Glock Model Differences

T

ThomasT

New member
I have been kicking around the idea of getting a Glock in 9mm. The 9mm is what I have on hand and I am set up to reload for it with lots of supplies. After reading the article below it almost sounds like Glock is not to be trusted unless its a range or gamer gun.

I have a S&W 9VE that I really like and have read it is basically a copy of the Glock 19. I like its size and weight. Would a Glock be better? I haven't shot the 9VE a whole lot but it has never bobbled or shown the slightest hint of a stoppage. Plus with its conventional rifling I can shoot cast bullets from it. Not so much with the Glock.

I know there are tons of Glock fans so I would like to hear your experience with your Glocks. I have shot one. My buddy has what I am sure is a generation one model 17 and it has been flawless. He even accidently loaded it with .380s and it shot and cycled those too.

http://reducerecoil.com/2015/03/difference-between-glock-gen1-glock-gen2-glock-gen3-glock-gen4/

This article makes it sound like the only Glock to own is the generation 4. Or at least a generation 3.
 
Glocks are fine. Smith and Wessons are also good guns. Whoever wrote that article sure likes to hear the self talk. Blah blah blah was about all I got out of reading the first half of that article. The switch from gen 1 to gen 2 happened decades ago. You would have to go out of your way to even find a gen 2. You would have to search high and low to find a gen 1.
 
I didn't read the article but if it stated or even implied that Glocks should not be trusted or are only good for range guns, then the author is ignorant.

I've owned probably a dozen or more different Glocks over the years and have shot even more than that. Out of the all, I've only had one I had an issue with and that was a Gen 3 Glock 17L.

I've owned Gen 4, 3, 2 and I even had a Gen 1 Glock 17 in the old school Tupperware container with Gen 1 non-metal lined magazines. Like I said, every one has functioned flawlessly aside from the 17L.

Glocks are not perfect and can have breakages or stoppages the same as any other gun. But they do have a pretty solid track record no matter what Gen.


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Gen 3 Glocks has the infamous BTF issue (Brass To Face). Upon ejection, Gen3s were noted for tossing hot brass into the face of the user. As with most such issues, there were vocal complaints by a few and silence from many. I fired a range Gen 3 that had a BTF extractor, or so was claimed to be the issue.

Gen 2 and 4s are free of this irk.

I have several Glocks and find them uniformly troublefree. My carry weapon is a Glock 23, bedside is a Glock 19.

I personally don't like the grip, to me it feels like I am sighting a 2x4.

But I certainly trust the Glock to go bang when needed, and NOT go bang when it shouldn't.
 
That article had more blather than fact. Some people like Glocks, some don't. The author plainly doesn't.

I saw a lot more reports about early generation 4 Glocks in 9 mm throwing brass at people's faces than generation 3.

I own only one Glock, a generation 3 G26. It is my EDC and has been completely reliable. It shoots accurately and comfortably for me. Glocks in general are very utilitarian but work very well. If you try them out and like them, no reason not to buy one for yourself.
 
Despite the critics Glocks have a proven track record of withstanding hard use, neglect, and abuse better than anything ever made. Not saying some other gun isn't just as durable, but so far none have proven it. There are several examples with 300,000 rounds through them with only minor small parts replaced and then several tests like this.

http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog/glock-21-torture-test/

Durability and reliability aren't the same. Most any decent quality modern gun will be just as reliable as a Glock. They might require a little more attention and be kept cleaner, but for most people that isn't really much of an issue. I understand that for the average person stuff like this isn't really relevant. Most will not shoot 3,000 rounds through a single gun in a lifetime let alone 300,000 and most won't abuse a gun that way.

But from a military or even LE perspective stuff like that is a real possibility. It wouldn't be unusual at all for a soldier to pick up a gun out of the mud and hope it still works even though the person originally carrying it was just blown to bits from a mortar shell or died in a plane crash.

I like Glocks, but they aren't perfect for every use. I wouldn't have one with a loaded chamber unless it were in a quality holster and on my person. If used in that way I don't see them as anymore dangerous than anything else. If you want to use it any other way there are better options.

But if someone is looking for a plastic framed, striker fired weapon with no traditional safety I still think they are the best option. If that type of gun isn't for you they make many different styles.
 
The article was full of "inaccuracies".

The AD the article talks about... knowing how the Glock fire control works, I don't believe it one bit.

The article also suggested that the slides would pop off the rear rails and release the striker... even if the slide did pop off, I doubt there would be a problem.

The striker is partial tension, and should not have the energy required to ignite a primer from its rest position.

Even if the striker did have the energy, the striker block prevents actual contact with the primer.

When your job involves firearms, and an ND can cause you to loose that job, you start making excuses real quick.


I'm not a Glock fan, I hated them until the gen 4 update made them feel less like a 2x4... and more like a 2x3... So now I can tolerate them.


The S&W SD line of pistols are reliable and well made, but the trigger leaves much to be desired. The Glock trigger is adequate and better than the Smith.

Glocks are generally accurate and reliable, if you want one get one.
 
Gen 3 Glocks has the infamous BTF issue (Brass To Face). Upon ejection, Gen3s were noted for tossing hot brass into the face of the user. As with most such issues, there were vocal complaints by a few and silence from many. I fired a range Gen 3 that had a BTF extractor, or so was claimed to be the issue.

