The Glock 19 is a popular pistol in duty and concealed carry roles. It is a semi-automatic, polymer-framed striker-fired pistol. There are other good pistols in the same class, but the Glock is like a hamburger — it’s almost universally loved and accepted. The company has stayed on top by keeping up with improvements in each generation of the gun.
Features
Glock 19 has a few changes from previous generations that improve the pistol in different ways. The front strap has no finger grooves (Glock reverted to finger grooves in the gen 3 model, however), and the pistol uses a single pin near the locking block instead of two. This allows for more precise machining and makes the gun lighter. It also has some ergonomic upgrades, including a reversible magazine release and an ambidextrous slide stop lever. It also has a new match-grade barrel with polygonal rifling for greater accuracy.
Glocks are known for their durability, and the G19 is no exception. The gun can take a beating and still fire, which is ideal for law enforcement officers who may use their sidearm in life-threatening situations. The gun is also incredibly customizable, with holsters, magazines, lights, and other accessories available for it. It can even be fitted with a red dot optic for more precision. This level of customization makes the Glock 19 suitable for a wide range of shooters, from small hands to large ones and lefties.
Design
The Glock 19 was developed in response to a need for a new police sidearm. Gaston Glock assembled a team of Europe’s leading handgun experts from military, law enforcement, and civilian sport shooting circles to define the ideal characteristics for a combat pistol. In just three months, he had a prototype that made extensive use of synthetic materials and modern manufacturing techniques.
This allowed the gun to be produced cost-effectively, and its basic design has since become the standard for most modern semiautomatic pistols. The Glock 19 is also a very versatile firearm, with a variety of different customization options.
The Glock’s polymer frame and magazines are molded from a high-density, nylon-based polymer that Gaston Glock invented. This material is incredibly durable and resistant to shock, caustic liquids, heat, and other environmental factors that would quickly warm or weaken steel alloys. The trigger, magazine release, and slide lock are all ambidextrous, and the grip is designed for comfortable handling in a variety of hand sizes.
Safety
Glocks are popular among law enforcement and military personnel for their simple design. This simplicity makes them an easy gun to learn, but also ensures that their safety features are consistent across all models. Glock’s “Safe Action System” consists of three separate mechanical safeties: the trigger safety, firing pin safety, and drop safety.
These safeties prevent the firearm from firing unless they are disengaged by the shooter’s finger on the trigger. There is no external manual safety switch on a Glock, but there are plenty of aftermarket options for grips, sights, and magazines.
Glock’s partially cocked striker-fired trigger delivers a consistent, light, and fairly crisp pull. It’s not quite the level of a modern match-type trigger, but it’s more than capable for duty and concealed carry purposes. Moreover, the trigger reset is tactile, audible, and instant. This helps the shooter maintain control of their gun during stressful situations. The Glock’s internal safety systems also prevent accidental discharge during reloads.
Performance
Glocks are eminently shootable, with a fairly smooth trigger and a good amount of recoil control. This is a big reason why they’re trusted by so many law enforcement and military units around the world.
The polygonal rifling on this model helps to reduce the chance of over-penetration when firing into hard barriers, like heavy clothing or plywood. It’s also considered to be more accurate than traditional groove-type rifling.
Another feature that helps with terminal performance is the ion-bonded finish on this model. This coating protects the gun from scratches or corrosion from dropping or hitting against other metal objects.
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For those who want to customize this pistol, there are a wide variety of options available. For example, you can get it stippled (but remember that modifying your weapon is a serious responsibility and should only be done by someone who’s qualified). It can also be fitted with optics-ready versions to support the use of sights like the Trijicon RMR.
