New Glock 19 range report

8MM Mauser · March 22, 2014, 02:30 PM

Well, my searching for a CCW piece in this thread http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542144 led me away from and then back to a Glock 19. I have been thinking of buying one for nearly 4 years now, and two weeks ago I took the plunge.

Today, my father and I drove out to a new indoor range with this gun, My Ruger MKII and we also rented a S&W Shield and a Kimber 1911.

Man can this gun shoot! I put about 200 rounds through it in total, a mixture of crappy "range ammo" and some Aguila FMJ. No malfunctions, not even a hiccup in this brand new gun.

These were the first 15 rounds I fired from the gun, at 15 feet with crappy range ammo. It was about 3" which is just fine with me. You can see that I adjusted my aim for the last three rounds and landed squarely in the (admittedly huge) bullseye; had I avoided a few fliers and not changed my aim it would have been a good group. For the most part my rounds stayed in a nice tight little hole.

Not a target gun to be sure (my Ruger is and I shot a sub 1" group at the same distance right after) but it does what it needs to do. I was really happy that I was able to keep on a silhouette target out to 40 feet. I'm no competition shooter, but if this is how I can shoot this gun out of the gate than I'm happy. My shooting did to up and down throughout the day, but I was happy overall as I did do better than the above later.

I actually shot the G19 better than the rented Kimber (one of these http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/co...i-pro-carry-ii) and I absolutely hated the Shield. I couldn't shoot the thing well at all. I have shot a couple small revolvers in the past and I shoot them much better. I felt downright incompetent with the shield and it is possibly the worst I have ever shot a handgun.

One amusing anecdote, my dad picked up my new Glock after shooting the Kimber and, surprised at the long trigger stopped, put the gun down and asked me where the safety was.

He prefers revolvers and I think his only semi-auto experience (literally except a few rounds through my Ruger pistol) was shooting a Beretta in the military 30 years ago.

In any case, I was perfectly happy with my new Glock's performance, it does just what I need it to do without any drama.

Here's the new addition posed with it's future belt-mate; the knife I carry everyday:

keithdog · March 22, 2014, 04:21 PM

Congrats on the new Glock 19. That's a gun I would love to own myself.

One day maybe. It is a very nice grouping for sure. No doubt your going to love that gun for a long time. I am surprised though that you disliked the SW Shield as much as you did. I purchased a Shield back in December and my experiences were exactly the opposite. It was one of the nicest shooting guns I've shot, feeding everything I put through it and very little recoil. My grouping out of the block brand new wasn't bad either. I was going to go with a Glock 26, but I have small hands and the Shield felt much better in my grip than the 26, and a slimmer profile over all, so I chose the Shield instead. I still want a 26 though, haha. This was the results of my first box of ammo at 20 feet with the shield. Not bad for a 3.1 inch barrel first time around. I'm going to own a Glock 19 some day though!

lee n. field · March 22, 2014, 05:26 PM

Quote:

it does just what I need it to do without any drama.

"It's an appliance" what my first thought after shooting mine the first time.

Get yourself a "Glock armorer's tool" (a punch, basically). That one tool , plus maybe a needle nose pliers for the trigger spring, is what you'd use to take the gun completely apart. (Excepting only the plastic sleeve in the striker channel.) Familiarize yourself with how it's put together.

After that, resist for a long time, the urge to tinker. Most of the aftermarket doo-dads people on internet gunfora recommend, I have not found to be an advantage.

bowserb · March 22, 2014, 07:44 PM

I carried a G19 for about three years. It is the ultimate concealed carry pistol, IMO. Long enough grip for three fingers, 4" barrel, very light weight, 15 rd magazine. Nothing else is even close for concealed carry. I still kick myself for selling mine...at least it was to a friend who appreciates it as much as I do.

I just wish they'd make a G38 alternative in .45ACP instead of GAP. Other Glock 45's dance around with some features similar to the G38, but they're not the true mid-size Glock. So I still carry an XDM-45 4.5". The G21 was too much like sticking a steel 2x4 in my belt!

Wreck-n-Crew · March 22, 2014, 07:51 PM

Quote:

I carried a G19 for about three years. It is the ultimate concealed carry pistol, IMO. Long enough grip for three fingers, 4" barrel, very light weight, 15 rd magazine.

