Every Glock on this list has a GunsAmerica Digest review or hands-on test behind it, and the details below come from that work. If you are shopping 9mm in general and not just Glock, start with our best 9mm pistols of 2026<\/a> guide, which puts the Glock family up against the HK, Springfield, and CANiK competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ranked eight of the best Glock pistols by job: carry, duty, home defense, competition, and big-bore work. Read the buyer’s guide first so you know which size and generation you actually need, then pick your Glock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every Glock runs the same basic Safe Action system, so choosing among the best Glock pistols is mostly about size, capacity, and features. Here is how to sort it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Glock sizes are the whole game. Slimlines like the G43X and G48 are single-stack width with more capacity than the original G43. The G19 is the compact that does everything. Crossovers like the G45 put a G19 length slide on a full-size G17 grip. The G17 and G47 are full-size duty guns, and the G34 is the long-slide competition model. Our updated look at which Glock Slimline to carry in 2026<\/a> breaks down the G43, G43X, and G48 in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen5 is the current mainstream standard: no finger grooves, the Glock Marksman barrel, an ambidextrous slide stop, a flared magwell, and a better trigger than Gen3. Gen4 guns are still great buys used, especially MOS models. Some models, like the G43X and G48, use a hybrid Slimline frame, so check the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MOS stands for Modular Optic System. The slide is cut to accept mounting plates for a range of red dots. If you are buying new in 2026, buy MOS. Even if you never mount a dot, it keeps the gun relevant, and the price difference has always been small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most shooters should buy 9mm. It is cheap, soft shooting, and holds the most rounds. The G21 in .45 Auto makes sense if you want a big bullet with 13 round capacity. Glock’s 10mm guns are covered in our 10mm guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No pistol has a bigger aftermarket than Glock. Sights, triggers, holsters, and magazines are everywhere. Standard Glock magazines are affordable, and aftermarket magazines, like Shield Arms flush-fit mags for the Slimlines, can change what a gun is capable of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buy the Glock that fits how you carry, not the one that looks best in the case. A full-size gun on a belt in the house is great. Carried inside the waistband all day, a Slimline or G19 is far easier to live with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 19 is quite possibly the most popular handgun on earth, and there is a reason. I called it the pickup truck of firearms in my piece on why I carry one: it does not do any one job the best, but it does every job pretty well. It is big enough to enjoy shooting on the range, the wide body spreads recoil out, and the sight radius makes hits easy. It carries 15+1 rounds of 9mm and still conceals under a shirt with a good holster. The G19 was extremely common in Special Forces during my time, and it has been beaten on in every environment imaginable. If you can only own one Glock, this is it. The piece linked below is an opinion column, not a lab-style test, so treat it as a lived-it endorsement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 19 review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock 19 on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock G47 MOS started as a Customs and Border Protection gun, and now anybody can buy one. It is a full-size, optics-ready 9mm that shares parts with the G19 Gen5, which is a big deal for anyone running both. It has all the Gen5 features, including a chiseled muzzle for easier reholstering and front slide serrations for press checks. Our reviewer mounted an Ameriglo Haven red dot easily, used the dot to rack the slide off a bench and a holster, and carried the full-size gun appendix in an Alien Gear Photon holster. At 25 yards the smallest group measured 1.4 inches with Winchester Active Duty 115 grain FMJ. His verdict: the G47 performed flawlessly. Point, shoot, repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock G47 MOS review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock G47 MOS on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 45 is a Glock 19 length slide on a Glock 17 grip, the same crossover concept people laughed at with the coyote-tan G19X and then bought by the truckload. The G45 is the black version that law enforcement asked for, and it adds front slide serrations and a flared magwell for faster reloads. Our reviewer called the balance excellent and credited the improved rifling and milled crown of the Marksman barrel for making it a real shooter. He ran about 500 rounds of a wide variety of ammo over two days, including a Steel Challenge match and a lot of Mozambique drills, with zero malfunctions. The best group came from Speer Gold Dot LE 115 grain, including two in one hole. It became one of his favorite Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 45 review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock 45 on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 17 is where it all started, and the MOS version made it relevant for the red dot era. The top rear of the slide is machined to accept mounting plates for a range of optics, which is the entire point of the MOS system. Our reviewer, a long-time member of the Glock fan club, tested a Gen4 G17 MOS and made the case that the small MSRP bump for the MOS cut, about $60 over the standard Gen4, is cheap insurance that keeps the pistol relevant for years. Our test gun had a 4.48 inch barrel, weighed 25.06 ounces, and carried 17+1. If you want