Shooting the Glock 19X: Best of Both Worlds — SHOT Show 2018

Clay Martin Handguns Industry News Max Slowik Military SHOT Show 2018 This Week
Shooting the Glock 19X: Best of Both Worlds — SHOT Show 2018

Whether it’s practical or collectible, people will line up to buy the Glock 19X.

Glock recently announced that they were going to introduce the Model 19X on the commercial market and buyers could not be happier. The Glock 19X is the pistol they designed for the U.S. military’s Modular Handgun System, or MHS.

Ultimately Glock did not win the contract but a big part of that was the price. Glock’s MHS pistol was more expensive than the competition — the gun still performed better in some ways. Because of that, people will forever ask if the Army made the right decision.

Either way, people have been asking Glock to sell them these guns and Glock’s response was positive. The company made a few tweaks to the commercial version to give it a little more market appeal so this is as close as anyone will get to owning a Glock MHS pistol.

Overview

The Glock 19X packs many of the features of the new Gen 5 series with some features unique to this pistol. Simply, the 19X is a Glock 19 slide on a Glock 17 frame. Why would you want to do that? Because it’s a fantastic way to make one gun perform a lot of roles.

With its shorter slide and barrel assembly, it’s possible to carry the 19X concealed. For some people, grip length has very little to do with concealment. Shooters with bigger hands can get a better grip on full-size frames and that extra half inch matters. A better grip means more control.

The shorter slide also makes the gun faster to draw and point with less slide to clear a holster. The 19X has a capacity advantage over a Glock 19, too. Flush magazines hold 17 rounds of 9mm Luger, two more. If you need to use you concealed-carry pistol for real, you want to stack all the advantages you can.

Specifications

Shooting the Glock 19X: Best of Both Worlds — SHOT Show 2018

In addition to combining Glock 17 and 19 features, the 19X is improved in every critical way.

  • 9mm Luger
  • Marksman barrel
  • Glock night sights
  • 18-round capacity with flush magazine (one included)
  • 20-round capacity with extended magazines (two included)
  • Ambidextrous slide release levers
  • Reversible magazine release button
  • Improved PVD finish
  • Coyote frame and slide
  • Lanyard loop
  • No manual thumb safety

Impressions

At range day, I finally got my hands on the long-awaited Glock 19X, and it did not disappoint. This is a gun with a frame big enough to get all your fingers on, holds 17+1 rounds of ammo and has a sight set up that is lines up quickly.

Instead of the 19X, they should have called this the Glock Commander. It is essentially a polymer copy of the famed 1911 Colt Commander, a platform that was proved worth over and over again in its day. This is the best development I have seen from Glock since the advent of the Generation 3, and I can’t wait to get one of my own. This is a no question buy gun, I recommend it highly.

Pricing

The Glock 19X is a premium service pistol and the $749 MSRP reflects that. Considering this is an improved, special edition pistol from Glock, the price isn’t bad at all. You may not want to wait for a deal. Guns like this sell for what the sticker says.

For more information about these and other Glock products visit us.glock.com.

***Shop GunsAmerica for Your New Glock Today***

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  • The Bearded Pretender July 16, 2018, 3:48 pm

    If I couldn\’t afford a real gun to shoot and carry, I would buy an X19
    But I can afford a Wilson or a Brown so I don\’t need a POS Glock to make me feel \”Mall Rated\” tough.
    I also like a gun that points where I\’m aiming without having to break my wrist down before I shoot.
    But, the X19 is interesting, I might give it a try ….. for the range only.

  • Peter March 30, 2018, 9:09 pm

    I’m sorry for you folks who are so prejudiced against Glocks but they do serve an absolute purpose. Concerning the 19x I don’t think it was designed as a ccw so to define it as such is incorrect. It was designed as a duty weapon albeit military but duty weapon nonetheless. Hence capacity was probably a greater concern over concealability. If you’re looking to conceal consider the compact or subcompact line of Glock firearms it would be a more fair comparison.

  • Frank February 8, 2018, 7:17 pm

    Least impressive change to a Glock since the fish gills. The length of the but is more of a problem to conceal than the length of the barrel. I can’t imagine why anyone would want this instead of either a G17 or a G19

  • Horace H. February 1, 2018, 7:43 am

    Gun Guy, apparently you can’t be that much of a Glock fan if you’re still, at this point, months and months later, completely oblivious to the fact that you’re talking about a military duty weapon, a gun designed as a military entry, to be carried by the military, the military, duty weapon. How do you marry that with the notion that it’s somehow supposed to be your ccw? How is a gun designed to be a duty weapon supposedly a much better idea as a concealed carry gun. I’ve literally seen this comment at least a hundred times by gun guys who supposedly pay attention to firearms, and still, weeks later, more and more gun guys come out of some kind of information hibernation, oblivious to the others who are saying the same exact thing, and oblivious to the news that Glock submitted a gun to the military trials months ago, and it wasn’t small, obscure news. I sound like some sort of information elitist, but god damn, you would’ve had to have your head buried in your ass for months to not be aware of this.

