Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Heather Myers writes:

One of my first gun purchases was the Gen5 GLOCK 19. As a fairly new shooter I had just spent the past two years trying out every single gun I could rent at the range.

I was looking for something that fit my hand, was easy to use and fairly simple to clean and maintain. Something I could carry concealed daily and be confident that if needed I could hit my target.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol
courtesy Heather Myers

Concealability was a big concern for me. With a little trial and error and bit of holster swapping I think I’ve figured out a good system for me and my particular body shape.

The size of the GLOCK 19 shouldn’t scare you away from carrying it concealed, but a quality Kydex holster is a must. With no external safety other than the trigger, it’s important that your holster completely covers the trigger and won’t mold itself into the trigger guard. That can cause a negligent discharge during the draw or holstering process.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol
courtesy Heather Myers

Right about the time I had decided to get the Gen4 G19, the Gen5 was announced and I made an impulsive decision to get the Gen5 instead. I liked the idea of some of the upgrades, so ended up buying before I’d ever even fired it.

I’ve had the G19 Gen5 for more than a year now and use it as my main daily carry gun. I’ve put almost 50,000 rounds through it and had zero malfunctions.

The GLOCK Gen 5 pistols have about 20 upgraded features over the Gen 4 and I’ll hit some of the highlights here.

The most noticeable change is the lack of finger grooves. Some people loved them some people hated them. I was in the undecided category. They weren’t the best fit for me, but didn’t interfere with my accuracy or a good grip.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol
courtesy Heather Myers

The next notable change is the ambidextrous slide stop on the G19 Gen5. Some people have reported that because of hand size and grip placement, the slightly larger, slide stop lever has caused them issues. I haven’t experienced that and probably never will because I have smaller hands.

I do like having the slide release lever being just a little more pronounced, as it allows for a smoother, more sure release for me.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers

The diamond-like nDLC finish coating on the barrel and slide looks good and it’s supposed to be more durable. I find that in the heat of the summer when it’s pushing 115 degrees, my sweaty hands tend to slip a bit.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
Ambidextrous slide lock levers (courtesy Heather Myers)

It does clean up nicely, but I’m not sure that’s a good trade-off. I may end up adding an Arachnigrip for a better hold when racking the slide.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers

Next up is the beveling on the front of the slide. It doesn’t affect the function much (possibly easing re-holstering), only the look, so if you are into prettier guns this one is still a GLOCK.

Later versions of the Gen5 have a beveled frame as well. Personally I wish they had made them all that way, but it’s a mostly a cosmetic gripe.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers

I like the changes they made to the barrel, adding the recessed crown and the change to non-polygonal rifling is a step in the right direction.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers

The GLOCK Marksman Barrel is one improvement I’m glad to see. Other manufacturers have had recessed crowns for a long time and the polygonal rifling of previous GLOCKs have made using lead ammo a no go. Versatility in ammo choices makes sense for a lot of shooters reloading with lead..

The magazine and magazine well received quite a few of the upgrades with the Gen5 version. Some were reportedly the FBI requested in the 19M pistol they use. I’d love to check out the duty weapon version to see what differences there are from the civilian model.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers

The flared magwell allows for a smoother, surer reload when combined with the tapered top of the new magazines. The finger cut-out should make pulling a stuck mag out much easier. I’ve never actually gotten a mag stuck in my GLOCK, though, so not sure I’ll be making use of that one anytime soon.

Gen5 magazines now come with a hi-viz orange follower and an extended floor plate in the front. That should allow for faster, smoother reloads. You can now also switch the magazine release to the other side so left-handed shooters can have an easily-modified, fully left-handed gun.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
courtesy Heather Myers

The sights on the basic model are very similar to what GLOCK sights have always been. There are three options for sights. I ended up getting the basic sights, but wish I had splurged on the new Ameriglo night sights.

The basic sights are still plastic, but got something of a makeover. The rear sight is slightly larger and has a bit more definition to it and alignment is a little better straight out of the box. I’ll be upgrading to new sights eventually but these will do for now.

