The Glock 19 for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to Ammo Capacity

Many years ago when I first started getting into firearms, I used to have questions like this. This one is pretty common, so let’s discuss it a little.

The Glock 19 is designed to hold a standard 15 round magazine plus 1 round in the chamber. It can also use optional magazines of 17, 19, 24, 31 and 33 rounds. In states that limit magazine size, factory magazines with a lower capacity are available.

How Many Rounds can a Glock 19 Hold?

The Glock 19 can hold different numbers of rounds depending on the magazine size. From the factory, it has a 15 round magazine but that can sometimes be limited due to restrictions in certain states.

In California, Connecticut, D.C., Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York you are limited to having 10 rounds in a Glock 19. In Colorado and Vermont, you are limited to 15 rounds in your Glock 19.

See our recommendation for the best home defense weapon.

In states that don’t restrictions on how many rounds that you can have in a magazine, the Glock 19 has several more options. You can find magazines for the Glock 19 in 15, 17, 19, 24, 31, and 33 round varieties. There are also companies that offer magazine extensions which can several more rounds to a magazine.

Having all of these options is one of the things that make the Glock 19 so versatile.

How Much Does a Fully Loaded Glock 19 Weigh?

Without a magazine, the Glock 19 weighs 21 ounces (1.31 pounds). A Glock 19 with a loaded 15 round magazine, weighs in right around 30 ounces (1.875 pounds).

The weight will vary a little based on the number of rounds that you have in the magazine and any modifications you may make to the gun.

If you happen the think that a pistol around 2 pounds is a little too heavy, you should be sure to buy a quality holster. I’ve found that one of the biggest factors in making a pistol feel heavy is the quality and fit of the holster.

How Reliable is a Glock 19?

Glock pistols are world-renowned for their reliability. You can look just about anywhere and find someone talking about how Glocks never malfunction, don’t need to be cleaned and can fire when they’re packed full of sand. Is all of that true?

Glocks are definitely reliable, it’s one of the reasons that militaries and police forces all over the world use them. Are they supernaturally reliable to the point where they never fail?

Not in my experience, and I’ve carried a Glock 19 almost every day for the past 10 years. They fail about as often as any other quality combat pistol.

That is to say, they don’t fail very often, it’s not something I expect to happen, but they do occasionally fail and you just need to work through the malfunction and keep shooting. It’s not a big deal.

Is the Glock 19 a Good Concealed Carry Gun?

I consider the Glock 19 to be one of the best concealed carry guns out there.

A lot of that is because of its versatility and popularity. Because there are so many Glocks out there, there are a never-ending number of holsters, accessories and aftermarket parts that you can add to your Glock 19.

That means just about anyone can find a holster that works for their body type and carry preferences. You can also find the perfect sights that work just right for you.

There are so many choices that it can sometimes be overwhelming to new shooter. Just stick with a quality holster and decent sights. You really don’t need anything other than that.

Is a Glock 19 Considered Full-sized?

A Glock 19 is considered to be a compact pistol. It isn’t tiny by any means, but it’s a lot smaller than some true full-sized guns.

Full-sized pistols typically have a barrel length of 4.5″ or more. Compact pistols usually have a 3.5″ – 4.5″ barrel.

Smaller pistols are out there, but for a good overall pistol for concealed carry and home defense, it’s hard to beat the Glock 19.

What’s the Difference Between a Glock 19 and Glock 17?

The Glock 19 is a compact 9mm pistol. The Glock 17 is a full-sized 9mm pistol.

Other than the size, there isn’t a lot that’s different between the two pistols. The main thing to keep in mind is a Glock 19 can accept Glock 17 magazines and a Glock 17 can’t take Glock 19 magazines.

Glock 19 Glock 17
Length (Overall) 7.36″ 8.03″
Width (Overall) 1.26″ 1.26″
Slide Length 6.85″ 7.32″
Slide Width 1″ 1″
Height 5.04″ 5.47″
Barrel Length 4.02″ 4.49″
Weight (Empty) 21.16 oz 22.05 oz
Weight (Loaded) 30.16 oz 32.28 oz

Related Questions

Is the Glock 19 the best handgun? The Glock 19 is extremely versatile and currently one of the most popular pistols on the market. What pistol is the best is going to depend on the user’s opinion and experience.

Does a Glock 19 have a safety? Yes, the Glock 19 has three safeties. There is a firing pin safety, a trigger safety, and a drop safety in the Glock 19. Even though there is no external safety lever, Glock 19s are still very safe.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the Glock 19 is one of the best all-around pistols on the market today. It has a high capacity of 15 + 1 rounds of 9mm, conceals pretty easily on most people and has so many aftermarket parts available that it’ll make your head spin!

You really can’t go wrong by buying a Glock 19!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *