For most of my life, I have carried the best firearms I could afford. They are a good investment in longevity. I upgraded when something better came along. I am not emotionally attached to any machine. I expect good service, and I appreciate reliable function and an effective firearm. While I don’t love any handgun, I do hate those that malfunction or otherwise hamper my efforts at proficiency.
One of my latest efforts is testing the Glock Generation 6. It is a bit early in the game, true, but so far the pistol has proven to offer something worthwhile over previous Glock pistols. The differences are found in both ergonomics and mechanical function.
Small parts for the Generation 6, such as the extractor and striker assembly, do not interchange with older handguns. Older Glock magazines do fit the Generation 6—why change what may be the most reliable handgun magazine ever designed? The new generation is dimensionally exact and fits holsters designed for earlier models. I confirmed this by using well-fitted quality leather from Galco, DeSantis, and FALCO, as well as Kydex from Safariland.
Let’s take a close look at the Glock Generation 6.
Specifications
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17-round magazine
- Unloaded Weight: 24.7 ounces
- Overall Length: 7.44 inches
- Barrel Length: 4.02 inches
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
The controls are the same as previous Glock handguns, retaining the ambidextrous slide lock of the Generation 5. The magazine latch and takedown levers are unchanged. The Glock action remains familiar. Rack the slide and the striker is prepped, if not fully cocked. Press the trigger and it moves the striker to the rear and fires the pistol. The action cycles and the pistol is ready for a repeat shot.
The action feels different due to the redesigned flat trigger shoe. Trigger reach is shorter. The trigger breaks at 5.8 pounds—average for a modern Glock—but feels lighter due to the new trigger geometry. The extractor and striker assembly are changed and do not interchange with earlier guns, nor will the barrel.
I like the grip texture change a great deal. This design doesn’t rub on clothing during concealed carry but offers an outstanding balance of abrasion and hand fit. The texture isn’t uncomfortable during long firing sessions yet keeps the hand-to-handgun interface secure when the shooter has sweaty or wet hands.
There are finger rests on each side of the frame for a thumbs-forward firing grip and finger-on-the-frame safety position. The trigger guard is undercut at the rear, slightly lowering the bore centerline. The slide’s forward cocking serrations are deeper than the Generation 5 cuts.
Sights are the usual Glock white outline. While many rush to replace them, they work well in many defensive shooting situations. The sights were properly regulated for 124-grain ammunition. The pistol features a nicely elongated grip tang. This beavertail makes for comfortable shooting. Grip inserts are provided, but a grip panel with an extended beavertail is neither necessary nor provided.
The big news is the direct optics mount. Optics are a huge deal these days. Sales of carry optics represent a tremendous part of the market and a large share of the shooting sports, even at the amateur competition level. A direct mount offers lower mounting and appears more secure.
The slide is drilled to accept RMR, DeltaPoint Pro, and C-More footprints. A compression panel is supplied to help align the mounted optic. After initial firing tests, I mounted a Trijicon RMR green dot and fired the pistol extensively in that configuration. It remained secure, and the direct-mount system positions the optic lower in the slide, as Glock intended.
Firing Impressions
Most firing was done with standard sights. The pistol was lubricated per Glock SOP: a few drops on the barrel near the muzzle, locking lugs, and trigger connector.
The pistol was drawn and fired rapidly at 5, 7, and 10 yards. I presented the firearm, fired a few shots, performed a reverse presentation, then drew again. Results were excellent. I fired with the intent of determining how much improvement the pistol actually offered.
The grip tang improvement and grip treatment provide excellent control. The shorter trigger reach and improved trigger shoe are legitimate upgrades. It takes a trained shooter to fully appreciate the difference, but the Generation 6 is a good shooter and an improvement over the already solid Generation 5.
In off-hand fire, the pistol is accurate enough for head shots at 15 yards for most shooters and 25 yards for some of us. The average Glock Generation 5 pistol with its Marksman barrel is capable of 2.5-inch, five-shot groups from a solid benchrest. Some do better, depending on ammunition.
Most of the ammunition fired was from Black Hills Ammunition. The 115-grain FMJ load is accurate, clean-burning, and consistent. I also fired other types, including that dirty, dirty, dirty steel-cased ammunition, just to confirm the Generation 6 and its new extractor would run what older guns will. It did.
I also fired a mix of modern jacketed hollow points and solid copper loads. Results were good, with no malfunctions of any type.
As a final test—less important, but useful for understanding overall build quality—I fired five-shot groups from a solid benchrest using proven loads that have performed well in the past. The results are below.
Five-Shot Groups at 25 Yards (inches)
- Black Hills 115-grain FMJ: 2.6
- Black Hills 115-grain EXP: 2.7
- Black Hills 124-grain JHP: 1.8
- Black Hills 100-grain Honey Badger: 2.2
Almost as an afterthought, I realized I had not fired +P loads. After mounting the RMR optic, it was back to the range.
With the optic mounted, things sped up. Accurate hits at real speed came easier. A trained shooter who puts time into carry optics will find a significant advantage across all firing conditions. The carry optic eliminates concerns over cross-eye dominance, allows shooting with both eyes open, and offers a wide field of view in defensive situations.
This is a formidable combination. The Generation 6 represents a real improvement. Is it such a huge improvement that you should trade in a Generation 5? If your goal is to be all you can be, yes. If your Generation 5 is serving you well, it remains an excellent handgun. Still, the Generation 6 is the best Glock I’ve used to date.
Carrying the Glock
I confirmed that the Glock Generation 6 fits leather, Boltaron, and Kydex holsters well. I appreciate the tradition behind DeSantis holsters—the family has been building top-tier gear for decades—and they also produce excellent modern Kydex designs.
A holster that rides close to the body and offers excellent concealment is the DeSantis Pegasus Veiled Partner. Adjustment is good, and the balance of speed and retention is solid. There is a satisfying snap at the trigger guard when holstering. The holster fits the Generation 6 well, making it a strong combination.
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