Glocks gen 3 vs gen 4

[chrisintexas]

which gen out of these 2 in 9mm do you prefer and why?
and which gen out of these 2 in .40/.45/10mm do you prefer and why?

[Uncle Malice]

Gen4 for everything. Grip texture and mag release are great. I've owned a bunch and none have had any issues. The Gen4 G21 and Gen4 G17 are my favorite Glocks ever made.

For reference, I've owned over 2 dozen Glocks over the years. I've sold or traded a lot. Not because I had problems but just because I'm impatient when there's another gun I want and I know I can always replace a Glock. I have an FDE Gen4 G21 on layaway right now to replace the black one that I sold a few months ago.

The only Glocks I've ever had problems with was 1 Gen3 G27 and 1 Gen3 G23.

[PP99]

If .40 the G23 Gen4 got my vote

[chrisintexas]

are Gen 4 trigger pull and the Gen 3 pistols trigger pull same?

does gen 4 still has extraction and ejection problems?

[Uncle Malice]

Trigger pull on the gen4 is slightly more crisp than gen3 due to the disconnector being at a slightly different angle. I like it better.

NONE of my gen4 glocks ever had extraction/ejection problems. That's not to say that there weren't some that did, but I think the problem was severely over-exaggerated. If you have problems, contact Glock and they'll make it right.

[Fishbed77]

I prefer the Gen 3.

I don't care for the RTF (Rough-Textured Frame) of the Gen 4s, and I don't see any valid reason for the $50-$75 premium Glock charges for them over the Gen 3s.

[jfrey]

Have both Gen3 and Gen4 in G19. Shoot them both and like them both. Not a lot of difference to me.

[TunnelRat]

I prefer the Gen 3. I had two Glock 19 Gen 4s with ejection/extraction issue. Both myself and other shooters. Switch to any other gun, even an older Gen 2 Glock, and the problem went away. I did have a recent Gen 4 in which the problems were gone. I actually found the Gen 4 texture to be annoying in long range sessions and never found I lost grip with the Gen 3. I also liked that the Gen 3 has a bit more meat between the web of my hand and the underside of the slide. The backstraps of the Gen 4 help this, but it still doesn't feel the same to me.

[Big Shrek]

If you wish to play with multiple different calibers, get the G21 or G21-sf.
It allows the MOST barrel switch options so that you can try all sortsa stuff

G20/G20sf is the second option, as 10mm is an exceptionally fun caliber that is also great for hunting.
Also allows for the second most options in barrel switches...only things it won't do is the .45acp/.45GAP.
If you wish to focus it in for hunting, snag a 9" barrel from Lone Wolf and you are set

If you like the feel of the Gen 3, go with that.
If you don't, try the Gen 4 in all grip configs and figure out what you like best.
One of them will be perfect for you.

[Dirty_Harry]

Gen 2 anyone?

Gen 3 for a 17 and Gen 4 for the 19. My fat hands need the added backstrap/beavertail of the Gen 4.

[Bart Noir]

All of my Glocks are the Gen 3 SF version (large frame, being G20-SF, G29-SF, and G30S). And since this seems to be the design that was adopted for the Gen 4 prior to adding any backstrap parts, I have to wonder if this statement applies to my Glocks also:

Trigger pull on the gen4 is slightly more crisp than gen3 due to the disconnector being at a slightly different angle.

Anyway, I am very happy with the out-of-box trigger pulls on all three of those SF guns.

Bart Noir

[Fugit1ve Wizard]

Gen 4 in anything because of the neat recoil spring assembly. My belief is that it just takes a few hundred rounds to help the thing break in. My gen 4 17 hit me in the face with multiple brass on my first range trip. I was using Federal red box 115gr fmj and Winchester's white box 115gr fmj. Now that my Glock has been properly broken in, it dispenses brass in a neat pile to my right, no matter the load.

[Captains1911]

Trigger pull on the gen4 is slightly more crisp than gen3 due to the disconnector being at a slightly different angle. I like it better.

My experience is the opposite. The only thing I like better about Gen 3 is the crisper trigger.

[OnTheFly]

For me it will always be Gen 4 for any Glock. I am right handed, but with my small(isn) hands, I cannot use my thumb to release the magazine without shifting my grip considerably. My solution is to use my middle finger to push the release lever/button on the right side of the gun. I started practicing this technique with my XDm 5.25 competition gun to speed up my reloads and follow up shots during action pistol matches. It is engrained into my muscle memory now so to be consistent I have to have a Gen 4 with the reversible magazine catch.