Gun Review: GLOCK 19 Gen5 9mm Pistol G19
GLOCK 19 Gen 5 front sight view (courtesy Heather Myers)

The guts of the Gen 5 GLOCK 19 have been upgraded as well. The locking block pin was replaced with their two-pin system of previous generations. The firing pin was reshaped and the trigger return spring was moved into the housing mechanism.

The trigger on Gen5 GLOCK 19 is much smoother than on others I’ve used and has a decidedly cleaner break than the GLOCK trigger we’ve all some to know. The improved trigger pull alone is probably the best of the Gen5 upgrades.

Price point on the new GLOCKS vary a bit based on what sights you end up getting but range from $540-$650 at stores local to me.

Armscor ammunition

Specifications – GLOCK G19 Gen5 9mm Pistol

Overall length: 7.28″
Overall height: 5″ (with magazine)
Width: 1.34″
Barrel length: 4″
Weight: 21.5 oz. (without magazine)
Capacity: 15+1 standard
Price: about $560 to start, more for night sights.

Ratings (out of five stars):

Style * * * *
If the beveling had matched the slide and frame this would have been stars. Even for a GLOCK.

Ergonomics * * * * *
Losing the finger grooves from the Gen 4 GLOCK and adding in the flared magwell are huge improvements.

Reliability * * * * *
It’s a GLOCK pistol. Reliability is kind of their trademark. I’d be disappointed if this gun didn’t live up to that reputation.

Customization * * *
The aftermarket products have a bit slow in rolling out for the new model, but they are coming so this will improve greatly as time goes on.

Carry * * * *  
Easily carried comfortably all day with a variety of good holster options available.

Overall * * * * 1/2
GLOCK listened to their customers. With the Gen 5 G19 they’ve delivered many improvements on an already excellent firearm.

 

 

Previous Post
Next Post

93 COMMENTS

  1. Fifty… thousand… rounds? Holy stinking crap… that is a lot!!! I thought I was a high-round count guy with ~12,000 through a Gen 3 17C that I got about ten years ago…

    • Does the pistol in the picture look like it has seen thay many rounds? Or hell even holster wear from a year of edc? Either it’s bs or those are just stock photos.

      • Hmmm. An newbe reviewing the latest gen of the world’s most popular handgun IMHO. I guess good on the author, but the description is ever so….innocent. And adorable.

        In reality, the G19 is so far beyond the clerkspeak at the LGS. Perhaps another G19g5 review is appropriate? One more operational perhaps.

        • Oh for F’s sake. This is nothing more than a regurgitation of every other Glock review. There is zero new here. Less than zero! I’ve never read a gun review from someone less qualified to share an opinion than this. This is embarrassing. In need a shower.

      • Hey TTAG, April Fools Day isn’t for a couple of months. Shoulda saved this “article” for then. 50k? Hope it was a typo and an apology is on the way.

    • Quick math, that’s about $15,000 in ammo alone. And about 136 rounds per day without taking a day off shooting.

      • I put 22,700 through my SIGpro 2022 over 2.5 years and:
        1. Visible, but no depth barrel wear, high round counts need thicker lube.
        2. Lots of shine here and there where I under lubed, once! Plus controls have a little color change
        3. Mag shine (not wear per se, yet)

        My G34 has visible shine after 3,000 rounds. I’ve fired Glocks and Sigs at 1.5 million rounds (range rentals) (accurate? Not anymore!), so they are durable.

    • When I saw 50,000 rounds claim, I had to pull out the calculator. That’s 136 rounds a day, every day, for a year. More power to her if she can do that, but I doubt the pistol in the pics has seen 50,000 rounds. Maybe those pics are from when it was brand new and being unboxed? I take meticulous care of my pistols, cleaning after every range visit, ensuring solvents, oils, and lube aren’t staining the finish and so my clothes aren’t affected, etc. After a year of regular carry and practice, my Gen 5 G19 has nicks in the magwell flares from reloads, is discolored from cleaning and use, and definitely shows signs of kydex holster wear. If hers is that clean after a year, I am impressed.

