For anyone who has read my reviews, you know I'm a Glock fan. I like Glocks. Maybe not as much as I like government models, but I like Glocks. I've never had one fail on me, they shoot just fine filthy or bone dry, and you can clean the things in your dishwasher. Sure, some folks call them (affectionately) "Tactical Tupperware®", but mine all shoot when I need them to and where I aim them. I recently added another one to my collection: a Glock Model 22 .40S&W pistol. As with my G19, the G22 I have procured is a second generation model and I've put it through the wringer in recent weeks. This review is, in case you hadn't guessed, about the second generation Glock 22.
Basic differences between the second generation Glock 22 (below right) and the third generation of this gun (above right) are apparent. Most notably the frame has been changed to include:
- finger grooves in the front strap
- an accessory rail on the dust cover
- thumb recesses at the top of both "grip slabs"
There are a few more changes that are internal and not noticeable or meaningful unless you are an armorer for Glock. The weapon still functions the same, uses the same magazines and, probably most importantly, hits where you aim.
Let's take a look at some of the basic specifications:
- Caliber: .40S&W (although Glock likes to leave off the "S&W" part)
- Overall Length: 7.32 inches
- Overall Height: 5.43 inches
- Overall Width: 1.18 inches
- Weight = 34 ounces (loaded)
- Barrel length = 4.5 inches
And perhaps the three most important:
- Capacity = 15+1 (optional 17 round magazines are available)
- Sight Radius = 6.5 inches
- Trigger Pull = 5.5 lbs.
All right…addressing the importance of those last three:
- Capacity: While I am a fan of the government model and therefore take no issue with a weapon that uses a seven-round magazine (+1 in the chamber), in today's law enforcement community a magazine capacity of at least ten rounds is essential if you want to compete in the market. With many 9mm pistols holding fifteen rounds per magazine and some competitor .40 caliber weapons holding as few as eleven rounds per magazine, the Glock 22 15 rounds per magazine capacity is a strength. Additionally, with the seeming increase in active shooter incidents and the potential reality of a looming on-the-ground terrorist attack, more bullets are always better.
- Sight Radius: Small aiming errors can result in big misses at the target. The longer a weapon's sight radius, the less chance exists to make aiming mistakes. A 6.5 inch sight radius --the distance between the front and rear sight--is significant on a handgun. As a comparison, the sight radius on my Springfield Armory 1911 pistol is also 6.5 inches.
- Trigger pull: 5.5 lbs. On Glock's competition guns you can get a 3.5 pound trigger pull. Why lighter on a competition gun? Because when you have to apply more pressure to the trigger, you run a proportionately greater chance of pushing your sight alignment/sight picture out of whack. Many double-action guns have an initial trigger pull of eight pounds or more. With a consistent 5.5 lbs. trigger pull, the Glock pistols provide a repeated even trigger pull time after time.
Quick fire groups ran in the four-inch area, while slow fire supported groups tightened up to between 2.5 and 3 inches. The best group of the evening was a five-shot group that measured 1.6 inches between centers.
While I was at the range with this second gen gun, I had a couple of other shooters there who had third gen guns. When they asked which generation of Glock I preferred I had to tell them that I really do like the second gen better. While I like the option of mounting a light without having to use an adaptor, I'm not a fan of the finger grooves. This may be due to the fact that I've fired thousands upon thousands of rounds through my second gen G19 and have grown accustomed to the feel of the smooth front strap in my hand. Whatever it is, I like the second gen better.
Overall though, if you can't carry a government model pistol, I recommend the Glocks. They are hard to break; damned near idiot-proof; and won't let you down. They're available at good prices, too. The Glock 22, brand new with night sights and three magazines can be had for less than $500 if you look around.
BE SAFE!!!
