TESTED: Glock Gen 6 9mm

Glock delivers the next series of polymer-frame, striker-fired handguns that started a revolution in defensive pistols. Here’s an 1,100-round evaluation of the all-new Glock Gen 6.

by Bob Campbell

Recently, I was able to obtain and test one of the first Glock Gen 6 pistols. It is a good handgun with excellent upgrades — more than just an old friend in new overalls or a new dress — and a good service gun. I think some of us wondered what Glock would do with the Gen 6. It is entirely possible to muck up a good design. Some changes are enough to put you off, and I approach any new model handgun with a perfect pitch of skepticism. In this case, the pistol’s changes are well thought out and beneficial. I would think that customer feedback had a great deal to do with the Glock Gen 6. Glock made changes in the pistol that proved effective in handling combat shooting and absolute accuracy. The pistol is more optic-friendly — a huge consideration going forward. The Gen 6 guns include the Glock 17 full-size, Glock 19 compact, and Glock 45 crossover size. All share a new optics system, flat trigger, and improved ergonomics.

The pistol is enough of an upgrade to persuade me to trade from a Gen 5, and there is nothing to discourage those who routinely fire and use the Glock pistol. The learning curve isn’t more than a pleasant stroll. No need to learn a new manual of arms, disassembly, sight picture, or trigger control. My opinion and conclusions are based on observation and experience. I went into a crash course with the Glock Gen 6, firing three hundred cartridges in the first range outing and making an additional 800 empty brass cases in the next few weeks. The pistol is an improvement and has advantages worth pursuing.

Before beginning, I did the standard Glock lube with a single drop of oil on the connector and did not renew lubrication at any point. The pistol has never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject save for once. In that case, the cartridge failed to chamber and would not chamber in any other Glock on hand. The 147-grain FMJ load was off spec. We seem to have progressed to the point that handguns are more dependable than ammunition, which was once the reverse situation.

The Changes

My pistol is the G45 crossover with Glock 19 slide and Glock 17 frame. The Gen 6 places the most emphasis on improved ergonomics more so than mechanical upgrades. The trigger operates the same way but is redesigned; the barrel locks up the same but will not fit earlier versions of the Glock.

The grip frame now features a slight palm swell that fits into the cup of your hand. The pistol remains ambidextrous and feels good in an average-sized hand. The grip frame features an excellent balance of adhesion and abrasion in the new surface texture. It isn’t sticky against clothing but really grips the hand. There have been considerable improvements in grip frame texture from Shadow Systems, Springfield, and Walther. The Glock is at least the equal of any of these and perhaps better for most shooters.

There is a slight change in the optional backstraps. The beavertail type is no longer supplied as the Gen 6 Glock features an extended grip tang. This redesign slightly lowers the bore axis, spreading the recoil out in a superior fashion and funneling the hand into the grip well. Glock’s grip angle is not changed.

The Gen 5 ambidextrous slide lock levers are protected by a raised section of the frame. The Gen 6 features protection for the slide lock as well but the new design offers more fencing. This helps prevent the thumb riding into the slide lock during recoil.

A change that doesn’t mean much to some and is the real thing to others is a kick pad just forward of the takedown lever. This pad gives us a place to rest the trigger finger during movement. Keep the finger off the trigger when moving! With a forward-thumbs hold, I was able to rest the thumb on this pad, and my thumbs are average length. This feature doesn’t prevent the Gen 6 pistol from fitting Glock Gen 5 holsters. The kick pad or pedal isn’t raised but relieved. There is a slightly more severe undercut beneath the trigger guard compared to the Gen 5. This feature helps lower the bore centerline to improve control.

Forward cocking serrations are deeper but only incrementally. The trigger is a flat faced design similar to the Smith & Wesson Military & Police 2.0. I like the leverage improvement. The trigger action operates in the same manner as all other Glock handguns. Pull back the slide to prep the striker. Pressing the trigger then drops the sear and releases the striker. This is a double-action-only handgun. Trigger reach is slightly shorter than the Gen 5 due to the flat trigger shoe. Trigger pull weight is a clean 5.7 pounds compared to 5.9 pounds on the Glock Gen 5 on hand. This trigger weight was tested after cleaning grease from the action and after firing several hundred cartridges.

Mounting Carry Optics

A significant change in the Glock Gen 6 is the optics mounting system. It is similar to the direct mount Shadow Systems carry optics design. The MOS Glocks work well enough but the new Gen 6, with its direct mount system, allows a lower mount over the slide. There are polymer spacers that do more to absorb recoil than simply provide stability, although they have a twin recoil stud in the design.

The direct mount system works well. The pistol will accept RMR, Delta Point Pro, and C-More mounting footprints. I recently finished an exhaustive test of more than twenty-five carry optics for a new Gun Digest book. When the sight began to loosen, most of the time it was the mount and not the sight mounting screws that became loose. Direct mount systems proved superior. With the Glock Gen 6, first remove the slide cover plate. Choose a compression washer — as good as term as any — and insert this washer into the slide. Next, mount the optic on the compression washer and use the proper screws to mount the carry optic. Screws are not provided. Fortunately, I have a box of optics screws. The pistol is supplied with three washers, three magazines, and two grip inserts. Six screws for optics — two for each option — would be nice.

Et Cetera

A significant change is that the extractor is redesigned. I have never experienced a failure in a Glock extractor, but there must be a reason for the change, and the new extractor seems robust. It may be superior for optics mounting and screw length with the lower optics mounting system. I had no problem with extraction or ejection during the firing stages.

