3rd Generation Glock Clones/Is Glock Ripping Us Off?

[Mike J]

Okay so I'm going to try a 2fer. First, I have a PSA Dagger & like it a lot. I see a lot of people mixing & matching different slides & frames from different manufacturers in a group I am in of F-book. I know I see people posting about parts/frames from SCT, P80, Lone Wolf & others. I am also aware of Lone Wolf & Anderson selling complete pistols. I am curious about if any of you have tried any of the other various Glock clones. If you have what are your thoughts & opinions?

Also there is a video that expresses an opinion that Glock is ripping us off. Thoughts?

Here is link to the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWGcUDretFg

 

[Jimfern]

If they were the only ones making the kind of pistol they make, maybe. But they aren't and they probably spend much more on R&D and marketing than say PSA. Are their margins higher than PSAs? Maybe.

 

[Mike J]

If they were the only ones making the kind of pistol they make, maybe. But they aren't and they probably spend much more on R&D and marketing than say PSA. Are their margins higher than PSAs? Maybe.

The guy in the video stated that they had maintained the same price but they did not give as many accessories as before. I thought about the inflation we have had since 2020. They may have dropped the accessories to be able to maintain the same price point. Not sure where the best value for money spent is though.

 

[Buzznrose]

Glock is no longer just a company, their pistols are now a “platform”. Much like the 1911 no longer belongs only to Browning/Colt. Much like the AR no longer belongs only to Armalite. Like the CZ75 design is built by many others….

I will still buy Glocks. I may eventually buy a Dagger, but I am really happy with the fact that my Glocks just keep on shooting and shooting…

To answer the question…You pay your money for a Glock, you buy a handgun you can depend on. If you want a deal, buy a LEO trade in. They are probably the best value. But I like the Gen 5 guns, and I buy Blue Label guns, which have not gone up in price for at least 8 years…

 

[Outlaw75]

If they were the only ones making the kind of pistol they make, maybe. But they aren't and they probably spend much more on R&D and marketing than say PSA. Are their margins higher than PSAs? Maybe.

More like if they were the only company you were allowed to buy polymer guns from.

 

[trackskippy]

I havent tried any of the clones, well, maybe one, sorta, a CZ P10C, that was a pretty close copy, but had its issues and I didnt keep it long.

I would say the only way youre ever going to know is, to buy what interests you, and then take it out and shoot the snot out of it, until you start getting failures. Same as you would the Glocks or anything else.

Then, when you get to the point the gun no longer runs and/or you cant easily fix it, contact the company and see how they take care of you.

Realistically, I would say the majority of people dont put enough rounds through most things to even get them warmed up, let alone start to really wear them in, let alone, out. With anything of reasonable quality, thats likely going to be a LONG time, and take a lot of time, effort, and money, and what you spend there in money alone on ammo, by the time something fails to the point it needs to go back, you could have bought 30 or 40+ new guns.

And at that point, whats it really matter? Id say the gun has gone above and beyond reasonable, and you have a winner.

The people you want to talk to, are the ones who have shot those clones/copies to failure, or maybe at least to the point they are having a lot of trouble with them anyway, and then youll have a better idea as to where they really stand.

As to Glock ripping us off? I didnt feel like taking the 20 minutes watching the video, but I do have a bit of experience with Glocks, and two guns that have decent round counts on them, at least until I quit bothering to count. My one 26 had over 26K on it when I quit counting a number of years ago, and Im still shooting it a couple of times a month.

The 17 Ive been practicing with on a couple of times a week basis for the past 14 years now, broke a trigger return spring at around 90K, and another at around 120K, which was an easy, $3 fix each time. Then, about 4 years ago, at around 10 years of weekly use, and at just under 150K, the left rear frame rail broke, and the gun went back to Glock, 9 years out of warranty. Without question, they replaced the frame, and rebuilt the rest of the gun, and all it cost me was the $25 to send it down to them. I had it back a week later. Basically the only original parts are the barrel and slide, and Im still shooting it a couple of times a week. And while I have quit actually keeping track, just going by my normal weekly round count, whats left of the gun is up over 200K at this point.

You tell me, are they ripping us off?

 

[InTheSwamp]

Also there is a video that expresses an opinion that Glock is ripping us off. Thoughts?

Here is link to the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWGcUDretFg

Project Farm Voice: Well let's find out!

In 1998 a Glock 19 Gen 3 sold for $499.00.
In 2023 a Glock 19 Gen 3 sells for $499.00.

In that time span the cumulative rate of inflation of the dollar has been 87.5%. In other words, $1.00 in 1998 equals $1.88 today.

Pretty sure you answered your question already. But if you haven't, please explain how Glock is ripping us off.

 

[jmr40]

I don't have 21 minutes to spare but I assume the complaint is that Glocks cost to manufacture is so low they are overcharging us.

How much something costs to make has very little do to with its value.

 

[InTheSwamp]

I don't have 21 minutes to spare but I assume the complaint is that Glocks cost to manufacture is so low they are overcharging us.

