The Glock Gen 6 pistol is the reply to the query that’s swirled across the gun world the previous couple of weeks. What was the take care of Glock’s sudden transfer away from the Gen 3, Gen 4, and Gen 5 pistols and the introduction of the V Sequence? We’ll delve into the background of this in a bit, but it surely turned out Glock had a brand new flagship design within the wings that’s launching to coincide with Glock USA’s 40th Anniversary in 2026. The preliminary lineup of fashions is the G17 Gen 6, G19 Gen 6, and G45 Gen 6, all in 9mm.
Put merely, these Gen 6s are the perfect manufacturing facility choices from the corporate up to now. The Gen 6 has a powerful variety of ergonomic and design upgrades that Glock house owners have lengthy sought and have typically integrated with modifications into their very own pistols. That features:
- Revamped grip with palm swells and sensible contours
- Gasoline-pedal thumb rests reduce into body
- Undercut set off guard
- Flat-faced set off with shorter attain
- New optics mounting system
- Improved checkering
- Giant beavertail
- Modified extractor
- Single-stage recoil spring meeting
Professionals
- Most ergonomic Glock ever
- Wonderful recoil administration
- Safe optics mounting system
- Shorter set off attain
- Suitable with Gen 5 holsters
- Similar worth as Gen 5 weapons
Cons
- Restricted preliminary availability
- Solely three fashions at launch
- Gained’t be provided with the COA optics reduce till later in 2026
Different Key Options
- Ambidextrous slide cease lever
- Deeper cocking serrations
- Takes Gen 5 mags
- Reversible magazine catch
- Comes with three magazines
- Consists of two further grip backstraps
- Optics Prepared System works with RMR, Delta Level, and C-Extra sample crimson dots
- Pronounced border round slide lock
- Worth: $745 MSRP
Taking pictures the Glock Gen 6
I bought to spend about an hour with the pistol throughout a media occasion final week the place I, together with the opposite attendees, shot the pistols just about continuous.
We put a number of thousand rounds of American Eagle 124-grainers by means of the weapons and I didn’t witness a single malfunction, which bodes properly and is consistent with Glock’s almost obsessive concentrate on reliability and security.
As a result of the corporate prioritizes these qualities above all else, they’re very deliberate — and at occasions glacially sluggish — in relation to including options which are commonplace on competing merchandise. That generates comprehensible frustration amongst their followers and has spawned a complete business geared round aftermarket mods.
In that respect, these Gen 6 pistols are a breath of contemporary air. Out of the field they’re eminently shootable.
The enhancements to the set off and the design of the body make this a straightforward gun to regulate. It shoots flat and quick and is actually the perfect inventory Glock I’ve ever run.
Grip Form and Checkering
The ergonomics of the grip is an unlimited enchancment over earlier generations. Between the palm swell and the hollowed out contours the Gen 6 sits naturally within the hand with full contact, translating to raised management. It additionally has a brand new texture, which mixes two earlier kinds — the RTF2 Substrate, which was a rough sandpaper-like texture, and the raised squares of the RTF4. Including two and 4 collectively, Glock naturally designated this new sample the RTF6.
It’s an efficient combine, providing a safe grip with out being too raspy, which was a typical criticism with the RTF2.
The Gen 6 ships with two further backstraps to change the grip’s dimensions, do you have to desire a bigger or smaller profile.
One of the crucial notable options on the Gen 6 pistols is the beneficiant backstrap integrated into the body. I discovered this, too, made the pistols very snug to shoot, and it eliminates the potential of getting bitten by the slide with a excessive grip.
Undercut Set off Guard
The Glock Gen 6 has an undercut set off guard, thinned out the place it joins the grip. That is maybe the most typical modification to earlier Glocks because the thicker set off guard might be uncomfortable the place it rubbed towards the center finger of the set off hand. This could remove, or a minimum of cut back, the chance of creating the infamous “Glock finger” callus with high-volume capturing.
Built-in Gasoline Pedal
The thumb rests on the body may be my favourite improve to the Gen 6. In the event you’ve ever run a pistol with a gas-pedal, you know the way a lot they enhance recoil administration. With the thumb of the help hand driving down on that shelf, muzzle rise is dramatically diminished.
One of many issues that’s so cool about what Glock did is that the shelf is shaped by eradicating materials from the body, relatively than including on one thing that stands out to the aspect. This enables the pistol to stay suitable with Gen 5 holsters, which is an enormous profit for shooters that run Gen 5 gear and are desirous to improve. It additionally implies that not one of the present holsters available on the market should be modified for the brand new weapons.
The feel on the thumb shelf offers sufficient buy in order that I had no points conserving my thumb in place even whereas working magazine dumps. It really works very properly.
