A Grudging Review of the Glock 19

I guess it's time to come out of the closet and admit it. I love my Glock 19.

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LOL... That was evident when you automatically excused your malfunction.

Never thought I would own one.

Bought a G19 gen 4 to use for training purposes teaching cops wives classes.

Shot it a bit just to become familiar,

Swapped sights, love the gun.

Carry it quite a bit.

Funny that the OP mentioned the "Glock scare" of the 1980s and the public perception that Glocks could sail right through an airport metal detector.

In 1979, I happened to have a Glock 19, purchased very cheaply through a law enforcement program. If you had federal credentials, you could get one brand new, real cheap, complete with the Tupperware box. I did so, before really even knowing anything about the gun. I was a federal Special Agent at the time.

I took the gun with me on a trip to Helena, Montana (long story). At any rate, I ended up at the Helena airport very early - nobody was around except the guys running the x-ray scanner and the metal detector. I asked if they'd like to experiment with one of those brand new Glocks that were supposedly invisible and impossible to detect. They fell all over themselves for the chance, and I pulled it out.

Bottom line: They were very happy to see that there was a clear outline of the gun's receiver in the x-ray scanner. Here's the interesting part... with the UNLOADED gun, with NO magazine in it, I walked right through the metal detector and it didn't make a peep. When I put 2 loaded magazines in my back pocket, the detector went off.

I attribute that to the time - back then, I think they had the sensitivity on the magnetometer set really low.... the fact that the gun's slide didn't set it off though - that was weird. I swear, I walked right through there. I probably could have had a few rounds in my pocket, walked through and then loaded it up...

Can't do that today though. They'd probably pick up a paper clip.

P.S. - I don't own any Glocks now. They aren't for me... but they certainly do function. They just have no soul...

Thats a cool story. Times have certainly changed.

glocked

I remember in the late 80's I had carried Smith 19 and 686 revolvers, then a Beretta 92 when assigned to the tactical unit. We were still using 1911s in the reserve unit for Uncle Sam, at least, and after I went in the narcotics unit I carried a bunch of 1911s, including a Gold Cup, Sigs, an HK P7, a Smith 640 when needed, heck I even one of those Steyr bullpup .223 rifles for raids. When I was required to go to a Glock 19 when I got on with our state's investigative bureau, and I hated it. Then, I accidentally dropped it in mud during range training (how freakin' embarrassing), made sure the barrel was clear, slung out some mud and water, and kept on a shooting. I began to change my mind. Both law enforcement shooting situations I was in, one a very close call in walking into an ambush in an apartment and just trying to get a round off before a 12-gauge cut me in half, were with a 19. They work. I have a 686 and am getting yet another 1911 (in 9mm, to eventually give 9x23 a try), but the 19 stays on board.

Well, so far I've shot around 1500 rounds, mostly FMJ and some HP of various manufacturers and haven't had any malfunctions. I give it a general wipe down and rod the bore after every range session. I also have a G17 mag for it and recently replaced the factory sights with TRU-GLOs.
No issues, the trigger feels really smooth now.

Nice thread.
I have one problem with the Glock. I can't shoot one accurately. I'm used to a smooth DA/SA trigger as found on Sig P22x series guns. When I shoot a Glock, or even dry fire one, the trigger break makes the muzzle jump off target. Do you know what I mean? I guess its a consequence of the striker fired action, but the trigger break is not clean. It pulls smoothly right to the break, and then there's suddenly resistance on the break as it engages the striker that messes up the aim.

RainDodger said:

P.S. - I don't own any Glocks now. They aren't for me... but they certainly do function. They just have no soul...

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Interesting comment. I have seen the “no soul” criticism before. On wristwatch forums the fans of mechanical watch movements use that comment to disparage quartz watch movements. The quartz movements have greater simplicity, are easier to maintain, and more reliable than mechanical watch movements just like Glocks are compared to 1911 pistols.

