Glock 19 Generation Differences - One of the biggest questions that Glock buyers may have is what is the difference between the Glock Gen 4 and Gen 5? Glocks are known to make great strides in their various generations, but there are noticeable differences from generation to generation.
I'll start with an overview and this article will focus mainly on the Glock 19 Gen 4 vs Gen 5, but many of these changes carry over to other models in the Glock line.
Glock 19 Generation Differences
First, I'm going to talk about the looks of the Glock 19 Gen 4 vs Gen 5 because it's the first thing people notice.
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The easiest way to show the difference in patterns is to wear a slip. It's a much darker color than Gen 4.
In general, they look the same as before. There were Gen 4 models that were supplied with front sprockets.
The Glock Gen 5 slide has the original spokes and nDLC finish. The nDLC finish gives the Gen 5 its matte black finish.
The Gen 5 Glock 19 features a double-action lock that was added to compete with the government's grip that the Sig M17 later succeeded.
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Glock has made a proprietary finish on their slides for the Glock 19 Gen 5 and they call it nDLC. I'm not entirely sure what it stands for, but the finish is said to be stronger and more durable than the finish used before.
From what I have observed, there is very little wear on the slides from the holster and the overall use of the oil-free slide seems smooth.
Serrations appeared on the scene of Glocks in the early 2010s. The Glock Gen 5 now has factor serrations.
Gen 4 Glocks had a special pattern marked with "FS" front serrations for some time before Gen 5 came out and front serration became standard.
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For me the front sprockets were very welcome and I had a Gen 4 FS model that I loved.
Glock has always been known for its guns with polygonal barrels. This is a release from Gen 5 crown barrels for the traditional game.
They say the Gen 5 barrel is "game grade," but that's mostly marketing jargon. The facts are that the Gen 5 barrel is tested and more accurate than its predecessor and that's all that matters.
For a short time, the Gen 5 had a cutout in the bezel that allowed your fingers to fall into the half-moon hole, but they no longer make the Gen 5 with the half-moon cutout and no serrations on the front.
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The current frame has removed the fingerprint doors. If you're not familiar with finger trees, they're a hotly debated topic in the Glock community. The fingerboards sit in front of the handle frame and are pretty popular all over the world.
As you can see in the picture, finger trees have been a staple of Glocks for years and were finally removed from Gen 5, probably for good.
The removal of the finger trees is a big change considering Glock has had them for a long time. It's nice to see the removal and most people will welcome this change with open arms.
The internals of the Glock 19 were completely redesigned for Gen 5 and a simple pin system was created to make complete removal much easier. This was a welcome change to Glock armor everywhere.
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The magazine well is also more inflated on the Glock 19 Gen 5 than on the Glock 19 Gen 4.
As you can see from the picture, it's a big difference, but if you're familiar with Glock, a flared magazine will help you a little.
Yes, absolutely. The magazines have not changed since the Glock 19 Gen 3. So if you have old magazines in good condition, you will be able to continue using them going forward.
Gen 3 magazines have only one notch on the right side to hold the magazine. Gen 4 and Gen 5 have a notch on both sides of the magazine to make the breech compatible.
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The Gen 4 magazine has a colored fan and the Gen 5 has an orange fan. This is the only difference between the two magazines.
You can also use Glock magazine adapter sleeves to fill gaps if you want to use a Glock 17 magazine.
Glock has changed the trigger and made it cooler by updating the trigger spring and redesigning the safety rail.
Glock continues its Gen 3 series of Glocks, which may seem strange to many since it has released two generations since the Gen 3.
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The main reason Glock still carries the Gen 3 models is because of California's unconstitutional gun registration.
Because of California's anti-gun beliefs, they have a gun registry, and only guns approved by that registry are allowed to be sold in the state. As you may have guessed, the Glock Gen 3 models are on the approved list.
Thankfully the Gen 3s have held their own and are as strong and reliable as the newer generations without some of the new, exciting features.
So until California is caught violating constitutional rights, the Glock Gen 3 will live on.
Glock G19 Gen 5 9mm 4.02in 15+1 Blk
Finally, the Glock Gen 3 and Gen 5 are the only two guns in production. As I noted in the section above, Gen 3 will remain until California joins.
If you're in the market for a new Glock and don't live in California, be sure to pick up the Gen 5 over the Gen 4. The subtle changes Glock has made to this gun are noticeable and nice additions.
Lynx Defense may receive a small percentage of sales from links to any products or services on this site. You pay nothing extra and your purchase helps support our work and allows us to continue creating great content for you, our reader! Glock released the Gen 4 pistol line in early 2010, which addressed some frame stability issues and introduced minor exterior changes. About seven years later we were introduced to the next generation of the Glock range. The Gen 5 variant is subtle on the surface, but there are some interesting changes that aren't immediately apparent.
I've been using a Gen 5 Glock 19 since late August and have put about 4,000 rounds through it since then. I ran it for static accuracy and dynamic stealth training, with and without a light attached to the rail. I also spent time with it assembled, knowing the internal changes and parts exchange issues (as Glocks are fun hobby kits).
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For the most part, the Gen 5 Glock 19 is just a Glock 19, but there are some interesting and unusual changes that warrant examination. There are also some caveats that first-time buyers should be aware of. I hope to cover most of them here, but keep in mind that this information comes from less than 2 months of use, several times a week. Too much time can tell too many tales.
Most of these updates will address Gen 5 changes from previous versions and specific user issues of Gen-5 (shipping, shooting, tools, etc...). For more Glock 19 reviews I encourage you to read my Glock 19 Gen 4 review here ("Review: Glock 19 Gen 4 - After 80,000 Rounds").
Also note that the photos shown in this article do not show factory new guns. Instead, these are pictures of someone who uses a lot of guns a few days a week. They like to hit a little bit.
The first and best reason to consider this pistol is because it is a Glock 19; perhaps the best all-purpose pistol ever made. It is large enough to be a weapon and offers effective accuracy and large magazine capacity, while being small and light enough for everyday concealed carry.
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Furthermore, the excellent reliability record provided by the Glock pistol cannot be ignored. In my experience, I've shot over 100,000 rounds through Gen 3 and Gen 4 Glock pistols and the only malfunctions I've experienced are due to the failure of non-Glock parts and a failed Cerakote job. With spare parts, the Glock pistol is almost as efficient, even under difficult conditions.
Clearly a Gen 5, you can consider the new Glock 19 for several compelling reasons. First, the slide switch is now ambidextrous. So if you are left handed, move the mag to the right and you have a completely left handed gun. For those who like Glock pistols but not grip finger grooves, the Gen 5 comes with a flat front face strap on the grip. No customization required.
Gen 5 brings very little to the shooting experience, except for 2 notable ones. The Glock 19 has always been a smooth shooting, easy to handle pistol and has always had an accuracy that will exceed 99.9% of shooting ability. What is new in this experience is introduced
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