Glock 19 X Review

Glock 19x

Glock has always been known for producing reliable, accurate, and dependable pistols that are used by militaries, law enforcement, and civilians all over the world. They have released several models over the years, however, one of the more recent releases was the Glock 19x.

The Glock 19 x has become one of Glock's best-selling models, and over 100,000 of them were sold in the first six months of the pistols release. So, let's talk about the Glock 19x, its development, performance, and what makes it different from other Glock models.

History of the Glock 19x:

The Glock 19 x is a pistol that the consumer market didn't ask for, but it's getting it nonetheless. The 19x was Glock's submission to the US military’s MHS (Modular handgun Systems) Trials. We know the Sig P320 was adopted by the military instead of the Glock 19x, but it was a close second, and it met all the reliability and performance requirements that the military required.

The development of the Glock 19 x is very significant because it led to most of the advancements we see in Gen 5 Glocks. Though the Glock 19x didn't win the XM17 MHS trials, it has made up for that loss in the civilian market. It was released in 2018, and since then has recorded incredible sales figures all around the world.

The first Crossover pistol from Glock:

Many people are calling the Glock 19x the first Crossover pistol by Glock since it uses the full-sized Glock 17 grip length, but with the Glock 19 slide. This allows it to be compact while retaining the high capacity of the Glock 17. However, this is a generalization, and the Glock 19 x also has multiple other features that set it apart from most other Glocks.

This new “crossover” design has its advantages and drawbacks. Firstly, it makes for a very comfortable and balanced shooting pistol. The longer grip allows you to hold the pistol more confidently, and shoot it more effectively. It also allows for higher capacity and improves your overall firepower.

However, it is important to keep in mind that this pistol was designed for military use, and isn't the best option for concealability. When it comes to concealability, Glock fans have been asking for the opposite of the 19x, which is a pistol with a short grip G19 frame, and a longer G17 slide. The G19x isn't the most concealable Glock, however, it does what it was designed for really well, and is an excellent combat pistol, which is really easy to shoot.

Glock Marksmen Barrels:

Glocks are generally known to be very accurate pistols. However, with the MHS trials, the military set new standards of accuracy that sent Glock back to the drawing board. The Military required a pistol that had a 90% or higher chance of hitting a 4-inch circle at 40 yards.

To achieve this level of accuracy, Glock designed their new marksman barrel, which is now standard in all Gen 5 Glocks. With its enhanced Polygynous Rifling and Crowned muzzle, this barrel allows the Glock 19x to have improved accuracy.

Enhanced Recoil Spring System:

To improve the accuracy of the 19x, Glock also wanted to make the pistol easier to control. So, to decrease felt recoil, Glock developed the new dual recoil spring system, which is significantly better at absorbing recoil than previous Glock generations.

Enhanced Trigger:

The Glock 19 x also introduced the new Glock trigger that makes the Gen 5 models so popular. This enhanced trigger had very little stacking followed by a clean and crisp break, with a very short reset. Many shooters are calling this the best trigger Glock has ever made, and it really helps in improving the overall accuracy and reliability of the Glock 19x

Metal sights:

For a long time, one of the biggest complaints that shooters have had about Glock pistols is the plastic sights. The Glock 19 x solves this issue as well and comes standard with a set of metal white dot night sights. The sight picture is very easy to acquire and allows for fast and accurate shooting in multiple lighting conditions.

Comfort and Ergonomics:

The Glock 19 x features a super ergonomic design, which has been appreciated by most shooters. Firstly, it does away with the finger grooves on the grip, which were standard in previous generations. Instead, it has a straighter, and slimmer grip, that is comfortable for most shooters. The G19x also comes with 4 additional back straps that you can install on the pistol to customize its ergonomics. You have standard medium and large grip backstraps, and two backstraps with integrated beaver tails as well.

As far as the controls are concerned, the Glock 19 x comes with an Ambidextrous slide release, and the magazine release can be swapped to either side for both left and right-handed shooters.

Aesthetics and appearance:

The Glock 19x also introduces several aesthetic upgrades. Apart from the new grip design, it also did away with the small half-moon cutout in front of the Magwell. Many shooters reported their hands getting pinched in this cutout, so Glock removed it in the 19x for a better shooting experience. The back of the G19x grip also features a Lanyard loop, since it was a requirement of the Military.

The Glock 19x introduced the new Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating on the Slide, which looks amazing in the standard Coyote Tan color, and offers better corrosion resistance and longevity than previous models.

A lot of firepower:

The Glock 19x comes with 3 magazines in the box. These include a standard 17-round magazine and two 19-round extended magazines. This gives you a lot of capacity for 9mm rounds and allows you to have a lot of firepower, in a relatively compact firearm.

Final Thoughts:

So, the Glock 19x deserves all the popularity it is getting. It is an excellent pistol, and though it didn't win the trials for the US military’s next sidearm. It allowed Glock to innovate, and come up with most of the upgrades that are found in Gen 5 Glocks.