[melissa5]

First off, I want to address the size difference between the Gen3 and Gen4 grip since that is the main reason I bought the Gen4. The Gen4 grip is definitely smaller in circumference than the Gen3. The Gen4 is on the left.

From the picture above, there doesn't look like much difference, but check the next two pictures. The first is the Gen3. The second is the Gen4.

For a small hand, that's a significant difference. Staying with the grip for the moment, another big difference is the grip texture. I think I prefer the Gen3 texture. The Gen4 texture is a little more aggressive and might not be the best for carry or shooting hundreds of rounds in one day. I only fired 90 rounds after picking it up and noticed a slight redness and stinging in my palm. But that's just the opinion of someone with soft, girly hands.

Report continued in next post because of picture limit.

 

[melissa5]

Here are the included backstraps that make the grip either 2mm or 4mm bigger.

Now for the range report. I started with Federal 115gr FMJ and had a failure to feed on the 2nd round. That kind of freaked me out knowing about the g17/g19 problems. I continued firing and had two more FTFs and one instance of the slide not locking back on the last round. Don't know if I was limp-wristing or what, but at that point I was really freaked out. Took a short break and started firing 115gr Speer Gold Dots. The G26 ate them right up without a single hiccup. I felt much better after that. In a few days, I'll go back to the range and try the Gen4 with some Speer Lawman.

Altogether, I'm neutral about the Gen4 G26. I like the smaller grip, but am not thrilled with the grip texture or failures that I experienced. Hopefully, my opinion will change for the better after spending a little more time with the gun.

 

[TheLaw]

Thank you for the report. Looks great.

 

[__jb]

Thanks for the range report, Melissa...

From my experiences and reading, the Walmart Federal 9mm 115gr FMJ ammo is almost infamous for 4th gen Glocks. The WWB 115gr seems to be better and doesn't cost much more... The best results I have had have been with American Eagle's 124gr FMJ... No failures of any kind in either of my 4th gen Glocks since I switched to it. It's about $11 for 50 if you buy them in bulk.

 

[Don Glock]

Thanks for the range report, Melissa...

From my experiences and reading, the Walmart Federal 9mm 115gr FMJ ammo is almost infamous for 4th gen Glocks. The WWB 115gr seems to be better and doesn't cost much more... The best results I have had have been with American Eagle's 124gr FMJ... No failures of any kind in either of my 4th gen Glocks since I switched to it. It's about $11 for 50 if you buy them in bulk.

thanks for the pics and range report, melissa

glock gen4 9mm's are very ammo specific as far as reliability goes. many of the low priced target ammo will cause issues because of bullet weight/velocity. the new recoil assembly also makes both 9mm/40cal gen4's more sensitive to weak wrist failures.

there's a list online of 9mm ammo power factors that's good for gen4 glocks. i just tried finding it just now and couldn't. i'll post it if i see it again.

EDIT: found the list:

9mm FMJ Ballistics

Brand Weight Velocity Power Factor--(Best for GEN4 Glocks)
Fiocchi 124 1250 155.00
Fiocchi 147 1050 154.35
Fiocchi 158 940 148.52
S&B 115 1280 147.20
Am Eagle 147 1000 147.00
RWS Sport FMJ 124 1181 146.44
S&B 124 1181 146.44
Rem. Express 147 990 145.53
UMC 147 990 145.53
Lawman 147 985 144.80
Prvi Partizan 147 984 144.65
Fiocchi 115 1250 143.75
Am Eagle 124 1150 142.60

Glock Minimum* 124 1148 142.35
Win USA 124 1140 141.36
Blazer 147 950 139.65
Lawman 115 1200 138.00
PMC Bronze 124 1110 137.64
Win USA 115 1190 136.85
Rem. Express 124 1100 136.40
UMC 124 1100 136.40
Am Eagle 115 1180 135.70

Glock Minimum* 115 1180 135.70
Blazer 124 1090 135.16
Blazer Brass 124 1090 135.16
Lawman 124 1090 135.16
Cor-Bon match 147 900 132.30
My Reloads 147 900 132.30
PMC Bronze 115 1150 132.25
Prvi Partizan 115 1148 132.02
Blazer 115 1145 131.68
Blazer Brass 115 1145 131.68
Rem. Express 115 1135 130.53
UMC 115 1135 130.53
Federal Champ 115 1125 129.38

 

[__jb]

thanks for the pics and range report, melissa

glock gen4 9mm's are very ammo specific as far as reliability goes. many of the low priced target ammo will cause issues because of bullet weight/velocity. the new recoil assembly also makes both 9mm/40cal gen4's more sensitive to weak wrist failures.

there's a list online of 9mm ammo power factors that's good for gen4 glocks. i just tried finding it just now and couldn't. i'll post it if i see it again.

9mm FMJ Ballistics

Brand Weight Velocity Power Factor--(Best for GEN4 Glocks)
Fiocchi 124 1250 155.00
Fiocchi 147 1050 154.35
Fiocchi 158 940 148.52
S&B 115 1280 147.20
Am Eagle 147 1000 147.00
RWS Sport FMJ 124 1181 146.44
S&B 124 1181 146.44
Rem. Express 147 990 145.53
UMC 147 990 145.53
Lawman 147 985 144.80
Prvi Partizan 147 984 144.65
Fiocchi 115 1250 143.75
Am Eagle 124 1150 142.60

Glock Minimum* 124 1148 142.35
Win USA 124 1140 141.36
Blazer 147 950 139.65
Lawman 115 1200 138.00
PMC Bronze 124 1110 137.64
Win USA 115 1190 136.85
Rem. Express 124 1100 136.40
UMC 124 1100 136.40
Am Eagle 115 1180 135.70

Glock Minimum* 115 1180 135.70
Blazer 124 1090 135.16
Blazer Brass 124 1090 135.16
Lawman 124 1090 135.16
Cor-Bon match 147 900 132.30
My Reloads 147 900 132.30
PMC Bronze 115 1150 132.25
Prvi Partizan 115 1148 132.02
Blazer 115 1145 131.68
Blazer Brass 115 1145 131.68
Rem. Express 115 1135 130.53
UMC 115 1135 130.53
Federal Champ 115 1125 129.38

EDIT: found the list:

I have not seen that listing posted elsewhere and I have looked for power levels of the popular 9mm rounds. Can you post a link to the original article?

