3 Glocks Used by Agencies in the U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service rely on the .40 caliber Glock 22 Gen4

Among their duty-ready enhancements, Glock’s Gen4 pistols come with interchangeable backstraps—in sizes small, medium and large—allowing users to customize their pistols for the best fit.

Some of the world’s premier law enforcement agencies have been incorporated into the Department of Justice, including the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Combined, the department and its agencies are tasked with protecting American citizens from both domestic and foreign criminals and terrorist plots throughout the world. With that responsibility, the department’s agencies have all chosen Glock to be what they carry into battle. Scroll through the gallery above and click on the next pages below to see the three Glocks — G22 Gen4, G23 Gen4 and G27 Gen4 — used by the U.S. Marshals Service, BATFE, the DEA and the FBI.

U.S. Marshals – Glock 22 Gen4, Glock 23 Gen4: In 2012, the U.S. Marshals averaged 337 fugitive arrests every day and 123,006 in a year. With every one of those arrests, they carried a Glock 22 or a Glock 23 in .40. The Glock 22 is the larger of the two weapons with a 15+1 capacity. The Glock 23 holds 13+1. The G22 is essentially a Glock 17 modified to fire .40 ammunition. It uses a modified slide, frame, .40 barrel and magazine, but otherwise appears nearly identical to the Glock 17, and its magazines are interchangeable with other .40 caliber Glock models.

Specifications: Glock 22 Gen4

Caliber/System: .40 / Safe Action
Length: 202 mm / 7.95 in.
Height: 138 mm / 5.43 in.
Width: 30.00 mm / 1.18 in.
Barrel Height: 32 mm / 1.26 in.
Length Between Sights: 165 mm / 6.49 in.
Barrel Length: 114 mm / 4.48 in.
Unloaded Weight: 725 g / 25.59 oz.
Loaded Weight: 975 g / 34.42 oz.
Trigger Pull: ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
Trigger Travel: ~12.5 mm / 0.49 in.
Barrel Rifling: Right hand, Hexagonal
Length of Twist: 250 mm / 9.84 in.
Magazine Capacity: 15 (Standard), 22 (Optional)

Specifications: Glock 23 Gen4

Caliber/System: .40 / Safe Action
Length: 185 mm / 7.28 in.
Height: 127 mm / 4.99 in.
Width: 30.00 mm / 1.18 in.
Barrel Height: 32 mm / 1.26 in.
Length Between Sights: 153 mm / 6.02 in.
Barrel Length: 102 mm / 4.01 in.
Unloaded Weight: 670 g / 23.65 oz.
Loaded Weight: 880 g / 31.06 oz.
Trigger Pull: ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
Trigger Travel: ~12.5 mm / 0.49 in.
Barrel Rifling: Right hand, hexagonal
Length of Twist: 250 mm / 9.84 in.
Magazine Capacity: 13 (Standard), 15/22 (Optional)

U.S. Department of Justice agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) also use the .40 caliber Glock 27 Gen4 to fight crime and catch terrorists.

BATFE – Glock 27 Gen4, Glock 22 Gen4: To perform its duties, in 2010, the BATFE announced that its agents would carry Glock pistols. According to Glock, “This choice comes after rigorous testing and evaluation, including a 20,000-round endurance shoot and brutal environmental testing. The BATFE selected the .40 caliber G22 Gen4 and G27 semi-automatic pistols as their choice of duty weapons, demonstrating that Glock earned their trust and confidence.” The Glock 27 is a small, light, accurate and powerful weapon. It was built to serve as a backup, undercover or off-duty weapon. At 6.49 inches wide and 5.39 inches tall, with a 3.42-inch barrel length and weighing 27 ounces loaded, it is a great backup pistol for an officer in need of its power.

Specifications: Glock 27 Gen4 .40

Caliber/System: .40 / Safe Action
Length: 163 mm / 6.41 in.
Height: 106 mm / 4.17 in.
Width: 30.00 mm / 1.18 in.
Barrel Length: 32 mm / 1.26 in.
Length Between Sights: 137 mm / 5.39 in.
Barrel Length: 87 mm / 3.42 in.
Unloaded Weight: 620 g / 21.89 oz.
Loaded Weight: 765 g / 27.00 oz.
Trigger Pull: ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
Trigger Travel: ~12.5 mm / 0.49 in.
Barrel Rifling: Right hand, hexagonal
Length of Twist: 250 mm / 9.84 in.
Magazine Capacity: 9 (Standard), 13/15/22 (Optional)

DEA – Glock 22, 23 & 27 Gen4: Through an executive order, President Richard Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Administration in July 1973 in order to establish a single unified command to combat “an all-out global war on the drug menace.” At its outset, the DEA had 1,470 special agents and a budget of less than $75 million. Today, the DEA has nearly 5,000 special agents and a budget of $2.02 billion. Many people may not know that the DEA’s efforts aren’t strictly stateside. For example, the DEA has and is conducting opium-eradicating missions in northern Afghanistan and has lost agents who were working alongside U.S. military members to thwart that growing illicit drug trade in a combat zone. For its issued weapons, the DEA chose Glock 22, Glock 23 and Glock 27 pistols in .40.

At the FBI Academy is Quantico, Virginia, agents and cadets are taught how to master their .40 caliber Glock pistols from several shooting positions, including from behind cover. Glocks are easy to use and maintain, and have a stellar reputation for reliability.

FBI – Glock 22, 23 & 27 Gen4: The mission of the FBI is to protect and defend the U.S. against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, and to uphold and enforce the country’s criminal laws. As of May 31, 2013, the FBI has 35,902 employees, which includes 13,785 special agents and 22,117 support professionals, such as intelligence analysts, language specialists, scientists, etc. For the agents, the FBI has chosen the Glock 22 (uniformed FBI Police), and Glock 23 and 27 (field agents) in .40 as duty carry weapons, and have used them to protect and thwart both criminal and terrorist threats from around the world.

With the enormous responsibility the Department of Justice and its component agencies have—protecting and defending the American way of life—apparently they all feel most comfortable performing those duties when carrying Glocks.

For more information, visit glock.com or call 770-432-1202.