Not a sound economics, to put it nicely. They are charging you a heck of a lot less than they were 25 years ago. That has something to do with the fact they found a way to make the manufacturing process cheaper, to the benefit of us: the consumers.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Several observations:
If you have to ask if you are being ripped off, either you aren't being ripped off and/or you don't comprehend the situation well enough to understand if you are being ripped off, so maybe it is good you asked.

After watching the video, I saw nothing to indicate Glock is ripping off people. Ripping off just seems to mean that the guy isn't getting exactly what he thinks he should be getting, yet he made the purchase anyway, right? He went, saw what was offered, and paid for it willingly, but then thinks after-the-fact that maybe he was getting ripped off?

"Ripped off" implies illegal activity such as cheating somebody financially or outright stealing from them. That isn't what is happening. The dude in the video is just whining because he doesn't like how Glock is doing things. The recurring theme seems to be that the pistol isn't coming with all the accessories he might potentially need for several different situations. For example, not enough backstraps and not enough optics setup accessories come to convert the Glock exactly how he wants it. He openly notes that such parts are available for purchase. He just thinks everything he thinks he could potentially need should come with the Glock, apparently for the price he paid for not getting all the accessories.

 

[Riomouse911]

To me, Glocks are like 1980’s era Craftsman hand tools.

Not the fanciest. Not the most expensive. Certainly without the panache of the high end options.

But they work and work and work. Plus, if you wear it out or break one, they fix it or give you a new one with no issues.

I shot my “California build” fir the first time in many months on Thursday. Like riding a bike, it came right back to me from the first shot.

This is a Gen 3 Glock 17 frame, Lone Wolf G-34 slide, match G-34 barrel, Glock innards, Vickers flat trigger, Tru Glo sights. Ammo was vanilla Fiocchi 115 gr fmj.



Stay safe.

 

[Outlaw75]

In 2023 a Glock 19 Gen 3 sells for $499.00.

That's what I paid for one about 3 months ago.

 

[Outlaw75]

I'm starting to think that the better question would be; Is the guy in that video click baiting you by trying to gin up a controversy that isn't real? He's monetized, so every time someone clicks on that link he's getting paid.

 

[12Bravo20]

I'm starting to think that the better question would be; Is the guy in that video click baiting you by trying to gin up a controversy that isn't real? He's monetized, so every time someone clicks on that link he's getting paid.

BINGO!!!!!!!!!

And the same goes for all the guys on YouTube hyping and sensationalizing stories about anything 2A related.


And if you account for inflation then the price of Glock's are well inline.

 

[Buckeye63]

I havent tried any of the clones, well, maybe one, sorta, a CZ P10C, that was a pretty close copy, but had its issues and I didnt keep it long.

I would say the only way youre ever going to know is, to buy what interests you, and then take it out and shoot the snot out of it, until you start getting failures. Same as you would the Glocks or anything else.

Then, when you get to the point the gun no longer runs and/or you cant easily fix it, contact the company and see how they take care of you.

Realistically, I would say the majority of people dont put enough rounds through most things to even get them warmed up, let alone start to really wear them in, let alone, out. With anything of reasonable quality, thats likely going to be a LONG time, and take a lot of time, effort, and money, and what you spend there in money alone on ammo, by the time something fails to the point it needs to go back, you could have bought 30 or 40+ new guns.

And at that point, whats it really matter? Id say the gun has gone above and beyond reasonable, and you have a winner.

The people you want to talk to, are the ones who have shot those clones/copies to failure, or maybe at least to the point they are having a lot of trouble with them anyway, and then youll have a better idea as to where they really stand.

As to Glock ripping us off? I didnt feel like taking the 20 minutes watching the video, but I do have a bit of experience with Glocks, and two guns that have decent round counts on them, at least until I quit bothering to count. My one 26 had over 26K on it when I quit counting a number of years ago, and Im still shooting it a couple of times a month.

The 17 Ive been practicing with on a couple of times a week basis for the past 14 years now, broke a trigger return spring at around 90K, and another at around 120K, which was an easy, $3 fix each time. Then, about 4 years ago, at around 10 years of weekly use, and at just under 150K, the left rear frame rail broke, and the gun went back to Glock, 9 years out of warranty. Without question, they replaced the frame, and rebuilt the rest of the gun, and all it cost me was the $25 to send it down to them. I had it back a week later. Basically the only original parts are the barrel and slide, and Im still shooting it a couple of times a week. And while I have quit actually keeping track, just going by my normal weekly round count, whats left of the gun is up over 200K at this point.

You tell me, are they ripping us off?

