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Updated Glock 23: A New Generation Of Perfection

Source: Tactical-Life.com

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Guns & Weapons For Law Enforcement magazine, an eight times a year periodical, provides test and evaluation of guns, weapons and accessories for law enforcement use.

Essential insights on tactics, techniques and future possible systems are also reviewed. Guns & Weapons For Law Enforcement is a periodical offering readers information on the newest equipment available to them. Products are tested and evaluated by our stable of writers who are either active or retired from the police and/or military services.

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The Glock 23 and its larger sibling, the Glock 22, are by far the most popular pistols with today’s local state and federal law enforcement agencies. The compact G23 version generally sees the majority of service as a plainclothes or undercover pistol, while the G22 is a uniform duty gun.

Quite naturally, the Glock 23 Gen4 version shares many attributes and features of the original model. The pistol uses Glock’s “Safe-Action” striker-fired system with three safety mechanisms. A 64 HRC dark coating is applied to the steel slide and the frame is constructed of high-strength polymer.

The .40 caliber G23 is cataloged as a “Compact” version with a 4.02-inch barrel. The overall length of the slide is 6.85 inches and it is 5 inches high. Empty weight for the pistol is a mere 21 ounces. A 13-round magazine feeds the pistol, but higher capacity magazines will work in the gun.

Numerous sight configurations are available. The model featured herein has the factory night sight set up, with tritium inserts in the front and rear. Rampant popularity of the pistol has led to a myriad of aftermarket sights being built for the Glock series, including my personal choice—the XS 24/7 Express Sights.

The new Gen4 version includes three primary enhancements to the G23 pistol. These include the new Multiple Back Strap (MBS) frame, a reversible and enlarged magazine catch, and a new dual-captive recoil spring. On the grip you will also note the Rough Textured Frame (RTF), a unique new surface texturing.

Considering the upgraded MBS frame, Glock includes two additional backstraps — medium and large. The small backstrap is simply the pistol’s stock configuration. A special tool is included as is a polymer pin to hold the medium or large backstraps in place. Installing and swapping the backstraps is a simple process that takes only a minute or two.

The dual-captive recoil spring is not a new item for Glock. They’ve been using this spring system in their sub-compact pistols for many years now. However, using this design on a compact or full-sized pistol is new. There is no getting around the fact that the .40 caliber pistol cartridge is a high-pressure, snappy little round. The new spring configuration helps to dampen some of the recoil from the cartridge.

Regarding a reversible magazine catch, it was simply a matter of time before Glock included this feature. Left-handed folks can work a “right-handed” magazine catch with the proper training, but all of the competing pistols have ambidextrous or reversible magazine catches. The die was cast.

Shooting Impressions

Filling the 13-round magazines to capacity, I started out with some simple chronographing chores and then benched the pistol for slow-fire on paper. Results were on par with what I have come to expect from Glock pistols.

The G23 is not a benchrest pistol designed for punching paper, it’s a fighting pistol. For more dynamic practice I broke out the Rotator reactive steel target from Safe Direction. This target incorporates two 8×8-inch paddles offset at 180 degrees from one another.

During my practice session I worked with the G23 with all three backstrap set-ups. In the end I settled on the medium-width version. My hands are large, but I believe only folks with extra-large hands or long digits will truly get the most from the larger (thicker) backstrap. I also installed a new SureFire X300 on the Gen4 pistol and kept it in place for the first 100 rounds. I turned the light on and left it on deliberately to get it hot. I then fired two complete magazines in rapid succession. The pistol cycled and the light continued to burn brightly.

In all I put around 200 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition downrange while working with this new pistol. I did not experience any stoppage or failure issues—the pistol performed as advertised. Always keep in mind when we are discussing fighting pistols that hardware is nice. However, without the skill to employ it a gun is merely a security blanket. Whichever pistol you choose to put in your holster, proper training and mindset should go along with it.

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