Glock 17 vs. Glock 19 : The Devil is in the Details
The long-running stand-off between the Glock 17 and the Glock 19 is one of the most hotly-debated issues among many Glock owners. People take this Glock 17 vs Glock 19 comparisons very seriously, and discussions about ‘which is better can quickly become heated.
I know, therefore, that I am going to get some angry emails after writing this review, from people who say that I am deluded. I’d like to respond to those people before we go any further, by saying that I know that the ‘best gun’ is always the best gun for you.
If you prefer to shoot with either the 17 or the 19, good for you. Ultimately, having a gun that is correct for you makes you a better shooter.
Which is Better the Glock 17 or Glock 19?
But I’ll just come out and say it – to my mind, the Glock 19 is better. Both the Glock 17 and 19 are truly outstanding guns, making use of the latest materials and a design that is simple and reliable.
Both of them offer the same triple-safe-action mechanism, both are best-selling handguns, and both boast deadly accuracy in the right hands. But – and it is a big but – the Glock 19, being a little smaller, is simply better for concealed carry, and for this reason, it is my preferred gun.
That’s not to over-simplify the issue. Let’s take a look at the main points of similarity and difference between the guns, and why you would choose one over the other.
| Product | Where To Buy | |
|---|---|---|
 | Glock 17 |  |
 | Glock 19 | |
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Glock G17 vs. G19 Comparison Chart: Specs
G17 |
G19 |
|
| CALIBER/SYSTEM | 9×19 / Safe Action | 9×19 / Safe Action |
| LENGTH | 204 mm / 8.03 in | 187 mm / 7.36 in |
| HEIGHT | 138 mm / 5.43 in | 127 mm / 4.99 in |
| WIDTH | 30.00 mm / 1.18 in | 30.00 mm / 1.18 in |
| BARREL HEIGHT | 32 mm / 1.26 in | 32 mm / 1.26 in |
| BETWEEN SIGHTS | 165 mm / 6.49 in | 153 mm / 6.02 in |
| BARREL LENGTH | 114 mm / 4.48 in | 102 mm / 4.01 in |
| WEIGHT (unloaded) | 710 g / 25.06 oz | 670 g / 23.65 oz |
| WEIGHT (loaded) | 910 g / 32.12 oz | 855 g / 30.18 oz |
| TRIGGER PULL | ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs | ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs |
| TRIGGER TRAVEL | ~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in | ~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in |
| BARREL RIFLING | Right Hand, Hexagonal | Right Hand, Hexagonal |
| LENGTH OF TWIST | 250 mm / 9.84 in | 250 mm / 9.84 in |
| STANDARD MAGAZINE | 17 | 15 |
| OPTIONAL MAGAZINE | 10/33 | 10/17/33 |
Glock 17 vs. Glock 19 Specifications
Let’s get some basics out of the way, for those of you who are new to this debate.
What is the Difference Between a Glock 17 and Glock 19?
The Glock 17 and the Glock 19 are, essentially, the same gun, except that the Glock 19 has a slightly smaller barrel and grip. This means that it is classified as a compact and not a full-sized pistol.
Beyond this, the guns are actually very similar. Both take 9mm cartridges, both are made from the same high-quality mix of steel and polymer, and both of them are prized by police and military forces around the world for their reliability.
Gaston’s Vision
When Gaston Glock, an Austrian genius, sat down to design these weapons in the early 1980s, he had no previous firearm-making experience.
This makes what he came up with truly outstanding achievement – the Glock 17 was quickly adopted by shooters all over Europe, and even received a NATO stock number. The 19, as a compact version, was first released in 1988.
Both weapons continue to develop, with the most recent models being the Gen 4 series. These are slightly smaller than their Gen 3 predecessors, though in all other respects pretty much the same.
Some veteran shooters prefer the older Gen 3 models, but in my experience, there is very little difference between them.
How Much Does a Glock 17 Cost vs Glock 19?
Again, terms of cost, both weapons are fairly similar. In terms of handguns, they both come in at the more expensive end of the range, but you get what you pay for when it comes to handguns.