    • I doubt very much you’ve put 50,000 rounds through your Glock… not that it won’t take it, but I doubt you can afford it…. most people couldn’t afford the cash for the ammunition let alone the time off work. Proof? Or, a lie.

  2. I like the finger grooves on my g19. But I can see how some wouldn’t. The factory trigger on mine is just fine for the shooting I do. Certainly an improvement on my sigma.

  3. “I’ve put almost 50,000 rounds through it and had zero malfunctions.”

    You have the disposable income to run $10,000 worth of ammo through a gun in a year?

    Or… maybe there’s a mathematical error in there somewhere?

    • “You have the disposable income to run $10,000 worth of ammo through a gun in a year?”

      If it’s her only gun she very well might. Tons of people here probably don’t think about the total yearly spending they engage in between a few guns, some accessories, holsters, optics, ammo etc.

      Three nice plastic-fantastic handguns, nice leather holsters, some spare mags, an accessory a piece and some ammo could easily run $4500-$5000. Toss in a rifle, shotgun, reloading gear, nice optic or rifle food and you can easily be up to $8000. A rifle and three handguns with “necessary accouterments” is something a lot of people wouldn’t bat an eye at.

      • There are layers to what we spend on our hobby. Not just the guns and ammo. When all I was doing was weekly trips to a bay area range the Camry was fine for transport. Once I got back into hunting I bought a 4runner cause I was driving for hours on dirt roads.

        The only reason I bought that vehicle was to support my hobby. And it has been a fine support system.

        We also spend on gas, food, hotels, etc. Range fees and ammo are just part of the cost.

        • I was trying to stick just to guns and immediate accessories.

          But yeah, if you add in travel, hunting licenses, vehicle(s), vehicle gun accessories like gun racks, fuel, range fees, training class fees, time and other stuff I bet a hefty percentage of people spend well over $10,000 a year and don’t think about it.

          Shit, the last five handguns my wife and I added to our collection total out to $3156.29 and that’s before taxes or a single accessory/holster/bullet/whatever… and now that I know that (I just added it up) I start to think that I shouldn’t be letting her go to gun stores unaccompanied… Saudi rules for my house!

        • My reasoning for including the car and hotels, etc, is because I would not have made those purchases except as a direct result of my hobby. I bet if we thought about it, really thought about it, how much money we spend that is only because of our hobby we would be a little shocked about it.

          I try not to think to much. It was never to good for me and usually got me in trouble.

    • Um, I’ve like bought easily that much in rifles just in the past 2 months…There is a war going on for our rights and if you aren’t stocking up now you are blind.

  4. Good review. My G19-5 does not have the arch at the front base of the grip, and was purchased about 5 months ago. A friend who has the one with the arch noted his thicker hands (mine are average I’m told) would occasionally allow a pinch, so he replace his with one like mine. Glad you mentioned Arachnigrip: my old, damage hands have been using them on all my pistols (that they make one for) and they work well. Not all guns have a rack assist (t-handle) like my VP9, but Glock Store makes one for the G19-5, and it works well also. I’m comfortable with the standard sight in the rear, but changed the front to a Trijicon HD XR (orange dot/green tritium), which again, works on all my pistols that they make one for. With my new G48, the pair are excellent pistols with good, if initially stiff, pulls. Still dislike the takedown procedure, as that little sliding button continues to feel awful and make my old hands cramp. In Cheyenne, thanks for the review.

  5. WHOA! Girlfriend! I fancy myself a shooter, own a bunch of guns, 72 years old, and not sure I’ve fired 50,000 rounds in my LIFE!! I’ve taken classes from professionals who compete all over the world, to the extent they never practice because they are constantly competing, and they run around 10,000 rounds a year. Dafook you doing that you just drop on us that you fire 50,000 rounds in one year out of one gun? A paid Glock torture tester?

