Gen 3 vs Gen 5 Glock 19

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IMO Gen 3 and Gen 5 are both terrific pistols and it is a matter of personal preference. Myself I prefer the Gen 5 between the two because of lack of finger grooves an ability to take numerous back straps to customize grip to users hand/fingers. The Gen 5 Glocks have been a huge success for Glock and don't worry about how many you see for sale on a gun list.
 
BSA1: said:
Maybe Glock is cutting their own throat with so many generations of the same model.

Glock has to keep making the Gen 3’s to stay in the California market since the Gen3 Glocks are the only models listed on the CA DOJ Roster They have to keep making the Gen 4 models to support law enforcement and civilians who haven’t transitioned to the newest models.
 
Now I'm gonna have to pay extra for the MOS version to get rid of both the grooves and the cutout.


Dont buy the MOS just send a slide out to be milled. A Dremel will take the grooves off in seconds.


I bought a MOS when they were first introduced.. If I had to do it over again I would have just sent a slide out, since the plates add too much height.
 
I think it's probably coincidence since the G19 is probably Glock's, and possibly the world's, most popular handgun, and more would end up being sold or traded simply because there are more of them.

On the other hand, and I'm hesitant to mention it since you haven't seemed to notice it yourself - yet, but many folks complain about the cutout at the bottom of the front strap designed to allow you to grab the mag. Lots of folks on the internet have complained about that being an annoyance to their grip. Perhaps now that I've put that bug in your head it'll bother you too. You're welcome. Sorry. ;)

I also wonder if after a couple of decades of Glock fans complaining about why other gun companies, such as S&W, don't produce a G19 size gun (S&W eventually did), and how stupid Glock was for making the G19X and G45 sized guns, with the short slide and full grip, that it would have been better to make a G17 slide with a G19 grip, that perhaps they are realizing that perhaps all the other gun companies that were producing the short slide with the full grip (think 1911 "Commander" size) may have been right all along. Perhaps folks are now digging the 19X and G45 over the G19?
Yes, lots of people complained about the G19X, that is until they shot it.
The 19X does not have the GEN5 cut out that seems to bother some people.
 
Dont buy the MOS just send a slide out to be milled. A Dremel will take the grooves off in seconds.


I bought a MOS when they were first introduced.. If I had to do it over again I would have just sent a slide out, since the plates add too much height.

Eh, on further reflection I'll just stick with my DW Valkyrie for carry. Only 4 oz heaver and shoots better. 6 rounds less, but I can live with that
 
Regarding the cut out in the magwell of the Gen 5 there is a Pearce grip magazine base plate that is designed to fill in that hole.

The Pearce grip magazine base plate not only fills in that hole but it actually sticks out a little bit so that it actually locks in my grip on the handle and bit more securely.

For me, the combination of the Gen 5 grip with the magazine base plate extension from Pierce actually becomes an advantage over the gen 3.
 
The issue I have with my Gen 3 is the grip, in that it's a little bigger than I'd like. It was an impulse buy a few years ago and as I mentioned sits in my safe. The Gen 5 grip is a much better fit for me. I came across a used Gen 5 on Gunbroker that, according to the LGS selling it is in great condition with maybe a couple of hundred rounds through it. I won it for $445. With shipping and FFL fees it totals $495. At that price I risk nothing buying it, as I can easily sell it at little to no loss if I don't like it.
 
This I don't get, I find it easy to transition from Glock to 1911 and back. One of my 1911's has an arched mainspring housing which emulates the Glock grip angle.

Also, some people like the earlier Gen3 with their lack of MIM parts.

I agree. There are some guns for which I have a greater affinity or seem to shoot better, but I don’t find it to be difficult to transition between 1911s, Glocks, or other platforms. Marksmanship is about consistency in sight alignment and trigger squeeze. As long as those two fundamentals are well-honed, grip angles and other ergonomic differences should have a minimal impact on how well a certain gun shoots in one’s hand relative to other guns in that same person’s hand.
 
This I don't get, I find it easy to transition from Glock to 1911 and back. One of my 1911's has an arched mainspring housing which emulates the Glock grip angle.

Also, some people like the earlier Gen3 with their lack of MIM parts.

In my experience, everything about handgun shooting is conditioned reflex and muscle memory. Under stress, one almost certainly reverts to their training.

That said, I find that when I draw and point, my wrist is cocked at the correct angle for the 1911 grip angle to target the center of mass of an IPSC target placed at the average height of a male (5'8"-5'9"). When I do this with Glocks I am pointed high for my first shot and, typically, second one as well. I've been shooting 1911s and guns with a 1911 grip angle since 1967 while I have no more than 100-200 rounds out of friends' Glocks. This was the point of my comment. In no way was I denigrating the Glocks; indeed, I think that they are terrific guns and recommend them unhesitatingly for their dependability. I simply don't find them as useful for me as, say, a Springfield XD/XDM/XDs or one of my 1911s because of my historical use of the latter.

Cheers,
 
In my experience, everything about handgun shooting is conditioned reflex and muscle memory. Under stress, one almost certainly reverts to their training.

