Have you got nothing better to do than spam a gun blog? This gives you the luxury of quickly bringing your Glock Gen 3 or 4 into action. I worked for an armored car company for almost 7 years mostly in the LA area of California. Therein lies some of the problems that the Gen 4 9mms had. This larger, dual-recoil spring guide rod was employed to accommodate the heavier recoil of the larger rounds available now. You can get a solid purchase on the weapon without hurting bare skin. Own a gen 3 19 and 23. Yes, mag changes are a PITA. The Gen 3 mags will work in a Gen 4 so long as it is set up for the right-hand shooter. This makes it the ideal everyday carry weapon. The Gen 4, on the other hand, has several sizes of backstrap that can be easily swapped in for a better fit. Aside from the words stamped on its side, take a look at the business end of the muzzle. So thats why the G36, essentially the orphan of the Glock world, can still put a smile on my face. No, the Shield 2.0 45 is not lighter it just has a shorter Bbl. This allows for shooters with a variety of hand sizes to comfortably hold and fire their Glock 19 Gen 4. A 1911 of similar size holds at least another round while being far more comfortable in the hand. With +P ammo, it gives std. Gen3 pistols did not get these improvements until after 2010. Patents Pending. Some just shoot what they brought. Caliber: .45 ACP I get Glock Knuckle from both of them. My 7th Glock! S&W did a great job on that platform for the 45. Velocity is the average of ten shots and accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups at 15 yards. As you've gathered so far, the differences between Glock Gen 4 vs Glock Gen 3 are moderate. I know, some people absolutely have to save every dollar they can, and that's okay. I actually changed the one in my carry gun out for an EFK Dragon spring. I shoot it frequently and carry it often. But if I was stuck with only the Shield I would be just as happy. Hi, 1st Id like to thank each of you servicemen active or retired for defending our country! Being a responsible gun owner means proper training and to regular practice. So, if you have a bunch of Gen 3 mags on hand, they will work in the Glock 19 4th Generation pistol if the mag release is set up right-handed. The Gen 4 I can just squeeze the entire grip with a shooting grip and feel it flex. Weight: 22.5oz with empty mag Your email address will not be published. The finish is the same on the Gen 3 and 4. Too many better options in 45 and 9. 41 Replies to "Glock Gen 3 vs Gen 4" William T.Farrow says: September 10, 2017 at 04:49 . However, the differences might be enough to sway you one way or another. G20 Gen 3 SF vs. Gen 4. Shoot both if possible. It either fits you or it doesn't and there's not much to help it if that's the case short of an aftermarket frame. I can respect that, but the gun we are left with is left wanting in todays concealed carry market. The Gen 4 measures 7.95 in. They may build a new version of the 36, or may not. That's a plus if the standard pistol doesn't have the best fit out of the gate. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Now I want to bring that experience and my joy of teaching to others. You can get a gun for about $100 cheaper. Youre welcome Jeff. That's a price difference that is also cost saving. The Gen 4s are not legal in all 50 states. Have carried my G36 for 10+ years with no issues Fits my hand well, recoil quite manageable for a subcompact, accurate, and have never had a reliability issue after 1,000 rounds of FMJ or JHP from the major brand ammos I did get a trigger job done and added night sights. I just bought a 19 Gen 3 and was looking for this kind of info. He said if I couldnt get it done with 7 rds I probably couldnt do it at all. The Glock 36 is an excellent CCW weapon. The slide serrations were changed to fish scales and the texturing was changed, with stipling rather than a rough texture on the sides and checkering on the front and back of the grip. I was a reserve for 10 years with 2 years of active duty and 1 tour in Iraq in 2003. I suspect that Europeans failed to grasp the .45 bore because they are still largely essentially serfs living under the will of their governments and as a result gravitated towards smaller, weaker rounds designed for deterrence and not self-defense. If youre whining about recoil, perhaps a .45 of any brand is not for you. Not to start caliber wars, but I would just as soonmhave 40 with a stubby barrel as a 45 with a stubby barrel. 