(This post is an entry in our spring content contest. The grand prize is a Beretta APX pistol. Entries have closed and we will announce the winner one we have run the best entries received.)
By Dominic Rochotte
GLOCKs are touted by many people as the perfect modern handgun. But it seems that anything a GLOCK can do, a different pistol can do at least equally if not better. So lets take an in depth look at whether or not this is a perfect handgun.
Reliability
Many people have the misconception that a GLOCK cannot fail. However this is false. GLOCKs have failed. And while they do not fail often, most modern handguns from a reputable manufacturer can live up to that reputation. Springfield can do it. Smith & Wesson can do it. SIG can do it. The list goes on. At one point in time they might have been the most reliable guns but other manufacturers have caught up to (and possibly exceeded) GLOCK.
Aesthetics
To be put quite bluntly, the GLOCK is about as aesthetically pleasing as a brick. This is nothing that we haven’t all heard a thousand times. With a blocky slide and a face flat enough to make a pug jealous, the GLOCK doesn’t adopt the idea that form follows function. It just gets rid of form entirely. And with so many beautifully designed guns on the market, no one is choosing the GLOCK for its aesthetic appeal.
Accuracy
There is not much to say on this topic. For me, the GLOCK can shoot more accurately than I can. But so can most guns. Taking my abilities aside, there are much more accurate guns on the market. The GLOCK’s accuracy isn’t bad, but its also nothing to write home about. It’s on par with where it should be. But that doesn’t set it apart from its competition.
Ergonomics
I grew up shooting GLOCK. They are comfortably to me because they were the first real guns I knew. But just about any gun store you walk into, you can hear someone complaining about GLOCKs. “They don’t point right for me”, “The grip doesn’t fit my hand”, or “The finger grooves don’t work for me” are all quite common to hear. It simply comes down to the fact that many people just aren’t comfortable with GLOCK.
So why do we see them everywhere?
A portion of the explanation can be attributed to their law enforcement sales. There will always be the tacticool crowd that wants to carry whatever the police or Navy SEALs are issued. But the love for GLOCK goes beyond that.
GLOCKs have been around for over 30 years. People have been dealing with the issues associated with GLOCK pistols for a long time. Every one of the issues with GLOCK has inspired some form of factory or aftermarket solution. Every part on the gun can be replaced and tailored to fit the end user’s needs.
Sights, barrels, and recoil springs are just a few. Don’t like the trigger? There is a whole host of parts set up to make them nicer. Want to shoot cast lead ammo? Cool just buy a new barrel. If you want an RMR cut or forward cocking serrations You can get those flavors too.
GLOCKs suck. But your GLOCK doesn’t have to. GLOCKs are a lot like Legos. You can build almost anything you want out of them. That’s where their beauty lies.