Which Glock Is Right for You? A Practical Guide Before You Buy

If you’ve decided you want a Glock, you’ve already narrowed the field quite a bit. Then you walk up to the case and realize there are still a whole lot of choices.

Glock 17. Glock 19. Glock 26. Glock 43X. Glock 48. MOS or non-MOS. Full-size, compact, subcompact, slimline. And if you ask five Glock owners which one you should buy, there’s a decent chance you’ll get five different answers.

That’s because there really isn’t one “best” Glock. There’s a Glock that makes the most sense for what you want to do with it. With Glocktober underway at The Machine Gun Nest, and Maryland’s upcoming 2027 changes giving people another reason to look at their options now, we figured this was a good time to break down some of the most popular choices.

Glock 17: The Full-Size Classic

The Glock 17 is where a lot of people start, especially if concealment isn’t the main goal. It’s a full-size pistol with a longer grip and barrel, which gives you plenty of surface area to work with. For many shooters, that makes it comfortable to grip and easier to control.

If your primary use is range shooting, training, home defense, or just owning a solid full-size handgun, the 17 deserves a look. The downside is pretty straightforward: it’s a bigger gun. If you eventually plan to carry concealed, that extra size may matter.

Glock 19: The Middle Ground

There’s a reason the Glock 19 comes up so often when someone asks for a handgun that can do a little bit of everything. It’s smaller than the 17 but still large enough for most people to get a comfortable grip. It works well on the range, can serve as a home-defense pistol, and is compact enough that plenty of people carry one.

If you’re buying your first Glock and you’re not completely sure what role it will eventually fill, the 19 is usually worth trying. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s the right choice. Someone with larger hands may prefer the 17, while someone who knows concealment is the priority may want something slimmer. But there’s a reason the 19 has become such a common starting point.

Glock 26: Small Doesn't Always Mean Easier

The Glock 26 gives you a much smaller package while sticking with the traditional double-stack Glock design. That can make it appealing for concealed carry, but this is where we always remind people that a smaller handgun isn’t necessarily an easier handgun to shoot.

You have less grip to hold onto, and smaller guns can feel more difficult to control depending on the shooter. If concealability is high on your list, the 26 is absolutely worth considering. Just don’t choose it solely because it looks like the easiest option for a newer shooter. This is one you’ll want to shoot before making that decision.

Glock 43X: Slimmer, With More Grip to Work With

The 43X has become a popular option for people who want a thinner handgun without going extremely small. Its slim profile can make it easier to conceal, while the longer grip gives your hand more room than you’d get with some smaller carry pistols.

For someone looking specifically for a carry-oriented Glock, the 43X is one we’d put on the comparison list. Hand size still matters, though. Some people pick up a 43X and immediately love how it feels, while someone else may shoot a wider Glock significantly better.

Glock 48: Slim, But With a Little More Length

The Glock 48 shares a lot with the 43X but gives you a longer slide and barrel. For someone who likes the slimmer feel of the 43X but wants something closer to the proportions of a compact pistol, the 48 can be an interesting middle ground.

Put the 43X and 48 next to each other and you can immediately see the family resemblance. Shoot them, though, and you may find you have a clear preference. That’s exactly why we like people to compare rather than buy from a spec sheet.

What About MOS?

You’ll also see MOS versions of several Glock models. MOS stands for Modular Optic System, and in practical terms, it gives you a pistol that’s set up to accept compatible pistol optics.

If you know you want to run a red dot or think you probably will in the future, it’s worth considering an MOS model from the beginning. Red dots have become incredibly common on defensive and range pistols, but there’s still a learning curve involved. If you’ve never shot a handgun with an optic, try one before deciding whether it’s something you want on your setup.

Don't Buy the Glock Your Friend Tells You to Buy

We see this all the time: someone comes in knowing exactly what they want because their friend, brother, coworker, or guy at the range told them, “This is the one you need.” Sometimes they’re right. Other times, the person picks it up and immediately realizes it doesn’t feel right at all.

Your hand size, grip strength and experience all matter. So does your comfort with recoil and, probably most importantly, what you’re actually planning to do with the gun. A handgun that’s great for spending an afternoon on the range isn’t necessarily the handgun you’ll want to conceal every day, and the smallest pistol you can find isn’t automatically the best choice for a new shooter.

There are tradeoffs with every option, which is why we’d rather have someone compare a few guns than buy one simply because somebody else loves theirs.

Shoot Them Before You Decide

This is one of the biggest advantages of buying from a range instead of choosing a handgun based entirely on internet reviews: you can actually shoot them. If you’re deciding between a Glock 17 and 19, shoot both. If you’re looking at a 43X because you want something slimmer, compare it with the other options you’re considering.

While you’re shooting, pay attention to more than whether you hit the target. Can you get a comfortable grip? Can you reach the controls naturally? How does the recoil feel? Can you manipulate the slide comfortably? Do you actually enjoy shooting it?

A handgun can look perfect on paper and still be completely wrong for you. Spending some time comparing your options on the range can tell you a lot more than another hour of reading reviews online.

Glocktober Is Here at TMGN

October is Glocktober at The Machine Gun Nest, so if you’ve been thinking about buying one, this is a pretty good time to come figure out which one actually fits you. We’re running Glocktober packages throughout the month with options to build out your setup with lights, optics and other accessories.

Maryland’s handgun rules are also changing in 2027, which gives anyone already considering a Glock another reason not to wait until the last minute to figure out what they want. Come in, handle a few different models, rent the ones you’re considering and shoot them side by side.

You may walk in convinced you want one Glock and leave knowing another one is a much better fit. That’s exactly why we have the range.