The Good News is that the GLOCK G29 Gen5 pistol is a 10mm AUTO powerhouse that is actually right sized for concealed carry. Very accurate, my G29 Gen5 test pistol functioned perfectly in 250 rounds. Plus, given all the aftermarket GLOCK accessories available, the pistol can be fine-tuned for the individual shooter in so many ways.
The bad? As I started writing this review, my marketing contact at GLOCK informed me that Austrian gunmaker recently discontinued the G29 for civilian consumers, along with several models that have long been in the gunmaker’s catalog, though the G29 is still available to law enforcement customers.
The Glock discontinued list includes more than 30 pistol models, including Gen3, Gen4, and even Gen5 models like the G29 Gen5 I’m writing about now, which Glock introduced fairly recently in January 2024.
GLOCK rather quietly informed its distributors and dealers of this action in April 2025.
The semi-good news is that no doubt a relative handful of new G29’s are still at dealers and are for sale. Of course, used G29’s will be available, too. And, as it has done with previously dropped models, GLOCK will continue to service discontinued pistols.
My Relationship with the 10mm Auto
I began my 10mm Auto journey more than a dozen years ago with a PARA Elite LS Hunter pistol. A 1911-platform pistol with a stainless barrel, frame, and slide sporting a six-inch barrel, the PARA held 9+1 rounds and was dead-on accurate. I soon took both hogs and deer with the PARA and found my favorite handgun round.
Later I acquired a 10mm Remington R1 1911 Hunter, which was essentially the next generation of the PARA. By that time, Remington had acquired PARA and shuttered the brand. But Remington clearly used the Hunter as its blueprint for its “new” pistol.
Both were, and are, great hunting pistols. And both weigh over 40 ounces, unloaded, and measure out at over nine inches. No way either of those are hiding beneath any clothing short of a winter parka. In fact, there are not many 10mm handguns one could call compact with a straight face, and now that the G29 will no longer be produced, there’s one less.
The full-size GLOCK G20 in 10mm is still rolling of the line, and there are other polymer-framed 10mm handguns out there, like the FN 510 line, the SIG SAUER P320-XTen, the Springfield XD-M Elite 10mm, and the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 10mm — and they’re all lighter than all-steel 1911-formate pistols, but they’re all too large for me to carry concealed.
I shot a G29 Gen3 a number of years ago and liked it, but I wasn’t thinking about 10mm carry, until more recently, that is, when I discovered the G29 Gen5 existed.
GLOCK G29 Gen 5 Features
Poly-framed and striker fired, the G29 Gen5 features a 3.78-inch barrel. Overall length comes in at 6.7 inches. Carry-sized though it is, the G29 is definitely a heavier CCW handgun at 27 ounces unloaded and just shy of 33 ounces with a full 10-round magazine inserted. For comparison, the mid-sized G19 weighs a bit over 30 ounces fully loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm.
The G29 is also wider than many carry 9mm’s, too, at 1.38-inches. The fact is, unless a pistol is a single stack, you’re going to be looking at a beefy gun in 10mm because of the dimensions of the cartridge and the pressures it generates.
The factory sights are the standard stock GLOCK setup: a rear blade with a white outline around the notch, and a front sight with a white dot. They lined up easily and worked just fine for me.
The trigger on my test G29 broke at 2 pounds, 7 ounces on average. Of course, there’s no manual safety, and the gun features the hallmark GLOCK bladed trigger safety.
A texturing of raised dots on the grip, front strap and backstrap provide a fairly solid purchase. For a more customized fit, the G29 arrives with two additional backstraps, easily changed out with an included small tool.
The pistol comes with two 10-round GLOCK magazines, and they were easy to load by hand, except for the last round — typical of new mags.
Since it is a GLOCK, the G29 is compatible with most 10mm GLOCK magazines, including 15- and 20-round options made for the G20 10mm pistol.
Changes GLOCK made to the Gen5 version versus the Gen4 include removing the finger grooves on the grip. The newer pistol features the GLOCK Marksman Barrel (GMB), designed with polygonal rifling and an improved barrel crown. GLOCK also added front slide serrations for positive traction, even with wet or sweaty hands.
The GLOCK G29 at the Range
Atmy outdoor range, I initially ran the G29 with Federal Premium Syntech Range 10mm ammunition loaded with a 205-grain synthetic coated bullet. My shooting here was to get a feel for the pistol and the sights. The white outlined rear sight blade came right to my eye and the white dot front post popped nicely.
But way too many of my shots drilled low and left. I assumed the problem was my trigger pull. Yet, even as I made sure to center my pull and squeeze straight back, low and left kept happening.
I soon figured out that the G29’s relatively short grip and the 10mm recoil were creating a control problem for me. I adjusted my grip high and tight, made sure the little finger of my shooting hand contacted the grip. I also increased the rearward pressure of my non-shooting hand. Those changes got my shots on target.
I then went through approximately 200 rounds of Nosler ASP self-defense ammo, SIG SAUER Elite Performance range ammo, and USA Ready Defense rounds from Winchester. I shot most of these rounds from 7 yards offhand.
At this range, 1.5-inches and under for five shots were very do-able. Best groups included:
Nosler: 1.25 inches
SIG SAUER: 1.2 inches
USA Ready Defense: 0.90 inches
I also shot a number of groups at 5 yards on-handed. My first groups were terrible! But I ended with a respectable five rounds of the Nosler for a respectable, bad-guy-stopping group of 2 inches.
The G29 In the Holster
I carried the G29 for several days using a Falco TalonGuard A911 Hybrid IWB holster, with appendix carry claw. The A911 worked well, holding the pistol tight and at a comfortable height. Falco designed the steel clip to go over the belt and it did. But I found the clip was strong enough to secure to the waist band itself, with the belt covering the front of the clip.
I also ran the G29 using a 20-round magazine made by the Elite Tactical Systems Group for the G20 10mm. It extended below the grip quite a bit and was predictably too unwieldy for CCW. However, that extra length provided added stability because my non-shooting hand had a solid anchor point. Certainly the 20-round mag could be a backup mag option for some.
On the company’s website, GLOCK explains the axing of all those pistols, including my test G29, was done “in order to focus on the products that will drive future innovation and growth…”
Okay, well, sad to see you go, G29 Gen5. I hardly knew ye!
GLOCK G29 Gen5 Pistol SPECS:
Caliber: 10MM AUTO
Capacity: 10+1
Action: Semi-Automatic
Barrel: 3.80 inches
OA Length: 6.93 inches
Weight: 27 ounces unloaded, 33 ounces with full mag
Sights: White Dot Front, White Outlined Rear
Optic Ready: No
Grips: Polymer
MSRP: $779.99
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