    • Goran March 24, 2018, 9:57 pm

      Agree100%👍

  • Pseudomind January 31, 2018, 5:34 am

    My only comment is that I do not see this being the military model as I am sure the military will not purchase a semi auto pistol which does not have a safety and I am not talking about what Glock calls their trigger safety.

    • Horace February 1, 2018, 7:30 am

      It is the XM 17 military entry minus the manual safety. I thought everyone knew this, but then again, there will still be the constant stream of, “Why didn’t they put a 17 slide on a 19 frame? This is a stupid concealed carry gun. I’m not buying one of these!”. Yes, because a gun designed to be a military duty weapon was somehow also designed to be your ccw. Sorry, I’m just venting.

  • Alex January 31, 2018, 12:02 am

    Still rather have G19 5

  • LJ January 30, 2018, 9:25 pm

    I’ll have to admit when the Glock first came out back in the late eighties when I had my FFL I swore I would never own such a piece of ‘plastic’ junk. Then a friend had me order him one of the first G20 10mm’s and I’ve been hooked since the first time I shot it! It was (and still is) extremely reliable and very pleasant to shoot, even with the full power Norma loads of the day. And 15 rnds of full power 10mm in such a manageable pistol is still considered a lot of firepower!

    I bought it back from my friend many years ago before he passed away and since then I’ve put thousands of rounds through that puppy with ammo ranging from mild to wild without a single hiccup. And I don’t shoot the ‘FBI’ loads in my G20 or my G29.

    Glocks are not for everyone, nor will they fit everyone’s hand. Before the Gen 4’s came out with the modular grips some folks with smaller hands couldn’t shoot them comfortably. They still don’t fit everyone. But they do just happen to fit my hand very well and my self defense gun of choice will always be a Glock.

  • Mikial January 30, 2018, 6:54 pm

    People who hate Glocks as the “plastic” gun that replaced the 1911, will always hate them. Period. It doesn’t matter what they do, haters will hate them. And if you like Glocks, you will generally be pretty honest about what is good and what isn’t about them. And there are things about Glocks I’m not crazy about, like the factory trigger, but it certainly isn’t a deal breaker. This gun sounds like something well worth checking out. I have carried the same G21 for the past 17 years, and it has never failed me in any circumstance. Say what you want, but Glocks work.

  • Deadmeat99 January 30, 2018, 3:51 pm

    “For some people, grip length has very little to do with concealment.” Uh no, grip length has EVERYTHING to do with concealment. This goofy Glock is is opposite of what most people do: shorter grip with a longer slide. I like Glocks in general but this design is an answer looking for a problem and not finding one. Poor design for concealment and does nothing better than a regular G17 for open carry.

    • Guns2317 January 31, 2018, 3:39 pm

      I am one of those people who would rather have a full size grip. I have large hands and find even a G19 frame to be a bit smallish, much less the G26 which is almost unshootable for me without grip extensions of some kind. Being a large framed individual, I have no issues hiding a full size gun on my person. The 19X makes sense to me, hope they offer it in black sometime.

    • jerry February 1, 2018, 7:02 pm

      Dead on!!!! Exactly my thoughts during and after reading this silly piece.

  • Big John January 30, 2018, 12:36 pm

    Wow… the comment section is chock full of thumb sucking basement dwellers on this topic. I thought with the economy getting better some of these guys would actually leave mom’s cellar and get a job. Guess we’re all quite a bit safer knowing all of these tacticians and weapons experts are among us… LMAO

  • DrJon January 30, 2018, 10:52 am

    One of the criteria for military acceptance was a frame mounted thumb safety. Since this pistol has no such safety, it should not claim to be a part of the pistols sent for military trials.

    I would have long ago purchased a Striker pistol, but the lack of a thumb safety has always prevented me from getting interested in such a pistol. There would be far fewer accidents with these pistols were such a safety standard.

    I know every argument against the presence of a thumb safety, but for me its lack is a deal breaker.

    • kane January 30, 2018, 11:37 am

      I own a Sig Sauer p320 with a thumb safety. The gun is a true ambidextrous pistol.

  • Danny Koch January 30, 2018, 10:30 am

    Glocks are great guns with one big problem. disassembly under difficult conditions.I have been trained as both a NRA and a Glock instructor, But as I get older I have trouble getting glocks apart to clean.Even with the wolff extended release on the slide. That is why my last two purchases have been Sig 320C ,one in 9MM and one in 45ACP.With the lever they come apart easy. I have talked with a lot of people in and out of LE who say the same thing about Glocks.This is the one place Glock need to smarten up.
    Senior Range Master,Instructor Retired..

    • Kevin January 30, 2018, 11:39 am

      Not something I learned in the Glock Armorer School, but with only a little practice anyone with any dexterity can easily disassemble for cleaning and reassemble a Glock using only one hand. I’m surprised that anyone with any gun knowledge and experience would have the issue that you mention. I haven’t tried it, but I would expect that using a small punch like the Glock armorer tool, that one could easily completely disassemble same using only one hand.
      Primary Firearms Instructor, U S Customs Service, Port of Houston, Retired

  • Kevin January 30, 2018, 10:18 am

    ” It is essentially a polymer copy of the famed 1911 Colt Commander,”…….BS. When I read nonsense like this, the author immediately looses all creditably with me and nothing else he says is believable.

