Thinking of grabbing a G19.....

[Hauptmann]

I haven't owned a Glock since the early 2000s, but I'm kinda getting a bug for a G19 9mm. I guess my question is, should I go 3rd Gen, or 4th Gen? Advice?

[spinmove_]

I haven't owned a Glock since the early 2000s, but I'm kinda getting a bug for a G19 9mm. I guess my question is, should I go 3rd Gen, or 4th Gen? Advice?

I've owned a 3rd gen G19. Foolishly sold it for something else and eventually ended up with a G19Gen4. After having spent some quality time with the Gen3 and now having finally somewhere north of 600rds through my current, I'd say that it ultimately doesn't matter. Some of the upgrades here and there for the most part don't really add up to all that much difference. I've heard that Gen4s are more precise at distance, but that is currently beyond my personal ability to measure.

I would simply find whichever model is available and cheaper at the time of purchase and run with it. If you require the added precision a match barrel affords you, one can always be acquired later. Whichever one you go with though is rarely a bad choice.

[LSP552]

I much prefer the 4th gen 19 to the 3rd, or even the 2nd. The finger grooves are enough smaller on he 4th that they fit my XL hands better. They are also grippier enough to make a difference over either the 3rd or 2nd.

[Gray222]

Get one of each and sell the one you don't like - you'll probably make money...

[Larry Sellers]

You'll find a ton of info on them here. What I think it boils down to is what fits your hand better of the two as well as if you come across a pistol that has the BTF (brass to face) issue. There are several remedies for the issue if your weapon has the issue, that being said your definition of "annoying or inconvenient" will dictate at what level you're comfortable with the remedies if they need to be tried. It's a solid platform that you can make long distance hits with if you couple it with good training and drills.

[Nephrology]

I own both a gen 3 and a gen 4 G19. I have smaller hands so I vastly prefer the gen 4. That said I like the trigger better on the Gen 3s so I swap in a 3rd gen trigger bar into all of my 4th gen guns. Other things I prefer about the gen 4s are the grip texture and the substantially improved accuracy. Group size is about halved @ 25yds in my hands. As for BTF, I get more of that with my 2008 3rd gen gun than my 2015 4th gen (though I probably need to swap my EDP and recoil springs by now...). My 4th gen gun had some BTF in the first ~500 rounds or so but has been trouble free for the last 1200 rounds or so.

[spinmove_]

I own both a gen 3 and a gen 4 G19. I have smaller hands so I vastly prefer the gen 4. That said I like the trigger better on the Gen 3s so I swap in a 3rd gen trigger bar into all of my 4th gen guns. Other things I prefer about the gen 4s are the grip texture and the substantially improved accuracy. Group size is about halved @ 25yds in my hands. As for BTF, I get more of that with my 2008 3rd gen gun than my 2015 4th gen (though I probably need to swap my EDP and recoil springs by now...). My 4th gen gun had some BTF in the first ~500 rounds or so but has been trouble free for the last 1200 rounds or so.

I wasn't aware that you could swap in a Gen3 trigger bar into a Gen4 gun. Are there any adverse effects to doing that? I've been toying with the idea of moving to a smooth faced trigger. Especially after having the opportunity to shoot a G17Gen2 with a nicely broken in trigger.

[Irelander]

I think the new slide finish sucks compared to my Tenifer Gen3 but I really like the smaller grip and texture on the Gen4.

[Nephrology]

I wasn't aware that you could swap in a Gen3 trigger bar into a Gen4 gun. Are there any adverse effects to doing that? I've been toying with the idea of moving to a smooth faced trigger. Especially after having the opportunity to shoot a G17Gen2 with a nicely broken in trigger.

No adverse effects as far as I can tell. The difference is that there is a bump on the gen 4 trigger bar designed to make full contact with the FP safety so there is a potential concern, perhaps, but both myself and others on this board have swapped out the trigger bars on many guns and had 0 issues. Between my 3 Gen 4 guns I probably have ~2500-3000 rounds with this combo and 0 failures attributable to the trigger components (pretty much all the failures I am thinking of came from running a conversion barrel in a g4g35 w/o swapping springs). I know others here have even more round than that through the combo and have likewise reported 0 problems.


I think the new slide finish sucks compared to my Tenifer Gen3 but I really like the smaller grip and texture on the Gen4.

This is sorta true - the finish does seem to erode a little faster than the older guns, particularly around the muzzle - but it seems to be self limiting after a while and I have never had issues with the guns rusting at all.

