Glock 19 gen 4

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khugh

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I am new to handguns, new to this forum as well. I am in the process of purchasing my first handgun, chose a glock 19 gen 4. I have heard that the gen 3 is a better gun. Can anyone give me any input on this ?
 
I like the gen4 (more than the gen3) because of the bigger mag release, rougher grip texture, and available beavertail backstrap.
Other differences like recoil spring setup and trigger bar are insignificant for many/most users.
== the gen3 trigger bar setup may allow for a slightly lighter trigger pull than the gen4 setup.
== the gen3 and gen 4 recoil spring setup both work well - so no real difference. The gen4 looks more durable but replacement from normal wear before breakage from parts failure is more likely. So, I would say the difference is insignificant.

When I got a glock, I picked a gen4 Glock 34 for above reasons.
 
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Good choice.

The gen4 and gen3 are both good guns. I prefer the gen4 design. Grip texture is better for me and I also like the enlarged magazine release. I don't care much about the dual recoil assembly. I have not had any issues with it, but I never had issues with the old style either.

For an extra $50 in most cases you get a 3rd magazine, better grip texture, bigger magazine release, and back straps to adjust it to your hand size. I don't care about the size difference, but I do like the beavertail backstrap and run the medium beavertail one on my own gen4 g19.
 
Early in the gen 4's life... There were some reliability issues.

Glock implemented some changed to the recoil spring assembly and the extractor.

Gen 4s are good to go now.


For many the ergonomic changes and other improvements/tweaks are a real boon. There are definitely improvements to various areas. (like those mentioned above)

Some feel that the gen 3 respond to trigger jobs better... Or more accurately... The affects of the various replacement parts on the trigger pull are better understood, and between a gen 3 and gen 4, with the same parts changes, the gen 3 may be a little smoother and lighter.

In the end it's a non-issue, as you can most likely get the trigger pull you want on a gen 4 just as well as you can a gen 3.
 
Just a plus one to marine6680 comments above.

(I was going to say about the same thing but he types faster than me or more likely has his thoughts in better order.)
 
Thank you Dale.


And the reliability issues I mentioned were not widespread or even constant. I believe it was a small percentage would have occasional stoppages and odd ejection. Most likely this was due to production variances, and the tweaks glock made, simply reduced the impact minor variations had on the pistol.
 
If they weren't widespread then at the beginning I must have had the worst luck possible as I had 3 Gen 4s that exhibited poor ejection and a number of new production Gen 3s as well. Honestly I don't think it's an issue of Gen 3 vs. Gen 4 but newer vs. older production Glocks.

Case in point two months ago I bought a used Gen 3 from 2007 from a friend who barely used it. Right out of the box it ran like a champ and ejected just as well as an M&P, Xd, etc. A month later I bought a new Gen 3 from 2013 that had such poor ejection by the end of a range session it looked like I had taken a bucket of empty cases and dumped it over my head with cases pooling as much to the left of me as the right of me. I put in an Apex extractor, 30274 ejector, and a different spring loaded bearing and it is dramatically better but still not as good as the stock 2007 Glock. I would chalk this up to sample variance and it may still be but in a dozen Glocks this is my third "older" Gen 3 (before 2010) that has run better than what I buy brand new in terms of ejection pattern.

Now to be fair at the end of last year I picked up a Gen 4 Glock 19 with a mid 2014 production date and it ran without any real issues. It's almost like there are a number of years that were "bad". Of course this is only my experience over my dozen Glocks and I don't have great luck. But for now I carry and put beside the bed the 2007 (after 1000 rd reliability test) and shoot the 2013 at the range. My point would be to test any pistol you buy rigorously (and magazines too) before trusting your life to it.
 
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If the replaceable backstrap on the Gen4 is not important for you, I'd go with the Gen3, strictly "MHO" here.
 
I have read a lot of about how the early gen 4- 19's had issues, I assume these all have been fixed? Most of what I have read has been 3 to 4 year old online posts.
 
Yeah, should be resolved.

After you get a few hundred rounds through your pistol, you should have a good idea about its reliability. Always a good idea to test your pistol, as things happen, and a bad pistol can slip out... Happens with every brand.

