Which Glock Gen do you recommend?

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fanchisimo

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Hello all,

I am considering getting a Glock 23. I was considering a police trade-in 22, but this may occasionally see duty as my CCW when the weather gets cold so I'm opting for the smaller size of the G23. I'm not sure if I want a Gen3 or Gen4. My questions are:

1. I have heard bad things about the Gen4's (brass to face, fte's, stuff like that) but I have also heard they have been fixed. However I can't seem to find any postings of these complaints after Dec of last year so this leads me to believe they've fixed the problems. Have these issues been fixed?

2. Another thing I read was that they changed things with the Gen4 so that parts compatibility isn't as good with previous Gens. One of the reasons I'm considering Glock in .40 is so that I can get a 9mm conversion barrel and magazines so I can switch to 9mm caliber for the wife come range time. Is parts compatibility gonna be an issue in this matter?

3. Are the ergonomics that different between the Gen3 and Gen4?

If any of these issues are significant I would rather buy a Gen3 than go with the Gen4 since the gains seem minor compared to the established Gen3. Thanks for your help.
 
1) Yes, the issues have been fixed. They mostly affected G19's, but Gen 3's also had their own issues. If you happen to get an older one, Glock will fix it for you anyway. It's essentially a non-issue, at this point.

2) No, a Gen 3 barrel and mag will work in a Gen 4 gun. The only things that don't work are mag releases, recoil springs (though Lone Wolf makes an adapter for Gen 4 guns to use Gen 3 recoil springs), and some aftermarket stuff. Chances are, if you want it, they make it for both Gen 3 and 4.

3) Very much so. The Gen 4 guns come with a shorter (front-to-back) grip, a backstrap that brings it to the Gen 3 size, and an even larger one. They also come with a larger mag release. These two are HUGE improvements for a lot of people. Your wife will likely appreciate the smaller Gen 4 frame. The grip texture on the Gen 4 is also much better than that of the Gen 3, in my opinion. For me, the factory beavertails and grip texture make all the difference in the world. I have big hands, and will occasionally get slide bite on Gen 3's/naked Gen 4's, so getting the beavertail really helped me. I'll never buy another Gen 3, I like the features of the Gen 4 that much. Oh, and the Gen 4's come with 3 mags, the Gen 3's come with 2.

If you like the way Gen 3's feel, go for it. But if you like the Gen 4, then don't worry about the issues reported by the earlier Gen 4's.
 
Brass to face was never a common issue with the .40's.. The gen 4 is supposedly the cure for the issues that plagued 40's when hanging a light or laser off one.
 
The Gen4 back straps are key, to me, to getting the Glock to fit my hand. Make mine only Gen4, please....
 
Go over to the glock talk forum there are still plenty of Brass to face issues with all the new production Gen 3 and 4. It's not the gen that's the problem its the MIM extractors being out of spec. So get whichever one you like the most and if you run into BTF problems then get a Apex extractor.
 
So how hard would it be to change the extractor if I am one of the lucky ones who gets BTF?

The gen 4 is supposedly the cure for the issues that plagued 40's when hanging a light or laser off one
Click to expand...

May I ask what issues these were?
 
I don't own a 4th gen. My model 20 is 3rd gen and I don't have fte, or brass to face problems. I was told this was a problem with 40s&w and 9mm pistols not the 10mm. I would stick with the 3rd gen. IMO
 
I really like the gen4 in a carry gun, 26/27/19/23 the smaller grip works well for me.

My gen3 17, 34 and 35 are fine just the way they are. Used for competition only. Several mods including larger mag releases.

I was happy to trade in my gen1 17 for a gen3, even though I carried it for years on duty.
 
I have the Gen 3 for seven years and have no issues whatsoever . I called Glock and they even sent me a free recoil spring. Either way, it doesnt matter which one you pick. Learn to like it and shoot straight.
 
From my owner's manual (Mod. 20), the frame diameter on a Gen 4 w/o backstrap is the same as a Gen 3 SF. The 2 size backstraps make only a small amount of difference. The largest is only 1/8 inch larger than the bare frame. The beaver tail is nice, seems to help with control. Gen 3 mags will work with Gen 4 guns, unless you swap the mag release to the right side, then only Gen 4 mags. I have a Gen 3 and a Gen 4, wouldn't turn around for the difference.
 
I have two 17s, a Gen3 and a Gen4. Both have been equally trouble free. When I was at a GSSF match last year, I had the armorer put in the latest revision RSA and ejector on the Gen4 just to bring it to Glock's latest specs.
My next Glock will be a Gen4 21, because it truly is Glock Perfection.

With the Gen4, the thinner backstrap makes the grip the same size as the Gen3 standard frame ie: 17 or 19. The larger backstrap makes the grip the size of a Gen3 21 or 20. My wife had trouble shooting my Gen3s, the Gen4 fits her like it was made for her.

And forget the BTF threads on Glocktalk. Half the people there are whiners.
 
From my owner's manual (Mod. 20), the frame diameter on a Gen 4 w/o backstrap is the same as a Gen 3 SF. The 2 size backstraps make only a small amount of difference. The largest is only 1/8 inch larger than the bare frame
Click to expand...
That's true for the 20/21 but not for the smaller frames. In the smaller frames, there is no Gen3 'SF', so the +2 and +4 backs traps make more of a difference....
 
A lot of people say they can't tell a difference, but I really believe that the dual capture recoil spring in my Gen 4 Glock 19 is a damn blessing. It really does reduce recoil and makes it a lot easier to bring follow-up shots on target.
 
The Gen 4 fits my hand better. I finally bought one several months ago and have had no issues.
 
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