[spinmove_]

No adverse effects as far as I can tell. The difference is that there is a bump on the gen 4 trigger bar designed to make full contact with the FP safety so there is a potential concern, perhaps, but both myself and others on this board have swapped out the trigger bars on many guns and had 0 issues. Between my 3 Gen 4 guns I probably have ~2500-3000 rounds with this combo and 0 failures attributable to the trigger components (pretty much all the failures I am thinking of came from running a conversion barrel in a g4g35 w/o swapping springs). I know others here have even more round than that through the combo and have likewise reported 0 problems.



Fair enough. I may very well give that a shot then. I've gotten used to the serrated trigger again at this point, but I have to say that I much preferred the smooth trigger. Not exactly a night and day difference, but it was noticeable.

[Nephrology]

Fair enough. I may very well give that a shot then. I've gotten used to the serrated trigger again at this point, but I have to say that I much preferred the smooth trigger. Not exactly a night and day difference, but it was noticeable.

I *really* like the dot connector/Gen 3 trigger bar combo in my Gen 4s. the only other modifications I do are light polishing with Q tips/mother's mag on the trigger bar + connector interface surfaces - the rest is all stock and untouched. In my guns, this gives me a very light takeup and then a "wall" with a short rolling trigger with minimal overtravel. Really pretty much perfect. For whatever reason I do much better with it in my g4G19 than my g4g17 but I am still experimenting with the backstraps on the latter pistol.

[spinmove_]

I *really* like the dot connector/Gen 3 trigger bar combo in my Gen 4s. the only other modifications I do are light polishing with Q tips/mother's mag on the trigger bar + connector interface surfaces - the rest is all stock and untouched. In my guns, this gives me a very light takeup and then a "wall" with a short rolling trigger with minimal overtravel. Really pretty much perfect. For whatever reason I do much better with it in my g4G19 than my g4g17 but I am still experimenting with the backstraps on the latter pistol.

Can't say as I've ever done any trigger group polishing, but I might try that. We'll see.

As far as backstraps on Gen4 guns? I'll have a G17Gen2 in a few months and given how common Gen3 guns are I've decided to just run medium backstraps to keep things the same. I wear a medium to large sized glove and I seem to have shorter fingers than average and don't really have that much of a problem reaching the trigger. YMMV of course.

[Beat Trash]

I greatly prefer the gen4 Glock 19 over the gen3 guns. I prefer the stock magazine release and the ability to use the interchange back straps and over time I actually prefer the triggers. I prefer the texturing on the frames of the gen4 guns over the gen 3 guns.

I also find the gen4 guns to be slightly more accurate than the gen3 guns.

I have larger hands with long fingers and the large back strap with the beaver tail makes this gun fit my hand perfectly. I played around with trigger combo's to include the OEM "-" and the included dot connector. I've settled on the plated connectors from Taran Tactical.

I've played around with slightly polishing a few of the trigger parts. I had one gun that I didn't polish anything, just applied a bit of oil here and there and dry fired the crap out of the gun. When I'm dry firing, I can tell a slight difference between the gun I polished and the gun I didn't (Both having a Taran Tactical connector installed). When I'm shooting both guns, I really can't tell a difference between the two guns.

[BillSWPA]

I am definitely in the minority here but for my medium sized hands, I find the 2nd and 3rd generation finger grooves fit my hand perfectly.

The 4th generation Glock triggers I have dry-fired were nicer than any previous generation gun I had seen with the exception of the "minus" connector with the standard trigger spring. (I use an 8 lb. NY1 trigger spring with a "minus" connector on my Glocks). I would not feel the need to modify the 4th generation triggers I have seen.

[JHC]

OP - you might have a look at the last couple of pages of this thread when you set to picking one out. FWIW https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?15857-G19-with-RMR06-and-KKM-compensator/page52

[JonInWA]

The Gen 3 G19's fingergrooves were actually (and very quietly) modified in late production-there is a subtle, but noticeable difference between my 2010 and 2006 G19s-the later production one had slightly sharper or more peaked groove humps. Shooting-wise, the difference is not discernible, at least to me, but I'm guessing that the later-production ones are very slightly more user-friendly to a greater variety of hand sizes.

Otherwise, between a Gen 3 and a Gen4 I think it's just a matter of personal preference. It seems that the earlier problems that plagued the Gen4 G19 (and the initial MIM-extractored Gen 3 G19s) have been pretty much resolved. I like the Gen4 grip texture and extended magazine release, but I never had any issues whatsoever with the Gen 3's texture and magazine release.