Flat-faced Set off
The brand new set off on the Glock has a flat face, which has turn out to be all the fad of late. (Even the brand new Beretta AX800 shotgun, which is designed for waterfowl, has a flat set off.)
Trendiness apart, triggers with a flat shoe have a tendency to offer higher management over the gun, and the one on the Gen 6 has the additional benefit of shortening the set off attain a bit, which most shooters recognize.
I wasn’t in a position to measure the set off attain myself, or the Gen 6’s takeup and overtravel, but it surely shot higher than a standard Glock set off. It broke crisply and ran rather well. I had no complaints.
Deeper Cocking Serrations
Glock has machined the Gen 6 slides with deeper cocking serrations and angled them barely. The deeper cuts ought to supply a safer grip and the angled serrations look slightly extra fashionable than the flat cuts of yore.
Glock’s New Optics Prepared System
The Glock COA optics mounting sample, completed at the side of Aimpoint this yr, created fairly a stir for its easy and stout design. Sadly, discovering one has turn out to be subsequent to unimaginable, and in any occasion, it solely works with that one Aimpoint.
The Glock Gen 6 replaces the previous MOS system with the Optics Prepared System (ORS). In contrast to the MOS, which used pattern-specific plates that you just connected to the slide after which used as a floor on which to mount the optics, the Glock ORS helps you to screw the crimson dot straight into the slide, eliminating an entire set of fasteners.
As a substitute, the Gen 6 pistols ship with skinny pattern-specific polymer plates that sit between the optic and slide. Utilizing the plate as a information, you screw the optic proper into the slide. The three plates match RMR, Delta Level, and C-Extra footprints.
In keeping with Glock, these skinny polymer plates act as a crush washer of types, making the screws much less more likely to come free. The friction the polymer gives helps the optic resist the shear forces generated by the violent motion of the slide, which is without doubt one of the causes they selected this materials over metallic.
One factor that’s readily obvious is how low the ORS positions the optics in relation to the bore. The reduce within the slide is pretty deep and since these shims are so skinny, the crimson dot sits low, which is an enormous benefit.
Glock says it’ll supply the Gen 6 with the A-Lower system for the Trijicon COA sooner or later, however as a result of the demand from navy and legislation enforcement for that design is so excessive don’t count on to see many on the market at your native gun retailer.
Gen 6 Inside Upgrades
Glock made some adjustments to the internals of the Gen 6 collection as properly. Two particularly, the redesigned extractor system and going again to a single-stage recoil spring meeting have been completed to enhance reliability, whereas the adjustments to the cuts on the underside of the slide have been meant to inhibit modifications that allowed earlier Glocks to run full-auto. As you in all probability know that barrier didn’t final for a day earlier than it was breached.
Extractor and Recoil Spring
The extractor system on the Gen 6 has been shortened. So the holes drilled within the slide for mounting crimson dots now not go throughout the slide. These holes may permit thread locking materials fluid — like Lok-tite — to get into the pistol and trigger malfunctions. This shorter system eliminates that.
We’ve grown used to seeing dual-stage recoil springs on many semi-autos. They have been born of the need to take care of higher-pressure rounds just like the .40 S&W.
Glock’s testing with the Gen 6 reveals that further measure isn’t required with these new pistols. In order that they’ve gone again to a single-stage recoil system. One spring is much less more likely to go sideways than two, so that they really feel it augments the pistol’s general reliability.
Beefed up Slide Lock Gate
It is a small element however you possibly can see that the border across the slide lock has been beefed up. It’s taller and is constructed up alongside three sides, such as you see on most AR lowers.
That can assist forestall the shooter’s thumb from using up throughout recoil and doubtlessly partaking the slide lock and locking the slide again whereas firing. It’s a refined however significant contact.
Glock Gen 6 and Gen 5 Compatibility
Given the scope of the adjustments within the Gen 6 it isn’t shocking that many elements will not be backwards suitable with the Gen 5 (and even Gen V) collection, most notably the fireplace management system and slides. That mentioned, the Gen 6 nonetheless makes use of the normal Glock magazines, and can slot in Gen 5 holsters.
Modified Slide Cuts and the Set off Change Controversy
When information concerning the V Sequence, and its modified slide, leaked in October the Web gun group went into overdrive. California Governor Gavin Newsom had signed Meeting Invoice 1127 into legislation to ban many handguns that might be transformed to full-auto hearth, together with Glocks. The legislation is scheduled to enter impact January 1, 2026. It appeared the V Sequence, and the sudden discontinuation of Gen 3, Gen 4, and Gen 5 pistols for business sale, was a capitulation by Glock.
This impression was augmented by the bare-bones design of the V Sequence, the timing of the information about each occasions (the signing of AB 1127 and the V Sequence leak), and the shortage of communication by Glock on the matter.
