In 2024, the Glock 19 pistol is now one of the most popular pistols in the world and has millions of fans across the globe. There is a good reason for that, as it’s one of the best-made and easy to use handguns on Earth. But that doesn’t mean it’s not without problems.
There are in fact a few issues that commonly plague owners of the Glock 19 Gen 5. That’s never a good thing but those owners who are frustrated with their pistol should rest assured that most of the troubles they experience with the gun are easily solved.
By just following a few easy steps and tricks and tips, the Glock 19 can be working in excellent order again in no time.
If you haven’t already, check out our in-depth review of the Glock 19 here:
Glock 19 Gen 5 Problems
These problems aren’t necessarily only found on the generation 5 version. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve experienced any of these and the generation of your Glock 19.
Ejection Issues
One common issue that Glock 19 Gen 5 owners highlight in reviews of the gun is the ejection. The ejection for this pistol is rather weak when compared to its competitors. The rounds from the gun seem to always hit parts of the shooter’s body, including the shoulder and heart and more.
Additionally, some of the casings seem to get stuck inside the body of the gun instead of properly being ejected. This could be for a number of reasons, although most people agree that the Glock 19 has a weak ejector in the gen 5 model. As well, the cut to the breech face for this gun changes how the extractor grabs hold and kicks out the round.
How To Fix It
The good news here is that Glock will handle this problem without much of a fuss. The bad news is that you’ll likely have to send your pistol in for them to adjust it.
If you don’t want to go through that hassle, you can simply install a Glock 19 X ejector into your gun. That requires more work on your part and a bit more expertise about your handgun but it could be worth it if you don’t want to send your gun away and wait for it to return.
MOS Problems
The MOS, or modular optic system, is the system that is built into the Glock 19 Gen 5 and provides it with the accurate little red dot that many shooters rely on. Unfortunately, more than a few people have complained about problems with the MOS in this Gen 5 model.
The issue here has to do with the literal construction of the weapon, unfortunately. The MOS is not milled deeply enough into the body of the gun. If you’re a gun expert, you may be able to solve this on your own but you really shouldn’t try, lest you want to impact and impair it.
How To Fix It
The best thing for you to do if you’re unhappy with the Glock 19’s MOS issues is to purchase the standard Gen5 and then have it custom-milled into your weapon. Yes, this will take you more time and will cost you a bit of money as well. But it’s really the best solution if you are someone who regularly relies on the MOS of your gun.
Trigger Problems
A gun is only as good as its trigger and there are some who complain about the Glock 19’s, especially after many uses.
The trigger in the Glock 19 Gen 5 becomes somewhat unresponsive after a while. In fact, some owners have complained that it can actually go completely dead even after just a few months of use. A dead trigger can make a gun completely ineffective and truly impossible to use. So what is the best solution if you are having trigger problems with your gun?
How To Fix It
You have a couple of options if your trigger is failing on your Glock 19 Gen 5. The first thing you should do is try to move the slide before racking the slide lock. This solves the problem for many people who complain of trigger issues.
You should also be sure that you keep your weapon clean and lubed up at all times, especially before and after using it.
If this doesn’t do it, your only other solution, unfortunately, is to send your weapon back to Glock so they can repair it. The good news is that this is a manufacturer’s problem so they will solve it without any questions asked. Their turnaround time when it comes to receiving, improving, and sending back your weapon is also rather fast too so you shouldn’t expect it to be gone for too long.
Barrel Issues
There are many people who complain about the body and barrel of the Glock 19 Gen 5 and say that it wears out quickly, even after less than one year of use. This is obviously a major problem because it can get in the way of how well the gun performs.
If this happens to you, it’ll become quite apparent. You’ll notice a wear and tear to the gorgeous black finish on the body of the pistol. Thankfully, the good news here is that the actual barrel of the gun is not being harmed or impaired, which means it should still work well and not cause any harm or risk of damage to you. But it can be quite an eyesore after a while.
How To Fix It
The best way to solve this problem is to apply oil to the gun often. The gun is typically quite strong and resistant to corrosion, but only if you are sure to apply gun oil to it.
The more often you use your handgun, the more often you should apply the gun oil to it. This will keep the body of the weapon looking great and feeling good too.
Slide Problems
Like every type of handgun, a fully functional slide is important if you wish to use your weapon with ease and accuracy and speed. Unfortunately, the Glock 19 Gen 5 has problems with its slide for many people. These owners complain that the stock doesn’t always lock when on empty.
At the same time, the slide is also hard to rack back too. It often gets stuck, often on .1-.25 inches back.
How To Fix It
There is a good chance that the slide release or the trigger bar could be causing the problems here. When you inspect your weapon, you should look for rubbing markets on the underside of the slide or the action parts. You should look closely and use a flashlight to make sure that you get a good look at every nook and cranny of your weapon.
The safety plunged inside the slide is depressed by the trigger bar, which works during the first ¼ inches of the slide movement. If this trigger bar is damaged, it can cause a lot of the slide problems that people experience with the Gen 5.
If your connector is misaligned, it might also be the culprit behind this problem. Each of these elements of the handgun should be inspected so you can see if there is damage, misalignment, or anything that needs to be repaired.
Hump Problems
There are more than a few owners of the Glock 19 Gen 5 who complain about a seemingly bizarre and unnecessary hump that is built directly into the base of the grip. This can prove to be uncomfortable for some people and can even alter the way that they hold the weapon and shoot.
This is purely a manufacturing choice by Glock, who determined that this was the look and feel they wanted for this generation of the 19.
How To Fix It
Unfortunately, nothing can easily be done about the hump at the base of the grip. This is a choice that Glock made and it’s something that cannot be altered unless you simply buy a new gun. The good news is that with enough practice, you’ll soon become more comfortable with the hump in the grip and you’ll soon forget about it.
If anything, the hump issues that some people have when it comes to the Gen 5 is just something they have to accept and adjust to. In the end, most people feel that they become okay with this cosmetic change to the body of the weapon.
There are some people online that will file down the hump in the grip and replace it with a flat piece of plastic. Might be a good solution if its really bothering you, but its definitely not a simple one.
Conclusion
The Glock 19 Gen 5 has a few problems that fans write about often but they also rave about the pistol and the way that it feels, weighs, and responds. We love our Glock 19s and it’s clear that Glock has made a very special type of handgun, even with the few problems that seem to pop up with some owners.
The good news about all of the problems discussed is that they have solutions. Although some of them require you to send the weapon back to the company for adjustments or repairs, some of them are things that you can fix on your own at home. If you happen to be one of the few people who experience this qualms, you will soon be using your gun with ease as if these problems never arose.
Let us know below if you’ve come across any issues we missed!
Growing up, John loved learning about the components of firearms and what makes them work, which still intrigues him to this day. He’s a very outdoorsy person, and he loves fishing, hunting, and skeet shooting. He is a firm believer in the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.