I’ve long said the Glock 19 is the Honda Civic of handguns: accurate, reliable, easy enough to conceal, and well-suited for duty. My first experience with one was at the NYPD Academy, where I chose a Gen 2 over the S&W 5946 and Sig P226 DAO. Its only real downside was the mandatory 12 lb. trigger pull, though the Sig and S&W weren’t much better and were both larger and heavier.
Glock dominates the law enforcement market, equipping roughly 80% of U.S. agencies. Local departments in my area of New York that don’t use Glock are usually run by historical “never-Glockers” who prefer sticking with their legacy brand during upgrades. Much of this stems from the fact that many local firearms instructors in New York simply aren’t gun enthusiasts—a dynamic that is changing slightly, but still lags behind expectations.
Law enforcement isn’t the only government sector choosing Glock. U.S. Army Special Forces, the Army Special Mission Unit, Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, and the New York Army National Guard have all maintained inventories of Glocks chosen over their issued M9 and M17/M18 pistols.
Whenever I’m asked, “What should my first pistol be?” my answer is almost always “a Glock 19.” I’ve been issued or bought every iteration from Gen 2 to Gen 6, including purchasing 19T Simunition pistols for my training company, Stretz Tactical
In 2026, concealed carry options are plentiful, with slimline subcompacts dominating the market. Still, many shooters—myself included—prefer to carry “as much gun as possible.” Depending on how and where you carry, as well as your body type, a Glock 19 can be tough or uncomfortable to conceal. That’s why many choose models like the Glock 43X, G48, or SIG Sauer P365 Fuse—they effectively bridge the gap.
For most of my police career, “carrying as much gun as you can” meant carrying a Glock 19 off-duty. But as I’ve outlined previously in my my concealed carry evolution, that isn’t always practical. Age plays a factor, too; pushing 52, it’s easier to gain weight and harder to lose it, making appendix carry increasingly uncomfortable.
Between those physical realities, concerns with other options in the G48 footprint, and the availability of 15-round magazines, I landed on the Glock 48 as my primary carry pistol. That said, getting there wasn’t entirely smooth sailing.
Bumps in my road to choosing the G48
Initial 15-round aftermarket magazines weren’t trustworthy. Carrying a Glock 48 with a red dot, backup irons, and a light—but capped at a 10-round capacity—didn’t make sense compared to a stock Glock 19, so I sold my first G48. Statistically, you probably won’t need a weapon light, a red dot, or 15+1 capacity, but if I can have them, I want them.
Once I settled on Palmetto State Armory’s 15-round Dagger Micro magazine, I began spending significant time behind the G48. I quickly noticed that because the frame is so thin, it tended to twist in my dominant hand—even with my small-to-medium hands. I solved this by installing a Kiral Defense backstrap, which filled the web of my hand without adding bulk elsewhere. Finally, I locked it all together using Handleitgrips sandpaper-style grip tape.
How the comparison guns were set up
When comparing these two guns head-to-head, setup context is everything. Out of the box in stock configuration, I would have chosen the G19. However, the playing field changed once I modified the G48 with the grip enhancements.
Other modifications included: a Glock Triggers Defender trigger, and a factory minus connector, alongside a Holosun EPS and Streamlight TLR-7 Sub. Loaded with 15+1 rounds of 124gr +P Gold Dots, the G48 weighed in at 31.11 ounces.
By comparison, my Glock 19 Gen 6 remained stock internally, save for a factory minus connector. I fitted it with a Holosun EPS and a Surefire XC3—giving it a setup very similar to the G48. Set up this way, the G19 weighed 33.86 ounces.
Glock 19 vs Glock 48 Specifications at a Glance
| Feature / Spec | Glock 19 (Gen 6) | Glock 48 (Slimline) |
| Overall Width | 1.35 in (34.4 mm) | 1.10 in (28 mm) |
| Barrel Length | 4.02 in (102 mm) | 4.17 in (106 mm) |
| Factory Capacity | 15+1 rounds | 10+1 rounds |
| Upgraded Capacity | 15+1 rounds | 15+1 rounds (PSA Micro Mag) |
| As-Tested Weight (Loaded) | 33.86 oz (w/ 16x 124gr +P) | 31.11 oz (w/ 16x 124gr +P) |
Range Performance: Testing Side-by-Side
The pistols were evaluated side by side through slow-fire and timed 25-yard bullseye drills, as well as draws, presentations, strong and support-hand only shooting, shooting on the move, and a plate rack. Performance was remarkably similar, with no obvious winner.
The Final Verdict
Out of the box with zero modifications, the edge goes to the Glock 19. It fills the hand better. While it can be slightly harder to conceal depending on your build, wardrobe, and gear choices, the stock Glock 48 simply shifted too much in my grip due to its thin frame, which degraded performance.
However, once upgraded as described, the G48 takes the top spot. It’s thinner, lighter, easier to conceal, holds the same 15+1 capacity, and yields nearly identical performance. Hand size, skill level, and personal preference will dictate your outcome, but you really can’t go wrong with either option—they are Glocks, after all.
