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Best Glocks Today: Reviewed by Special Operations Veterans and Professional Shooters

February 2, 2025

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In the world of handguns, few names command as much respect and admiration as Glock. Renowned for their reliability, durability, and adaptability, Glock pistols have earned their place in the holsters of law enforcement, military personnel, and responsible gun owners worldwide.

Our team of special operations veterans and pro shooters have been shooting Glock models for years, on active duty, in competition, and as civilian concealed carriers. Together, they have over 200 years of experience shooting Glocks and can provide valuable insight to anyone looking to buy a Glock pistol.

In this extensive guide, we’ll delve deep into the realm of Glock pistols, exploring their history, shared features, model variations, and, most importantly, the best Glocks available today.

Table of Contents

Background
Best Glock Pistols
Choosing the Right Glock for You
FAQs
The Bottom Line

Background

Before we dive into the specifics of Glock pistols, let’s briefly touch on their origin. Our journey begins with the visionary engineer Gaston Glock, an Austrian entrepreneur with a polymer and synthetic materials background.

In the early 1980s, Glock responded to a request from the Austrian military to develop a new handgun, marking the inception of the Glock pistol.

Gaston Glock’s innovative design incorporated a polymer frame, a striker-fired mechanism, and a straightforward yet reliable operation. These groundbreaking elements catapulted Glock to the forefront of the firearms industry, forever changing the landscape of handguns.

Best Glock Pistols

Choosing the Right Glock for You

Purpose

First, determine the primary purpose for which you intend to use the firearm.

If it’s concealed carry, opt for a compact or subcompact model like the Glock 19, 43X, or 26, which balance concealability with firepower.

For home defense, consider a full-size or compact Glock, such as the Glock 17 or Glock 19, offering a blend of size, capacity, and accuracy.

Frame Type

Frame type is another crucial consideration. Glock offers three main frame types: full-size, compact, and subcompact, though there are also some other variants on these.

Full-size frames provide a comfortable grip, making them ideal for duty use and competition, while compact frames, like the Glock 19, offer versatility, suitable for concealed carry and general use.

Subcompact frames, such as the Glock 43X and Glock 26, prioritize deep concealment and portability.

Full-size and compact frames are great duty sized handguns, while compact and subcompact frames are both good for shooters looking for a carry gun.

Caliber

Your choice of pistol cartridge matters as well. 9mm is the most popular for its manageable recoil, higher capacity, and affordability, suitable for various purposes.

.45 ACP delivers substantial stopping power but with more recoil, favored by those prioritizing larger caliber rounds. .40 S&W provides a compromise between 9mm and .45 Auto in terms of power and capacity, often chosen for law enforcement.

Capacity

Next, consider magazine capacity. Standard capacity magazines range from 10 to 17 rounds, striking a balance between capacity and concealability.

However, extended magazines, available as aftermarket accessories, can increase capacity, offering extra rounds, sometimes even without altering the pistol’s overall size.

Carefully assessing these factors ensures you’ll choose the right Glock pistol that aligns perfectly with your specific needs and preferences.

MOS or Standard Models

Best Glocks Today: Reviewed by Special Operations Veterans and Professional Shooters

“MOS” in Glock terminology stands for “Modular Optic System.” Glock MOS models are equipped with features that allow for the easy attachment of optical sights, such as red dot sights or reflex sights, directly onto the pistol’s slide.

The Glock MOS system typically consists of a milled slot or plate on the slide that accommodates various mounting plates or adapters. Shooters can then attach compatible optical sights to these mounting plates, allowing them to co-witness with the pistol’s standard sights or provide an unobstructed view through the optic.

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Gen 4 vs. Gen 5

Glock has introduced several generations of pistols, with Gen 4 and Gen 5 being the most recent.

Perhaps the most noticeable of these changes is removing the finger grooves previously found on Glock grips to accommodate shooters of all hand sizes better. Glock also improved the grip texture to help ensure a firm grip and front slide serrations to make racking the slide easier.

