I’ve been a Glock owner for 15 years and fires countless rounds through these guns over my time in the firearms industry. Over the past few years, I’ve tested the Glock 19 Gen5 with the goal of helping other firearms fans get a better sense of the guns pros and cons.
I found the Glock 19 Gen5 to be a marked improvement on the Gen4. It offers more comfort and accuracy.
Since 1982, Glock has served as a leader in the semi-automatic pistol field. Known for packing a punch despite its small size, the Glock 19 continues to rule the industry.
This comprehensive review will analyze the features of the Glock 19 Gen5. We will go into other customer reviews and possible alternatives as well.
Keep reading to learn more:
Glock 19 Gen5 Overview
The Glock 19 Gen5 was made in response to changes in the FBI’s requirements for firearms. In 2016, Glock signed a contract with the FBI for this pistol. After signing the contract, they released Gen5 to civilians.
Compared to the Gen4, the Gen5 has a refurbished grip, barrel, slide, trigger, magazine well, sights, and finishes.
Overall, the Gen5 is a high-quality gun. It has excellent functional accuracy, a large magazine capacity, a compact size, and high reliability. The design serves to help you shoot your target with minimal malfunctions.
Pros
- Excellent accuracy
- Highly reliable
- Interchangeable back straps
- No finger grooves
- Compact yet powerful
- Relatively easy to control
- Only one trigger action
Cons
- Needs adjustments to improve the ergonomics
- Not as customizable as other Glock 19s
- No trigger safety
- Only 9mm
- Not small enough for concealed carry
All About the Glock 19 Gen5
Let’s explore several of the features of the Glock 19 Gen5.
Grip
When designing the Gen5, Glock removed the front-strap finger grooves to improve the comfort of the weapon. While not the most ergonomic, it does show an improvement upon the Gen4.
This weapon has four removable backstraps. You can choose between medium and large sizes with or without a beavertail. These straps help you fit the gun into your hand.
The grip angle on the Glock 19 Gen5 helps in defensive encounters. While it lacks comfort, it makes up for it by providing plenty of leverage. You can place pressure on the front and back straps for better control while shooting.
The bottom of the grip has a blocky feel, but the rounded top prevents discomfort. Using a beavertail backstrap will add distance between the trigger and your hand, so you may want to try that out for more trigger reach.
Controls
The magazine release on this gun is reversible, making it ambidextrous. It isn’t as recessed as other Glock 19s, so you don’t need to replace it immediately.
The slide stops appear identical on both sides of the gun. They have a sleek texture, so you need to practice your technique to drop the slide.
Sights
The stock sight on the Gen5 is made from plastic. Some factories will sell it with an iron sight, or you can save money upfront and fashion it with a custom sight later.
If you’d like, you can buy the Gen5 with Glock AmeriGlo sights. You can choose between Night Sights and Bold Night Sights. The Bold option works better for daylight and night shooting.
Also, this redesign has a slight alteration from the Gen4 that makes it easier to line up sights.
Trigger
With the Gen5, Glock modified the trigger connector bar to make retracting the trigger easier. It has less of a start-stop feel compared to other Glocks, but it does have a slight trigger bump. Also, this trigger has a rolling break that helps in defensive situations.
Glock 19 Gen5 Reviews
I scoured the internet looking for user reviews, and most seemed positive, particularly about the trigger and overall reliability. If you’re a fan of Glocks, you’ll like the Glock 19 Gen5. While everyone agrees that you need a new sight, this gun shoots well and rarely fails. Also, the lack of finger grooves makes it far more comfortable than other Glock 19s.
Glock 19 Gen5 Alternatives
One alternative to the Glock 19 Gen5 is the CZ P10c. This compact handgun has nearly identical dimensions, but the chamfer cuts make it a bit sleeker. It has similar power to Glock 19s as well.
Another option is the SIG Sauer P365. You can choose between a 10, 12, or 15 round magazine, which helps with concealed carry. Also, you can customize the slides and frames to manipulate the sight radius. Overall, it is a powerful, lightweight gun that compares well to the Glock 19 Gen5.
Our Verdict
We recommend the Glock 19 Gen5 to anyone who wants a handgun for self-defense. It is easy to use, compact, accurate, and customizable.
While you may want to buy a few aftermarket parts, the base model is highly reliable. Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with a Glock if you like the style.
If you need a new handgun, consider buying the Glock 19 Gen5 today.
Expert Biography: Brady Kirkpatrick is the Editor of Gun Made. Brady is a passionate firearm owner from Omaha, Nebraska. Gun Made has been featured in various publications such as Forbes, Officer.com, American Police Beat, and countless others.