    • Gary January 30, 2018, 11:17 am

      In the way the 1911 Commander reduced the slide/barrel but kept the full size grip…. In that regard, sure.

  • mka January 30, 2018, 9:36 am

    Glock commander? Where is the hammer,where is the safety? It has the same works as previous Glocks at first glance,not overweight colts.
    Anyone who doesn’t like glocks,must like to guess if their pistol will work as it is supposed to. With glock there is no guess.

    • The Bearded Pretender July 16, 2018, 3:38 pm

      I have never had a malfunction with any of my Wilsons or Ed Browns?!
      They work every time and hit the target I\’m aiming at.I am interested in the 19X, I just wish they didn\’t point like $hit when you draw and get on target.
      Guess if the targets were all Airplanes it would be a great gun, that and a safety would be nice.
      That little POS on the trigger is no safety, ask any dumbass cop about Glock Leg and see what they say.

  • Eric January 30, 2018, 8:37 am

    Glock was not my first pistol. My first carry was a S&W model 645 (a stainless .45) that I carried for 20+ years. It was rather large for CC, and during summer months, I had to be imaginative in keeping it concealed. But it was reliable, and as long as I held the gun tightly w/ both hands, I could hit targets out to 50yds just fine.

    I have owned several other guns, but it was when I bought my first Glock that my eyes were opened. (I had a similar experience when I bought my first Toyota …. that just wouldn’t break, despite my abuse.)

    I bought the Glock 30 and ultimately replaced my loved 645. It’s smaller, lighter, recoils (or flips) much less, and holds more ammo. And I don’t have to hold it so tightly to shoot accurately. It’s a very comfortable firearm. And it is just as reliable (at least) as my old one. Not sure how they created less recoil in a lighter weapon, but part of it must be the spring action, and another part is likely due to the barrel being lower (closer to the hand/forefinger), creating less torque when fired.

    I abuse my glock, as well. It gets dirty & I’m bad about not keeping it clean. But it really doesn’t seem to care. My wife and I have several other pistols. Her favorite is also a glock (the 17). We were encouraged to buy a Glock from her cousin, who owns quite an array of pistols & rifles (many makes & models). It’s a blocky gun, many don’t like it’s looks. But it feels perfect in my hand, and it really is worth the money, as far as I’m concerned.

  • i'mOffendedTreatMeSpecial January 30, 2018, 7:48 am

    I think they did this one backwards. Grip length is a bigger factor for concealment than slide length. They should have put the 17 slide on the 19 grip/

    • Gun Guy January 30, 2018, 9:31 am

      I am a huge Glock fan, but just don’t get this one. I agree…17 slide on a 19 frame would have been much better idea.

      • warzone January 30, 2018, 12:04 pm

        Get an 80% lower and a short barrel .40 upper and 9mm conversion barrel from Wolf.
        Better ergo, better barrel, whatever sights you want.
        Oh, and no serial number for about the same price.

    • chev1958 January 30, 2018, 9:37 am

      But this gun wasn’t manufactured for concealment — it was designed for military use.

  • Mike January 30, 2018, 6:55 am

    Most popular glock model of the most popular handgun with enhanced features and coyote finish and a limited edition to boot! Who wouldnt want to add this to their collection? Nobody sane…thats for sure!

  • Jon January 27, 2018, 11:53 pm

    Glocks have always been the most trusted sidearm. They always go boom! Anything released after my gen2 19 is just marketing. They went back to the smooth grip just like the gen2. I know they have to update to compete but for me if it isn’t broke I’m not going to fix it. Glock haters are funny to me. I don’t hate the M&Ps, XD’s or p320’s. I just love the most reliable gun I’ve ever owned. I guess when your at the top people below are jealous and hate. Makes me smile!

  • Dilligaf January 27, 2018, 7:18 pm

    glock is straight up garbage!

    • RPK January 28, 2018, 1:07 am

      This is the first Glock I ever personally owned. If you do not own one or have not fired one yet, then you should reserve such an ignorant uniformed comment until you do so. I have found this firearm to be everything any serious handgun owner would desire. I back that comment up with over 20 years of law enforcement experience and a 20 year military career.

      • i'mOffendedTreatMeSpecial January 30, 2018, 7:50 am

        Well, the trigger sort of reminds me of squeezing a wet sponge and adding another $300 for a ZEV trigger makes them kind of expensive.

    • st15rexxx January 30, 2018, 6:26 am

      well, the name fits; because, as an owner/carrier of 3 glocks (21sf/22/23-depending on mood/mode of dress), DILLIGAF about your garbage opinion? GTFOOH with your nonsense…idiot.

    • Christopher Sourp January 30, 2018, 7:13 am

      Wow that was harsh. I own 12 handguns. 6 of them are Glocks. They are by far the only handgun that I have never had an issue with. Reliable as hell and goes boom every time. I have handguns costing twice as much that are a bitch to work on and jam sometimes. Not one issue with the Glocks. Can you please elaborate as to why you think they suck ?

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