Discontinued GLOCK Pistols: Some Rumors Confirmed

Article, New Gun Models

By Paul Rackley, GunBroker Editor

NRA Annual Meetings Update

NRA Annual Meetings has begun, and we pushed right in to confirm or deny the rumors surrounding GLOCK. Well, it looks like the Gen6 will not be coming right now. Maybe it is coming a little further down the road, but GLOCK is not bringing it out this weekend. However, some of the rumors are true.

GunBroker has confirmed with sources that there will be quite a few discontinued GLOCK pistol models. Most of pistols GLOCK is dropping are expected. In fact, most probably wonder why many of these guns are still in the catalog. Basically, all Gen3 and Gen4 pistols are gone. The same is true for .357 Sig and .45 GAP. GLOCK will no longer make pistols in those calibers. And .40 S&W will be significantly reduced.

Pistols in .40 S&W will be significantly reduced and only the G20 will survive the axe in the 10s. Additionally, those who like the long pistols will be quite disappointed, as the G17L (long slide) is going away, again. Some good news, though, the GLOCK Gen5 G17 is going not disappearing. It is staying in the catalog, but it will not become available with an optics cut, ever. Those wanting to put an optic on a full-sized 9mm GLOCK will have to pick up the G47.

Now, this means that the Gen3 and Gen4 pistols will be coming out of MAP (minimum advertised price) and will become much more affordable real soon. Those interested in getting a GLOCK for a deal need to stay alert over the next few months. It also means that anyone interested in certain calibers or models might want to get in a hurry. Once the models are gone, they’re probably not coming back.

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GunBroker attempted to confirm the rumors about discontinued GLOCK pistol models. We did not receive a response from the company.

I’ve never really liked rumors, especially Internet rumors. Whether true or not, rumors get people concerned, and often riled up. This is especially true in the firearms world. Gun folks can get real mad if they hear something they don’t like, such as the rumor currently hitting the forums about a bunch of discontinued GLOCK models.

Now, it is completely normal for a gun company to occasionally clean up its roster. This is especially true when that company has hundreds of SKUs, many of which are similar. Guns that aren’t selling very well eventually go away for more popular models, particularly in down times. For the last few years, GLOCK has been producing Gen3, Gen4 and Gen5 pistols; the company maintains quite a few SKUs.

If the rumors prove correct, there are going to be some upset people, as GLOCK is discontinuing several models that are popular in niche markets. I can see where proponents of these calibers in GLOCK pistols might be upset. However, there could be a benefit to shooters.

Some Calibers Go Bye, Bye

To start, it looks like GLOCK is discontinuing several models chambered in less-popular calibers. These include .357 SIG, .40 S&W and .45 GAP. For whatever reason, the .357 SIG acted like a paper airplane on a windy day when it came out. It shot straight up before crashing to the ground. It was an awesome round that just didn’t make it.

The .40 S&W also shot up in popularity, but it stayed there for a while. This was mostly due to its popularity with law enforcement agencies, particularly the F.B.I. The .40 provided better ballistics than 9mm but with higher capacity than .45 ACP. Some shooters, however, still felt the recoil was a bit hefty. Improvements in ammunition allowed shooters to drop to the 9mm for less recoil and more capacity without a huge drop in stopping power. Very few pistols introduced recently come chambered in .40. GLOCK is the last manufacturer to produce pistols in .45 GAP.

It is not surprising that GLOCK is saying goodbye to pistols in these three calibers. There just isn’t that much interest anymore. The next chambering that looks like it might be getting limited, however, might get some folks irritated. It looks like only one 10mm will survive the purge — the G20 — probably the Gen5 MOS version, if the rumors come true. Those who love the 10mm might get upset about the lack of options from the company.

Optics Required to Stay?

It looks like the discontinued GLOCK models lean heavily in non-MOS models, which include many Gen3 and Gen4 pistols, though the list does include some optic-ready guns. There are even some California compliant guns listed.

Once again, this isn’t that surprising. The Gen3 is popular. However, this version has been on the market since 1998 and is out of patent protection. This is why we’re seeing so many clones on the market, such as the Ruger RXM. While the Gen4 still has its patent, it never gained the popularity of the Gen3. Then, the Gen5 came out in 2017 and the Gen4 fell even more, though it stayed in the catalog. Not sure why the company might be dropping the California guns.

The one that got me, though, was that the GLOCK G17 MOS was leaving. It is hard to believe that the company will be getting rid of its flagship, but it might have reasons. Reports say it is going to be replaced by the G47 MOS. For those that don’t know, the G47 is the pistol contracted by United States Customs and Border Protection. This pistol is basically a G17 Gen5 with a shortened dust cover.

Something New?

Now, there are a lot of theories on the whys behind the discontinued GLOCK list, if real. There is one, however, that has folks casting a hopeful eye toward the National Rifle Association’s Annual Meetings. And that is that the Gen6 will be announced at this year’s meeting in Atlanta.

It has been eight years since GLOCK brought out the Gen5 pistols. If the company announces the GLOCK Gen6 at Annual Meetings, many will be excited, if the rumors are true, to see the new design and learn when it might become available. Others, however, might be more interested in what will happen with the discontinued GLOCK models.

Typically, discontinued pistols come out of MAP (minimum advertised price). This means prices on these discontinued GLOCK pistols will drop. They might drop significantly, meaning that folks will be able to pick up one of these pistols for one heck of a discount. That is a real benefit to shooters, if it is true.

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