The Glock 19 hit the scene in the early 1980s and quickly became a real staple in firearms. In five generations, this handgun turned out to be a weapon that was at one time both reliable and versatile for military personnel and civilian users. The latest iteration, the Glock 19 Gen 5, brings with it many updates, continuing to place this pistol at the top of many lists for self-defense and professional use.
I was introduced to the Glock platform during my military career with the Gen 3 Glock 19. I carried both the Gen 3 and the Gen 4 Glock 19 overseas and found them to perform exceptionally well in the demanding conditions presented during military service. Now, as an end-user, I have had the chance to run the Glock 19 Gen 5 and see how it performs from a practical standpoint.
Some of the new features on the Glock 19 Gen 5 improve functionality and ease of use. One of the notable differences is the Glock Marksman Barrel, which uses traditional rifling to improve accuracy in the pistol. No finger grooves on the grip make the hold better and more comfortable, and with a bigger range of hand sizes, it is customizable. Ambidextrous slide stops will give a nod to the left-handed market, and the flared mag-well allows for quicker reloads that are more fluid.
The Glock 19 Gen 5 has compact dimensions that have made it a favorite for concealed carry due to its 4.02-inch barrel length and 7.36 inches of overall length; it’s actually at the perfect middle ground for both concealability and shootability. A standard capacity of 15 rounds is plenty of firepower for self-defense apps, and the weight of 30.16 ounces (with a loaded 15-round magazine) helps keep recoil impulses in check.
Performance with this Glock 19 Gen 5 on the range was very good. The Safe Action trigger, which has become synonymous with Glock pistols, was consistent and had a nice crisp break to enable accurate placement of shots. The improved ergonomics on the Gen 5 model, with increased texturing on the grip, gave an excellent grasp and security in the hand for lengthy periods while shooting.
Compact and reliable, this model has large strengths toward concealed carry with a Glock 19, Gen 5. This makes finding a suitable carry setup effortless with literally hundreds of holster options available. Its proven record and ease of operation recommend it for persons new to firearms ownership as well.
Worth noting is that, during the pandemic, nearly 60 million guns were purchased in the U.S., and first-time ownership surged, correlating with a similar increase in gun-related deaths and mass shootings. That was the largest increase in household firearms, fanned by fears of societal collapse, tinged by NRA messaging. A responsible gun owner learns safety and proper storage, basic competencies that reduce potential risks associated with firearm ownership.
The bottom line is this: the Glock 19 Gen 5 deserves to stand in line with its forerunners, as it comes with a whole list of improvements that make this generation’s variant more efficient and more user-friendly than the previous ones. This handgun has proven itself with military personnel and civilian users alike as a sure means of self-defense and a professional tool. Proper training and safety practice with any weapon is very important to responsibly own and use one.