In addition, the fact that both the Glock 17 and the Glock 19 has been around for quite a long time now means that there are plenty of accessories available for both, from good holsters to advanced after-market sights.
Getting either means that you are investing more in a ‘weapons system’ rather than a simple handgun.
Which Is Better? Glock 17 or Glock 19
Well, in truth the best one for you will depend on a variety of factors. Let’s take a look at a few differences between Glock 17 and Glock 19.
Glock 17 vs 19 Handling
When you first pick them up, the size of the two guns is the most obvious difference.
The Glock 17’s grip will extend below the hand of most users, whilst the grip on the 19 ends in line with the bottom of your hand. The difference in size also extends to the trigger mechanism, with the 19’s being a little tighter that the larger 17’s.
These differences will affect which you prefer, but only if you are particularly large or small. For most of us, though the difference in size can be felt, neither gun is too big or too small.
Of course, some people simply prefer the feel of a larger gun. On the other hand, having a smaller gun can improve your ability to conceal it (especially for women who carry), which I will have more to say below.
Glock 17 vs 19 Accuracy
This is by far the most common reason used by those who claim that the Glock 17 is the better gun.
With a longer barrel, they claim, the 17 is simply more accurate than its smaller brother. I hate to break it to them, but both in my experience and after pretty extensive research, I think they are wrong.
The reason for this is that a gun’s mechanical accuracy is generally less of a factor than how experienced you are using it. Face it, the half-inch difference between the barrels on the two guns is tiny in comparison to the skill of the person shooting it.
It’s for this reason that making a direct comparison of the technical accuracy of both pistols is somewhat useless. Both are capable of far more accuracy than I (and probably you) are able to extract from them.
And so, on this criteria, I have to conclude that there is essentially no difference between the Glock 17 and the Glock 19.
Glock 17 vs 19 Recoil
Technically, the Glock 17, being slightly heavier and larger, should give less recoil than the smaller Glock 19. In tests, though, this turns out not to be the case.
In reality, the difference in weight between the two guns is so small as to be impossible to feel for the majority of users, and the same goes for the recoil.
For this reason, I’m tempted to suggest that the people who feel a difference between the two guns in this regard are simply imagining it.
Reliability
When it comes to handguns, reliability is probably the most important criterion for me personally. So, which is more reliable — the 17 or the 19?
The answer to this question is answered pretty simply – both these guns are Glocks, and so they are really reliable.
It’s worth noting that the Glock 17, the older of the two models, was originally designed to replace a WW2-era pistol used by the Austrian police and that therefore reliability was prioritized above all else in the design and manufacture of these guns.
In my personal experience, I have honestly never seen either gun jam. I’m sure it is possible, through a series of handler errors, to make them seize up, but for most people most of the time both guns are as reliable as it gets.
Glock 17 vs 19 – Magazine Capacity
Ok, now we get into the real differences between the guns.
In discussions of which is the better gun, much is made of the fact that the Glock 17 has a bigger ammunition magazine than the 19. This is true, of course – the Glock 17’s standard magazine carries 17 rounds, the Glock 19’s 15.
Now. There are some situations in which this matters. If you are using your Glock for certain types of competition, for instance, and are actually going to fire a whole magazine at once, it makes sense to go for the larger magazine.
However, in my opinion, this two-round difference means very little for practical purposes. There are some who would say that, in a self-defense situation, you can never have too many rounds in the magazine.
I imagine these are the same people who, in that situation, will fire off their whole magazine in two seconds, and maybe hit once. It makes no sense to design your self-defense strategy around how many times you are going to miss.
If you need 17 rounds (or 5, for that matter) to disable an attacker, you need to spend some more time on the range.
For this reason, I regard this category also as a draw.
Is the Larger Glock 17 More Impressive than the Glock 19?
Well, maybe. Perhaps, one time in a hundred, a potential attacker is going to be more discouraged by a Glock 17 than a 19.
