Glock G45 VS Glock G19X (with pictures)
Glock G45 VS Glock G19X
Updated: 11/21/2024
What’s the difference between the Glock G45 vs Glock G19X?
Glock has been releasing a ton of new pistols lately. Two of them (the Glock G45 vs Glock G19X) are very similar. Are you deciding between them?
Both are “crossover” pistols using Glock 17 frames with Glock 19 Slides and barrels.
So what are the real differences?
Also, who did Glock design these pistols for?
Concealed Carriers have been chopping the grip off of Glock 17 pistols for years. They tend to want smaller grips (certainly not all of them though).
Want the short answer now between the Glock 19X vs 45?
These pistols were not designed for Concealed Carry.
That being said though, Glock fans are coming out in droves and snapping up these latest pistols specifically for their daily carry loadout. They work great for Concealed Carry if you’re not scared of a service pistol-sized grip. Especially in the right Glock 19X holsters and Glock 45 holsters.
There’s the first hint of who Glock designed these pistols for: They have a service pistol-sized grip.
These Pistols are Designed for Service
The Glock G19X was designed for the US military…sort of.
The Glock G19 MHS was designed for the MHS competition held by the US Army.
The G19X is the civilian version of the G19 MHS.
As for the Glock G45…
It’s based on the Glock G19X and designed for Police duty.
Police have been eyeballing the Glock G19X for duty. But it didn’t quite fit the bill.
Why not you ask… It’s Coyote Tan instead of Black.
Enter the Glock G45.
The G45 is not just a black G19X though. There are a few differences.
To better understand this Glock G45 VS Glock G19X comparison, we need to dive a little deeper into both pistols’ backgrounds.
Glock G19X – Designed for Military
Glock entered the G19 MHS into the Modular Handgun System program (along with every other company that hoped to make hundreds of millions of dollars).
They chose the Sig P320 over the Glock G19X in the open competition to win Uncle Sam’s favor.
Glock didn’t win the half-billion-dollar contract with the G19 MHS but all was not lost. Their loss is our gain.
Glock tweaked the Glock G19 MHS and named it the Glock G19X before releasing it to the public.
When designing the G19 MHS, they envisioned a Colt Commander-sized pistol as an ideal military sidearm. Many expected Glock to offer up a Glock 17 variant to the MHS competition.
Instead, Glock offered up a pistol that feels like a Glock G17 but with a little quicker handling and balance due to the G19-length barrel and slide.
While a longer sight radius can help with long shots, a shorter sight radius is quicker to get on target.
Glock also put a manual thumb safety on the G19 MHS.
The manual thumb safety had to go for the civilian version.
Glock fans love Glocks for many reasons. Simplicity and the lack of “unnecessary“ controls are two of the biggest reasons.
Losing the manual safety was the primary change to the Glock G19 MHS that Glock made to “create” the Glock G19X.
So what changes did Glock make to the Glock G19X to “create” the Glock G45?
Glock G45 – Designed for Police
As mentioned earlier, the Glock G19X was being eyeballed hard by many police officers as the perfect duty pistol.
It had as many bullets as the Glock 17 with the “easier to live with” barrel length of the Glock 19.
Because (most) police aren’t concerned with concealment, they wouldn’t want to give up the ammo capacity of the G17 to switch to the G19. But giving up an inch of barrel length doesn’t have any major drawbacks.
Glock has never been a company to ignore police requests.
Police have been Glock’s bread and butter for decades.
It took just a few short months for Glock to get a similar version available in black to the market.
However, it’s important to note that the Glock G45 isn’t just a Glock 19x black. While the G19X looked like a Gen 5 pistol, it was more like a Gen 4.5.
The Glock G45 is a Gen 5 Glock.
The Gen 5 pistols are supposed to be the most reliable Glock pistols to date based on Glock tests.
The G45 also has a beveled and flared magazine well as all Gen 5 Glocks do.
The G45 has a surprising additional feature.
It has front serrations on the slide. Front serrations are preferred by some for press checking their pistol. Glock has started adding these front serrations to more of their pistols. I’d look for them to add them to many more models in the future.
Glock G19X vs Glock 45 – Recap of Differences
Before we look at the differences between the Glock G19X vs Glock 45, let’s look at the similarities.
Both have:
- nDLC Coating
- Marksman Barrel
- Ambi Slide Stop Lever
- No Finger Grooves
- Glock 17 Frame
- Glock 19 Barrel and Slide
Now for the differences.