    • Or maybe it’s her only gun and she uses it to run pistol classes every weekend? It’s not impossible. Improbable, yes, but not impossible.

    • Your friend who is a competitive shooter doesn’t train that hard. 10,000 rounds a year is only 200 rounds roughly every weekend, which isn’t really serious practice at all. I am not saying that I buy the 50K claim. Just that 10,000 rounds in a year isn’t that much shooting at all for a 9mm pistol. I knew a deputy sheriff, finest shot I ever saw, who would shoot 20K annually. Even that isn’t working real hard if you shoot rapid fire every weekend. He could make a small bottle dance around no matter where it landed shooting at 4-5 rounds per second.

      • I said the pro I was talking about did not practice *at all*, since he was competing constantly, all over the world. The class was Middleton Tompkins and Nancy Gallagher instructing Long Range at a class during the National Matches. I gather you are an operator, apparently operating operationally, but those 2 people have so many national championships between them, never mind both of Nancy’s daughters, that I am not really concerned with your operationalness. As I said, Mid explained to the class that he reloaded 10,000 rounds for each of the 4 of them, for each year, and his techniques for doing that.

        • If you are saying that your professional friends don’t practice AT ALL, then why are you even commenting on how that relates to a person shooting 50K a year?? I mean, you basically admit that you haven’t shot probably 50K in your “LIFE,” which really makes you a dabbler. You don’t have to be an operator to hit that round count, not even close. My son, who is just finishing high school, has probably shot that many in his lifetime. You sound like King Dilly from the Kingdom of Do. There are all kinds of shooters out there who are better than “national champions.” In fact, there is probably one in every town in America. It’s like saying the best bass fishermen are on the pro tour. No, not really, there is a certain type of person who is willing to sacrifice everything and to live out of a van for their hobby and these people become competitors and more power to them. Others have lives. Oh and Texas is the next California, have a zipper installed in the back of your pants.

  6. The only thing I don’t like about the Gen5 is the new flared magwell / front grip cutout. The edges of the half moon cut are sharp and I had to use sand paper to break the edge. I also had to remove the sharp edge inside the front of the magwell. It is possible to insert a magazine at the wrong angle and catch the front edge of the magazine against the little ‘shelf’ inside the front of the magwell. A little gentle sanding makes this easier to recover from. I’m glad that some of the newer Gen5 guns have removed the cutout. Personally I don’t see the need for a flared magwell on a pistol with a double column magazine unless it is a competition gun.

  7. i highly doubt 50,000 rounds when down the pipe. I for one would have had to reattach my pinky finger as the cut out on the mag well is pure stupidity and would have removed a large chunk of pinky finger pad after the first thousand rounds. I fixed the problem with thePearce Grip magazine base with the filler, now it is a smooth contour and no more pain in the pinky!

  8. Gun preferences are so subjectively subjective, that venturing an opinion about this gun, or that, is not informative. And since I do not own a real gun (.22 Beretta), commenting on a particular gun as regards an opinion about its glory and superiority is risky, but…

    I see nothing special about a GLOCK. All the “innovation” (plastic gun) has been moot for about the last 30 years (maybe more?). If a person likes the most mechanically basic and cheap (I mean affordable) handgun, then a GLOCK meets the need. Not sure there is anything more to recommend a GLOCK. Engineering-wise, GLOCKS offer no advantages over the amazing array of plastic guns, or even the big iron. Simply put, GLOCKS are no longer innovative, nor are they even mechanically interesting.

    I just read an article about a hopped up GLOCK from Wilson. Admittedly, the GLOCK actually looked “better”, as in appearance, but under the hood, the Wilson-ique was underwhelming. Because I don’t own an OEM, or Wilson-treated GLOCK, my conclusion probably doesn’t mean much, but I do wonder at trying to make a $1500 masterpiece from a mundane block of a handgun. (Full disclosure: I did once shoot a $2200 GLOCK at my local range – but not a Wilson product)

    • The g19 is the model 10 of this era. Basic, reliable handgun that will fill the need for most one handgun owning folks. Either one is a classic sock drawer gun that will be there when needed. I own both. I’m a belt and suspenders kind of guy.