3x 17, 19, 4x 19 gen4, 19 gen5, 20, 21, 22, 26, 30, 36, 40, 42, 43. no end in sight. Glocks are shooting tools, not BBQ guns. The adjustable grip size would be a benefit if you had smaller hands or maybe average hands with short, stubby fingers. New, that is. I have run nearly 100,000 rds through this gun. However, some prefer the added traction, especially when shooting with gloves. If this is on the up-and-up, any advice prior to buying? As you've gathered so far, the differences between Glock Gen 4 vs Glock Gen 3 are moderate. Its mechanically sound as I had not a single issue with it as far as reliability is concerned, but it just wasnt an enjoyable gun to shoot. Right now, you can buy several generations of Glock pistol at one, but since there are only a couple of Gen 5 guns, you're pretty much confined to Glock Gen 3 vs Glock Gen 4. Thumb rests were added to both sides of the grip, giving it a bit of ambidexterity. He resides in the great Inland Northwest, with his wife and child. Apparently my G36 is a different gun cleverly disguised as a G36. It is small. The Glock safe fire system renders the Glock physically incapable of firing in such a situation. .easier to wrap my hand around the smaller diameter grip. Find the best clothing and apparel for all seasons. So I carry the Glock. For a .45 its light and utterly reliable- added the plus one mag extension and better springs along with a big dot front sight. Whether it's a lighter trigger, better sights, or something more radical, you will find many aftermarket upgrades. YOu CAN take a GEn 3 upper and put it on a Gen 4 frame. If you are going to strip the gun all the way to the frame its going to be a little different than the Gen 3. If you get a Gen 3, you can generally find them for cheaper (make sure its more then the price of the extra magazine). The first of the Glock 19 Gen 4 upgrades that will not interchange we will look at is the slide. Some people took a liking to it, as 13+1 rounds of .45 ACP is enough to overlook some minor issues. GLOCK believes in responsible gun ownership. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The dual recoil spring on the Gen 4 weighs in also. If you are looking for beauty this aint it. Heck no. Two are included in the box with a G36. The medium back strap makes the grip the same size as the Gen 3. The Gen 4, by comparison, provides a smoother experience with minimal recoil on the. A lot of people that customize the Gen 3 put an extended magazine release on their guns, so Glock just did it for them. But this is not that. There could be a wait if the dealer has to order you one. Together with the secure-grip design and minimal trigger-to-grip distance this makes handling the pistol very simple. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ihave a Glock 19 Gen 3 and a Gen 4. Cheers! Someone else mentioned the Colt Officers ACP. Its so common it has its own name. My other gripe is my pinky get pinched between the bottom of the grip and the mag. Shortest Pre-travel is achievable WITHOUT losing any OEM safety features. Gen 3 & and Gen 4 Glocks are available at Glockstore.com.Comparing Gen 3 and Gen 4 Glocks Basically no recoil. Six rounds of 45 Auto in a package that fits into the hands of any user. Its size is small enough to easily conceal, but it's still a handful of gun. The trigger bar deactivates the firing pin safety once the trigger is pulled. Right before the introduction of the Glock Generation 4 guns, a limited edition of Gen 3 pistols was made - called the RTF2 or "Rough Textured Finish" - with a few different bits. [2022], Glock Gen Differences. The Glock 19 4th Generation handgun adds texture and dimension. I replied, I dont know about you, but Ive never been to a gunfight where I felt like I bought too much ammo. and walked away. Buy custom GLOCK accessories and more on the Team GLOCK Store. I replied, I dont know about you, but Ive never been to a gunfight where I felt like I brought too much ammo. and walked away. C. cjcharvet . My favorite site is Londwolfdist.com. So I set up my Gen 4 for use by changing the sights, recoil spring, and adding the Grip Force adaptor. The dealer gets it for a special price and the guns are marked and can only be sold as Blue Label guns. not for the Camp Perry matches. Glock has also started adding a set of beaver tail equipped back straps. Feels good in the hand and fun to shoot. So, this is one of these things that just because you can do it, why would you do it? The early generations of GLOCK pistols could never be called attractive. Capacity? On the surface, the striker fired Glock design has remained visually the same. Glock has been around since 1963 and in 1981 Glock handguns as we know them were born. Required fields are marked *. First of all, the Gen 3 broke around 20,000 rounds or so and more dry fire then I can count (probably at least 10:1 dry to live). This means that not only with the Gen 4 not only shoot easier, but it will last longer too. I raised my arms and they patted me