But, following that logic, you might as well get an assault rifle. And honestly, if you are worried about half an inch, your insecurities are not going to be reduced by a Glock 17.
It’s what you do with it that counts, after all.
Which is Better for Concealed Carry, the Glock 17 vs. Glock 19?
There is an area in which the different sizes of the two guns make a real difference, though, and that is in concealed carry. I’ll first point out that it is not actually the barrel size that makes a difference, but the grip. The half-inch that has been shaved off the Glock 19’s grip makes carrying it concealed a lot easier than that number, on paper, would indicate.
If you are lucky enough to live in a hot climate, where thin shirts are commonplace, pistol grips are typically more at risk of printing than barrels, and for this reason, the Glock 19 is preferable in these situations.
All that said, however, concealed carry is more of an art form than a science, and the size of your gun is only one factor in being able to conceal it well. Where you carry it, and what kind of holster you use, can make all the difference. In addition, your choice of clothing can really affect concealment.
For these reasons, I’m not going to say that the Glock 19 is a perfect concealed carry pistol. Both of these guns can be concealed well. However, the slightly smaller profile of the 19 gives it the edge.
Glock 17 vs 19 Infographic
For a fun summary of everything in this article, check out the infographic below (and see our “winner”).
Keep the debate alive! Share this image on your site. 🙂
Final Verdict: Which Glock Wins?
No review can ever recommend the perfect handgun. The best gun is the one you are used to, can rely on, and have practiced for many hours with.
Both of these weapons – both the Glock 17 and the Glock 19 – are great handguns. The simplicity of their design, and the rugged materials they are composed of, mean that they are incredibly reliable.
Both will achieve great accuracy, as long as you develop the skills necessary to make use of them properly. Both are suitable for both beginner and experienced shooters, with the lack of recoil being a particular advantage for learners.
Main Difference Between the Glock 17 vs. Glock 19
Of course, there are differences between Glock 17 and 19. The slightly larger ammunition capacity of the Glock 17 means that you get an extra two rounds. In truth, though, this will make very little difference unless you are shooting in competition, and also adds some weight to the gun.
Our choice: Glock 19
The major difference between Glock 17 vs 19 is the size of the two weapons, and this is ultimately what leads me to choose the Glock 19 over the Glock 17.
If you are looking for a handgun for concealed carry, but one that also handles like a full-size pistol, the 19 is a great gun. The half-inch smaller frame makes concealing it just that little bit easier, without affecting the way it handles.
Of course, if concealed carry is not an issue for you, or you simply prefer the feel of the larger Glock 17, you are free to disagree.
Though my preference is for the 19, I have no doubt that the long and passionate stand-off between these two guns will continue for quite some time.
Glock 19 sleeps with me every night lol its s great gun in deed definitely the best
Hi please tell me if the Glock 19 Will b really very good as the Glock 17 for a recoil sensitive Person with weak hands with 115 gr rounds ?Also tell me which gen are the Glock 17 and 19 above.Thanx very Much for your reply
The question you proposed was “which is better”.
Your answer is “The 19 is better for concealed carry”.
I don’t care which is better for concealed carry.
I want to know which is better.
You dodged the question. But that’s ok, so does everybody else.
Neither is better.
Either is better.
Both are better.
So anyway, that’s which one I think is better.
No, he qualified his decision the 19 is better based on certain criteria. One of which, concelabilitey. He more than answered the question. Sorry it wasn’t the answer you want to hear.
Do like I did, buy both.
At the range, which of the two do you find to be most accurate?
I personally am not in a situation where I could legally concele carry a handgun (living in California). This lead me to chose the glock 17 as I have large hands. Imo both are as good as each other.
The 17 is better
I have the 17c Gen 4. Reduced recoil is important to me, because of physical difficulties. I put a set of Talon grips on it, and of everything I’ve owned so far, this firearm is the most accurate. Shoot what works for you.
“In my personal experience, I have honestly never seen either gun jam.”
