Glock 19x Review

Before releasing the Glock 19X, Glock had released four generations of model 17 and model 19. Both of these models have been very successful.

The G19X is a crossover of these two successful models, and the range of new features is impressive. If you have used either the G19 or the G17, you will love the blend of features on this hybrid model.

What I love about the Glock 19x is that it was designed for the U.S. Army, but civilians can have all that power.

The overall design of the Glock 19x is not different from the original pistols, and there are many advantages to that. However, there are still some changes to the Glock 19x that give you a great shooting experience.

What is the Story Behind Glock 19X?

The manufacturer intended to create a handgun with the best features from the G19 and the G17. They combined the G19 slide with the frame from G17. The new weapon, G19X, was then submitted to the U.S. Army for testing. However, the U.S. Army chose the Sig Sauer P320.

The Glock 19X did not fail due to its features, but its price. Since the weapon was not adopted by the U.S. Army, it found its way into the civilian market within no time. For a gun designed for the military, it offers nothing short of impressive performance and appeals to anyone who needs a powerful concealed carry.

It sports a coyote brown color, which was designed as a camouflage color for the Army. The manufacturer also removed the finger grooves from the front strap to make it easier to use. Better yet, it improved the slide coating to make it resistant to corrosion, so you can use it anywhere.

The front slide and front frame are beveled to make the handgun easier to handle. It also features standard metal night sights, a new Marksman barrel, enlarged magazine release, and a better trigger pull. The trigger pulls smoothly, but it is also safer for use by the army. The new barrel and some other changes on the frame are meant to make the gun more accurate and durable.

If you get your hands on the Glock 19x, you will feel its difference. It feels easy on your hands, and that was what the manufacturer intended. You get the full grip from the G17 and the compact design of the G19 slide. This makes the gun balanced and easy to control for an impressive shooting experience.

The manufacturer now offers a standard 17-round magazine. It also comes with two 17+2 round magazines. Its pistol case is coyote colored pistol case to match the body of the 19x.

Technical Specifications

Ergonomics

The Glock 19x was designed as a concealed carry with the compact design of the original Glock 19. It is only a little larger than the original G19. If you have used the Glock 19, you will not feel much difference between the two guns.

The manufacturer made the 19x to have fewer parts, but more power and better handling. It doesn’t have finger grooves like the original handguns it is adapted from, which makes it more accessible. The textured surface gives it a better grip, making it more reliable.

When unloaded, the gun weighs about 25 ounces, which I find light and balanced enough to offer a great shooting experience at all times. Its longer grip and its beavertail further make the gun easier to use for home defense, and you can also use it at the range. The trigger feels smoother and only travels for 0.49 inches, unlike other models that travel for 0.64 inches or more.

The weight is well-balanced to make the gun easy to handle and ideal for all-round use. The new Marksman barrel and the 5.94 inches sight radius make the gun more accurate for shooting at the range and for home defense.

The Design

I love the power of guns, but I also love their looks. I love a gun that looks balanced, and the Glock 19x doesn’t disappoint. But there is more than looks with the G19X. One of the unique designs is the factory-finished slide. Glock uses their physical vapor-depositing coating to add the coyote color on the slide. Other models come with corrosion and abrasion-resistant coats, but it is only this time that the manufacturer decided to use factory-finish on the slide. The aftermarket finishes were good but not as powerful as the factory-finish that is now on the Glock 19x.

The slide and the polymer grip frame feature the coyote finish, but other parts feature the conventional black color. However, the lanyard loop below the grip, the bodies, and the magazine floorplates are in coyote color. Other design features include:

