I finally got a chance to experience the Glock Gen6 firsthand at SHOT Show 2026, and I’m impressed. Enthusiasts have been asking for some of these changes for years, and in some cases, decades. I’m not sure it was worth the wait, but I’m glad they are finally here.
Ergonomics
From a shooter’s perspective, the most significant improvement is the improved ergonomics. I’ve always shot Glocks well, but grip comfort was always lacking. Grips on previous generations of Glocks felt boxy and utilitarian. They worked, but there was no refinement or particular regard for human anatomy.
The new integrated palmswell, extended beavertail, enhanced grip texture, molded-in gas pedals, and upgraded trigger guard undercut significantly improve the user experience. Now, the gun fits more naturally and sits lower in the hand. The new texture bites into the hand and locks in the grip, while the new shape forces the hand into the beavertail to encourage a more “correct” grip.
I believe the Gen6s do shoot better, with better recoil control. Only time will tell if the dreaded “Glock finger” – the irritation that often occurs from the middle finger knuckle rubbing against the trigger guard – has been eliminated. The undercut looks like it will at least help the situation.
More Improvements
It’s not only that the ergonomics have been improved, but the actual trigger reach geometry has been reduced to accommodate a more people. In practice, I’m not sure I felt this change, but I’m happy it is there.
A few other details are the more aggressive serrations on both the front and rear of the slide, and a raised wall around the slide stop lever to protect from accidently activation.
Another major change is that Glock eliminated the MOS optics mounting system. MOS was plagued with problems. I’m hoping the redesigned Optic Ready System will be more robust. It uses a plastic spacer system to act almost like a crush washer or an O-ring to keep the optic secure.
Internally, the whole barrel geometry has changed. The barrel, striker and extractor are totally new and not backwards compatible.
Trigger
One thing that let me down a little was the new flatter-faced trigger. I love flat triggers, but it turns out the trigger itself was not improved. It’s just the trigger shoe that has changed.
The trigger pull remains the same, still totally usable, but without any refinement. These triggers were acceptable 20 years ago, but nowadays, you can get very crisp and clean striker-fired triggers.
In the past, you could only get many of these enhancements in the aftermarket. Now that they are coming from Glock itself, I’m betting the success of the Gen6 guns will be a no-brainer.
