Sorry Dave, I like the finger grooves of my gen 3.

 

DD i was/still am a fan of Gen4's, then Gen5's surfaced & have grabbed my attention real fast.
Gen5 23 fit & feel compact size frame is perfect, as for dislikes honestly there are none & likes is everything about the Gen5's.
Shooting it is very smooth due to newer/smoother trigger, as far as follow up shots feels less recoil along with minimal muzzle flip.
You won't be upset with a purchase & again the feel of the grip puts you on a island feel. 😁

 

I got a used Gen4 G22 for a smoking good deal first and hated the finger grooves, ended up having them removed. Then bought Gen5 22 and 23 as soon as they were released.

The Gen5 guns are much better in every way except for the wider slide.

 

If I could own only one Glock a model 23 would be it. If you don’t like finger grooves get one that doesn’t have it. If you need to have a cut slide get one that has it. I like the fact that 40 has a little more punch over a 9. The 23 shoots soft enough where I feel comfortable using it. What I like about the 23 is it’s reliability, accuracy, the ergo’s are spot on at least for me it is. It’s not a particularly large pistol and I have carried it both on and off duty. I have shot many thousands of rounds through it and off the top of my head I can’t remember it ever having a malfunction of any kind.

There are more expensive pistols available, I’m sure there are more accurate pistols but when it comes to reliability the 23 is exceptional. So if one were to purchase a brand new 23 a gen 5 makes complete sense. It’s the most evolved and refined G23 offering. The model 23 is my personal favorite Glock.

 

I got a used Gen4 G22 for a smoking good deal first and hated the finger grooves, ended up having them removed.

I thought about removing the finger grooves several times. I couple of months back I sold my last Gen 3. Although it was a reliable pistol I was glad to see it go. I have one Gen 4 left (a G35 with both 40 and 9mm barrels). The finger grooves are okay, I can work with them on a full size. But it's up for sale now on a local BST site. That would be my last Gen 4, leaving me with all Gen 5 Glocks (well, the 19X isn't 'technically' Gen 5 I guess but it's close enough. And the G45 is full on Gen 5).

My real 'want' in a Glock is a 23X (or whatever designation Glock gave a G23 slide on a G22 frame). Whether or not they ever offer that in a model is nebulous. So the G23 would be the next best thing. So if I do sell off the G35.4 I may well look into the G23.5.

There are more expensive pistols available, I’m sure there are more accurate pistols but when it comes to reliability the 23 is exceptional.

I was really hot for the G23.5 when they first came out. I figured I'd be the first kid on my block with one. But then a deal came around on an HK USPc in 40 and I went that direction. And it was a good decision because well...HK! But like I mentioned above, once I sell the G35 then a G23 just makes a lot of sense (to me).

 

I'm on that same fence as you and many others....G45 version in 40cal. I carried a Gen3 22 and a Gen4 22/23 (I had a 22 for Team training and callout/and 23 for the years in plain clothes). I was able to keep my former issued Gen3 22 and never bought a Gen4 but I did get a Gen5. Love the Gen5 over the 3 and 4 gens with exception of the front serrations. Grip is excellent.

I've had coldbore undercut and remove finger grooves on a Gen3 19 and 23 and it sure did help but not the same as the Gen5 feels in my hand. Now the crux is....the Gen5 23 is so close to fitting/not fitting I'm on hold. I need to actually shoot one to feel it as it is THAT close for my hands.

The solution that would make me is the 40 cal version of the G45.

 

The solution that would make me is the 40 cal version of the G45.

Yep, a 23X would be the cat's meow. I'd actually prefer a black version.

 

I’ve owned a ton of gen 3 and 4 23’s, still own a gen 4 and one gen 5 23.

To me the gen 5 23 is not night and day or anything, but is noticeably better shooting than the gen 4 due to the slightly heavier slide. Of course I love the no finger grooves and smooth rather than ridged trigger from the factory on the gen 5.

To me the gen 5 23 is one of the most under appreciated carry guns out there.

 

Just get a G45 or 19X and a G23 and switch a few parts. The G23X has a fantastic balance and high shootability. Really, no reason for a G22, once you switch it.

 

I almost added a G23 gen5 for the reasons mentioned herein. But a fellow GTer told me about a CZP07 .40 at his LGS, so I got that instead.

Otherwise, yes, the G23 gen5 is a great carry pistol.