The Glock G45:
- New Gen 5 Platform
- Black
- Front Slide Serrations
- All Gen 5 Internal Enhancements
- Gen 5 Magazines
- Flared Mag Well
- No Lanyard Loop
The Glock G19X:
- Modified Gen 4 Platform
- Coyote Tan
- No Slide Serrations
- Some Gen 5 Enhancements
- Gen 4 Magazines
- Gen 4 Non-Flared Mag Well
- Lanyard Loop
The G19X doesn’t have the flared mag well. The flared mag well on the newer Gen 5 pistols helps guide the magazine in easier and faster during reloads.
The Glock G19X uses the older Gen 4 Magazines. This means the new Gen 5 magazines won’t fit. The Gen 5 magazines have a longer base plate that extends further forward. The longer base plate is supposed to make it easier to yank out stuck magazines.
Glock 45X vs Glock G19X – Why Would You Want a Glock “Crossover” Pistol?
Most civilians will reach for the Glock G19 for Concealed Carry or home defense. Some will prefer the Glock G17 for home defense and sometimes even Concealed Carry.
What benefits would prompt someone to reach for the Glock G19X or G45 instead of a Glock G19 or G17?
Benefit #1:
The Glock G19X comes with 17 & 19-round magazines. That’s a lot of ammo. You can, of course, carry the same 19-round magazines with the G19.
However, the bigger Glock G17 frameworks are much better with the extended mags.
The longer magazines look and feel better in the G17 frame than in the G19 frame.
Benefit # 2:
Many shooters say the Glock G17 frame is more comfortable than the compact G19 frame.
Plus, it’s less likely to pinch your hand during reloads.
Those with bigger hands can get pinched when reloading the Glock G19. The magazine base plate and the bottom of the grip can pinch your skin pretty well if you’re not careful. It’s rare but has been reported on many forums and YouTube videos.
Practice can help prevent the mag pinch of the shorter G19 frame but it is one drawback for some shooters.
Benefit #3:
The shorter barrel mated to the full-size grip balances very well in the hand.
It handles very well at the range. You’ll get the benefits of a full-sized frame and the benefits of the shorter barrel.
While a longer barrel has some advantages – accurate long shots & more muzzle velocity – the shorter barrel has advantages.
If you want a quick-handling gun with the advantages of a full-sized grip and large bullet count, these two crossover pistols from Glock will be just what you’re looking for.
Benefit #4:
The shorter barrel won’t poke your seat.
This would be a welcome upgrade for many police officers. The shorter barrel will be more comfortable in the cramped seat of a police cruiser.
With tons of gear on their belts and tons of electronics and gear in their vehicle, police don’t have much wiggle room behind the wheel of their vehicles.
Losing the extra inch off the end of the barrel will be preferable to many officers. Any extra room they can gain in their seat will be welcome.
This works out for civilians too! For instance, the Sig P226 is an amazing gun. However, I carry the P229 much more often because it doesn’t jack my belt up when I sit down.
Both Sig pistols have the same size grip and ammo count. But the P229 carries much better.
That same principle applies to the Glock 17 and the Glock G45.
Benefit #5:
The Glock G19X and Glock G45 have a solid front strap.
Many shooters hate the cutout in the front of the Glock Gen 5 grip. It does have the advantage of making it easier to rip out a sticky magazine.
But many forums have comments like this:
“My pinky finds that dang cutout every time! I hate that thing.”
I’ve even seen comments like this:
“Has anyone chopped down the Glock G19X yet? I know that’s pretty much a Glock 19 but I really don’t like the cutout.”
It’s a matter of preference really as to whether or not you prefer a cutout in the grip or not.
Glock 45X vs Glock G19X – Which One Should You Buy?
Unless Coyote Tan is your favorite color, the obvious choice here is the Glock G45. The Glock G19X has no clear advantages; unless you consider color and a lanyard loop advantages.
The Glock G45 has all of the new Gen 5 upgrades. The Glock G19X only has most of the Gen 5 upgrades.
The G45 has front slide serrations and a flared mag well.
The Glock Gen 5 pistol lineup has proven to be the most reliable pistol Glock has ever tested. The Gen 5 platform pistols will fire more rounds than Gen 4 Glocks before a malfunction eventually happens.
All that being said…
If you can live without front slide serrations and you think a Coyote Tan Glock is too hard to pass up, by all means, get the Glock G19X.
Otherwise, get the Glock G45…and a durable Kydex concealed carry holster while you’re at it.
