Glock Annual 2020 HiRes 32520 PDF
Glock Annual 2020 HiRes 32520 PDF
Glock Annual 2020 HiRes 32520 PDF
MAKES
PERFECTION
Printed in U.S.A.
MODEL | CORVUS TM
07 THE
Basic marksmanship skills and a calm mind are all it takes
to compete in GSSF matches. By Chris Edwards
IAMGLOCK
42 Fun. Durability. First-hand, personal GLOCK stories.
By Robyn Sandoval
SCHOOL OF GLOCK
FOUNDER’S LETTER 76 Collegiate competitors at Bob Jones University shoot for
06 A recap of 2019 successes and highlights of what’s in
store for 2020. By Gaston Glock
the win with GLOCK. By Scott Mayer
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A GLOCK 19X ATTENDANCE SOARS AT GLOCK ANNUAL SHOOT XXVI
22 Five-hundred rounds came and went. Then 1,000, 2,000,
and more. Flawless. By Christopher Eger
88 This annual gathering of GLOCK aficionados gets better
and bigger each year. By Andre M. Dall’au
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PG. PG.
GLOCK 19: 15 YEARS, THREE BADGES,
60 AND STILL GOING STRONG
A single GLOCK sees one officer through years of duty.
14 91
By Christoperh Eger
78
95-97 GLOCK & WOMEN
By Tatiana Whitlock
Women in the Shooting Sports: GLOCK Has Your Back.
GLOCK partners to support the fastest-growing segment
of the shooting sports.
The Well Armed Woman, Becoming an Outdoor Woman
(BOW), A Girl & A Gun and Shoot Like a Girl
GLOCK ANNUAL is published annually by BANG Media, LLC, P.O. Box 385, Marco Island, FL 34145.
Single copy price: $10.00 U.S.A., $12.00 in Canada + S&H. Submissions must be accompanied by a stamped, self-
addressed envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Copyright © 2020 by BANG Media,
LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction in whole or part
without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in the U.S.A.
HIGH VELOCITY MARKETING
To the readers: Be advised that there may be products represented in this magazine as to which the sale, possession or Shirley Steffen, Publisher
interstate transportation thereof may be restricted, prohibited, or subject to special licensing requirements. Prospective Karin Levine, Advertising Director
purchasers should consult the local law enforcement authorities in their area. All of the information in this magazine is
based upon the personal experience of individuals who may be using specific tools, products, equipment, and compo- Brandie Collins, Technical Editor
nents under particular conditions and circumstances, some or all of which may not be reported in the particular article
and which this magazine has not otherwise verified. Nothing herein is intended to constitute a manual for the use of any BANG Media, LLC
product or the carrying out of any procedure or process. This magazine and its officers and employees accept no respon-
sibility for any liability or damages arising out of any person’s attempt to rely upon any information contained herein. The P.O. Box 385, Marco Island, FL 34145
opinions expressed in the enclosed articles are not necessarily those of GLOCK, Inc. bangmediamarketing.com
GLO CK A N N UA L 20 20 5
That heritage, and our commitment to carrying it forward, is exemplified by our newest pistol, the GLOCK 44.
The G44 is our first .22 LR pistol and sets a new standard for small-caliber shooting. Some of you may wonder
why it took us so long to bring a .22-caliber pistol to market. The answer is rooted in our commitment to setting
the standards in engineering and performance. We worked tirelessly and for a long time to ensure that what we
delivered to you was a pistol we could be proud of: the only .22-caliber pistol on the market that performs like a
GLOCK. You can read about the G44 in this issue, but if you really want to get a sense of how this pistol embodies
our commitment to providing you with the best pistols on the market, I encourage you to go to a range and try it out.
Inside this year’s edition of the GLOCK Annual you will find articles detailing how GLOCK supports law enforcement
and military agencies in the United States and around the world. When agencies want to outfit their men and women
with the best firearms, they turn to us and we work with them to meet what are often very specific needs. In this
issue, you will learn how we continue to support agencies in such diverse places as Singapore, Brazil, northern
California, and the Everglades.
I am also very pleased to inform you that, in 2019, GLOCK was selected to provide pistols to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP). The decision to select GLOCK came at the end of a long and rigorous evaluation process
that included direct input from over 16,000 CBP law enforcement personnel. That agency’s decision is a testament
to our promise to deliver the best pistols on the market.
In this issue, you will find information about the GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) and the schedule of
matches planned for 2020. We encourage you to register for a match near you and put your shooting skills to the
test—and I can’t think of a better way to put your new G44 to use.
The GLOCK Annual is one way we say “thank you” to you, our customers and our fans. I truly believe we have the
most passionate, loyal supporters in the industry. I want to thank each of you for your support of our company and
our pistols. You put your faith and your trust in our products every day, and we are grateful for that. Our commitment
is to reward that faith and trust by continuing, day in and day out, to make the best pistols on the market.
Gaston Glock,
Founder
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REAL RIMFIRE:
ANNOUNCING THE
GLOCK 44
MANY HAVE TRIED TO TURN A GLOCK CENTERFIRE PISTOL INTO A RIMFIRE. BUT
ONLY GLOCK COULD CREATE ONE FROM THE GROUND UP—AND DO IT RIGHT.
■ ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY PETE MANNING
O
ne of the most satisfying yet often overlooked
segments of the shooting world is a firearm
chambered in .22 Long Rifle. With rimfire
ammunition prices having returned to reasonable
levels, shooters can embark on a solid day’s
Photo Courtesy GLOCK
lack of heft is noticeable, and it allows for younger and smaller- MAGAZINE 14.74 oz. / 418 g
statured shooters, especially those with smaller hands, to easily WEIGHT LOADED 15.94 oz. / 452 g
point and hold the new pistol on target without fatigue. Still, the TRIGGER PULL 5.8 lbs. / ~26 N
feel is distinctly GLOCK. If you were part of a “blind taste test” TRIGGER TRAVEL ~0.49 in. /12.5 mm
while shooting the new G44, you’d be hard pressed to actually MSRP $430.00
identify the model of GLOCK, save for its light recoil.
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RANGE TIME
The identical form factor of the G44’s magazine means that
reloading drills are just as they are with every other GLOCK.
Magazines drop effortlessly when the Gen5 magazine release
is pressed. The flared magazine well aids in lightning-quick
reloads. And the feel of the baseplate, body, and overall form
are all, without question, GLOCK.
Semiautomatic .22 LR pistols have historically suffered from
reliability issues. Without the use of a smooth copper jacket
afforded to centerfire rounds, rimfire bullets can be a sore spot
for some firearms. But building on its time-honored tradition
of reliability, GLOCK designed the G44 magazine, feed ramp,
Photo Courtesy of GLOCK
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GLOCK’S MODULAR
OPTICS SYSTEM:
SOLVING THE UNIVERSAL MOUNT PROBLEM
■ ARTICLE BY CHRIS EDWARDS
T
he use of electro-optic sights, or “red dots” as they
are commonly referred to, is now mainstream in the
world of handguns. Awkwardly mounted on handgun
frames in their original iterations for action-shooting
competitions, dot sights have shrunk over time.
Today they are have been miniaturized to the point that they’re
able to be mounted on a pistol’s slide.
One of the challenges firearms manufacturers face with
modern red dots is that the various sights have anindividual
pattern of attachment, i.e., there’s no universal mount that
accommodates the various sight brands. GLOCK engineers
solved this problem—indeed, GLOCK was an early pioneer in Frank Steiger Photo
this field—with its Multiple Optic System, or GLOCK MOS.
The GLOCK MOS is a set of detachable optics mounting
plates, each plate able to secure a particular manufacturer’s Better accuracy after instruction and training is a given, and
sight. The system was introduced with GLOCK Gen4 pistols the GLOCK MOS is ready right now to exploit the advantages
and is continued on the Gen5 GLOCKs. provided by today’s many electro-optics sights. The following
GLOCK’s system found immediate application in the are some of the manufacturers whose sights are compatible
current and largest American federal law enforcement pistol with GLOCK MOS:
procurement contract, which dictated that service pistols
be optics-ready. After extensive testing, and thanks to the • Aimpoint (aimpoint.com)
ingenuity of the MOS, GLOCK will be the next service pistol for • Burris (burrisoptics.com)
the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. Additionally, • Holosun (holosun.com)
there is a surge of interest in the consumer market, not only for • Leupold & Stevens (leupold.com)
competition use, but for personal defense as well. • Shield Sights (shieldpsd.com)
The benefits of red dots with the GLOCK MOS system are • Trijicon (trijicon.com)
well known and should be explored by operators of all stripes. • Vortex Optics (vortexoptics.com)
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 13
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G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 15
Four ways to carry your Glock. One modular kit. CORE CARRY PACK
S HO P O N LINE
ALIENGEARHOLSTERS.C OM
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GLOCK SLIMLINES:
PERFECTION IN THE FORM
OF CONCEALED CARRY
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE 9X19 HAVE SEEN ITS RETURN AS THE GO-TO ROUND
FOR SELF-DEFENSE PRACTITIONERS—AND GLOCK MADE THE PERFECT
PISTOLS TO GO WITH IT.
■ ARTICLE BY JAMES J. REEVES II ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLOCK
S
urely, when an engineer at GLOCK suggested reliable double-stack service pistols caught on, only boutique
creating the Slimline series of pistols, someone manufacturers and 1911 brands were turning out ultra-compact,
asked, “Why?” single-stack 9X19s. The format defies all internet-commando
“Why?” as in “Why ever would GLOCK logic: Why reduce capacity by half just to save a few ounces of
introduce a single-stack handgun?” GLOCK is one weight and a couple tenths of an inch in width?
of the most popular military and law enforcement handguns In the seven years I’ve been writing for The Firearm Blog,
of all time, and single-stack handguns are going to appeal I’ve heard this question countless times. From blog users to
almost exclusively to civilians, not government check-writers. YouTube commenters and seasoned industry professionals, all
Even ignoring the potentially limited fiscal aspects, it’s in ask, “Why?”
that same civilian market that the concept of a single-stack To know the “why,” one must look at the “how.” How did we get
handgun was once frowned upon, if not openly criticized. When to the GLOCK 43X and GLOCK 48 10-round single-stack frame?
