Glock 9mm | 7 Best Glock 9mm Pistols [2023]

Glock 9mm. What's The Best Glock Pistol?

There are a bevy of Glock 9mm pistols, but which one is the best? Which one should I get, if you were deadset on getting a Glock?

What's the Glock I should put in my Glock 9mm holster?

Well…that really depends. Personal preferences and intended purpose play a part, as some of them aren't necessarily the best choice for certain uses. For instance, a Glock 34 isn't the easiest gun to concealed carry and a Glock 43 is not the best choice for a target pistol.

Let's go over what some of the best choices are. Each of these 9mm Glock models have something to offer, but differ from others in a way that matters and makes that particular gun a great choice for a particular niche.

Is The Glock 9mm A Good Gun?

Glock makes a series of pistols chambered in the 9mm cartridge, all sharing certain features. Glock pistols have polymer frames and steel slides. They are striker-fired, which means that they do not have a hammer. Glock pistols have a passive firing pin safety, which means that the firing pin is blocked unless the trigger is pulled.

The Glock pistols have a Safe Action System. This system consists of three passive safeties: the trigger safety, the firing pin safety, and the drop safety. The trigger safety prevents the gun from going off unless the trigger is pulled, and the drop safety prevents the pistol from firing if it gets dropped.

Because they are mechanically simple, Glock 9mm pistols are known for being very reliable and more than accurate enough for most uses. Glock pistols are available in a variety of sizes, including the Glock 17, Glock 19, Glock 26, Glock 34, and Glock 42. They are also available in a variety of colors, including black, olive, FDE, and pink.

Glock 9mm. Which Glock Pistol Is Right for You?

Which Type of Glock Is Right for You?

There are many Glock pistols to choose from and each has its own unique features. Here is a breakdown of the different types of Glocks and what each is best suited for.

Glock 17 - The Glock 17 is the standard Glock pistol. It is the most popular model and is widely used by law enforcement agencies and militaries all over the world. It is a full-sized pistol with a 17-round magazine capacity. It is chambered in 9mm and is well-suited for both self-defense and duty use.

Glock 19 - The Glock 19 is a compact pistol that is popular for concealed carry. It has a reduced magazine capacity of 15 rounds, compared to the 17 rounds of the Glock 17. It is also chambered in 9mm and is well-suited for both self-defense and duty use.

Glock 26 - The Glock 26 is a subcompact pistol that is popular for concealed carry. It has a reduced magazine capacity of 10 rounds, compared to the 15 rounds of the Glock 19. It is chambered in 9mm and is well-suited for both self-defense and duty use.

Glock 43 - The Glock 43 is a single-stack 9mm pistol that is popular for concealed carry. It has a reduced magazine capacity of 6 rounds, compared to the 10 rounds of the Glock 26. It is well-suited for self-defense use, but is not recommended for duty use.

Let's take a deeper look into our choices for the top 7 9mm Glock Pistols.

Glock 19 Gen 3

The Honda Civic of handguns, the Gen 3 Glock 19 is a basic workhorse pistol that strikes a near-ideal balance between capacity/capability and compactness for daily carry. It's the single most popular handgun in existence.

The Glock 19 has a 4-inch barrel, 15+1 capacity, and a railed frame to accept a weapon light. It's not the smallest gun in the world, but it's practical enough as an EDC gun for just about anyone and has all the capability a person could need from a handgun.

Aftermarket support is ridiculous, in everything from parts to Glock 19 9mm holsters and more.

If you were only going to buy one pistol, this is the one you get.

Glock 43 9mm

The Glock 43 was Glock's answer to the Shield, the XD-S and the Walther PPS, as a slim, subcompact single-stack 9mm. For those who prefer the smallest gun possible or want the smallest 9mm they can get as a backup gun, this is the Glock for you.

The G43 has a 3.4-inch barrel, is less than an inch wide, less than 6.5 inches long, and weighs about 18 oz unloaded. It's slim, light, and easy to make disappear almost anywhere on the body. Capacity is only 6+1, but you're not going to find a better Rule 1 gun from any gun maker.

