Glock 22 Gen 4 Semi-Auto Pistol Review – An Everyman’s Handgun

This was the pistol that changed everything for me. I was really anti-Glock for multiple years. I thought they were ugly, and I didn’t like that they didn’t have a manual safety. After a couple years of hearing everyone preach about Glock, I finally got my first one. I traded an older weapon for a Glock 22 Gen 4 from my friend, and everything changed.

In this article, we will review this full-sized .40 Smith & Wesson pistol from Glock. The Glock name comes with a certain level of quality expected, and the Glock 22 Gen 4 does not disappoint. It is an excellent overall weapon, and is very enjoyable to shot.

Continue reading for our full review of the Glock 22 Gen 4.

What is this Weapon for?

This is a great weapon for a number of different uses.

The weapon would be great for home defense, range shooting, competitive shooting, and some hunting. 

As previously mentioned, this is a full-sized weapon, so it isn’t exactly ideal for concealed carry, but it could be done.

As for home defense, the fact that it is .40 S&W is a good thing. This is a larger bullet that offers great terminal performance, dependent on the exact round selected. The large magazine capacity, with optional larger mags is another great fact.

For just a range gun, .40 S&W is pretty expensive to shoot. However, the Glock 22 Gen 4 is a very enjoyable gun to shoot, and you will be able to shoot it pretty accurately.

As for hunting, there are certainly better rounds available, but if you’re looking for a “one size fits all,” the Glock 22 Gen 4 is a decent choice, especially if it will only be a hunting sidearm. If you’re going to deer hunt with the weapon, shot placement and quality ammunition are going to be extremely important. We would recommend different calibers, but the Glock 22 could work.

For those that are unaware, the Gen 4 Glocks add improved texture on the grip, a thumb indentation, and a modular back system. While some purists don’t love these changes, we think that they go a long way in improving the grip of the weapon.

Right off the bat, there’s a lot that we like about this weapon. The magazine capacity is great, especially for defense uses. While this weapon would be difficult to concealed carry, it’s an excellent choice for open carrying and home defense. There’s a reason that so many police departments carry Glock 22s.

Another positive of this weapon is how easy it is to maintain. Glocks have very few internal parts, so there’s not as much to clean. Taking them apart is extremely easy as well, as anyone with a Glock will tell you.

Overall, this is a great shooting gun. It sits in your hand extremely well, feels very natural to shoot, and it will always function. They are extremely durable, and will last for tens of thousands of rounds.

The one con of this weapon is that it isn’t exactly the prettiest looking weapon out there. Some people love the way Glocks look. Some don’t. It’s well known that they aren’t the best looking, but does that really matter?

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Glock 22 Gen 4 Review: Safety and Reliability

Like we mentioned before, not everyone loves Glock safeties. Some people will say that a trigger safety isn’t exactly a safety, since it requires you pulling the trigger. The one aspect that made me get past this is the fact that it takes a safe and responsible user.

Your finger shouldn’t be on the trigger unless you intend to shoot the weapon. Having a trigger safety doesn’t change that, and prevents any accidents from happening if the weapon snags on the holster or anything similarly unlikely.

Many people don’t know about the other internal safeties in Glocks though. 

In fact, Glocks are some of the safest weapons, especially when taking drops into account. The drop safety in Glocks is a huge positive of this weapon.

Another positive of the Glock 22 Gen 4 is the reliability, although that is to be expected with every Glock. If you’ve ever listened to a Glock owner, the first thing that they’ll tell you about is how reliable their Glock is.

But, don’t take their word for it. Go ask a police officer that carries the weapon, and they’ll tell you the same thing. Glocks will shoot every time, no matter what.

We still recommend cleaning your weapon after every time you shoot, but with a Glock, this really isn’t necessary.

Comfort and Shootability

The size of this weapon makes it feel very comfortable in your hand. The Gen 4 changes that we talked about earlier only increase the ergonomics of this weapon. If you’ve never held or fired one, we would recommend that you change that immediately. As soon as it’s in your hand, you’ll know what we are talking about.

The ergonomics lead directly into the accurate shooting of the weapon. Since it will fit your hand so well, you will be able to maintain a constant grip. The trigger is smooth and consistent, but it is definitely something worth upgrading if you’re intending to do any competitive shooting.

Overall, the Glock 22 is one of the best shooting weapons we’ve found.

Glock 22 Gen 4 Review: Accessories and Upgrades

One thing that you will love about the Glock 22 is how easy it is to upgrade. There are countless accessories and upgrade parts available. This brief list is only a start, but they are some of the most common accessories and upgrades.

Since this weapon is so popular for open carry, range shooting, and even competition shooting, a quality holster is very important. Check out this Blackhawk Serpa holster:

This Blade-Tech Nano is one of the concealed carry holsters available for the Glock 22.

For home defense, you may want some extended magazines, such as these Elite Tactical Systems Group mags.

If you’re looking to do some competition shooting, or any low light shooting, improved sights are necessary. We liked these Trijicon sights.

Another improvement for competition shooting is an upgraded trigger. Apex makes a great one.

This is just a start. There are hundreds of upgrades you could do, but these are some of the most common.

Conclusion

Like we’ve said, this is a great pistol overall. It is excellent to shoot, and would meet a number of different firearms needs. We are Glock fans, but for good reason. If you’re in the market for a full-sized pistol, be sure to check out the Glock 22 Gen 4.