GLOCK 19 Gen 4 9mm Pistol Review
Pat Cascio 05.11.16
Back in 1987 or 1988, I bought the first Glock handgun I’d ever seen–it was a 17–and since then I’ve probably owned every model of Glock made, with the exception of the select-fire model 18. The one I’d like to talk about today is the Glock 19 Gen 4. I think it’s the best generation to date. It comes with four backstraps; two are for making the grip a bit thicker, while the other two do the same thing while also extending the tang a bit (some folks wearing gloves have experienced stoppages when the slide would hit their gloved hand).
Glock 19 Gen 4 Specs:
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Weight: 23.65 ounces
- Barrel: 4.02 inches, polygonal rifling
- Trigger pull: 5.5 pounds +/-
- Magazines: 2 supplied, 15-round capacity
- Rear Sight: Polymer
- Front Sight: Polymer with white dot
- Frame: Polymer with finger grooves
I’m told that the Glock 19 is the most popular model in the Glock line-up, and it’s my favorite model, too. The 19 is smaller than the full-sized model 17 and larger than the subcompact model 26. It’s “just right,” as Goldilocks would say. My oldest daughter and my wife each carry a Glock 19.
The recoil spring is slightly stouter on the Gen 4 19 than it was on previous generations, and you can safely shoot +P and +P+ 9mm in the 19 without any problems. The slide has a Tenifer coating that defies rusting, and even if the black color wears off, the coating is still there and the slide won’t rust. The extractor can act as a loaded chamber indicator. When there is a round in the chamber, you can see or feel the little protrusion on the extractor.
All Glocks are easy to break down for cleaning and maintenance. You simply remove the magazine, check the chamber to make sure it’s empty, point the gun in a safe direction and pull the trigger. Then, retract the slide about 1/4″, pull down on the takedown lever, and remove the slide by moving it forward off of the frame. You can then remove the recoil spring assembly and the barrel, and that’s it. To reassemble, put the barrel back in the slide, then install the recoil spring assembly and slide the slide back onto the frame. It’s that easy!
During my testing of my Glock 19 Gen 4, I used the following ammo:
- Black Hills 100 grain frangible
- Black Hills 115 grain FMJ
- Buffalo Bore 115 grain JHP +P+
- Buffalo Bore 115 grain Barnes TAC-XP +P
- Buffalo Bore 124 grain JHP +P
- Buffalo Bore 124 grain FMJ FN +P+
- Buffalo Bore 147 grain JHP +P+
My Gen 4 19 handled all of this ammunition without any problems.
All accuracy testing was at 25 yards, using a rolled-up sleeping bag on the hood of my SUV. As mentioned, I had no malfunctions of any type.
I could feel the difference in the +P+ rounds from Buffalo Bore. They were snappy, to be sure. Glock handguns aren’t known for earth-shaking accuracy, and I was getting groups around 4 inches most of the time if I did my part. With the slightly mushy trigger pull and the combat style sights, that’s about as good as I can do with most Glocks. But four inches at 25 yards is plenty good enough for self-defense.
Regarding the ammo I used, there wasn’t any real winner in the accuracy department, but I thought I’d make a few observations. I live out in the boonies, and when I’m carrying a 9mm handgun out here, I’ll stuff it with the Buffalo Bore 124-gr “Penetrator” FMJ FN +P+ round if I’m in black bear country. On the streets, I’ll pick from several hollow point loads, but I’m getting spoiled on the 115 grain Barnes all-copper hollow point TAC XP +P loads.
Cool fact: A 17-round Glock 17 magazine will fit into a Glock 19, although it will extend below the butt of the gun.
If you’re in the market for a new or a first handgun, take a close look at the Glock 19, and it might be just want you’re looking for in a 9mm pistol.
