Glock Talk banner

26 - Gen 3 or Gen 4?

2K views 25 replies 24 participants last post by  Featherweight 
#1 ·
Hola guys... any material differences between the two mechanics-wise? All I can tell is the grip - stipple and backstrap.
 
#3 ·
Internally, Gen 4s have a 'bump' on their trigger bar. The intent is to make the bar a bit more rigid. On some models the difference may be felt slightly while slow firing, but the majority probably won't notice. If you can, try out both generations and decide for yourself which works better for you.
 
#4 ·
The Gen4 frame is slightly shorter, the mid-strap makes the grip the same size as the Gen3. With the Gen4 you also get an extra mag and larger mag release.
 
#8 ·
I see that in your signature you like to shoot a G19. Is it a Gen 3 or Gen 4? I have the Gen 3 26 I like it but my hands are not small, so the grip is fine. If you have small hands the Gen 4 backstrap options my be better for you. If the G19 is a Gen 3 and you are ok with it, then stick with the Gen 3 G26 unless you want to get the latest version. Internally, they are pretty much the same except that the Trigger Mechanism Housing (TMH) on the Gen 4 has the 30274 ejector rather than the 336 of the Gen 3. There may be other subtle changes, but nothing I would consider a dramatic change.
 
#9 ·
I went with a Gen 3. Already had a Gen 3 G19. The Gen4's were out. However, I could only find a Gen 3 with night sights. All the Gen 4's had the fixed sights. The Gen 3 with night sights was cheaper than the Gen 4 without night sights. A no brainer.
 
#14 ·
One other thing that is available on the Gen 4 is an ambidextrous magazine release. If you are a lefty and don't like releasing your mag with your index finger, the Gen 4 is the way to go...

Also, the trigger pull is a little lighter on Gen 3s. It's not much, maybe a half pound.
 
#15 ·
I you are going to carry the 26 IWB and the grip is going to ride against skin, I would get the Gen 3.

I do like Gen 4 mag releases.

Now if it was a 19 or 17, there are serious considerations on the type of RSA you like better, but a 26 Gen 3/4 use the same RSA.
 
#16 ·
Internally, Gen 4s have a 'bump' on their trigger bar. The intent is to make the bar a bit more rigid.
That bump on the right side of the Gen4 trigger bar firing pin safety arm does **nothing** for TB stiffness.

The bump is there only to make sure that the arm remains properly aligned under the slide's firing pin safety when the Gen4 pistol has been configured for right-side magazine catch operation. In that configuration, the magazine catch tends to twist the upper right surfaces of the magazine tube into contact with the left side of the trigger bar, which moves the TB arm right. The TB bump prevents the FP safety arm from misaligning too far to the right under the slide's firing pin safety.

In a Gen4 pistol whose magazine catch is configured conventionally for left-side operation, the magazine tube never contacts the trigger bar, so the TB arm's bump is never forced right into contact with the slide. I have put Gen4 trigger bars in pre-Gen4 pistols (capable of left-side magazine catch configuration only), and measured absolutely no change in trigger pull caused by the Gen4 TB bump. The bump does not come into contact with anything on left-side magazine catch pistols of any generation.

The Gen4 TB bump on its FP safety arm has some effect ONLY on Gen4 pistols configured for right-side magazine catch operation. That means it does NOT matter if you use a Gen3 or Gen4 TB in any Glock configured for left-side magazine catch operation. It also means that you should use a Gen4 TB in any Gen4 pistol that is configured for right-side magazine catch operation, if functional reliabilty has any importance to you. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMag
#17 ·
The main difference is grip size and feel. Go to a store like Cabelas or Bass Pro and hold both versions. I have the Gen 4 with no blackstrap. A previous poster's comment about using Talon grips is right on. The Gen 3 will take Talons better. Good luck. It's a great little handgun.
 
#18 ·
... any material differences between the two mechanics-wise?
If the Gen3 G26 is more than about five years old, it will likely have a trigger bar and trigger mechanism housing that have the old style attachment points for the coil trigger spring hooks...just simple straight-through holes with sharp edges that tend to cause TS hook failure. Gen4 pistols have modified the TS attachment points with rounded surfaces in contact with the inside of the TS hooks that better distribute stress. Shortly after the Gen4 models were out, Glock made these same improvements to new Gen3 pistols and replacement parts.

The Gen4 modular backstrap system required significant change to the trigger mechanism housing which changed slightly the mounting angle of the connector. This resulted in an 0.5-lbf increase in peak trigger pull for any given connector. The standard 5.5-lbf Gen3 "unmarked" connector causes a 6.0-lbf pull in a Gen4 pistol. In order to give a Gen4 pistol the standard 5.5-lbf pull, Glock developed the "dot" connector. The dot connector is listed as the standard Gen4 5.5-lbf connector, but it produces a 5.0-lbf pull in a pre-Gen4 pistol. Glock's lowest pull force connector is the 4.5-lbf "minus" connector. In an OEM Gen4 the pull will be 5.0-lbf.

The only other major mechanical change is the reversible magazine catch.
 
#19 ·
Not a 26 fan, had a gen 4, to small for my liking and didn't feel right. Factor in the majority of the crowd ads the extended mag base plates ect you might as well pack a 19.

With that said I'm a gen 4 guy over the 3, have two now. The back straps, mag release and perfect texture IMO seal the deal. Some might complain of the texture but it's not a problem for me IWB. Had a RTF2 at one point, now that thing would rub you raw!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top