Glock 17 9mm

The Glock 17 is a workhorse service pistol that's been trusted for duty use by police, militaries, as a competition pistol and otherwise handheld implement of personal defense for almost 40 years.

The average police officer in the United States has a Glock 17 in their duty holster. So does the average policeman worldwide. So do many soldiers of the world's militaries. 

The only thing that a person could have against the Glock 17 is a slightly long trigger reach for some shooters (2.83 inches for Gen 3 guns, 2.76 inches for the Gen 5 guns) and larger dimensions that make it less than ideal for concealed carry…but some folks make it work.

If you wanted a workhorse gun that you probably weren't gonna try to concealed carry…this is the Glock 9mm for you.

It's also worth mentioning the Glock 47, which uses the Glock 45's frame and the 17's slide and a slightly different barrel, essentially an extended Glock 19 barrel that fits in a Glock 17's slide. The Glock 47 has replaced the Glock 17 MOS in their product lineup, but won't replace the 17 entirely. If you wanted an optics-ready version, the 47 is now your only factory option.

Glock 48/ 48 MOS

The Glock 48 and 48 MOS are the thinking man's Glock 9mm for concealed carry. The 48 has a lot of the capabilities of a Glock 19 but in a slimmer package. The MOS model adds a frame rail and an optic cut for red dots that use the Shield RMSc footprint.

The Glock 48 uses some Gen 5 components, including some trigger components and the Glock Marksman Barrel, which has been found to be much more accurate than the polygonally rifled barrels of previous generations.

The standard model has 10+1 capacity, but Shield Arms S15 magazines (along with an upgraded mag catch) give the gun 15+1 capacity…same as a Glock 19, but with a shorter trigger reach and slimmer grip for much easier concealment.

Some people get hung up on the 4.2-inch barrel, but those who have seen the light that grip length and shape matter more (the barrel is below your belt and therefore the length doesn't matter!) find the Glock 48 and 48 MOS strike a slightly better balance between shootability and ease of carrying.

Glock 34

If you're done with subtlety, the Glock 34 is anything but subtle. It's a longslide model that's very popular with competition shooters but has also found some adoption in law enforcement.

The longer slide and barrel tend to mitigate some recoil and the longer sight radius is friendlier for accurate shooting. Essentially, it's a Glock 17 with a 5.3-inch barrel instead of a 4.5-inch barrel; otherwise everything else is the same.

The Gen 5 guns slightly decrease the trigger reach and improve the trigger press, have the (generally more accurate) Glock Marksman Barrel, and have an available MOS model that's milled for a red dot sight.

Glock 43X and 43X MOS

If you wished the grip of the 43 was a little bigger, there's the 43X. It uses the Glock Slimline frame just like the 48, but has a Glock 43 slide and barrel.

The extra 0.7 inches of grip make the 43X a little easier as a shooter's pistol, and reasonable to carry as well. The MOS model adds a railed frame and a milled slide for mounting an optic.

Just like the 48, the Glock 43X can use the Shield Arms S15 magazines to bump capacity to 15+1 of 9mm, which means a lot of firepower in a slim, compact gun…that can take a compact light and an RMR, if you get the MOS model.

Glock 19 Gen 5 and Gen 5 MOS

A lot of people contend the Glock 19 Gen 5 is almost perfect out of the box. No trigger upgrade really needed, no barrel upgrade needed, get the MOS if you want to add a dot, and there's just not much that would really improve the gun.

The Glock Gen 5 pistols add a number of features and upgrades over the Gen 3 guns. As a result, they cost a little more. The question becomes "is it worth it" and the answer appears to be a resounding yes.

The Gen 5 pistols have a revised trigger design, with smoother travel, a more defined wall and a better break, nearly as good as a Walther or H&K pistol. The Glock Marksman Barrel is traditionally rifled with a revised crown for greater accuracy. The controls are ambidextrous, so the gun is easy for lefties (switch the mag catch and boom) to live with.