August 2000, brand new Glock 17s, tested by my agency, had multiple failure to feed issues (aka: jams). They had to be sent to Glock where they polished the feed ramp before they would reliably feed various types of ammo. In all reality, firearms are mechanical devices and like any mechanical device, they can and do fail. Are they generally more reliable than some other make/model firearms, it is possible. The only firearm I have ever used that has never failed to function is my Smith & Wesson 586 revovler.
Why choose?
Good point.
I have an older G19 gen 2.
I use for concealed carry and am very happy with the gun overall. I have no experience with the G17 but if it’s ½ the gun the G19 is, then you can’t go wrong with either one imho.
If we wanna use micro Roni whos the best? G 17 or G 19
As a former IpSC competitor, I spent over a decade competing with truly PRACTICAL pistols. I made it into B class, and shot the Canadian IpSC National Championships twice with a customised DETONICS Combat Master. The Detonics Combat Master was my choice as THE BEST PRACTICAL PISTOL available at the time. I have owned three of these little jewels, as well as a few custom built clones using a Randall LeMay SS frame and a Detonics CM slide.
BUT NO ONE PISTOL IS THE BEST AT EVERYTHING!
For outdoors excursions in Grizzly bear territory, I carried a Stainless Steel RANDALL Govt in .45 SUPER, with a 6″ ramped and coned barrel. It threw 180 gr hard cast lead .45 Bullets out at 1400 fps, and 230 gr JFP at 1200 fps.
BAD BEARS BEWARE.
But mostly, I used it for bowling pin matches.
Did I mention I liked PRACTICAL pistols?
Unfortunately, after too much heavy recoil over too long, my hands, wrist, and arm were struck by arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, stupidityitis, which made it painful to shoot. I gave up serious pistol competition, but still enjoyed delusions of being capable of protecting myself with a pistol, if necessary, from man or beast.
I started experimenting with the Glocks. At last count, I have owned about three dozen of these, from the miniscule G26, to the G34. Even with my disabilities, I found the Glocks easier to shoot than the 1911 platform.
My all around favorite is a Gen 3 G19. It is simply THE BEST … FOR ME. I found the G26 too small and “squirmy”, with scores in practice dropping about 20 %. This was especially noticeable during long strings, at multiple targets. I found the G34, with the longer sight radius, significantly more accurate at longer ranges, but also significantly slower at close range quick and dirty stages.
I experimented with Glocks in .40 S&W. While a bit lighter than I would prefer for bear defense, a Conservation Officer I know, working in Northern BC, has real world experience with .40 S&W against bears, and while he prefers a 12 Ga shotgun, he has killed several bears with the .40.
For me, the big advantage with the .40 Glocks, is that, with a simple aftermarket barrel change, the .40 S&W pistols will reliably shoot .357 SIG, AND 9MM. For maximum reliability with 9MM, I swapped in .9mm extractors, ejectors, and magazines, but experimenting with .40 slides combined with an after market 9mm conversipn barrel, no other changes, proved quite reliable. In fact, a Glock 9mm barrel in a .40 slide will also work most of the time.
BTDT
I added a .22 LR, conversion kit to one if my Glock 22 pustols, and with aftremarket conversion barrels had one Glock set up for .22 LR, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 Sig. The perfect “survival gun”, especially with the flat shooting .357 SIG in a CARBINE CONVERSION stock, like the one from KPOS. Accurate and flat shooting out to 100 yds.
I did own one Glock in .45 ACP, but found the grip too large for my hands. I had to shift my grip during the draw, and for long strings. This surprised me because I shot double stack 1911 pistols in .45 ACP [ the BUL, and a few Para Ordnance pistols] without these issues.
However,
If I ever wanted another .45 Super pistol, next time I would probably build it on Glock instead of a 1911.
So, in conclusion,
I agree.
After trying many many different pistols,
My personal favorite is the G19, Gen 3.
LAZ 1
RE: RELIABILITY?
I spent over a decade as a competitor in IpSC, and also as a licensed gunsmith specialising in building PRACTICAL pistols. I worked on and competed with mostly 1911/Govt types. During that time, with experience on around 300 1911/Govt pistols, and many tens of thousands of .45 ACP loads fired, I have LITERALLY seen EVERY SINGLE PART of a 1911 pistol break or fall off.
