As the acquisition and use of Glock’s most recent generation of pistols (this is #6) becomes increasingly widespread, so too does the need for a quality Glock Gen 6 holster. Safariland offers a variety of Gen 6 compatible rigs for every common method of carry.
Read on for a discussion of those options, as well as a comprehensive overview of the changes made from previous generations to now.
Gen 6 External Upgrades and Ergonomics
Unlike some of the previous generational shifts, the Gen 6 Glock brings significant, noticeable change. How does GLOCK maintain the legacy that has, over more than four decades, positioned the company at the top of the combat handgun market while also answering some of the more frequent customer requests?
Let’s break down the new features.
The most noticeable changes focus on improving the shooter’s interaction with the gun. As you can hear in the video provided below, Safariland’s David Higginbotham summarized the update succinctly:
“Gen 6 guns feel more like customized GLOCKs, but these additions come with the assurance of GLOCK’s testing and safety guarantees.”
Improved Gen 6 Grip Texture: There’s more texture everywhere. It uses GLOCK’s nub pattern, RTF6, but this upgrade has a roughed backing where the polymer used to be smooth. The feeling is similar, but more aggressive.
Gen 6’s Thumb Ledge: Ahead of the trigger guard, there’s a recessed ledge. While this isn’t a true gas pedal, it is a big addition, one that holds the support hand’s thumb very well. This is a direct answer to customer requests.
A Longer Beavertail: No more slide bite for shooters with big mitts. This new beavertail extends farther and is a touch wider.
Palm Swell: GLOCKs have always felt somewhat boxy. Gen 6 brings some subtle curves into play that help fit the palm. These are not overtly noticeable; you will see it if you look closely, but it is easier to feel.
Undercut Trigger Guard: One of the most popular GLOCK mods is to Dremel out the underside of the trigger guard. Now, GLOCK has molded in this reduction so your knuckle can get closer to the trigger. This allows for a high-hand grip (or higher, at least) on the Glock Gen 6.
Narrowed Backstrap Depth: The complement to the trigger guard reduction is a reduction in the width of the grip at the top of the backstrap. This allows you to get more finger on the trigger. When combined with the beavertail, it makes for a solid and secure grip.
Deeper Slide Serrations: Deeper serrations provide more surface area. This is only on the front of the slide, not the rear.
Trigger and Internal Changes
The trigger remains the same, and the trigger safety is still a fundamental piece of the design, but the trigger shoe now has a flat face. This is a wide trigger, and it adds to the list of features that feel distinctly different.
One question that often comes up when a new firearm becomes available is whether changes to the trigger shoe will affect holster retention. This isn’t an issue with Safariland’s ALS mechanism. It engages directly with the ejection port on the slide, not with the trigger guard or trigger shoe. The transition to a flat-faced trigger will not impact the Glock 19 Gen 6 holster, Glock 45 Gen 6 holster, and Glock 17 Gen 6 holster line. ALS locking stability, tactile feedback, and release action will remain unchanged.
Optics Ready System Improvements
The Optics Ready System concept is unique. There are still plates for mounting, but they’re polymer, not steel—and you don’t screw the optic to the plate. Instead, the plates act as shock absorption under the optic, which mounts directly to the slide. This system is a big leap forward for GLOCK.
Why is this included in the section about internal upgrades? Because the previous system had a screw channel that extended into the extractor. If you added too much Loctite, you could lock up the extractor. This new mount doesn’t have that issue.
Other Notable Internal Details
Some of the parts in Gen 6 are interchangeable; others are not. Barrels are not interchangeable. GLOCK understands the demand for threaded barrels and has had them in production for previous generations. The company plans to bring threaded Gen 6 barrels at a later date.
From a maintenance perspective, much of Gen 6 will feel familiar to those who can strip a GLOCK. Pulling the extractor and firing pin is easy and requires little in the way of tools. The simplicity that has always defined the gun remains a key component of this design.
The guide rods on these, though, have returned to single-stage rods. Gen 4 and Gen 5 had a more complex recoil system—identifiable by the wide guide rod end protruding from the muzzle. Gen 6 looks more like earlier iterations.
The most noticeable change is on the Gen 6 G17. This new variant is similar to the Gen 5 G47, in that it uses the shorter recoil rod in the longer slide configuration. The new G17 looks like a G47, but the hole in the muzzle end of the slide is half the size.
Holster Considerations for the Glock Gen 6
One key component of GLOCK’s business philosophy is backwards compatibility. Gen 6 achieves this in many holster designs. Each of these holster models below will work as well with Gen 6 guns as they have with Gen 5s.
Note: Unlike ALS, the Safariland GLS (Grip Lock System) from holsters like the 575/578 Pro-Fit series retains the firearm by locking onto the middle of the trigger guard. Because Glock maintained its standard external trigger guard width and lower radii when they engineered the new, higher undercut, Glock Gen 6 holster compatibility with GLS holsters remains unaffected. The middle-finger release pad will still deactivate smoothly with a natural shooting grip.
IWB Holsters for Perfect Gen 6 Fit
Safariland’s Inside the Waistband holsters use friction for security.
Incog-X: The Haley Strategic Incog-X works perfectly for all three of the new Gen 6 guns. For AIWB carry, ease of concealment, and extra mag accommodation, Incog-X is perfect.
Species: For non-light options, the single-clip Species is a versatile and compact Glock Gen 6 holster with adjustable security.
Schema: For those looking for a minimalist design, Schema stands apart. If you haven’t tried one, you should—the deceptively simple holster is remarkably comfortable and ideal for EDC.
OWB Holsters for Gen 6 Glocks
Solis: For Level I retention in a lean holster design, Solis is ideal.
Gravity: Looking for simplicity in a friction fit? Gravity is secure and intuitive.
Duty Holsters
Safariland has tested retention and certified Gen 6 fits across all of its duty holster designs.
Ballast: If you need a duty holster for a GLOCK, the Ballast is compact and built like a tank. For Level I or Level III retention for a GLOCK, Ballast is the answer. The Gen 6 G19, G45, and G17 will fit perfectly.
SafariVault: Safariland’s dreadnought design sets the benchmark for protective performance.
Optic Mount Mechanics and RDS Clearance
Glock’s Optic Ready System uses an inset polymer plate that acts as a shock absorber while allowing optic screws to pass directly into the slide. This lowers the overall deck height of a red dot sight, which in turn provides clearance under Safariland RDS protective optic hoods (such as on the Ballast and 6390RDS)
Shooting the Gen 6 Glock
So how do the new Gen 6 Glocks shoot? After 200+ rounds with all three Gen 6 Glocks, Higginbotham shared his final assessment: The Gen 6 mods are better.
From a performance perspective, the consensus is that while it is still a GLOCK, it is fundamentally better. Higginbotham emphasized that the changes aren’t meant to diminish the legendary reliability, noting, “GLOCKs work. That’s what makes them GLOCKs and the most widely adopted duty guns in the US and much of the world. This is a GLOCK, still, but better.”
Wrapping It Up
Gen 6 provides many of the changes dedicated GLOCK fans have been clamoring for since the release of Gen 5. The most powerful testament to these changes comes from Higginbotham himself, who plans to upgrade his personal carry gun:
“If I may inject some personal opinion here, I’ll note that I often carry a Gen 5 G45. The gun provides an ideal balance between form and function. The new Gen 6 G45, though, is measurably better. I’ll be upgrading. And I know I won’t be alone.”
