GLOCK pistols are a polymer framed pistol best known for their excellent craftsmanship as well as longevity. Many law enforcement agencies in each of the United States now consider Glock pistols the official guardian of an agency. The Glock 17, Glock 19, and G43 pistol have available in widest ranges in sizes and calibers with numerous options. See why US military and law enforcement choose Glock for reliability, value and quality. We have GLOCK pistols for sale at Worth Firearms online and on GunBroker.
Glock Handguns Generations, Types, and Concealed Carry
When you purchase a Glock pistol (or perhaps a couple Glock pistols) and tell your friends which one you bought – they’ll typically ask which generation or “gen” you got. Some of your more knowledgable friends might even ask if it’s an “X” or “MOS”. We don’t want you to just shrug your shoulders – let us help you with understanding this.
What is a Gen1, Gen2, Gen 3 etc?
Glock handguns are typically identified by the word “Glock” then by the gun number, let’s say “17” then generation “Gen 5” and any variant after that like “MOS”. So you’d tell someone, “Yeah dude, I bought a glock pistol over the weekend. It is a Glock 17 Gen 5 MOS.” And that’s how you identify a glock pistol in normal conversation.
Each generation of Glock pistols carries with it some type of improvement. Whether you feel it’s an improvement or not is up to the individual user but there is some slight change as you go from Gen1 through Gen5.
Which Generation of Glock Pistols Are We On?
We’re currently on Gen5’s. The Gen4 models are typically reserved for law enforcement only.
What’s with the “X” or “MOS” in the Glock Pistol Name?
Right now the Glock 19 is the only gun from the entire selection of Glock handguns with the letter after it. The Glock 19X is a polymer framed compact Glock featuring:
- a glock marksman barrel
- a great tool for some concealed carry situations
- the reduced dimensions of the slide length of the normal Glock 19 but a full sized grip
In addition to the “X”, there is also the “MOS”. The MOS stands for “modular optic system”. The top of the slide has been machined down and set with screws for easy red dot mounting and installation. Ask yourself – are you a red dot or a white dot shooter?
The MOS is available in
9MM Glock:
- 17
- 19
- 34
- 43
- 45
- 48
.40 S&W
- 22
- 23
- 35
10 mm
- 40
.45 ACP
- 41
Popular models
There is a wide selection of calibers you could be shooting with. Below are the most popular models for calibers and their corresponding Glock pistols. If you find yourself shopping for one – keep in mind that some models are better for plinking at the range (9mm being ammo being cheaper than .45 ammo), others being better for law enforcement (.40 caliber is among the favorites for law enforcement), and concealed carry (smaller frames for concealed carry but might be too small or obnoxious to shoot at the range).
Read: Best Handguns for Home Defense and First Time Buyers
9mm
- Glock 17 – Standard
- Glock 19 – Compact
- Glock 43 – Subcompact
.40
- Glock 22 – Standard
- Glock 23 – Compact
- Glock 27 – Subcompact
.45
- Glock 21 – Standard
- Glock 30 – Subcompact
- Glock didn’t have a compact Glock on their website and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one.
Popular upgrades for Glocks
Once you have your Glock in hand, it’s time to get some training. Check out our ammo selection for all your training needs.
Once you’ve trained with your pistol, you may find you’d like to make a few “enhancements”. We’re your go to for enhancements as well. Worth Firearms carries a big selection of other manufacturer’s glock magazines (MAGPUL or AMEND2) in standard magazine capacity and large magazine capacity. These manufacturers’ Glock magazines are great additions to your gun collection – even when bouncing between a Glock 17 and a Glock 19. Keep in mind that whether using factory magazines or a manufacture like Amend2, your Glock magazines for the Glock 19 will not fit in a Glock 17.
If you’re looking for interchangeable backstraps then we’re also your go to for those. However, keep in mind your Glock likely came with interchangeable backstraps so check your gun’s box first!
If you’re high speed enough, you may get your slide machined to add slide serrations to the front of your gun. Watch a Garand Thumb or MAGPUL video on YouTube to see why this might be an option for you. You can go pretty nuts on getting your slide machined – the question is – do you want a slightly modified Glock (which may affect resale value if you plan to sell it someday) or are you a devout Glock enthusiast that will keep the gun pristine or as is?
If your goal is to conceal carry – you’ll want to find a brand that fits your concealed carry style and most importantly – pistol size. We wrote a brief article on appendix inside the waistband concealed carry – you can check it out here.
Glock’s Blue Label Program
Glock offers an exclusive Blue Label Program where law enforcement officers can buy guns direct from Glock for use as their service pistol. Many larger gun dealers also offer discounts to law enforcement officers as a Blue Label Program participant. Check Glock’s website for details!