Glock 17 vs 19

I can only imagine the number of hours that gun store employees spend waiting for a customer to choose between the Glock 17 vs 19. Undeniably, these are both great guns with very strong track records. They are both reliable, easy to shoot, and simple to operate. They do each have some pros and cons in terms of application specific use and we will dive into that during this article. This article will highlight the features of each and (hopefully) help you decide on which fits your specific needs.

Glock 19 (left) And Glock 17 (right)

General Overview: Glock 17 vs. 19

Glock pistols continue to rule most of the handgun market – especially in the world of 9mm handguns. Two of the most common 9mm options are the ones we are looking at here in this comparison review.

These Austrian-made, polymer frame handguns are each highly respected for various reasons. One could argue that the Glock 19 is the most common “all purpose” gun while the Glock 17 is known primarily for duty and home defense applications. Regardless of your position regarding Glock as a brand, it’s impossible to deny that Glock has essentially set the standard in polymer handguns.

Both of these options from Glock are chambered for use with 9mm Luger ammunition – an increasingly popular caliber. While the Glock 17 is obviously larger than the Glock 19, they both feel like full-sized handguns to many. Frame width is identical in both and the grip on the G19 allows for a full dominant hand grip – unless your hands are absolutely huge.

Capacity vs. Concealability

A common theme among those purchasing handguns is the balance between capacity and frame size for potential concealment. The Glock 19 likely wins in this category due to the shorter grip and 15+1 capacity. I still hear plenty say that they would choose the Glock 17 for a multi-use handgun though. The G17 holds 17+1 with standard magazines and does offer a longer slide/barrel combination.

Specs: Glock 17 vs. Glock 19

Range Experience: Glock 17 & Glock 19

My range experience with both the G17 and G19 was pretty much on par with what I expected. As someone who is familiar with and owns a few Glock handguns, I quickly felt comfortable shooting each of these.

Glock 17 vs Glock 19 Recoil

An obvious advantage in the recoil management department goes to the G17. It’s pretty apparent as to why – with a longer slide and barrel plus more frame to make contact with. The balance of the G17 really stands out to me. My sight picture seems to fall back naturally with the Glock 17 – something I appreciated. A longer sight radius on the G17 does offer an advantage on the range. Quick follow up shots and sight acquisition with the G17 seemed to occur with less effort.

Don’t assume that I’m saying the G19 isn’t a well-balanced and smooth shooting gun though. For the size, I would say the G19 handles extremely well. I’m usually impressed with how well I can shoot with the Glock 19 compared guns of similar size. To be fair, this is most likely just a preference area in regards to grip ergonomics and experience with the Glock platform.

I ran several types of ammunition through both the G17 and G19 with no issues at all. No surprise here, considering that these firearms are both respected for their reliability and ruggedness. From hollow point self defense ammunition to cheap reloads, these guns ran it well with no trouble.

Frame & Grip

While both offer fair texturing in my opinion, I definitely would appreciate more. I notice that my grip tends to slip a little while shooting Glocks – especially after a few hundred rounds or when my hands have been gripping the gun for a bit. The models I tested for this review were both Gen-5 Glocks which leave behind the finger grooves seen in the Gen-4 models. I’m fairly indifferent when it comes to the finger grooves, mostly because my fingers actually fit in the Gen-4 grooves. I have no issues without them though.

The frame angle on the G19 and G17 provide the ability to maintain a high grip – at least for my hands. This high grip really seems to translate well into my ability to make quick follow up shots and control recoil.

Functionality & Features: G17 vs. G19

Glock is well known for their simple and efficient designs – contributing factors as to why the G19 and G17 are so popular today. The G19 and G17 both offer almost identical functions and layouts apart from the minor size differences.

Accessing key aspects of each firearm is straightforward and will be simple for most. For those with smaller hands, the G19 might be the winner here if you were choosing between the two. I wouldn’t say the G17 is overly large frame wise, but it surely is a textbook example of a “full-sized” handgun.

Both the G19 and G17 offer plenty of rail space for accessory mounting. With the G19, most light options will extend a good ways past the end of the firearm and with the G17, most will sit pretty flush.

Slide Release

My experience with the slide release on the Glock platform has never been all that ideal – mostly shooter error. I tend to ride the slide release with Glocks but I know many are able to shoot them without the same issue. For those like me, it might be worth upgrading to a Kagwerks extended and raised slide release. It is worth noting that both of these firearms (Gen-5) provide ambidextrous slide releases from the factory.

Ease of Reloads

In the Gen-5 models that I tested, both had notably optimized magwells. Reloads with the Glock 17 were easier (likely due to larger magazine size) but the Glock 19 magwell provided smooth reloads as well.

Glock provides their “Safe Action System” in each of these firearms that involves three separate safety features. This system consists of one external and two internal safety mechanisms. The “external” and most obvious is their built-in trigger safety blade. This blade in the center of the trigger face must be depressed simultaneously with the trigger for the gun to fire.

Sight Comparison

The G17 and G19 both come standard with the lackluster “U” shaped rear and single post front sights. Several aftermarket sight options are available and most would agree that upgrading is worth considering. They aren’t ideal, but I was still able to use the stock sights without too much of an issue. The G17 that I tested did include aftermarket sights – something I felt more confident with.

Stock Glock 19 sights (left) compared to the upgraded sights on the Glock 17 (right).

Glock 17 vs 19 Accuracy

Generally speaking, Glock might not be known for the best triggers, but the Gen-5 triggers do seem to be an improvement over previous generations. From my experience with each, the Gen-5 G17 and G19 have almost identical triggers that are smooth and crisp. I noticed a predictable break with a short and audible reset in both.

My testing of each trigger using a Lyman scale showed an average pull weight of 5.6 oz. in the G17 and 4.9 oz. in the G19. This slight weight difference wasn’t all that noticeable at the range.

As a result, each of the pistols was relatively close to the other in terms of accuracy.

Muzzle Velocity Comparison: G17 vs. G19

In the course of testing of handguns, I typically will test the muzzle velocity using a common self defense ammunition type. For the G19 and G17, I used Federal Premium HST 147 gr. rounds. A group of 5 rounds was fired through each with a Labradar device providing velocity readings.

A longer barrel on the G17 easily explains the difference in muzzle velocity. The difference here between the G17 and G19 is very minor though. The 4.02″ barrel found in the G19 is essentially the “standard” for measuring muzzle velocity amongst most ammunition companies. Federal advertises an average muzzle velocity of 1,000fps for the 147 gr. HST – which is almost identical to what I saw in the G19.

The Takeaway: Glock 17 vs. Glock 19

These are both workhorses – no question there. For almost any environment, these two firearms are known for their ability to “fit in” and do pretty much everything. Considering personal stature and intended application will usually dictate which of these two will fit the bill best.

If you currently have a concealed carry firearm that you are satisfied with, I recommend the G17 as a way of expanding your toolbox. For those needing a handgun for CCW and home defense, I suggest the G19. Glock 17 magazines will fit in the Glock 19 for added capacity on the nightstand. The G19 also still offers the needed rail space for a weapon mounted light. These are just a few examples of how the G19 is environment flexible.

Getting out to the range with both and testing them yourself is going to be imperative to making the right call here. Hands on experience is something you just can’t replace.

Purchasing both sounds awfully tempting after writing this review.