• Marksman Barrel: The new Marksman barrel is another great addition to the design of the 19x Glock. Its advanced polygonal rifling and better barrel crown make the handgun more accurate. With these features, the G19X can accommodate 3.0 inches of 50-yard groups.
• Cross-Slot: There is an M1913-spec cross-slot close to the dustcover’s nose. You can attach a laser or a light on the slot when you need to enhance your shooting accuracy. Far from that, the manufacturer aggressively rounded the Glock 19x frame to further enhance handling and accuracy. I find the aggressive rounding impressive.
• Contouring for Better Grip: Another design feature on the Glock 19x is the contouring between the trigger guard and the grip. This modern contouring gives you more control over the G19X. The grip feels comfortable with the groove-free grip regardless of the size of the hand that holds it.
• Grip Backstraps: Each handgun features four grip backstraps of different sizes. This way, you can alter the circumference of the grip to the size that feels comfortable to you. This is another feature that gives you more control over your Glock.
• Lanyard Loop: There is a lanyard loop on the lowest end of the grip frame. Although I love this feature, most shooters do not need it at all. You do not need to use the lanyard loop in any way, but if you believe the lanyard loop is a sign that warriors of the past walk with you, then the lanyard should be your guide on the range or during home defense.
• Front-Swooping Toe: The manufacturer also added a forward-swooping toe at the lowest part of the front strap. This feature comes as a two-step shape that makes reloading the gun easy. This is a great feature when you are out in the field, full of adrenaline and shaking hands, and you must reload the magazine.
• Reversible Magazine Release: Another of my favorite features is the serrated and reversible magazine release. Further, the slide stop is made ambidextrous. There is a small metal that peeks from the sides of the handgun so that you can easily lock back the slide and add a new magazine with ease.
• Safe Action Trigger: I have come to love the new models for their safety features. The Advanced Safe Action Trigger is common in most of the new Gen 5 pistols and ensures you are safe with your concealed carry at all times. The feature offers three safety features, including firing pin safety, trigger safety, and drop safety. These three features come alive when you pull the trigger. The manufacturer also uses a host of trigger connectors that adjust the trigger feel and pull-weight to further give you more control and keep you safe.

The short length of the Glock 19x makes it easy to carry while the balanced design makes it look great. Its color camouflages with the environment when you go shooting outdoors. The features above enhance shooting accuracy and handling.

Carry Dimensions

When Glock 19x was released to the public, it was designed to work great as a concealed-carry weapon. It fits perfectly in most Gen 4 holsters, but it will not fit on some of the tightly molded holders, thanks to its large-sized grip. The frame and trigger controls come with unique dimensions that make the handgun challenging to draw if carried in tightly molded holsters.

You need an upper-crust holster to hold your G19X. Granted, you can order a custom holster for the pistol to feel comfortable when you carry it. The short length of the pistol makes it ideal for IWB carry (inside the waistband). However, the pistol has long grips that might show beneath light shirts and light jackets. While it is a great concealed carry, it is not as discreet as smaller pistols in its range.

If you do not feel comfortable carrying this pistol inside the waistband, you can carry it on your hips. Either way, it feels comfortable. You can also carry it on your ankle, but that will make the pistol less accessible when you need it.

Accuracy/Performance

The manufacturer designed the Glock 19x to give you all the control you need for accurate shots. The balanced weight, the large grip, and the ergonomic design are among the features that give you control when you are shooting. It doesn’t come with the conventional finger grooves, which mean that shooters with different hand sizes will find the pistol easy to use.

The Marksman barrel and the smoother trigger pull are new features on the Glock 19X, and they make it more accurate through the added control you get with each pistol. You can mount a laser for more accurate shots, and you can also add a light for night shooting.

I attribute the accuracy of the Glock 19X to the balanced weight and design and the control that the unit gives you at all times. If you love a gun that feels comfortable on your hands, the G19X will meet your needs. With a comfortable grip, you can manage the gun even better.

Shooting the Glock 19x

One thing you will realize about the Glock 19X is that you can shoot it anywhere under any rugged conditions, and its accuracy will not waver. Whether you are shooting in the jungle when the snow starts falling, or you shoot in the hot sun, the pistol will perform exemplary, thanks to the corrosion-resistant coating.

It is easy to load and unload the gun, whether you time while shooting at the range, or you are under pressure shooting in the field. The quick-release slide and other features make it easy to shoot and replace the magazine. The trigger is almost as heavy as the Glock 43x, but it pulls smoothly and travels a shorter distance of 0.49 inches.

This being a pistol designed for use by the U.S. Army, it comes with relatively low recoil, and beginners will find it easy to learn with. Whichever 9mm ammo you choose, the pistol delivers stellar results. If you have used the original Glock 19 or Glock 17, you will find this pistol easy to use, and this can enhance the performance. I have used both the G19 and the G17, and the Glock 19X felt like a gun I have used before.

There are slight differences on the grip and the sizes, but the feel is familiar.

What We Like About the Glock 19x

When I tested the Glock 19X, I felt the power that a pistol designed for the U.S. Army feels like. It ticks most of the boxes, and below are some of the features I liked.

The Balanced Design

The Glock 19X is not so different from the original G19 in design – it is only a little longer with a few additional features. Its design makes it balanced and allows it to feel comfortable on your hands. Regardless of the size of your hands, the gun feels highly comfortable on your hands, and this gives you the control you need when you are shooting in the range or anywhere else.

The length, width, and height are crafted to enhance the ergonomics of the gun for a comfortable feel whenever you need to shoot. It was designed for emergency draws and shooting under pressure, which is why the ergonomics had to be stellar.