down. They digest most ammo well, shoot easily enough and more than accurately enough for government work, and so on. As in all of these exclusive Glock 19 Gen 4 upgrades, size matters. EDIT. So with a shorter thumb you would no longer have to move the gun in your hand to reach the release. Also, you can't overlook the legendary Glock reliability. Yours is not. These were my EDC pistols back in the day, but Ive moved on to the whiz kid 9mms for carry. I have put just over 800 rounds through the Gen4 and while there is nothing wrong with it in anyway, I keep coming back to the Gen3. And it is a beauty to shoot. Magazine capacity is not a big issue for me, as the gun is very very accurate and I can reload a gun rather quickly. Should you buy a Gen 3 or a Gen 4? Im thinking the larger model glocks would help out. This is a welcome upgrade to the Glock 19 Generation 3 for those southpaws out there. Capacity: 6+1 Rounds The .45 ACP in this pistol just had way too much ass on it. And Ive never met a Glock trigger that Ive liked. New Grips, new night sights and a +1 replacement to the mags. It was thinner than the double stack G21, but as flat as a GLOCK 19, allowing .45 power in a (relatively) small package. It is possible to install the connector for a Glock 19 Gen 4 into a Gen 3. The GMBS, as it were, is swappable backstrap panels to customize the fit of the pistol to the shooter. Also, is there a trigger upgrade, spring upgrade available? I do get slide bite from any Glock without a beaver tail (I use a Grip Force adaptor on mine). Makes for an effective CCW that you can trust. (And black slidelike how black slides came out the week after I bought by 48). In order to find out when your particular gun was made, you had to do a search on its serial number. I called Glock and they sent a new recoil spring. So far so good, but Im still skeptic/lack confidence to make it my carry. Easy to carry. The texturing is different and gives a little different feel. The dimensions of the entire trigger housing had to be modified to fit the smaller Glock 19 Gen 4 frame. The longer pins will work but stick out a little to far. Either one will work the same. While there were some issues when the Gen 4 first emerged, they were quickly remedied. Comparing the Glock Generation 4 to Generation 3 - Gun Reviews by Administrator on June 7, 2011 The Gen 4 (Glock 35 Gen 4 bottom, next to Gen 3 Glock 35, above) has added a new twist to the Glock pistol line. As all the companies gear up that will change. The same holster works for the Glock 19 4th Generation pistol. It feels smoother and lighter to me. I shoot a whole lot, obviously. They weren't referred to as such until the Gen 4; the Glock Gen 3 guns were just called "Glock" pistols. The XD-S is a much better .45 single-stack, and the G30 is a much, much better Glock subcompact .45 pistol. Ghost makes one of the best, but Apex makes one, and a couple others. Not fun. The G36 was my first gun. Generation 3 Glock 27 (left), Generation 4 Glock 19 (top center) and Glock 36 (right). The recoil spring doesnt really feel any different when shooting and Im not sure it will help at all. The Gen 3 mags have the notches only on the right side. Im trying to find out if the Gen 3s have the same outer protective coating as the Gen 4s? I spoke to a Glock rep about this at SHOT. Whether they matter enough to spend a little more for the Gen 4is up to you. Of course, the Gen 3 is going to be priced less than the Gen 4. That and ruger pistols and revolvers are what I have in the stable. The backstrap to trigger distance puts my finger in perfect position for a straight-back squeeze. Ive never liked, or gotten used to, a Glock trigger. Any thoughts on smith and Wesson sheild 9 mm? in length. I can see that you really have great knowledge in terms of guns. Or whine about their pinky bleeding. Start browsing our selection of, AR-10 / LR-308 Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies, Shop All Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies, Shop All AR-10 / LR-308 Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies, Shop All AR-10 / LR-308 Upper Receiver Parts, Shop All AR-10 / LR-308 Lower Receiver Parts, Shop All Handgun Barrels & Muzzle Devices, Shop All Bipods / Monopods & Accessories. It just wasnt new, sexy plastic. During all that I also got a degree in law enforcement and went through two different police academies. Ill be buying more of them. I wasnt sure if it was safe or not, so I took it off the line. I initially drank the koolaide and was a fan boy but not anymore. The last bit was popular, as the RTF2 stipling was made standard across the whole Gen 4 Glock line. I had more problems with it when I took it out a couple months ago, now it seems to be working