Of all the many pistol brands available, Glock is probably the most popular worldwide. One model in particular, the Glock 19, stands above the rest. Police department around the world issue Glocks to their officers for a reason. Glocks are trusted to perform under some of the harshest conditions imaginable. They are simple enough for just about anyone to learn how to use and maintain.
In the gun world, as with just about all things, you will find those that love a certain brand, and those that hate it. Glock firearms are no different. On one end of the spectrum, there are “fanboys” of Glock that will claim that they are the greatest firearms ever created and there is no other pistol that is worth owning. On the other end, the “haters” that think Glock is a piece of junk and should be avoided at all costs. IMHO, they are both wrong. To be fair, I like Glocks. While I would not call myself a “fanboy”, I do own more than one Glock. However, I own several different makes and models of firearms, and I like some of them more than my Glocks. Some others I like just a much but have them relegated to specific purposes. I don’t really have any pistols that I don’t like, because well, if I don’t like it and I’m not going to use it, I get rid of it. I like the simplicity, reliability, ease of use, and availability. Like with everything in life, there are pros and cons.
As for pros, Glock does have a reputation for being a reliable firearm that is simply made and easy to handle. It is light-weight, dependable, and durable. I consider Glock to produce high quality pistols, which surprisingly are not too expensive (although I guess that is a matter of opinion). Glocks can be bought new for somewhere between $500 and $600. You can occasionally find a used Glock for about $400. With just a few moving parts, they are easy to disassemble and clean. After-market and replacement parts are widely available. I can’t think of any part or accessory that I have ever looked for that was not available for a Glock. Holsters, aftermarket sights, you name it, Glock is one of, if not, the first handgun company that parts are made for.
Glocks have undergone countless “torture test” where they have been subjected to extreme abuse and they still come out shooting. Now, don’t get me wrong, some Glocks have had the same issues that other firearms have (misfeeds, faulty parts, etc.), but those are few and far between.
Despite the Glock slogan of “Glock Perfection”, they are not perfect. Glock is behind the times when it comes to some of the extras that other companies offer for about the same price. A stock Glock does not come with “night sights”, the glow in the dark tritium dots that are easy for the eyes to pick up on in low light conditions. Glocks come with regular old plastic sights with a white dot on the front sight and a white notch on the rear sight. In low light conditions, these sights are difficult for my eyes to pick up on. They are the first things changed with a new Glock purchase and they are not exactly cheap (roughly $75.00+ depending on which ones you get). Other companies, like Sig Sauer, offer pistols for basically the same price that come with “night sights” standard. Come on Glock, take a hint and make this change to stock models.
The grip angle on the Glock seems to cause problems for some people. The Glock grip angle does not provide for a natural point of aim. The shooter has to angle their wrist just slightly off from the natural angle to get a good sight picture. It’s a fairly simple adjustment to make. You just have to get used to it.
Another commonly noted “con” is the Glock trigger. Glock triggers leave much to be desired. I’ve often heard them referred to as “squishy” or “spongy”. Glocks do seem to have a good bit of “take-up” when pulling the trigger from fully forward and back through the shot. It’s not a huge issue and I really don’t even notice it now that I’ve put quite a few rounds through various models. However, Glock could definitely develop a better trigger that is much crisper.
Some people consider this a “con”, but I consider it a “pro”: Glocks do not have a manual safety that has to been switched on or off. I personally don’t think a manual safety is necessary. However, this is due to a deep familiarity with the firearm and having the appropriate holsters and gear to ensure a high level of safety. If you are looking for a pistol with a manual safety, don’t look at Glocks.
All-in-all, there is not a single “con” that I have with Glock that would prevent me from buying one. Like I said before, I have a couple of Glocks and would not mind having more. For the price you pay, Glocks are a great value. There are plenty of other pistols on the market that are far more expensive that really don’t offer much more for the prices they charge (IMHO). If you’re looking for a new pistol, I would definitely give Glock a try.
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