On 19 March 2010, I received the paperwork from our Glock rep Herbert Williams, to order a T&E Glock Generation 4 Model 22 40 S&W. I filled out the paperwork and requested a Glock Model 22 with night sights and a minus connector with the (Olive) NY1 trigger spring. I sent the completed paperwork over to my Chief for his signature and then sent it out to Glock in Smyrna.
On 6 April 2010, I received the Glock pistol and inspected it. The pistol came in its standard locking plastic box containing the pistol, manual, 3 15 round magazines, a small plastic bag containing the 2 backstraps (Medium & Large), the longer trigger housing pin and the little tool to remove and replace the pin. I removed the trigger housing and confirmed that the pistol was equipped with the minus connector and the NY1 spring. My initial observations of the pistol were that the new grip texture was more “grippy” and the recoil spring had much more resistance than the standard Gen 3 recoil springs. My Chief made a comment that he was not happy with the new magazine release. Our current Glock 22s have the extended magazine releases and there is no need to reposition anything but your thumb to release the magazine in our pistols. His statement was that the new release was too close to the frame. I took the pistol and one of our new Streamlight TLR-1 weapon lights home with me.
At 10:30am, I arrived at the Easton Fish and Game Association range in Lower Saucon Township (www.EFGA.NET). The weather was overcast and it had just stopped raining and the temperature was 66 degrees. I brought 4 boxes of our practice ammunition, Speer Lawman 180gr TMJ.
I quickly realized that one of the boxes was 15 rounds short so I now had 185 rounds to work with. I hung a pair of TQ-19 targets and placed 4 orange target dots measuring 1 ½ inches on either side of the head on the targets. I loaded each of the magazines with 5 rounds and attached the weapon light. I proceeded to the 7 yard line and loaded up. I fired the first 5 rounds at one of the target dots to get used to the new pistol. Recoil was light and manageable and the trigger was smooth with a tight and audible reset. The next five rounds I fired at the second target dot and this was with no backstrap installed so it was the smallest grip size. I fired a small group low and to the left of the target dot. I then returned to the bench and removed the back straps and tools from the plastic package inside the gun case. I used the supplied tool to remove the short trigger housing pin and installed the Medium backstrap and the long trigger housing pin. I returned to the 7 yard line and fired a tight 5 shot group inside the target dot. I then returned to the bench and installed the Large backstrap and fired another 5 rounds at the 7 yard line just low of the last target dot. The large backstrap made the pistol feel very close to a Model 21. I did not have a Model 21 at the range to compare it with but it felt very close. I returned to the bench and re-installed the Medium backstrap. The Small, or NO backstrap felt a little better but the pistol had a better point of aim in my hands with the Medium backstrap installed.
My observation of the backstraps and tools required to use them is that they are flimsy and not cop proof. The long trigger housing pin is NOT very strong and could break during installation of the backstraps. The backstraps themselves are ergonomic and fit nicely to the handle of the pistol. They too are a bit flimsy and are a bit weak around the trigger housing pin holes. The bottom of the backstrap fits firmly into the bottom of the grip.
I removed the weapon light and holstered the pistol to run myself through my department’s evaluation course. I had been so excited about leaving work this morning and taking this pistol to the range that I did not think of bringing my duty rig home so I could use my holster designed to carry the weapon with the light attached. The evaluation course consists of a 60 round course with distances from 0 to 25 yards with strong and support hand shooting and moving, emergency and tactical reloads. Even a little bit of running and some kneeling. I scored a 298 out of a total of 300 points with 60 out of 60 rounds on target. The 2 points that were deducted were from hits in the neck area just breaking the scoring ring on the target.
I then re-attached the TLR-1 and returned to the 7 yard line. I then fired the next 30 rounds performing emergency reload drills. I then fired the next 30 rounds doing a combination of emergency and tactical reload drills. I then fired the next 40 rounds doing trigger reset drills. The trigger was very responsive and I could get off about 6 rounds before the first spent shell hit the ground, keeping all rounds in the scoring area on the target. I loaded the last 20 rounds into two magazines of 10 and removed the weapon light. I fired the last 20 rounds from the holster. I drew and fired 2 rounds, scanned and reluctantly re-holstered 10 times. I kept all of my shots in the scoring ring and did this every time well inside the 1.5 second range.
My final observations of the first day with the Generation 4 Glock Model 22 are this. The grip texture is an improvement over the generation 3 and RTF pistols. I still suffered a serious amount of slide bite from today’s trip to the range.
My duty Glock Model 22 is covered with 60 grit safety tape and that particular pistol does not give me slide bite. If I decide to texture the Gen4 pistol I will apply grip tape to the top of the backstrap just below the slide, the top of the slide in front of the rear sight all the way to the ejection port (to assist with power stroking), a small piece just behind the slide serrations and along the frame just in front of the takedown lever for the support hand thumb. At this point, I do not think it is necessary to grip tape the entire handle, again, at this point.
The magazine release is too short. It is big and you get a positive push on it when releasing the magazine but if it were about an eighth inch longer, it would be perfect. Maybe Glock will make an extended version in the future. The blade on the front sight could be thinner or the gap between the rear dots could be wider so you can see more light between the sights for better target acquisition. My next trip to the range will be with full duty belt.
I do not plan to clean this pistol until the first 500 rounds are fired. I will, however, have to clean the pistol before giving it to other officers to carry on duty for their evaluations. There was not a single malfunction during the first day of shooting the Gen4 Glock Model 22.
