Reliable and beloved full-size Glock 17 got its descendant in a compact and widely popular Glock 19. It makes sense there are similarities between these two pistols. Both are semi-automatic pistols chambered for a standard military round 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger). Both Glock 17 and Glock 19 are some of the best 9mm pistols ever and praised by police and law enforcement.

Glock 17 vs Glock 19 Side by Side Comparison

Glock 17 vs Glock 19 Side by Side Comparison Both guns have three independent safety mechanisms preventing accidental discharge. Glock designated this system as “Safe Action”, different than the traditional on-off safety lever. Some components are interchangeable between these two models. For instance, you can get a Glock 17’s magazine and use it for Glock 19 (coming from the factory as standard 15+2 extension). Reduced dimensions of Glock 19 make it 0.67 inches shorter than Glock 17 (7.36 inches vs 8.03 inches). Its weight is 1.24 oz. lighter (23.63 oz. vs 24.87 oz.). Its compact size makes it more suitable for concealed wear and everyday carry.

What’s the difference between Glock 17 and Glock 19?

The most obvious difference between these two guns is the size. Although they don’t differ too much, Glock 19 does have a shorter barrel and a shorter grip, which is why it is classified as a compact pistol. The fact that the grip is slightly shorter can make it more comfortable to shoot for people with smaller hands. Glock 17, on the other hand, is classified as a full-size gun. Due to its larger grip, it leaves more space for a full grip and enough space for a pinky finger even for people with larger hands. But even though these facts do work on the paper, both guns can turn out to be just as comfortable depending on personal preference.

Glock 17 vs Glock 19 Concealed Carry

Considering the size and the grip of both Glock handguns, G19 is generally considered easier to conceal. But G17 also has its faithful audience, as many use it as an everyday carry pistol. While for some G17 is perfect for the tactical environment, but too cumbersome for concealed carry, others still choose to trust it for self-defense and manage to conceal it well. So even though the G19 is a bit smaller and lighter, it comes down again to the personal preferences when choosing a gun for personal protection and everyday carry.

G17 vs G19 Recoil and accuracy

Both G17 and G19 share the same gun parts, and both are chambered for 9mm ammo, implying that the recoil is pretty much the same for most shooters. However, some people do notice a bit more recoil in the Glock 19 due to its smaller size. The important thing with felt recoil is that it is purely individual. Felt recoil is something that varies from person to person, and what works well for one person might feel more “snappy” to someone else. When it comes to accuracy, all Glock pistols are well known for their reliability and accuracy, meaning that you can’t go wrong when getting a Glock gun. Comparing accuracy between G17 and G19 will again come down to an individual and how the gun fits for them personally. Glock 17 does, however, have a longer barrel, so it provides a longer sight radius, which will make it slightly more accurate for most shooters. Fifth-generation guns are the latest generation of Glock pistols, improving both ergonomics and reliability. Both G17 and G19 models have many different variations. For example, Gen4 models come with interchangeable backstraps, so if your primary concern was the grip, it might be easily solved with simply changing its size.

Which one is better – Glock 17 or Glock 19?

Looking at the characteristics and the popularity of the Glock 17 and Glock 19, it’s difficult to choose one as the better option. Both Glock pistols are used by armed forces, security agencies, and police forces around the world. Both are also favored for self-defense, concealed and open carry, recreational and competition shooting, and home defense. Given the outstanding performance of both pistols, the best thing to do is to try them out and see what works for you. Which one do you prefer? Please let us know in the comments.