While the overall dimensions between the Gen 4 and Gen 5 remain relatively similar, eagle-eyed enthusiasts will spot a slight increase in width for the Gen 5 model. This minor alteration, though subtle, might pose compatibility challenges with specific Gen 4 accessories, particularly holsters.

Glock also widened the mag well, facilitating faster reloads, though it’s essential to remember that proper training remains crucial for mastering the art of swift magazine changes.

For southpaw shooters, Glock took another step in the right direction by adding an ambidextrous slide stop on the Gen 5. This thoughtful addition makes it much easier for left-handed shooters to engage the slide without the need to adjust their grip.

Finally, Gen 5 Glocks boast both a barrel upgrade and trigger upgrade, promising improved accuracy and a more refined shooting experience.

However, you can’t go wrong with Gen 4, either. Both generations are well-regarded and have their devoted followers, so if you’re not too worried about these differences, you may be able to save a bit of money by going with a Gen 4 model.

FAQs

Do Glocks have a safety?

While Glocks don’t have a manual safety or grip safety, Glocks do feature a unique safety system called their “Safe Action” system. This three part safety system includes a trigger safety, firing pin safety, and drop safety to ensure that Glocks cannot be fired unless the trigger is directly and completely pressed.

See also 6.5mm Creedmoor for Coyote Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Coyote Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the 6.5mm Creedmoor a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for coyote hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the 6.5mm Creedmoor is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest coyote. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the coyote, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the coyote in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a coyote in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the 6.5mm Creedmoor within the ideal range of suitable calibers for coyote hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is A GOOD CHOICE for coyote hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber 6.5mm Creedmoor Animal Species Coyote Muzzle Energy 2300 foot-pounds Animal Weight 30 lbs Shot Distance 100 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a 6.5mm Creedmoor? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a 6.5mm Creedmoor round is approximately 2300 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male coyote? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male coyote is approximately 30 lbs. [Click Here to Shop 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in coyote hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for coyote to be approximately 100 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the 6.5mm Creedmoor. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the coyote being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether 6.5mm Creedmoor is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest coyote - and to this question, the response again is yes, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is A GOOD CHOICE for coyote hunting. [Click Here to Shop 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting coyote to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

What are the best Glock sights?

Glock factory sights are known for being, well, not the greatest. For that reason, many Glock owners opt to upgrade the stock Glock sights for aftermarket sights. Choosing the best Glock sights largely depends on your personal preferences and use cases.

Some popular options include tritium night sights for low-light shooting and red dot sights for enhanced target acquisition.

What are the best Glock triggers?

The best Glock trigger is a matter of personal preference, as different shooters have varying preferences for trigger weight and feel. Some aftermarket options include the Apex Tactical trigger and the ZEV Technologies trigger, which allow customization to suit your liking.

Why are Glocks so popular?

Glocks have achieved popularity due to their reputation for reliability, simplicity, and versatility. These reliable pistols are known for functioning flawlessly in various conditions and requiring minimal maintenance, making them a dependable choice for a wide range of users.

The Bottom Line

That brings us to a close on the best Glocks. Glock pistols have rightfully earned their place as some of the most trusted and widely used firearms in the world.

Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a novice exploring the world of handguns, there’s likely a Glock model that aligns with your needs and preferences, and with this guide to the best Glock pistols, you should have all the information that you need to choose the perfect Glock for you.

Remember, responsible firearm ownership entails not only choosing the right firearm but also obtaining proper training and adhering to safety practices. Embrace the responsibility that comes with gun ownership, and enjoy shooting responsibly.

By considering your purpose, frame type, caliber preference, and capacity requirements, you can confidently select the ideal Glock pistol for your specific needs. As you embark on your journey with Glock, prioritize safety, continuous training, and responsible firearm usage. Happy shooting!