“Once you start with perfection, you stay with perfection,” reads the product page for Glock’s newest — and long awaited — Model 44. The Glock 44 is a midsize pistol like the industry standard Glock 19, now chambered for .22 Long Rifle.
While rimfire conversion kits for Glock pistols are nothing new, this is the company’s first official rimfire pistol, after many years of being an industry leader in centerfire handguns for military, law enforcement and shooters everywhere.
The Glock 44 follows the Gen 5 standard with a straight frontstrap, interchangeable backstraps and forward and rear slide serrations. It has a railed frame for accessories, adjustable Glock sights and comes with two 10-round magazines.
It has a 4-inch “Marksman” barrel and weighs just under 15 ounces with a magazine. The magazines feature load assist levers but otherwise mimic standard magazines in shape and size. It has ambidextrous slide release levers and a reversible magazine catch for left-handed use.
Apart from the weight reduction, the Glock 44 is otherwise the same size as the Glock 19, making it the perfect rimfire pistol for the bulk of Glock shooters.
There are many reasons that could explain why it took so long for Glock to make a .22. First and most importantly, is reliability. Making a rimfire pistol that has the look and feel of a centerfire gun is difficult, and making one that just works is even harder.
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The Glock 44 is designed to work with a wide range of .22 LR ammunition, which ranges from cheap plinking ammo to premium hunting and competition rounds. Unlike conversion kits, which are mostly for fun and introductory training, the Glock 44 is meant for harder use.
Glock achieved their reliability goals by using a specially lightened slide. They went with an uncommon slide material, but it shouldn’t be too surprising — it’s plastic. The Glock 44 has a steel-reinforced polymer slide that weighs less and performs better with the relatively light-recoiling rimfire ammo.
So while it seems inevitable for Glock to make a Glock 19-sized .22, it’s clear that the time was spent rethinking the design and working from the ground up to make a rimfire gun that can live up to the company’s high standard.
“It’s as much function as it is fun,” said Glock in the announcement. The suggested retail price for the Glock 44 is around $400, and will likely sell for less online and in stores. Availability is slated for the top of 2020.
For more information, visit Glock.com.