GLOCK
Newsletter
GLOCK
Newsletter
Out with the old, in with the new: GEN4 VS. GEN5
GLOCK’S GEN5 PISTOLS EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY – INDEED, PERFECTION – IN EVER GREATER EXTREMES.
By CWO-5/Gunner Christian P. Wade, UMSC (RET.)
With each successive generation of GLOCK SAFE ACTION® pistols, I find myself enjoying increasing capability levels. Just when I think GLOCK engineers could achieve no greater efficiency, each subsequent generation presents me new potential heretofore unimagined.
When GLOCK introduced its Gen5 series, I immediately took notice because the Gen5, under another name, was the choice of the FBI’s after undergoing the agency’s thorough and credible service-pistol contract process. The winners of that demanding selection process were the GLOCK 17M and GLOCK 19M – the genesis models of the GLOCK Gen5 series. While I am always interested in purchasing more GLOCK pistols for my collection, I was most interested in determining whether a Gen5 pistol offered attributes I didn’t yet have in my primary defensive handgun, a GLOCK 19 Gen4 9x19.
A DETAILED STUDY – AND IMPULSIVE PURCHASE
The first question I pondered was, “If the GLOCK Gen5 is good enough for FBI agents, does that automatically mean the GLOCK Gen5 is good enough for me?” Given that many of us do not enjoy an externally provided budget for new-gun testing, my next question was, “Are the improvements in the GLOCK Gen5 worth an additional expenditure?”
As I began my research on the GLOCK Gen5 pistols, those questions grew to a great many more. I read and studied as much information as I could find about Gen5s, and as soon as possible, I found a GLOCK 17 Gen5 in a nearby shop for close inspection.
“During the initial inspection of the pistol in that gun store, I found GLOCK had introduced far more refinements to its Gen5 series than I’d anticipated. I admit it, I purchased it right then and there.”
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” as they say, and during the initial physical inspection of the pistol in that gun store, I found GLOCK had introduced far more engineering refinements to its Gen5 series than I’d anticipated. The first advancements I noted were the improved GLOCK Marksman Barrel, smoothed and blended frame and slide edges, an ambidextrous slide-stop lever, removal of finger grooves, a fully beveled magazine well, and a new nDLC finish. After properly clearing the pistol and admiring the new, high-visibility magazine follower, I went straight for what I believe to be one of the most essential character traits of a pistol, the trigger “feel.” I had read that GLOCK had incorporated new trigger enhancements with the Gen5 series, and upon repeated drypractice iterations, I was impressed at the upgraded crispness, clean break, and rapid reset.
Next, I disassembled the new G17 Gen5 for detailed inspection. I immediately found a more robust and precise firing pin safety engagement, the omission of the locking block pin, and a new trigger spring design, no doubt the face behind the improved trigger feel. I was also encouraged by the redesigned ambidextrous slide-stop lever with a coil spring in place of a leaf spring, as well as a strengthened trigger bar.
I admit it – I purchased the G17 Gen5 right then and there. Impulsive that may have been, but I was committed to discovering whether my new pistol would force my G19 Gen4
into an early, albeit respectful, retirement. It was time to put the G17 Gen5 to the test, empirically and anecdotally.
I use the word “anecdotally” very carefully, in the sense that I am searching for the answer to the question, “After all the empirical evidence analysis is complete, will I feel more
confident with a GLOCK Gen5 or the GLOCK Gen4?” Having engaged in close combat with enemy forces over six combat deployments, I place a premium on the partially subjective and abstract concept of confidence and complete trust in one’s firearm. I continue to seek a pistol that inspires such confidence since, despite having retired from fighting on the world’s battlefields, I have returned home to be in the frequent presence of grizzly bear, black bear, and the gray wolf in the mountains of Montana. These dangers continue to drive my requirements.
RANGE TIME – AND ANOTHER PURCHASE
The next logical step in the discovery process was to head to the range for testing and evaluation. GLOCK Gen5 pistols retain the multiple interchangeable backstraps and the
reversible magazine catch of the previous generation. I quickly installed the medium beavertail backstrap. Despite the Gen5’s omission of finger grooves, and given my relatively large hand size, I perceived a counterintuitive and unexpected increase in grip purchase.
The GLOCK Gen5’s frame easily shrugs off even my most enthusiastic attempts at a crushing grip, greatly contributing to my ability to maintain the pistol on target for rapid and accurate subsequent shots. Also, I am righthanded and initially somewhat indifferent to the addition of the ambidextrous slide-stop lever. But, once I began conducting weak-side and left-handed-only training drills, I quickly appreciated this new functionality. The fully beveled magazine well allowed me to reload more quickly, aggressively, and consistently.
During intermittent range inspections, I was pleased to discover that GLOCK had found a way to make the Gen5 pistol easier to disassemble and reassemble due to refinements in the trigger and locking-block components. While I was not expecting this, I welcomed it.
