Best Glock Clones

How many times have you heard the phrase Glock killer? It seems like every new polymer frame, striker-fired pistol will be a Glock killer. How true is that? So far, nothing has killed the Glock. In fact, rather than fade away, the concept has only expanded into a wide variety of clones. The Gen 3 Glock patent has expired, opening up the market to a wide variety of clones and similar designs that use the Glock design. 

In fact, if something ever kills the Glock, I’m betting it will be a Glock clone. All of these companies releasing Glock clones seem to be trying to improve upon the design. Glock has always had flaws and has always been slow to fix those flaws. The thriving market of Glock clones isn’t shy about providing a superior option to the Glock enthusiast. 

Why Glock Clones? 

That leads us to the idea of why would you ever buy a clone. Whenever you drop a photo into a copier, it always comes out worse. The same idea isn’t true of Glock clones. These clones swing in and are willing to react to consumer demands that Glock won’t. This includes the little things, like a true Picatinny rail, improved frame design, varied optics cuts, and even increasing the capabilities and efficiency of their magazine. 

Glock clones can also come in purpose-built models. The stock Glock is a fine defensive handgun, but what if you want a race gun? The aftermarket can deliver that. The Glock clone market will deliver varied configurations that we won’t see from the factory or incredible degrees of customization. These Glock clones offer a Glock design without the anchors attached to OEM Glocks. 

Using the Glock platform ensures you have an affordable source of magazines, tons of options for triggers, sights, magazine releases, and so on and so forth. These clones often work with stock Glock holsters and give you full access to the Glock aftermarket if you need it. You might not want to change anything with your gun, but stuff breaks and with this platform it’s easy to find replacement parts and keep your gun running. 

Best Glock Clones

1. Matrix Arms MX19		Check Price
2. PSA Dagger Micro		Check Price
3. ZRO Delta One		Check Price
4. Shadow Systems MR920L		Check Price
5. Faxon FX 19 Patriot LT		Check Price
6. Bul Armory AXE FS Tomahawk		Check Price
7. RIA STK100		Check Price

The Best Glock Clones Reviews

Matrix Arms MX19 

Let’s kick off the list with a bang. Glock revolutionized the market with its polymer-frame pistol. The Matrix Arms MX19 is a Glock clone that takes inspiration from the Gen 3 design but adds a twist with its all-metal construction. It’s a testament to how time is a circle, bringing us back to the allure of metal pistols. As the 19 implies, the MX19 is Glock 19-sized and fits that compact pistol role. 

Polymer frames have their pros and cons. One downside is that the flex that polymer frames exhibit can affect the gun’s accuracy. This tends to be overstated, and most people can’t outshoot their pistol regardless of the frame type. A benefit to polymer is the flex helps reduce felt recoil. I’ve measured this with a Mantis X10 and found it quite true. The MX19 could be a technically more accurate gun but would have slightly increased recoil. Matrix Arms utilizes a patent-pending buffer system to reclaim any lost recoil reduction from switching from polymer to metal. 

The metal frame allows for much tighter tolerances, leading to enhanced accuracy. What’s probably way more important for most shooters regarding accuracy is the fact that these guns are optics-ready. They feature slide cuts for the RMR optic, which will ensure they get the ultimate accuracy out of the gun. The trigger will help two, and Matrix Arms has everything from smooth duty triggers to 3.5-pound match triggers to choose from. 

One of the neat features I like is the fact the gun has replaceable grip frames. It’s a metal grip that still uses wrap-around polymer grips. Polymer is more grippy, and the hand-stippled grip options allow for greater customization. The catch comes dow n to the gun’s price. It’s expensive, and will cost you north of a grand. 

It’s a semi-custom gun with a semi-custom price point. There are many different color and grip combinations, with special editions launching occasionally. It’s a different take on the Glock clone, and that doesn’t mean a bad take. 

Matrix Arms MX19 Pros and Cons

PSA Dagger Micro 

The Palmetto State Armory Dagger guns are probably the first time most of us ever paid attention to a Glock clone. PSA swung wide with the Dagger and released a Glock that out-Glocked Glock when it came to low price points. There are tons of Dagger configurations out there, but to me, the most impressive is the Micro Dagger. The Dagger Micro, as the name implies, is a micro-compact handgun in the same vein as the P365, Hellcat, and similar guns. 

The Dagger Micro is still a Glock clone, and the Glock it’s cloning is the Glock 43X. This gun stands out because calling it a Glock 43X clone is half true. PSA found a way to fit 15 rounds into a design Glock only managed to fit 10 rounds into. I can mention the Shield Mags, but those are finicky and require some control changes to work well. PSA uses a metal and polymer hybrid magazine design that doesn’t require a specialized magazine button. 

