By now, anyone with even a moderate interest in the firearms world has seen the Glock Gen 6. It’s likely the biggest announcement of 2025. We were lucky enough to attend the Glock event in Georgia and get a little hands-on time with the new guns. I left impressed, but aching to review the Glock 17 Gen 6, and now I have my chance.
Glock sent me a test-and-review sample of the Gen 6, and I’ve been putting plenty of holes in paper, dinging lots of steel, and carefully observing the changes Glock made to Gaston’s original pistol.
The Glock 17 Gen 6: Is it Really a 17?
There is a good argument that the 17 isn’t really a 17 anymore; it’s a Glock 47. Its ability to accept Glock 19 Gen 6 slides and for the Glock 17 slide to fit on the Glock 19 frame gives you the same modular capability as the 47. It features the same design architecture, evidenced by the short dust cover and Glock 19-length recoil spring assembly.
The Glock 47 was a big hit with the market, and Glock seems to have ditched the 47 moniker just to call this gun the 17 out of tradition. Since the Glock 17 was the company’s first handgun, it was likely a bit of nostalgia-driven sentiment to keep the “17” name over “47” for the Gen 6 rollout.
Specs
The differences between most Glock generations are often minor. These incremental jumps rarely impress or give shooters what they truly want. However, the Gen 6 represents a massive leap from the Gen 5. You’ve probably seen it in other coverage, so I’ll keep the highlights brief:
Enhanced Grip & Ergonomics
- RTF6 Texture: A new, highly aggressive texture that covers the entire grip for maximum “stickiness.”
- Improved Ergonomics: Features an integrated palm swell to move away from the traditional “blocky” feel.
- High-Grip Design: A radical undercut on the trigger guard eliminates “Glock knuckle” and allows for a higher hand position.
- Integrated Beavertail: A built-in, longer beavertail prevents slide bite without needing a modular backstrap.
- Built-in Magwell: Designed to facilitate faster and easier reloads.
Trigger & Frame Controls
- New Trigger Shoe: A flat-faced design that reduces finger irritation while maintaining a subtle hook for consistent placement.
- Integrated “Gas Pedals”: Thumb rests are carved directly into the frame (keeping the profile slim for holsters) to help control recoil and track the red dot.
Optics & Slide Improvements
- Direct-Mount Optics: Replaces the MOS plate system; optics now mount directly to the slide using polymer inserts with recoil bosses.
- Reliability Fix: A redesigned EDP channel prevents long optic screws and Loctite from interfering with the extractor.
- Enhanced Serrations: Deeper, more aggressive slide serrations for easier racking with an optic mounted.
The Optics Mounting System
The new optics mounting system is incredibly easy to use. I attached an RMR-footprint Cyelee optic very quickly and was up and running. The mounting system is simple, but a bit restrictive; you only get three footprints.
Your options for enclosed emitters are limited to those using Leupold, Trijicon, and C-MORE footprints. Optics like the Aimpoint ACRO or RMSc-footprint optics (like the Holosun EPS Carry) aren’t currently compatible.
Gen6 G17 Ergonomics
The revised ergonomics on the Glock 17 are absolutely fantastic. Glock engineers looked at everything custom shops and modders were doing to their guns and simply did it at the factory. You don’t need to replace the trigger, stipple the grip, or alter the frame.
The beavertail extension is great for shooting, but it does poke a bit when carried AIWB (Appendix Inside the Waistband) in my INCOG X. This mostly occurs when I bend over or get into my car. It’s not constant, but it is noticeable.
All of these little improvements go a long way toward making the Glock a more modern design capable of keeping up with the competition.
Shooting the Glock 17 Gen 6
The Glock 17 Gen 6 shines at the range. If you’ve shot 17s before, you’ll notice this gun doesn’t handle like a traditional 17. To no one’s surprise, it handles like a 47.
The shorter, stiffer recoil spring creates a recoil impulse that’s slightly snappier, but the red dot snaps right back to the target. It feels faster and flatter, which allows for quicker follow-up shots with minimal loss of control.
Dumping a 33-round magazine through this thing is pure fun. The gun doesn’t drift with a good grip; at 10 yards, I dumped an entire magazine into an A-zone target. The recoil impulse, combined with the higher, more comfortable grip, makes it easy to go fast.
With a few practice runs, I was nailing 2.10-second Bill Drills. To be fair, I’ve been practicing a lot with my TitanX, so my skills were already sharp, but I felt that effect carry over when going live with the Gen 6.
Learning to use the “gas pedals” is new to me, but they offer a constant index point that’s easy to find. I’m not driving down against them; instead, I allow the gas pedal to hit my thumb during recoil, creating natural muzzle-rise mitigation.
Sighting In
While zeroing the dot, I was able to produce two-inch groups from a rested position at 15 yards. After zeroing, I transitioned to off-hand positions, and my groups remained tight, mostly around two inches.
Shooting Failure-to-Stop drills on B8s and index cards was simple. The gun’s overall control and accuracy lend themselves well to tactical drills. At 50 yards, I could routinely ping an IPSC-sized piece of steel. The flat-faced trigger doesn’t change the pull weight, but it provides a more comfortable interface that doesn’t irritate your finger during high-round-count sessions.
The gun ate all the cheap, steel-cased junk I put through it—for the most part. I had two ammo-related malfunctions, which is to be expected from the world’s cheapest ammunition. Other than those two failures, the gun ran and ran with no maintenance and certainly no “kid-glove” treatment.
My Problems With the Gen 6
The micro-sized slide release is still positioned poorly for me. It’s too small, and my thumbs tend to pin it down when using an aggressive thumbs-forward grip. I need to alter my grip slightly to solve this, which is something I’m working on.
I do wish for broader optic compatibility, but with the current design, I don’t think it’s achievable. You are limited in choice, though you do get a more secure mounting system. Also, we are stuck with the same cheap plastic sights as always—I guess that’s just tradition at this point.
Is The Gen 6 Glock 17 Worth It?
I’m not a Glock fanboy, but I’m not a hater either. However, I think the Gen 6 is worth it. Glock made great improvements to the core of their design and produced a better firearm. The Gen 6 has real legs, and it represents a massive step forward for the platform. I’m excited to see where they take the Gen 6 line next.
