Glock is as synonymous with quality as it is with law enforcement. An estimated 60 percent of police agencies use the platform in the United States. The recent release of the Gen 5 Glocks and the G19X shows that the company is listening to its customers, molding their products to better meet user needs. This works out pretty well for those of us who carry a gun and a badge for a living.
GLOCK 17 Gen5 MOS and GLOCK 19 Gen5 MOS
The G17 and G19 have become hallmarks in the law enforcement community, serving many agencies across the land. The 9mm pistols are very similar, the G19 being the compact and the G17 serving as the full-size version.
With Gen 4, Glock added the MOS or Modular Optic System option. Shooters could take advantage of the red dot optics that are growing in popularity. Quite a few companies have rushed to fill the market with quality micro red dot optics suited for this platform.
Now, the Gen 5 version has emerged combining the best of both worlds. Essentially, Gen 5 meant a slew of upgrades that were largely evidenced from the aftermarket and customer demand. The flared magwell, improved trigger, Glock Marksmen Barrel and tougher nDLC finish were the primary upgrades seen with the new iteration, though other advancements came along.
New to the Gen 5 MOS are forward slide serrations. This is huge to some Glock fans as a whole aftermarket has developed to support this option for those who like to press check or even load and reload using the front serrations.
The finger grooves from the Gen 4s disappeared and the guns also became truly ambidextrous. While this is not a selling point for me, it makes sense to a head of an agency that might have to buy a few thousand guns trying to outfit an entire department with a percentage of left-handed shooters. The muzzles on the Gen 5s were also rounded to aid with reentry to holsters. Finally, magazines were equipped with orange followers allowing shooters to see an empty chamber or quick identifier for how many rounds were left.
I carry a Gen 4 G17 MOS on duty and when the Gen 5 came out I really admired the sleek new finish, the smoother trigger and, most of all, the flared magwell. Just in mag changes alone I noticed a significant difference in the time required, the ease of use, and the solidity of the mag seat. I would have gladly upgraded, but did not want to abandon the Trijicon RMR Type II I’ve become so fond of. Glock has started expanding through its lineup, combining the best benefits of the slide cuts for MOS, with the overhaul of the Gen 5s – an outstanding pairing.
Glock 45
Now this one might seem a bit confusing but it is not a .45 caliber Glock. Rather, it is a 9mm with a model number of 45 in the ever-growing lineup offered by the Austrian gun manufacturer. You may recall the last iterations offered were the G42 and G43 models, single-stack shooters in .380 and 9mm respectively. Your guess is as good as mine as to what the G44 might be but we’ll find out when Glock is ready.
The lineage of the G45 is pretty easy to understand. When the G19X was released a while back it was based on a different concept, pairing a full-size frame with a compact slide. Essentially, the G19X was a G17 frame with a G19 slide sitting on top. There were other upgrades too and the whole package was dressed in flat dark earth or FDE, a tan camo that reminded me of Glock’s bid for the U.S. Army MHS contract. As I sat in a media briefing at Glock headquarters, the cop in me wondered aloud when the unit would come in black.
I also noticed during the summit the G19X did not enjoy one of the benefits of the Gen 5 Glocks, which were being released at the same time, namely the flared magwell. The military trappings of the G19X were evident though they weren’t the best fit for law enforcement where your pistol is your primary weapon. Glock has taken the advancements of the Gen 5 series and joined them with the innovation of the G19X, creating the G45.
Considered to be “the ultimate service pistol” offered by Glock, the G45 enjoys the advancements and benefits of both the Crossover G19X and the Gen 5 pistols. This pistol checks a lot of boxes for law enforcement.
Performance of the Glock 19 MOS and Glock G45
As of this writing, the Gen 5 Glock 17 MOS was not sent out so I loaded up the 19 MOS and G45 before heading out to the range. I fired both guns repeatedly, testing for accuracy and also gun handling. Everything was as I expected – which is to say perfect, with zero (non-shooter) malfunctions and the dependable accuracy I’ve come to expect from Glock. The only challenges I had were not hitting the slide stop lever with my thumb, causing the slide to not lock back on the final round.
Comparatively, I struggle to fit my hands on the G19. I liked the feel of the G45, having a bit more real estate for my big mitts to take up residence. Perhaps more noteworthy though, I fired the G19 MOS more accurately. I suspect this has everything to do with my having become more accustomed to the Trijicon RMR Type II I mounted on the gun. Regardless, both guns were accurate and performed flawlessly.
Coming to a gun store near you
It sounds like these new models are going to start hitting shelves on October 5 so be ready. While the G19 was not a terrific fit for me, I like the overall size and cannot deny how much more I’m able to focus with the red dot mounted to the top. The G45 was certainly a better fit with the full-size frame. I could really see a lot of law enforcement agencies going to this gun. The service life has got to be astounding and, with Blue Label pricing, you can’t go wrong. It might be a good idea to reach out to your local dealer soon to get your name on the list.
