Pop Quiz! What do all Glocks have in common out of the box? They all leave something to be desired and come from a company that is slow to get with the demands from the shooting industry. That being said, I bought my first Glock back in 2002 in the form of a Glock 27 (Gen 3).
The department that I hired onto was in the process of swapping over to SIG .40 calibers and back then SIG didn’t offer much in the .40-caliber subcompact market. I wanted a gun that I could carry more concealed than a SIG P226 for off-duty use. That lasted until I was able to acquire a SIG P229 for on/off-duty use (thanks again Bob!) and then sold the Glock 27. Being a Southpaw, I hated how the mag release dug into my strong hand when I gripped the pistol. As a striker-fired design, Glocks are one of the best pistols out there, however, as a company they have always been slow to bring change to their product line. At least the most current Generation (5th) has shown some progress with over 20 different reported design modifications over the previous generation (4th).
Glock G49 MOS: Is it the Best Blaster for EDC?
I’ve always looked at Glocks like an old Jeep. It’s new to you, maybe or not brand new, but nonetheless new/old. Of course, the first thing I find myself doing is donating plasma and other bodily fluids in order to afford buying better aftermarket parts for both my Jeeps, as well as my Glocks. Only the best will do as they both need to be reliable without question, and you should know how to diagnose and fix whatever is needed to get back on the road or back in the fight.
When Glock released the Gen 4’s, I finally became a convert with my G17. Other than swapping the mag release over for a Southpaw, I was still left wanting. It just didn’t feel right in my hand, so I set off to make it truly mine. I sent it out to a friend who started up a business for a few years doing Glock frame modifications. He chopped the grip to that of a 19, did a slight reduction and stippling of the grip, with a trigger undercut. After that, it fit like a glove.
As time went on, it got the best barrel and trigger that I could find (Wilson Combat & Continuous Precision Enhanced Duty Trigger). It really was the perfect gun. So much so that my son asked for it, and it’s in his holster now that Glock has released their new Glock 49 (Gen 5). It’s time to start over and customize this one the way I want to run it.
A Perfect Mating?
The Glock 49 is essentially a Glock 17 slide on a G19 frame. Easier to conceal, without sacrificing the longer barrel and sight radius. Glock did their 5th generation of pistols solid. What do they say, 5th times a charm right? There are over 20 different reported upgrades between the 4th and 5th generations. The biggest in my opinion were the front “press check” serrations. Glock added ambidextrous slide stop levers, which is a nice feature. Included is also a slightly flared magwell and enlarged magazine base plate for easier loading and stripping the mag out when clearing malfunctions. The finger grooves were removed to better fit different size hands as well.
Glock swapped out their barrels for the 5th Gen and added a new GMB (Glock Marksman Barrel). It features a more aggressive polygonal rifling with a target crown and tighter chamber specs. Glock claims that this will improve accuracy. There were some other modifications to the 5th Gen’s as well, such as firing pin safety and trigger spring enhancements. This made a huge difference, as you can plainly feel the wall of the trigger, but it’s still got that Glock “squishy” feeling when you pull the trigger all the way back to the rear.
MOS Expansion
Glock also introduced their MOS (Modular Optic System) in select late Gen 4 and new Gen 5 pistols. I’ll give Glock kudos for that, but they developed their own mounting system. Glock engineers claim that their MOS equipped pistols will simplify mounting of popular optics sights.
With everyone having different footprints for their optics, it takes me back to the turn of the century when Microsoft and Sony were competing for who will win the war for the HD DVD system. Eventually Sony won out, and we have Bluray now. It would be nice if all of these optics and firearms manufacturers got together and quit trying to reinvent the wheel by offering the SAME standard footprint for all optics based upon which one actually mounts the best and most secure. A crazy concept, right? In a perfect world without greed and egos.
Getting My Own G49
Enough stats and specs, now I needed to get one in my hand and in my safe. Since Aaron over at 3 Aces PSOC in Spokane Valley, WA. is my favorite gun guy, I had him order me up a Glock 49 MOS. I didn’t want to request a sample from Glock as I had no intention of sending it back; I’ve got some serious plans for it. After waiting the mandatory two-week “cooling off” period mandated by the Communists who run this state, I was finally able to take my new toy home. The first thing even before taking it to the range, those awful factory sights came off in favor of optic-height sights. Well, that didn’t take long for the mods to start. Then we swapped over the magazine release and added the beavertail. Now it feels better in the hand. It’s the little things, right?
With the addition of the optic-height sights, I needed an optic to throw on it. Given that I recently attended a pistol red dot class at Thunder Ranch, I had to opportunity to ask Jack (Clint’s top instructor) what he felt, based upon his experience and research, was the best optic if cost wasn’t an option. Jack didn’t skip a beat; he informed me that he loves his Steiner MPS (Micro Pistol Sight). That’s a pretty solid endorsement, so I picked one up to test out. It takes an Aimpoint ACRO footprint, which C&H Precision has plates for it readily available. I purchased mine off of their Amazon store.