Fly

[Coach Z]

I have two gen 3 and seven gen 4 Glocks and really prefer the ten 4's for the grip and mag release. Both function equally well but I like the feel of the newer glocks personally

[mes228]

I thought I preferred Gen 3 Glock's based on the problems I've read about with gen 4's. I have had many models in the Gen 3 pistols. All were accurate and reliable.

I recently traded for a Gen. 4 Model 21 and must say it is a phenomenal pistol. All my Glock's have been more accurate than what most people seem to think. However, the Gen 4 Model 21 is ACCURATE, I mean Target Pistol accurate. The trigger is slightly different in feel and slightly better. If their were problems with the Gen 4's Glock has apparently fixed them. At least with this particular pistol. If all the Gen 4's are this good I prefer the Gen 4. My carry gun is a Model 23 Gen 3.

[Captains1911]

The "problems" with the Gen4s were very early and mostly related to the 9mm models using strong recoil springs, combined with people shooting under-powered ammo. That problem has been long since corrected by Glock with revised recoil springs, but it's one of those things that will not die.

[joe-lumber]

I prefer the Gen 3 over the Gen 4 on Glock 19 because for some reason I hit the 4" target more often with the 3's. The Gen 4's sound more tinnie for some reason and I am guessing it is the spring, one stage vs two stage.

[TunnelRat]

The "problems" with the Gen4s were very early and mostly related to the 9mm models using strong recoil springs, combined with people shooting under-powered ammo. That problem has been long since corrected by Glock with revised recoil springs, but it's one of those things that will not die.

Ehhh. Idk if I would say, "long since". There were more than just problems with the recoil springs. There were also revised extractors and ejectors that were released. It wasn't the apocalypse it was made out to be by some, but it wasn't trivial either. I understand those that hold a manufacturer's feet to the fire.

[roadrash]

Except for a recently aquired G42,all of my Glocks are older Gen 3s,
I see no reason to switch,I prefer the real tenifer and lack of MIM parts.

[Captains1911]

Ehhh. Idk if I would say, "long since". There were more than just problems with the recoil springs. There were also revised extractors and ejectors that were released. It wasn't the apocalypse it was made out to be by some, but it wasn't trivial either. I understand those that hold a manufacturer's feet to the fire.

Even still, these were very early problems that have been corrected for about 4-5 years now. However people still talk about them like it was last week.

[TunnelRat]

Even still, these were very early problems that have been corrected for about 4-5 years now. However people still talk about them like it was last week.

The Gen 4s I owned that had problems were maybe 2 years ago. If you do a google search you can find users still reporting such problems as early as last year. Since the end of last year, however, they do seem to have mostly disappeared. I did encounter a shooter at my range whose Glock 19, purchased this year, started ejecting randomly after 500 rds despite being flawless at the beginning. He spoke with a Glock rep that said they are working on another ejector revision currently.

[Uncle Malice]

these were very early problems that have been corrected for about 4-5 years now

The very first gen 4 guns (g22/g17) have barely been available for 4 years now... so they weren't fixing problems (publicly) with the gen4 5 years ago.

[Captains1911]

The Gen 4s I owned that had problems were maybe 2 years ago. If you do a google search you can find users still reporting such problems as early as last year. Since the end of last year, however, they do seem to have mostly disappeared. I did encounter a shooter at my range whose Glock 19, purchased this year, started ejecting randomly after 500 rds despite being flawless at the beginning. He spoke with a Glock rep that said they are working on another ejector revision currently.

For every user you read about on the Internet with a problem, there are 1000s of people out there who experience nothing but reliabilty and dependability with theirs. The misconception occurs when only people with problems post about it, and often in multiple places across the intererbz with different user names, whereas the satisfied people generally remain silent, thus making the "issue" appear way worse than it really is. This is true for almost anything. You must understand this effect. Buy a "entire favorite popular manufacturer here" with confidence, and in the slight chance that you get a lemon, said manufacturer will almost certainly make it right.

[TunnelRat]

This is true for almost anything. You must understand this effect. Buy a "entire favorite popular manufacturer here" with confidence, and in the slight chance that you get a lemon, said manufacturer will almost certainly make it right.

I do understand that. I also understand both firsthand and secondhand that there were problems up to relatively recently.