The PSA Dagger Micro also comes optics-ready with a ShieldRMSc cut, and it features a small rail up front for a light, laser, or cup holder. I’m almost serious on the cup holder because I can 3D print it… Anyway, the Micro Dagger shoots like a champ, and the stock sights can cowitness through most optics, including Holosun models. 

The Micro Dagger series is also crazily affordable. They are priced to move and perfect for concealed carry. It’s a bit of a no-brainer. As someone who owns both a G43X and a Micro Dagger, the Dagger gets the win. If you prefer the Glock 48-sized guns, the Dagger Micro comes in a C-1 option with a longer slide that’s compensated. The downside is that they are almost always out of stock. 

It’s easy to see why the gun sells so well. It’s small, concealable, gives you all the goodies you want, has 15-round magazines, and is also affordable. If you can get one, count yourself lucky. 

PSA Dagger Micro  Pros and Cons

ZRO Delta One 

If you want to be a Glock killer, you have to do something that’s Glock-like while also being radically different. The ZROP Delta One might be the one to do it enough like Glock while remaining radically different to make it a Glock killer. The ZRO Delta One series are some of the most customizable guns on the planet. The Glock aftermarket made it one of the more customizable guns, but the ZRO Delta One takes that to the extreme. 

The ZRO Delta One uses a Universal Fire Control group. This is the serialized portion of the gun and is what we would call the frame. It’s the only portion that requires a transfer. With this half of a frame, the user then attaches the parts and pieces they want to transform into whatever gun they want. Users can extend the grip, add a longer and longer rail-equipped dust cover, and alternate slides. 

The ZRO Delta One can be converted from a duty-sized gun to a compact or subcompact gun. You get all this customization on what’s essentially a Gucci Glock. It has all the features you could want from a premium gun. It’s optics-ready, uses a true Picatinny rail, and has a variety of fancy slide cuts and a custom frame look. 

In terms of performance, the frame is what impresses me most. The One comes with a large overhang for a high grip on the gun. The trigger guard is formed to be comfortable with your knuckles and has a nice high undercut. The grip design is very well done overall and super comfy. 

Surprisingly, the starting price isn’t too bad and hovers around 700 dollars depending on options. The parts to customize it are somewhat pricey, and if you get everything configuration option, you’ll be north of two grand. 

ZRO Delta Pros and Cons

Shadow Systems MR920L

Shadow Systems made a name by producing high-end Glock clones that go full Gucci, known as the Elite series. They’ve spun that off into a slightly less fancy but more affordable Foundation series. They started pretty niche but have become a reasonably big mover and shaker in the world of Glock clones. They made a ton of different models and seemed to introduce one or two new ones every year. My favorite of the Sahdow System series is the MR920L. 

The MR920L isn’t a creative name, but it’s functional. The MR920 series is their 9mm series that encompasses a variety of sizes. The L initial represents a bit of a hybrid model. The frame comes from the Glock 19 compact-sized world, and the slides are the full-sized variant. Barrel length falls between 4.5 and 5.5 inches, depending on if you choose between a standard or threaded barrel. 

The longer slide, combined with the compact frame, makes a great concealed career pistol. The full-sized variant has reduced recoil, plus the extra barrel length gives it a little extra velocity. The compact frame helps enhance concealment and still provides 15 rounds of ammo on tap for a full load of defensive pistol ammo. This combination took Glock decades to produce, but it is a standard issue item at Shadow Systems. 

The gun comes optics and accessory rail ready. The frame features refined ergonomics with a good beavetail and an expertly crafted trigger guard for a nice high grip on the gun. Shadow Systems does one thing I don’t care for and that’s the trigger. I’m not impressed. It’s not bad, but I expect more for the price. 

Shadow Systems MR920L Pros and Cons

Faxon FX 19 Patriot LT

Faxons made a reputation for producing high-quality, high-end barrels for AR-15s, Glocks, and similar platforms. They eventually decided to stop being just barrel guys and dive headfirst into the world of firearms. Their Glock clones are known as the FX 19 and are divided into the Patriot and Hellfire series of pistols. The price difference is about 75 bucks, with the Patirot being the cheaper version. I advocate for the Patriot and its lower price point. 

The big difference between the two is the sights. The Hellfire has a tritium-powered sight system, and the Patriot has a high-visibility front sight. Night sights are great, but the Patriot and Hellfire are both optics-ready, which makes iron sights less of a concern. I think it’s better to spend 75 dollars on a red dot rather than a tritium sight. The optics cut is an RMR pattern, and the recoil cut has a set of recoil bosses that are a must-have. 