It is the perfect size

Quote:

I just wish they'd make a G38 alternative in .45ACP instead of GAP. Other Glock 45's dance around with some features similar to the G38, but they're not the true mid-size Glock.

You know I made that same statement in the wrong crowd and barely made it out! Seems so reasonable to me but what do I know.

Sabrewolfe · March 22, 2014, 07:58 PM

Yeah, do not mess with the guts of the gun. It really does not need it and a lot of the mods do nothing but cost you money. Common example would be the guide rod on the Gen3's. You might be tempted to change in for a steel one, but the stock plastic rod works very well, and if by some chance you actually manage to break it, its super cheap to replace. That being said, there are Glock OEM parts that can help tweak the trigger. Provided you stick with OEM parts, you won't go wrong.

There are also some exterior items you may want to look at changing and that's just fine. The stock sites on a Glock are, to be blunt, HORRIBLE. Lots of great aftermarket options available (I'm partial to the XS Big Dots) to fix that, though. You may also want to change the slide release as the stock one is a PITA. Both the Glock OEM Extended Release and the Vicker's Tactical (via Tango Down) options are very nice. Pearce Grip Extensions for your mags can be nice, depending on your hand size (also a helpful handhold for striping out stuck mags). And last, but not least, a grip plug (I like the Pearce version).

And that's the extent of what I would consider 'modding' on your Glock. Your mileage may vary.

And for some additional opinions, here are some old hands in the biz discussing this very subject:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ViI2UWFKg

8MM Mauser · March 22, 2014, 08:46 PM

Thanks for the advice all.

Quote:

Congrats on the new Glock 19. That's a gun I would love to own myself. One day maybe. It is a very nice grouping for sure. No doubt your going to love that gun for a long time. I am surprised though that you disliked the SW Shield as much as you did. I purchased a Shield back in December and my experiences were exactly the opposite. It was one of the nicest shooting guns I've shot, feeding everything I put through it and very little recoil. My grouping out of the block brand new wasn't bad either. I was going to go with a Glock 26, but I have small hands and the Shield felt much better in my grip than the 26, and a slimmer profile over all, so I chose the Shield instead. I still want a 26 though, haha. This was the results of my first box of ammo at 20 feet with the shield. Not bad for a 3.1 inch barrel first time around. I'm going to own a Glock 19 some day though!

I really expected to like the Shield. I have enjoyed shooting similar offerings from SIG and Ruger even though I am really not partial to the way Ruger's poly grips feel and I hate the LC9 trigger. You know I have tried hard to like the whole S&W M&P series but everyone I have shot has been a negative experience. I really like the way they feel in my hand but can't shoot them for crap.

8MM Mauser · March 22, 2014, 08:49 PM

Quote:

"It's an appliance" what my first thought after shooting mine the first time.

Get yourself a "Glock armorer's tool" (a punch, basically). That one tool , plus maybe a needle nose pliers for the trigger spring, is what you'd use to take the gun completely apart. (Excepting only the plastic sleeve in the striker channel.) Familiarize yourself with how it's put together.

After that, resist for a long time, the urge to tinker. Most of the aftermarket doo-dads people on internet gunfora recommend, I have not found to be an advantage.

Sounds like good advice to me. I will probably change the sights, but I don't find stock Glock sights to be as bad as people say. They aren't great and I want better sights but I didn't mind them through 200 rounds today. I have a Glock armorer's tool on my amazon wishlist and have hinted to my wife that it might make an excellent birthday present. (We don't spend a lot on B-days)

8MM Mauser · March 22, 2014, 08:52 PM

Quote:

I carried a G19 for about three years. It is the ultimate concealed carry pistol, IMO. Long enough grip for three fingers, 4" barrel, very light weight, 15 rd magazine. Nothing else is even close for concealed carry. I still kick myself for selling mine...at least it was to a friend who appreciates it as much as I do.

You know it's funny I came to that conclusion years ago but avoided buying the gun; instead wishing for a USP I couldn't afford; and after my daughter was born money was (is) tight and this is my first chance to go back to the G19 after wanting a USP, an XD, and a Ruger SP101 I came back to the Glock. It just works for me. I am excited to take the CCW class next.

