Why Glock aren't that great but are still popular?

[M.Ray]

It has been almost forty years since GLOCK was born. Through the decades, almost all gun manufacturers have been working hard to develop alternative products to replace GLOCK. But it seems still very popular. Why?

[armoredman]

I don't think that title is quite what we want here, we don't bash others for no reason. Title edited by me. Also, Glock remains popular due to being a generally reliable, accurate dependable sidearm that also comes with a very cheap price tag for police departments and such. I you knew how much We pay for Glocks, you'd want three of them for that price and no, I can't tell you. The grip angle on the Glock sidearm doesn't fit me worth beans, and I love CZ ergonomics all day long...but Glock wouldn't have stayed so popular for no reason.

[Grendel]

Ain't nothing wrong with Glock pistols. They are not pretty, and could use some refining, but they are functional, reasonably priced and reliable.

There are more ergonomic, attractive, and refined pistols available, but few that are within shouting distance of the price of a Glock.

[coolbox]

Not to mention, very few parts, hence very low maintenance/refurbishment cost. And easy to detail strip and all, to some extent.
I cant shoot worth a dime with them, though.

[M1A4ME]

I shot a Glock for the first time in about 1986 or 87.  It belonged to one of my buddies.  Even the cheap Taurus 92 copy my other buddy had shot rings around the Glock.  I decided I didn't need one.

Year later I wanted a .357 SIG and made the mistake of buying a Glock M31.  I tried replacing the barrel and the "cheap" Lone Wolf barrel did improve the groups, some, but not enough.  It has lived in the safe for many years.

I won't buy another one.

You know how people are.  Ooooh!!!!  The police use it.  I want one like the police use.  Oooh!! Special Forces uses them.  I want one like Special Forces uses.

Check out forums like arfcom or the M14 Firing Line.  You might be amazed at how much time/money some people will spend to obtain the parts and sometimes someone to install them, to build an M14 or AR15 similar as possible to one used by a military unit.

I mean, you'll read "a TRW M1A" but you know it has a commercial receiver.  Or a Winchester, that also has a commercial receiver.  Or a "609" (or some model or other Colt made/makes) that has a commercial lower receiver. 

Many people who buy a Glock won't shoot it much (just like some people who buy CZs or Colts).

And, accuracy standards vary person to person or from one type of competition to another.

I recently bought an FNS (hopefully I won't be as disappointed in it as I was in the Glock or the M&Ps) and the reviews state something like "it's accurate enough for a duty type handgun."  What does that mean? 

On the other hand, maybe I should be happy so many people are satisfied with their Glock groups.  If more people wanted the same accuracy I get from my P07 and P09 CZs would be much harder to come by and cost much more.  So all the "Glock love" is a good thing.

[CZ_FANATIC]

Glocks have always been pretty great for me. I shoot them well, and have never had a single malfunction from any of mine.

[radagast]

Hi Folks !  Went to the range with my Brother in Law and swapped pistols with him for a session. I was not impressed with his Glock 19 at all .
     Loaded it up and it rattled, Mags ejected sluggishly, and it felt "snappy" compared to my P07. He WAS a pretty enthusiastic Glock supporter up to that day though. While neither of us had any malfunctions, we both agreed that my CZ was just more enjoyable to shoot !
     The icing on the cake came when I showed him the purchase receipt for my "entry level CZ pistol" ! Turned out to be about $100 less than his Glock. I do believe we've got another convert in our midst !

[Vinny]

I'm old enough to remember the jokes about 'plastic guns' when Glock first came on the scene (after HK's VP70 first polymer entry 12 years earlier than the venerable G17). They're not laughing anymore as Glock paved the way for so many others with an extremely durable and reliable, albeit not particularly ergonomic high capacity handgun.

Although I prefer DA/SA; I'm seeing more and more favorable reviews of CZ's P-10 series in terms of accuracy, ergonomics, reliability, shoot-ability and PRICE as compared to Glock and other striker-fired.  I'm not surprised to be hearing (rumors?) about CZ building a second US factory.

[jurek]

Glock is still popular because of the price and tons of third party accessories. Military uses Glock, LEO uses Glock, so people what to use them as well.
I personally prefer to use "tool", not "a toy", plus Glock definitely doesn't fit my hands.
Walther, H&K - these are better polymer shooters for me than any Glock.

Nothing more to say about... oh... just remember that CZ is still the best firearm 

[cousinmark]

Personally I do not own a Glock. I've shot them and like most struggled with the DA striker trigger. I won't be buying one, BUT...
If my sister were to be in the market for a house gun the good old Glock 19 would be one of my suggestions. She's about as far from a firearms enthusiast as it gets. A dear girl but somewhat clumsy and quite inept with tools and such. She'd need something SIMPLE. I'd take her to the range and let her try a .38 revolver and a Glock 19 or maybe the smaller Glock 43, then let her pick.

[Gunnerdad80]

I gotta be honest, I fell for the hype with Glock at first but discovered CZ and it's various "clones" pretty quick. First I slightly customized a G19 & G26 with a couple goodies but the biggie was installing the Cominolli manual thumb safety on each. Please don't hate on me, I just prefer a manual thumb safety. Bullets hurt a lot so any added safety is appreciated. I realized pretty quick that ergonomic Glocks are not I ended up building a custom NOMAD9 Defense, also with the Cominolli safety kit, and it was pretty sweet. I ended up mounting Vickers Elite 2dot tritium sites on it (not pictured). But then came Jericho's (IMI & IWI), Tanfoglio, ITM, and Sarsilmaz.

[Rcher]

I have a friend who owns Glock and he almost never cleans it. For him it's just a tool for home defense. He doesn't carry and shoots occasionally 3-4 times a year. He bought it because of the price, availability, low maintenance and general reliability.

[Indy_Tim]

I like Glocks for the simplicity that they offer.  Simple lines, simple construction and simple operation.  They are not the most reliable guns I own but there are a couple that have been perfect in function.

For 9mm, it's CZ all the way for me but in .40 and .45 carry guns, they are tough to beat.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[DWARREN]

Glocks just never fit me quite right until the Glock 48. I have a G48 and it is the Glock for me.
Glocks are simple, easy to maintain and run forever they are just not for everybody.

[hodge]

Grendel hit the nail, I believe- "they are functional, reasonably priced and reliable". Like them or not, it's hard to deny these three traits. They give a person comfort and confidence, and once that's established, it's hard to break away. I've owned them, still have one (the only gun my wife has ever bought me for Christmas, and I can't convince her to keep up the tradition), and I respect them. They aren't my preference, functionally or aesthetically. But, I'd trust my life to one.