And if you have questions, you can always come back here and ask.
 
Wow!

Maybe Glocks are like wine, certain years (vintages) are better than others.

Just had a mind's eye picture of the discerning Glock buyer at the gun store taking a Glock out of the box, examining the serial number (maybe sniffing the muzzle...maybe I shouldn't go there) then looking at the clerk and either nodding acceptance or giving him the slight shake of the head to tell him he will have to go back to the Glock cellar for another.
 
I have read a lot of about how the early gen 4- 19's had issues, I assume these all have been fixed? Most of what I have read has been 3 to 4 year old online posts.
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If you go over to Glock Talk there are posts even more recent than that.

https://www.google.com/search?q=glock+brass+to+face&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=glock+ejection+problem+site:glocktalk.com

I'm not trying to trash Glock. I trust my life to a Glock.

Just had a mind's eye picture of the discerning Glock buyer at the gun store taking a Glock out of the box, examining the serial number (maybe sniffing the muzzle...maybe I shouldn't go there) then looking at the clerk and either nodding acceptance or giving him the slight shake of the head to tell him he will have to go back to the Glock cellar for another.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to lie. When I look at a used Glock I google the Glock serial number project, find out the approximate month and year, and it plays a big factor in if I purchase or not.
 
So is getting a glock 19 gen 4 a bad choice for my first handgun? I too looked into Smith and Wesson mp 9's but chose the glock.
 
I think it's a great choice for a first handgun. It was mine. :cool: i was also thinking of it as a good "one gun solution" - home, range, and carry - but that was December and I have two more guns already. :D
 
khugh said:
So is getting a glock 19 gen 4 a bad choice for my first handgun? I too looked into Smith and Wesson mp 9's but chose the glock.
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The answer to that question ultimately can only be answered by you after you have had it for a while and shoot it as often as possible.

Will it "fit" you, especially after you have fired your first shots and then after firing hundreds of rounds through it? Will it work for you and what your desired uses are? Will it be a sidearm that you can carry all day long without any issues or discomfort? Etc., etc.

Just my thoughts, you could have done worse for a first handgun. So don't overthink it, practice with it as often as possible, and you will know soon enough whether you made the right choice or not.
 
So is getting a glock 19 gen 4 a bad choice for my first handgun?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not and I tried above and want to make sure I reiterate that. In close to 80 handguns I have seen issues with every single manufacturer. The fact that I have had issues with Glocks but still use them honestly speaks to how I think they rate against the competition. Crappy or less than ideal ejection can be annoying but it's far less annoying than issues that actually stop a gun from running and as it stands I don't think any manufacturer beats Glock for the capacity you get for the size and for a striker fired trigger I shoot them just as well as and often better than the competition.

As I said I think the 2014 and newer guns I've used personally and in general the results I've seen at the range are certainly encouraging. My point in pointing out the threads on Glock Talk wasn't to try to discourage you. Even if a manufacturer was darn near perfect there would still be problems mentioned online because of the sheer volume some of these manufacturers move and the fact that people are more likely to go online and complain than go online and rave.

I'd also agree with Cyanide that allow the possibility for certain guns to work or even not work for you even if a number of people hate or love that gun online. What works for one person does not necessarily work for everyone else. You make your best guess with your first handgun but it can easily evolve from there. My first handgun was a S&W Model 19 and I would carry many more guns in my safe currently than I would go back to carrying that. The goal isn't to spend tons of money buying every gun, but when giving the opportunity whether through friends you meet or classes you take to try other guns and evaluate if something might work better for you over time. A Glock 19 is a great all around gun and even if you decided at some point to trade or sell it you're lucky that they typically don't depreciate much.
 
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I appreciate all the feed back and am so excited to be getting my glock !!!! Should be getting it in a few weeks if everything goes as planned.
 
one thing about getting a Glock for your first handgun is remember trigger control. There is no safety, so KEEP YOUR BOOGER PICKER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!!!!!!! other than they, they are good reliable pistols, I have 2, a Gen 3 17 and a Gen 4 19
 
What range ammo is good for a glock 19 ? I'm talking about low price ammo. What about carry ammo for after I get my carry permit . That ammo I am not worried about the cost .
 
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