In a world filled with a smorgasbord of firearm choices, from Fancy Nancy special editions to bargain basement boredom, there’s one thing that stands out as the pinnacle of “why even bother trying something else”: the Glock. Not a particular Glock model, but the brand overall. Yes, that blocky, black (or FDE, for you 19X fans) chunk of Austrian engineering excellence, the firearm equivalent of a beige wall, has become the darling of gun lovers everywhere. But why? What makes Glocks so ridiculously appealing that everyone should own one?
First off, let me say I haven’t always been a Glock fan. Not that I didn’t like them. I just didn’t follow my own advice and mostly ignored them until I won my very own G17 in a competition match using, of all things, a Walther PPX.
I wasn’t anti-Glock, just not a fanboy. They didn’t impress me that much. Instead, they seemed like a bunch of overblown hype, the way every cheerleader is supposed to crush on the quarterback because, well, that’s just what you do when you’re a teenage girl, even if the guy’s a jerk. I wondered if the Glock was the prom queen of guns: popular for the sake of being popular but not really all that special. You get where I’m going with this. But over the years, my ideas about Glock pistols changed to a much more favorable view.
I’m not saying that Glocks are the only good guns out there or even the best. You may have an all-time favorite in your collection that you’d never part with because it’s the most reliable, prettiest, best shooter you’ve ever owned. And that’s great. You might even hate Glocks and think they are the worst guns in the world, in which case I would encourage you to head to your local FFL and pick up a Hi-Point. But I digress…
Reason #1: Rock-Solid Reliability
Let’s kick things off where Glock got its stellar reputation: the reliability factor, the one aspect where even the most fervent Glock haters begrudgingly tip their hat and nod their respect. Glock’s reputation for utter dependability is practically the stuff of legend. The Glock is like that friend who always answers your calls, never flakes on plans, and never forgets your birthday – reliable to the point of boredom. It’s the Honda Accord of handguns but with more firepower and less legroom. At 300k miles, it still starts in the morning and gets you where you need to go. It ain’t sexy, but it’s a beast that refuses to die.
Sig Sauer may have won the US military’s pistol replacement contract, but it wasn’t because the P320 is more reliable than the Glock entry. (Looking at you, Sig drop safety engineers). It’s a fine gun. But the Glock entry’s reliability was never in question. They just missed on a ton of other requirements, such as the gun needing to be modular, which the Glock is not. It was kind of a deal killer.
But how reliable is a Glock, really? You can throw a Glock in the mud, run it over with your truck, dunk it into a vat of salsa (not sure why you would, but you can), and it’ll still spit out bullets like it’s its only purpose in life, which it kind of is because it’s a gun.
It’s the kind of reliability that makes you question if the apocalypse happens, will it be just cockroaches, Twinkies, and Glocks left standing? Maybe. Probably.
Reason #2: Support Your Local Gun
Then there’s the aftermarket support. Have you ever tried to find aftermarket parts or accessories for a Glock? Need a holster? Pick from a cast of thousands. Every holster manufacturer and their brother makes a plethora of gun-holding options. IWB, OWB, ankle, pocket, purse, fanny pack – you want it, someone makes it.
How about replacement barrels? Upgraded triggers? Glock is to handguns what IKEA is to furniture – the base model is functional, but oh boy, the add-ons! It’s a tinkerer’s dream come true. You can slap on a custom slide, throw on some night sights or a red dot, attach a laser pointer (because who doesn’t want to play “chase the dot” like a cat?), and maybe even bedazzle the grip if you’re feeling fancy.
Extended magazine? Check. A flashlight, a cup holder, a massage chair? Okay, maybe not the last two, but you get the point. Glock’s aftermarket support is so extensive that you can practically turn it into the Swiss Army knife of handguns, but instead of a toothpick, it has a threaded 9mm barrel. It’s almost as customizable as your trusty AR.
Reason #3: The Clone Wars
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Glock’s reputation and popularity have spawned a myriad of more expensive clones that try to out-Glock the Glock. It’s like a weird arms race where the only winner is the one with the most Austrian genes in its DNA. You can buy a Glock or spend more money on something that wishes it were a Glock. Your call.
It’s no secret there are high-end imitations out there, all vying for your attention and your hard-earned cash. But why settle for a knockoff when you can have the real deal? It’s like choosing a fake Rolex over the genuine article – sure, it might look the part, but deep down, you know you’re just playing pretend. The Glock is the trendsetter, the one everyone else desperately tries to copy. Do you really want to be that person who falls for the charm of a flashy imitator when you can rock the true classic?
Also, the trainer in me has to stop right here for a moment and remind you that buying a more expensive gun won’t make you a better shooter. Get a lower-priced gun and spend the rest on classes and range time. Okay, back to the program…
These clones are coming from legacy gun makers who added them to their repertoire as well as from brand new manufacturers who are starting from scratch, making Glock knockoffs and nothing else. It takes guts to fund a startup based on only one product line that’s more expensive than the one it’s trying to imitate.
Don’t want a whole Glock-style gun but just need parts? See the aforementioned aftermarket support paragraphs for in-demand items such as magazines for half the cost. Companies like Magpul and ETS, for example, offer 100% Glock-compatible magazines for a fraction of what Glock charges for their factory mags.
Reason #4: Ease of Maintenance
And now, the pièce de résistance – maintenance. Glock is the firearm for people who value simplicity over unnecessarily complicated engineering. Taking apart a Glock is so easy it makes field-stripping other guns feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded while riding a unicycle. Cleaning a firearm shouldn’t require a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering; with a Glock, it doesn’t.
But let’s be real here – Glocks are like the fast food of firearms maintenance. Sure, you can go to a fancy restaurant and enjoy a meticulously prepared dish with all the bells and whistles, or you can swing by the Glock drive-thru, toss it in an ultrasonic cleaner, and call it a day. Efficiency, my friends.
Maintenance and reliability go square-dancing when it comes to Glocks. They partner for quite a hoedown. I know Glock owners who have never, ever cleaned their guns after thousands of rounds (my boss at the range where I teach) and folks who clean their Glock every time they shoot it (yours truly), and guess what: both guns work the same. Does that mean I recommend neglecting your cleaning responsibilities? No, but it means Glocks are the Gen Xers of the gun world: they are tougher than most and don’t get their feelings hurt if you ignore them.
Reason #5: It Ain’t No Beauty Queen
This may sound like a strange reason to endorse a gun, but let’s be frank about why Glocks exist. They are not known for their breathtaking looks. They’re utilitarian, like a plumber’s wrench or a microwave. It’s not their aim (pun fully and completely intended) to win Sexiest Gun of the Year accolades. That’s not their purpose in life. Their sole reason for living is to be ready when you need them, without a doubt that they will function as designed when called upon to fulfill their life’s mission.
In a world where everyone wants to stand out, be unique, and express individuality, the Glock stands tall as the embodiment of “meh.” It’s the antithesis of flashy, the polar opposite of extravagant, and yet, it’s the handgun equivalent of comfort food. You might not post Instagram photos of your Glock collection with clever hashtags, but when the zombies come knocking, you’ll have the last laugh.
Steady Eddie
So, there you have it – the Glock, a paradox wrapped in a polymer frame. It’s not the prettiest, the most original, or the flashiest, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t reliable, customizable, and easy to maintain. It’s the firearm equivalent of a dependable old pickup truck – not the most exciting ride, but when the going gets tough, you’ll be glad it’s in your arsenal.