When I first started shooting, I was not interested in the Glock. The main reason is simply because it wasn't what I thought of when I pictured a handgun. And this was before there were Ruger SR's and SW M&P's and FN polymers. And I had never even seen an XD. But I shot almost everything else the range offered, so I eventually decided to at least TRY the one plastic gun they had, the Glock 17.

I had been shooting air guns since I was 10, including a couple of handguns, my favorite being a hefty Crossman target style pistol with a 6" barrel, faux wood stock and thumbrest grip, and a really light trigger. I was also a deadly shot with a CO2 Python relica. I was a pretty good shot at this time. Better even than I am now, due to my eyes. Earlier in that session I had unloaded a P220 at 15 feet without making more than one bullet hole. So my standards of accuracy were high for a relatively new shooter. I expected the Glock 17 to be less accurate than the 9mm Berettas and SIGs and the HKP7 I had been shooting that day. I expected the Glock to slip in my grip. I expected the trigger to be bad. Handling the gun, I expected I would not simply not like it, and I almost wanted it to shoot badly to get over it and move on. And to be honest, I simply didn't like the way it looked or felt. It was a station wagon in a lineup of sports cars. Well, SHOOTING the gun, I found out my expectations were wrong. All of them. And my groups were as tight or tighter than anything else I had ever shot in 9mm. I have since found out that I shoot a G21 even better.

Now, many years later, I shoot Glocks more than any other handgun. And I shoot 95% cast lead. The Glock bores shoot cast lead every bit as cleanly and accurately as any of my other handguns. Better, if anything. If the load is bad, they foul super bad. But with a good loading, they shoot perfectly straight and perfectly clean, and they don't need hardly any maintenance. Somehow, I even think they look damn good, now.

If you made it this long without at least trying one, that's too bad. If the range/store I went to that fateful day didn't have such a good policy on trying different guns, I might have done the same. It was the last gun I tried in a long day of shooting, and I didn't particularly care to even try it one way or another. But luckily, I did. Now it's the first handgun I pick up, more often than not.

Great review, Spats. Are you thinking of trying out any of Gretchen's sisters?

I've always thought Glocks are not good looking guns. In the early days, I heard a lot about poor accuracy. Recently I picked up a G42 for my wife and a G20SF. Hate the grip and the long scratchy trigger on the G20 and will be making some changes.

Good info. I carry a WWII-era Colt DS at all times legal/practicable. I'm realizing that I've myopically eschewed Glock because, well, Bogart never carried one. Your thoughtful review(s), coming from a perspective that resonates with me, is making an impression. It's probably a bridge too far for this old guy, but I definitely have new respect for polymer.

I have a safe full of 1911s and a few S&Ws, Rugers, etc. But the gun on my nightstand is a G19, as is the gun in my car. I don't ever take them out and fondle them or show them to my friends. I just know if I ever really need a gun, they will work.

I've handled the G30, but never fired it. I didn't like the way it felt in the hand. Too much wiggle between the grip and magazine.

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If you're like me, it'll pinch the ever-loving heck outta your pinky when you shoot hot rounds. I still can't understand why they couldn't have made the G30 with the same grip/length as the 19/23. I'd be all over that in a moment.

I'm kinda like you Spats, didn't care for Glocks for the longest time but then finally found the one that fit me (in my case it was a Gen 4 21) and, once I got used to it, the others became much more comfortable to shoot. Good thing since the Gen 4 19 is a really, really good CCW piece. Still swaps time with my CZ P-07 as a carry gun, generally depending on which I took to the range last.

Well THAT'S good to know! I've never liked the magazines with extensions, (G30, SR9c, etc.) because of the magazine wiggle. And no matter how much folks describe them as "rock solid" on a given model, they wiggle. I hadn't thought about the pinch, though.

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With weakish target 230 grainers my 30S shoots real well, accurate and reliable. The pinch comes from hotter SD rounds, which are downright unpleasant to my pinky. Talon grips have helped some, but I'm thinking of dumping my 30S at some point. The 23 and 19 are much nicer to practice with, and therefore get the carry duty.