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 19
It’s an understatement to say that GLOCK altered the showcase the true potential of just how svelte a GLOCK could
pistol landscape when it introduced the GLOCK 17 in 1982. be because of the physical limitations of the near-half-inch
The G17 does a lot of things well, but concealment is not one .45 AUTO round it was chambered in—and the next Slimline
of them; the venerable pistol is properly characterized as a GLOCK would not be introduced for a decade and a half.
duty-size handgun. Sometime after the GLOCK 36 was introduced, 9X19 saw
Thus, the next logical step was the GLOCK 19. This a resurgence in popularity. The infamous “Miami Shootout”
concealable “compact” became the jack-of-all-trades standard on April 11, 1986 had shaken the country’s faith in the 9X19
in 1988, and it retains that title to this day. Small enough to as a manstopper and ultimately led to the FBI’s dropping the
carry under your clothes but large enough to be controllable 9X19 in favor of the .40 AUTO. Twenty-eight years later, the
and accurate, the G19 sacrifices only two rounds of total Bureau pulled a complete 180 when, in 2014, it completed a
capacity versus the G17. report supporting re-adoption of the 9X19 cartridge. One of
Six years later, in 1994, GLOCK brought us the GLOCK the bombshell conclusions from the report: “Handgun stopping
26. The G26 established a new standard for the subcompact power is simply a myth.”
double-stack pistol, holding 10 rounds in its flush-fit Other findings from the report praise the technological
magazine. Weighing in at just over 19 ounces, and only 4.17 advancement of 9X19 that have occured over the past few
inches tall with the mag inserted, the G26 became a favorite decades:
concealed-carry subcompact.
GLOCK kept things simple as its models evolved. The Contemporary projectiles (since 2007) have dramatically
barrel and the grip of the GLOCK 17 were reduced to make increased the terminal effectiveness of many premium line
the G19, and the G19 was then downsized to make the G26. law enforcement projectiles. … Given contemporary bullet
That means abundant parts interchangeability between these construction, LEO’s can field 9mm Lugers with all of the
models, and as long as the magazine is long enough to seat, terminal performance potential of any other law enforcement
each gun will accept the others’ magazines. But these benefits pistol caliber with none of the disadvantages present with the
came with one significant drawback: The GLOCK 17, 19, and “larger” calibers.
26 are all the same width.
In 1999, GLOCK introduced the first Slimline GLOCK: the And with that, the 9X19 mounted a stunning comeback. A
G36. The G36 is a single-stack .45 AUTO with a six-round tipping point had been reached, and the large manufacturers all
capacity. Even though the G36’s 1.18-inch-thick body was introduced single-stack 9X19 offerings within relatively close
a mere .08-inch thinner than that of the GLOCK 17, 19, and temporal proximity of the other. GLOCK introduced a single-
26, I remember the first time I carried the G36, thinking, This stack 9X19, arriving to the party in 2015 with the GLOCK 43.
is different. Many of us wanted a slimmer 9X19, but we also insisted
The slightly thinner G36 holds a curious appeal. I assume on GLOCK reliability and that familiar manual of arms. Even
it may have been introduced to attract crossover from 1911 though GLOCK took its time bringing the G43 to market,
carriers who wanted a slim gun in a striker-fired format and new and old GLOCK fans had waited: the GLOCK 43 sold an
with the benefit of GLOCK’s reliability. But the G36 couldn’t astounding one-million units in its first year of production.
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I
n late 2017, I got my hands on an early GLOCK 19X to G19X shipped standard with a flush-fit, 17-round magazine
test and evaluate, and liked it so much, I bought it at the and two 17+2 extended mags, all sporting black followers.
end of the test. Now, well over a year later, I can’t put it The gun has several Gen5 enhancements, such as the
down, and I look back on the decision to buy it as one of extremely accurate GLOCK Marksman Barrel (GMB), with its
the best in my personal firearms journey. polygonal rifling and an improved crown, a flat grip front (sans
finger grooves), dehorned nose profile, and ambidextrous
GLOCK’S FIRST CROSSOVER slide stop levers. The G19X also includes a removeable
Unveiled in early 2018, the G19X combined the best lanyard loop on the frame heel, a feature not commonly seen
features of two of GLOCK’s most popular platforms by blending on a commercial GLOCK.
the frame of the full-sized GLOCK 17 with the compact barrel
and slide of the GLOCK 19 to form the new G19X. It was JUST UTTER RELIABILITY
dubbed a “Crossover” design by the renowned pistol maker. Outfitted with GLOCK Night Sights, I dutifully hit the range
Developed originally as a contender for a major military with the G19X over a three-month period, alternating training
solicitation, the new design was mature, efficient, and stood and daily carry while the G19X stacked up a steady round
atop four decades of the company’s innovative history. count. Varying ammunition between assorted commercial FMJ
Sporting a Coyote color—the first such use by GLOCK—on target and JHP defense loads, in no time the Coyote Crossover
both the polymer frame and nPVD-finished slide, the 9X19 had passed 500 rounds without a malfunction or notable
22 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
JOURNEY
TO THE WORLDS
A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AS TEAM GLOCK PREPARES
FOR THE 2020 IPSC HANDGUN WORLD SHOOT IN THAILAND.
■ ARTICLE BY BRAD FITZPATRICK
E
very three years, the International Practical Shooting The members of Team GLOCK have amassed an impressive
Confederation (IPSC) hosts the Handgun World collection of wins over the last several years. Most recently,
Shoot. It’s the equivalent of the Olympics for pistol in 2018, Shane earned the Steel Challenge High Overall
shooters, taking dedication, skill, and countless Production Champion while Ashley captured the Steel Challenge
hours of preparation to compete successfully on the Ladies National Championship. Shane also captured the 2018
world’s largest handgun-competition stage. IPSC Nationals Standard Championship and 2017 USPSA
The three members of Team GLOCK are aiming for IPSC Limited National Championships, while Ashley claimed the 2017
gold at the next World Shoot. There’s Shane Coley, GLOCK’s USPSA Production National Championship High Lady and 2018
Team Captain and a former member of the U.S. Army’s Action IPSC Nationals Standard Championship High Lady. And that’s
Shooting Team. Team member Michelle Viscusi, a member of just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the numerous area
the Army National Guard, appeared on season four of the hit championship that all three members of Team GLOCK have
television series Top Shot. Ashley Rheuark started shooting at amassed
the age of 10 and quickly rose through the ranks to become one But the road to the IPSC World Championship is a difficult
of America’s top female shooters. one, even for experienced shooters.
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Standard for Michelle and Production Optics for Ashley, Shoot 2020. I was a few points behind another competitor, Nils
making them the 2019 IPSC Lady National Champions,” Jonasson, for Team Captain, but made the team nonetheless.”
Coley explains.
The final qualifying event before the Worlds was the USPSA LOOKING TOWARD THAILAND
HI-CAP National Championship. This match was very different With the 2020 IPSC World Championship set to be held in
than the IPSC Nationas, says Rheuark. “My training has Pattaya, Thailand in November, there’s less than a year of prep
been specific for each of these Nationals,” says Rheuark. “In time left before the members of Team GLOCK set out to claim
preparation for IPSC Nationals, my practice was very technical the most coveted title in handgun shooting.
and focused a lot on accuracy. For the USPSA Nationals, I was “I know Team GLOCK is excited for another chance to
able to work on speed and cutting down my times. All these compete at a World Shoot,” says Rheuark. “We are looking
skills will be utilized next year.” forward to representing GLOCK on an international level and
Rheuark’s first- and second-place finishes at the IPSC and performing at our absolute best!”
USPSA HI-CAP Nationals, respectively, have put her in a good Viscusi is also looking ahead to 2020 and plans to maintain
position to shoot at the Worlds next year, and she says those her strict training regime in preparation for the event. “There’s
performances boosted her confidence. a lot of hard work that goes into preparing for a World Shoot,”
Despite coming back from having a baby in February she says. “For me, I have a lot of work to get back to where I
2019, Michelle Viscusi has also paved the way to the Worlds was. I had taken a lot of time off to have a baby and now I’m
with strong finishes at both the IPSC and USPSA National just coming back.”
championships. Coley performed impressively at the USPSA Coley is also preparing to make the most of his time in
HI-CAP Nationals as well, finishing fourth in the Limited class Thailand, following his strict workout routine, refining his elite
and securing a spot on the IPSC World team. shooting skills even more, and preparing to do his part to bring
“Since I am competing in the Standard division for the the World Champion title to Team GLOCK. And Coley, like the
IPSC World Shoot, Limited division in USPSA is my equivalent other members of the team, hopes that GLOCK fans all over
division,” says Coley, who said he felt great going into the the world will follow along as they represent the world’s premier
match and performed at a higher level than ever before. pistol brand at the highest level.
“I had a few ups and downs. I took some chances and “Preparing for the 2020 World Shoot will be strenuous. It
not everything worked in my favor, but overall, I secured my will take all year, and we hope that everyone follows us along
spot on the U.S. National Team for the IPSC Handgun World on this journey.”
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F
or as long as she can remember, GLOCK Pro weekends. Her husband is a Commercial Sales Manager for
Shooter Michelle Viscusi has been inspired by her GLOCK, so they work around each other’s travel schedules,
family. Her father introduced her to shooting when though sometimes Michelle has to flip-flop her days and call in
she was a teenager. Michelle remembered that a babysitter so she can train at night. She also incorporates a
day fondly, saying, “I just went for fun and tried out fitness routine as part of her daily schedule. She said, “I always
a bunch of different pistols.” She had been an avid gymnast feel better when I work out and my energy level goes up. When
throughout her childhood, but that outing with her father had a I can make the gym a routine in my life, I always feel better
profound effect on her. physically and mentally.”
Michelle’s early career choices centered on her desire to During her pregnancies, Michelle live-fire practiced up until
follow in her father’s footsteps in law enforcement, and she 26 weeks, and so she was able to compete during those early
studied criminal justice at Chandler-Gilbert College and Arizona months. She then continued to train throughout the pregnancy,
State University. When she was 19, she joined the Army laughing as she told me, “I would do some dry-fire and
National Guard; it was her military training that really sparked reloading practice until my belt didn’t fit anymore!”
her love of shooting. She returned home from basic training and The timing of her first pregnancy worked well, since it was
bought her very first rifle, and shortly thereafter, she purchased towards the end of the competitive season, and she was able to
a GLOCK 19. return to competing at the beginning of the next season. With
While working as a Military Police Officer alongside Border her second pregnancy, however, the 2019 IPSC Nationals was
Patrol, Michelle jumped at the opportunity to be on Season only her second match after coming back from maternity leave.
4 of the History Channel’s hit series Top Shot. During the Michelle had less than three months to train, but she was up
filming of the show, she met many professional competitors to the challenge. She said, “I had done as much training as I
and others who were involved in the firearms industry. This possibly could to prepare for those Nationals, and actually felt
broadened her knowledge of the shooting sports and opened confident while I was out there.” Confident indeed: Michelle
her eyes to opportunities within the industry. Michelle was just took her first National Ladies title at that match.