Steiner MPS
Steiner is a German company that has been making optics for over 75 years and is known for their quality and durability. Appearance wise, it’s one tough-looking optic. It’s an enclosed emitter with a top-load battery option so you never have to remove the optic itself from the pistol. Steiner claims that their enhanced extra sidewall provides a “best-in-class shock rating.” I don’t see a reason to doubt this as it looks pretty beefy, but yet isn’t huge, and only weighs 58 grams (or just a hair over 2 ounces for the math challenged like myself). It’s got eight brightness settings (two for NV), a 3.3-MOA dot size, with an impressive 13k-hour battery life.
Steiner took things a step further in making one of the most robust pistol optics out there by recessing the front window with a metal hood that blocks objects from reaching the lens. There is not a negative thing I can say about the Steiner MPS, as hard as I looked. Granted, I haven’t torture tested it myself, but the data behind it points to it being one of the tougher pistol optics on the market. It’s available in black or FDE body colors. The Steiner MPS is on the more expensive side of the pistol optics spectrum at $632.99 MSRP, but you truly get what you pay for here. “Battle Proven Reliability” in a true 1x pistol optic is what you get with the Steiner MPS.
Glock G49 MOS Holster Fits
With so many holsters on the market, it’s hard to know what to choose. Tons of different types, OWB, IWB, Appendix, SOB, Ankle, etc., made of many different materials. Regardless of what you choose, make sure it has some type of retention on it, especially for an OWB type holster. I’ve literally seen people bend over and their pistols fall onto the ground from lack of retention. I’m a bit old school and wanted to go back to a leather holster with a thumb break for an OWB concealed under a button up or Polo-type shirts.
My first OWB holster that I picked up back in the day for that old Glock 27 was a DeSantis leather holster with a thumb break. They’ve been around much longer than I have, and have an exemplary track record, so it only seemed natural to order up a DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard. The fit and finish are perfect, and still have that “classic” look.
How’s It Shoot?
It shoots like a factory Glock. It’s a great, reliable gun, that is easy to maintain and self-service. Comfort, not so much. That’s a personal thing though. I’ve become accustomed to having a trigger undercut on Glocks for a better grip of the pistol. This is something that Glock should truly consider on their next iteration of their firearms. A Walther PDP and a Canik Mete SFT felt better and were more enjoyable to shoot out of the box than this Glock 49, much with better factory triggers too! The only thing either of the aforementioned pistols needed from the aftermarket were night sights, but that’s also a personal preference.
Out of the couple of hundred rounds that I shot, I had zero malfunctions. The Glock 49 ate every kind of ammo that I threw at it. Three different magazines were used, including factory Glock mags, Magpul Pmags, and Amend2 magazines, and all preformed just fine with no problems presenting themselves. Notable credit to the Lehigh Defense 115-grain CF (Controlled Fracturing) +P rounds, as they came screaming out of the barrel at 1,127 FPS and netted a three-shot grouping of .7-inch at 15 yards. Of course, this was made much easier with the Steiner MPS red dot on the factory-equipped Glock 49. I’m sure the better factory trigger and new GMB factory barrel in the 5th Gen of Glocks contributed to this as well.
Final Shots
Overall, it’s a great gun. Could it be better, absolutely yes! Sure, I pick on Glock often, only because as a company, they are slow to adapt to change and market demands. That being said, I’ve yet to find another pistol that contains only 34 parts (without the magazine) broken down to the manufacturer’s level, can be 100% user maintained and repaired, and is unquestionably reliable. This is exactly why I rock a Glock! Although, it’s ultimately up to each shooter how they want to “mold” their Glocks for a more custom fit in their hand.
It was entertaining shooting this Glock 49, as I truly like the length of the Glock 17 slide with the 19 frame. Now it’s time to wipe it down and send it out to get transformed into the perfect EDC and Home Defense rig. After all, it may only hold a 15-round mag flush, but it will still work just fine with a 33-rounder and a Magpul Drum! MURICA!!!
You have gotten to see this Glock 49 in pretty much it’s factory configuration. The second half of this article will be in the near future after it undergoes a complete metamorphosis. Continuous Precision, out of Milford, Mich., will be working their magic, and this will be a completely different pistol for Part 2, so stay tuned.
Glock G49 MOS Specs
- Caliber: 9mm (9×19)
- Magazine Capacity:15+1
- Magazine Type: Metal with polymer casing
- Trigger Weight: Approx. 5.5 pounds
- Sights: / Factory white dot
- Barrel: Glock “Match” Barrel
- Barrel Length: 4.49 inches
- Weight: 22.4 ounces (empty mag)
- Overall Length: 7.95 inches
- Height: 5.04 inches (w/ mag inserted)
- Safety: Striker-Fired
- Optic: Steiner MPS (Micro Pistol Sight) MSRP $632.99
- MSRP: $639.99 (pistol only)
Accuracy Results
| Load | Velocity | Accuracy |
| American Sniper 124-grain FMJ | 1,110 | 1.8 inches |
| Leheigh Defense CF +P | 1,127 fps | 0.7 inch |
| Hornady 115-grain XTP American Gunner | 1,073 fps | 0.9 inch |
| Browning 147-grain Personal Defense | 956 fps | 1.3 inches |