That said, my Gen 4 21 is my "Go to" .45, over my 6 1911's. I love my 1911's and carry them occasionally (so I trust them with my life) but were I to absolutely need to grab a gun to "go to work" I would very, very likely grab that Glock 21.

So have you bought other Tupperware guns through the years or just the one Glock?

How’s the Glock compare to those in your shooting experiences?

RainDodger said:

Funny that the OP mentioned the "Glock scare" of the 1980s and the public perception that Glocks could sail right through an airport metal detector.

In 1979, I happened to have a Glock 19, purchased very cheaply through a law enforcement program. If you had federal credentials, you could get one brand new, real cheap, complete with the Tupperware box. I did so, before really even knowing anything about the gun. I was a federal Special Agent at the time.

I took the gun with me on a trip to Helena, Montana (long story). At any rate, I ended up at the Helena airport very early - nobody was around except the guys running the x-ray scanner and the metal detector. I asked if they'd like to experiment with one of those brand new Glocks that were supposedly invisible and impossible to detect. They fell all over themselves for the chance, and I pulled it out.

Bottom line: They were very happy to see that there was a clear outline of the gun's receiver in the x-ray scanner. Here's the interesting part... with the UNLOADED gun, with NO magazine in it, I walked right through the metal detector and it didn't make a peep. When I put 2 loaded magazines in my back pocket, the detector went off.

I attribute that to the time - back then, I think they had the sensitivity on the magnetometer set really low.... the fact that the gun's slide didn't set it off though - that was weird. I swear, I walked right through there. I probably could have had a few rounds in my pocket, walked through and then loaded it up...

Can't do that today though. They'd probably pick up a paper clip.

P.S. - I don't own any Glocks now. They aren't for me... but they certainly do function. They just have no soul...

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That 1979 Glock 19 Would be pretty valuable...since the first G17 didn’t come out until 1982, and the G19 not for a couple years after.

Spats

I have one Glock, a G17, that I bought very early on when they first started showing up on the market. I bought it mainly for it's unique design and polymer construction, though I didn't care for the trigger (still don't), nor for it's ergonomics (not a good fit for my small size hands). Same with the G19 and the G26 as well as the larger caliber models; they are just plain uncomfortable for me to hold.

Not that I'm against polymer pistols in general; some of my current favorites are the HK VP9, Ruger SR9c, Kahr CM9, CZ P07, and Steyr M9. They all fit me very well, are reliable, accurate, and light enough to carry for quite awhile.

My biggest gripe about Glocks has always been the finger grooves. That goes for any pistol with finger grooves for that matter. Grips with finger grooves just do not fit my hands. I did break down and buy a Glock G44 this past March. The Gen 5 fits my hands a lot better then the Gen 3 and 4. I ended up building a G19 using a Polymer80 80% frame (I know not a true Glock). I like the frame grip on the P80 better. It is slightly slimmer and closer to the angle of a 1911.

After building the P80 940C (G19), the 80% bug bit me. I am in the process of building a SS80 (G43) right now. I'm just waiting on an OME G43 slide and lower parts kit to finish it.

I have small hands and some pistols fit just fine while others do not. I will never have finger grooves on any pistol. The funny thing is that a 1911 fits my hands while the Beretta M9 does not. I was issued and carried both while in the Army.

I would compare a Glock to a Honda for sure. Nothing fancy bet gets the job done.

RainDodger said:

They just have no soul..

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My thoughts exactly.
I have shot several glocks, and have always shot them surprisingly well.
#1son has a fde 19x. Wow. Great pistol.
I dont own a glock, but i did buy a G42 for a benefit raffle.

EDC is hard on a gun. It wears on the finish, and accumulates crud. Apparently glocks are right at home in this environment.
If i thought a glock would be better for me than my sr9c I would buy one today.