That said, I find that when I draw and point, my wrist is cocked at the correct angle for the 1911 grip angle to target the center of mass of an IPSC target placed at the average height of a male (5'8"-5'9"). When I do this with Glocks I am pointed high for my first shot and, typically, second one as well. I've been shooting 1911s and guns with a 1911 grip angle since 1967 while I have no more than 100-200 rounds out of friends' Glocks. This was the point of my comment. In no way was I denigrating the Glocks; indeed, I think that they are terrific guns and recommend them unhesitatingly for their dependability. I simply don't find them as useful for me as, say, a Springfield XD/XDM/XDs or one of my 1911s because of my historical use of the latter.

Cheers,
I agree about conditioning and muscle memory, and the more time you put in with things, the better ingrained they become, and the more familiar your brain becomes.

And theres no doubt, the one you use the most, is going to be the most familiar.

Ive learned that if you take the time, and I mean a reasonable amount of time, to learn whatever it is you want to shoot, all the supposed bad things you hear about different things, just seem to melt away as you become familiar with them. Rifle, handgun, whatever. But you do have to put some time and effort into it.

The more different things you do this with, the easier it becomes, and the easier it is to switch back and forth at will.

I shoot a lot of different things on a regular basis, and its not a problem. But I have shot all of them and lot, and Im familair with all of them.

The guns I shoot the most in regular practice these days are Glocks. Before that, it was SIG's, and before that, 1911's, and a few other things. Its not so much what it is that youre shooting in the moment, its just what it is you, and your subconcious you, know and have experience with.

Once you learn something, its never gone, and you can always draw on it, and it will come without thought, if you let it.

The things you have the least or no experience with, are always going to be the hardest. The more you fight something, then the harder you make things for yourself, and the harder its always going to be.

Id be willing to bet, if you took the Glock of your choice, and a case of ammo, focused on learning it and how to shoot it, by the end of that case, it will be a natural thing to you. And I think youre going to find, they arent near as bad as the haters say, and that you will also be able to switch back and forth between your 1911 and the Glock, at witll, and without thought.

All it requires, is a little of your time, and an open mind. :thumbup:
 
I have two Gen 3 Glock 19s. A standard G19 and a G19 RTF. I much prefer the RTF over the standard G19.
I was going to get a G19 Gen 5, but I didn’t like the cut out on the front of the grip.
I picked up a 19X and really like it. I checked out the G45 when it came out. I liked it and bought one. It is now my favorite Glock.
The two things different between the Gen 3 and the Gen 5 that you will notice is the lack of finger groves and that the length of pull is 1/4 shorter on the Gen 5. The guys with big hands have the choice of four different backstraps on the Gen 5.
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In my experience, everything about handgun shooting is conditioned reflex and muscle memory. Under stress, one almost certainly reverts to their training.

That said, I find that when I draw and point, my wrist is cocked at the correct angle for the 1911 grip angle to target the center of mass of an IPSC target placed at the average height of a male (5'8"-5'9"). When I do this with Glocks I am pointed high for my first shot and, typically, second one as well. I've been shooting 1911s and guns with a 1911 grip angle since 1967 while I have no more than 100-200 rounds out of friends' Glocks. This was the point of my comment. In no way was I denigrating the Glocks; indeed, I think that they are terrific guns and recommend them unhesitatingly for their dependability. I simply don't find them as useful for me as, say, a Springfield XD/XDM/XDs or one of my 1911s because of my historical use of the latter.

Cheers,

Put an arched mainspring housing on your 1911 and you will find the grip angle is the same.
 
I’d prefer no finger grooves on a 19, don’t care about them on a 17, and the best of both worlds would be my 19X which I’m darn sure glad I got before I came out to the PRC!
 
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I've had a Gen 3 Glock 19 for years. It's been reliable but is sitting in my safe as I have other guns I prefer. I was in a LGS yesterday and came across the Gen 5 and prefer it to my Gen 3. There are currently five used Gen 5's for sale in my area on Armslist, which is almost half of the Glock 19's listed for sale. Is there something going on with the Gen 5's that people are selling them or is that just coincidence? Other than personal preference is there a reason not to sell my Gen 3 and go with the Gen 5? I've done some internet searches and am not seeing many complaints about the Gen 5.

The frame is made of plastic, therefore, I would get rid of 19 year gun and get a new one.
 
The issue I have with my Gen 3 is the grip, in that it's a little bigger than I'd like. It was an impulse buy a few years ago and as I mentioned sits in my safe. The Gen 5 grip is a much better fit for me. I came across a used Gen 5 on Gunbroker that, according to the LGS selling it is in great condition with maybe a couple of hundred rounds through it. I won it for $445. With shipping and FFL fees it totals $495. At that price I risk nothing buying it, as I can easily sell it at little to no loss if I don't like it.

Similar to you, I’ve got a G21 gen 3 (non-SF variant) whose grip is much bigger than I’d like. It shoots like s dream though, especially since I’ve got a Storm Lake match barrel in it.
 
Similar to you, I’ve got a G21 gen 3 (non-SF variant) whose grip is much bigger than I’d like. It shoots like s dream though, especially since I’ve got a Storm Lake match barrel in it.

Yeah, the Gen 4 grip is smaller (at least in feel) than even the SF. Went from too big to a really nice fitting gun for me.

Actually the gun that changed my mind about Glock
 
IMHO a gun that fits my hand well, such as my HK P30, is a nice thing to have but not essential to be able to shoot well. And my P30 is a great shooting gun. A lot of dry & live fire practice is needed to shoot well and a a lot of details on whether the grip fits my hand ideally is kind of beside the point.
 
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