9mm Glocks - Gen 3 or 4 better?

[The Annoyed Man]

For you confirmed Glock guys.....

My wife already owns a Gen3 Glock 19, and it is a pretty good pistol, and I even [sssshhhh]carry it once in a while[/sssshhh!]. Of the pistols I'm looking at for competition use, I'm leaning toward buying a Glock 17 or 34. Now that Gen4 guns have been out for a while, besides the adjustable grip frame panels, are there any other substantial improvements in the Gen4 guns over Gen3 guns? Are there any areas where the Gen3s are superior to the Gen4s? Other than the steel guide rod upgrade, are there any suggested common updates to either gun? (Whatever brand/model I eventually buy, I'm not trying to build a full-on "race gun" and I will want to keep it as close to original specs as is reasonable for reasons of practicality and dependability.) I ask because if the differences between Gens 3 and 4 are inconsequential, then I could probably save some money and be happy with a Gen3.

What is your advice?

[TVGuy]

For you confirmed Glock guys.....

My wife already owns a Gen3 Glock 19, and it is a pretty good pistol, and I even [sssshhhh]carry it once in a while[/sssshhh!]. Of the pistols I'm looking at for competition use, I'm leaning toward buying a Glock 17 or 34. Now that Gen4 guns have been out for a while, besides the adjustable grip frame panels, are there any other substantial improvements in the Gen4 guns over Gen3 guns? Are there any areas where the Gen3s are superior to the Gen4s? Other than the steel guide rod upgrade, are there any suggested common updates to either gun? (Whatever brand/model I eventually buy, I'm not trying to build a full-on "race gun" and I will want to keep it as close to original specs as is reasonable for reasons of practicality and dependability.) I ask because if the differences between Gens 3 and 4 are inconsequential, then I could probably save some money and be happy with a Gen3.

What is your advice?

The stippling on the grip and increased magazine release size are huge improvements. The interchangeable grips can make a huge difference if the gen 3 size isn't right for you, they can be made to be smaller or larger, or have a tang.

[misterlarry]

I really prefer the Gen 4 Glocks because of the larger magazine release (keeps me from doing the infamous "Glock shake") and the double return spring. Other than my G30S, I'll likely never buy anything again that is not Gen 4.

[ShootDontTalk]

I don't think there is enough difference to justify any additional expense for the Gen 4 over the 3, unless the Gen 4 happened to fit your hand better. The 19 is usually not associated with competition so much because it is arguably the most popular EDC version. I would go with the 34 for competition. But a lot of people shoot IDPA with 19s.

You can go to the Glock Store and spend as much as you want on "stuff". Some of it is actually useful. I would just shoot the stock guide rod until such time as it needs to be replaced. I learned in NRA Bullseye shooting that a lot of the "race" in "race guns" is really more about "race sales." I needed lots of wisdom and common sense to avoid the "race gun shooter" traps.

How did that work out for me? Well......

[G.A. Heath]

I am personally burned on Gen4 9mm Glocks, Three Guide rods, lots of frustration, and some other issues I just can't bring myself to say nice things about them. I am certain they got the springs right finally, but after my experiences I just wouldn't own another. 9mm Gen4's are in my opinion Glocks attempt to replicate Hipoint's quality.

[The Annoyed Man]

I am personally burned on Gen4 9mm Glocks, Three Guide rods, lots of frustration, and some other issues I just can't bring myself to say nice things about them. I am certain they got the springs right finally, but after my experiences I just wouldn't own another. 9mm Gen4's are in my opinion Glocks attempt to replicate Hipoint's quality.

Oh good gravy! You know that God hears you when you speak like that!!!

[ShootDontTalk]

I am personally burned on Gen4 9mm Glocks, Three Guide rods, lots of frustration, and some other issues I just can't bring myself to say nice things about them. I am certain they got the springs right finally, but after my experiences I just wouldn't own another. 9mm Gen4's are in my opinion Glocks attempt to replicate Hipoint's quality.

I suspect your experience says more about buying ANY newly-introduced gun. Looking at some of the manufacturer-specific forums, I don't see any new guns that haven't got problems. I let others do the QC work.

[G.A. Heath]

I am personally burned on Gen4 9mm Glocks, Three Guide rods, lots of frustration, and some other issues I just can't bring myself to say nice things about them. I am certain they got the springs right finally, but after my experiences I just wouldn't own another. 9mm Gen4's are in my opinion Glocks attempt to replicate Hipoint's quality.

I suspect your experience says more about buying ANY newly-introduced gun. Looking at some of the manufacturer-specific forums, I don't see any new guns that haven't got problems. I let others do the QC work.

Keep in mind I expect issues from a newly introduced firearm, and I expect those issues to be resolved, but for minor revisions to an existing design that will be marketed to law enforcement I expect better. Take the Glock Gen 4 in .40S&W, no major issues out of the box. Now some brilliant mind at Glock took that gun, built the 9mm off of it and thought it wouldn't be an issue if they used the same recoil spring. When I purchase a new Glock with assurances from some folks in Georgia that the issues are resolved and that at most I will need to get a recoil spring if I find one with the old spring I tend to have certain expectations.

[TexasCajun]

I use a gen3 17 for IDPA (ssp). I've added a Hogue grip sleeve for a little bulk and better handling. And I wish that the mag releaser were bigger. At some point I'll change the mag release and make some other modifications to move into esp. But I do ok with it as things currently stand.

