How many Glock 19 fans are reading this right now? I know, I know - but don’t worry - I’m not a Glock fanboy. However, Glocks are considered, by many, to be the gold standard for high capacity compact firearms. For $500 you can get a 15-round, 9mm semi-automatic handgun that is extremely reliable. I’ve sent thousands of rounds down range with my Glock 19 and have yet to experience a single malfunction.
My First Glock
I purchased my first Glock a little over a year ago. I was the data analyst here at the time and saw how many Glock 19 holsters we were selling. So, I had to go with the data trend. I went to my local sporting goods store, Gunnies in Orem, Utah and they had a Gen 4 Glock 19 in OD Green. It was on sale and I paid around $490 after tax. It came with three 15-round magazines, a nifty hard case, a cleaning kit, the typical firearm lock, different-sized backstraps, a mag loader, and an instruction manual. Not a bad deal at all at $490 out the door. I didn’t like the stock plastic sights it came with, so I switched them out with some TruGlo night sights. The sights cost me roughly $90 on Amazon and went on my slide nice and easy. Having any form of night sight is ideal because you can see the sights no matter what lighting situation you are in.
I have been thoroughly impressed with the reliability and accuracy of this semi-automatic pistol. The trigger of the Glock was a huge surprise for me. A little backstory, since I know some of you will have a hard time believing that last sentence. I’m a big believer in revolvers, not only because of their extreme durability, design aesthetics, and overall performance - but mostly because of their triggers. Smoothness of a trigger pull is extremely important when depending on a handgun for self-defense. The slightest jerk of the trigger can cause your bullet path to shift dramatically. The Glock 19 trigger was very decent for a stock polymer frame handgun, I can hit my target without much effort out to 20+ yards. I found the trigger to be crisp with a minimal pull.
How to take apart a Glock 19
The takedown and disassembly of a Glock 19 handgun is easy and straightforward. For those unfamiliar with the process, I outlined the 7 basic steps to taking down a Glock. All Glock pistols are taken down in the same way, so once you can take one down, you can take them all down. Here’s how it’s done:
- Remove the magazine
- Rack the slide and check the chamber to ensure you don’t have a round in the chamber
- Release the trigger (Pull the trigger)
- Pull the slide back half an inch
- Pull on both sides of the takedown lever/button
- While holding down the takedown, push slide forward off the frame
- Pull spring and barrel out of slide
That’s it. Now it’s ready for cleaning, inspections, or whatever aftermarket parts or trigger upgrade you convinced yourself to buy. I make sure to keep my barrel clean, I remove as much carbon and gunk that has built up from a day at the range, and then I oil the rails on the frame that the slide rests upon. I’ve put 4k to 5K rounds through my Gen 4 Glock, and to this day, I have not had any sort of jam or malfunction. All brands and types of ammunition that I have used through this gun have been flawless, I do not use reloads, I make sure it is factory-new ammunition. I usually use Hornady self-defense ammo when I carry concealed and Federal jacketed 115-grain target ammo for the range.
Carrying a Glock 19
My favorite methods of carry are at the 1 o’clock and 4 o’clock position when carrying inside the waistband. StealthGearUSA sells an AIWB (which is worn at the 1 o’clock position if you’re righthanded) for $55 and you’d be hard pressed to beat that price for a handmade, breathable, and custom-fit hybrid holster. When I want to carry on the back of my right hip or the 4 o’clock position, StealthGearUSA offers our most popular model, the IWB Mini holster. The Mini platform is only 8” wide and rests tight against your body without taking too much space. The great part about SGUSA, is that each holster is custom designed for each firearm. There is not an ounce of excess material and every Kydex shell is hand pressed against a Glock 19 so that we have a perfect fit for the firearm. Most holster companies use the same platform to fit multiple handguns. This is a cost saving technique that does not benefit the customer. We take pride in manufacturing the perfect holster to fit your firearm. All our holsters are hand-built right here in American Fork, Utah. We have many holster options for a Glock 19, be sure to check out our outside-the-waistband holsters, our chest holster, drop-leg holster, our appendix plus, and many more that will fit your style of carrying concealed.
Gen 4 Glock 19 with the Ventcore® IWB Mini
Final Thoughts
If you are new to concealed carry and are looking for a first handgun purchase to not only carry, but also have a fun time shooting - you will not be disappointed in a Glock 19. If you are already a handgun owner and don’t have a fine polymer handgun in your arsenal, you cannot go wrong with one of these. And if you decide to make it your new everyday carry pistol, check out www.stealthgearusa.com to gear up with a breathable, comfortable, custom-fit holster.