22 in 2012, when she met then-captain of Team GLOCK, K.C. Michelle now has her sights on the 2020 IPSC Handgun
Eusebio, who arranged for a tryout. In 2013, she was offered a World Shoot XIX, which will take place in Pattaya, Thailand.
spot on the team, and she has been competing nationally and Technology helps her stay close to her daughters when she’s
internationally ever since. traveling. When she was at the 2019 Nationals in Florida, too
A lot has changed for Michelle over the past six years, but far away from her home in Arizona for her family to go with her,
her love of family has remained the same. Now a wife and she said, “I Facetimed about 10 times a day to keep them in
mother, she has to balance family and career—but by coming the loop.”
back and winning the 2019 IPSC Ladies National Title in her Michelle loved traveling to Montana, because of its beautiful
first major match after her most recent pregnancy, Michelle scenery, although she also enjoyed Alaska and hopes to
proved she’s a champion on and off the range! visit Hawaii someday. Shooting in Italy has been her favorite
“One of my greatest challenges has been taking the time European match so far.
off to have my children, and then coming back to compete at When asked about her biggest accomplishment, Michelle
the level I need to be at,” said Michelle. That means consistent said that the 2019 IPSC Ladies National Title was a great joy,
training, which can be difficult with three young daughters, but added, “Honestly, everything I do with GLOCK feels like
aged six, five, and six months, but Michelle acknowledged, “If I an accomplishment. I am proud to be a part of such a great
want to be the best, then I need to put in the hard work.” company for as long as I have been. I have it all, because I have
Michelle’s training schedule includes range time on an amazing husband who supports me 100 percent and the best
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with matches on the children I could ever ask for. Everything else is a huge bonus.”
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 29
GENERATIONS OF GLOCKS:
PURSUING PERFECTION
THE STORY OF GLOCK, THOUGH FAR FROM FINISHED,
BRINGS TO LIGHT THE GENIUS BEHIND EVERY CHANGE—AND LEAVES
ALL YEARNING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER.
■ ARTICLE BY CHRIS EDWARDS ■ PHOTO COURTESY OF GLOCK
I
n the second decade of the 21st century, it’s hard to escape • Major metal components (slide and barrel) finished
the worldwide presence of GLOCK pistols. Whether in the externally with the Tenifer process;
hands or holsters of law enforcement officers around the
• Simple field-stripping process via the slide lock;
planet or wielded by citizens protecting themselves and
their charges, GLOCK has many models and generations in • Standard magazine capacity of 17 rounds
service. Let’s take a look back—and forward.
GLOCK’s expertise with high-pressure, precision polymer
BEGINNING THE BREED: GEN1 molding brought the main component of the handgun, the frame,
In the early 1980s, the Austrian Ministry of Defense requested into modern times. The Gen1 GLOCKs were streamlined, without
interested parties submit service pistol samples for testing. The sharp or rough edges. Their surface texture became known as
winner of the Austrian trials would be adopted as the military’s the “pebble” finish. External controls were few and low-profile,
handgun. Initially, it was thought a large corporation would secure including a flat slide stop lever, polymer magazine catch, and the
the order, but the examples submitted failed embarrassingly. Enter trigger with its integral safety. The very first examples had a non-
Gaston Glock, who had no extensive experience with firearms. He captured recoil spring on a polymer guide rod. Upon field-stripping,
set out with a clean sheet of paper—no preconceived notions, no a Gen1’s internal parts will be seen with a dark, blue/black finish.
burden of history to bog him down. After just a few prototypes, There is only one other model considered a Gen1, the GLOCK
examples of what would become known as the GLOCK 17 were 17L with a 6-inch barrel and “Longslide,” as well as a lighter trigger
offered and passed the military’s rigorous testing with ease. pull. There were a few prototypes of the compact GLOCK 19 with
It’s instructive to list the primary elements of the first model the Gen1 frame texture, but these were never offered for sale.
and the initial generation of handguns that followed it:
THE MARKET SHIFTS: GEN2
• Injection-molded polymer frame; G17 Gen1s were well received by the U.S. law enforcement
• GLOCK Safe-Action® trigger (classified at American market, with notable sales to the police departments of St.
importation as “double-action-only”); Paul and Miami. But user feedback resulted in a decision
to manufacture a new mold that would incorporate raised
• Cold hammer-forged barrel (9X19 initially);
“checkering” on the frame’s front and backstraps. GLOCK notes
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GSSF MATCHES
A GREAT PLACE FOR NEW COMPETITORS
■ ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY DR. JOEL T. NADLER
“Why did I wait so long to start doing this?!” is within the spectrum. Still, some will ask, “Is competitive
I have heard this rhetorical question repeatedly. Initially, shooting a replacement for advanced defensive training?” No.
it came from people recommending that I start shooting Some will also ask, “Does competition provide a method of
competitively. After my first competition, I asked myself the training on skills transferable to other situations?” I would
same thing. Today, I hear it from almost every new shooter suggest the answer is yes.
who attends the various shooting events and competitions I Just as dry-fire and simulations add value to a defensive
coordinate. skillset, so does competitive shooting. Once a shooter adds
Let this near-universal response to shooting at a competition competition to their shooting repertoire, they seem much more
for the first time be your guide: The overwhelming advice almost likely to continue being active in the sport of their choice. In
anyone gives is to start competing sooner rather than later. other words, they shoot more—and that goes a long way
Once you do, you will regret having not started sooner. toward negating the absence of value in a gun not carried and
training never taken.
IT’S NOT JUST A GAME In the end, both of my initial reasons for decling to compete
Although I have been shooting, training, and instructing were, in my opinion, inaccurate. It proved to be very easy
with handguns for decades, I was not originally interested in to start competing, and though not a replacement for other
competition. If I’m honest, this was likely due to two concerns: methods of defensive training, I found I was shooting more
That the rules were restrictive and overly complex; and, due to often and utilizing similar skills. In short, why hadn’t I started
those complex rules, competition was not relevant to defensive doing this a long time ago?
use or training. Basically, I saw competition as a game with little
application to real-life defensive use of a firearm. NEED A PLACE TO START? TRY A GSSF MATCH
I can now see that these concerns were misconceptions. What type of competition should you enter? The easiest
Similar to many complex games, rules can be long and answer is the one that you will go to. That often means the
not easily understood. However, rules are written to cover all match closest to where you live. Check your local range to
sorts of situations, to ensure consistency across events, and see if they have any house leagues or shooting matches and,
to ensure a safe shooting environment. For example, in the if so, make it a point to attend the next shoot. Remember
case of GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), the indoor that any firearms competition will be more welcoming and
league has 14 pages of rules. Fourteen! That covers a lot of less intimidating than you likely imagine. Take the plunge and
ground, but don’t let that stop you from exploring GSSF. The let those more experienced help you acclimate. Let the folks
core rule set, courses of fire, and what a new competitor needs running the match know you are competing for the first time,
to know can be described in a couple of paragraphs. and feel free to ask questions.
What about my second assumption, that there were, I’d encourage you, in particular, to see if there are GSSF
potentially, conflicts between the skill sets utilized in defensive events in your area. GSSF is great for new competitors, as
training (i.e., supervised classes, simulations) and those used these matches have been specifically designed to be less
in competition? I’ve come to realize that it’s best to think of intimidating for novices. For instance, you’ll shoot from the
defensive skills as being on a spectrum. That spectrum likely “low-ready” position, so there’s no drawing from a holster. Nor
begins with dry-fire practice without the pressure of a timer, is there foot movement or shooting from or around cover as
followed by casual practice at a range and basic defensive you’ll find in competitions such as IPSC, IDPA, and 3-Gun. You
classes. Then, on to competition, advanced time-stressed will need little in the way of gear, so forget the notion that you
defensive shooting classes and simulations and, finally, what need to invest a lot of money to begin shooting competitively.
may be a situation in which actual defensive use is called for. Best of all, while GSSF matches are welcoming to new
When it comes to self-defense, the closer our training is competitors, more experienced shooters will still find the
to that far end of the spectrum the better. Clearly, competition courses of fire to be challenging.
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G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 33
PRACTICE SMARTER,
NOT HARDER
A FOCUS ON SKILLS WELL EXECUTED, RATHER THAN
THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS SENT DOWNRANGE, IS THE KEY TO PERFECTING
MARKSMANSHIP AND SUCCEEDING AT GSSF MATCHES.
■ ARTICLE BY CHRIS EDWARDS ■ PHOTOS BY ANDRE M. DALL’AU
I
n succeeding at any endeavor, a sensible and highly safety is of paramount
recommended task to undertake would be to practice the importance. Triple check that
anticipated activity. Becoming a skilled marksman is no you have no ammunition in
exception to this, and that means time spent punching your gun or in your practice
holes in targets. GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation area, and even then, be sure
(GSSF) matches are a great way to do just that, and they that you’re aiming your empty
provide great entertainment at the same time. To get the firearm at a safe backstop.
most out of these shoots, you’ll need to focus on three things: Some competitors will
mental preparation, fundamental practice through dry-firing, create elaborate setups of
and perfecting basic firing dills. miniature targets for their
dry-fire practice sessions,
THE MENTAL GAME and if you are so inclined,
A cursory review of sports psychology theory reveals that that’s perfectly acceptable. Practice can pay off
positive thinking or visualization is important to success for the Or you can tape a piece of big, on occasion!
task at hand. When it comes to shooting, many top competitors printer paper with a hand-
will visualize how they’ll complete their run through a stage drawn bull’s-eye on it to the wall of your choice. As far as the
or shooting a particular string of fire—which target will they actual dry-firing goes, one does not have to have hours-long
address first, when should they perform a reload, etc. GSSF sessions. Truly, a few minutes of practicing good habits
matches, being simplistic in design, require a less engineered can yield results. Pick a spot on a safe surface and practice
approach. In other words, keep it as simple as possible. bringing up your (empty) GLOCK from a ready position to see
Before the match, in a quiet place, run the entire match day that the sights are properly aligned on the place you’d want
through your head. See yourself arriving at the match, safely to hit. Now manipulate the trigger without disturbing your
retrieving your equipment and ammunition, and running through sight picture. Repeat perhaps 10 times, maybe two or three
the courses of fire. If you are new to the game, come a bit early times a week. The benefits will be readily apparent.
and watch how others run the stages. Then, as it’s your turn on
the line and before the start signal, think through a “good” run— LIVE CONFIRMATION
and do this regardless of your skill level. When I’m shooting Dry-firing is a great and cheap way to practice, but you
GSSF matches, I work to clear my mind of distractions by still need live-fire work. Again, for shooting GSSF matches,
focusing on just two basics: a clear front sight superimposed on keep it simple and look to reinforce good skills at first. Place
the target and smooth trigger manipulation. a paper target at 5 yards initially, then shoot one or two
rounds. When those rounds reliably go where you want them,
TEACH THE MIND, TEACH THE BODY add distance. Remember, in GSSF, accuracy is important—
Dry-firing is the safe manipulation of a firearm without live just as it is with so many things life. Practice smarter, not
ammunition present. To do this kind of practice successfully, harder, and you’ll find success.
34 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
GLOCK SPORT
SHOOTING FOUNDATION’S
INDOOR LEAGUE SERIES
FOR SHOOTERS AND RANGES ALIKE, GETTING INVOLVED IN GLOCK’S
COMPETITIVE SERIES IS BOTH EASY AND TERRIFIC FUN.
■ ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE PADGETT
T
he GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) Indoor Have the urge to grab your GLOCK and head to tomorrow’s
League was designed to introduce new shooters to match? Not a problem, because you can even join GSSF at
the shooting sports in a safe, fun, and family-oriented the host range the day of the match.
manner. The GSSF Indoor League gives members When you join GSSF, you’ll receive a membership packet that
of all skill levels more opportunities to shoot than includes a small pistol bag, a welcome letter, your membership
outdoor matches, and currently has more than 200 shooting card, and other promotional fan items. If you join GSSF for two
series per year taking place all across the United States. years or longer (or if you renew your membership) you will also
JAN 4-5 Homestead GLOCK Challenge IV Homestead Training Center shootatc.com 11700 SW 304 St., Homestead, FL 33033; [email protected]
JAN 11-12 The East Ascension GSSF Challenge IV East Ascension Practical Shooters eapsclub.org 9134 S. St. Landry Dr., Gonzales, LA 70737; [email protected]
JAN 25-26 Smokin’ GLOCK Southwest Regional III The Smokin’ Gun Range www.thesmokingunclub.com 970 E. Peppermill Palms Blvd., Littlefield, AZ 86432; [email protected]
FEB 1-2 Volusia County GSSF Match III Volusia County Gun & Hunt Club volusiacountygunclub.com 4846 E. SR 44, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168; [email protected]
FEB 8-9 Charleston GLOCK Challenge X Palmetto Gun Club palmettogunclub.org 761 Summers Dr., Ridgeville, SC 29472; [email protected]
FEB 22-23 Northern Florida Regional Classic VII Talon Range talontraininggroup.com 550 Commerce Blvd Midway, FL 32343; [email protected]
FEB 29-MAR 1 Benton Gun Club GSSF Challenge V Benton Gun Club bentongunclub.org 5522 Mt. Olive Cutoff Road Bauxite, AR 72011 l [email protected]
MARCH 7-8 The Ouachita Regional Challenge X Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Public Range .opso.net/public-range/ W. Sanitary Landfill Rd., West Monroe, LA 71292; [email protected]
MAR 13-15 River Bend Ballistic Challenge XIII River Bend Gun Club rbgc.org 234-240 River Bend Gun Club Rd., Dawsonville, GA 30534; [email protected]
MAR 14-15 Northern California GLOCK Challenge XII Yolo Sportsmans Association Yolosportsmens.org 24001-25799 Aviation Ave., Davis, CA 95616; [email protected]
MAR 21-22 Delaware State GSSF Challenge V Bridgeville Rifle & Pistol Club bville-rifle-pistol.org 10409 Rifle Range Rd., Bridgeville, DE 19933; [email protected]
MAR 28-29 Sweet Home Alabama GLOCK Challenge VIII Central Alabama Gun Club centralalabamagunclub.com 34791 County Road 2, Shorter, AL 36075; [email protected]
APRIL 4-5 CTA Ballistic Challenge California Tactical Academy ctala.com 6700 Holser Canyon Rd., Piru, CA 93040; [email protected]
APRIL4-5 Table Rock Challenge XIII Burke County Narcotics Task Force N/A 2500 Marsh Trl., Morganton, NC 28655; [email protected]
APRIL 18-19 Gem State Classic VI Nampa Rod & Gun club nragc.com 7990 Bennet Rd., Nampa, ID 83686; [email protected]
APRIL 25-26 Western Wisconsin GLOCK Classic VI Holmen Rod & Gun Club holmenrodandgunclub.com W7503 County Road T, Holmen, WI 54636; [email protected]
APRIL 25-26 Lone Star Classic XXVI Dallas Pistol Club dallaspistolclub.com 1830 W. Belt Line Rd., Carrollton, TX 75006; [email protected]
MAY 2-3 “This is Sparta” Challenge IX World Shooting Complex dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/WSRC 1 Main Event Ln., Sparta, IL 62286; [email protected]
MAY 2-3 Corn Huskers Classic XII Heartland Public Shooting Park grand-island.com 6788 W. Husker Hwy., Alda, NE 68810; [email protected]
MAY 16-17 Northern Lakes Regional Classic XXIX Oakdale Gun Club oakdalegunclub.org 10386 10th St. N., Lake Elmo, MN 55042; [email protected]
MAY 16-17 Music City Shootout X Music City Tactical Shooters mctsclub.com 30 Elk Ridge Rd., Mt. Pleasant, TN 37055; [email protected]
MAY 30-31 Rockcastle Classic VIII Rockcastle Shooting Center rockcastleshootingcenter.com 585 Park Mammoth Rd., Park City, KY 42160; [email protected]
MAY 30-31 Big Sioux Ballistic Challenge IX Big Sioux Rifle & Pistol Club sdshootingsports.org 25951 484th Ave., Valley Springs, SD 57068; [email protected]
JUNE 6-7 GLOCK Fire on the Mountain VI Daisytown Sportsmen’s Club daisytownsportsmensclub.com 198 Fulmer Rd., Johnstown, PA 15904; [email protected]
JUNE 6-7 Beaver State Ballistic Challenge XXV Chehalem Valley Sportsman’s Club cvsc.us 9401 NE Worden Hill Rd., Dundee, OR 97115; [email protected]
JUNE 13-14 Montana GLOCK Classic XV Western Montana F & G Association wmfga.org 101-329 Deer Creek Rd., Missoula, MT 59802; [email protected]
JUNE 13-14 Emerald Coast GLOCK Classic Southern Tactical Range southerntacticalrange.com 4418 Cooper Ln., Holt, FL 32564; [email protected]
JUNE 20-21 Garden State Regional Classic XXVI Central Jersey Rifle & Pistol Club cjrpc.org 161 S. Stump Tavern Rd., Jackson, NJ 08527; [email protected]
JUNE 27-28 ROCK The GLOCK The Dead Zero Shooting Park deadzeroshooting.com 1195 TN-111 Spencer, TN 38585; [email protected]
JULY 11-12 Scarborough Fish & Game Annual GSSF Match III Scarborough Fish & Game Association scarfg.org 21 Fish & Game Ln., Scarborough, ME 04074; [email protected]
JULY 11-12 Couer D’Alene GLOCK Classic Fernan Rod & Gun Club frgc.org 11400 E. Fernan Lake Rd., Couer D’Alene, ID 83814; [email protected]
JULY 18-19 Buckeye State Ballistic Challenge XVIII Ft. Harmar Rifle Club fortharmar.com 3120 Fifteen Mile Creek Rd., Wingett Run, OH 45789; [email protected]
JULY 18-19 The Sunflower State Classic VIII Trigger Guard triggerguardonline.com 313 N. Meridian Rd., Wellington, KS 67152; [email protected]
JULY 25-26 Great Lakes Regional Classic XVI Livingston Gun Club livingstongunclub.org 2406-2412 Hunter Rd., Brighton, MI 48114
JULY 25-26 Pacific Coast Challenge XIV Albany Rifle & Pistol Club arpc.info 29999 Saddle Butte Rd., Shedd, OR 97377; [email protected]
AUG 1-2 Virginia Ballistic Challenge II Triangle Sportsmen’s Club triangleonline.org 770 Triangle Rd., Bluefield, VA 24605; [email protected]
AUG 1-2 Northwestern Regional Classic XXV Jefferson Country Sportsmen’s Assn. jeffersoncountysportsmen.org 112 Gun Club Rd., Port Townsend, WA 98368; [email protected]
AUG 8-9 Magic City GLOCK Challenge V Billings Rod & Gun Club billingsrodandgun.org 2931 Rod & Gun Club Rd., Billings, MT 59106; [email protected]
AUG 8-9 Rocky Mountain Regional Classic XXVI Weld County Fish & Wildlife Range wcfw.org 38980 County Road 51, Eaton, CO 80615; [email protected]
AUG 15-16 Keystone State Ballistic Challenge XXIV Topton Fish & Game Association toptonfga.org 26 Tina Ln., Mertztown, PA 19539; [email protected]
AUG 15-16 Eastern Nebraska GLOCK Classic V Eastern Nebraska Gun Club engc.us 12700 NE-66 (Hwy. 66), Louisville, NE 68037; [email protected]
AUG 22-23 Midwest Regional Classic XXVIV Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club gvshoot.com 4350 E. Academy Rd., Hallsville, MO 65255; [email protected]
AUG 22-23 Northern California Regional Classic XXVII Richmond Rod & Gun Club richmondrodandgun.com 3155 Goodrick Ave., Richmond, CA 94801; [email protected]
AUG 29-30 Twin Tiers Regional Classic VI Pine City Sportsmens Club pinecitysportsmensclub.com 187 Mountain View Dr., Pine City, NY 14871; [email protected]
AUG 29-30 Belton Blast Belton Gun Club beltongunclubinc.wildapricot.org 153 Range Rd., Belton, SC 29627; [email protected]
SEP 18-20 GLOCK Annual Shoot XXVII- Gunny Challenge XVI Civilian Marksmanship Program thecmp.org 4387 Turner Mill Rd., Talladega, AL 35160; [email protected]
SEP 26-27 Badger State Regional Classic XIV Schultz Resort Rod & Gun Club schultzgunclub.com W146 S8025 Schultz Ln., Muskego, WI 53150; [email protected]
OCT 3-4 Showdown at Big Creek IX Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Range mobileso.com 12251 Tanner Williams Rd., Mobile, AL 36608; [email protected]
OCT 10-11 Atomic City GSSF Los Alamos Sportsmans Club la-sc.org Rendija Rd., Los Alamos, NM 87544; [email protected]
OCT 17-18 Bluegrass Regional Classic XXIII Bluegrass Sportsmens League bgslinc.com 2431-2445 Handys Bend Rd., Wilmore, KY 40390; [email protected]
OCT 24-25 Hoosier State Regional Classic XXIII Atlanta Conservation Club atlantaconservationclub.com 29595 Leonard Rd., Atlanta, IN 46031; [email protected]
NOV 7-8 Duel in the Desert XIV Tucson Rifle Club tucsonrifleclub.org 18303 W. Tucson-Ajo Hwy., Tucson, AZ 85735; [email protected]
NOV 7-8 The GLOCK Showdown in Savannah III 17 South Rod & Gun Club 17southrngclub.com 5899 N. Coastal Hwy., Fleming, GA 31309; [email protected]
NOV 14-15 GLOCK West Coast Challenge V Calguns Shooting Sports Association cgssa.org 22100 East Fork Rd., Azusa, CA 91702; [email protected]
DEC 5-6 “Remember the Alamo” Ballistic Challenge XXV Blackhawk Shooting Range blackhawkshootingrange.com 12137-12195 Jarratt Rd., Atascosa, TX 78002; [email protected]
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 37
GLOCK CAREERS
A GATEWAY TO SUCCESS
GLOCK’S PRODUCTS ARE UNRIVALED IN REPUTATION,
BUT IT’S THE PASSION BEHIND THE BRAND THAT ENSURES EVERY
GLOCK OWNER GETS THE MOST OUT OF THEIR HANDGUN.