I began to conduct repeated immediate-threat engagement drills, multiple-threat engagement drills, and speed reloads measured with a timer, and I diligently recorded the results. After gathering sufficient speed and accuracy data with the G17 Gen5, I compared my results against previous data compiled over my years using a G19 Gen4. I could not measure relative reliability data, since I experienced no stoppages in the operation of either generation GLOCK pistol. I imagine such analysis would require a test facility, technicians, and significant amounts of ammunition and time to determine potential differences in reliability for these legendary pistols.
I did perceive a slight advantage in maintaining acceptable physiologically based accuracy with advantage to the G17 Gen5. To determine the exact cause of this measured and perceived differences, I had no choice (at least that’s what I told myself) but to head back to the firearm shop and purchase a G19 Gen5;
I respectfully ask our readers here to remember that as demanding as we are on ourselves and each other regarding firearm discipline, safety, speed, and accuracy, we are still allowed to enjoy the experience and have some fun.
I promptly brought the G19 Gen5 to the range and began the rigorous and enjoyable data-gathering experience. At the end of it all, I determined that, given the size of my hands, I am faster, more aggressive, and more accurate with a G17 Gen5 due to its larger grip size. Am I physically faster and more accurate with a Gen5 versus a Gen4? Generally, no, but under specific circumstances and due to additional Gen5 features? Yes. Am I more confident with a GLOCK Gen5 pistol? Absolutely, yes. Data sets from the weak-side and left-handonly drills revealed advantages from the Gen5’s ambidextrous slide-stop lever on both the G17 and the G19 models. I could also clearly see efficiencies gained during speed reloading of the Gen5 pistols, due to the fully beveled magazine well.
As a result of these lessons learned, I decided to retain both the G17 and G19 Gen5s, with favored consideration for my advantages with the G17, since both pistols are engineered for different requirements (concealability, portability, clothing worn, etc.).
NEW POTENTIAL REALIZED
Remember what I wrote in the beginning about “new potential?” Enter the GLOCK Gen5 Modular Optic System (MOS). This feature has facilitated perhaps the most significant
enhancement to my overall shooting capabilities since I purchased my first GLOCK handgun 30 years ago.
As I age, my eyes continue to lose youthful clarity, suffering to the point where I would need trifocal prescription glasses to properly focus on a front sight and everything else near and far (and never mind if my glasses were to be knocked from my face). All this, of course, assumes the front sight is the thing on which we should be focused while engaged in a defensive encounter with a moving and thinking threat.
“Am I faster and more accurate with a Gen5 versus a Gen4? Generally, no, but under specific circumstances and due to additional Gen5 features? Yes. Am I more confident with a GLOCK Gen5 pistol? Absolutely, yes.”
Over the past two years, and out of necessity, I have moved to the GLOCK 17 Gen5 MOS, and with dedicated and proper training and education, my general pistol capabilities have transcended the apex of my skill set when my eyes were young and sharp. Installation of a high-quality reflex sight on the G17 Gen5 MOS has wholly reinvigorated my training, confidence, and enjoyment of this passion. In fact, while I move around my local area daily, I am confident that, with my G17 Gen5 MOS, reflex sight, and the training to support it, I can achieve far greater precision than ever before. I am further assured I can achieve the same at greater ranges with this newly developed material capability and appropriate training. While red-dot sights (RDS) are not new technology, their miniaturization, ruggedization, and adaptation to the slide of a duty handgun are recent phenomena. Perhaps most importantly, the MOS feature significantly increases my confidence under low-light conditions, with or without a weapon-mounted light. I can now focus clearly on the threat, not the front sight, regardless the disposition of my prescription glasses.
As if all this were not enough, GLOCK engineers added forward serrations to the Gen5 slide as a standard feature. Admittedly, if GLOCK engineers had asked me if Gen5 pistols should receive forward serrations, I would have said, “That’s not a requirement.” Fortunately for us all, they did not ask me. After nearly 40 years of enjoying handgun training and
sport shooting, I had not been exposed, to any significant degree, to forward slide serrations, and I had not developed pistol manipulation techniques to enjoy these functional embellishments. Now that I have forward serrations, however, my firearm manipulations are even safer and more efficient. These serendipitous discoveries keep on happening with the Gen5 series. While GLOCK also offers the MOS feature on select GLOCK Gen4 models, readers should consider all the benefits mentioned of the Gen5 system over the GLOCK Gen4 when making purchase decisions.
Recent events have caused me to conduct yet another complete and honest requirements-based analysis of my entire defensive handgun system, including pistol, training, education, maintenance, and accessories. After eliminating all emotion, hearsay, and as much anecdotal evidence as possible, I selected the GLOCK Gen5 series pistol – just as the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and countless others have. For as brilliant as the Gen5 pistolsb are in the mechanical sense, they rely on a human director. I must emphasize that frequent, repetitive, and increasingly demanding high-quality pistol training and education in the fundamentals of marksmanship are essential to one’s skills, safety, and fulfillment in the shooting sports, military and law enforcement service, and personal security. There is great joy in employing the GLOCK Gen5 to its maximum capability, and I sincerely hope you experience it.
