Glock 9mm Models Explained - We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site. Learn more here.
For those who haven't been living under a rock for the last 3 decades into guns, the name Glock has become a household word in the shooting universe. People who have never held a gun (let alone a Glock) will recognize the name. It's estimated that 65% of US police forces use some form of Glock. It's time to dive deep into what you need to know about the Glock 9mm and its various models. We look at:
Glock 9mm Models Explained
The Glock story is amazing considering the man who made the gun knew nothing about gun design. Gaston Gluck sold curtain rods and knives to the Austrian army, and knew the injection. His team developed the 17 Gun, a rifle the Austrian Army needed for a new edge, and a firearms legend was born. An interesting explanation is that the "17" refers to the 17th patent issued to the Glock Corporation, and this numbering system continues to this day.
Bid Now: Glock Model 26 Semi Automatic Pistol
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updates on gun deals, educational content, reviews and legal updates!
Shooters tend to be either Glock fans or detractors - there isn't much middle ground. I'm one of those rare birds that is in the middle with my opinion on Gaston's prodigy. I had a .30 .45 ACP model and had a barrel for it so I could shoot its projectile arms. The performance is good without being too obvious. Gun eye candy he was not. I called Glock the Chevy Impala of the gun industry in another article. The Impala is a good, mid-priced car that's a popular choice among car buyers - it's reliable and well-designed without being flashy.
The Glock, like the Impala, gets the job done in a utilitarian way. He does this without holding hands or feet. And they are very reliable. All the police agencies that buy into the Glock system are excellent evidence of this.
Narrowing it down a bit, let's take a look at Glock's best sellers. Caliber-wise, the cock-handled 9mm for the Glock. Of the more than fifty pistols sold by Glock, their best-selling is the 9mm model. This compact gun packs 15+ rounds in a small package. I know many people who drive this model because it seems to be the optimal middle ground between size and hidden capability. Now, if that's not for you, you have 19 other top 9mm Glock models to choose from.
Do Glocks Have Safeties?
I've put together a table comparing the specs of the most popular models, as well as an expanded version of twenty for you detail-oriented shooters out there. Of course, some of these models are rare in gun stores because they tend to serve a very specific purpose (ie: long-range competition, the Model 34 is great). So, before we dust off all the chart numbers, let's take a closer look at the most popular Glock 9mm.
This is a cumulative list. Are you a digital guy? Here's an expanded version of all the 9mm Glocks, and you can click on the title to sort them (the table is best viewed on a computer or tablet):
Now, let's look at the individual models, but before that, a little explanation is necessary. If you look at the table above, you will see "MOS" and "FS" listed after a few models. MOS is a modular optical system. Glock modified the frame of this rifle to mill the slot in front of the rear sight to accept a red dot or other sight plate. It is covered with filler when not in use.
FS says the rifle has front serrations (slides). These guns, called FS, help manipulate slides at the front of the slide, in addition to the standard rear serrations. Many shooters have asked Glock to include front serrations on their new rifles. Until now they used them on rifles called FS.
Sneak Peek At Upcoming Caa Usa Mck New Models
An explanation of the Glock generations is in order, but we need to keep this article as useful as possible for those considering purchasing a Glock. In Glock terminology, "generation" is equivalent to other companies, "mod 2", "2.0", etc. Coming out with feature changes (commonly referred to as updates) can be some minor, some "major" or a combination of both to be the next generation. So there you have it, from the original Glock (now called Gen1) through the new generation, Gen5.
This is an original and bare Glock Model 17. We can identify this gun by the relative lack of texture on the frame and the lack of finger grooves. This is the Glock that equipped the Austrian army in 1983 when it ordered 25,000 pistols. Here's an interesting note: except for the Model 17 sold to the military, the Model 18 is selective fire. Capable of firing between 1100-1300 rpm. Glock also offered an offset version of this rifle (Model 18C). Technically it was a revolver, and as such, was subject to the rules and fees of owning a machine gun, as someone trying to purchase one.
They provided 22 RTF2 models. , and 19, though all lack fish-gill-shaped teeth.
Starting with the Model 17, we see a fuller frame and a longer barrel than the smaller models. This gun was the first Glock to hit the mainstream. It has been mostly adopted by the Austrian military and some police forces since 1982. I remember when the gun came out it was the first "plastic gun" in the world (the H&K VP70 was technically the first polymer gun introduced in 1970 to the German market).
Glock 19x 9mm Full Size Fde Pistol With 17 Round Magazine
Anti-gunners argued that this "plastic gun" would not show up in an airport metal detector, and some in the shooting community thought the gun would fail due to concerns about the durability of the gun frame. Worry about nothing - they just didn't happen. Instead, the gun's reliability and innovative design endeared it not only to military and police forces, but also to civilians. A rifle only has 35 parts on average...talk about simplicity! My brother has a Gen 4 Model 17 and loves it. I downloaded it and admired it. Because of its size, the 17 is not intended for concealed carry. It is more at home in the grip holster of a level 3 police officer, or a tactical device on the leg of a military SOE operator.
The 17th model comes in 3, 4 and 5 Gen versions. So, if you like finger grooves (or not), you're in luck - buy one you like. Need a competition rifle? Take a MOS Gen4 or Gen5 and put a red dot sight on it. Want a straight shooter? Get the Gen3 and save some money (if you can find it). Model 17, as mentioned above, started it all.
Ok...now let's look at the compact 9mm. As the top selling Glock manufacturer, the Model 19 has a very interesting consumer base. Also, let's not forget the aftermarket parts industry. The Model 19 probably has more third party parts than any Another Glock. However, the Model 19 is perfect for IWB or OWB concealed carry with a 4" barrel, a slim quarter inch width, and 15 rounds in the magazine. As I've written before, this gun is judged against other compact 9mms.
I know several people who took the model 19 and loved it. It's no coincidence that Glock released the Model 17 and Model 19 in Gen5 configuration. 17, with law enforcement, and the Model 19, the best-selling Glock.
Gen 5 Vs. Gen 4 Glocks: What's The Difference?– Bravo Concealment
The Gen5 Model 19 was generally well received. The only complaint I've heard about the Gen5 Model 19 concerns the cutout on the bottom front of the frame. Some shooters say it hurts their hands because that's where the heel and palm meet the frame. They say the sharp edge is to blame. This doesn't seem to be an issue on the 17 model due to the longer grip frame. Fortunately, they solved this problem in the new Model 45 (below).
As with the 17 model, there are several variations
Glock 9mm replica, holster for glock 9mm, glock 26 9mm holster, types of glock 9mm, 9mm models, 9mm glock cleaning kit, glock models explained, glock 9mm safety, 9mm single stack glock, glock gen 4 9mm reviews, glock 43 9mm holster, glock sub compact 9mm