The Accuracy

Almost every feature that the manufacturer added on the G19X was to make the unit more accurate. The Marksman barrel is the first of these features. I tested the G19X under different weather conditions, and from different distances, and every shot was stellar. Before I compiled this review, I search the internet for forums on Glock guns, and the reviews are impressive. Anyone who has used the G19X finds it more accurate than the original G19 and G17.

What I like about Glock 19X is how comfortable it feels, and the control it gives you to enhance accuracy.

Works in All Weather Conditions

This is the first factory-finished pistol from the manufacturer, and it looks as great as it performs. The finishing on all its parts makes it corrosion resistant and functional in different environmental conditions. Whether it rains, snow falls, or the sun shines bright than other days, the Glock 19X performs exemplary.

Plus, I find the Coyote finish good-looking. I have always loved guns in black, but this new coyote color impresses me.

Easy to Shoot

Perhaps one of the factors that make this gun accurate is the ease of shooting. The trigger feels smooth and moves a short distance, the reversible magazine release, and other features make it easy to use. If you are learning to shoot at the range, the pistol will make you learn faster. Again, if you have to shoot in a combat situation, say for self-defense in the wilderness, it feels easy to use too.

Safe to Use

G19X comes with Enhanced Trigger-Safety Action, which makes it safe when you are shooting. Here, you get three safety features, including firing pin safety, trigger safety, and drop safety. These are the same features on all Glock-Gen 4 pistols. If you, like me, love a pistol that feels safe when you carry it on your body or on your hands, then the Glock 19x might be a good choice for you.

Mountain Rail

If it gets dark, you will not shoot blind, thanks to the mounting rail where you can place a light. The rail sits in front of the trigger guard, and it also accommodates lasers for even better accuracy. What more would you need in a pistol.

What We Don’t Like About the Glock 19x

Finger Drag and Sore Finger

Your trigger finger might end up sore after a couple of rounds using this pistol. The trigger bow of the G19X is broad, but the inside feels cramped. When shooting, your finger might touch the top and bottom (unless your fingers are really slim).

After shooting a couple of rounds, my trigger finger felt sore. This is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater, as I found a frame customizer who rectified the issue and now my G19C feels comfortable. If you will be shooting at the ranges a lot, or you plan to take your pistol on a hunting trip, this issue is worth noting.

Not Ideal for Discreet Carry

The Glock 19X fits on some Generation 4 concealed carry holsters, but it will not fit in others. If you have a tightly molded holster, you might have to get a new holster to meet your needs. You might even have to custom-order a new holster.

The long grip also means the pistol might show up under light shirts and light jackets. If you need to discreetly carry this gun, you need to wear a heavy jacket.

The Price Is Relatively High

The reason why the U.S. Army did not pick the Glock 19X was the price. Sig Sauer P320 costs lower than G19X, and the U.S. Army felt it will meet its needs better.

However, this is not a deal-breaker for anyone looking for a pistol that gives you accuracy and convenience with every shot.

Pros

• Great capacity at 17 or 19 rounds of 9mm ammo
• Shoots accurately at short and long distances
• It comes with a slot to attach a light or a laser for better accuracy
• Features Enhanced Trigger Safety Action
• Combines the best of the G19 and G17
• It feels familiar for anyone who has ever used pistols from the manufacturer
• Reversible quick release magazine makes it easy to load and unload

Cons

• Doesn’t fit most holsters
• Trigger finger might end up sore

Conclusion

If you need accuracy, you will find the Glock 19X an impressive firearm. The manufacturer had a different vision in mind when they created the Glock 19X – to have it used in combat. When that did not happen, the pistol ended up in the hands of civilians, and this is why it is one of the most accurate and easy to use handguns I have tested.

You can expect everything you would expect from a pistol designed for use in combat. The ruggedness of the pistol and the ease of use scream a gun designed for use by the army. If you are a civilian looking for a concealed carry, this might be a good option. It is not as discreet as the smaller models it is derived from, but it is still a great unit. You only need a holster that is larger, and a larger jacket to hide the gun.

You can use this gun to shoot at the range, and you can use it in the jungle or anywhere else too. Wherever you choose to use it, it feels comfortable.

There are a host of additional and unique features on this pistol – some of which you may never need. However, these features make the gun perform exemplary. Features such as lanyard loop may not work for a civilian looking for a concealed carry, but they were great additions for a pistol for the army.

Do I recommend this pistol? Absolutely – it is versatile, so everyone can use it.