This is not an exaggeration
I also have built Govt/1911 pistols that competed on the National level in IpSC, with my favorite match pistol digesting an estimated 30,000 rds of .45 ACP, with no major problems. A PROPERLY built 1911/Govt type pistol can be as reliable as any other mechanical object. But, any 1911/Govt pistol, out of the box, without professional tuning, can be an unreliable disaster. When it comes to reliability with the 1911 platform, the devil is in the details.
I have limited experience with the Glock platform, only about three dozen of these pistols owned, and only a few thousand rounds shot ( including the time I shot off 1200 rds of HOT Canadian Issue 9mm NATO BALL ammo out of my G26, trying to decide if it was viable as a competition pistol).
[ it was not!]
However,
with the Glocks VS the 1911/Govt pistols,
the only breakages I recall were the plastic sights, a slide stop, and recoil spring/guide rod issues. And reliability, out of the box, was much better than with the average untuned 1911/Govt.
The G26, even with HOT 9MM NATO BALL ammo, was inclined to failures if limp wristed. Barricades, weak hand, or quick shots at waist level, anything with the wrist not perfectly braced, induced failures. The G19s, G17s, and G34s I owned were much more reliable in these situations.
In addition, when using extended length magazines in the shorter grips of the G26 and G19, the magazines may not be supported adequately, so failures to feed are more likely. This is worse if the extended magazine touches something during firing, like a barricade or window frame.
I also found my practice scores with a G19 were close to my scores with a G17, while my scores with the G26 were significantly poorer.
SO
if you consider GOOD HITS as part of the reliability equation, then for me the G19 was the optimum reliable choice.
I talked one of my friends into buying a G23, which is a great little pistol. But for him, every time he went to the range he had stoppages, to the point where he was going to sell the pustol. As a gunsmith, I checked it over, and everything looked good. And when I test fired it, it was totally reliable. So I accompanied him to the range to see what was going on. As I watched from the left side, it was obvious that his larger hands and thumb position were the cause of the problems. As soon as I corrected his grip, the pistol became trouble free.
SO,
Glock likes to brag about “PERFECTION”.
IF SO
Why do they keep upgrading to newer models?
I personally prefer the Gen 3 G19, which has the features I like, and a well earned reputatin for simplicity and reliability. But my carry pistol was an older G19, without the finger grooves or rail. Simpker = better?
The well documented reliability issues of the transition perior Gen4 Glocks are testimony to these engineers mantras;
Keep It Simple Stupid.
If it aint broke, don’t fix it.
And
Parts left out rarely break.
No mechanical object is “perfectly reliable”.
And nothing in this universe is “fool proof”.
But IMHO,
When it comes to practical pistols,
The Gen 3 G19 Glocks come close.
Just my personal opinion, based on my oersonal experience.
YPMMV
I read many, many gun articles about short barrel handguns, both revolver and semi-auto. What concerns me the most is the comment stating the shorter barrel, in this case the Glock 19, are less accurate than another, in this case the Glock 17. Untrue…the gun is as accurate as the shooter is trained.
Both of these are excellent firearms. I carry a Glock 22 about 25% of the time and would have no problem carrying the Glock 17 which is the same only in 9MM. This current comparison is much ado about nothing but preference…go to a range and shoot both and select…who knows, you may not like a Glock at all.
Why choose? Because in some countries you cant (or it is very difficult) own two or more firearms. So you need choose. And i will choose and byu G19.
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This is a very tough call, but I think the 19 wins very narrowly for concealability. I have a 19 and honestly the 17 is a bit more fun to shoot, but the 17 is just ever so bigger, and is a full size pistol. Splitting hairs between two great pistols.
“If you prefer to shoot with either the 17 or the 19, good for you. Ultimately, having the gnu that is correct for you makes you a better shooter”
not trying to be pedantic here…
Glock 19 is it recommended for home defense