I can see why the Glock Tech recommended using the Fiocchi 124gr ammo now. At 155.00, it's got the highest power factor on the list.

Looks like the American Eagle 124gr also sneaks in the preferred power range at 142.60. I have had goot results shooting this in my 4th gens.

Winchester White Box 115gr is right in the middle and the Federal 115gr is at rock bottom. That confirms what I have heard about the Federal Champion ammunition.

Great information, Don...

 

[Rowdie]

Good post, Melissa. The pics show it all as far as the smaller grip goes.

 

[melissa5]

Thanks for that list, Don. My Gen3's eat everything, but I guess I'll have to buy a special recipe for the Gen4.

 

[EBUTTS]

Im a little confused. I use the federal champion alot because it is the cheapiest but ive never had any problems with it, probably 500rds and zero issues

 

[melissa5]

Here's a few more photos. Gen4 is on the left.

 

[cohland]

Interesting.

This list of power factors reflects the "Power Factor" formula used by IPSC/USPSA: P= (W x V) / 1000
W=Bullet Weight in grains
V=Velocity in feet per second
P= Power Factor

So, the 124 grain Fiocchi at 1,250 fps gives you a Power Factor (PF) of 155.00.

Based on the list, Glock's saying that the minimum PF for their 9mm pistols (at least the ones in question) to function is about 136.

I'd like to know more about the source of the list and Glock's recommendation, if that's available.
It would have been nice if Glock could have let us know that somewhere, like on the instruction sheet or owner's instructions that comes with the pistols.

THAT sure ought to clarify things.

Thanks very much for posting the list!

Chris

 

[EBUTTS]

Very interesting. Ive been around glocks for awhile and never knew any of this. I will have to print some of this out. Where does glock recommend a pf of 155? I swear ive never heard of that lol. Thx for the info everybody. I guess ive been lucky with my 26 because it eats everything also.

 

[EBUTTS]

Oops i meant where does it say glock recommedns a pf of 136?

 

[cohland]

Oops i meant where does it say glock recommedns a pf of 136?

That was my assumption based on what I saw in the list, but I don't know where the list came from or who at Glock may have provided that information. Sorry if I misled you, didn't mean to.

Chris

 

[GlockNewb]

Very nice photo documentation Melissa! Thanks for sharing!

GN

 

[Bulldawg]

I've got to say I'm not at all thrilled with reading, hearing that some of the G4s are actually finicky in what they'll eat.

I don't buy Glocks for their beauty, their sleekness or their fancy finishes. I buy and carry Glocks because I've never owned one that didn't fire anything I put into it and it surely seems that some G4s are a step backwards in that regard.

 

[Don Glock]

i went to the range today, and checked out a gen4 g26 out of curiosity. it does have a nicer feel to it than the gen3 g26, but for me that takes a back seat to total reliability with any ammo....

 

[EBUTTS]

I saw the list but didnt see where the list was from. Sorry if i missed that info. Just checked that chart again and still dont see where that info or who it is from??? My new 3rd gen 26 does eat anything i put in it so that info doesnt mean a whole lot to me at this time. Just as long as im not hurting my new baby lol

 

[cohland]

I've got to say I'm not at all thrilled with reading, hearing that some of the G4s are actually finicky in what they'll eat.

I don't buy Glocks for their beauty, their sleekness or their fancy finishes. I buy and carry Glocks because I've never owned one that didn't fire anything I put into it and it surely seems that some G4s are a step backwards in that regard.

You've got a point, Bulldawg. I think what we saw was mainly "teething" problems with the Recoil Spring Assembly (RSA) on some models of the 9mm Glock Gen4 pistols, and that seems to have been solved with a new RSA. Glock found the problem and fixed it, all right, but they did it AFTER they had already begun to sell the new model, so they've had some cleanup work to do. Or rather, WE have had some cleanup work to do.

Those of us who are Glock enthusiasts have the patience and interest to dig in, collaborate (on an excellent forum such as this one), find a solution, and get the parts for our guns.

Others, who just bought a 9mm Glock and happened to get an early Gen4 probably ran into the problem, figured it was a Glock quality problem, also figured that all Glock pistols had quality problems, and sold the guns. Too bad, both for them and for Glock. It's a shame that this sort of thing happens because it has got to hurt Glock's reputation.

Chris

 

[melissa5]

Results of 2nd range trip

I thought about thoroughly cleaning and lubricating the G26 before the 2nd range trip, but decided that I wanted to duplicate the conditions of the 1st trip. The only thing I did differently was to fully load the mags and let them sit for a week. Don't know if this helped or did nothing at all, but the G26 performed beautifully...not a single failure of any kind. I started with the 30 rounds of Federal 115gr that was already in the mags. Then, finished with 50 rounds of Speer Lawman 115gr. Even though I regularly shoot a G30 & G36, I could have limp-wristed causing the three failures during the first range trip. I don't know. I'm thinking that if I shoot 150 to 200 more rounds without any problems, I'm going to start carrying the Gen4. Also, I might have had a tighter grip this time because I didn't notice the new texture as much. Call me a happy Glocker!