a full-size Glock and can find a clean used Gen4 MOS or a new Gen5 MOS, the G17 is still a benchmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 17 MOS review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock 17 MOS on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 43X keeps the slim, short 3.41 inch barrel of the G43 but extends the grip by three-quarters of an inch, which bumps factory capacity from 6 to 10 rounds. That extra grip is what makes it easier to handle and shoot while staying under G19 size. It has a built-in beavertail to prevent Glock bite, and our test gun shipped with Ameriglo Bold sights, which I highly recommend. The big story is the aftermarket: Shield Arms makes a 15 round flush-fit magazine for the 43X, and with a baseplate it goes to 20. I was skeptical, but those magazines ran flawlessly. With them, the 43X is a serious contender for one of the best CCW guns of all time. Even at 10 rounds from the factory, it is pretty damn good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 43X review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock 43X on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 48 is the skinny Glock 19 concept: a Slimline grip with a longer slide and barrel. Our reviewer, who has shot Glocks since the original 17L, said it felt better than any Glock he had ever handled because the reduced grip circumference and trigger reach finally fit his hand. It weighs 20.75 ounces, runs 7.28 inches long, and holds 10+1 from the factory. On the range, the first box of ammo went off with no sign of malfunction, and he averaged just over 2.4 seconds on Bill Drills from the hip at 7 yards. The trigger broke at an average of 6.2 pounds, a little heavier than he liked, but it was more than good enough to shoot full magazines of headshots at 15 to 20 yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 48 review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock 48 on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 34 Gen5 is the long-slide 9mm that is equally at home in a match or a fight. The longer slide gives you more sight radius and helps the gun track back onto target. I ran a G34 as a race gun in both USPSA and 3 Gun for years, so I will own my bias, but I called the Gen5 34 Glock’s first ever out-of-the-box race-ready pistol. The trigger is not as good as some aftermarket jobs, but it is an improvement over Gen3. It is MOS configured, so it is red dot ready without a trip to the gunsmith. Our test gun ran ETS 31 and 22 round magazines flawlessly, and the 22 rounders are 140mm, so they are competition legal. Few things are more fun than beating a $4,000 pistol with $500 of Tupperware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 34 Gen5 MOS review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\uded2 Check Current Price for Glock 34 Gen5 MOS on GunsAmerica<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Glock 21 Gen5 MOS brings the big-bore .45 Auto into the modern Glock family. It gets the Gen5 flared magwell, a tapered muzzle for easier reholstering in place of the old bulldozer front end, front slide serrations, the Marksman barrel, and an MOS optics cut. What sells it is capacity at a reasonable weight: fully loaded, the G21 Gen5 holds 13+1 rounds and weighs 38.6 ounces, while a loaded 1911 weighs about 39.5 ounces and holds 7+1 or 8+1. Our reviewer tested Winchester Defend, Hornady Critical Duty +P, and Remington UMC, and at 15 yards the center of the target started to erode. It cycled smoothly and made managing recoil easy. This is also our workhorse pick in the .45 ACP guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Glock 21 Gen5 MOS review<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTable of contents<\/h2>
Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Glock Pistol In 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Size Class: Slimline, Compact, Crossover, Full Size, Long Slide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Generation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
MOS Optics Cut<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Magazines And Aftermarket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Holster And Carry Method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best Glock Pistols Ranked: 2026 Product Roundup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Glock 19: Best for Overall Do-Everything Use (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Cons<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Supertuck_Downtown_1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock G47 MOS: Best for Full-Size Duty and Home Defense (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/IMG-1449-1024x683-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock 45: Best for Crossover Carry and Duty (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/G45-Thumbnail-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock 17 MOS: Best for Classic Full-Size Value (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/thumb_DSC03171_1024-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock 43X: Best for Slimline Concealed Carry (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IMG_0916-1024x683-1.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock 48: Best for Slim Carry With a Longer Slide (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/fullsizeoutput_84b-1024x656.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock 34 Gen5 MOS: Best for Competition (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/thumb_IMG_7638_1024-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGlock 21 Gen5 MOS: Best for Big-Bore .45 Auto (2026)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Key Specs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Glock](\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_1633-768x576.jpg-1.webp\")
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