The Glock 45 MOS is quite an odd pistol compared to most of the Glock pistol lineup. However, it’s fast become one of my favorite pistols since purchasing one early last year and the reason it has become one of my favorite pistols might surprise you. Today we’re going to talk about the Glock 45 briefly, and why I not only think it’s one of the best Glock pistols in the lineup but why it might be one of the best-starting pistols if you’re looking for a do-it-all solution for those on a budget.

 

Let's start with just the facts before we dive into my own opinions on why the platform is so great. The Glock 45 MOS is sort of a “reverse stretch” 9mm standard Glock frame pistol. Essentially you’re being given a Glock 17 grip length, combined with a Glock 19 slide and barrel length topped off with the Glock MOS optic cut. Other cool features that make the Glock 45 a special case in the Glock pistol lineup include the smoother trigger pull, a reversible magazine catch, an ambidextrous slide stop lever, the Modular Backstrap System (MBS) for individual adjustability and the incredibly accurate, and of course, the reliable GLOCK Marksman Barrel (GMB).

 

Now you might have some perfectly valid arguments against the configuration of the Glock 45. The short barrel has a reduced sight radius - fine for concealed carry but generally accepted to be worse for more precise shooting. Combining this with the larger Glock 17-sized grip means that the Glcok 45 seems to only take the worst elements of both guns and mash them together. However, I tend to disagree.

 

I think that the longer sight radius and slide don’t make much of a difference in the vast majority of handgun use-case scenarios. With today’s healthy selection of micro-compact 9mm pistols for concealed carry, most Glock 19s have been relegated to the gun safe, and or as firearms that are strictly carried OWB with full kit setups. In those situations, you aren’t worried about concealment in a duty holster and in my experience, I’ve found the shorter slide with the full grip lets me transition from target to target slightly faster and the full grip makes up for the literal shortcomings of the smaller Glock 19 grip.

 

This trend of a full-sized grip combined with a shorter slide is catching on because of the same perceived benefits that I experienced with the Glock 45. Other competition-oriented handguns are starting to move in this direction partially because of the benefits, but also probably because this means that shooters can fit larger and more effective compensators on their barrels without going over size limits in the Carry Optics division of USPSA. Similarly, the larger Glock 17-sized grip and their associated magazines still allow for 20+ magazine capacities that still fit in the box and once you take into account just how many other great aftermarket parts there are for the Glock 9mm series of pistols, you’ll start to see the appeal of the Glock 45 as a fun, competition ready pistol that you can tinker with.

 

Over the last year, I’ve had my own Glock 45 in a wide variety of configurations with various optics, triggers, barrels, compensators, lights on the gun, and even different slides! The Glock pistol platform is great if you just love to tinker with guns, and while they may not be the cream of the crop when it comes to competition pistols, a healthy amount of training and the right aftermarket components can still put you on the leaderboard at your local USPSA match without issue. Of course, we’d like to hear what you guys have to say about the Glock 45! Is it a handgun that you think is worth picking up or are there other Glock pistols that already do what the Glock 45 does, but better in your opinion? As always thanks for stopping by to read, and if you’re looking for some Glock 45 compatible parts, be sure to check out the Tyrant CNC store!