Gen 2 and 4s are free of this irk.
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In owning a dozen or so Glocks over the last few years my experience was that it was more to do with a certain production run for a few years than anything specific to one generation. I've got two Gen 3s that run like Swiss watches, one 2005 the other 2006. I have a newer 2012 that required a swap of the ejector to the 30274 version to not bean me in the forehead. The ones I've owned in the last two years from either Gen 3 or Gen 4 have been fine. I just prefer Gen 3.
 
Well your answers were more in line with what I thought about Glocks and not what I read in the article I posted. Thanks JMR40 for the link you posted. I have read that before but had forgotten it.

I am much more of a revolver guy but mainly because I hate losing my brass. But I have several thousand pieces of brass plus its easy to find and also pick up at the range free of charge.

Now I have something to look for at the next gunshow. Like I stated I really like my S&W Sigma. I have the only one I have ever seen that is black on black. I do not like the two tone look. I bought this gun for $325 with a $50 rebate AND two free factory mags so I got a great deal on it. But I think I would like to have a real Glock.
 
I saw a lot more reports about early generation 4 Glocks in 9 mm throwing brass at people's faces than generation 3.
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Likewise. Glock introduced new recoil assemblies for the 9mm Gen 4 Glocks specifically to deal with the issue.
 
I just went to Academy Sports and handled a Glock 19. I have to have one. No two ways about it. And in my first post I stated the S&W 9VE I have is a copy of the Glock 19. It is not. As much as I like the S&W the little Glock felt smaller and more solid. It pointed nicely too. I didn't really like the sights but those can be changed I believe.

The Dallas Big Town gunshow is on June 18-19. I will be there with cash in hand. The Academy price was $569. I think I can do better than that if I am patient.
 
My oldest 2 pin Gen 3 Glock just turned over 200,000 rounds, and never once, ever, had brass to the face. And that goes for the total of 400,000 rounds I have run thru various Glock models since 1992. One time a guy had a chipped extractor from dropping rounds in instead of loading from that magazine to top off to 11 in an IDPA match. The chipped extractor will throw cases at you. The reference article is junk, the Gen 1-3's were the best guns, especially the long railed rears. We have a Gen 1 range gun at the academy that is over 1,000,000 rounds. My G19 Gen 3 is around 70,000 rounds with no issues, and about 20K of that was Win SXT +P+ 127s. Most guys who get Gen 4's change out the stupid double recoil spring, get a nose ring adapter from Lone Wolf, and run them that way. I shoot USPSA matches every weekend, sometimes 6 times a month, and see dozens of other guys running Glocks, but never having brass to the face, unless they change their grip, that can also cause it. Hold you gun like this.

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ratshooter....The Dallas Big Town gunshow is on June 18-19. I will be there with cash in hand.
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Why wait for Bigtown? The Dallas Market Hall show is the 11th & 12th and 3-4times larger.





The Academy price was $569. I think I can do better than that if I am patient.
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MAP on a G19gen4 is $539+tax.......there will be several vendors at Market Hall selling them that low.
 
9x45 thanks for the tip on the guide rod replacement. A $30 fix.

Spats I am glad you came to like your glock. I like wood and blue steel same as everyone but else but I am also gregarious. Any gun can play as long as it works and shoots decently well. I have only shot one glock but thought it was a fine shooter. Matter of fact it is accurate as all get out.

I am pretty pumped about the gun right now. I like to think about it a while before I buy but this isn't something that requires a lot of thought. I have just got to decide if I want to spend the money. I found a few cheaper on GB but by the time you add shipping and transfer when it gets here they are really no cheaper than just going and buying one from the store.

The next day or two will tell the tale if I am committed or not.
 
I have owned 6 Glocks in total and can say without a doubt they are very reliable.The only reason I no longer have a Glock is due to the fact I can not shoot them well-but I do like them.Working on them is relatively simple and require few tools.Sights change out very easily with the right tools also.If your going to reload for the Glock I would suggest using Berrys Plated-I don't think the Berrys would present a leading problem-I also think running hard cast bullets at a lower velocity probably would also work.
 
Hey Dogtown I have been to the market hall GS before and from what I remember the parking was a pain in the rear. Are they charging for parking like a lot of GS are doing?

I bet I can find a better price than $539. But you gotta figure in gas and time and parking fee if any and the $30 less than Academy doesn't sound like much of a savings.

I have bid on three IIRC on GB including a couple of gen 3 guns but I am under the sellers reserve on every one of them. I wish sellers would just list the gun for the lowest amount they could live with and stop that silly reserve guessing game.
 
ratshooter: said:
...Like I stated I really like my S&W Sigma. I have the only one I have ever seen that is black on black. I do not like the two tone look. I bought this gun for $325 with a $50 rebate AND two free factory mags so I got a great deal on it. But I think I would like to have a real Glock.
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The current Sigma SD9 VE does seem to have a better trigger than the earlier models, I'm pretty sure S&W improved the triggers on the newer ones. I think the new Sigmas are nice guns at a good price point. I have 2 Glocks that are keepers, but if what you already have is working for you, I'm not sure what a Glock would buy you, unless you have another intended purpose for a new Glock that you're not mentioning.
 
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