8MM Mauser · March 22, 2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Yeah, do not mess with the guts of the gun. It really does not need it and a lot of the mods do nothing but cost you money. Common example would be the guide rod on the Gen3's. You might be tempted to change in for a steel one, but the stock plastic rod works very well, and if by some chance you actually manage to break it, its super cheap to replace. That being said, there are Glock OEM parts that can help tweak the trigger. Provided you stick with OEM parts, you won't go wrong.

There are also some exterior items you may want to look at changing and that's just fine. The stock sites on a Glock are, to be blunt, HORRIBLE. Lots of great aftermarket options available (I'm partial to the XS Big Dots) to fix that, though. You may also want to change the slide release as the stock one is a PITA. Both the Glock OEM Extended Release and the Vicker's Tactical (via Tango Down) options are very nice. Pearce Grip Extensions for your mags can be nice, depending on your hand size (also a helpful handhold for striping out stuck mags). And last, but not least, a grip plug (I like the Pearce version).

And that's the extent of what I would consider 'modding' on your Glock. Your mileage may vary.

The only three changes I have thought about are and extended mag release, extended slide stop and better sights. Right now I am looking at these Ameriglo SIGHTS.

I am not sure about the plug. I was all ready to buy one and then I had multiple people, some whom I trust tell me not to bother and that it could actually cause stuff to build up in the gun instead of letting it out. so IDK about it.

The slide release is not good at all. I might well change it.

I am certainly in no hurry to make modifications. Sights are at the top of my list.

Sabrewolfe · March 22, 2014, 09:16 PM

You'll want to be careful with the extended mag releases. The Glock OEM one, for example, sticks out far enough on the G19 that its pretty easy to accidentally trip it. Setting the gun down on a flat surface, even holstering it has caused more than a few people to drop the mag unintentionally. Its not hard to Dremel it down a touch and fix, but its something to be aware of if this is going to be a carry gun. The other option is to get the Vicker's Tactical mag release. Upside is the length is perfect right out of the box on the VT offering. Downside is that is cost 2-3 times more than the OEM part. If you don't mind breaking out the Dremel, the Glock part is a lot more cost effective. Then again, at $7-10 vs $20, the cost difference isn't super huge.

As for the grip plug, I blow the frame out with canned air every time I clean it, and I have yet to find anything in the hollow. I HAVE however, stopped getting as much lint and hair in the internals since I put mine in. So, I definitely recommend it.

8MM Mauser · March 23, 2014, 07:42 AM

Quote:

You'll want to be careful with the extended mag releases. The Glock OEM one, for example, sticks out far enough on the G19 that its pretty easy to accidentally trip it. Setting the gun down on a flat surface, even holstering it has caused more than a few people to drop the mag unintentionally. Its not hard to Dremel it down a touch and fix, but its something to be aware of if this is going to be a carry gun. The other option is to get the Vicker's Tactical mag release. Upside is the length is perfect right out of the box on the VT offering. Downside is that is cost 2-3 times more than the OEM part. If you don't mind breaking out the Dremel, the Glock part is a lot more cost effective. Then again, at $7-10 vs $20, the cost difference isn't super huge.

As for the grip plug, I blow the frame out with canned air every time I clean it, and I have yet to find anything in the hollow. I HAVE however, stopped getting as much lint and hair in the internals since I put mine in. So, I definitely recommend it.

I'll keep that in mind about the mag release. Maybe it is just because the gun is new but I feel like I have to really hit the thing for it to work. I actually can change mags faster in my Ruger and it has a "European"at release at the bottom of the mag! Maybe I just need to get used to it.

I might get the plug; it can't hurt right? Canned air is a truly awesome tool when working with small part machines of any kind. I work for Xerox and our techs go through the stuff like it's going out of style and I can see why. Now anytime I clean my firearms canned air is a Part of the process.

**Spats McGee** · March 24, 2014, 02:04 PM

Congratulations! Glad that you're happy with it.

Wreck-n-Crew · March 24, 2014, 05:39 PM

I have the plug and I highly recommend it. Get a magazine out and do some feeding drills. Every now and then it will snag on the divider between the mag well and back strap. A plug prevents it and the angle actually improves feeding of the magazine. Thank me later.

lee n. field · March 24, 2014, 05:46 PM

A butt plug is one of the mods I left on. I got it to round the heel of the grip a little. Other than that, I can take it or leave it. If it's necessaRY TO clean that area out, it's easy to remove.

