I HATE the new Gen 4 Glock.

[jon_in_wv]

Today I stopped by my local dealer to price a new M&P 40c to supplement my trysty M&P 9C that has served my like a champ for the past few years. The dealer HAD to pull out a Gen 4 Glock 23 for me to play with. I am NOT a Glock guy but that the Gen 4 is SAAAAWEEEEEET . I HATE how much I liked it! The grip is great, it feels so slim and low in your hand, the trigger was good (not great), the chamber looks well supported, and best of all the mag release is finally useable. I have meaty hands and short thumbs. I can only reach the mag release on a few weapons. On the M&Ps I use my middle finger to hit the button. On the new Glock I could actually reach the button with my thumb. The pointability was also spot on. It didn't feel like it wanted to point at the sky. I still despise the Glock sights though. The only issues I have that didn't sway me to get the Glock instead is that I already have holsters I really like for the M&P since I've been carrying the 9C and I would prefer a standard rifled barrel for reloading purposes. The Glock was about $50 dollars more expensive and factoring in replacing the sights and scoring new leather I just don't feel its worth it for me.
If you are on the fence and looking for a new weapon and haven't handled the Gen 4 I wouldn't base your opinion on previous models. Check out the new one before deciding. I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid but I think they made it taste a little better if you want to.

 

[GLOOB]

Well, I hate to disagree, but the Gen4 G19 points pretty much exactly the same as the 3rd gen, to me. The grip is very marginally shorter, front to back, but they left pretty much the entire hump in place, even with the smallest backstrap. On the ergonomics side, I think the Gen4 "change," or lack thereof, is nearly a complete fail... unless you are part of the minority that thought the Gen3 was too SMALL and you want to make it even bigger.

That said, the Gen 3's are already SAWEET, so the Gen 4's are just a little bit sweeter!

 

[jon_in_wv]

I should add the one I handled was the rough texture model, which I also really liked. They do still offer two different grips textures don't they?

 

[REAPER4206969]

The GEN4 is a Glock designed solely to appeal to people that don't like Glock's.

 

[W.E.G.]

 

[RUT]

>>The GEN4 is a Glock designed solely to appeal to people that don't like Glock's.<<

Not really... I liked Glocks before the Gen4 came out and now I like 'em even better!

 

[reuben mishler]

I've heard it both ways that people like and dislike the 4th gens. I'm actually not a fan of the rough grips on the 4th gen. Unsure as to why they went to that other then maybe trying to mimic Custom 1911s. I say this only because I'm not a fan of the 4th gens though.

 

[71Commander]

It didn't take me 4 generations to get to that point.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I'm not sure what texture you call the 4th Gen I handled but I know it wasn't as aggressive as earlier models. I thought it was pretty good. I'm not sure how it would feel up against bare skin in a holster but it felt great in my hand.

 

[Lazyshooter]

The perfect glock would be a gen 4 without the rough grips. I like everything else though. I guess I'll deal with the rough grip.

 

[jpwilly]

 

[jon_in_wv]

NO NO NO!!! I'm NOT drinking the Kool Aid. I'm still getting the M&P 40c.


I think.

 

[David E]

On the M&Ps I use my middle finger to hit the mag release button.

Try swapping it around to the other side. Then use your trigger finger. It works better for many folks.

 

[David E]

The Gen 4 Glock is an "almost right" attempt.

They needed to make one grip option a totally flat backstrap. That damn hump has had to go since Day 1. Refusing to do so caused a cottage industry to spring up that takes out that abominable hump......for about $150..........and Glock STILL didn't remove it.

 

[Hedgemeister]

Traded my xd for a gen 4 and I am officially a kool-aid drinker. I can not think of a better looking, more reliable and accurate weapon. Maybe somebody spiked my kool-aid.

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

 

[GLOOB]

One thing I don't like about the newest Glocks is the matte finish on the slide. Apparently this rough finish is going to be on all the new Glocks, Gen3 and Gen4. I like the slick, frying pan finish of the old Gen3's, partly because I ride the side of the slide with my thumbs.

 

[Bama5.0]

I really like the Gen 4s. I have yet to fire one, but the rtf grip feels really solid in my hands. It's almost like friction tape. I see lots of people saying they think it will rub them raw, but I would think that it's so rough it won't move around in your hand enough to rub it raw. I'll be buying a 23 Gen 4 soon, and a .357 Sig barrel to go with it.

If you don't like Glock's new finish, you can easily polish it off. I recently did it with my 21SF and it looks awesome. I have always wanted a silver/black Glock, and I figured if I was going to pay for a custom finish, I might as well try it myself first. If I mess up, no big deal, I'll just get the custom finish I had planned on. After doing it, though, I love it and will definitely keep it like this.

 

[GLOOB]

Question for you, Bama. What finish did your G21 have to begin with? Slick black, or matte grey? I've heard a theory that the matte grey finish might be rougher due to slide prep using larger, rougher blasting media. If that were the case, I'd imagine the surface is still rougher even after you remove the grey finish. ? Looks good, btw!

FWIW, the new gray barrel finish is slicker than snot, and word is that it's tougher. It's just the slide finish that I'm going to miss.

 

[Bama5.0]

I think mine was the slick black. I would not have called it "matte grey" at all. That being said, it was not too slick. It was a pretty rough finish. If you looked closely at it, it had lots of small bumps, hills, and valleys. It looked like they had used a pretty rough blasting material on it. That's one reason the polish job turned out pretty good I think. Because I didn't sand it all the way smooth, it still has some roughness to it and makes it look more of a matte silver now instead of chrome (which I didn't really want). It's really weird, too. It still looks black in low light, but in decent light it turns silver.

 

[Bama5.0]

And as far as the slide being too rough on the new finish, you can always just sand it down. I only used Mother's polish and a little 1200 grit sandpaper, but if you used, say, 600 grit you could sand any Glock mirror smooth. It would just take some additional sanding. If you didn't like the result, just send it to Robar or someone and get it coated. Then you could have the smooth look from your sanding job, and whatever coating you like.

BTW, when I was researching before doing this, I found lots of conflicting opinions about the thickness of the Tenifer coating and whether it would destroy its corrosion resistance. After doing it, I can say that it does not remove the Tenifer. Mine stays perfect, no rust or anything. The only downside is fingerprints are more noticeable. You can see a big one on the top of the slide near the rear sight in my first picture.

 

[Jed Carter]

Can you try the Glock vs the M&P, I never cared for Glocks ... until I shot one. Then I had to have a G34 for IPSC matches, that pistol made me like 9mm again. If you could shoot each then you would know, but it looks like you have settled on the M&P. The M&P really isn't settling, getting an XD would be.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Try swapping it around to the other side. Then use your trigger finger. It works better for many folks.

Not for me. Like the Beretta I can hit the mag release by simply sliding my finger up to hit it. On the right side I have to shift my grip just like using my thumb on the left. I can't use the Glock mag release with my middle finger but the Gen 4 allows me to use my thumb in a regular grip. I definitely like that.

 

[12131]

Gen 4 Glocks are lame.
RTF2 FTW!

 

[jon_in_wv]

I drank the Kool Aid!!!!

BUT it was 1911 flavored. A local shop had a Norinco 1911 Compact (Commander) on the shelf and I had to have it. It looks like it was shot very, very little. I just can't seem to shake the 1911 bug so I'm buying this one and I'm holding off on getting my M&P 40C for a while. I hope this 1911 doesn't leave a bad aftertaste in my mouth.