Why the Glock 19X Was Denied by the U.S. Army

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Key Points and Summary: The Glock 19X was once a serious contender in the US Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition, renowned for combining the full-size Glock 17 grip with the compact 19 slide.

-Yet the Army chose Sig Sauer’s P320-based M17/M18 pistols instead. Glock’s one-size-fits-most design and reliance on its Safe Action trigger system didn’t meet the Army’s demand for true modularity, external safeties, and multi-role adaptability.

-Meanwhile, Sig’s removable Fire Control Unit and flexible grip frames fit the MHS concept perfectly. Though the 19X didn’t secure the Army contract, it has found success in the civilian market—just not as the Army’s next sidearm.

A Troubled Platform: How the Glock 19X Failed to Win the US Army MHS Competition

In the late 2010s, the US military began looking for a replacement for the M9 Beretta sidearm. Having been in service since 1985, the Beretta was proven and reliable, but the aging design failed to keep up with the changing demands of the Army. In 2017, the Army launched its Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition, which solicited “entries” from interested manufacturers to produce a more modern and reliable standard-issue sidearm. The competition called for a handgun for use across a wide range of roles, from military police to special forces. It also had to meet a number of specifications, including modularity, durability, and, most of all, reliability under extreme conditions.

After extensive trials with entries from the industry’s most renowned manufacturers, including Beretta, Glock, FN, and Sig Sauer, the Army selected the Sig Sauer P320 as the US Army’s official sidearm. It was aptly designated as the M17 model (and later, the M18 for the shortened model released in 2018).

However, the Sig M17’s win was never guaranteed, and faced a sharp contender with Glock’s entry to the competition: the Glock 19X. During the trials, the 19X was the favorite among many and highly revered by law enforcement and civilians. Despite its fanfare and fame, the Glock 19X still failed to secure the Army contract. But how? How did the Glock 19X, which had the blessing of many during the trials, become a troubled platform in the eyes of the military?

A Promising Future Marred by a Glaring Design Flaw

Glock entered the competition with the 19X, a handgun that combined the full-size Glock 17 frame with the compact Glock 19 slide. Specifically designed with input from military and law enforcement professionals, the Glock 19X is rugged, reliable, and simple, offering a high capacity (17-round magazine) while still being compact enough for concealed carry and dependable service in close quarters.

Despite its notoriety and acclaim, I would argue that Glock failed to heed the Army’s emphasis on modularity. Unlike the Sig Sauer P320, designed solely around a modular structure with a removable Fire Control Unit (FCU) and interchangeable grip modules, caliber conversion kits, and slides, the Glock 19X is relatively rigid. The 19X has a fixed G17/G19 crossover configuration and is not readily adaptable to different users, instead delivering more of a “one-size-fits-most” design. 

Further, the MHS competition placed a heavy emphasis on safety, requiring tactile safeties that provided reliable protection against accidental discharges in rigorous combat environments. Glock again assumed too much, and did not alter the design of the 19X to accommodate the Army’s requirements, instead relying on their proven “Safe Action” trigger system to suffice.

While many law enforcement and civilian users favor this unit for its simplicity, the Army sought pistols with external and tactile safety features, such as a manual safety and de-cocking lever, accentuating the ability to adapt to a wide range of roles within a single design. Glock was, I think, overly confident in the trigger safety design and missed the mark, leaving room for the Sig Sauer P320/M17 to fill the void as it incorporated a more comprehensive safety system complete with an ambidextrous safety and a manual safety option.

The Weight and Size Factor

Another challenging factor for the Glock 19X is its size and weight. Built atop a full-size G17-style frame and weighing 31.39 oz (loaded weight), the 19X is a bit stockier than the smaller and lighter M17. While the 19X’s design certainly appealed to a few specific roles and select units, it did not satisfy the Army’s goal of a uniform standard-issue sidearm that is lightweight and compact to serve all roles and units. 

Furthermore, even though the M17 won the initial contract, the Army requested that Sig Sauer redesign the M17 and develop an even smaller and more compact sidearm (later designated as the M18), which is something that Glock never could (or would) do with the rigid design of the 19X. 

Glock 19X for U.S. Army. Image Credit: Corey Ritter.

I think the Army understood that the P320’s inherent modularity would lend itself to future configurations, allowing the P320 platform to more easily adapt to changing demands without a complete redesign; all while meeting the Army’s specifications in areas where the Glock 19X fell short.

Glock 19X: A Design Better Suited for Civilian Markets

While the Glock 19X is undoubtedly a high-quality sidearm with many strengths, it failed to meet several key requirements of the MHS trials, and, in turn, failed to secure the Army’s blessing. Instead, Glock repurposed the design for the civilian market where it has flourished thanks to a strong fanbase. However, its competitor’s modularity has also proven to be a powerful force within the civilian market, as P320 sales exploded after the Army’s announcement of the M17/M18. Sig Sauer continues to expand its offering of caliber conversion kits, grip modules, and other accessories while the Glock 19X remains rigid. 

About the Author: Corey Ritter 

With nearly 20 years of firearms education and professional firearms experience, Corey Ritter is a passionate 2A supporter and educationalist, avid sport shooter, firearms collector, and creative writer. When he’s not glued to his computer or scouring through the latest edition of the AP style book, he spends most of his time coaching his son’s sports teams, exploring our wonderful country, and traveling to European WWII battlefields with his family and dear Dutch and English friends across the pond. Corey is based out of Kansas City, Missouri, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from Drury University. Feel free to flood his inbox with expletives and other indecencies; if he even notices, he’ll likely respond in kind.