Reportedly Gen4 accuracy is up a tad from the Gen 3, but my two Gen 3s have been quite accurate in their own right. The Gen4 nested recoil spring assembly should reduce recoil a tad, and is longer-lasting, but it's also more expensive to replace when necessary-so once again, I think you're back simply to the personal preference thing.

The grip adjustability of the Gen4 via the 4 additional backstraps (giving 5 grip options) is nice. If you can, I'd play with both a Gen 3 and a Gen4 as part of your decision process=both shooting and playing with the gripstrap options. It's not like one vs the other will be a game-changer per se with the G19s frame, but you might find a Gen4/Gen4 options work better ergonomically for you as opposed to the Gen 3 once-size-fits-all approach (which actually is quite good for most, it seems).

Best, Jon

[BJXDS]

I haven't owned a Glock since the early 2000s, but I'm kinda getting a bug for a G19 9mm. I guess my question is, should I go 3rd Gen, or 4th Gen? Advice?

IMHO

Gen 4
better grip more options
ambi mags doesn't matter to me

Gen 3
better trigger

IMHO overall Glock quality/consistency has declined and you will probably have to dick around with little things to get it the way you want. Not that you should have to, but easy and cheap to do. I still say they are UGLY as hell, but run for a long time, reliable and durable.

[JBP55]

I started buying Gen 4 9mm Glocks as soon as they became available and eventually traded all my Gen 3 9mm Glocks. I prefer the Gen 4 models but own fewer than before.

[11B10]

I haven't owned a Glock since the early 2000s, but I'm kinda getting a bug for a G19 9mm. I guess my question is, should I go 3rd Gen, or 4th Gen? Advice?



How big are your hands? I had a 30S that would not allow me to easily reach the mag release, leading me to sell a pistol I otherwise really liked. The G19's previous to the Gen 4 presented the same problem. Then I picked up a Gen4 - pass the Kool Aid, please.

[Bigghoss]

I much prefer the gen 4 to the gen 3.

[45dotACP]

I only own a gen 2 19 that I got some time ago as a NYC police trade in...but I'd go with the gen 4 personally. I like the texturing on them and I've been looking at the MOS model as my next handgun purchase.

[deputyG23]

I only own a gen 2 19 that I got some time ago as a NYC police trade in...but I'd go with the gen 4 personally. I like the texturing on them and I've been looking at the MOS model as my next handgun purchase.

I have a G19 Gen 2 with an old set of P-T night sights installed that is my favorite Glock to shoot. It will become my primary off duty carry if my work cuts off extra service .40 ammo for off duty guns which is being considered by the bosses.

[SteveB]

I have both Gen3 and Gen4 G17's and G19's, and find it boils down to this: Gen3's have better triggers and Gen4's are slightly more accurate, while I prefer the Gen4 grip size and texture. Among all the other crap I do to Glock internals, I use Gen3 trigger bars in Gen4 pistols; no issues with this over thousands of rounds. I have found that, with Glocks in general, all factory parts do not always function identically in different pistols. For instance, a trigger bar that is great in one gun, can be problematic in another gun of the same model. I have a pile of parts and will mix & match them to get a gun I'm happy with; lots of slop in the Glock system.

[ffhounddog]

Like a friend told me years ago a Glock 19 is never a bad call. I have 3 gen3s.

[Cool Breeze]

I have both Gen3 and Gen4 G17's and G19's, and find it boils down to this: Gen3's have better triggers and Gen4's are slightly more accurate, while I prefer the Gen4 grip size and texture. Among all the other crap I do to Glock internals, I use Gen3 trigger bars in Gen4 pistols; no issues with this over thousands of rounds. I have found that, with Glocks in general, all factory parts do not always function identically in different pistols. For instance, a trigger bar that is great in one gun, can be problematic in another gun of the same model. I have a pile of parts and will mix & match them to get a gun I'm happy with; lots of slop in the Glock system.
What do you mean problematic? What problems do you see?

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[Mitch]

If you'd put an extended mag release on the gen 3 then you should get a gen 4 for sure. The mag release is better and when you factor in the extra magazine you come out money ahead.


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[palmetto99]

1st post here. I've had a gen2 G19 for twenty years. I have only handled the 4gen, but shoot 3gen (G17 & G34) in IDPA and find them to be fine for me once I added grip tape. The G19 is a great all around 9mm.

[Kyle Reese]

I'm picking up a blue label Gen 4 next weekend.


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