I’m not entirely sure what the purpose of the Glock 45 or any full size grip/carry slide is meant to do. Other than appendix carry I can not figure out the advantages over just carrying a G17 and calling it a day. I’ll also agree in the age of RDS the extra slide length serves no purpose other than change recoil impulse. That said, I have never shot a G45 but have considerable trigger time behind a G19, G17, and G34. My shooting preference being to the recoil impulse of the G34, however, I’m shooting the G19 very well these days. My son (21) has expressed and interest in obtaining a G45 MOS, but hasn’t adequately expressed what he wants it do. He has a G19 and P365 for CCW, and a few other guns as range toys. He has shot the G17 but does not have much time behind the G34. He has larger hands than I do, so he likes the G17 grip, so I get that aspect. He thinks it’s going to be a home defense gun with an RMR plus light. In light of that, I’m asking why not a 17 or 34, to which I have yet to hear a good answer. My ultimate question is that I read the G45 has a great shooting feel. Some have said it has great balance. If the G47 was available on the civilian market I’d be pushing him there, as it would offer him the best of both worlds. To those that have shot the G19, G17, G34, and the G45, what am I missing? What makes you like the G45 over other models in the line up as a home defense weapon?

I bought my G45 just because I liked how it looks and feels . Nothing really better than my G17 . Have no interest in concealed carry .
On the 19 the grip is a little short for me and in my opinion the G34 looks stupid .
Glocks are cheap. Buy one of each .

The G45 was technically specifically for duty belt use from what I gather. You gain all the overall functionality of a G17 but lose some length in the barrel that is always poking something or other along with all the rest of the duty belt crap.

Some have argued it clears leather faster but I suspect you have to already be a fairly high level shooter to realize any real gains here.

For a pure HD gun I, personally, would go for a 17/34 or the other caliber variations there of.

For an actual all a rounder, again me personally, I would go G19/23.

I do think the G45 is cool though and I suspect I would like the way they handle as I like my P30 which is very G45 like. Full/almost full size grip, compact’ish slide.

I like the shorter barrel for uniform carry. Its basically a civilian 19x. I find that our guys add their tac light and the shorter barrel doesn't matter as the light sticks out past the barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by BennerP220:
I like the shorter barrel for uniform carry. Its basically a civilian 19x. I find that our guys add their tac light and the shorter barrel doesn't matter as the light sticks out past the barrel.

That was another issue I brought up to him, if you choose a full size light you lose any advantage of the shorter barrel. While my HD gun happens to be a 17 w/ an SF x300, the light attached to a 34 flush to the barrel looks more aesthetically pleasing. We saw a 19x yesterday, but I think he’s feeling the special 19x mags make the 45 more appealing, most likely because he’ll try to raid my stash of 17/34 mags. In the end, it will be his choice I just want to understand the attraction. The duty belt issue makes sense.

Given that there's no military G19X, The G19X is civilian. The G45 is a less ugly 19X.

I presume that for most it's the same logic/progression/ideology as 1911's Commander vs Government size. Or SIG Sauer's Carry vs Full size.

For myself I find the principle of having a shorter slide being less intrusive in terms of carrying concerns regarding comfort more than any incumbrances related to a duty belt, since I'm not a person who has need for such a device. While I'd rather not have to deal with concealing a grip height of a G17 or G45, having 1/2" less length to a gun for me to deal with IWB does make a comfort difference to someone of my body height and size if I were to carry my G45 in my IWB holster. At the position on my waist where I carry (4:00 to 5:00), I can mostly get away with concealing a G17-height grip if suddenly all my G19/G23 guns were to break and my G45 was my only working option in that length of gun. Whereas the same generation G17 would not be preferred due to its longer length.

I didn't actually need to buy my G45. But I find that with the Gen5 Glocks the full size grip points darn near perfectly for me, while the compact frame of the G19 feels strangely more awkward than with earlier generations of the G19/G23/G32; the 'hump' of the backstrap is that much more noticeable whenever I handle a Gen5 G19, something that never was an issue with the finger groove generations or even the longer LOP Gen2 design. In Gen5 form it's the full size guns that feel great in-hand and come up brilliantly for me. So in my case when I decided to buy my first Gen5, I initially passed on the longer Gen5 G17 and G34, completely ignore the G19 and chose the G45 because ergonomically and fit-wise it works better for my hands and body frame.

Well, I meant designed for military. I'm not sure if any military adopted it. I agree, the 45 is better looking and essentially the same gun with front serrations and no protruding lanyard hole.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
Given that there's no military G19X, The G19X is civilian. The G45 is a less ugly 19X.

I run an optic (RMR) on it. There is zero reason the have any extra barrel length and weight hanging off it. I prefer the longer grip over the 19. It carries easily (IWB for me), shoots well and like the story of the three bears is just right between a 17 and a 19.

The 45 is my favorite Glock, I like the balance and fit.

I have a Glock 45 and love it. The shorter slide makes a big difference if you spend alot of time in a vehicle. I like the fact that it has a full sized grip and takes normal mags. For me, it is just as accurate as a Glock 17.

You’re really over thinking this.

Glock 45s are great, for me they have a more natural point ability and balance that has a quicker return to target. They aren’t quite as bad for me with “Glock angle” elevation shift either.

It’s still a full-sized Glock and isn’t going to be THAT different from a 17.

The euro standard size is actually pretty common (P30,vp9,FN 509 ect.Even the M&P) and works very well. People talk like they want the opposite (longer slide) but those models both don’t sell better and never really shoot better. Most times it’s a half to one inch difference.

It’s a $600 Glock not a house or Luxury car or something. Buy one he likes and take him shooting. Get an MOS model or mill it and add a dot. Surefire or tlr 1-hl or 7a. Done.

My G45 is my favorite Glock. I shoot it more than my G17. I bought a G19 Gen 5 lower for two something and use it with my G45 slide for EDC but for range fun I prefer my G45.

19X and No regrets. The 19&17 see less use now. I like the balance and have an RMR milled...more comfy than 19 slightly smaller than the 17. Plus it takes all of my gen 4 G17 mags for which I have a ton. I could honestly get by with just the 19X and the p365 but fortunately don’t have to worry about that. Probably one of my favorite Glocks that I’ve owned.

Had the G45, wanted to like it, traded in my G17 for it, turns out I shot the 17 better, the G45 I couldn't get comfortable with even though other than the slide length it should have been similar.

Would like another, but probably would buy the 17 since I'm not going to carry the 45. Absolutely would get the MOS...

The first time I picked up a G45, I thought 'this is the Glock I've been searching for all my life'. Seriously. It feels great in my hand, and perfectly balanced.

My G17, G19x, G45 and Ruger PC Carbine all take the same magazines. My Gen 5 G17 mags need Gen 4 baseplates to fit the G19x but its a simple swap.

I think I like the balance of the G45 better than the G17. When I ccw I carry at 4 o’clock in a iwb kydex. The full size grip is a bit big for warm weather ccw but fine for cooler weather ccw. I recently got a S&W 6946 for warmer weather ccw.

I've never had a 17 so I'll have to get one someday. The 19 has been my favorite Glock forever but the 45 bumped it out of first place. The balance is just better for me but I've always preferred a commander size gun.

I shot the 19 better than anything else. The 45 gave me a longer grip and 2 more rounds. It is perfect.

Bruce

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RNshooter,

I like having the full size grip with the shorter barrel. I own a couple of G17s, a G19x and a G45. The G45 seems to be about right sized to me.

I did own a G19 for a while, but just didn't care for the feel of the short grip that much.