Glock 48 vs 19: Which Glock is Best?

The Glock 19 has been the pistol of choice for law enforcement for decades. It is compact, comfortable, and packed with a 15-round magazine capacity. Although the Glock 19 was a scaled-down version of the Glock 19X, which was the first crossover pistol, it was the Glock 48 that truly represented the G19X evolution. This Slimline pistol with a compact polymer frame turned out to be a more appealing option for concealed carry. Still, it doesn't make both pistols identical. Explore the key differences in this Glock 48 vs 19 comparison.

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Differences in Size

The Glock 48 is a lighter counterpart of the Glock 19. It has a longer barrel and is narrower than the Glock 19. The slim design reduces the capacity of the gun when compared with the double-stack Glock 19. These slight differences in the dimensions also impact the ergonomics of the Glocks.

Glock 48 Vs. 19 - Ergonomics

Both the Glock 48 and 19 are ergonomically similar guns. The slim G48 is more suited for people with smaller hands who don’t prefer a double-stack grip. If you have larger hands and are accustomed to using bigger guns, the G19, with its wider width, will be a good option.

The G48 has a compact frame, grip length, and a built-in beaver tail, typical characteristics of the Gen 5 Glocks. The absence of finger grooves in the G48 and G19 makes them feel comfortable while holding. However, some features that make the Glock 48 less ergonomic than the Glock 19 are the absence of an ambidextrous magazine release and textured grip.

Also, the G48's trigger can be fuller, especially for range use when you need to fire a couple of hundred rounds. The presence of ridges on the trigger takes a toll on the trigger finger after continuous firing, which is not the case with the Glock 19.

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Differences Between Slide and Barrel

The Glock 48 has a slimmer slide, measuring .87 inches compared to the Glock 19's slide width of 1.34 inches. There is no difference in the slide length, which is 6.85 inches for both. The wider slide of the Glock 19 gives the advantage of recoil management for people with large hands.

If you want to swap the slide of your gun, you can do so with both the G48 and the G19. The G48's slide is interchangeable with the slides of other compact Glocks like the Glock 43 and 43X. The G19's slide fit well on larger pistols, like the Glock 19X and the Glock 23.

The Glock 48 has a slightly longer barrel at 4.17 inches than the Glock 19, whose barrel rests at 4.02 inches. The longer barrel provides a longer sight radius to the Glock 48, thus enhancing its accuracy.

Glock 48 Vs 19 Controls - Trigger, Slide Lock, Mag Release and Magwell

The controls on the Glock 19 are far better suited for people with larger hands who indulge in range shooting than the Glock 48. For instance, the trigger in the Glock 48 can cause a trigger bite because of the narrow trigger show. Even with a trigger pull weight of 5.5 pounds, it can hurt your finger during extended firing periods.

This isn't the case with the G19, whose trigger is more comfortable to hold and fire. You don't need to reposition your finger from the trigger guard to trigger before feeling confident about firing with a Glock 19.

The slide lock in the G48 is a typical Glock slide release lever. It means that the small lever is on the left side of the frame. When pressed upwards, it locks the slide back. The Gen 5 Glock 19 has an ambidextrous slide stop for quick reloads. Regarding magazine releases, it's tough to manipulate them in both guns. Users regularly report problems with reaching and changing the mag release.

The generation 5 Glock 19 has a flared mag well with a larger funnel that allows smooth reloads. It is not present in the Glock 48, but you can invest in an aftermarket mag well to enhance the pace of reloads for competitive shooting or self-defense.

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Sight Options & Accessory Rail

The MOS (Modular Optics System) versions of the Glock 19 and 48 support various sight options. The G48 MOS can be purchased with Shield Red Dot Sight, and you can mount optics with RMSc footprint. Similarly, the adapter plate in the MOS version fits sights like Trijicon, Ameriglo, and all Holosun except 509.

If you want to mount tactical accessories, the Glock MOS version has a slim mounting rail. This feature is not present in Glock 48 without MOS. It differs from the Glock 19 here because it has the Glock rail for mounting lights and lasers.

Comparison of Accuracy and Recoil

The Glock 48 and 19 are two highly accurate pistols. They are easy to rack and feel comfortable in hands, which allows for accurate shots. The only notable difference is in the grip.

When holding the Glock 19 to shoot, there is much more real estate on the grip. It's why the gun will give the best shooting experience to people with big hands. If you have short hands, the Glock 48 will feel better than the G19, and this will result in more comfortable and accurate shooting.

Recoil management is far superior in the Glock 19 because of its higher weight. It prevents you from flinching when shooting and increases shooting accuracy. If you're used to smaller guns, you won't feel much recoil in the Glock 48. You will feel the recoil only when you compare it with a heavier gun like the Glock 19.

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Differences in Capacity and Magazine

The standard Glock 19 has 15 rounds of magazines, but you can bump it up to 33 rounds with additional magazines. The magazine type is a double stack, which varies from the single-stack Glock 48. The G48 has a 10-round capacity as it is designed to be compact and more suited for concealed carry. However, you can easily add more rounds using magazine extensions.

Which One to Choose? Glock 48 or 19

The decision between the Glock 48 and 19 should be based on the intended use, whether you want to carry the gun concealed, and the fit of the weapon in your hands. If you have small hands and prioritize comfortable concealed carry, the Glock 48 will be an accurate and reliable option. You can even increase its capacity and make it at par with aftermarket options.

If your hands are big and you need to use the gun often or for range shooting, the Glock 19 will be suitable. Besides the width, capacity, and barrel length, there is practically no difference between these glocks. You can use a custom IWB or OWB holster to maximize ease of drawing and holstering.