I picked up a new Glock 45 Gen 5 a few days ago and took it to the range to see how it stacked up against my trusty Glock 19 Gen 4. First impressions: not much difference — but a few small things stood out.
First impressions
The Glock 45 felt familiar right away. Because it uses the larger Glock 19 frame paired with a Glock 19 slide, the grip filled my hand a little better. I have medium-sized hands and the G19’s grip ends a bit higher in the palm, so the Glock 45 gives me a better purchase overall.
Recoil & control
I hoped the slightly different grip/frame combo would yield noticeably better recoil control. In actual shooting, though, I couldn’t tell much of a difference. Follow-up shots and muzzle behavior were very similar between the two — any advantage is subtle at best.
Trigger
This was where the Glock 45 had a small edge. My Glock 19 is older and nicely broken in, so its trigger doesn’t feel like a fresh Gen 4 unit. Even so, the Glock 45’s trigger felt a touch crisper at break and had a slightly shorter reset. Without a trigger scale I can’t give hard numbers, but subjectively the Glock 45 felt a little lighter and more defined.
Accuracy & sights
Out of the box the Glock 45’s accuracy matched my older Glock 19. With stock sights (the basic Glock sights most people gripe about) I was able to sink bullseyes on a 3″ sticker at 10 yards. The sights did the job — accurate enough for practical shooting, and the pistol shot straight from the start.
Carry & capacity
I appreciate the extra capacity and the fact that the Glock 45, because it has a Glock 19 slide, still fits my Glock 19 holsters — super convenient. Will it replace my EDC? Probably not. My Springfield Hellcat Pro Comp is currently my everyday carry and it’s doing that job well. The Glock 45, though, will be a dependable alternative or range/training gun.
Bottom line
If you like the Glock 19, the Glock 45 won’t feel like a radical change — just a slightly fuller grip and a marginally crisper trigger out of the box. Recoil and accuracy are essentially the same in practical terms. It’s a comfortable, capable pistol that fits into existing Glock 19 gear and makes a great alternative or backup for range days.
