Just reported at M4Carbine.net, here is a (supposed) upcoming ad for the new “4th Generation” Glock.
Different slide serrations and different grip texture.
And … ??? In a market that is fast demanding ambidextrous controls, interchangeable grips, and other ergonomic features this is not exactly earth-shattering. Hopefully by SHOT Show we’ll know more about Glock’s future plans … and hopefully the plans will involve more than just texture changes.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
I’m not buying it. The ad looks cheesy. The guns should be the SF series and the ambi series.
One would note that Glock’s biggest gamble, the .45 GAP, was a dismal failure. For a company that has made money with subtle changes for 20 years, better texture and ambi controls are certainly plausible. But to scallop the slide serrations without providing front cocking serrations makes this seem more like a M&P guy’s joke…
they didn’t need to do anything, you can’t improve upon perfection… the slide serrations are m&p-ish. the grip still looks like it retains the flat bar of soap feel, that’s the main thing that kept me from buying a glock.
The ad is no joke. I had the opportunity to handle the “upgraded” G22 at the IACP convention earlier this week. Glock reps said no plans for interchangeable back straps. The new grip treatment is much more aggressive. They do not have a timeline for models other than the G22.
P.S. Colt had a prototype .45 DOA based on a 1911. Not bad, but late to the game when compared to the M&P 45.
Mike was the grip smaller like the SF models? By the looks of the picture the backstrap magazine base plate looks different than the current models.
Interchangeable backstraps and ambi-controls; seems like industry standards at this point. One of my shooting buddies is a south paw and has a devil of a time with his [Glock] mag release when speed and tactical reloading. All the other Glock owners simply say; “He’ll get used to it!”
With all due respect, it is a fine weapon, and I’m quite surprised that Glock hasn’t stepped up. That said, my preference still lies with the M&P.
mmm… I do love me so Glock Perfection. But those serrations are no improvement over the Gen 3. Ambi controls and an SF frame for the 17/22/31 and 19/23/32 frame would be awesome. I love my 30SF.
Glock Gen 4 – had one in my hands today. Our Glock rep stopped by my store today and was showing it off. It is identical to the one pictured above. The grip is AWESOME. Really aggressive feel to it. Basically, anyone who has some sort of grip tape their current Glocks will no longer need it.
They are already manufacturing them for the FBI and several other .gov agencies according to our reps. Says they’ve already made 10-20,000. We will see the Glock 22 Gen 4 being sold in stores by the end of Dec/early Jan.
Phil — Interesting. A buddy of mine graduated from FBI Academy less than two months ago and he was issued a Gen 3.
It is difficult, to say the least, to tell a guy that owns 85% of the LEO market and who’s worldwide backorders of pistols that run into the tens of thousands of guns that he’s doing it wrong.
The Glock regional sales manager stopped by the shop recently, and we discussed such things as other companies were doing. He said there are already new models of Glocks that have already been planned and can be put into production quickly if the market slows down. They’re not because it hasn’t. If our sales are indicative, it won’t for quite some time.
Todd – he claimed they were literally just shipping this month. He rattled off a few .gov agencies that were getting the first ones. I’ll post an update when we get real word about when they are actually coming in. He said to only expect the Glock 22 (.40 cal for the non-Glock lover out there) for now. More models will be changed over as production comes along.
Oh, forgot to mention. Talking with him about the ambi slide release and mag release his response:
Mag release: they tried this with the 21SF. The issue with the design is that it is uncomfortable for Right handed shooters since the left handed control pokes your shooting hand. I agreed completely. He said they should do what the M&P did, and just allow it to be switched to a left handed release instead of having both available.
Slide release: He claimed Glock teaches simply to use the slide release only when using an empty magazine. Reloading should be done with racking the slide instead of dropping the slide release.
Interchangeable back straps: He didn’t mention it.
Phil — I agree with the Glock guy on the mag release. I’ve always found that reversible buttons work better than ambi ones.
And while I know that they teach that reloads should be done by racking the slide instead of using the slide release, the fact they teach that doesn’t make it the best way. See this post from February for my thoughts on the matter.
Agreed 100% Todd. Lately, I have been practicing a great deal with the slide lock reload and I find it MUCH faster. The Glock 34 extended slide release is a must for my Glocks, and a great $12 upgrade. 🙂
I have handled (not shot) the 22 and loved it. My cousin is on a local police force and the entire department has switched over to the 22’s. The more aggressive texturing is fantastic.
The new glock 4th generation magazine release sucks. I shot a friends 4th gen glock 17 and the mag release is so big that it is way too easy to accidently drop the magazine. Oversize mag release buttons are something for competion, not on a street gun. It’s far more likely that you could accidenly hit the oversize mag button during stress than need to change a mag in a microsecond less time. Just another example of trying to fix something that doesn’t need fixing.
PS I’m a lefty and I’ve never needed a ambi-mag release
I do not own a Glock, and I have never shot a Glock. If they had a decent thumb safety, and the grip was not so dammed FAT ! I would consider one in 9mm in a m-19. Glock 19 sure comes up to the sights nice.