I have a G22.3 and a G23.5, I think you would appreciate the G19.5. My G23.5 “locks in” like you described. I didn’t think there would be much difference but the G23.5 shoots best for me.

Side note, I also have a G23.3 I no longer shoot anymore because of how the gen 5 shoots. It’s a little beefy compared to the 19 but the grip is nice.

 

The removal of the finger grooves allows your hands to assume a natural position on the grip for your individual hands. And that's why I think a lot of people shoot Gen 5's better than Gee 3's and gen 4's

The Glock gen 3 & 4 finger grooves force the the fingers into an unnatural and awkward position for about 40% of the population while another 40% likes the way the finger grooves are positioned and the other 20% don't care either way.

But the guns that don't HAVE finger grooves and universally fit almost everyone's hands well, Like the 1911, the Browning Hi-Power, and the CZ75, don't have finger grooves. And the only grip that I can think of that has finger grooves that are perfectly placed for the greatest amount of people's hands are the Hogue grips for Rugers and Smith & Wesson's.

As far as the difference between the G17 and G19, I've never liked the full sized G17 or G22 an d have always preferred the overall feel an balance of the mid-sized G19, G23, and G32. But surprisingly I like the G45 with the short barrel and the long grip even better than the G19, but the longer grip makes it harder to conceal for IWB carry.

 

This isnt true for every shooter. but many hate the grooves, why they finally removed them. I am fine with the gen3.

 

Gen 5 is superior for me. The texture mainly as well as the absence of grooves. I actually settled on the 45 for IWB carry despite the longer grip.

 

Thanks for posting this. Ive been eyeing a Glock 19.5 for some time now. I have a 17 & 19 in gen 3 and have been contemplating the upgrayedd…

 

Buy a Grit Grips G19.3 frame with Glock OEM piece parts ($155) and put your slide on that.

Grit Grips Pistol Frame for Glock G19 Gen3 Pistols - Assembled - OEM Internals

Custom Grit Grips Pistol Frame for Glock G19 Gen3 Pistols - Assembled - OEM Internals This is a complete assembled frame ready to accept and 19 Gen3 upper of your own liking. All internal parts and locking block are pre-installed. An aftermarket frame with compatibility to the GLOCK® 19 Gen3...

shop.gritgrips.com

 

My various Grit Grips bought with the GG generic parts assembled.
Various aftermarket slides paired with the GG frames; never had any issues with the generic parts assembled frames.
Just saying, but I do understand that others prefer the OEM Glock parts. YMMV

 

I like the no finger grooves of the 5 but the last Glock anyone will pry out of my cold dead hands is my 19.3 RTF.

 

Always individual of course.

ive own so many Glocks, love my 19 gen 3, 26.5 with the gee plate, 17.5 next to my bed, g43 in car, and many traded, but whenever i handled a 19.5 it felt perfect. The beveled edge, I,guess I’m ocd, hand too big for finger grooves on gen 3, but perfect in 19.5. I coukd live life with one of those and never need more than a second. It’s still on the list, but it would render alot useless.

 

I had removed my finger grooves a while ago on my 19.3. Recently I added a Kiral backstrap to it and it is great.

 

I like my 19X, but it doesn't take gen 5 magazines
I like my 17.3, it takes gen 5 magazines.

 

From Al Gore's interwebs:
Several ways exist to enable a Glock 19X to accept Gen 5 magazines, primarily focusing on addressing the incompatible baseplate design.
Replace Gen 5 magazine baseplates with compatible ones:
Gen 5 magazines can be used in the 19X if their baseplates are swapped out for those compatible with previous generations.
Modify the 19X grip:
The Glock 19X has a small lip on its grip that prevents Gen 5 magazines from fully seating due to their flared baseplates.
Some owners have opted to trim or file this lip to allow Gen 5 magazines to fit properly.
One Reddit user suggests tracing the Gen 5 magazine baseplate's lip onto the 19X grip and then using a Dremel tool with a sanding drum to remove the material up to the line, smoothing out the edges afterward.
Modify the Gen 5 magazine baseplates:
Alternatively, the front of each Gen 5 magazine baseplate can be modified to clear the lip on the 19X grip.
This involves carefully trimming or sanding the front portion of the baseplate to prevent interference.

 

It’s not the generation. The 17 and 19 have differently shaped back straps. A gen5 and a gen3, as far as hand placement on the back of the grip, should be pretty much the same.

 

I don’t use back straps. I guess the finger groves fit my hand, I really can’t tell much difference between gen 3 and gen 5. I do prefer gen 5 for more reasons than just the lack of finger groves.