I have both and carry an early Gen 5 19. The frame material is the same just a different texture, no finger grooves and a “better” barrel. The trigger is a complete redesign.

 

I prefer the Gen 4 19, but newer Gen 5 19s do not have the magazine notch and have front slide serrations plus a beveled frame to meet the slide bullnose. Some internal changes with a more reliable trigger spring, new drop safety plunger, and a redesigned firing pin. Supposedly more reliable than previous Gens, the finger grooves being 86'd was also a bonus. Other than that, it's just another Glock.

Frame material remains the same as before.

 

The magazine release on the Gen 5’a are larger than the Gen 3. Gen 5 has a match grade barrel, beveled muzzle (both slide and frame), slightly flared mag well, ambi slide release, no finger grooves, better texturing and four back straps. And of course the front slide serrations. The RSA is dual and not the straight rod. Mags have orange followers.

 

I heard the early 19.5 did not have front serrations? Am I wrong?

 

That is correct.

 

I thought Glocks felt like dookie for years. You couldn't have given me one.

Recently I tried the G19.5, G17.5, G21.4 I bought one of each. They're that groovy.

 

I still prefer Gen 3 after all these years

 

Gen 5 is an upgrade....after having owned Gen 3 and 4 models.....

It's the barrel and the Gino updated trigger..lol

 

Get the Gen 5 since it lacks finger grooves. Overall, it's a nice gun that I think you will like. You can order it with night sights or get the standard model and get different ones installed.

I see front serrations on the 19.5 as shown: GLOCK Inc. | GLOCK Pistols | Buy Guns Online

 

From a rookie perspective the Glock just feels like a real quality weapon compared to most others I have held.

 

I won a G-5 G-19 in a sweepstakes here locally during a LE "Glock Days" celebration, it was a no FS Gen 5 G-19, a month later the Gen 5 G-19 FS model came out, Oh well, don't look the gift horse in the mouth!

 

Bought a 19 gen 5 a couple weeks ago, I can't believe how great it is. The match grade barrel is very accurate. I have the front serrations model, 9plan to get the early model without, I think it's a fabulous gun

 

I have both a gen 3 and a gen 5 MOS and I like them both for both similar and different reasons. My gen 3 is smoother—what I mean is the slide goes on and off during field strip with ease, the mags go in and out with ease, everything is slick and smooth including finish on slide. My gen 5 is fine in those regards, but there is more resistance with tolerances maybe a tad closer, not sure. Mags drop free, but don’t slide in and out as effortlessly. The finish is nice, but the gen 3 frying pan was the best IMHO.

The gen 3 is plenty accurate, but the gen 5 is more so, and I appreciate the other new features of the gen 5, such as the stronger ejection, better trigger, recessed crown, orange mag followers, forward serrations, and slight mag well flare. I’m eager to get my Holosun with the chevron reticle as this will be my dedicated red dot gun.

 

Almost pulled the trigger (pun intended) on a NIB gen 5 19 MOS earlier today after finding one on GB just seeing what they had and what they were going for these days. Well there was one for—get this—$450 buy it now! If I wasn’t skeptical or didn’t have one already I’d have hit that button in an instant. When I went back to check this evening it had sold. Of course.

 

I think the G19 pinnacled at the original Gen 2 and then slid downhill into the latrine with subsequent gens. Every time I picked one up, it felt like I was holding a nutty turd.

Gen 5 fixed most of that. If Glock would just get rid of those stupid thumb dimples and tactical ninja fanboi front serrations, it would once again be perfection.

 

I'm told the thumb dimples are there because of import laws.

 

Compared to the Gen 3, a Gen 5 will offer:

* Your choice of either an annoying frame cutout on the front of the grip, or some ugly front cocking serrations.

* An ambi slide stop

* No finger grooves on the frame

* A new finish that will show fingerprints everywhere you touch it

* A traditionally rifled barrel cleverly marketed as a “marksman” barrel that make ballistic comparison between fired projectiles and your individual pistol easier for a crime laboratory

* Beautiful orange followers in your magazines

* A slightly different feeling trigger pull that is neither better, nor worse than earlier versions

* An engraving on the slide that says “Gen 5”

* A slightly higher price tag

* A dual captured recoil spring assembly

* A collection of back straps that are likely to stay in the box once you decide which of them (if any) that you prefer

* An enhanced grip texture that does provide a more secure gripping surface

I’m not fully awake yet, so I may be missing something. But, I think this covers the majority of differences between the Gen 3, and Gen 5 pistols. For what it’s worth, I personally prefer the now discontinued Gen 4 versions which include the grip texture and blackstrap changes, as well as the recoil spring assembly upgrade. None are bad pistols.

 

To me, the Gen 5 feels better in the hand--a lot less "Glocky"

 

I own Gen 2, 3, and 4 Glocks, but I have never handled a Gen 5 so can not offer much.
I am curious to as of those that are critical of front serrations as to why? Is it just appearance, or is something like snagging in a holster?

As I said, I have never even picked up a Gun 5, but am curious about this.

 

I am curious to as of those that are critical of front serrations as to why? Is it just appearance, or is something like snagging in a holster?

To me, front serrations on a pistol are the same as kids who bolt enormous wing type spoilers onto the trunk of their front wheel drive Honda Civic. They are only there for looks, and as a guy who carried a gun for a living for longer than the kids who drive those Civics have been alive... those looks are stupid.

I hear all of the Rambo wannabe excuses about “muh press checks”, and “muh tactical slide manipulation”, and it all makes me laugh. I’d have a lot more respect for a guy who simply explains his preference for them by saying “I think it looks cool”.

 

Hi, all......

Thinking of reentering the Glock world. My last Glock was a 3rd Gen G19. I didn't like the feel of the grip so I sold it (kept the mags--they're a big deal in CT).

Am thinking of a G19 gen 5 for the replaceable back straps and proper mag funnel. The FS doesn't have the U-cut at the grip front at the bottom.

Does the Gen 5 offer much more than what I've mentioned? I'm indifferent to the ambi controls but looking for others' thoughts.

Does the Gen 5 still use the same frame material? Glock have always felt squishy to me.

I have a 19.4 and early 19.5. Both flawless, at least to me. Carry one or the other every day.

 

Other than cosmetic & ergonomic changes, the redesign of the trigger is a bigger deal I think.
It also eliminated a the spring which was more prone to failure.
I also think the redesign of the slide lock spring also reduced part failure.
Overall the gen 5 I think improves reliability over an already good record, and does make disasembly a bit easier

 

TRMaxmanta said it well;it's less Glocky feeling. Plus all the other changes are really nice.

I like the front serrations. They do not snag on anything. The people who don't like them just have a hardon for front serrations. Yep,they look good too imho. Especially with the nose-job.

My Vickers Gen3 RTF2(three of them) and Gen4 are great guns;but the Gen5 fits my hands so very nicely. I had already made up my mind NOT to get a Gen5;glad I did!

OK, I like them all. Hope they don't make a Gen6 anytime soon. Can't seem to help myself when it comes to 19s.

 

Gen3 is my preference.

 

If you(anybody) like the Gen3 better than other Gens would you care to say why;what features you like best about it over the other Gens?

 

It's all of the things that make it a Glock, minus the things I don't need like: front serrations, half-moon cut, "marksman" barrel, etc.

 

I've never used a gen 4, but the Gen 5 is so much different that I'm wondering if Glock should've kept the Gen 3 and introduced subsequent generations as "elite" or "performance" models.