    • The “plastic gun” only came about as a result of materials engineering, not firearm innovation. The fact is that firearms “innovation” has been incremental at best for the last 100 years. Much more refinement that anything else.

  9. “I’ve put almost 50,000 rounds through it and had zero malfunctions.”

    As someone who had to get a new barrel for their second-ever handgun after a couple years I think this is possible. That said, I want to know what ammo you’re using that you went through 50K rounds without a dud. (Or does that not count as a malfunction?)

      • I tend to agree but sometimes it’s hard to tell.

        Is it a bad primer or a light strike? An improperly loaded (in terms of powder) round or a failure to extract/stovepipe?

        When my SKS failed to fire five in a row and then went through the next five in one trigger pull was that bad ammo the first give trigger pulls and then regular ammo after that or just regular ammo for the first five and then super good ammo for the second half of the mag?

        OK, obviously the SKS was an issue with the [new to me] gun. But I wish I could buy super-good ammo that turned any semi-auto into a FA!

        • In the case of the SKS I can’t speak for the first 5 that did not fire. But the sks can have a frozen firing pin due to poor cleaning or maintenance that can cause slam fires.

          Mine never did it but I’m really careful about upkeep on a weapon that has a known design flaw.

        • It was slam-firing because the previous owner never cleaned the cosmoline out of the bolt. As the gun was fired the soot worked it’s way into the cosmoline and thickened it. The result was that the free floated firing pin got stuck back (fail to fire) and then forward (slam fired the rest of the mag).

          Nothing a week long soak in mineral spirits couldn’t fix.

          After that every milsurp I get has the bolt completely disassembled before I go to fire it. Every single one has been completely full of cosmoline no matter how clean the rest of the rifle is.

  10. I shoot 200-300 rounds per week, which I know is substantially more than the average gun owner. I have a hard time believing someone put 50,000 rounds through their first pistol in one year. If they did, good for them.

    • Same here, 150-200 rounds between my carry gun and a G17 every weekend, mostly Sunday mornings.

      Range is peaceful and empty during that time…..except for the old retired guys who shoot every day.

      ….sigh..I want to be retired too.

      • It is good. My kids are all out of the nest. My wife is younger so she still works full time.

        I’m foot loose and fancy free while everybody else is working or schooling. I highly recommend it.

    • “I shoot 200-300 rounds per week, which I know is substantially more than the average gun owner. “

      Years back, before Obama got elected and ammo prices going nuts, I would have said this was a minimum amount to shoot per week between your main pistol calibers and a rifle.

      What’s realistic depends on what your finances are, how much time you have and what’s available in your area.

    • If you could shoot daily, or close to it, 50k+ a year is totally doable… especially if (for some reason) you didn’t have to pay for the ammo.

  11. Yep, calling BS on the round count. Fake news.”over a year ” is unspecific, but pretty iffy. Come on. 50k rounds on a new gun. NOT.

  12. It’s a Glock. It does Glock things. It’s a perfectly serviceable and reliable pistol. It’s basically the default for “concealable handgun, qty: 1” Not going to win any beauty pageants, but it’s a pistol, not a sports car.

  13. I’ll keep my Gen 3 ‘s Thanks for the review . Should do one on the new 45 , that shoots pretty cool… for what I’ve seen. Thanks

  14. The Gen 5 is my next purchase and then I’ll retire my Gen 2 G19. Maybe do some customization to it since it won’t be my carry gun anymore. Love my Gen 2s but….time moves on.

    Thanks for the write-up…More close-up pictures next time please.

  15. The 19 is a solid piece.

    Not a fan of the Gen 5 mods. I am not ambidextrous and don’t Carr for the flare as it adds width and would get in the way of stripping mags.

