Definitive Guide to Glock 17 Gen5 MOS

Notice the name of this BB pistol, the Glock 17 Gen5. We're going to highlight the Gen5, which indicates there were others before it, and there were! There's not much information on the first and second gen as there is on the Glock 17 Gen3, the Gen4, and of course the one we're speaking of here, the fifth.

One can expect with every generation improvements or upgrades are made, correct? What is so different about the Glock 17 Gen5? The Gen3 has a double action trigger, was slightly heavier, and slightly longer. It lacked an accessories rail as well as an option to mount a red dot, but it did come in black or tan. The Gen 4's magazine held 18 rounds, included multiple sized grips, and is slightly longer and heavier.

The Glock 17 Gen5 MOS is a semi-automatic 1:1 licensed replica powered by a 12 gram Co2 cartridge and uses .177 caliber BBs. It has a textured grip that makes for a consistent and stable hold with dry or sweaty hands and it features the Glock emblem on the left side.

Here are the main differences between the full & half-blowback versions:

The textured grip also houses the magazine. To remove the magazine, push the reversible mag release button on the left side of the grip, and the drop-free magazine will be released.

On the rear of the mag you'll see numbers replicating what would normally be shown on the actual firearm. These numbers represent how many rounds this magazine will hold.

Next you'll notice the Co2 compartment that is accessible with the included allen wrench after removing the magazine floor plate. On the front of the magazine is the BB compartment that holds 17 BBs, hence Glock 17.

The manual push button safety is located on the right side of the single action trigger. The trigger has what some might say is a second trigger, but it's a safety mechanism that only allows the trigger to engage if both "triggers" are engaged. The pull weight is approximately 1 lb. 8 oz. making it an enjoyable shooter.

For a more tactical look and feel you'll find in front of the trigger guard is an integrated accessories rail to give the ability to mount a laser or a flashlight. The 4.5 inch smooth bore barrel is perfect for the intended .177 caliber BBs. The all metal slide and full blowback action gives a realistic shooting experience for those utilizing such BB guns for tactical or any other such training.

Quick target acquisition is attainable using the included Glock U-shaped rear sight and the front blade dot sight, though you are not limited to that. The Modular Optic System allows the shooter to mount their favorite micro red dot sights. Included are four mounting plates to accommodate the different sights.

Setup & Operation

Before handling any rifle be sure the safety is engaged and it is not loaded; always use any type of gun in a safe and responsible manner. Before getting started decide if you are going to solely use the open sights or if you'd like to mount a red dot. If you're using the included open sights, we guess you could skip a paragraph.

Installing the MOS Mounting Plates is simple; remove the cover plate and choose the plate that is compatible with your sights. Using the same screws from the cover plate, mount the correct plate. Next, mount an Umarex RDS 8 Red Dot Sight (or the one you prefer) to the plate.

Loading the 12 Gram Air Venturi Co2 Cartridge: Press the mag release button to release the magazine. Remove the floor plate by pulling down and holding the spring retaining block. Using the included 6mm allen wrench, remove the screw. Place a drop of RWS Chamber Lube Oil on the top of the Co2 cartridge and insert it head first into the Co2 compartment. Replace the allen screw and tighten until snug.

The BBs are easily loaded when pressing down the BB follower and pushing to the right to lock it in place. Next load 17 Umarex Precision Steel BBs into the front of the magazine. Once it is full, push the BB follower to the left to unlock, allowing it to put pressure on the BBs giving them the proper ejection as the shooter pulls the trigger.

Replace the floor plate on the bottom of the magazine and insert the magazine into the grip. Take aim at your target, disengage the safety, and squeeze the trigger. When the slide locks in the rear position that means the BBs have been depleted and it's time to reload. Press the slide release button to advance the slide back into position.

Performance & Accuracy

This platform is easy to use and operates flawlessly. As long as the operator does their part, the Glock 17 does its. We can expect to get approximately fifty shots per 12 gram Co2 cartridge with the full blowback version, even with a few dry fire shots taken. After the last BB is shot the slide will lock in the rear position to indicate an empty mag.

Accuracy is going to vary depending upon the shooter and, quite possibly, the sights on the pistol. The results achieved here were utilizing the open sights. Using the Umarex .177 Steel BB's we shot several five shot groups at fifteen feet.

On the Birchwood Casey Shoot N See Targets it clearly shows the impact of each BB. The group in the center of the target are the first shots taken. The more shots taken, the better the accuracy got. The last shot group, being the bottom right, proves to be almost perfect! This is a great testimony of the accuracy achieved using the included Glock U sights and the Umarex Steel BBs.

Umarex .177 Steel BBs results at 5 yards:

• High: 308 FPS / 1.05 FPE
• Low: 299 FPS / .99 FPE
• Average: 305 FPS / 1.03 FPE

Summing Up

The Umarex Glock 17 Gen5 Co2 pistol is a great platform for anyone that has a goal to get some inexpensive trigger time in using Co2 and BBs. Being a 1:1 replica, the full-blowback version gives the shooter an accurate handgun feel without the noise, making it backyard-friendly. For quick draw practice the Deluxe Commando Belt Holster is a recommended accessory.

The standard U shape sights or the ability to mount a red dot with the MOS (Modular Optic System) sets the stage for real engagement, sight acquisition, and accuracy training when or if we do go to the range with a traditional Glock. Let's not forget about the accessories rail where you can mount the < a href="https://www.airgundepot.com/utg-red-combat-laser-ls268.html">UTG Laser.

The easy-to-load magazine holds 17 rounds, and extra mags are available for purchase. When we have at least one extra mag, that's when the real fun comes in! Deplete the BBs in the first one, drop the mag and reload as fast as we can; it's a great option for speed shooters!

BB guns are a great tool for many applications; this one only opens the door for more! As long as we follow through with the appropriate use and maintenance, whether we're a plinker, training for a competition, or a real-life scenario, the Glock 17 Gen 5 is definitely a competitor in the running for one of the best platforms to perform with.

There's no excuses here; it's an affordable, easy to use, great performer all around! If we've been looking for our next addition or our first, this one is one we should seriously consider!