■ ARTICLE BY ANDRE M. DALL’AU ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLOCK
O
ver 30 years ago, Gaston Glock designed and dealers, ranges, trade shows, and GLOCK Day events, even
produced the revolutionary GLOCK pistol with its dropping by gun shops just to chat. She also handles a number
polymer frame and SAFE-ACTION® System that of special events, including Florida’s S.W.A.T. Round-Up, and
forever changed the international gun industry. various distributor shows. She noted, “Even though we do
He also created a gateway to success not only for not sell dealer-direct, we show and educate people about our
shooters, but for the team of people who produce his firearms. products and take orders for the distributors.”
While GLOCK uses a proprietary blend of complex alloys, As she travels, Megan spends time mapping out stores and
steel, and polymers, all shaped by state-of-the-art, computer- ranges to visit. “I make sure that dealers, especially if they are
controlled machines to make the world’s best firearm, the most brand new, have my contact information so they have a person
valued element at GLOCK, Inc., is the hundreds of workers who to talk to for anything they might need or questions they have.”
comprise the GLOCK family. Whether they are on the loading Megan highlighted a real advantage for retailers: the
dock, in an office, are skilled technicians or machinists on the GLOCK Stocking Dealer Program. “Part of the Stocking Dealer
shop floor, product handlers packing and shipping pistols to Program,” she explained, “is that each dealer receives a
waiting customers, instructors at the GLOCK training facility, or promotional package of shirts, hats, and other items, as well
sales managers working one-on-one with customers, they are as a seat in a GLOCK Armorer’s Course for one employee and
the heart and soul of GLOCK. Let’s meet a few: a listing on the GLOCK Dealer Locator.” I asked Megan what is
required for a dealer to participate and she answered, “All that
MEGAN WEST—BEST FRIEND TO is needed is a yearly first-quarter purchase of a minimum of five
RANGES AND RETAILERS and a maximum of 20 pistols to qualify.”
As one of GLOCK’s Commercial Sales Megan added that any range open to the public can get a
Managers, Megan West reaches out to similar deal, so every year they can have new GLOCK pistols
commercial customers to ensure they are as rentals. And there’s an added advantage when they get
being provided the highest quality product involved in the indoor GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation
and the world’s best self-defense weapon. (GSSF) league. Megan said, “A great marriage is when indoor
Megan travels most days of the week to ranges also sign up for the GSSF Indoor League where they
38 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 39
percent of the agencies in the Southeast, our large number of The GLOCK USA facility has grown into several buildings
including a separate training facility that also houses the
representatives serving smaller numbers of customers provides GSSF administration.
our desired world-class customer service.”
Deon explained the real basis for his and GLOCK’s success
is that “I really don’t have to sell the product. The legendary
reliability, accuracy, and ease of maintenance of the GLOCK
pistol does all the selling for me and allows me to concentrate
on our focus of ensuring great service after the sale. No other
gun company can provide that as GLOCK does.” I asked him
how often he gets a chance to visit his office. He just smiled
and pointed to his Ford F150 pickup: “That’s my office!”
CARLIE WINEGAR—A
WORLDWIDE FORCE
Energetic and enthusiastic, Carlie
Winegar was a sworn federal wildlife
Every GLOCK product is packaged by dedicated GLOCK
officer before coming to GLOCK. Now she
employees who are committed to the company’s mission.
is GLOCK’s Export Manager, handling
international sales involving contracts,
commerce, licensing, and delivery of “The most valuable and valued
products worldwide, with those contracts
being some of the largest for the company. element at GLOCK USA is
“I wanted to work with a like-minded [law enforcement]
company and found that people here feel the same way and
the hundreds of workers who
do so much to benefit the military and law enforcement. I enjoy
working with a company that has its heart in the right place,
comprise the GLOCK family.”
and we really do support those defenders who carry our pistols. opportunity for growth, and I am thankful to be here.”
I really believe in our mission.” She added the observation that I asked him how others could join the GLOCK family. Josh
“GLOCK has hundreds of employees, but it actually has the feel replied, “I saw the job posting on social media and submitted
of a small company, because I am free to interact with anyone my application, so my advice is to look at our GLOCK USA
in any other department, making solving problems and handling website (https://us.glock.com/en/glock-careers) to see what
issues simple and uncomplicated, because everyone really jobs are available, apply, and then follow up. I know it is hard to
talks to each other. We all are on the same team and know that be persistent, but I kept in touch and I think it helped.”
the success of the mission is what is important.”
ONE FAMILY BEHIND THE MISSION
JOSH ALISE—YOUNG Many of the GLOCK employees are law enforcement
ENTHUSIASM WORKS MAGIC professionals, veterans, or family members of veterans. Not
One of the newest members of the only can they relate to operators, warriors, and defenders, like
GLOCK family is Josh Alise, who was hired everyone at GLOCK, they are committed to the manufacture
as a Marketing Associate and handles a and delivery of the best, most reliable firearms that can be
variety of tasks including dealing with more used with confidence. Whether they are in engineering, testing,
than a thousand pistol donation certificates manufacturing, assembling, or shipping, every member of the
a year from organizations and GSSF GLOCK family knows that each pistol that leaves the plant
competitions. Fresh out of college, with represents the potential to save the life of a friend, fellow service
his first day at GLOCK the day after his graduation, Josh has member, or sometimes their sons and daughters. As a result,
brought with him an eagerness to learn and provide GLOCK with they take their responsibility seriously and know that the quality
his best efforts. Of coming on-board with GLOCK, he said, “I work they do and the life-saving tools they produce help their
have loved every minute of it. I have been to places I never have communities, the economy, and our country. They support the
been before and probably would have never had the opportunity mission of GLOCK’s commitment to reliable quality, service after
to go, and I’ve gotten to meet and network with some really the sale, and respect for each employee—and that is why, above
great people. I wanted to start with a company where there is an all else, working for GLOCK is truly a gateway to success.
40 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
T
he GLOCK pistol was revolutionary in its design of GLOCK Professional, Inc., in 2016, one of his goals was
and performance, and Gaston Glock recognized to both provide quality instruction to the division’s Instructors
the possibility that there would be some irrational and test them for shooting mechanics and marksmanship
resistance to such a paradigm changer. The way to competency. This approach led to the creation of a new GLOCK
conquer fear of the unknown is through training and Operator Course.
instruction, thus GLOCK’s Training Division was created. During his first year on the job, Parent introduced his
From a few personnel in the early years of the company to Instructors to the Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations
now more than a dozen instructors, the professionals of GPI have Capable—aka MEU(SOC)—pistol qualification course, telling
extensive real-world experience. Drawing from city, state, and them they would qualify while donning a law enforcement security
federal law enforcement, as well as the United States military, holster and other duty gear. If one is going to talk the talk, Parent
GPI instructors teach both the maintenance (Armorer’s Courses) observed, one should be able to walk the walk.
and usage of GLOCK pistols. As the program progressed, the evaluation and qualification
From the 1980s through the early 2000s, the focus was testing known today as the Operator Standards was developed.
on “training the trainers.” GPI Instructors taught an Instructors Seemingly simple at first glance, the Standards test combat
Workshop, developed primarily for law enforcement agency shooting skills on multiple targets with multiple strings of fire to
instructors. That workshop was often paired with a GLOCK evaluate various critical fundamentals.
Armorer’s Course. In the Instructors Workshop, a balance Two years on, today’s GPI Instructors have posted scores
between speed and accuracy was sought, with stoppage- that would qualify them in the special operations community and
reduction exercises and emergency procedures part of the maintain notable numbers on the Operator Standards. Always
curriculum. Students shot an evaluation course of fire at the looking to further their skills, Instructors attending the latest
course’s conclusion. annual GLOCK Instructors training took part in combat pistol
GPI Instructors themselves would periodically seek outside and rifle/carbine training that focused on the skills necessary to
instruction. However, there was no structured program within effectively transition back and forth between those two weapons.
GLOCK to build and improve its Instructors’ skills. Enter Joseph It is a pleasure to report all qualified and look forward to more
“Willie” Parent, a U.S. Special Operations Marine and highly- shooting. To be brilliant in the basics of combat weapon-craft is
ranked competitive shooter. Taking on the position of Director the objective, and GLOCK Instructors decisively achieve that.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 41
S
ervice. It is a calling that all in law enforcement duty weapon. I know what that gesture means to officers and
understand. For many, that calling extends beyond active their families, and I knew something had to be done.”
duty with their agencies to the work they do after hours. Chad made it his mission to recover and restore the weapon
From off-duty school officers to private security gigs, their for Tiffany. After much research and calling in many favors, he
service extends well beyond their tour. was able to locate and gain possession of the firearm, a GLOCK
Mark McCullers was one of those cops. A Marine Corps 17. By then, the two-year anniversary of Mark’s death was just
veteran, Mark was a military police officer who continued his career two short weeks away.
as a police officer for Southern Methodist University, while also “I reached out to GLOCK in hopes of obtaining the needed
working in private security. In addition to his commitment to law parts to properly restore the weapon,” said Chad Lastname. “I
enforcement, Mark was equally dedicated to his wife, Tiffany, and was quickly contacted by David Teal, the GLOCK representative
their blended family of six children ranging in age from 14 to 23. for my area. After explaining the situation and sending several
It was working his private security job that would forever pictures of the firearm, David said he’d be at my office the next
change the course of Mark’s life and his family’s. On July 5, day with all the needed parts, or, at the very least, he’d ensure
2016, strong storms were rolling across Texas as Mark was the weapon made it to the factory to be quickly repaired.”
performing security duties at a construction site, a job he did to “Thanks to GLOCK’s willingness to help and quick action,”
set extra money aside to purchase a trampoline for his children. said Prda, “I was able to present Tiffany with her husband’s duty
The surge of the storms caused flash-flooding, and sometime weapon, two years to the day she lost him. It was a moment
around 1:30 a.m., Mark realized the waters were rising quickly none of us will ever forget.”
and overtaking his vehicle. He called 9-1-1. Manufacturers like GLOCK make weapons to help protect
It was too late. The swift and strong current swept Mark’s the people who protect our citizens and communities. Mark
car away. McCullers was one of these special people. As one of the best
His vehicle was found 13 hours later during a search in the force, with commendations of service for his dedication
operation, nearly half a mile from the construction site. Mark’s to his city and SMU, he was the embodiment of passion and
body would not be recovered for six more weeks. dedication. He had immense pride in the badge he wore, but
“I met Tiffany in 2018,” said Title Chad Prda, a fellow police never left the house without telling his wife he loved her. Now,
officer and friend of the McCullers. “She was talking with my wife she has his engraved duty weapon as a piece of him to keep
about the incident and how she was never presented with Mark’s with her forever.
A DEEP-SIX
AND STILL GOING STRONG
I wanted to share that my GLOCK 17 sank in the ocean
when I flipped my kayak. It had been submerged there for five
months when a fisherman found it and surrendered it to local
police department, which then contacted me to pick it up.