 

My Gen 3 23 has the best trigger of any Glock I own. Zero chance I would "upgrade" to a Gen 5 if the Gen 5 23 has a trigger similar to the new 19 Gen 5 I just bought.

 

No interest in a Gen 3 (any model) anymore. I don't like the finger grooves as they don't fit my hand well in the compact/sub-compact size. And I don't carry for the grip texture at all. In my opinion the Gen 4 and 5 grip texture is far better. And of course I prefer the rounded muzzle and forward slide serrations as they have a functional purpose. As others have stated, if it wasn't for Cali the Gen 3 would have been discontinued years ago.

 

I have a Gen5 G23 MOS, it's a good shooter. The Gen5 .40's do shoot better than previous generations. Oddly, if it were up to me, I wish it had finger grooves.

 

Dave, you’ll never hear me complain about a USP Compact in any flavor. Talk about an overbuilt platform. When HK deliberately lodged a squib round in the barrel of a USP and then cleared it with a live round only to discover it still functioned, it speaks volumes. Then HK had the audacity to measure the accuracy of that tortured USP which still functioned and it fired groups of LESS then 4 inches at 25 meters. The rigorously tested USP begs the question, how much more of a pistol does one need?

The USP Compact is one of my favorite HK’s and the G23 is probably my favorite Glock. Two very different platforms and yet both are excellent sidearms.

 

I have a G27.5 vice a G23.5. With a +1 (or a G27.4 factory 10 rd magazine which I prefer for perfect grip length), I consider it a 27.5X 😂. I find it easy to shoot and accurate (though I did put a Big Dot on it). Only thing I don’t like about it is it’s not MOS and compared to G43 a bit heavy unless carrying OWB. The slide is like a tank, which I presume G23 would be same. It also uses G23 magazines, so with an X spacer, I use a G23.5 13 rd magazine as a back up. I imagine G23.5 would shoot even easier than a G27.5. My next gun will likely be a G22.5 MOS or G23.5 MOS, but only for the RDS aspect (and yes, I know I could get slide milled, but I would rather have a gun built from ground up to carry an RDS so slimmer chance of issues).

 

I love mine. Shoots soft for a 40. Carys easy.fit and finish are excellent.and it’s accurate. Oh yeh and it’s a glock.

 

I have a Gen 3 G23 and I always said that if I could have only one gun that would be it.....until now. My Gen 5 G23 is quickly surpassing the Gen 3 as my favorite ( I guess I could always dual wield lol ) , It's a little but of a PITA that you cant always use Glock 19 holsters but its a small price to pay IMO. As sweet as the GEn 3 shoots the Gen 5 shoot better and I think without the finger grooves it carries better and feels smaller. I have even successfully pocket carried it. And you can't hardly argue with this......

 

I have carried a gen2 G-23 since they came out.
I tried a gen 3 G-19 and found out the finger groves don't go with my fingers. I traded for a gen2 G-19, and that worked fine. I recently bought a gen5 G-19, it is ok, but won't fit some of my holsters.
I have been thinking about a gen5 G-23, but I have heard the slide is thicker, and won't fit gen3 holsters. is the gen5 G-23 slide wider than the gen5 G-19?

 

Shoot one....it'll end up coming home with you. Glock did an excellent job with the Gen5 22 & 23 IMO.

 

Yes and the gun is about 3 ounces heavier than previous gen G23's but it also makes for a softer shooter. Any Gen 5 G20 or G21 holster should work.

 

I have a G23.3 that has been around the world, but I’m itching for a G23.5. I’ve got a G45.5 and it feels perfect in the hand. Without a back strap it is a tad smaller grip than the Gen 3 (and I have large hands) and I think I’d really like that in the new G23.
However, all this has to wait until I put a P365 in my arsenal.

 

I’m kind of resurrecting this thread, but @Deputydave have you picked up the gen 5 23 yet? Anyone else for that matter, I’m thinking about one now myself?

 

No, I've been hanging on the the Gen 4 G35 since I have both 40 and 9mm barrels for it. My 'want' for the G23.5 has waned since the OP. As far as a G23 sized pistol in 40 I've pretty much scratched the itch with the HK USPc, HK P30 and Sig P229. I've always preferred hammer-fired over striker-fired. Nothing against strker-fired, and I have quite a few, just a preference and I really like DA/SA pistols. I would still look into a 23X if it ever came out though.

 

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