By Chad Zentz
There has been a lot of hype surrounding Glock this year with several new or upgraded models like the Gen5 17, 19, 26, model 45, 43x, and 48. The G45 caught my attention specifically. Why you ask? Well, the look of it to start with. But let me go back just bit.
Glock 17M and Gen5, Origin Story.
I was very intrigued with what Glock came up with to win the FBI contract. Was it a completely new pistol? What features did it have? When I first saw pics of the 17M online I noticed a few items right away. It lacked the ubiquitous finger grooves, the mag well had a slight flare to it, and the slide had a richer darker finish that was very attractive. Then the Gen5 17 and 19 were announced, the commercial version of the FBI’s new sidearms. After doing a lot of research (I’m a bit of a geek that way) I had to find one and see for myself if it met with all the hype. It did and I traded my Walther P99 for a brand new Glock 17 Gen5 with factory steel 3 dot Night Sights. Now with 3000 rounds through my G17 and zero issues, I have become a Glock guy. Then (drum roll please), the new G45 arrived and of course I had to check it out too.
The Glock 19X to the Glock 45, Crossover Perfection? Maybe.
When I looked at the G19X (Glock’s entry into the military MHS trials) I liked the concept of a shorter slide (G19) with a longer grip (G17). It felt balanced in my hand and it just felt right. I didn’t like the front lip on the mag well though. I thought if it were to be dropped that it could break easily and my Gen5 17 mags weren’t compatible with it. I didn’t like the peanut butter color as I prefer my firearms to be black but that’s my personal opinion. When Glock announced the G45 and it was black I have to admit I was a bit giddy. (Photo above courtesy of Glock’s website)
There are some changes from the G19X other than the color. The front lip on the mag well was eliminated along with the lanyard loop on the back of the grip. The cutout on the front of the magwell on the Gen5 G17 and G19 was also filled in. This was in part by law enforcement requirements and that some complaints arose of pinching fingers during reloads. I can say I have not had any issues with pinching during reloads on my Gen5 G17.
(Photo at left courtesy of Glock’s website)
A surprise first from Glock, factory front slide serrations. For those that do press checks this is a welcomed feature and they look great. The G45 keeps with the Gen5 feature list: the ambidextrous slide release, the reversible mag catch, the Modular Backstrap System (MBS), the nDLC coating, and the Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB). Glock claims this improves accuracy. I believe it does to some degree but accuracy to me rests with the shooter. It comes with three Gen5 17 round mags with the orange follower (which I really like), an inexpensive Glock mag loader, an orange lock, manual, and Glock hard case. You can get standard polymer sights, steel 3 dot night sights, or the Glock Bold Sights made by Ameriglo.
The Numbers.
(Screen shot courtesy of Glock’s website)
Range Report.
Simply put, it’s a great shooter right out of the box.
The G45 is very well balanced. The flare around the mag well is not over done and is comfortable. I put 50 rounds through it at 7 yards without a single FTF or FTE. Next, fired 300 rounds of various ammunition. Again zero issues. The ejection pattern is consistent and to the right between 3 and 5 feet. I didn’t have any brass come back at me. The recoil is mild, very manageable. I attribute this to the dual captive recoil spring system and the longer grip frame. The more surface area you have creates more friction and thus better control with proper grip. I tested Gen 4 mags as well as Magpul P17 mags and all worked without issue. I even tested an RWB 50 round drum mag also without issue (which was fun by the way). As is standard, a rail for a light or laser if you choose to add one.
The pistol breaks down just like every other Glock for cleaning so no surprises there. Developed in part for Law Enforcement, the shorter slide will be beneficial when officers are riding in their cruisers, the muzzle won’t press into the seat. On the civilian side this will be a great home defense pistol. For concealment, if you appendix carry the shorter slide won’t dig in when you sit. If you carry in the 4:30 position you might print a little but I don’t think it will be as noticeable as some might think. Over all, this pistol is a winner. I think Glock was onto something with the G19X and being Glock, they did not give up on the pursuit of perfection. They might just have found it with the G45.