Despite all that time in saltwater, the most amazing thing is
it still fired! Sure, there was a little rust and corrosion here and
there, but all in all it’s back to great working condition after a
little clean up. I am just really impressed by how tough GLOCKs
are—and all the more reason we trust our lives with them.—
Corey Jones, GLOCK Assistant National Sales Manager
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 43
CONFIDENCE
ACROSS THE DECADES
WITH FEW GUARANTEES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, OFFICERS CAN TRUST GLOCK.
■ ARTICLE BY SEAN CURTIS
R
eflecting on 20 years in law enforcement, I can from a different manufacturer. I struggled with malfunctions and
only marvel at how far things have come. I wasn’t nearly didn’t make it through firearms qualification. That left
working in the 1970s, but the guys from that time an impression on me. My first seven years on the road I was
were the ones who taught me, the ones who told issued other weapons, but always kept my GLOCK for off-duty.
me how rough it was. Today, I see a lot of that I learned police are a doughty bunch, responding to life-
era’s challenges repeated, amplified, and driven by forces too threatening calls, often to be assaulted by the suspect and the
complex for this peace officer to understand—and it seems victim. I watched the media hail us some days and criticize us
there are fewer things cops can count on now than when I on others. More than anything, though, my education included
started. But there is one thing in my career that has stood the the lesson, over and over, that I wasn’t safe until I got home.
test of time: GLOCK. I rose through the ranks, becoming responsible for other
The first gun I purchased as a young reserve deputy was a deputies. GLOCK was there to see us through S.W.A.T. callouts,
GLOCK 17 Gen1. I really didn’t appreciate what I had at the no-knock warrants, and armed standoffs. Now, years later, I’m
time—but I would learn. At the academy, my issued firearm was an investigator. I’m also a firearms instructor. Given a choice,
44 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
I carry a GLOCK. I have seen them used for two decades. They
are simple, they work reliably, and they are accurate. Plus, over
the years they have only gotten better. Cops are some of the
toughest skeptics you will ever encounter—it’s an occupational
hazard. When we find something that works, we stick with it.
This 2020 Annual has several stories about law enforcement
agencies across the United States that trust GLOCK. There
are also the tales of GLOCK’s International call to duty. Across
the world, roughly 75 percent of police agencies suit up for
every shift and holster a GLOCK. There are few guarantees in
life, even fewer in law enforcement. With a GLOCK Blue Label Corporal Matt Macera of the the Collier County
Sheriff’s Office knows nothing other than
Program to soothe our aching pocketbooks and a rock-solid
center-mass shots. Photo by Frank Steiger
reputation, it’s nice to know GLOCK has our backs.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 45
H
igh above the cool surf and warm sand, just 75 The Santa Cruz Police Department is committed
miles south of San Francisco’s Golden Gate to serving selflessly and compassionately, through
Bridge, lies the city of Santa Cruz. Some will know collaboration and innovation. We will relentlessly
it’s near Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, pursue criminals to protect all lives and the property
but the city is best known for its historic Beach of all within our community. We chose to be transparent
Boardwalk and one of the world’s best seaside amusement and responsive, while striving for excellence.
parks. The Beach Boardwalk draws thousands of tourists each
year to ride the amusement park’s vintage rides, which include But despite the agency’s goals and the city government’s
the 1911 Looff Carousel and the Giant Dipper roller coaster. development of a vibrant center for business, recreation
The city also offers great dining along a historic wharf that and cultural activities, Santa Cruz consistently suffers from
stretches into the Monterey Bay. Pacific Avenue offers vintage property crime and violent crime, ranking it high among the
clothing stores, cafes, and galleries, and the scenic West Cliff medium and large cities in the state for these problems.
Drive reveals stunning views of the shoreline cliffs to wandering Compounding the problem, Santa Cruz also suffers one of the
motorists. The city also offers higher education, as it is the highest homelessness rates in the U.S. A March 2019 article
home to the University of California Santa Cruz. in the Santa Cruz Sentinel stated, “According to ‘The 2017
Protecting this popular seaside city, home to approximately Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress,’ using the
65,000 residents and the thousands of tourists who stroll its area’s most up-to-date homeless statistics, the Santa Cruz-
sidewalks and sun themselves on its beaches each year, is the Watsonville metro area ranked nationally as having the eighth
Santa Cruz Police Department. This agency faces numerous highest number of homeless persons among small cities/metro
community policing challenges while remaining true to its areas. The same study had put the county as 10th highest
mission statement, which says: small-city population in 2015.” Concerning statistics, for sure.
46 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
ANNE ARUNDEL
COUNTY
CHOOSES GLOCK TO SERVE AND PROTECT
THIS BUSY MARYLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT TRUSTS GLOCKS TO THE MEET
THE MANY CHALLENGES OF MODERN LAW ENFORCEMENT HEAD-ON.
ARTICLE BY SEAN CURTIS ■ PHOTOS COURTESY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
E
arly in 2019, Maryland’s Anne Arundel County enforcement. Calls for service range from the most complex
Police Department decided to make a change in city-based incident you can imagine to something as quaint as
their issued duty weapons. Being a large agency loose horses in the road.
and working under time constraints, the logistics The county’s police force is closing in on 800 sworn officers
involved were daunting. One of the department’s who dedicate themselves to protecting citizens and enforcing
requirements for the upgrade was having a weapons system the laws across four districts laid out in cardinal directions
that included options in sizing without limiting interoperability from a centrally-located hub. Specialized support comes from
between officers. The department had used other handgun its Criminal Investigations Division, full-time S.W.A.T., Fatal
brands for 20 years, but this time the nod went to GLOCK—and Overdose Unit, Homeland Security, Community Affairs, and
Anne Arundel’s officers couldn’t be happier. Internal Affairs.
Anne Arundel County is located in the middle of Maryland,
south of Baltimore and just east of Washington, D.C. While “The department had used other
only 588 square miles, the county is densely packed with a
resident population of around 600,000 citizens and a transient handgun brands for 20 years,
daily population of vacationers and commuters, including
many government officials, numbering in the millions. Critical
but this time the nod went to
infrastructure in the county, such as the National Security GLOCK—and Anne Arundel’s
Agency, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and Baltimore/Washington
International Airport, also present myriad challenges for law officers couldn’t be happier.”
48 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
THE TRANSITION
Schultz said that when working with GLOCK, the depart-
ment experienced an extremely fast turnaround. The determi-
nation to change handguns was made in January 2019, and
by May 5th the transition was complete. Even more impressive?
Within 45 days of receiving the new GLOCKs, the academy had
issued them and qualified everyone—everyone.
The Lieutenant made some interesting observations as the
switch was taking place. He said nearly 750 officers qualified
on their new GLOCKs. Out of that number, only one officer—
one!—failed to qualify the first time out of the gate with the new
firearm. Schultz emphasized that he had witnessed transitions
in the past, but to have only one out of 750 not qualify on the
first attempt was unheard of. Adding to that, many officers’
scores went up as much as 20 percent when GLOCKs were
placed in their hands.
Schultz described a few factors that likely contributed to
this “marked increase” in performance: the consistent trigger;
the AmeriGlo BOLD sights; and the grip. He also noted the
transition from .40 AUTO to 9X19 as a factor allowing for more
control over recoil.
I asked the Lieutenant how the agency was fixed for
armorers. Though a few were on staff, with the new purchase,
GLOCK provided Anne Arundel with training for additional Police agencies must equip a diverse group
armorers. “GLOCK’s service has been impeccable,” Schultz of officers these days. The Gen5 GLOCKs’
said, noting that the department will eventually have around 15 interchangeable backstraps allow each officer
to customize the grip for a personalized fit.
certified armorers on hand.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 49
I
n the middle of the 19th century, when Carolinians took a Low Country via a network of cameras that blanket the town,
train from Charleston to Savannah, they stopped at what making it virtually impossible to commit a crime in public
was known as Gopher Hill, the highest point between the without detection. As a result, most of the law enforcement
two cities. As part of General William Sherman’s campaign issues in the local area are crimes against property, usually
during the Civil War, it was the site of the Battle of Honey related to drugs. Still, Ridgeland has provided its officers
Hill, where part of his army was defeated trying to cut the thorough training and the best equipment, including the new
Charleston-to-Savannah railway. The battle actually delayed G45 9X19 pistol, as well as the GLOCK 42 .380 AUTO as a
Sherman’s “March to Sea.” Later, that “High Point of the Low backup and off-duty pistol.
Country” community was incorporated as the Town of Ridgeland, Many consider the G42 was the real genesis of the Gen5
to be known as the “gateway” to the historic and fertile South improvements that have made the GLOCK an even better, more
Carolina Low Country. reliable and more accurate pistol than previous generations.
With just over 4,000 residents, Ridgeland boasts small- An inter-departmental memo to Ridgeland P.D.’s Chief,
town charm and a business-friendly environment, as well as Lieutenant Joseph Ginn, who expended hundreds of rounds
one of the most forward-thinking and well-prepared police in a thorough evaluation of the G42 shooting from various
forces in South Carolina. The Ridgeland Police Department was positions, with different grips, and in both slow- and rapid-fire
the first agency to adopt the GLOCK 45 pistol. drills, noted that he “was unable to get a malfunction from the
Ridgeland P.D. submitted the order within minutes of the weapon, even when I tried by ‘limp-wristing’ the weapon or by
G45 being first offered for sale. The reason was simple: The new firing the weapon numerous times in rapid succession.” Also
sidearm, with its compact slide, full-size frame, and all the benefits documented was the accuracy of the GLOCK. “I first attempted
of a Gen5 model, represented the apex of GLOCK design. to fire slowly. I was able to obtain a 13-shot group at about 1.5
Under the leadership of Chief Richard V. Woods, the inches at 20 yards. By this time, I had fired over 100 rounds;
Ridgeland Police Department has improved the safety of the my hands were not fatigued at all.” His strong, empirically-
50 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 51
S
ituated on the mostly rural, west-central part of The department chose three models for the transition,
New Hampshire, between the base of the White the GLOCK 17 Gen5, GLOCK 45, and GLOCK 43X, all
Mountains and the Connecticut River, the County chambered in 9X19.
of Grafton is home to nearly 100,000 residents. “We had to look at quality, price, and, most importantly,
Add to that the annual influx of visitors, travelers, the ability to adequately train our staff to meet established
and tourists, and the number of people the County Sheriff is standards and being able to defend ourselves or a third party
responsible for protecting can exceed a half-million per year. from serious injury or death. GLOCK clearly stood out from
Recently the Grafton County Sheriff’s office made the decision all the rest, and my department firearms instructors were in
to issue GLOCK pistols exclusively as the duty weapon for its complete agreement,” said Stiegler. “Our deputies can select
full-time and reserve deputies. the G17 or G45 as their duty gun, while my undercover guys
Grafton County Sheriff’s Office has 18 communications use the G43X.”
specialists who handle dispatching “red light” (EMS and police) The new GLOCK 45 9X19 pistol is based on the
calls for 60 agencies both in New Hampshire and across the enhancements found in the GLOCK Gen5 series of pistols,
river in Vermont. The Sheriff’s Office also includes an Operations including features developed to meet the requirements
Department with about 25 full- and part-time uniformed deputies, of a military solicitation. The G45 has a flared magazine
and a Criminal Investigation Division with about a half-dozen well, GLOCK Marksman Barrel (GMB), front serrations on
personnel who specialize in digital forensic analysis—extraction a compact slide, an ambidextrous slide-stop lever, and a
of evidence from computers and technology—plus 12 sworn full-size frame on which finger grooves have been eliminated.
deputies for court security operations. With the full-size G17 also available, uniformed officers can
The newly elected Grafton County Sheriff, Jeff Stiegler, who choose the firearm that best fits their needs.
has over 25 years in New Hampshire law enforcement and
more than six years as a Police Chief in the neighboring state of
Vermont, noted that his new agency had aging service firearms “GLOCK is so far ahead of the
that needed replacement. The choice to go GLOCK was made
after talking with his firearms instructors. “I had chosen GLOCK
curve for training that it lets us
as our issued service weapon in my previous position as Chief
of Police, and I had been issued a GLOCK for more than half of
know we have adopted a very
my career, so it was the most logical choice,” Stiegler stated. robust system, not just a firearm.”
