Glock wasn’t the first to make a polymer frame, striker-fired, double-stack pistol, but they were the first to be successful. Over time, they created an entirely new genre of pistols and helped make polymer an acceptable material for handgun frames. As much fun as it is to pick on Glock for being slow to change, ugly, or boring, they were revolutionary.
That doesn’t mean they’ve continued to be revolutionary. In fact, we often make fun of Glock because they are so reluctant to change and embrace new technology. We live in a country that likes innovation, and plenty of companies now produce striker-fired, polymer frame pistols that easily out-innovate Glock. Today, we’ve gathered five of them for your consideration.
1. Sig P320
The good ole P320 has to be on the list. Admittedly it got a rough start, but Sig swung through and has made it a dominant force in the handgun market. In fact, the P320 won the Army’s Modular Handgun Contest and became the M17 and M18 series. This polymer frame striker-fired pistol comes in every major caliber from 9mm to 10mm.
Sig’s big claim to fame is the removable chassis system. This allows the user to swap frames, slides, and even calibers without having to go to another FFL. This chassis has been utilized for systems like the Flux Raider to go in an entirely different direction.
This level of customization is unmatched, and swapping frames has become common enough for a cottage industry to pop up around the gun.
On top of that, Sig provides a ton of support for the platform. They recently even released the extendos everyone was begging for. Sig has produced various models of the P320 and experimented with a ton of configurations. If variety is the spice of life, it’s honestly going to be tough to beat the Sig P320.
2. FN 509
Speaking of the Modular Handgun System contest, FN entered the 509 series into play. This represented their brand new polymer frame, striker-fired handgun. In building the gun, they consulted firearms instructor and Delta Force operator Larry Vickers.
While it might not have been what the Army wanted, the FN 509 series has proven to be a robust weapon that has been adopted by the LAPD, as well as Brinks Armed Couriers and several other police forces.
FN wasted no time introducing a variety of configurations that don’t just vary in size but in features. Guns like the FN 509 LS Edge and Tactical variants show that the 509 is a thoroughly modern pistol ready for modern accessories like optics and lights.
Plus, they have capacities ranging from 10 to 24 rounds to solve all your modern problems. The latest CC Edge model introduces a factory compensator because why not? FN is finally pushing their handguns, and it’s about time because they’ve been an unappreciated underdog for too long.
3. Arex Delta Gen.2
The first generation of the Arex Delta guns was an excellent showing, but the 2nd-gen took off the training wheels. These pistols come from Slovenia with love and promise a variety of improvements over Glock at a lower price point. What they do differently is just shove features at you and tack on great reliability, ergonomics, and accuracy.
Various models include a Longslide variant and a tactical model. Most are optics-ready, and the Tactical variant comes with suppressor height sights and a threaded barrel.
Why not? If you call yourself tactical, you best be tactical. These various models fit different niches and use cases. Heck, you can even pick your favorite color.
On top of that, the grips are thinner and lovely in hand. You can get a nice high grip and have access to either reversible or ambidextrous controls. It’s an all-around fantastic gun, and you get a thoroughly modern tool for less than a Glock.
4. CZ P10 Series
Everyone likes to forget the CZ 100 as CZ’s entry into the striker-fired market. Admittedly their first striker-fired blaster was a bit forgettable. However, the CZ P10 series caught our eye. The P-10 C hit early, but the series has grown to include models in the full-size, subcompact, and competitive market. The CZ P10 doesn’t break a ton of new ground, but it refines the striker-fired polymer frame design.
This includes a very aggressive grip texture, a great trigger guard undercut, and the ability to get a nice high grip on the gun to maximize control and combat muzzle flip.
The weapon also embraces an excellent flat trigger that lacks the plastic-on-plastic feel of many triggers on the market.
We also get all the modern do-dads and gizmos. This includes optics and lights, as well as models with suppressor height sights and threaded barrels. CZ embraces color, so you’d have to deal with the Henry Ford effect.
5. Walther PDP
Walther makes some of the most underrated handguns ever. The fact the P99 is not recognized for its fantastic design still bothers me. The PDP is their latest and has gathered some serious buzz. It is an evolution of the PPQ, designed around the use of red dot sights. This meant subtle changes to the frame and ergonomics to make it the most natural shooting optically enhanced pistol on the market.
The PDP series embraces Walther’s strong reputation for excellent ergonomics and a tough-to-beat frame design. Walther is one of the few companies that recognize how an actual hand works and designs guns around that. It doesn’t have the 2×4-style feeling of a Glock.
The PDP comes in numerous sizes, and users can actually swap slides and frames to get the gun they want. It’s a nice feature that makes your gun a bit more customizable.
On top of great ergonomics, modern features, and customization, the PDP is an overall excellent handgun. It’s duty ready, extremely well-made, and will stand up to the titans of the industry and keep throwing punches.
Click Click Pow
I don’t want to dog Glock too much. They do make fantastic firearms and are the standard for simplicity and reliability. I just wish they would be a bit more flexible. Their rigid Austrian nature seems to make them a bit more prone to slow, incremental changes rather than an upgrade-on-the-move strategy. That’s causing them to fall behind, and plenty of other companies are willing to pick up the slack.
Does any particular Glock alternative stand out to you? If so, let us know below!