The Patriot is one of those Glocks that looks uber busy. The frame and slide are covered with cuts, notches, and textures. I won’t say they are pointless, but it feels like a style choice. Admittedly, anytime I grab the Patriot, it feels like it grabs back. Every surface has some grippiness to it. I can’t hate that. 

Where the Patriot excels is the frame. The frame is polymer, Glock-like, and features a 1911-like grip angle. It feels thinner and more svelte than the blocky nature of Glock firearms. The trigger guard has a heavy-duty undercut, allowing for a good high grip on the gun that doesn’t hurt under every recoil impulse. 

Faxon makes barrels, and they didn’t cheap out with the FX19. It has a match-grade Faxon Match barrel for enhanced and more consistent accuracy. The Patriot shoots like a dream and will put those 9mm rounds right where you want them. This gun was made for concealed carry, but dear lord, the slide serrations and texture rub on you when carried IWB.

Faxon FX 19 Patriot LT Pros and Cons

Bul Armory AXE FS Tomahawk

Bul Armory is based in Israel and has historically produced everything from high-end CZ 75 clones to 1911s and double-stack M1911 designs. They’ve also dived deep into the world of Glock clones. Historically, Bul Armory produces high-end guns with custom features on platforms we know and love. The AXE FS Tomahawk is not different. It’s a premium-tier Glock clone that still sells for less than a grand. 

The Bul Armory AXE FS Tomahawk is a lot to say, so let’s call it the Tomahawk for short. So far, most of the pistols on this list are aimed at self-defense and duty use. The Tomahawk is a race gun. It’s a gun designed for going fast, cutting split times, and winning matches. The Tomahawk has a ported barrel and slide with five inline ports to keep the muzzle low and target between shots. 

This makes it a little tough to justify for defensive use in low-light situations or in close retention positions. The Tomahawk comes with a competition trigger that’s about 3.5 pounds. It’s crazy light with a short and positive reset. The trigger pull delivers a very short trigger pull. Bul Armory went with a flat-faced trigger that provides the shooter with total control over the trigger pull.

They revamped the blocky Glock frame’s design, improving ergonomics all around. The trigger guard allows for a nice high grip that avoids Glock knuckles. The texturing grips your hand and delivers a rough but sure texture to prevent the gun from wrenching its way out of your hand. An enhanced magwell speeds up reloads, an optics cut makes accuracy and speed easy, and all of the controls are larger than average. 

This gun sounds nice, but its design somewhat limits it. It’s tough to beat if you want to compete, but outside of competition, it’s not all that versatile. 

Bul Armory AXE FS Tomahawk Pros and Cons

RIA STK100 Review

We started with a metal frame pistol, and we’ll end with one. Unlike the first pistol, the RIA STK100 comes in at a much more affordable price point at the cost of being made overseas. Specifically, it’s made in the Philippines, so no enemies of America are involved. The STK100 might be more affordable, but it’s not cheap. In fact, it represents one of the more ergonomic options out there and is impressive in its all-metal design. 

As mentioned above, an all-metal pistol has a little more recoil due to a lack of flex in the frame. STK100 doesn’t use a fancy buffer to help mitigate this, but instead, RIA lightens the slide with strategic cuts. These cuts reduce the weight traveling rearward, and that results in less felt recoil. The STK100 features some advanced slide stippling over the top of the slide that creates an easy-to-rack surface any which way you grip it. 

The slide also comes with an optics cut. It works, but I’m not a fan of the removable optics plate. Once you remove the plate, you also remove your rear sight. There is no cowitness option. It’s a minor problem, and on a sub-400-dollar pistol, you can’t be too picky. 

The frame takes some major cues from the M1911 design. It’s much straighter, and for a lot of people, it’s more comfortable. The STk100 offers a highly textured grip with a nice beavertail. The trigger guard isn’t cut high or fancy, so don’t expect the high grip you get from other guns on this list. Features like the magazine release and slide lock are extended and easy to activate and reach. 

The STK100 is an impressive pistol for its budget price point. It might lack some of the refinement of other guns on this list, but it’s an affordable all-metal option for shooters who want a Glock but don’t want polymer. 

 

RIA STK100 Pros and Cons

Attack Of the Clones

The Glock clone market has never been hotter. It’s massive and full of guns that can satisfy every budget. You can find Glock clones anywhere from 300 dollars to 1,200 dollars and likely higher. You can find anything you want and still get the Glock simplicity, reliability, affordable magazine platform, and more without the downsides of the Glock. 

At the end of the day, it comes down to the fact that Glock clones offer you a Glock the way you want it. That’s the reason why these clones succeed and why the market will continue to grow.