Within the subsequent data vacuum individuals speculated that Glock was on the ropes and the reception of the V Sequence was cool to say the least.
The story took on an added twist when some V Sequence pistols reached vendor cabinets and inside a day or so somebody had transformed considered one of these new pistols to full auto with a freshly minted set off swap.
Enter the Gen 6
Glock is a notoriously tight-lipped firm and doesn’t domesticate relationships with the gun media — both conventional writers or guntuber and influencer varieties — the way in which most different massive firearms corporations do.
So I wasn’t positive what to anticipate once I arrived in Smyrna, Georgia final Wednesday. A part of me puzzled whether or not this was simply going to be a lukewarm account of the V Sequence and why we needs to be enthusiastic about it.
After we have been ushered into the room the place the presentation was to happen we noticed the brand new pistol displayed by the stage inside a Plexiglas field and it was apparent one thing larger was within the works. (The Gen 6 banners hanging all over the place additionally didn’t escape my finely-honed journalistic instinct.)
Glock executives rapidly stepped us by means of the brand new pistol, and as they defined one bullet level after one other it turned clear they’d created an intriguing new platform.
Timing of the Gen 6 and V Sequence
It takes a very long time to design a brand new firearm and produce it to market. Even at a lightning tempo it requires a minimal of two years for a serious rollout, and most new weapons have been within the works for a number of years. Within the case of the Gen 6 and V Sequence, work on them began across the time the G43X got here to market, which was in 2019.
I’m positive the corporate was conserving tabs on the California ban, however that wasn’t the driving power behind this product. Like each different gun firm, Glock desires to verify their merchandise are protected and authorized — a sense augmented by their dominance within the legislation enforcement and navy markets, and the deep relationships they’ve with these companies in consequence.
However the rumors of trigger and impact between the ban and the V Sequence don’t maintain up and, so far as I can inform, have been simply the results of unhealthy timing and unfavorable optics.
Glock Gen 6 versus V Sequence
The Gen 6 is Glock’s top-of-the-line pistol and as manufacturing ramps as much as meet demand we’ll see extra fashions seem, however initially it’ll be the G17, G19, and G45. The V Sequence is way more expansive, spanning 10 fashions: G17 V, G19 V, G19X V , G20 V MOS, G21 V MOS, G23 V, G23 V MOS, G26 V, G44 V, and G45 V.
The V Sequence doesn’t have any of the ergonomic enhancements that the Gen 6 options, and would be the baseline pistol.
Presently it’s retailing on-line for about $540, in comparison with the $745 MSRP for the Gen 6 — although I’d count on the road worth on the Gen 6 to be round $699 as soon as they’re in inventory.
And it’s price repeating that the Gen 3, Gen 4, and Gen 5 fashions can be discontinued apart from some navy and L.E. orders. So that you’ll must look to the used market sooner or later if you would like one.
What’s Not To Like
I don’t see any actual negatives to this design, however that hasn’t stopped some within the on-line mob from grousing. The most typical criticism I’ve seen considerations the big beavertail, which some really feel will make the gun harder to hide. It does lengthen the general size of the pistol a tad, however I actually like what it does to enhance the gun’s dealing with.
The pistols I shot with optics mounted had suppressor-height sights which co-witnessed by means of the crimson dots, which is a good characteristic. Sadly, the pistol ships with customary peak sights, so that you’ll must swap these out if you would like that performance. That mentioned, I’d be shocked if some distributors didn’t place orders of Gen 6s with these put in, so there’s a great likelihood we’ll see them on the market configured that manner.
One other factor to notice is that the pistol maintains the normal Glock grip angle, which some shooters don’t take care of. So for those who have been expending a extra vertical grip, you’re going to have to attend till the Gen 7 or past.
Closing Ideas On The Glock Gen 6
This assessment is predicated on a single day with the pistol, so I’ll have extra to say as I get extra hands-on expertise with the Gen 6.
My preliminary impressions are very favorable, and that feeling was common amongst all the opposite attendees on the occasion so far as I may inform.
The brand new pistol is a shooter. It’s snug in hand and is straightforward to handle. I actually just like the characteristic set and recognize that Glock didn’t jack up the worth. The brand new optics mounting system looks like a winner too. That design makes numerous sense intuitively and will enhance the power of the optic-to-slide connection.
Little doubt we’ll see some lighter aftermarket triggers crop up, however I actually didn’t thoughts the manufacturing facility set off in any respect.
It’s clear that Glock went to numerous effort to get a really feel for what their clients need — whether or not navy, legislation enforcement, or civilian — and executed a design that includes these enhancements whereas sustaining the model’s historic reliability.
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