By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Glock’s Generation 6 pistol is a much awaited development in our most popular striker fired polymer frame handgun line, and is currently is chosen by three out of four police agencies.
The exact per centage is just a point shy of seventy-five per cent. That is a lot of guns and a vote of confidence for the Glock.
Glock handguns are among the most popular civilian concealed carry handguns. The pistol is also popular in competition. Whichever Glock you own you may be certain that there are plenty of spare parts, magazines, holsters and aftermarket accessories for the Glock.
Recently Glock introduced the Generation 6 pistol. While there are upgrades and changes related to handling the Glock Generation 6 may be picked up and used efficiently by anyone with Glock experience.
All Glock models share the same manual of arms. The magazine catch, slide lock, trigger action and take down are identical in operation from .380 ACP pocket guns to the full size 10mm. That is part of the appeal of the Glock system.
Glock’s previous generations have been vetted in every way possible for a handgun to be proven. This makes a writer’s review of a single example a bit presumptive, but I rely on three types of information before I recommend a handgun. These are institutional tests, documentation, and personal experience. The Glock gets high marks on all counts. In this case Glock has designed a pistol with considerable ergonomic improvements compared to the Generation Five but without changing the pistol’s operation. The heart of the pistol is the same reliable handgun. Parts such as the Barrel, extractor, and striker will not interchange with earlier generation Glock handguns.
Glock Generation Six Improvements
The pistol features a grip with a slight palm swell, equal on each side. The texture is excellent, and the gripping surfaces of the handle are nicely covered by this texture. This treatment results in a much better balance of adhesion and abrasion. In casual shooting there isn’t much difference. In speed shooting, firing with +P or +P+ ammunition, or with cold and wet hands, the new grip treatment is considerably superior.
The pistol also features an integrated grip tang. This beavertail grip lowers the bore centerline and helps control the handgun. This new texture isn’t going to grab your clothing on the draw but it offers superior handling compared to the Generation Five.
While the pistol is supplied with two grip inserts there is no longer a beavertail type insert included and it isn’t needed. The Generation Five guns feature an undercut triggerguard, the Generation Six features a more severe undercut.
Meanwhile, the pistol’s ambidextrous slide locks are protected in a more complete manner. For some shooters the thumb will bump the slide during recoil. This isn’t a consideration with the protected slide lock of the Glock Generation Six- but use the proper grip and thumb position.
Glock added a roughened section of the frame ahead of the trigger guard, on the frame, to act as a finger support. With the thumb forward firing position this area offers good support. I teach that the finger should be extended along the frame out of the triggerguard during movement. It takes but a moment to move the trigger to the firing position. Keeping the finger out of the triggerguard will prevent an involuntary reflex negligent discharge.
Forward cocking serrations are cut more deeply perhaps even sharper. This makes racking the slide easier especially if you are mounting a carry optic. The carry optic will demand the forward cocking serrations be used. None of these changes including the relieved finger support sections preclude the Generation Six pistol from fitting Glock Generation Five holsters. Magazines appear unchanged. Why change the most proven trustworthy magazine ever built?
Trigger Action and other changes
The Glock Generation Six trigger action is the same reliable double-action-only Glock action. The trigger breaks at 5.6 to 5.8 pounds. The action feels better because Glock now has a flat faced trigger.
I am no fan of aftermarket triggers on personal defense guns, and besides, the Glock flat faced trigger feels good and slightly reduces trigger reach. This upgrade will allow a trained shooter to fire the pistol with greater precision.
Moving to the slide the pistol features standard white outline Glock sights. The Generation Six will accept aftermarket sights including my preferred XS types. The optics is direct mount, considered the superior set up for reliability. The direct mount interface allows for a lower mount, always a good thing with optics shooting. The slide is cut for optics while a thin polymer crush washer slips under the carry optic to improve stability. The Glock Generation Six accommodates RMR, Delta Point Pro, and C More foot prints. The extractor tunnel and extractor are changed. The major reason for this modification is to work with the optics cut and allow a more efficient design. None of these upgrades prevent the Glock from fitting into existing Glock Generation Five Holsters. The pistol is supplied with three crush washer plates and three magazines as well as two backstraps.
Firing the Glock
I collected a diverse amount of ammunition for test firing the Glock Generation Six.
My handgun is the M45, which is a Glock 19 slide over the Glock 17 frame. This pistol features a full firing grip and a slide that clears leather quickly. I fired the pistol with its standard sights but quickly transitioned to the Trijicon RMR- the ruggedized miniature reflex sight.
The M45 was fired with a wide range of ammunition. This included steel case ammunition. I don’t like this dirty burning ammunition and it is hard on extractors- however- since all Glocks run on this ammunition I felt that I had to confirm that the new extractor design.
The Generation Six ran through 100 rounds without any problem, and it wasn’t as dirty as some I have fired. I continued to firing at man sized targets at 5, 7, 10 and 15 yards. The pistol is fast on target and the improvements over the Generation Five are demonstrable. A flat trigger and shorter trigger reach make for better control and the new extended grip tang is more comfortable than the previous Glock pistols, and these are very good handguns. The Generation Six simply performs better.
It takes a good shot to quality the difference and it is certainly there. Fast forward a few weeks and I have fired just short of eight hundred cartridges without a single failure to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. The pistol is a great combat handgun and the top service pistol presently available. As for absolute accuracy, the Glock M45 proved accurate enough for any foreseeable chore. Firing from a solid benchrest firing position with the new RMR Green Dot mounted, the pistol was fired at 25 yards for accuracy. Five shot groups were good. Better than previous pistols? This Glock shares the Marksman barrel of the Generation Five and is at least as accurate. The trigger action and grip give an advantage in firing tests.
Five shot groups at 25 yards from a solid benchrest firing position:
Load Group
Black Hills 115-grain EXP 2.5 inch
Black Hills 115-grain +P 1.8 inch
Buffalo Bore 124-grain JHP +P 2.25 inch
Handloads
Hornady 124-grain FMJ Titegroup 1089 fps 1.95 inch
Hornady 124-grain XTP Titegroup 1171 fps 2.5 inch
Hornady 147-grain XTP WW 231 880 fps 2.0 inch
Carrying
Fit with standard Glock holsters was confirmed with several tightly molded holsters in leather and Kydex. I went with a Falco A 634 Langdon leather inside the waistband holster. This is a well-made holster of the finest material, and it offers a good balance of speed and retention. A strong spring steel belt clip holds it in place.
There is an optional ‘foot’ installed I ordered that may be used to prevent rollout if the holster is worn as an appendix inside the waistband holster. It may be removed if desired for standard IWB wear. The holster mouth is reinforced and the holster features a strong spine and sweat guard. (Falcoholsters.com)
The Glock Generation Six offers a good range of improvement while maintaining the reliability and design that had made Glock the most successful service pistol in America. The new handgun is a step in the right direction. Prices are the same as Generation Five pistols, just over six hundred dollars.
