Glock 19 BB gun.
This report covers:
- Noticed the BB gun
- How Glock-y is it?
- Same size
- Magazine and CO2
- Sights
- Blowback?
- Power
- Summary
Today we start looking at the Glock 19 BB gun. This report series came about in an odd way. First reader Ian McKee wrote about his experiences shooting a Glock 19 clone firearm that he bought for less than $200. That prompted me to buy one for myself.
I lubricated my pistol with SLIP 2000 EWL and was about to make a video of Glock disassembly an easy way when I discovered the SLIP 2000 had loosened up my pistol and the easy disassembly method no longer worked. Fortunately the normal disassembly now works fine. So instead of making a video I took the pistol to the range and shot it in the report that’s linked above.
Noticed the BB gun
All this association with the Glock 19 brought the BB gun to my attention and I thought a review would be nice, so here we are. When the gun arrived and I removed it from its blister pack I noticed something for the first time. This is a real Glock!
Glock has licensed the gun. From the right rear of the slide.
For many years Glock refused to license any airgun lookalike. I never found anyone who knew exactly why they refused; they just did. There have been Glock-ish looking airguns but none have been real Glocks until now.
When I saw this writing on the side of the test pistol I was surprised. It’s the genuine article! This marks the end of an era and it also means that no Glock collection can be complete without one of these BB pistols.
How Glock-y is it?
The licensing begs the question—is this a real Glock? From a trademark and licensing standpoint it is. But how Glock-y is it really? Well, for starters it feels right when you hold it. The pistol weighs 1 pound 7.5 ounces/ 666.21g unloaded and with the magazine in. In terms of weight and balance feels a lot like my Glock 19 clone or my Glock 36.
Same size
The BB pistol fits my Glock 19 holster perfectly, so the size is right, too.
Magazine and CO2
The BB magazine is a stick type that inserts in the bottom front of the mag well. The Pyramyd AIR description says the mag holds 16 BBs, and I’ll check that when I shoot it.
I was flummoxed when it came to where the CO2 cartridge goes. I looked for a button to depress and found nothing. But behind the base of the magazine the backstrap has a cutout for the insertion of a finger or thumb. Pull the backstrap away from the grip and voila, it comes off exposing the CO2 compartment.
With the backstrap off we see where the CO2 cartridge goes. Notice that the Allen wrench for piercing the CO2 cartridges is in the backstrap.
Sights
Remember that I had great difficulty seeing the sights on the clone? Well this BB pistol has a white outlined rear sight notch that makes all the difference. That’s what the Glock firearm has.
The white outline on the rear sight of the Glock BB pistol makes the sights easy to see and to be more precise.
The slide is not cut for aftermarket optics. So it will be the open sights or nothing.
Blowback?
This pistol does not feature a blowback slide and the trigger, while very much in the Glock style with a central safety blade, always remains extended. Obviously the pistol is only cocked by gas pressure.
Power
The description rates the pistol at 410 f.p.s. which is brisk for a BB gun. Because of the way the magazine feeds I think we can test it with H&N Smart Shot lead BBs too, which will broaden the test parameters—especially when it comes to accuracy.
Summary
I’m looking forward to this test series because this BB gun is realistic enough for good sidearm training. I sure hope it’s accurate!
Am I the only one? Who does not like it at all? Somehow I’m not attracted to any Glock. Why? It’s square, practical, good. And still… nope.
Tomek,
Yes, it does look like a kid’s toy pistol but if you had to carry the real firearm all day you might appreciate it more. It’s adaptable, accommodating, dependable and light weight. Its design may contribute to its function.
It’s reputation and desirability make it a great candidate for an airgun replica. I have a BB version in Coyote Tan myself, believe it is the 19X. It certainly fills the bill as a collectable firearm replica for me.
But true, it simply does not look like a hardcore firearm, but it did change the firearm world.
Bob M,
I think I know exactly what you mean. I think you are 100% right. But still… nope.
Tomek,
Might want to skip the following blogs on this one. You know how Tom can be the great enabler.
Lord knows he convinced me to get one many times. Otherwise, stand your ground and be firm in your conviction to avoid getting one. Good luck!. 😉
Well, well,
Just received two more MSN articles on standard transmissions and now “The top 5 guns I simply don’t like”
tomek,
I used to feel that way, and still do for many reasons. But I must say that they do work as advertised.
BB
tomek,
You are not the only one. I do not like the way they fit my hand, I do not care for that funky trigger setup and I have never been a big fan of 9mm. They just do not do it for me. Even the great enabler is not fully enamored with them.
This looks to be an interesting series. I have to admit that I haven’t yet tried the H&N Smart Shot lead BBs yet. Looking at the photos in the product link, they appear to be hemisphere shaped. That seems odd to me. It might be worthwhile to compile a list of guns that these work well in. If I have a suitable gun these might work for my indoor range. I currently usually shy away from shooting steel BBs due to the ricochet potential.
Elmer, I think they start off round but flatten when they hit something hard, reducing the ricochet potential.
Elmer,
Those pics are trying to show you that the lead BB deforms when it hit something hard.
And by the way, it’s duck season!
BB
That makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up BB and RG!
So I bought a Glock 19 Gen 4 from P.A. a couple of years ago. It was an exact copy of my niece’s husband’s duty pistol. He was able to attach the light to it and it fit perfectly in the duty holster. Some BBs caused it to jam, though, like Hornadys and Dust Devils. I had some old (ahem, very old) Crosman Copperhead BBs and they created a very dispersed group. I think Umarex BBs did well.
The Gen 4 had a different set up from the Glock B.B. is testing today. The BBs and CO² both loaded into the metal mag, which was heavy enough to drop away. The gun also had a satisfying blowback action.
The Glock 19 replica that B.B. is testing sounds like the Glock 17 Gen 3 with a shorter barrel and slide of the Glock 19. But talking about licensing, P.A.I.R. has many. Glock 17, Gen 3, Gen 4, Gen 5 (3 versions?, at least one of which has slide cutouts for a red dot sight, and another that shoots pellets instead of BBs), Glock 19, Glock 19X, as well as airsoft versions.
Roamin,
Okay, Hornady and Dust Devil BBs are on the list to be tested!
BB
Over the years, I have come to learn that there are many people on both sides of the debate on whether these are great pistols or not. I am one of those in the camp who does not care for these.
It may be rooted in the materials used in the construction of this pistol. I am quite certain that the ruggedness of this is quite serviceable, otherwise it would not be used by so many. My first air rifle had a synthetic stock, so I suspect that is not the issue.
I just do not care how it “feels” in my hand. My experience has taught me that if you do not care for something, you will not likely be good with it. If it is something your life may depend upon, you had better be good with it.
As for a replica, I am quite certain many here know how I personally feel concerning such, as I have expressed my feelings for such before. This is a personal thing and I do not fault anyone for acquiring such. Thankfully, the industry does not rely on people such as myself. Hey, they have to make a living also.