Quick Overview
Glock 19 Gen 3
The Gen 3 was and is characterized by a specialized grip area with finger grooves that make the weapon easier to hold, even if you suffer from “constant sweaty hand syndrome”. As an added bonus, the G3 has a thumb rest on either side of the pistol, allowing you to comfortably rest your hand all the way around the weapon, even over long hours (a favorite characteristic for police officers).
Furthermore, the Gen 3 typically includes a universal accessory rail. This allows Glock owners to add flashlights, lasers, and other optical accessories. Not only is this great for duty carry purposes, but it solidified the Gen 3 as a favorite pistol for gun hobbyists. One last advantage is that the Gen 3 has an extended extractor, which easily indicates whether the chamber is loaded.
Glock 19 Gen 4
The Gen 4 is much more modern, having been launched in 2010. These pistols feature an increased texture on the grip – sometimes, G4s forgo the finger grooves in favor of extra texturing, but it’s heavily dependent on a given model. Ultimately, which version is best for you depends on your personal preference.
You can also find many more G4s with ambidextrous features, so if you’re a leftie you’ll likely want to go for a G4 or higher.
Furthermore, G4s produce even smoother shooting compared to their earlier G3 cousins. Truly, G4s kick remarkably calmly in your hand when you pull the trigger, offering even better accuracy in tense situations. Plus, G4s typically come with interchangeable backstraps, allowing you to customize your pistol to your unique hand shape or liking.
Glock 19 Gen5
Finally, Glock 19 Gen 5s feature updated internal mechanisms, producing even more consistent accuracy. They also forgo finger grooves entirely, but use an updated group texture and an ambidextrous slide stop – many of these pistols are suitable for left and right-handed users equally well.
The replaced internals included a bolstered trigger system, extractor, and firing pin safety. Many Glock-made G19 Gen 5s also come with “Marksmanship” barrels, which are supposedly there to improve performance and accuracy at a distance. More important is the flared magwell, which makes reloading quickly a breeze. Target shooting enthusiasts or police officers will get the most use out of this particular upgrade.
So which generation is best? It’s honestly up to you, but we’d recommend:
The Gen 3 for budget-minded shooters who like finger grooves
The Gen 4 for those who favor textured grips and low recoil
The Gen 5 for ambidextrous users and fast reloaders
Caliber: 9x19 Para
Length: 185 mm
Height: 127 mm
Width: 30 mm
Length Between Sights: 153 mm
Barrel length: 102 mm
Magazine capacity: 15
Weight unloaded: 670 g
Weight loaded: 855 g
Trigger pull: 28 N
Trigger travel: 12,5 mm
Security system: Safe Action