The 10mm Glock has a cult following among outdoorsmen. Glock 40 combines the reliability that Glock pistols are famous for with the revolver-like punch of the 10mm Auto cartridge. Glock already made full-size and compact models but added a long-slide model in 2015. So how does it shoot, and what is it capable of?
Glock @ TFB:
Background
I have carried a Glock 19 since my early days of concealed carry, and a Glock 20 in the woods for many years as well. The G20 appealed to me because it combined a 15-round magazine and familiar Glock handling. I’m far more confident shooting a striker-fired polymer pistol than a large revolver. And, as a secondary benefit, I like the idea of quickly swapping from a mag loaded with hollow points to a mag loaded with solid bullets (optimized for penetration) when 4-legged trouble is a possibility.
Handgun hunters have put aftermarket 6-inch barrels into Glock 20 handguns for many years. That additional barrel length boosts 10mm velocity enough to meet certain state minimum power restrictions for big game hunting. Glock did one better and created the Model 40 with a factory 6-inch barrel.
When the opportunity to review some Glock pistols was presented to some TFB writers, I jumped at the chance to review the G40. I love my G20, and this was a perfect opportunity to get to know its big brother. Glock loaned me the pistol, and TFB covered the ammo. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m an unabashed Glock fanboy.
Features
Glock includes a few upgrades on the G40 above and beyond some other models. The stock sights are still plastic but the rear sight is adjustable. Plastic sights are one of my few gripes against Glocks generally, and I find them disappointing on this gun as well. However, the MOS System makes this less of an issue than with other models.
The trigger pull averaged around 6.5 pounds by the gauge I used. It is equipped with the “minus” connector that comes standard in the long slide variants. That leads to a trigger pull which is still distinctly Glock-like, but lighter. I’m a big fan of this setup because I’ve seen aftermarket triggers of all brands fail while working at a range. Stock is your best bet for reliability.
As with other Glock models, the G40 comes in the ubiquitous hard case. With the MOS plates, spare mags, additional backstraps, and thiccc 6″ barrel it is a tight fit. The case does close but it bulges a little.
MOS System
Glock’s Modular Optics System (MOS) is a factory-installed adapter plate system for red dot sights. The MOS package includes four mounting plates and some screws. Those plates can accommodate many of the common optics footprints.
I used the RMR plate with a Holosun 407 borrowed from my brother (thanks BooBoo). The plate matched up well, but I had to source screws of the appropriate length. Once I had proper hardware it was easy to mount the red dot. It’s also a good idea to use a thread-locking compound on all of the screws involved.
A cover plate is installed from the factory.
The appropriate plate screws down to the slide, then the optic screws into the plate. Appropriate screw length is critical.
Does Barrel Length Matter?
I already own a Glock 20 so there was an obvious opportunity to compare velocity numbers with the Glock 40. I tried both Magtech and S&B ammo in my buddy Justin’s chronograph. Here are the results:
MAGTECH 180 FMJ
Glock 20: 1165 FPS
Glock 40: 1233 FPS
S&B 180 FMJ
Glock 20: 1072 FPS
Glock 40: 1117 FPS
The velocity change was not as pronounced as I was expecting. Moving up to the 6″ barrel of the G40 only added 68 FPS with Magtech and 45 FPS with S&B. I suspect that full-power ammunition would show more of a velocity increase than FMJ practice ammo.
G20 (left) and G40 (right) during velocity testing.
On The Range
Shooting the G40 is much like any other Glock, but more. All of the controls and handling feel like home to anyone who has spent time with other members of the Austrian family. But it feels like that classic Glock vibe turned up to 11.
Much like the other Glocks, the factory sights are the weak point of this gun. Thankfully, I ignored them for the most part because I was using a red dot. If you intend to use the iron sights, it is a good idea to replace the plastic factory models with metal options.
10mm is an enjoyable cartridge to shoot. It smacks steel targets with authority but is also less abusive than magnum calibers. I would rather shoot 10mm than .40 S&W because the recoil feels less “sharp.” This is not to say the G40 shoots like a 9mm. It does not. There is quite a bit more recoil, and the recoil impulse feels longer, which results in slower split times. But hyper-fast 1-R-1 drills are not the domain of this hand cannon.
Out In The Field
I’ve done a fair amount of 9mm shooting from 100 to 150 yards, and some at 200. There is a scene in a Jack Carr book where a character shoots a 1911 at some terrorists 300 yards away. But 300 yards is a very long way indeed with a handgun. When the opportunity to review the G40 came up, I wanted to see just what it was capable of at extended distances. It seemed like a gun that might be up to the task.
The 8″ Caldwell AR500 plate is almost the same size as the G40.
My first outdoor range trip was limited by deep snow and mud, but it was still impressive. I had a 2/3 torso plate at 100 yards, and an 8″ Caldwell steel plate at 189 yards. Hits on the torso target were too easy to be interesting, so I moved to the small plate. Lo and behold, it was not that hard to hit. That is not to say every shot was on target, though. There were more misses than hits but still a surprising number of hits. Unfortunately, weather conditions at the range kept me from going for 300 yards.
Stretching The Glock 40 Out
Once the snow melted and the ground dried out it was time to push the limits. I put a freshly-painted 2/3-size torso plate at 307 yards. But before I shot at that target, I engaged in a little “rock hunting” at various yardages to get an idea of what the holdovers were like beyond 200 yards. That provided some baseline drops to work from, along with some help from my spotter.
The time had finally come to go beyond 300 yards. It took most of the first magazine to score a hit, but the Glock 40 did connect. With a little practice, the hit rate crept up to around 20%. That is not a great or consistent hit percentage but it was also not a single fluke hit. So is a 300-yard shot possible? Yes, with a spotter, in good lighting, with an obvious target, plenty of ammo, and with no time pressure.
A few factors could improve the hit rate. More consistent ammo could have narrowed the cone of fire. Spending some time shooting groups with factory ammo or on load development would probably help. An aftermarket trigger might help remove some of the human element as well.
Hits from the G40 on the 2/3 torso target.
Conclusion
So what do I think of the Glock 40 after a few hundred rounds, some running and gunning, and some long-range shooting? I told Glock to charge my card, and I kept it. This is the handgun I want to have with me when I’m out in the mountains. My long-term plans include a different optic (perhaps a Holosun SCS) and possibly a weapon light (though that could be an issue for handgun hunting). I still love the Glock 20, but the G40 is even more of a good thing. And now this one is mine.
Go buy a Glock 40 and take it in the woods. Do it. Now.
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