Why is the Glock 19 So Popular for Concealed Carry?

Since its introduction in 1988, the Glock 19 has become one of America’s favorite handguns. Many shooters, specialists, and industry experts agree that you simply can’t go wrong with the G19.

What makes the Glock 19 so popular for everyday concealed carry? How does the G19 continue topping the charts in the compact pistol category, even with the availability of newer, more compact models?

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How the Glock 19 Came to Be

The Glock 19 is a polymer-framed compact pistol chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.

The G19 was Glock’s first compact 9mm and their second model overall to hit the market (after the Glock 17), with the first-generation models (known as Gen 1 pistols) introduced in 1988.

As the compact version of the Glock 17, the G19 has the same highly-reliable mechanism, the same Safe-action trigger, and the same controls as its predecessor, but with slightly reduced dimensions.

Whereas the full-size pistol features a magazine capacity of 17 rounds - very high for its time, the Glock 19 carries 15 rounds, a still-respectable capacity even today.
Should you need more rounds, the G19 is also fully compatible with G17 standard and extended magazines.

When the G19 came to the market, the “Wonder Nine” trend meant there were many other handguns with the same chambering and capacity, but virtually all of them were full-size steel-framed duty pistols. Simply put, there was no equivalent for backup guns or  concealed carrying. The .38 Special revolvers filled this niche up until the advent of the G19.

The G19 became immensely popular with most law enforcement agencies in the United States, most notably the NYPD, with almost ⅔ of New York's finest adopting it by 1993.

The third-generation Glock 19 (referred to as Gen 3) introduced the now-standard underbarrel accessory rail, allowing shooters to install accessories such as a laser sight or a tactical light, improving its usefulness for personal protection.

Although Glock now produces concealed carrying-oriented pistols with much slimmer dimensions (e.g., Glock 34), the Glock 19 is still available today. The latest version of the Glock 19 is the  Generation 5 model, introduced in 2017.

Why the Glock 19 is Great for Concealed Carrying

In a few words, the Glock 19 is a popular choice for personal protection in general because it’s an all-rounder, adequate for virtually any purpose where a handgun might be suitable.

The Glock 19 features an overall length of 7.36”, a height of 5.04” with magazine inserted, and a width of 1.26”. These relatively large dimensions cause the Glock 19 to meet a compact pistol definition, but just barely. Some shooters would argue that it straddles the line between a compact and a full-size.

However, the loaded weight of a typical Glock 19 Gen 3 is approximately 30 oz, making it light enough as a backup gun or a concealed carry pistol. The relatively large dimensions mean it is more comfortable to hold and shoot than a smaller handgun (such as a subcompact or a snub-nose revolver), making it adequate for  duty or open carry.

There is no appreciable difference of accuracy between the longer-barreled Glock 17 (4.43”) and the Glock 19 (4.02”), and both pistols have the same trigger pull weight (5.5 to 6 lbs on average).

In other words, if you can shoot a Glock 17 well, you can also shoot the Glock 19 equally well, but with the benefits of a smaller handgun.

Since the G19 was introduced in 1988, it continues to enjoy massive popularity with civilian shooters and concealed carriers to this day. Many industry professionals consider the G19 the standard by which all compact 9mm pistols are compared.

Competing manufacturers have produced newer, more modern handguns for the explicit purpose of competing with the Glock 19, such as the Springfield XD9, the Smith & Wesson Shield, the SIG Sauer P320 Compact, or the CZ P-10.

Despite that, the Glock 19 remains at the top of the charts. As of 2020, it was still  among the best-selling handguns in America.

The Takeaway Message

There may be newer, better, more modern guns available today, including Glock’s newer Model 43, considered more compact and easier to carry.

Still, the G19 is one of the rare few Goldilocks pistols: Most experts consider the gun suitable for all-around use. The Glock19 also benefits from a large and well-established user base, an extensive aftermarket, and enduring popularity.

Shooters of all levels enjoy the Glock 19. First-time gun owners, concealed carriers, military and law enforcement personnel, and even special forces operators swear by the G19.

If this popular handgun is your choice for concealed carrying, you need a high-quality holster! Incognito Concealment makes some of the finest hand-crafted  Kydex holsters on the market. Whether you carry a G19 or any other handgun, we have a holster for you.

Our holsters are 100% made in America, tested to ensure perfect fit and retention. Call us at  (586) 999-5820 for information on any of our products.