Glock 17 vs. Glock 19: Comparing Two of Glock’s Most Popular Handguns

Probably the most popular handguns in the world, the Glock line of pistols come in many shapes and sizes and they are used by any and every one regardless of the intended use. There are so many awesome and fascinating features about the Glock regardless of the year it was produced (Its reputation had to come from somewhere).

Image above features a Glock 19 with a sweet Talon aftermarket grip. See our recommendations for the best Glock grips here.

So in comparing the G19 to the G17 there should not be a difference in the functionality but your intended use and style of pistols will determine which Glock will be coming home with you!

Oh and also make sure to check out our recommendations for the best Glock laser sights too.

Glock 19

If you have never heard of the Glock 19, then you must live under a rock because it is quite possibly the most popular compact semi-automatic pistol in the Gun world! Now many people will agree that the Glock in general isn’t necessarily going to get stares because of its classic “Beauty” but you want a tool that will function when you need it too, right? Well that is what Glock is famous for.

The G19 offers a great balance between compactness and the ability to shoot close to or as accurately as a full size pistol. This is attractive for concealed carry and don’t forget the accessories are endless for Glock so you can have as much tactical gear as you can afford.

Many people choose the Glock 19 for its very generous, standard 15+1 magazine capacity and the fact that you can use any other Glock 9mm magazine that has a higher capacity in the Glock 19.

Glock 17

The Glock 19’s older brother… The Glock 17 is a preferred full-sized duty pistol for many law enforcement and military personnel. A loaded magazine carries 17, plus you’ll have one in the chamber (17+1).

Now, we all have different tastes in firearms. They range from micro to full-sized but some people just really love full sized pistols (Yes, even to carry). They will be bigger and heavier and probably more uncomfortable to conceal carry but many people use a full sized pistol for a nightstand gun while taking the smaller ones out for a day on the waist.

Differences between the two?

Obviously the size and weight are the main difference with everything else being virtually identical, including the accuracy out to further distances. Many people claim to not notice a difference but it’s up to the shooter to determine that.

We will use the Gen5 since it is the newest model of Glock. The older models were a tad lighter overall. So the Glock 19 is 7.28 inches in length and 23.99 Oz unloaded, while the Glock 17 is 7.95 inches in length and 25.04 Oz unloaded. While not drastically different in size, the size and weight are definitely noticeable when having to lug them around all day.

Final Thoughts: Which is more worth it?

Do you care about comfort? If you do and still want to carry a G17, maybe use an Outside the Waistband holster (OWB). It’ll be way more comfortable but there is better chance for printing (You don’t want that). It may be better served as a nightstand/duty gun for most people.

The G19 is not entirely comfortable either because but the compact design was suited more for versatility. You can wear an inside the waistband holster (IWB) and probably be ok. It also serves well as a nightstand pistol, however the Glock 17 may be better suited for that purpose given the larger size and larger standard magazine capacity.

Whatever Glock model you choose, keep these suggestions in mind. Oh… and make sure to get lots of practice (as with any firearm you’re going to trust your life to.