In 2018, Glock introduced its first crossover pistol, the G19X chambered for 9 mm Luger. This model came unconventionally mixed-matched with existing features found in other Glock pistols. By pairing a G19 Compact-size slide assembly with the Standard-size frame of a G17, the resultant pistol came a bit handier and lighter than the company's G17 while also preserving a duty-size pistol's ammunition capacity.
Once the coyote-tan 19X was out of the gate, there were Glock fans who hoped the company would keep expanding the crossover lineup. Glock did add the G45, which is essentially a black 19X with front slide serrations, but there were those who wanted the opposite of the 19X treatment, meaning, a G17-size slide atop a G19 frame. The logic was that such a gun would provide a duty-size pistol's worth of sight radius and ammunition performance with a more concealed-carry friendly grip frame.
Those who hoped for the colloquially named "G19L" (the L is for Long) would have to wait for it to arrive on dealers’ shelves until November 2023. Dubbed the G49 Gen5 MOS, this long-anticipated model is the result of TALO Distributors teaming up with Glock to offer it as an exclusive Glock-pattern pistol. Its G17-type slide assembly makes this pistol 0.67" longer than the typical G19 while keeping the 4.9" height. This leaves room in the grip for the G19's 15-round double-stack magazines. Because the G49 is an exclusive model, it's not quite as easy to come by as the regular-run models. But I was able to wrangle one for this evaluation.
In production since 2017, the Gen5 models are described by the company as offering more than 20 modifications when compared to previous generations. When it comes to die-hard fans of a given platform, whether or not next generation changes qualify as improvements will be hotly debated. But as a Glock shooter who "grew up" with the Gen3 guns, I've found very little, if anything, to genuinely complain about in regards to the Gen5 feature set.
The Austrian-made G49 is a locked-breech, short-recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol chambered for 9 mm Luger. It arrives in a familiar foam-lined, black polymer storage case, which contains the pistol, two interchangeable backstraps and three 15-round metal-lined polymer magazines. The bright orange Gen5 followers are much easier to spot through the witness holes. Because this is an optics-ready model, one RMR-compatible 02 MOS optics mounting plate, with hardware, is included. The remaining accessories include a magazine loader, a cleaning rod, bore brush, owner's manual and a cable lock.
The steel slide features a matte black diamond-like carbon treatment (nDLC) with front and rear cocking serrations. Thankfully, the dimensions of the MOS cutout will accommodate a variety of optics while leaving the rear sight in place. The sighting system is of the typical Glock variety, consisting of a white-dot post front sight aligned with a dovetailed, square-notch rear sight. Other slide features include a rounded nose for easier reholstering, a reinforced recoil assembly support loop, a polymer slide plate installed at the back and a duplicate of the frame's serial number laser engraved just below the beveled ejection port. The right-side extractor also serves as a visible and tactile loaded-chamber indicator.
The interior of the slide features a wedge-shaped firing pin safety plunger in place of the rounded button-like plunger used for many years. According to Glock, this change in plunger shape is intended to contribute to long-term durability, a smoother trigger pull and an improved trigger reset. At the same time, the formerly wedge-like tip of the striker has been rounded like a more typical firing pin.
The 4.49" long Glock Marksman barrel features a competition-style recessed crown to help protect the rifling at the muzzle. These barrels have been tightened up in and around their chambers and rifling for improved accuracy. The barrel is supported by a dual recoil-spring assembly reminiscent of the Gen4 version but about a quarter of an inch longer.
The G49's frame is of the two-pin variety in which the locking-block pin has been omitted. A look inside with the slide assembly removed reveals the slide lock is supported by a coil spring and four-piece trigger return spring assembly. Modifications made to the Gen5 frames in order to accommodate the roughly V-shaped, one-piece ambidextrous slide stop lever are also visible.
The dustcover is molded to serve as a single-slot, Picatinny-compatible accessory rail. The forward surface of the trigger guard is curved and textured to serve as a finger rest with a beveled, undercut connection where it meets the grip. The external controls include a takedown slider, a curved polymer trigger with an integral blade safety, a reversible rectangular magazine release button and the aforementioned ambidextrous slide stop.
The Gen5 grip configuration blends features of previous generations with a few new changes to provide the best hand-to-pistol fit yet. The front strap is finger-groove-free, all four sides feature the effective rough textured frame surface and the backstrap is grooved to accept the medium and large interchangeable backstrap inserts provided with the pistol. The magazine well is flared with a beveled inner edge to aid in smoother reloads. The magazine baseplates are slightly larger so that they can still be gripped and manually stripped out of the magazine well, if needed.
At the shooting range, the G49 exhibited that often-elusive "it" factor. Due to the differences in individuals' personal preferences, hand shapes and model familiarity, I can't say that everyone will have the exact same experience I did. But for me, the features of this pistol harmonized to provide a just-right fit.
The pistol was utterly reliable with all ammunition tested while exhibiting the moderate and controllable levels of felt recoil that contribute to the 9 mm cartridge's popularity. Test magazines included the three provided with the pistol along with a mix of older 17-round Glock factory and Magpul PMAG magazines, all of which were reliable as well. But it was the grip shape and the pistol's balance that caught my attention. I didn't have to focus on forming a shooting grip since my hands just fit in where they were supposed to go. This contributed to the gun pointing naturally and shooting comfortably.
Formal bench-rested accuracy testing was conducted at 25 yards using the top-notch 24 mm lens Swampfox Liberty II RMR footprint 3-m.o.a. green dot optic (LBT21-3G; $289). The 9 mm ammunition used for this portion of the evaluation included the Hornady Critical Defense, SIG Sauer M17 and Winchester USA Ready loads. Here are the results:
As I've worked with various semi-automatic pistols over the years, I've developed a taste for the long-slide configurations. I'm glad to say that Glock hasn't been shy about providing enthusiasts, like me, with extended upper assemblies. Model options have included the 9 mm G19L and the competition-style G34, along with the G40 chambered in 10 mm Auto for handgun hunting. However, as much as I like long slides for their good looks and down-range performance, in many cases, the added weight and larger than standard slide lengths do not lend themselves well to comfortable concealed carry.
The G49 Gen5 is a different story. In this case we are talking about a standard-size slide with a compact grip frame. This combination is a just-right size for comfortable carry while squeezing a bit more performance out of the ammunition fired. It can be argued by some that a half inch, give or take, here or there, does not make all that much of a difference. But for those of us who do care about these things, this TALO exclusive model is, well, kind of perfect.
TALO Exclusive Glock G49 MOS Specifications:
Manufacturer: Glock Inc.
Action Type: recoil-operated, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 9 mm
Barrel: 4.49" Glock Marksman; six-groove, 1:9.84" RH-twist rifling
Frame: matte-black polymer
Magazine: 15-round detachable box
Sights: polymer white dot front, white outline square-notch rear
Trigger: striker-fired; 5-lb., 10-oz. pull
Overall Length: 7.95"
Height: 4.49"
Width: 1.30"
Weight: 23.4 ozs. (with 15-round magazine)
Accessories: Foam lined carry case, MOS optics hardware, two backstrap inserts, three magazines, magazine loader, cleaning rod, bore brush, cable lock, owner's manual
MSRP: $745
