While the Glock 19 may rival it in popularity and .40-caliber models once dominated the market, the Glock 17 remains the quintessential duty handgun that started it all. Forty years after entering the U.S. market, it has reached its sixth generation (Gen 6).
The Gen 6 17 isn’t just the next generation of the 17. It borrows the Glock 47‘s shorter dust cover and Glock 19-length recoil spring assembly, then adds new Gen 6 features on top. That makes a Glock 47 vs. Glock 17 Gen 6 comparison a natural one.
My Glock History
Throughout my life and law enforcement career, I have owned, carried, and trained with various 9mm and .40-caliber Glocks. I started with a Gen 2 Glock 22 for personal use and a Gen 2 Glock 19 on duty.
While Gen 2, 3, and 4 Glock 22s occupied my duty holster for most of my career, I spent my final 25 months as a police officer carrying a Gen 5 Glock 17 equipped with an Aimpoint Acro P-2 and a SureFire X300.
I was issued a brand-new Gen 5 17 and turned it in on my last day with more than 11,560 rounds through it and zero issues.
Left without a full-sized Glock after selling my Gen 4 Glock 17 and nearing retirement, I bought the then-new Glock 47. Soon after, the Gen 6 Glock 17 launched, so I sold the G47 to my buddy Jimmy to buy one.
Glock 47 vs. Glock 17 Gen 6:Core Differences
| Feature | Glock 47 (Gen 5) | Glock 17 Gen 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Dust Cover | Shortened (G19-length) | Shortened (G19-length) |
| Recoil Spring | Dual captured spring | Single G19-length coil spring |
| Cross-Compatibility | Swaps with Gen 5 Glock 19 / 45 | Swaps with Gen 6 Glock 19 |
| Grip Texture & Ergonomics | Gen 5 standard texture | Enhanced texture, undercut trigger guard, palm swells, interchangeable backstraps |
| Trigger System | Gen 5 standard trigger | Updated Gen 6 flat-faced trigger design |
How We Compared Them
To evaluate both pistols head-to-head, I brought my buddy Jimmy—and my old G47—to the range, providing two distinct perspectives for this article.
Comparing our Gen 6 17s, my example (more than 1,500 rounds) exhibited noticeably less felt recoil than Jimmy’s (just over 500 rounds). A pattern was emerging. Having owned, carried, and fired countless Glocks across multiple generations and calibers, I had never previously experienced a noticeable break-in period with Gen 2 through 5 models.
When I originally owned the G47, it felt sluggish going back into battery during recoil, both with and without an optic. I had put 1,500 to 2,000 rounds through it before selling it to Jimmy. By the time we met at the range, he had pushed the total round count to around 5,000—and the sluggishness was completely gone.
We began by testing 25-yard slow-fire accuracy on NRA B8 bullseye targets using Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P and New Republic 115gr FMJ.
Next, we ran 7-yard draw-to-first-shot drills, Bill Drills, shooting-on-the-move, and timed runs on a plate rack. Jimmy also brought a Ruger RXM to throw in the mix.
While both of us had previously shot the G47 and Gen 6 17, this session was dedicated strictly to a direct comparison.
The Results
Accuracy & Recoil
Across multiple 25-yard groups with both ammunition types, the Glock 47 was consistently more accurate, printing groups roughly 1.5 inches tighter than the Gen 6 17.
Conversely, the G47 exhibited noticeably more felt recoil. Between our two Gen 6 17s, my higher-round-count example offered lighter recoil than Jimmy’s newer model—a surprising break-in characteristic neither of us had encountered on earlier generations.
Timed Drills
On Bill Drills and the plate rack, results were essentially a wash. Our times slightly favored the Gen 6 17, but only marginally. The G47 proved slightly more accurate, while the Gen 6 17 offered lighter recoil and marginally faster overall times.
The H.R. 218 Qualification Takeaway
A week after Jimmy and I ran the guns head to head, I used my Gen 6 Glock 17 for my annual H.R .218 qualification. During the course, I noticed my groups shifting right under the timed drills.
Both Jimmy and I had initially questioned whether the Gen 6’s shorter trigger reach would require the use of one of the included backstraps. This confirmed it. The issue mirrors my experience with the Glock 48 MOS, where adding a Kiral Defense backstrap prevented the grip from twisting right in my hand during recoil.
Grip Texture
Finally, as longtime Talon Grip users, we agreed the Gen 6’s factory texture and palm swell make aftermarket grip tape unnecessary. Of course, that comes down to preference, and you may want to add it.
Which One Should You Buy?
Both are solid handguns. The Glock 47 printed tighter groups in our testing and gives you Gen 5 parts compatibility with the Glock 19 and 45. The Gen 6 17 shot softer, ran marginally faster on the clock, and brings better ergonomics out of the box—just plan on trying the included backstraps.
While I sold my previous-generation Glocks to standardize on the Gen 6 platform, either model will serve you well. Whichever you choose, make sure your holster is built for it.
A Few Holsters for the Glock 17 Gen 6
See every Gen 6 fit, including light-bearing options, on Safariland’s Glock Gen 6 holster page.
A Few Things Worth Adding
Close. Both use a shortened dust cover and a Glock 19-length recoil spring assembly, and both swap slides with the same-generation Glock 19. The Gen 6 adds new grip texture, a palm swell, an undercut trigger guard, a flat-faced trigger, and a single recoil spring in place of the 47’s dual spring.
Yes. It ships with interchangeable backstraps. In my testing, adding one stopped my shots from drifting right during timed drills.
In our testing, the Gen 6 17 had noticeably less felt recoil, while the Glock 47 printed groups about 1.5 inches tighter at 25 yards.
Not reliably. Safariland released dedicated Gen 6 fits, so check the Holster Finder for your exact model and light.