More accurate, a better trigger, and with swappable backstrap panels and forward cocking serrations. If you want to add an optic (or just have the capability) the MOS model is milled for an adapter plate. You can buy Glock's or get one from the aftermarket such as those by C&H Precision.

The Glock 19 has always been a compact workhorse gun, but the Gen 5 versions are really good.

Glock 9mm Pistol Specs

To give you a little bit more in the way of reference, here are the specifications for each gun listed above. This should give you an idea of the dimensions, so you can get a rough picture of size comparison.

While pistol size and suitability for concealed carry is rather fluid (some people have no issues carrying a 1911, some can't be bothered to carry anything larger than a J-frame) it's generally accepted that the bigger the gun, the more of a hassle it is as an EDC pistol. That's up to you.

So, with that said, the tale of the tape…

The weight figure here is unloaded with no magazine.

Bear in mind that the MSRP is approximate; Glock doesn't advertise MSRP so these figures are a rough average using prices from a few different large national retailers. You may be able to find any one of these pistols for less.

Bear in mind also that there are Gen 3 and Gen 5 versions of the Glock 17 and Glock 34, as well as models with steel sights and models with night sights. Gen 5 MOS models with night sights can easily top $700.

Regardless of the Glock model you choose, you're bound to get a great firearm. Head over to Glock's website to do your own comparison shopping of all of the Glock 9mm pistols. 

Looking for the best Glock for a specific activity? Here are some of our recommendations...

Best Glock for Concealed Carry

What's the best Glock for concealed carry? There is no definitive answer to this question since it depends on personal preferences, use case, and a number of other factors. However, many people recommend the Glock 19 for concealed carry because it is compact and easy to conceal, yet it still has good magazine capacity. However, the Glock 43, 43X/43XMOS and 48/48MOS also make a strong case for themselves in the right context.

Best Glocks for Duty Carry

The best Glocks for duty carry is likewise arguable. There are many Glock models that can be suitable for duty carry, but some may better choices than others. The Glock 17, Glock 47, Glock 45, Glock 19X, Glock 19, and Glock 34 are all popular options that can work well for duty use. The Glock 22 and Glock 23 are also good choices, and the Glock 21 is also a viable option for those who prefer a .45 ACP pistol.

Best Glock for Home Defense

Best Glock for Home Defense - In general, any Glock is a good choice for home defense. However, there are a few specific Glock models that may be better suited for this purpose. A full-size pistol with a frame rail for a pistol light (which should be large enough to illuminate the interior of your home; a full-size weapon light is best) and possibly an optics-ready model at that. The Glock 19, 17, 47 and 34 models would be excellent choices here.

Best Glock Backup Gun

Best Glock Backup Gun - The best Glock backup gun is subjective and depends on the individual's needs and preferences. Some people may prefer a smaller, lighter backup gun for concealment purposes, while others may prefer a larger gun with more stopping power for self-defense.

Best Glock Competition Pistol

Best Glock Competition Pistol - The Glock 34 Gen5 MOS is a Glock competition pistol that has been modified for superior performance. It features a longer barrel and slide, a ported barrel and slide, and a reversible magazine release. It also has the MOS (Modular Optic System) for mounting an optic. It's a popular pistol for USPSA, IPSC, IDPA and the multigun sports as well.

Best Overall Glock Pistol

On balance, most would contend the Best Overall Glock Pistol is the Glock 19 Gen 3 9mm pistol as the overall best. It is reliable, accurate, affordable, and easy to carry and conceal. It is also easy to use and maintain, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a quality firearm. The Gen 5 model adds a little bulk, but ups the features with modular backstraps and some improved internals, but a little less aftermarket support.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of the 9mm pistol offerings by Glock? Sound off in the comments below!

About The Author

Born in southeastern Washington State, Sam Hoober graduated in 2011 from Eastern Washington University. He resides in the great Inland Northwest, with his wife and child. His varied interests and hobbies include camping, fishing, hunting, and spending time at the gun range as often as possible.