I don’t look at the P-10C as a clone … its a much better pistol than a 19 .. better sights .. much better trigger , better ergonomics, better grip texture.. better slide serrations.. ..and they can be had for $350 …
They are better pistols than Glocks now … I own 6 Glocks … and they are keepers .. but really.. the the PDP is better the CZ P-10 series is better .. S&W M&P is better.. actually to me the XDM series is better …Beretta PX-1 , Springfield Echelon both are great pistols ..Daggers are good pistols
several Turkish pistols… SAR9 , Caniks ,
SDS PX-9 , Girsan P9 .. all really good pistols . Taurus G series are really good pistols
As I write this .. I have a Dagger with a 3CR Tactical slide on it …. Looks just like a Gen 3 19 slide … its a good solid pistol.. I like it better than my 19 ..
Honestly the Walther PDP .& CZ P-10 are pretty much on a different level at least to me .. and the Echelon.. maybe better than both of’em

 

[InTheSwamp]

I don’t look at the P-10C as a clone … its a much better pistol than a 19 .. better sights .. much better trigger , better ergonomics, better grip texture.. better slide serrations.. ..and they can be had for $350 …
They are better pistols than Glocks now … I own 6 Glocks … and they are keepers .. but really.. the the PDP is better the CZ P-10 series is better .. S&W M&P is better.. actually to me the XDM series is better …Beretta PX-1 , Springfield Echelon both are great pistols ..Daggers are good pistols
several Turkish pistols… SAR9 , Caniks ,
SDS PX-9 , Girsan P9 .. all really good pistols . Taurus G series are really good pistols
As I write this .. I have a Dagger with a 3CR Tactical slide on it …. Looks just like a Gen 3 19 slide … its a good solid pistol.. I like it better than my 19 ..
Honestly the Walther PDP .& CZ P-10 are pretty much on a different level at least to me .. and the Echelon.. maybe better than both of’em

better x 13...Yeah, Glock is ripping us off!

 

[trackskippy]

I don’t look at the P-10C as a clone … its a much better pistol than a 19 .. better sights .. much better trigger , better ergonomics, better grip texture.. better slide serrations.. ..and they can be had for $350 …
They are better pistols than Glocks now … I own 6 Glocks … and they are keepers .. but really.. the the PDP is better the CZ P-10 series is better .. S&W M&P is better.. actually to me the XDM series is better …Beretta PX-1 , Springfield Echelon both are great pistols ..Daggers are good pistols
several Turkish pistols… SAR9 , Caniks ,
SDS PX-9 , Girsan P9 .. all really good pistols . Taurus G series are really good pistols
As I write this .. I have a Dagger with a 3CR Tactical slide on it …. Looks just like a Gen 3 19 slide … its a good solid pistol.. I like it better than my 19 ..
Honestly the Walther PDP .& CZ P-10 are pretty much on a different level at least to me .. and the Echelon.. maybe better than both of’em

Hey, if you find a gun you like better, have at it. There are a lot of good guns out there, as well as a lot of not so good, and the only way to know whats good for you, is to pick what you think you'll like and try and wear it out vetting it and see.

And as far as "better guns" go, what exactly constitutes that? I would think for most, its more personal opinion, than any kind of hard fact.

The P10C I had was very much "Glock like" in design and how its supposed to function, except it was a single shot with a suppressor mounted for the first couple of hundred rounds and even once it started to come around and function, it still never was very reliable beyond that with a suppressor mounted, and it was specifically sold set up for a suppressor.

I dont normally even notice or mention triggers, except the P10's was noticeably different to me when I was shooting it. It wasnt that it was "bad", but just that it was weird and always felt like inconsistent mush, and there was something up with it, and you just didnt know what was going on with it. Glock, and most other factory triggers Ive shot have been very consistent and predictable across all of them.

Even if I were to ignore the above, I didn't see the P10 was anything special in any other respects. If it was all that I had, and as long as it worked reliably and shot OK for me, it would work. If given a choice, Id skip it.

 

[Tallball]

You know what it is. The price is clear. You purchase it, take it home, and it functions exactly as advertised and expected. How's that a "rip-off"?

My LE turn-in G22 was definitely not a rip-off. Neither was the 9mm conversion barrel.

There are other pistols I like better than Glocks that cost less money. Sometimes I buy one. That's fine. It doesn't mean that Glocks are a "rip-off". It just means I made another choice.

 

[InTheSwamp]

And the same goes for all the guys on YouTube hyping and sensationalizing stories about anything 2A related.

Other than Paul Harrell and a few others, they're a bunch of used car salesmen: an honest profession.
You just don't have to buy the cars

 

[12Bravo20]

Other than Paul Harrell and a few others, they're a bunch of used car salesmen: an honest profession.
You just don't have to buy the cars

Oh so true.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I have 2 clones of Glocks and they are range toys ONLY!!!!I only carry Glock OEM guns.

 

[tarosean]

Also there is a video that expresses an opinion that Glock is ripping us off. Thoughts?

My 2 cents, is that I would say the complete opposite. You're getting ripped off by all the no-name companies cashing in on Glocks name.

 

[herrwalther]

After putting the first few thousand rounds through the PSA Dagger I bought, yeah. Glock is really ripping people off. A gun I bought for $320 that is better than the "perfect" gun Gaston sells for 600-700. That uses nearly all the same parts, holsters and magazines as the expensive one.