During our SHOT Coverage, we released a feature about the GLOCK 19X. The ‘odd’ concept pistol was met with internet controversy and more than a little curiosity. As to what’s odd and what’s not, here’s a short explanation.
The hard part of the handgun to hide when wearing concealed is the part you grip – the frame. Ideally, to hide the gun, you want a shorter grip. Some have cut GLOCK 19 pistol frames to take GLOCK 26 magazines – makes them easier to hide while keeping that sight radius a bit longer.
Others have taken the G19 and added a threaded barrel and muzzle device – a compensator. Doesn’t add sight radius, but they often use a red dot sight on those pistols. They keep the compact G19 frame, add a little length and that length keeps soot off the lens of the ever-present weapon light.
Are these people wrong or is GLOCK wrong?
Neither – those individuals find what meets their needs and GLOCK sought to fulfill a government contract that specified what the gun was to do. Wearing the gun concealed was not the major part of the MHS solicitation.
What do we end up with? A GLOCK 17 feeling gun with a faster, lighter slide/barrel. That means that quickly shooting with reasonable accurately is enhanced. It’s quite literally the GLOCK analog to the Colt Combat (that is, steel-frame) Commander. I was dragged along into liking that format of 1911 pistol back in 1979. I find the X-Ray has a lot to recommend it.
Trying to knock bowling pins back off of a table three feet wide takes full power ammo. Doing it quickly is what it took to win the match. But it was a fair analog to a fight. The Combat Commander was a great asset to placing in that game.
We’re not trying to cut the “X” out of a B-27 at 25 or 50 yards, we’re trying to hammer a number of hits into a ca-6” circle, often at very close distances. We still need to be able to stay in the “C” zone from fifty yards and the head box at 25 yards.
The handling features of the GLOCK 19X are subjective. I doubt everyone will like the combination. I was more a fan of the G19 than the GLOCK 17. Both are as reliable as a pistol can be. Historically not the most accurate 9mm pistols on the planet, they were accurate enough, very reliable and easily maintained.
Getting support gear – holsters, spare parts, magazines, etc. – was the easiest for any handgun available. In my quite subjective opinion, the G19X could well be “best of breed.”
We’ll see.
I took the opportunity of a less-than-terrible weather day to shoot a standardized course of fire – the Kansas C-POST annual Qualification – with the X-Ray. I used the ammo that many retired cops or other folks out for a day at the range would use: Winchester USA Forged 115 grain FMJ.
For the target, I went non-standard; I used the FBI-QIT (QIT-99) from Law Enforcement targets. It’s a truncated Q- ‘bottle’ with a central “X” box. The holster I used was the Safariland Model 576 GLS Pro-Fit Holster. The Compact size fits a good many ca.-4” barrel autos. The holster uses the Grip Locking System to keep the gun from falling out. The adjustable holster body is made to fit a wide variety of guns with a single holster.
The course requires shooting from very close range out to 25 yards. There’s some shooting on the move and shooting with either hand. I turned a few of the closer three-shot strings into “failure drills,” printing a pair center then putting a single in the upper scoring area. I had one “head” shot go just above the scoring box. Six shots strayed out of the center X-scoring area but stayed well in the “bottle.”
As it was quite cold, I was very happy with the results. I figure that, given a better day, perhaps different ammo (but perhaps not), I could tighten that up.
While I was about it, I used a pair of Magpul PMAG 17 GL 9 magazines. One had the Apex J-Plate base pad installed. Both Magpul units worked just fine: they fit, even with the Apex base pad, and fed.
The X-Ray has yet to choke, but I’ve not gotten to shoot it a lot. I intend to follow this trip up with more examination on later trips.
We’ll see if it wins “best of breed.”
- - Rich Grassi