The NEW Glock Gen 6 Is Here! (Hands On & Live Fire!)

Overview of the Glock Gen 6 lineup

The video introduces the new Glock Generation 6 pistols, specifically the Glock 45 Gen 6, Glock 17 Gen 6, and Glock 19 Gen 6 in 9mm. The host is at Glock’s facility in Georgia for a media event where the Gen 6 series is being unveiled. After shooting the Glock 17 Gen 6 for about an hour, the presenter compares it directly to a Gen 5 model and notes that previous generations tended to feel similar, even as features like finger grooves came and went. Gen 6 is described as a significant step away from the “brick-like” feel often associated with earlier Glocks, with major changes to ergonomics and handling while retaining the familiar Glock grip angle and overall operating characteristics.

RTF6 grip texture, palm swell, and magwell changes

Attention shifts to the frame and magazine area on the Glock 17 Gen 6. The pistol still uses a standard 17-round magazine, but the flared magwell is slightly more refined and more pronounced than on the Gen 5, aiding quicker reloads. The front cutout used for stripping magazines is less emphasized. A key update is the new RTF6 stippling pattern, which is more aggressive than previous textures without being abrasive to the hand or clothing. This texture now extends higher on the frame, reaching above the magazine catch. The front of the grip is no longer flat like the Gen 5; instead, the Gen 6 incorporates a palm swell and rounded edges. These changes make the grip feel less blocky and more natural in the hand while preserving the traditional Glock grip angle.

Controls, beavertail, and flat-face trigger

The controls receive several refinements on the Gen 6 pistols. The magazine catch is slightly more pronounced than on the Gen 5 while remaining reversible. The slide catch or slide release is still flat but is now recessed within a small protective barrier, making it easier to reach while reducing the chance of unintentionally preventing slide lock during shooting. The beavertail is extended significantly to protect shooters with larger or “meatier” hands from slide bite, keeping the hand safely below the slide’s travel. The trigger is a major change: Glock moves from its traditional curved shoe to a flat-face trigger on the Gen 6. The trigger weight remains about 5.5 pounds, but the flat shoe and redesigned safety tab are intended to feel better on the finger during high round-count sessions, reducing discomfort and hot spots compared to earlier designs.

Frame gas pedal and holster compatibility

The frame of the Glock Gen 6 incorporates a built-in “gas pedal” area on the support-hand side. Glock thins the previously thick polymer section near the front of the frame, similar to what many custom shops have done, and adds matching RTF6 texture. This gives the shooter a defined ledge to press down with the support-hand thumb, helping manage muzzle movement and recoil during rapid strings of fire. Despite this reshaping, the overall external dimensions remain close enough to previous generations that holster compatibility is maintained. The presenter notes that Gen 6 pistols should still fit holsters designed for Gen 4 and Gen 5 frames, so users do not need to replace existing holsters when moving to the new models.

Slide serrations and redesigned extractor system

The slide on the Glock Gen 6 keeps the rear serrations similar to the Gen 5 but changes the front serrations. On Gen 6, the front serrations are cut deeper at the top and taper to a shallower depth at the bottom, providing a more secure grip for press checks or forward slide manipulations. The extractor system is also redesigned. On Gen 5 slides, a small extractor shoe is paired with a separate extractor detent pin and spring that run back toward the rear plate, visible as an opening near the back of the slide. Gen 6 removes that rear extractor pin arrangement, so when the back plate is taken off, only the striker assembly is present. The extractor detent and spring are relocated lower in the slide, which helps keep them clear of the optic mounting plate and screws, improving compatibility with optics without interference.

Recoil spring change and internal geometry tweaks

Internally, Glock moves away from the dual-stage recoil spring assembly used in Gen 4 and Gen 5 9mm pistols. The Gen 6 returns to a single-stage recoil spring on a polymer guide rod, similar to what was used on earlier Gen 2 and Gen 3 models. Glock has extensively tested this configuration and considers it sufficient for 9mm, reserving dual-stage assemblies for higher-pressure calibers such as 10mm Auto and .40 S&W. The barrel and locking block area show a small relief cut compared to Gen 5, ensuring the trigger bar assembly does not contact the barrel during cycling. The pistol retains typical Glock design traits, including the raised internal channels around the striker. Because the extractor can no longer be serviced from the rear, a small access hole is added on the slide body for extractor removal, distinguishing the Gen 6 slide from the Gen 5 design.