8MM Mauser · March 24, 2014, 06:21 PM

Thanks Spats! I can't wait to shoot it again!

I will look closer at the plug; it's not like it is an expensive piece of equipment and it can be easily removed. I will try some mag feeding drills. I have focused on accuracy and draw speed from under a garment so far.

K31Scout · March 25, 2014, 02:37 PM

Congrats on a good solid choice. I like the M&P series and have three including the Shield 9 which I shoot well. My in laws are the Glock folks and I like them too but the ergonomics are not for me. They have all changed their sights and a few have had trigger work done.

8MM Mauser · March 25, 2014, 10:11 PM

I really like the M&P pistols feel when just holding them, but I always shoot them poorly. Honestly, a Glock doesn't feel as nice to me as an M&P or a 1911; or even most revolvers; but I shoot it well and it feels good enough. The 19 has a shorter overall frame length too; which I think helps reduce the :grip angle" problem oft cited as an issue with Glocks.

I'm not a "Glock person" really; if I could have any/every gun I wanted the G19 would be my only Glock and most of my handguns would probably be Revolvers, 1911's, CZ's and Hi-Powers. However, the Glock just stinking works. Like I said, it does what I want with no drama.The G19 offers a good balance of conceal-ability, shoot-ability and firepower; even if I don't spend hours staring at examples in magazines.

Besides, all that black matches my Mossberg 500 well.

March 22, 2014, 02:30 PM	#1
8MM Mauser Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 647	New Glock 19 range report Well, my searching for a CCW piece in this thread http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542144 led me away from and then back to a Glock 19. I have been thinking of buying one for nearly 4 years now, and two weeks ago I took the plunge. Today, my father and I drove out to a new indoor range with this gun, My Ruger MKII and we also rented a S&W Shield and a Kimber 1911. Man can this gun shoot! I put about 200 rounds through it in total, a mixture of crappy "range ammo" and some Aguila FMJ. No malfunctions, not even a hiccup in this brand new gun. These were the first 15 rounds I fired from the gun, at 15 feet with crappy range ammo. It was about 3" which is just fine with me. You can see that I adjusted my aim for the last three rounds and landed squarely in the (admittedly huge) bullseye; had I avoided a few fliers and not changed my aim it would have been a good group. For the most part my rounds stayed in a nice tight little hole. Not a target gun to be sure (my Ruger is and I shot a sub 1" group at the same distance right after) but it does what it needs to do. I was really happy that I was able to keep on a silhouette target out to 40 feet. I'm no competition shooter, but if this is how I can shoot this gun out of the gate than I'm happy. My shooting did to up and down throughout the day, but I was happy overall as I did do better than the above later. I actually shot the G19 better than the rented Kimber (one of these http://www.kimberamerica.com/1911/co...i-pro-carry-ii) and I absolutely hated the Shield. I couldn't shoot the thing well at all. I have shot a couple small revolvers in the past and I shoot them much better. I felt downright incompetent with the shield and it is possibly the worst I have ever shot a handgun. One amusing anecdote, my dad picked up my new Glock after shooting the Kimber and, surprised at the long trigger stopped, put the gun down and asked me where the safety was. He prefers revolvers and I think his only semi-auto experience (literally except a few rounds through my Ruger pistol) was shooting a Beretta in the military 30 years ago. In any case, I was perfectly happy with my new Glock's performance, it does just what I need it to do without any drama. Here's the new addition posed with it's future belt-mate; the knife I carry everyday: Last edited by 8MM Mauser; March 22, 2014 at 03:03 PM.

March 24, 2014, 02:04 PM	#13
Spats McGee Staff Join Date: July 28, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 8,840	Congratulations! Glad that you're happy with it. __________________ I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.

March 24, 2014, 05:46 PM	#15
lee n. field Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2002 Location: The same state as Mordor. Posts: 5,588	A butt plug is one of the mods I left on. I got it to round the heel of the grip a little. Other than that, I can take it or leave it. If it's necessaRY TO clean that area out, it's easy to remove. __________________ "As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. "

March 22, 2014, 07:44 PM	#4
bowserb Junior Member Join Date: April 23, 2012 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 7	I carried a G19 for about three years. It is the ultimate concealed carry pistol, IMO. Long enough grip for three fingers, 4" barrel, very light weight, 15 rd magazine. Nothing else is even close for concealed carry. I still kick myself for selling mine...at least it was to a friend who appreciates it as much as I do. I just wish they'd make a G38 alternative in .45ACP instead of GAP. Other Glock 45's dance around with some features similar to the G38, but they're not the true mid-size Glock. So I still carry an XDM-45 4.5". The G21 was too much like sticking a steel 2x4 in my belt!

