Glock 19: A Beginner’s Guide

The Glock 19 is simply one of the most popular weapons in America. Read on and find out why it's a weapon of choice among gun experts.

In this article:

1. Glock 19 Review
2. Safety First
3. Before You Examine Your Glock 19
4. How Your Glock 19 Works
5. Parts of the Glock 19 – Exterior
6. Interior Parts of the Glock

Glock 19: Get to Know the World's Most Popular Handgun

Glock 19 Review

Almost every law enforcement agency loves this semi-automatic pistol, and it is one of the most widely-used handguns due to its ease of use, endurance, and some call it the best handgun for concealed carry. In fact, most people who are just beginning a lifelong passion with firearms begin their journey with Glock handguns.

It is quite simply the best place to start. Speaking of the best place to start, if you are a beginner when it comes to firearms it is essential that you understand every aspect of your chosen weapon.

As fun and fascinating as they are, guns are not toys by any stretch of the imagination. Every time you pick one up, you are picking up a weapon with the potential to take a life almost instantaneously.

Your gun, no matter how much you use it or how comfortable you feel you are in your knowledge, always deserves your full attention and respect. You can start this by understanding every part of your weapon before you consider picking it up, let alone firing it.

 

Safety First

Before you even think about handling your gun, it is crucial that you perform a thorough safety check. Far too many amateur (and professional) gun lovers are injured every year due to the fact that safety measures just weren’t taken.

Whether they are cutting corners or are overconfident, skipping this step is irresponsible and dangerous. It only takes a second but it is utterly necessary to take the time for it can save your life.

Before You Examine Your Glock 19

It is of utmost importance to take some precautionary measures before inspecting your Glock 19. So after pulling it out of your Glock holster, here are the first things you need to do:

• Remove the magazine. Set aside.
• Visually inspect the chamber for any ammunition
• Physically inspect the chamber by running your finger inside. Do this more than once.
• Point the pistol away from your body, toward the ground in a safe direction.
• Pull the trigger multiple times

No catastrophic, explosive firing? You are safe to move forward with your examination.

RELATED: Gun Mods: How To Customize Your Glock

How Your Glock 19 Works

The Glock 19 is a semi-automatic pistol and one of the best performing pistols in the gun world. Many people confuse this term with fully automatic but in reality, the two couldn’t be more different.

A fully automatic will fire multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger, whereas semi-automatic pistols only prepare another round for you automatically after one is fired — thanks to a complex cycle performed by the inner workings of your Glock.

When you load a round by pulling the slide portion of the pistol, a spring pulls ammo out of the magazine and pushes it into the chamber. Pulling the trigger at this point will fire the waiting bullet.

Once firing a bullet, the gases from the ignition pull the slide back once again, loading another piece of ammo into the chamber. It is then up to your trigger finger to set the whole cycle into motion once again.

Parts of the Glock 19 – Exterior

• Slide – Found in the top half of the pistol, this portion is manually pulled back and released in order to load a cartridge from the magazine into the chamber.
• Frame – The ‘body’ of your pistol. It houses some of the important internal components that make your weapon function, like the trigger.
• Trigger – A lever that you pull or squeeze in order to begin the firing process.
• Trigger Guard – Wrapped around the trigger, this ‘cage’ provides protection and safety.
• Magazine Release- Releases magazine from the magazine well for reloading.
• Slide Catch – The latch on the left side of the gun that locks and releases the slide after firing the last round.
• Barrel – The metal tube where the bullet passes through when firing.
• Accessory Rail – Support for optional Glock 19 accessories such as lights or laser sights.
• Magazine Well – The slot for inserting Glock 19 magazines.
• Grip/Back Strap – the front and back of the handle
• Rear and Front Sights – Raised notches on the slide of the gun that help to target and aim.
• Chamber – The portion of the firearm that holds the cartridge ready for firing

Cartridge Definition: A metal packaging for firearm ammunition. It is where gun powder is placed and ignited to fire the bullet.

Interior Parts of the Glock

• Barrel interior – All barrels are spiral on the interior (called rifling). The Glock 19 is distinct in that the pattern within the barrel is hexagonal.
• Recoil Spring – Aids in absorbing the impact of felt recoil
• Firing Spring – Helps push the firing pin forth to strike the cartridge primer and begin ignition

 

Looking for more info about Glock 19? Watch this video from hickok45 as he reviews the latest newest addition to the Glock fam, the Gen 5:

You cannot call yourself a responsible gun owner if you don’t understand your weapon. As tempting as it may be to grab your Glock, head down to the firing range, and start rattling away at targets, that is not going to make you a better marksman.

In fact, your enthusiasm makes you a liability! Anyone who is serious about his or her firearms has a deep understanding of everything that makes their chosen weapon ‘tick.’

Not only are they wiser, but they put themselves and others at far less risk than those just looking for the cheap thrill of firing a gun. Your first step to firearms excellence is knowledge. Take your time and get to know your Glock – you’ll be glad you did!

Have you tried firing a Glock 19? Tell us your experiences about it in the comments section below!

UP NEXT:

• Top Glock Mods To Consider For Glock Owners
• 40 Best 9mm Handguns For Women
• Glock Pistols: Why Are They Still So Popular?

 

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2015, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.