[Ed4032]

I am personally burned on Gen4 9mm Glocks, Three Guide rods, lots of frustration, and some other issues I just can't bring myself to say nice things about them. I am certain they got the springs right finally, but after my experiences I just wouldn't own another. 9mm Gen4's are in my opinion Glocks attempt to replicate Hipoint's quality.

Oh good gravy! You know that God hears you when you speak like that!!!

Yes but remember we are talking about Glock, so comparing it to a Hi-Point seems legit to me. They are ugly and smell bad. They come from a former communist county. Get your self a real gun. An American gun. Get a S&W M&P. The very best!!

[The Annoyed Man]

I am personally burned on Gen4 9mm Glocks, Three Guide rods, lots of frustration, and some other issues I just can't bring myself to say nice things about them. I am certain they got the springs right finally, but after my experiences I just wouldn't own another. 9mm Gen4's are in my opinion Glocks attempt to replicate Hipoint's quality.

Oh good gravy! You know that God hears you when you speak like that!!!

Yes but remember we are talking about Glock, so comparing it to a Hi-Point seems legit to me. They are ugly and smell bad. They come from a former communist county. Get your self a real gun. An American gun. Get a S&W M&P. The very best!!

OK, I'll bite.... As a 1911 guy at heart, I agree that Glocks are ugly. So are Humvees, but they work. As for smelling bad, I don't know about you, but I keep all my guns' butts wiped and practice good gun hygiene. Mine don't smell. As for being made in a "communist country", Austria was divided into 5 zones of responsibility by the Allies, just like Germany was, at the end of WW2, with part of it where Glock was eventually established falling under Soviet rule. But understand, the Austrians never willingly were part of the USSR. It was merely their fate as a conquered land..... and it was only part of the USSR's dominion from 1945 to 1955. Glock was established in 1963, 8 years after Austria emerged from an uninvited Soviet rul. It has, like most of western Europe, socialist leanings. In fact, that portion of the Wehrmacht whose members were of Austrian origins were not only vehemently anti-communist (as were most of Germany's officer corps), but in the last week or so of the war, there are well-documented instances of Austrian (and German) troops fighting alongside American troops against German SS troops (read "The Last Battle"). So willingly "communist"? Nope. Not ever.

Also, Glock's famous proprietary "Tennifer" coating cannot be produced in the United States due to....you guessed it....EPA regulations. A few Glock 17s are actually manufactured at the Glock assembly plant in Smyrna, Georgia, but those have slides with a more gray finish on them, as Glock had to modify their "Tennifer" coating to comply with EPA standards. There is speculation that the US variant of Tennifer is nothing more than the same melonite found on other manufacturer's guns. The US manufactured guns have an 8 digit serial number, instead of the 7 digit numbers on the Austrian guns, and they are marked with "USA" instead of "AUSTRIA" on the slide.

Personally, I don't care about the finish or where it is made. I drive a 2015 4Runner manufactured in Japan. We have an Austrian made Glock 19, and the finish is particularly tough and durable—I've actually dropped the gun accidentally once onto bare gravel at a range, and it came up pristine—but I also own Melonite coated guns in the form of an M&P45 Full Sized and a Kahr PM9...... which brings me to your statement about the M&P.....

So, I already have experience with the M&P pistol, and it is a good pistol. But if I wanted another one, I wouldn't have started this thread. I wouldn't mind another one, but the reason I am looking at Glocks has more to do with getting another pistol in a platform with which my wife is already familiar - as the G19 we already own is hers, not mine. It happens to be the case, in our marriage, that my wife shoots and carries a firearm, but she is not an enthusiast like I am. Although the Glock 19 is hers, her EDC is a Kahr CW9. I am familiar with the G19, and even carry it on occasion, but I also own (and carry) a number of other pistols. It is the path of least resistance to acquire another Glock which my wife is already comfortable with, than it would be to acquire a completely different platform that she is not familiar with, and then have to go to the trouble of making her so.

[A-R]

Either Gen 3 or Gen 4 is fine. But remember many of the parts WILL NOT swap between the two (many still will; just make sure you can differentiate if you start tinkering).

Gen 4 double recoil spring gives slightly softer felt recoil (noticeable, but not eye opening). I personally like the slightly shorter backstrap-to-trigger distance on the Gen 4 sans any added backstrap piece vs. the stock Gen 3 grip (I gave short fingers).

I've experienced none of the reliability issues (with springs or otherwise) voiced by others with my three Gen 4 Glock 9mms.

Other than that, not much difference from a practical/shoot able/durable perspective. Either way, it's still a Glock with all the same positives and/or negatives that brand name implies.

[Ed4032]

Ok but we do agree that they are ugly. By the way You better get what she wants.

Just kidding anyway. Glock makes fine guns.

[The Annoyed Man]

Ok but we do agree that they are ugly. By the way You better get what she wants.

Just kidding anyway. Glock makes fine guns.

Agree on both counts, even though the gun is for me. I just wanted her to be familiar with its operation. Anyway, I did pick up a Gen 4 G17 today from Sporting Arms in Lewisville for $514.00. Now to sort out the holster situation. I have a Desantis Speed Scabbard for a G19, and it has an open bottom. The G17 will go in it, but the bottom opening is kind of tapered inward a little bit, so the fit is kind of a compromise.....the last half inch or so of slide/muzzle sticking out the bottom, with the front sight unprotected.

And speaking of sights, those OEM sights are gone as soon as I can pick up a set of Trijicon HDs with the orange front insert.

[Kkpsiknl]

For the record my big ugly glocks are American. Made in Georgia. ;)