March 22, 2014, 07:58 PM	#6
Sabrewolfe Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2014 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 140	Yeah, do not mess with the guts of the gun. It really does not need it and a lot of the mods do nothing but cost you money. Common example would be the guide rod on the Gen3's. You might be tempted to change in for a steel one, but the stock plastic rod works very well, and if by some chance you actually manage to break it, its super cheap to replace. That being said, there are Glock OEM parts that can help tweak the trigger. Provided you stick with OEM parts, you won't go wrong. There are also some exterior items you may want to look at changing and that's just fine. The stock sites on a Glock are, to be blunt, HORRIBLE. Lots of great aftermarket options available (I'm partial to the XS Big Dots) to fix that, though. You may also want to change the slide release as the stock one is a PITA. Both the Glock OEM Extended Release and the Vicker's Tactical (via Tango Down) options are very nice. Pearce Grip Extensions for your mags can be nice, depending on your hand size (also a helpful handhold for striping out stuck mags). And last, but not least, a grip plug (I like the Pearce version). And that's the extent of what I would consider 'modding' on your Glock. Your mileage may vary. And for some additional opinions, here are some old hands in the biz discussing this very subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ViI2UWFKg

March 22, 2014, 09:16 PM	#11
Sabrewolfe Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2014 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 140	You'll want to be careful with the extended mag releases. The Glock OEM one, for example, sticks out far enough on the G19 that its pretty easy to accidentally trip it. Setting the gun down on a flat surface, even holstering it has caused more than a few people to drop the mag unintentionally. Its not hard to Dremel it down a touch and fix, but its something to be aware of if this is going to be a carry gun. The other option is to get the Vicker's Tactical mag release. Upside is the length is perfect right out of the box on the VT offering. Downside is that is cost 2-3 times more than the OEM part. If you don't mind breaking out the Dremel, the Glock part is a lot more cost effective. Then again, at $7-10 vs $20, the cost difference isn't super huge. As for the grip plug, I blow the frame out with canned air every time I clean it, and I have yet to find anything in the hollow. I HAVE however, stopped getting as much lint and hair in the internals since I put mine in. So, I definitely recommend it.

March 24, 2014, 05:39 PM	#14
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	I have the plug and I highly recommend it. Get a magazine out and do some feeding drills. Every now and then it will snag on the divider between the mag well and back strap. A plug prevents it and the angle actually improves feeding of the magazine. Thank me later.

March 24, 2014, 06:21 PM	#16
8MM Mauser Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 647	Thanks Spats! I can't wait to shoot it again! I will look closer at the plug; it's not like it is an expensive piece of equipment and it can be easily removed. I will try some mag feeding drills. I have focused on accuracy and draw speed from under a garment so far.

March 25, 2014, 02:37 PM	#17
K31Scout Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Posts: 40	Congrats on a good solid choice. I like the M&P series and have three including the Shield 9 which I shoot well. My in laws are the Glock folks and I like them too but the ergonomics are not for me. They have all changed their sights and a few have had trigger work done.

March 25, 2014, 10:11 PM	#18
8MM Mauser Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 647	I really like the M&P pistols feel when just holding them, but I always shoot them poorly. Honestly, a Glock doesn't feel as nice to me as an M&P or a 1911; or even most revolvers; but I shoot it well and it feels good enough. The 19 has a shorter overall frame length too; which I think helps reduce the :grip angle" problem oft cited as an issue with Glocks. I'm not a "Glock person" really; if I could have any/every gun I wanted the G19 would be my only Glock and most of my handguns would probably be Revolvers, 1911's, CZ's and Hi-Powers. However, the Glock just stinking works. Like I said, it does what I want with no drama.The G19 offers a good balance of conceal-ability, shoot-ability and firepower; even if I don't spend hours staring at examples in magazines. Besides, all that black matches my Mossberg 500 well.