Gen 4 Glock

[275RLTW]

I had the oppertunity to handle one of the new Gen 4 Glock 22's this week. Here is my opnion.
The most noticible difference I saw on the new Glock is the grip. The texture on the Gen 4 is similar to the RTF, although not as agressive. The dots are larger but fewer in number than the RTF, a pleasant change for those with soft hands. The biggest difference was the addition of changeable backstraps. Small is standard with a medium and large size able to snap over the frame. The mag release button is more than double in size compared to the older models, extending towards the rear of the grip to assist those of us with smaller hands; and it's able to go to the other side.
The slide serrations on the RTF did not make it onto the Gen 4's as they retained the standard vertical ones. There is a small "gen4" engraved on the side of the slide behind the model number as well. I did not notice if the slide lock was ambi or not (I am right handed).
There is a rumor that the sights will be upgraded to steel instead of plastic however the model I saw had the standard plastic ones.

Nothing else was new from Glock other than that, would like to see a Model 34 RTF or a reintruduction of the G25 and G28?

[tbaby303]

A glock will alwase be a glock, dont matter if it a gen 1 or a gen 4. The glock will alwase rock.

[MichiganMilitia]

A glock will alwase be a glock, dont matter if it a gen 1 or a gen 4. The glock will alwase rock.

Thanks for your brilliant contribution to this discussion. Take it easy fanboy.

[glock21]

thanks for the review coloccw, i was wondering what the changes were going to be, its gona be nice to have the interchangable grips, ima have to go check them out

[Roger]

We tried them at the academy and don't like them. And I'm a huge Glock fan and armorer.

With the small back strap in place felt recoil is much worse. Not that a Glock is bad, but shooters with small hands did not like it. The backstraps impressed us as cheap and flimsy. Now they probably aren't, but they feel that way. The small backstrap reminds me of shooting a revolver with a bare back strap. I never really considered how much recoil was absorbed by the polymer frame / back strap until it wasn't there.

There is a captured recoil spring assembly. This is to reduce or eliminate the issues with lights and lasers mounted on the frame. Allegedly this eliminates malfunctions due to the frame being stiffer when an accessory is mounted. This was a modification they had to do to satisfy LE agencies. We'll see.

The new trigger springs are a nightmare. Its like they dumped the old reliable Glock trigger and put in a S&W M&P trigger. I teach with M&P pistols and I am an M&P armorer. Despite the pricing S&W offers me, I won't by an M&P because of the trigger. My students can find the reset on the Glock easliy. Not on the M&P.

A lot of the internal parts are not interchangeable between the Gen 4 and older guns. From a large department perspective this will be hard having to budget for two different parts inventories. And, will require increased training and or vigilance on the part of the armorers to ensure that the right part goes in the right gun.

So I have a rule. Never buy the first generation of anything. Let them fix it. In this case I won't buy the 4th generation because the earlier ones are better. YMMV

[Troublco]

Thanks, Roger. I was really thinking hard about a gen 4 G17 but if the trigger is that close to an M&P then when I go to get one I'll find a gen 3 or possibly even 2.

[BigBear]

Roger, when I get some more cash flow, I also want to get a 3rd gen G17.. and possibly trade my "spiffed" up g19 for a stock g19.

[Roger]

The older ones are still out there in quantity. I was waiting on the Gen 4 but I'll run out when money comes in and grab an old one.

The upside is that a lot of people will want the Gen 4, and may sell the older ones to finance the purchase. And there you go.