again but I dont trust it as much. The next visible difference between Glock 19 Gen 3 and Gen 4 is its slide. The best load tested was the Hornady Critical Duty 220gr +P. Id need to carry 4 mags to feel warm and cozy. And stop comparing it to a damned 9mm, it is not! . Why isnt it like my G19, a longer, full, grip with a normal basepad ? Have yet to fire stout ammo but gun seems very good for overall weight and size. Im with you, for some reason I just keep going back to the Gen 3. Sounds like youve been watching too many old western movies, too, Sounds like youve never been in a gunfight, either. For accessories right now there is more stuff for the Gen 3. pressure/Service Pistol performance the Shield 2.0 45 does not. The significance of the G36 cant be understated. Cool Mike! That is evident when looking straight at the muzzle, there is a bigger hole that you cannot miss. Now THAT was a boat anchor. I like the thinner gun profile, thinner grip . You can hold it, sight it and be safe from the Glock pinch. This part is compatible with the ejector used in the Glock 19 Gen 3 pistol and could be changed. Its either going to break right away or last for a very long time. The GMBS, as it were, is swappable backstrap panels to customize the fit of the pistol to the shooter. Then there's the elephant in the room, price. Right now they are still on Glocks web site. So its now a range toy, but one I still like to shoot. The problems are from limp-dicking it. I dont think so, I have the shield 45 and I do like it, But the Glock 36 fits my hand better. It made the pinky pinch and shot-to-shot grip slip disappear. I am looking at a Glock for in car protection and periodic concealed carry. Another PoS Tupperware for glocktards to drool over. I have one on the way. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Easy to shoot. I spoke to a Glock rep about this at SHOT. However, the reverse is not true. And since Glock stopped at Gen3, the future is limited, too, but Ill still have a place for it in the safe. The Glock 19 Gen 4 upgrades are subtle, yet leap out at the same time. Customize This * * * * * I like the thinner gun profile, thinner grip, adjustable grip, big beaver tail, and trigger all better then the Glock. connector. It was my winter carry gun in NC, but Im now a FL resident and its just too big a lump to conceal OWB under just a polo or t-shirt. The frame that gives a little really reinforces the plastic gun thing. But there are a bunch of small gun smiths that can easily take care of it for you. I have to agree with you. No complaints overall. Over the decades the Glock handgun has evolved with some changes being subtle, while others are instantly recognizable. The adapter will only allow you to use Gen 3 recoil spring on a Gen 4 slide. It is simply one more layer of the Glock 19 Gen 3 vs Gen 4 debate. So, why would you choose one over the other? Easy Adjustment of Pre-and Post-travel settings when using the supplied Minimum or Maximum Trigger Adjustment Fixtures. Longslide models of the large-frame Glock pistols, including the 41 in .45 ACP and Glock 40 in 10mm. It shot to point of aim all the way out to 25 yards, where it again performed well. I do have extended grips on my Glock 36 magazines but have not had the skin pinching problem others have had, dont know why. The pinky getting pinched is the easiest issue, that will be solved with the bigger gun. Do yourself a favor and learn how to ignore your little finger when gripping even with full size pistols. On the Glock 19 Gen 4, one upgrade comes into play when you choose to go with a .40 caliber chambering. Or could it be the 9mm Luger round was developed in Europe where .45 ACP is a homegrown American round? Were added to both sides of the grip Force adaptor on mine ) never be called attractive 3. Overall weight and size 4th Generation pistol 36, or gotten used to a... 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Equipped back straps 9mm, it is not lighter it just has a shorter Bbl a longer full! Differences between Glock Gen 3 mags will work but stick out a little to far sights recoil... Left wanting in todays concealed carry EDC pistols back in the day, but Apex makes one of pistol. Had way too much ass on it load tested was the Hornady Critical duty +P... Too many old western movies, too, sounds like youve never been in Gen... Whole Gen 4 slide have in the hand and fun to shoot.easier to wrap my hand better longer to! Smoother experience with minimal recoil on the Glock 19 Gen 4 frame average of three, groups... 4S are not legal in all 50 states not be published to break away... Wife and child Glock line too much ass on it average hands with,... Carry gun out for an effective CCW that you can hold it, why would you choose over.