Glock 19 Gen4 Vs Gen5 - Glock released the Gen 4 line of pistols in early 2010, which addressed durability issues from caliber to frame and made some minor design changes. Almost seven years later, we are introducing the next generation in the Glock line. Gen 5's differences are equally subtle, but there are a few interesting changes that aren't immediately noticeable.
I have been using a Gen 5 Glock 19 since late August and have put about 4,000 rounds through it since then. I've used it for static accuracy and undercover in dynamic defense drills, with and without a light attached to the rail. I spent time taking it apart, learning about the internal changes and parts replacement issues (because Glocks are fun hobby kits).
Glock 19 Gen4 Vs Gen5
Essentially, the 5th Gen Glock 19 is just a Glock 19, but there are some interesting and surprising changes that warrant investigation. There are also some caveats that first-time buyers should be aware of. I hope to cover most of them here, but keep in mind that these concepts are based on less than 2 months of use a few times a week. More time can tell more stories.
Hyve Technologies Extended Slide Lock For The Glock Gen 5
Most of this review deals with the differences of the Gen 5 from previous versions and the specific concerns of Gen-5 users (portability, shooting, accessories, etc.). For a more detailed review of the Glock 19, I encourage you to read my review of the Glock 19 Gen 4 here ("Review: Glock 19 Gen 4 - After 80,000 rounds").
Also note that the photos shown in this article do not show factory produced pistols. Rather, they are pictures of a man who uses a gun several days each week. They tend to take a bit of a beating.
The first and best reason to consider this gun is the Glock 19; Probably the best target weapon. It is large enough to be a service weapon, provides functional accuracy and a large magazine capacity, while being small and light for everyday concealed carry.
In addition, it is impossible not to mention the excellent reliability that Glock pistols provide. In my experience I have put over 100,000 rounds through 3rd and 4th generation Glock pistols and the only failures I have encountered have been from substituting non-Glock parts and Cerakote malfunctioning. A Glock pistol with spare parts performs flawlessly even in difficult conditions.
Gun Review: Glock 19 Gen4 The Firearm Blog
You may want to consider the new Glock 19 for Gen 5 for several good reasons. First, the bolt lock lever is now ambidextrous. So if you are left handed, move the lever to the right and you have a complete left hand gun. For those who like Glock pistols but don't have finger grooves, the Gen 5 comes with a flat foregrip grip. No setup required.
Gen 5 brings very little new to the shooting experience, with two notable exceptions. The Glock 19 has always been a soft-shooting, easy-to-handle pistol, and it has always had an accuracy that exceeds 99.9% of its shooters. The new Gen 5 barrel and flat front grip tape bring innovation to this experience.
After shooting a lot of Gen 3 and 4 Glocks, I find the lack of finger grooves noticeable. I was used to the grip complementing my strong hand, and now it feels different. I don't find the difference to be bad, but the finger grooves fit my hand too well and I miss them on this gun. I know a lot of people never liked them, so most people will be happy with this change.
Glock 19 Gen 5 after inaccurate "wounded wing" training. He filed there several dozen times.
Glock 19m (gen5) Fbi Sepc Haro Weapon Systems
The new barrel rifling profile has twice the accuracy at long distances (4-inch groups at 50 yards, Glock claims). I'm not good enough to get 4 inch groups at 50 yards yet, but I found my 25 yard groups to be noticeably smaller with the Gen 5 compared to the Gen 4 shooter. I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing it's more associated with the stem.
The Gen 5 trigger feels a little better than the Gen 4, but that's subjective and hard for me to say. The Gen 5 trigger mechanism is completely different from the Gen 4, set up like the Glock 43. It has a "New York" trigger spring that uses a polymer spring rest and compression spring (instead of a tension spring that binds the rod in a cross shape). I tried a 3.5lb connector and didn't notice a difference in pressure weight. So I tried a 2lb jack and got the 4.5lbs of pressure I expect from my pistols. It's interesting.
Most of the 9mm I put through the gun are 115gr pellets, but I also use Federal Premium 147gr Hydra-Shok JHP, Speer Gold Dot 124gr + P GDHP, Federal Premium 124gr HST JHP, I shot from the Hornady range. Critical Defense 115gr and Hornady Critical Duty 135gr...all have great specs.
I didn't feel anything for ~4000 rounds with the Glock 19 Gen 5. The only noticeable issue I can report is that during the first 1000 rounds I sometimes felt a little hesitation during the first round of magazine action. Instead of the standard sliding sound/feeling that comes with a battery, there was sometimes a "ka-kaval" like a slight wobble with a round cam. This anomaly disappeared after about 1000 shots and never affected the performance of the gun. Each cartridge was loaded and fired.
G19 Gen 5 Is The Best All Around Glock, Change My Mind
Like any other Glock pistol, the Gen 5 G19's transition from the trigger guard to the grip is very angular and generally uncomfortable for the middle finger of a strong hand to fire. This is why I believe EVERY Glock pistol should have a Drememel tool on the side and bottom of the safety handle to create a smooth rounded and reduced profile. Other than that problem, the Glock 19 is very comfortable. Some disagree and think a G19 or Glock pistol is fine without a little modification. With this modification, the Glock 19 Gen 5 is very comfortable. It cannot be used without it. Personally, I would never own a Glock that wasn't set up this way. Definitely a nice upgrade to Gen 6.
The Glock 19 is not fast by any means and recoil is very easy to control. The magazine release is good and I need to adjust the grip a bit to accommodate medium sized hands (as with any production pistol). Even with the Glock's minimalist slide-lock grip, my grip often gets in the way of the grip, and I find that the gun occasionally won't lock on the last round in the magazine. This is in no way the fault of the gun. This is all mine.
Although the Glock 19 is compact, it is larger than some in this classification. However, with a good and well-made holster, it can easily be hidden in several places on the belt, inside or outside the waist. I carry a Glock 19 with the indicator in the appendix position every day and never have a printing problem.
Note that stealth is largely controlled by the case and its configuration. Most holsters made for concealed carry are poorly made and will not adjust the gun to the correct angle to aid concealment. Be careful!
Glock 19 Gen5 Review: Could This Be The Best 9mm Gun?
A Glock 19 capacity of over fifteen rounds is a lot, especially for a compact. Without a doubt, the Glock 19 set the standard for size to power in the handgun world.
The mostly unadorned 5th gen Glock 19 has a black melanite finish, then nDLC coated. The result is a darker and reportedly more durable finish. I really like this new finish and the aesthetic it provides. I can't say if it is durable or not. But I can say that repeatedly dropping it on gravel during practice will result in scratches on the shifter and finish area, as seen here:
The scratches shown above are from several dozen reps of the Wounded Wing exercise shown here:
The polymer frame is very similar to the Gen 4, except the grip is slightly widened on the sides to mimic a magwell (it's just an imitation) and the finger grooves on the front strap are gone. The Gen 5 also has only one pin next to the locking block instead of the 2 pins that are common with recent generations. Perhaps because of this change, the frame is slightly wider and slightly taller than the 4th generation. The grip design is the same as the Gen 4 and is serviceable as long as you don't have wet or bloody hands (so keep your hands tight. If it's a pistol, your Glock).
Update On Gen 5 Glock Compatibility
IF YOU GET A GLOCK 19 WITH A LIGHT,
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