52 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
The G43X chosen for Grafton County’s undercover officers of GLOCK to pair these Blue Guns with training by expert
features a slimline single-stack grip frame with the length of instructors, Stiegler said, “GLOCK is so far ahead of the curve
the GLOCK 19 that allows for 10-round magazines. The same for training that it lets us know we have adopted a very robust
shorter slide found on the GLOCK 43 has front serrations and system, not just a firearm.
a double recoil spring. “The quality of GLOCK speaks for itself. When we exam-
“Even though I started with revolvers and have carried a ined value [we saw that] GLOCK provides a phenomenal
variety of pistols on my hip, I have always been a GLOCK guy,” product for the cost. In short, GLOCK is way ahead compared
said Stiegler. “It is one of the best weapons going, because to others, and this transition will enable us to meet our
it is just so simple. They always work, are extremely reliable, operational and training needs for years to come.
competitively priced, [and backed] with great service.” “I can’t say enough good things about GLOCK,” the Sheriff
Stiegler noted that GLOCK’s post-sale service was added. “Thank you for providing all of law enforcement with
exceptional. “GLOCK runs Armorer’s Courses all the time at one of the tools we need to keep our communities safe.”
locations all around here, so my guys can stay proficient. That
way they can make sure the guns are in the best working order.”
When Deputy Cody Mackay is called upon to defend himself or
With the benefit of being able to apply the modular another within Grafton County, Chief Stiegler knows the GLOCK
backstraps to the G45 and G17, both models are adaptable pistols he selected will provide excellent reliability and accuracy.
to each shooter’s hands while delivering the increased
effectiveness and overall utility of today’s 9X19 round. I asked
the Sheriff how that helped his department. He replied, “We
needed to have uniformity in training, but with different sizes
of people and the ability to train to ensure the best shot
placement, the GLOCK pistols and 9X19 round made the most
sense. The 9X19 is an easier caliber to train with, especially
since we get a lot of recruits who have never fired a weapon
before.”
“To me, shot placement is the key,” he added, “[but] the
long and the short of it is that you have to be prepared and
confident. GLOCK helps to provide that.”
Sheriff Stiegler is looking to GLOCK for additional resources
his officers can use. “We plan to get the GLOCK Blue Guns
[training pistols] for force-on-force training, because there is
nothing better. I can’t say enough about the usefulness and
practicality of that kind of training. It really makes people learn
how to not make mistakes, what happens when you do—that
you may get hurt—and it really builds confidence.”
The GLOCK Blue Gun training pistols enable reality-based
tactical operations training using pistols identical to carry
weapons but capable only of cycling and discharging color-
marking or plastic training simmunitions. With the ability
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 53
GLOCK PASSES
CLEARWATER P.D. TORTURE TEST
AFTER STRENUOUS TESTING, GLOCK COMES OUT ON TOP.
■ ARTICLE BY SEAN CURTIS ■ PHOTOS COURTESY CLEARWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT
D
etective Rob Beruvides was in the midst of different companies were considered. The agency did not want
assisting with the conversion of the Clearwater bias in the testing. To avoid doing so, Detective Beruvides
Police Department to GLOCK when I reached out submitted a plan for a two-day test encompassing multiple
to him in July 2019. I’d heard he and the agency data points that could be measured from the perspectives
had conducted exhaustive testing before they of nine officers from different assignments and experience
committed to making the switch, and I wanted to find out what levels. Those officers were to test the different bid firearms
methods they’d used in their testing protocols and how the as a committee. Both .40 AUTO and 9X19 pistols were to be
results were reached. evaluated, and one of the pistols included in the first-round
Beruvides is a veteran officer who has served in many testing was a GLOCK 17 Gen5.
roles over his 25-year career. Throughout his tour, he’s held
a high respect for GLOCK. The department, over 100 years
old, was steeped in tradition and had been served by another
manufacturer for more than 25 years. The agency tapped “When cops draw their
Detective Beruvides, a 25-year veteran officer, to lead a testing
and evaluation process that would identify the duty firearm for the
weapons, it is in defense
Clearwater Police Department. of their lives or the lives of
GOOD READING others. All hyperbole gets
Recently, the agency came to a crossroads, one that made
it clear its officers needed to make a change to a different
thrown to the wind and
sidearm. True to government standards, multiple bids from marketing holds no sway.”
54 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
All nine shooters fired weapons from four manufacturers THIS AGENCY TRUSTS GLOCK
in both calibers, collecting accuracy data for later analysis as Detective Beruvides polled the nine shooters after all the
they did so. The last test involved natural firing from multiple testing was completed. There were eight votes for the G45
distances of 7, 15, and 25 yards while using ball ammo and the and one for the G17. A wide array of officers—petite and large,
officers’ chosen duty ammunition. When the dust settled, data inexperienced and competitive shooters—had, across the board,
was analyzed, and feedback from the officers specific to how they chosen GLOCK.
wanted a new firearm to perform on the job considered, the nine Cops are a particular lot. They have expectations about
had narrowed the field to three guns, all in 9X19 and including the performance. When they draw their weapons, it is in defense of
G17 Gen5. their lives or the lives of others. All hyperbole gets thrown to the
While testing was being conducted, Detective Beruvides came wind and marketing
upon an article about the GLOCK 19X, followed by another article holds no sway.
on the GLOCK 45. He knew the G45 had been geared toward Clearwater P.D.
law enforcement use, and after reading the two articles suggested tapped the G45 for
the agency admit the pistol to the testing process, despite being its transition. I spoke
midway completed. His argument for inclusion was compelling, with the Detective
and a G45 fresh from GLOCK was put through the two tests the just after he had
others had already undergone. It succeeded in knocking out of gotten everyone
contention one of the other pistols in the committee’s narrowed- through their
down field—and that’s when things got interesting. change in sidearm
and subsequent
THE GAUNTLET qualifications. He
There is little doubt how much impact YouTube has had on the said everyone was
firearms industry. With huge bandwidth and the ability to reach raving about the
millions of fans, a number of firearm reviewers have garnered GLOCKs, adding that
impressive followings. One of these is Tim Harmsen of the Military in every course of fire
Arms Channel. Harmsen conducts a pretty rough test on guns he’d had one or two
when he’s reviewing them, a test he’s dubbed “The Gauntlet.” officers tell him they’d
Having viewed Harmsen’s testing procedures, Beruvides shot much better
thought duplicating them would make a great final stage for the with the G45. Some
department’s final field. even told him, “I
To begin this last test, the three finalists were submerged in was an okay shooter Detective Beruvides led the nine-officer
water. They were then removed from the water and made to fire before, but I’m a panel that torture-tested several
handguns for Clearwater P.D.’s transition.
10 rounds. Why a water test? Detective Beruvides emphasized great shooter now.”
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 55
GLOCK SERVES
IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
THE DEPUTIES OF COLLIER COUNTY
HAVE A CHOICE OF DUTY WEAPONS—MOST CHOOSE GLOCK.
■ ARTICLE BY SEAN CURTIS ■ PHOTOS BY FRANK STEIGER
T
he Collier County than either Delaware or Rhode Island. Roughly half of that area
Sheriff’s Office is the Everglades and agricultural land, and he said his agency
is a large law responds to calls for service in these areas on a regular basis.
enforcement Conversely, the other half of the county is a large, coastal, urban
agency in setting. This means his department has to be diverse in its
southwest Florida. With response capabilities, utilizing air assets and a marine unit that
nearly 1,000 sworn officers, includes swamp buggies, airboats, and more other watercraft.
some might consider the Rambosk said his office serves roughly 378,000
notion of giving employees constituents, with the addition of 100,000 to 130,000 seasonal
a choice of their firearm visitors pushing their in-season population to a half-million.
a bit foreign. But despite He cited growth as the major reason behind law enforcement
arguments for uniformity response trends in his jurisdiction and reported annual call
and interchangeability, this volume as being just under a half-million per year.
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk agency offers its deputies Between the Everglades swamps, flooding, hurricanes,
Photo Courtesy Collier County
a choice. Notably, most of and the ocean and beach environment, it’s not unusual for
Sherrif’s Office
them choose GLOCK. deputies to get wet during shifts. Rambosk, who has been in law
enforcement for more than 40 years, has used many different
THE AGENCY AND ITS MISSION weapons in his career. He said he has never given a second
I spoke with Sheriff Kevin Rambosk about his office and the thought to the way the environment might affect GLOCKs.
particular challenges they face. The Sheriff said one challenge is The Sheriff noted how important it was to allow deputies to
the sheer size of the county. At 2,305 square miles, it is bigger choose their sidearm. He said it’s one thing if you have a small
56 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
PUERTO RICO’S
PORTS AUTHORITY
POLICE AND THEIR GLOCKS
WHETHER BY FOOT, VEHICLE, OR WATERCRAFT, THIS ISLAND’S GATEWAY
OFFICERS TRUST GLOCK TO KEEP THEM AND THEIR CITIZENS SAFE.
■ ARTICLE BY DONALD J. MIHALEK ■ PHOTOS BY OFFICER EDGAR ALEJANDRO
P
uerto Rico is a U.S. territory that has been plagued The importance of this department’s work can’t be
by natural disasters and high crime. Throughout understated, as it keeps cruise ships, planes, and cargo safe,
its history, crime has been a constant issue and allowing the island’s economy to progress. When tragedy
the law enforcement community has been the occurs, this department is also responsible for ensuring critical
territory’s only means of resistance. aid can get onto the island, and it is the first to address any
As a tourist destination, the island has struggled to en- crisis at one of its ports.
sure visitors traveling in and out of its airports and seaports
are safe. This challenge led the Puerto Rico Ports Authority UPGRADING TO THE GLOCK 17 GEN5
(PRPA)—Autoridad de los Puertos—a government-owned The PRPA Police are the first law enforcement or
corporation charged with developing, operating, and over- government agency on the island to upgrade to the newest
seeing all seaports and airports in Puerto Rico, to create its GLOCK Generation 5 pistols, chosing the GLOCK 17 Gen5 in
own police department. 9X19. This pistol continues the proud tradition of GLOCK being
a standard duty weapon for law enforcement agencies around
PUERTO RICO PORTS AUTHORITY POLICE the world, but it’s the Gen5 enhancements that sold the PRPA.
