chammer
Regular Member
I just picked up a Glock 19 Gen4 on the 15th of June to be my primary OC/CC even though I've yet to find a CC holster for it I really like just yet. I've just been OC'ing it with me every day everywhere.
As SouthernBoy stated, the Gen4s have a few problems. Some have been worked out, but it still sounds like there are some still being sold that are being problematic. Check out the Glock Talk forums for more details. I have around 850 rounds through mine and have had two issues.
The very first mag I put through it failed to lock the slide back which I'm still not sure if that was truly an issue, or if my thumb accidentally hit the slide lock. The second issue was a double feed yesterday afternoon after about 300 rounds had gone through it. One of the issues mentioned were with the extractors being used, and it's possible that's what the issue was this time, or it's possible I limp wristed. The Gen4 extractors have issues with weak and erratic ejection patterns (thrown over left side of gun, in your face, or left behind in the ejection port causing a jam, etc).
The main issue of debate is the recoil spring. The G19 originally shipped with a recoil spring marked 0-3 which was actually the .40 S&W recoil spring which I guess was an attempt at Glock to save money. They revised the spring (made it weaker) to better handle 115 gr target ammo and stamped that one 0-4. There's a third revision currently being shipped marked 0-4-1 to further correct issues. You'll find on the Glock Talk forums people with each spring, early production runs and new production runs of the gun either having no issues or tons of issues. It's a lot of information to sort through to figure out what exactly is going on, and whether or not the Glock 19 Gen4 is worth a chance.
I took the chance, and mine has the 0-4 recoil spring. Frankly I think the two issues I experienced were mostly caused by user error, and 2 "failures" in 800 rounds is acceptable to me. The gun has never failed to go bang, and that's what I care about.
Oh, and by the way, if you decide you don't want to deal with the Gen4's "problems" (which are most likely blown out of proportion), you will still have to deal with new copies of the Gen3. While you get the old recoil spring setup, they are shipping with these new extractors so you'll likely be left in the same boat as far as weak extractions and/or a jam from lack of extraction. Some are buying Lone Wolf extractors as they are cast like the older copies thus providing stronger and more consistent extractions. Again, I'm still running a stock setup as the extractions (even to the face) are not something that bothers me. I wear a hat and eye protection when I shoot and just consider extractions hitting me to be just another part of shooting.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it gives you some idea of what to expect if you haven't yet done any research. By far the best research I think you can do, is to head over to YouTube and check out the videos by hickok45 on the Glock 19 Gen4. He takes a brand new copy straight out of the box and it through it's paces with various target ammo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTGC0Lo2JgE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_hvykDHCIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5rDSB9JAqo
If you do end up getting it I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I've been enjoying mine. I've never been a fan of Glocks, but this one changed my mind.
As SouthernBoy stated, the Gen4s have a few problems. Some have been worked out, but it still sounds like there are some still being sold that are being problematic. Check out the Glock Talk forums for more details. I have around 850 rounds through mine and have had two issues.
The very first mag I put through it failed to lock the slide back which I'm still not sure if that was truly an issue, or if my thumb accidentally hit the slide lock. The second issue was a double feed yesterday afternoon after about 300 rounds had gone through it. One of the issues mentioned were with the extractors being used, and it's possible that's what the issue was this time, or it's possible I limp wristed. The Gen4 extractors have issues with weak and erratic ejection patterns (thrown over left side of gun, in your face, or left behind in the ejection port causing a jam, etc).
The main issue of debate is the recoil spring. The G19 originally shipped with a recoil spring marked 0-3 which was actually the .40 S&W recoil spring which I guess was an attempt at Glock to save money. They revised the spring (made it weaker) to better handle 115 gr target ammo and stamped that one 0-4. There's a third revision currently being shipped marked 0-4-1 to further correct issues. You'll find on the Glock Talk forums people with each spring, early production runs and new production runs of the gun either having no issues or tons of issues. It's a lot of information to sort through to figure out what exactly is going on, and whether or not the Glock 19 Gen4 is worth a chance.
I took the chance, and mine has the 0-4 recoil spring. Frankly I think the two issues I experienced were mostly caused by user error, and 2 "failures" in 800 rounds is acceptable to me. The gun has never failed to go bang, and that's what I care about.
Oh, and by the way, if you decide you don't want to deal with the Gen4's "problems" (which are most likely blown out of proportion), you will still have to deal with new copies of the Gen3. While you get the old recoil spring setup, they are shipping with these new extractors so you'll likely be left in the same boat as far as weak extractions and/or a jam from lack of extraction. Some are buying Lone Wolf extractors as they are cast like the older copies thus providing stronger and more consistent extractions. Again, I'm still running a stock setup as the extractions (even to the face) are not something that bothers me. I wear a hat and eye protection when I shoot and just consider extractions hitting me to be just another part of shooting.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it gives you some idea of what to expect if you haven't yet done any research. By far the best research I think you can do, is to head over to YouTube and check out the videos by hickok45 on the Glock 19 Gen4. He takes a brand new copy straight out of the box and it through it's paces with various target ammo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTGC0Lo2JgE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_hvykDHCIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5rDSB9JAqo
If you do end up getting it I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I've been enjoying mine. I've never been a fan of Glocks, but this one changed my mind.