Some of you may know I have a love affair with the G19. It is the perfect modern defensive firearm. It's ubiquitous, it's cheap, it's reliable, it's accurate, it doesn't fire when dropped and it works even if its full of mud. (I've tested the last two extensively) It's easily concealed and yet also perfectly suitable for OC on a duty belt.
Some of you may also know that I really like simplicity. Glock 19s and 5.56mm AR15s, and they don't need to be fancy. 6920 with iron sights, please. I shot all 19s pretty equally. Gen2s, 3s, 4s. It didn't really matter. They were all pretty similar so I would just get whatever Gen popped up at a good price.
Not anymore.
On Thursday I got a great deal on a NIB Gen4 for $400 OTD and by chance found another great deal on a NIB Gen5 on Friday.
Eurodriver's Life Rule #6: Never pass up a Glock 19 w/ 3 mags for $400 or less OTD.
I took the Gen4 to the range on Thursday and both to the range today. Both have medium backstraps, both used the same ammo, both have OEM sights.
The Gen5 obliterates the Gen4 in literally every measurable and subjective way. It's faster. It's more accurate. It looks better. It feels better. It has better sights. It's "smoother" in its operation. It's faster to reload. (FYI - I had no BTF with either gun)
I tried to record a video to explain what I was seeing in real life; the Gen4 despite "feeling" better in the hand (I actually like the finger grooves and found them "feel" better for drawing from the holster) it was ~0.2 seconds slower and had more misses than the Gen5. Shooting on paper the Gen5 was more accurate one handed (both strong and weak) which I attribute 100% to the trigger. I did not do any mechanical accuracy testing so I'm unsure if there is a higher inherent precision level in the Gen5.
But I failed at the video. I had the camera recording when I thought it was off, so when I went to shoot the Gen4, I actually turned it off Either way, I am very impressed with this gun. I want time to put this gun through its paces, but its been very impressive right out of the box.
Am I telling everyone to go sell all their guns and buy a bunch of Gen5 G19s? No, of course not. That would be ridiculous and the Previous Gens are still great.
...but I might.
NSFW Language. Target is a 4” circle acting as a “hostage taker” on a swivel next to the steel targets head.
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