

Now's the time to SELL guns at the highest going price to buy whatever guns you want LATER when prices come back down. (Maybe after November)

JTQ · Jul 7, 2020

rbernie said:
The 40S&W Glock's have always needed more slide mass; the G22/G23 slides weight approximately the same as their 9x19 counterparts, and that's given them a reputation for being snappier than needed. I concur with that reputation. If the Gen5 40's can correct that, I consider that a win.

I've seen some comments from knowledgeable Glock shooters elsewhere that have bought .40 S&W barrels (when they were available) for their G37/38/39 guns (.45 GAP) and found the extra slide mass making them very good .40 S&W guns.

Some have speculated that is possibly what Glock is doing with their Gen 5, .40S&W guns.

rbernie · Jul 7, 2020

I’ve found that to be true with 40S&W barrels in my G29/G20.

Buzznrose · Jul 7, 2020

Most of my Glocks are Gen 4’s and I like them a lot. I do own a Gen 5 that’s a good gun but I am really disappointed in the new barrel finish..it seems to wear out way faster than the Gen 4’s.

WrongHanded · Jul 7, 2020

Just wait. New Gen5s will be available next year, along with a few barely used gen4s.

Unless you really want one now. In which case: https://www.armslist.com/posts/12003158/fort-collins-colorado-handguns-for-sale--glock-23-40-s-w

It's not cheap, but you get a whole lot with it.

Phaedrus/69 · Jul 8, 2020

I expect that if you think the supply of firearms is bad now, next year will be a lot worse.

SDGlock23 · Jul 8, 2020

personally, after owning several Gen5' 9mm's, I think that I prefer the Gen4. Some of the stuff they did to the Gen5 I don't think was needed and the finish is less durable than the Gen4 finish.

I actually just bought a Gen4 23 from Buds today, they showed to be in store but they aren't appearing online as available to purchase for some reason.

Trey Veston · Jul 13, 2020

Bid on a Beretta APX Centurion in .40 S&W on Gunbroker. There are a few available, but the buy it now price is stupid high at $525. MSRP is $399 and these could be found anywhere for $350 a couple of months ago. I bid a little bit over what they could be found for a couple of months ago, but don't really need one and am certainly not going to pay MSRP for one.

If I win it, then I win it. If not, then no big deal. More money for components.

Jim Watson · Jul 13, 2020

Rumor has it that Gen 4 is being discontinued in favor of Gen 5 with Gen 3 remaining in production for California.

needmorecowbell · Jul 13, 2020

They are easily found on Armslist, around here at least, used in the 450 range.

Garandimal · Jul 15, 2020

Trey Veston said:
I've been wanting a G23 for a while, but with the advent of the Gen 5 pistols, I had hoped Glock would come out with a Gen 5 G23.

Finally, three years later, they announced it.

My Gen 5 G19 was enough of an improvement over my Gen 4 G19 that I considered it worthwhile to hold out for the Gen 5 G23.

However, now I hear that the Gen 5 .40 S&W versions will have a 2mm thicker slide and frame, which means all of the holsters for my G19 will be useless. And I consider the G19 at the upper level, size-wise, of comfortable daily carry. Having carried a P365 the last few months, my G19 now seems like a giant.

So, I thought perhaps I should grab a Gen 4 G23.

However, due to the current gun-buying frenzy, the few I've found are pretty high, and the police trade-ins seem to have dried up or gotten stupid expensive.

So, worth it to just hold out for a Gen 5 G23, which likely won't be available to civilians until next year, or suck it up and pay a bit more for a Gen 4 G23?

I suppose I could call my local Blue Label dealer and see if he could get me a Gen 4 G23 and cash in my certificate for the year...

The G23.4 - was Glock's solution to putting the .40 into the G19 frame.

To me, it Glock's Omni-pistol.

YMMV.

GR

G23, Gen 4 or Gen 5?

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