GLOCK Celebrates 30 Years in the United States
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of GLOCK pistols to the U. S. market. GLOCK, Inc., was established in the United States in 1986 and revolutionized the firearms market forever. GLOCK pistols are now the sidearm of choice for over 65 percent of the law enforcement agencies across the U.S., and they are used in more than 50 elite military units worldwide.
“When I brought the GLOCK 17 to America in 1986, I could not have imagined or predicted the success GLOCK enjoys today,” said company founder, Gaston Glock. “Our pistols are the choice of millions for personal and home protection and target shooting.”
GLOCK has launched a year-long 30th Anniversary celebration. GLOCK has commissioned a limited edition of thirty hand-engraved G17 Gen4 pistols to honor groups and organizations that have contributed to the overall success of the company in the U.S.
Each of the thirty pistols has been uniquely by one of five Master Engravers who have been certified by the Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA) to commemorate the relationships cultivated during the company’s thirty-year history. The exclusive pistols will be presented throughout the year to exceptional individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the success of GLOCK. The engraved G17 Gen4 pistols carry a limited production serial number and come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Mr. Glock. The pistols will be presented throughout 2016.
To learn more about 30 years of GLOCK in the United States and how to win one of the limited edition pistols, visit 30th.glock.com.
GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. GSSF was formed in 1991 and continues to exceed the goal of introducing new shooters to the shooting sports.
Since 1991, GSSF has seen more than 120,000 members, over 200,000 match entries, and more than 700 outdoor events. Planned for 2016 are 55 outdoor matches scheduled throughout the United States and another 500+ Indoor League matches available for members who wish to demonstrate their marksmanship, win prizes and enjoy family-oriented atmosphere that is safe as well as fun.
GSSF matches are low-pressure competitions using standard GLOCK pistols and there is no need for expensive match gear. Members compete with others according to their respective skill levels and GLOCK models. The courses of fire are simple yet challenging. There are 10 competitive divisions and also special awards for Juniors, Seniors, Super Seniors, Ladies and 3-Person Teams.
“Millions of dollars in prizes and GLOCK pistols have been awarded over the years,” said Alan Ramsey, Director of Training & GSSF. “We hope you will come out this year and shoot with GSSF as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Mr. Gaston GLOCK’s vision.”
To view the 2016 match schedules and for more information on GSSF, visit www.gssfonline.com.
Glock Factory Service: The Best Kept Secret in Sights?
It’s no secret that Glock’s factory sights might not exactly be the best in the business. Pistol shooters may find a variety of faults with the sights, from the polymer material from which they are constructed to the otherwise unconventional “ball in the bucket” markings versus more traditional 3-dot sights to the dimensions of the stock sights. Whatever it is, enough people dislike them to make the field of aftermarket sights a relatively large one.
One of the main concerns heard most frequently seems to be about the durability of the polymer sights. Some damage to the side of a Glock rear sight is visible in our Armed Citizen graphic. A stock front post on one of the GunLink Glocks was starting to wear on one corner and mushroom on the other corner from being drawn and reholstered. One of our shooting buddies told us about a Glock that took an unlucky hit to the rear sight after dropping a few inches onto an end table and the sight snapped out. Other stories of sight failure can be easily found if you scrounge around online.
To be certain, the polymer OEM Glock sights are not complete garbage and, truthfully, might be just fine for the majority of casual shooters. Although they don’t make a habit of regularly releasing their numbers, Glock production hit the 5-million mark eight years ago in 2007. If the last eight years kept pace with the previous 8-year period, the numbers are now somewhere around 8 million. The majority of those pistols’ owners probably don’t spend a lot of time using them hard enough to cause any notable damage. Continue reading
Pre-NRAAM Glock 43 Launch Party in Nashville
On the evening before opening day of the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Nashville, Tennessee – just weeks after the early rumors and official announcement – a small group of attendees was invited to the Nashville Armory for the official Glock 43 launch party. The GunLink team was among that group and we had a chance to see, handle, and shoot the new single-stack 9mm pistol before most people even see them show up at their gun shop. There isn’t much that can improve on shooting “free” ammo out of other people’s guns (and we took the opportunity to make two trips each through the firing queue with 3 mags on each round) – but being a brand-new pistol made it that much better.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be impressed. On paper, the specs didn’t seem that ground breaking. It has roughly the same profile as a double-stack G26, albeit thinner, but with a significantly reduced capacity (6+1). The Glock representative at the event referred to it as basically a “Glock 26 Slim” (see the comparison below, left-to-right: G42, G43, G26) It is too big for pocket carry but too small for a high round count and, I thought, too small to be comfortable to shoot.
The G43 is a good example of why you cannot judge a book by its cover, or a pistol by its spec sheet. Continue reading
Official Announcement: GLOCK Releases Single Stack 9mm Concealed Carry – The New G43
After some media outlets jumped the gun (no pun intended) on today’s announcement of the G43 – Glock Inc. has issued their official announcement:
Today GLOCK, Inc. announced the release of the new GLOCK single stack slimline 9mm pistol, the GLOCK 43. The G43 is the most highly desired and anticipated pistol release in GLOCKs history. Designed to be the answer to everyday concealed carry needs, the G43 is ultra-concealable, accurate, and comfortable for all shooters, regardless of hand size.
“The G43 is the most exciting product release to date because it addresses a variety of issues that many shooters face with pistols in the concealed carry category,” stated GLOCK, Inc., VP Josh Dorsey. “It will be the pistol of choice for law enforcement and civilians. The G43 sets a new standard for concealed carry pistols.”
A true slimline pistol, the frame width of the G43 is just over one inch and the slide width measures only 0.87 inch. The overall length is 6.26 inches. For those who have smaller hands, the trigger distance is only 2.6 inches, making it ideal for functionality. Continue reading
Buzz: Glock 43 Single Stack 9x19mm
Years of waiting, conjecture and, ultimately, disappointment for Glock fanboys and fangirls as SHOT Show after SHOT Show rolled by without an announcement of a single-stack 9mm pistol are apparently over. The current industry buzz is that the G43 has arrived – and just in time for the NRAAM in Nashville where consumers may or may not have a chance to get their hands on it (Glock booth: 633).
Concealed carriers looking for a pocket-carry piece can probably keep on looking. Glock fans trying to complete their collection with a pistol that is ever-so-slightly smaller than a G26 (but with four fewer rounds) and more powerful than the .380 G42 can rejoice with the new offering.
“Leaked” specs indicate that the G43 will be 6.26″ long with a 3.4″ barrel, 4.25″ tall, 0.87″ wide at the slide and 1.02″ wide at the grip. 
Unburdened by its 6-round magazine, the single-stack 9mm will weigh just shy of 17 oz. Compared to the 10-round G26 or the 6-round .380 G42, the gains (or losses) in size are small, but present.
As the intended launch date for the G43 arrives and beyond, more details and hands-on reviews will undoubtedly come out and we will see if the new pistol scratches the itch that some have had for a more powerful US-made single stack from the Austria-based firearm maker. Stay tuned to the GunLink Blog and forums for more details as they become available. In the mean time, feel free to share your initial thoughts in the comments section below.