The striker assembly is slightly smaller than previous Glock designs. Magazines are compatible with earlier generations. It is good that Glock did not change the sight mounting cuts. You may fit your XS Sights options as readily as with earlier Glock generations.

Glock’s Gen 6 small parts are not backward compatible. The barrel is slightly changed in order to accommodate the new extractor. It may be some time before makers come up with aftermarket triggers or barrels for the Gen 6, but then perhaps not. American enterprise sometimes moves quickly. The Gen 6 fits Glock holsters for previous models. I confirmed this with tightly-fitted custom leather, Kydex, and Bolatron holsters.

Firing Impressions

I fired several types of ammunition, including practice and training loads from Black Hills Ammunition, Choice Ammunition, Federal, Hornady, Remington, Speer, and Winchester. I shot a quantity of those dirty, grimy steel-cased loads to confirm that this Glock runs as well with these as do the older Glocks. And it does. There were no malfunctions, no failures to feed, chamber, fire, or eject save with one off-spec cartridge case. I fired JHP and solid copper ammunition as well. I ran several +P loads through the Glock without any problem.

Recoil impulse isn’t a great concern with a 24-ounce 9mm handgun. Just the same, firing beside a Glock 19 Gen 5 and a Glock 17 Gen 5 as well as a more comparable Glock 19X, the Gen 6 G45 seemed to feel more comfortable. Perhaps the grip texture and beavertail redesign combined with the trigger guard cut out lowered the bore axis enough to make for an easier-shooting pistol. The gun is fast on target and easily controlled by a trained shooter.

As for accuracy potential, I have observed that the Gen 5 Glock with its Marksman barrel is capable of a five-shot group at 25 yards of 2.5 inches or less. This is from a solid benchrest firing position, taking every advantage for accuracy. Experienced shooters can exhibit that type of performance from a standing barricade. The Gen 6 doesn’t seem more accurate than the Gen 5 guns on hand, but it is the equal of the more accurate among them, and that is very good.

25-yard Accuracy Testing (5-shot group)

Hornady 135-grain FlexLock: 1.8 inches

Federal 124-grain HST: 2.25 inches

Buffalo Bore 147-grain JHP: 2.2 inches

Hornady 124-grain XTP: 2.3 inches

I divided the firing tests into two divisions. In the first, I fired with the standard Glock sights. These white outline sights are often undervalued. The sights work well in fast reactive shooting and are plenty accurate to 25 yards. After that, much of the A zone is subtended, limiting the usefulness of iron sights. The sights are properly regulated for 124-grain loads and the six o’clock hold. Results were good and benchrest results were fired with these sights.

The second division was the test with a carry optic. There is nothing more proven than the Trijicon RMR, and I had on hand the new green dot RMR. A green dot reticle has advantages for some shooters in certain situations. I mounted this optic easily enough and had it sighted in with a minimum of expended ammunition.

The advantages of the carry optic are many. There is no need to be concerned with cross-eye dominance when you fire with both eyes open. Having a wider field of view and simply placing a dot on the target makes for real speed. The learning curve to optics is there, but for those willing to train, the advantages are unassailable. With the RMR mounted, speed and accuracy to a first shot hit picked up. This combination is capable of head shots at a long 25 yards. The Glock/Trijicon combination is among the most robust and reliable for personal defense and proved effective in speed drills and in practical accuracy.

I have always believed in moving up in firearms when a valid reason exists, and that means a demonstrable improvement. Nostalgia has no place in the selection of a defensive firearm. I feel no affection for a handgun. I respect and appreciate dependable, effective, and useful firearms. I dislike second-rate handguns with poor reliability and performance. The Glock Gen 6 is an improvement over earlier Glock handguns. How much the improvement is demonstrated is up to the skill of the shooter. The Gen 6 is a credible improvement and a very good handgun.

Carrying the Gen 6 G45

I tested the pistol for fitment in a wide range of holsters and found that it fits holsters molded for earlier Glock handguns. For a service grade holster, Safariland offers several options. Among these is the Incog X.

This inside-the-waistband holster may be worn behind the hip or in the appendix carry position. Two strong belt clips take a good bite of the belt. A stabilizing foot is included to prevent rollout in the AIWB position. This attachment should be removed for standard IWB carry. With suede covering the Bolatron body, the Incog X offers a sharp draw and good retention. The G45 with an attached Streamlight TLR-7 is a good fit for the Incog X.

What I Like

I like everything about the pistol, including reliability and easy shooting characteristics. Maybe a set of night sights for those who will use standard sights.

What I Don’t Like

No need to complain about the Glock trigger; I got that squared away long ago. I do think the pistol should be supplied with proper mounting screws and not rely on the optics maker to supply these.

What I Would Change

Perhaps with more time with the pistol, I would find something to change. At this point, in the perspective of the Glock as a service pistol, there is nothing to change.

Compare To

The Glock Gen 6 compares well to any other striker-fired handgun. The Ruger RXM is a good buy, is functional, and has a good optics setup but it doesn’t quite shoot with this one. The Shadow Systems XR920 is a “sometimes” carry gun that comes very close to the Glock Gen 6 in firing impressions but costs quite a bit more, and the Glock is more left-hand friendly. The pistol that gives the Gen 6 a real run for the money based on grip texture, optics mounting, and trigger action is the Springfield Echelon, which some shooters will honestly prefer.