Glock Releases Optics-Ready Glock 17, Glock 19 MOS — SHOT Show 2016

in Concealed Carry/EDC, SHOT Show 2016

Updated: January 18, 2016 BY Administrator

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MOS pistols are based on Glock’s Gen 4 design.

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Each pistol comes with four adapter plates.

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Read more at Glock: https://us.glock.com/

Buy a Glock pistol on GunsAmerica.com: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=glock

Last year Glock launched the Modular Optic System, or MOS, a system for mounting mini red dot sights on their handguns. Until now the MOS system has only been available for the 9mm Luger Glock 34, .40 S&W Glock 35, 10mm Auto Glock 40 and .45 ACP Glock 41—all of which are longslide pistols mostly used for competition.

New for SHOT Show 2016, Glock is releasing updated 9mm Glock 19 and Glock 17 pistols featuring MOS, based on their Gen 4 models. So what’s the big deal? The Glock 17 and Glock 19 are some of the most popular handguns on the market—used for everyday carry including concealed-carry, home protection and duty; by itself the Glock 19 is probably the most popular 9mm pistol in the world. So for the hordes of Glock fans out there—myself included—it really is a big deal.

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A Glock 19 and Glock 17 MOS, left and right, with Vortex Razor red dots installed.

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Shorter screws were required to install these with the included mounts.

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With the proliferation of competitively-priced micro red dot sights more folks want this option when it comes to their handguns. With a little practice, these sights make fast target acquisition particularly easy, and that’s important for all types of shooting, from competition and target shooting to self-defense.

Prior to the MOS series people looking to mount a red dot sight to their Glock pistols would have to buy base pistols and machine the slides for optics, which can not only be expensive, it voids the factory warranty. The other alternative has been to spend money to buy an aftermarket red-dot ready slide; both options costing in excess of $100—making this announcement a welcome addition. Furthermore, it could pave the way for more MOS variants in the future.

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The adapter plate system is easy to use.

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And the pistols come with the mounting hardware.

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Glock 17 and Glock 19 MOS models ship with standard Gen 4 accessories including three magazines and additional backstraps in addition to the MOS mounting plates and tools. The package includes four plates, a hex key and screws. The plates are numbered for identification—plate No. 1 is for Docter, plate No. 2 is for Trijicon, plate No. 3 is for C-More and plate No. 4 is for Leupold. All the plates including the cover plate maintains the serrations on the back of the slide for a sleek, uniformed finish that is nicely-done.

I found installation to be straightforward; once you figure out which mounting plate you need, remove the cover, attach the plate and install the new optic with the screws it comes with. I was able to mount Vortex Razor red dot sights using the N0. 3 adapter plate, although the provided screws from Vortex were too long, preventing the optic from mounting securely to the slide. This was a quick fix using shorter screws.

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This is what the slide looks like without a plate installed.

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Shown here with the slide cover, without screws.

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Shooting with the System

I shot the pistols unsuppressed and suppressed with a PTP Tactical Ranger 11B and had no issues with the guns or the MOS mounting plates. I did however have an issue with the Razor sight mounted to the Glock 17; it shut off after only a few rounds. The Razor on the Glock 19 MOS worked fine and had zero power issues, so we’ll have to have the other optic checked out by Vortex.

That brings up biggest pitfall to shooting with red dots over iron sights—reliability. You’re really going to want a micro red dot that can handle the recoil involved with a moving slide if your life is going to depend on it. I’d probably go for red dots that I don’t have to turn off and on and have either a really long battery life or don’t need a battery at all.

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Testing the system suppressed.

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The red dot on the Glock 17 didn’t make it through testing, though the host performed well.

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Factory Glock sights also do not co-witness with installed optics, either. A quick-detach mount, if possible, would serve well, since you probably won’t have a hex wrench on you when you need to remove the optic—another option would be to install taller suppressor sights.

If you’ve been considering buying a Glock, now is a great time. This new offering makes sense whether you have an optic ready to mount or are planning to get an optic in the future—you will have the option and flexibility when you are ready. Just the same, Glock will continue to manufacture basic Glock 17 and Glock 19 pistols alongside the new MOS models.

Of course we would all like to see something earth-shattering, like a 9mm carbine, but Glock just doesn’t work like that. The company takes time engineering, refining and simplifying new products to perfection before releasing to the market. Glock has definitely done that with the MOS system.

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