{"id":5887,"date":"2025-05-09T13:55:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/05\/09\/testing-the-gen5-glock-17l-mos\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T13:56:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:56:00","slug":"testing-the-gen5-glock-17l-mos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/05\/09\/testing-the-gen5-glock-17l-mos\/","title":{"rendered":"Testing the Gen5 Glock 17L MOS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/svg><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>0<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n

For decades Glock has been synonymous with simplistic reliability. Their no-frills pistols have been depended on by militaries, police, and civilians throughout the world. Now, the newest generation of Glock pistols has added another member to its ranks. Let\u2019s see if the Gen5 G17L MOS lives up to the Glock name.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n

Of all the 9mm Glock offerings, the 17L is a pistol you don\u2019t hear much about. To be honest, the main reason I requested a loaner pistol for review when the MOS version was released is that I hadn\u2019t ever shot one and I was interested to see how the egregiously long 6.02\u201d barrel affected the shooting experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

First Looks<\/h2>\n

Upon opening the case in my FFL I couldn\u2019t help but grin and chuckle at the disproportionally long barrel. A couple of guys perusing the shop came over and had a similar reaction; a reaction that a stock Glock rarely evokes. Everyone knows what to expect when looking at a Glock yet this pistol seems to catch people off guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"Glock<\/picture>
Gen5 Glock refinements are small but appreciated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Of course, it has the standard Gen5 aesthetics like softened corners around the muzzle, forward slide serrations, and improved grip texture. The durable nDLC (nitride diamond-like coating) gives the deep black finish we expect from Glock. All the typical amenities are there except this design seems to be more characteristic of Gappedo\u2019s work than Gaston Glock\u2019s. I am unaware of what lies my G17L has been telling but we\u2019ll see if the truth comes to light as I put this pistol through its paces.<\/p>\n

\n

Available on GunsAmerica Now<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/listings\/search<\/p>\n

Gen5 Glock 17L Ergonomics<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a Glock. In terms of feel, not much else needs to be said. If you have handled any of their full-size pistols, this is no different. The changes made for the Gen5 Glock models suit my preferences well. The grip texture is a bit more aggressive, they deleted the finger grooves and took the corners off the blocky slide near the muzzle. I also appreciate the front slide serrations since I prefer to manipulate the slide from the front.<\/p>\n

The biggest felt difference in this pistol is its balance. The change in feel from my EDC G19 to the G17L with its extra two inches of barrel and slide is surprising. The 25.4oz empty weight in itself isn\u2019t the difference maker; it\u2019s where it is located. The extra weight so far out from the grip makes it feel like the muzzle is always trailing behind where I am trying to transition from one target to the next. I have experienced this with rifles of different lengths, but this is a first for a pistol.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"handgun
This pistol is the sight radius king.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Controls<\/h2>\n

The Gen5 Glock 17L MOS comes with the basic controls we\u2019ve come to expect with a couple of small differences. The mag release can be swapped to the right side to accommodate left-handed shooters. The slide release is ambidextrous and slightly oversized to help with faster reloads. Gen5 triggers are not great but generally better than their predecessors. There is a moderate amount of take up, the wall is soft and deep with about 3\/16\u201d of travel before the break at five pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The mag release is easy to manipulate without changing my grip and magazines fall free when released. This pistol takes standard 17 round 9mm Glock mags which run around $25 but third-party mags can be had for as low as $8.<\/p>\n

Mounting Optics<\/h2>\n

Glock\u2019s MOS system allows for the mounting of most standard footprint micro-optics with the use of an adapter plate. Glock sends basic plates with MOS pistols but I prefer the ones from C&H Precision<\/a>. They generally fit the optic better, are lower profile, and help blend the optic with the lines of the gun. I have used one of their plates on my carry gun for years so I was sure to request one for this review.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"Glock<\/picture>
Optic mounting is quick and easy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The mounting process takes less than ten minutes. Simply remove the pistol\u2019s optic cut cover plate, attach the adapter plate with the included screws, then screw the optic to the plate. Be sure all the screws are properly torqued to the specs noted in the instructions and use some blue thread locker. Give the Loctite a day to set, and you\u2019re good to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For this review, I chose Holosun\u2019s 507COMP<\/a> because the wide window helps me find my dot quickly, and the multiple reticle options are nice to have. It has been mounted for a couple of months and I am happy with its performance so far.<\/p>\n

At The Range With the 17L<\/h2>\n

My shooting experience with the Gen5 Glock 17L was an overall good one. The issue I mentioned about it being nose-heavy didn\u2019t prove to be much of an issue. What I noticed the most was the difference in recoil impulse. While not heavy, it is long and a bit clunky. Most 9mm pistols I\u2019ve tested recently have a short snappy recoil impulse but the 17L reminded me more of my dad\u2019s old Ruger P89. I\u2019m guessing the additional weight of the slide reciprocating with each shot gives it this characteristic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"green<\/picture>
Acceptable fast-paced groups from 25 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

I found adding a bit of weight near the front of the frame helps counteract the moving mass of the slide. This is a welcome secondary benefit of adding a weapon light. For this pistol, I chose Streamlight\u2019s new TLR-1 HL-X<\/a>. The 1500-lumen, 20000-candela output is plenty to illuminate the extended effective range of this pistol.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve found that this pistol excels at longer range. I was out shooting it one day before mounting the red dot and I had no problem stacking rounds on an eight-inch plate at 75 yards. For people that prefer shooting with Irons, this pistol is as good as it gets, but all the advantages aren\u2019t lost on us dot lovers either. The 6.02\u201d barrel adds around 100 feet per second of velocity and some would argue additional precision as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve fired a variety of bullet weights, types, and brands through this pistol without issue. While not much better than the rest, 115gr Federal Syntech gives the best groups. All the groups were shot from the standing position with a one-shot-per-second cadence. Next time I\u2019m at the range I\u2019ll see what I can squeeze out of it if I take my time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\"Glock
No issues from multiple ammo types.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Gen5 Glock 17L Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Read More: Ruger\u2019s Copycat Glock: The RXM \u2014 SHOT Show 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Overall I think this is a fun gun but I\u2019d have to characterize it as niche. I think the prime selling point is the sight radius for those who prefer iron sights, but if that is your preference, why get the MOS model? I like the added velocity,y but I am not sure it is a worthwhile tradeoff for the less manageable recoil impulse and added size. For those who like the idea of a longer barrel and want to run a red dot, I would recommend a G34 MOS over the Gen5 Glock 17L. The G34 is the same gun just with a 5.31\u201d barrel. Both are priced around $700 so the choice is yours.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Modern Rimfire Shootout \u2013 P322 vs P17 vs TX22<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Just because I would personally prefer a shorter barrel doesn\u2019t mean Gappedos G17L wouldn\u2019t be a valuable piece in your arsenal, even if it is just to give you a good chuckle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Be sure to check out the GLOCK website<\/a> for more info on the 17L or to find a dealer near you.<\/p>\n

*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>\n
\n
\n

has a wide variety of skills and interests. His profession as an engineer in the steel industry falls right in line with his hands-on approach to his hobbies. Whether it\u2019s ham radio, shooting, hunting, etc., Garrett is always happy when he has a project to work on.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Estimated reading time: 0 minutes For decades Glock has been synonymous with simplistic reliability. Their no-frills pistols have been depended on by militaries, police, and civilians throughout the world. Now, the newest generation of Glock pistols has added another member to its ranks. Let\u2019s see if the Gen5 G17L MOS lives up to the Glock […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5887"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5889,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5887\/revisions\/5889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}