    I really do like my new model 48. Wish Glock had made it about 25 years ago. Nice and slim.

    I also do not think my Glock 48 or 43 will ever have 50k rounds through them.

      • Same reason they keep making new Glocks, to get old owners to buy the new guns and claim this one is much better then the last one which was the perfect gun even though there now recycling old “innovations” like no more finger groves!

  16. I think she meant 5k rounds. Pretty much only high level uspsa shooters do 50k in a year, and someone that shoots that much would have ditched the G19 early on.

  17. Amazing news. The newest version of the gun regularly called the benchmark for all other guns is still great. I never would have guessed.

    • 1000 rounds a week with two weeks off that year is easily doable. The only question is, due to ammo prices, if you have the money.

      With 10 mags for that pistol it’s 20 reloads. A few hours a week.

    • I also would have assumed a typo, were it not for the very well placed comma immediately before three zeros.

      It’s also possible that the TTAG editorial staff saw a badly typed number and took a wrong guess at what it really meant.

  18. I call BS on 50k rounds. I call bs on 50k without a squib. Lying liars that lie. I guess the armed forces of every military on earth can rest assured their sidearm should be a glock based on this article of propaganda.

  19. 50,000 rounds? In one year?

    This article has the same vibe that I get when I talk to someone who doesn’t know anything about guns. The conversation goes something like this:

    “How is that new Glock?”
    “Oh, it’s great! I just wish it was more accurate.”
    “Oh, yeah? What is the issue with it?”
    “It shoots 6″ groups at 7 yards. That’s minute of bad guy, so I’m good for now. Down the road, though, I’ll upgrade the barrel on it.”
    “Are you sure it’s the gun?”
    “Definitely. I’ve put at least 50,000 rounds through it.”

    Yeah, whatever, TTAG. I guess you can remove the second “T” and just call this sight “The … About Guns.” Even if you have a newbie writing articles for you, an editor should have caught this whopper.

  20. Malarkey. I have 3500 rds through my Gen 5 G19. The slide where it is beveled shows wear from being holstered repeatedly and the nDLC is slightly worn through. The finish on my slide stop levers is mostly worn off, which for some reason seems much more prevalent with this generation. The followers of my magazines are no longer nearly as bright orange as what is shown here. And my barrel shows noticeably more wear marks than seen here. Either these pictures are of the pistol when it was new, or these are another pistol because I can tell you with no doubts that the pistol shown here has no where near 50k rounds through it.

  21. …the change to non-polygonal rifling is a step in the right direction…

    What’s wrong with polygonal rifling? I never shoot non-jacketed 9mm ammo anyway. I doubt most people do, unless they’re reloaders (and not even most of them).

  22. Why do people keep saying that the Gen 5 barrels do not have polygonal rifling? They didn’t abandon it. It’s enhanced polygonal rifling. Glock has said this many times but people still keep saying “the change to non-polygonal rifling is a step in the right direction.” Makes it sound like you don’t know what you are talking about.

    You can even read it here: https://eu.glock.com/en/technology/gen5
    “The GLOCK Marksman barrel (GMB) features enhanced barrel rifling based on the proven polygonal barrel design which delivers improved accuracy.”

  23. I shot one yesterday back to back with the P-10C.

    P-10C was a little bigger and heavier, had a nice “feel” in the hand and a little less recoil, probably due to the weight since the bore axis on the Glock is actually lower (1.26″ vs. 1.33″).

    They were both equally accurate. I think I’ll buy them both.

  24. Glock re introduces Gen2 frames calls it Gen5. In other news, my gf’s 20 year old boob job is now called “Pliant Handholds, w/Grooves.”

  25. Glock Guns Buy Online has a wide selection of Glock available online. Choose from our large inventory of new and used guns. Our team of experts will help you choose the right gun for your needs. Buy Glock guns online from our store. We have a wide selection of high quality firearms including Glock, Berettas, Smith & Wesson’s, Rugers, and more.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here