Glock 22 Gen5
Glock Ges.m.b.H. · Pistol · In Production · 2020
Also known as: G22 Gen5, Glock 22
Overview
The Glock 22 Gen5 is the fifth generation of Glock's full-size .40 S&W service pistol and the most widely adopted law enforcement handgun in American history. Originally introduced in 1990 - the same year as the .40 S&W cartridge itself - the Glock 22 beat Smith & Wesson's own Model 4006 to dealer shelves despite S&W co-developing the round. The .40 S&W was created in the aftermath of the 1986 FBI Miami shootout to bridge the gap between the 9mm Parabellum and .45 ACP, and the Glock 22 became the primary vehicle for its adoption across U.S. law enforcement. In 1997, the FBI officially adopted the Glock 22 for uniformed FBI Police, triggering a cascade of agency adoptions that saw Glock claim over 65% of the U.S. law enforcement market. The Gen5 variant, introduced in 2020, brings a redesigned wider and heavier slide paired with a stronger recoil spring assembly for improved controllability of the .40 S&W's snappier recoil, along with the Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB) with enhanced polygonal rifling, nDLC finish, flared magazine well, ambidextrous slide stop, and removal of finger grooves.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 732 g (25.8 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 1058 g (37.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 202 mm (7.95") |
| Barrel Length | 114 mm (4.49") |
| Height | 140 mm (5.51") |
| Width | 34 mm (1.34") |
| Sight Radius | 164 mm (6.46") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Safe Action |
| Trigger Pull | 26 N (5.8 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 15 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 302 m/s (991 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 532 J (392 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Polygonal |
| Rifling Twist | 250 mm (9.84") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Polymer |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | NDLC |
Calibers
- .40 S&W · primary — also known as .40 Smith & Wesson, 10x22mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Trigger Safety, Firing Pin Safety, Drop Safety
- Features: Ambidextrous Slide Stop, Reversible Mag Release, Flared Mag Well, Accessory Rail, Marksman Barrel, Rough Textured Frame, Front Serrations, No Finger Grooves
Variants
- Glock 22 Gen5 MOS — Optics Ready
- Glock 22 Gen5 FS — Front Serrations
- Glock 22 Gen4 — Previous Generation
- Glock 23 Gen5 — Compact
Service history
Operators
- Federal Bureau of Investigation · adopted 1997
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- United States Marshals Service
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Baltimore Police Department
- Miami Police Department
- Maryland State Police
- Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Kansas City Police Department
- Alaska State Troopers
- Overland Park Police Department
Production
Production years: 2020-present
Gen5 specific production unknown. The Glock 22 was originally introduced in 1990 and became the most widely adopted law enforcement handgun in American history.
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Gaston Glock
Notes
The Gen5 upgrade for the .40 S&W models arrived in 2020, three years after the 9mm Gen5 pistols debuted in 2017. The Gen5 G22 features a wider slide (27.5mm vs previous generations) and heavier slide mass with a stronger recoil spring to better manage .40 S&W recoil impulse. Standard magazine capacity is 15 rounds, with optional 10 and 22-round magazines available. The Glock 22 shares the same frame dimensions as the Glock 17 but has a slightly different slide and barrel to accommodate the larger .40 S&W cartridge. The MOS (Modular Optic System) variant adds precision-machined slide cuts for mounting red dot optics. While many agencies have transitioned back to 9mm in recent years (including the FBI which switched to the Glock 19M in 2016), the Glock 22 remains in widespread service and Glock continues to produce it in Gen5 configuration. The compact variant is the Glock 23 (13-round capacity) and the subcompact is the Glock 27 (9-round capacity), both in .40 S&W.
Background
The Glock 22 was introduced the same year as the .40 S&W cartridge itself (1990) and beat Smith & Wesson's own Model 4006 to dealer shelves despite S&W co-developing the round. The FBI's 1997 adoption triggered a cascade that saw Glock claim over 65% of the U.S. law enforcement market.