The PRPA Police ranks are comprised of 60 officers who The new frame design of the G17 Gen5 eliminates the
ensure all ports and airports under their management are safe finger grooves and includes interchangeable backstraps,
for the thousands of passengers that transit through every day. both of which make it easy for users to customize their grip.
The force conducts patrols on foot, via vehicle, and by boat, The pistol’s flared magwell and a cutout at the front of the
underscoring the need for a solid weapon that can handle such frame allow for more speed during reloading, important in
different environments. Additionally, the department regularly situations where fractions of a second count. The reversible
conducts security details for incoming high-threat vessels and and enlarged magazine catch also satisfies the need for
aircraft, as well as for travelling VIPs and prisoner transports for speed, and the pistol’s ambidextrous slide stop lever is
those being extradited around the island or to other places. appreciated by both left- and right-handed shooters. Finally,
58 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 59
GLOCK 19:
15 YEARS, THREE BADGES,
AND STILL GOING STRONG
WITH A CAREER SPANNING A QUARTER-CENTURY,
THIS MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TRUSTS ONE
HANDGUN BRAND TO PROTECT HIM AND HIS COMMUNITY.
■ ARTICLE BY CHRISTOPHER EGER
W
ith more than 25 years in law enforcement, Upgrading to a G19 Gen3 pistol in 2004, Breckenridge has
Warren Breckenridge is only on his second continued to carry the new GLOCK in his career, going so far to
GLOCK 19, which he has carried across several attend GLOCK’s Armorer’s Course and Instructor Workshop on
badges and is still going strong. the platform, one that he stands behind. “I’m sold on GLOCK. I
Breckenridge began his lawman journey won’t shoot anything else unless I have to,” he says.
as a sheriff’s deputy in Pike County, Mississippi, in 1994. After Since getting his second GLOCK, Breckenridge has gone on
originally using a revolver, he opted to buy a G19 9X19 out of to work for several years as an instructor for a force-protection
his own pocket and went through the police academy with it. At contractor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and
the time, most of his classmates, who had arrived for training used the pistol in training classes from Virginia to Nevada. He
from agencies across the state, had full-sized handguns, and also continued to carry it as a reserve officer with the Long
Breckenridge says they derided him on his choice of the more Beach and D’Iberville Police Departments when not at work in
compact GLOCK model. In the end, he said, “Not only did I his day job as a Senior Supervisor with the U.S. Department of
qualify, I won the tactical firearms board.” the Air Force.
After carrying his first G19 for six years as a primary sidearm, Over the course of that time, his newest GLOCK has passed
his agency purchased GLOCK 17 models for issue. Breckenridge the 50,000-round mark without hiccups. Other than some springs,
continued to use his compact both as an off-duty gun and as a the only parts he’s changed out were to add a factory extended-
backup. “I took my G19 and strapped it to my vest under my shirt magazine release and slide lock lever, out of personal preference.
as my backup. Since the G17 mags worked in it, I had a backup I “GLOCK’s been around a long time for a specific reason: You
still had extra mags for.” can’t tear them up.”
60 G LO C K A NN UAL 2 0 2 0
W
hen officers have to use their weapons to Fisher’s patrol car. The suspect fumbled
save their own life or the lives of others, a few with the safety before firing two rounds,
critical seconds are going to be reviewed, finely one of which struck the officer’s
scrutinized, and discussed by many people. It passenger side-view mirror.
is crucial for law enforcement to remember, and All of this happened in a flash, and
civilians to understand that, to some degree, you can almost Fisher knew he needed to stop the
predict the outcome of a drawn and fired gun based on two threat. His G19X drawn and aimed, he
factors: how much training that officer has; and the kind of gear focused on the front sight and pressed
they are using. back on the trigger.
This first round struck the suspect, and
THERE’S NO SCRIPT FOR THIS as the man started to go down, Sergeant
Sergeant Seth Fisher had been working for West Virginia’s Fisher sent seven more shots, all of which hit
Ravenswood Police Department for about three years when the suspect.
it happened. He had been promoted through the ranks and
was the lead firearms instructor for his agency. Perhaps just POST-INCIDENT ANALYSIS
as important, he had been a United States Marine for nine I asked the Sergeant how much distance was between him
years prior to starting with the police department. He had been and the suspect when he started firing. His answer was one
a combat instructor, heavily trained in CQB, and, in his own of professional analysis: A post-shoot diagram determined the
words, “spent a lot of time on the range shooting thousands distance to be 27 yards, or 81 feet.
and thousands of pistol and rifle rounds.” He said that towards I asked him about his shooting position. He said he remem-
the end of his military service he’d started using the GLOCK 19. bers his first three or four rounds were fired from the left of his
“That’s where I really started falling in love with it.” open driver’s door, with the following shots from the side of the
One Friday in June 2018, Fisher arrived for shift a little early A-post as he tucked in for cover.
and started working on a break-in case. He told me he was in In the dashcam video, the suspect does not look like he’s
plain clothes at the time and carrying his off-duty weapon, a going to survive. But, Sergeant Fisher’s prompt call to EMS, only
GLOCK 19X. As he worked the break-in, he was flagged down a few minutes away, proved fortuitous to the seriously wounded
by a man who told the Sergeant a vehicle had passed him on suspect. Medics saved his life.
a double-yellow line and it appeared the couple within were Fisher told me the internal investigation of the shooting
fighting. This happens enough in society that cops have a term is complete and his local prosecutor has cleared him of any
for it: rolling DV (domestic violence). wrongdoing. He added that the case had been handled very
Fisher promptly found the car and pulled in behind it. He said professionally by the local sheriff’s office, noting that the dashcam
the suspect vehicle was on a highway exchange known locally video had been extremely helpful in clearing him.
as “the four lanes.” Fisher prepared to stop the vehicle, but as he “The law enforcement community should rally around heros
did so, he saw the passenger door opening. Figuring someone like Sergeant Fisher to promote and uplift the work they all
was getting ready to run, the officer removed his seatbelt in do across this nation,” said Chief Lance B. Morrison of the
preparation for a quick stop and possible foot pursuit. Ravenswood P.D.
He couldn’t have possibly known the passenger had been Of the G19X, Sergeant Fisher said he appreciated the
kidnapped at gunpoint by the driver and at that moment had capacity, stating that though he’d put eight rounds downrange, he
decided to jump out of the vehicle, which was still moving at did not have to reload, and that the gun overall was “reliable, solid.”
some speed. The victim fell to the ground and tumbled. Fisher I said I remembered him telling me his love of GLOCK pistols
hit the brakes, stopping short of the victim, then requested started in the Marine Corps and asked how he liked the weapon
EMS and relayed the stop and details to dispatch. after the incident. He chuckled, the smile on his face evident over
The victim eventually stood up and began to approach the phone, and said, “Even better.”
Sergeant Fisher’s vehicle. Ahead, the suspect vehicle had To be clear, there is no celebration after a law enforcement
pulled over and stopped. Focusing on the female passenger officer finds it necessary to fire upon someone. Rather, it is the
coming toward him on foot, Fisher could see the driver in sacrosanct intersection of a highly prepared individual, using
the corner of his eye. That driver, later determined to be the an incredibly accurate and reliable weapons system, to stop a
victim’s ex-husband, had a gun in his hand. threat and save lives. The suspect had told his ex-wife she would
The scene unfolded quickly, the driver exiting his car and see him die that day, and he alone is the one who set in motion
running toward the Sergeant. The armed suspect had covered all the events that followed. Thankfully, someone was trained
some 15 to 20 feet when Fisher challenged him: “I’m a police and equipped to stop the man from completing his plans—and
officer. Drop your weapon!” Sergeant Fisher received a letter of commendation from the
The order was not effective. The driver said “No!” and raised President of the United States for his actions.
his pistol to shoot, aiming at his former wife now standing near He carries a GLOCK 21 on duty to this day.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 61
I
n April 2019, GLOCK, Inc., announced that it had been the world-class firearms manufacturer has to offer. The new
awarded the contract to provide U.S. Customs and handguns selected as mainstays for the agency include the
Border Protection (CBP) the newest generation of GLOCK GLOCK 19 Gen5 MOS and the GLOCK 26 Gen5. The agency
pistols for use as the agency’s duty weapons. The task of will also receive the new GLOCK 47, a pistol developed strictly
replacing CBP’s previous handguns was a considerable for this contract and not available outside the agreement. The
undertaking: The agency employs over 45,000 sworn agents GLOCK 47 combines a full-size slide with the GLOCK 45 full-
and officers tasked with protecting the nation’s borders and size frame.
more than 330 ports of entry. A rigorous selection process All three models share certain critical features of importance
included performance testing conducted by the National to law enforcement officials. The match-grade GLOCK
Institute of Justice laboratories. Marksman Barrel (GMB) offers enhanced accuracy, while
Following suit with other federal organizations, CBP will be the flared mag wells make for faster magazine changes. The
completing a transition from .40 AUTO to 9X19 for all of its law CBP selected AmeriGlo BOLD sights to top all three models,
enforcement personnel. Additionally, the CBP’s new contract and these sights greatly aid with sighting and sight picture
with GLOCK has opened the door for the Department of acquisition in various lighting conditions.
Homeland Security to equip its personnel with GLOCK pistols. “This contract provides CBP law enforcement personnel the
The critical nature of defending America’s borders and ports latest in handgun technology and represents our commitment
falls to a dedicated group of people who often face dangerous to providing the highest-quality use-of-force tools and
situations in the course of their duties and rely on accurate and equipment to our law enforcement personnel who defend
reliable firearms to safeguard their lives and the lives of those America’s front line every day,” said CBP Deputy Commissioner
around them. For them, the CBP selected the latest technology Robert E. Perez.
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F
ollowing extensive testing and evaluation, the
Singapore Police Force is ditching the revolvers it
has used for decades in favor of one of the safest
and most modern handguns in the world, the
GLOCK SAFE-ACTION® Pistol.
I
n 2019, IBIS LLC celebrated 25 years as Ukraine’s largest June 1, 2019, Iereshchenko returned to compete in the
firearms and sporting goods retailer. The company employs IBIS GLOCK Cup against 92 other shooters and, with a
more than 600 workers and has 10 retail locations across combined time of 138.73 seconds, once again took home
the country to supply hunters, shooters, and anglers with the top prize, beating second-place finisher Alexander
all the gear and accessories they need. IBIS also publishes Karpov by a full six seconds.
the most successful hunting and shooting magazine in Ukraine, Moving on to July, Iereshchenko traveled once more to Kyiv
manufactures ammunition, and maintains a YouTube channel (a.k.a. Kiev), hoping to maintain his impressive winning streak
that keeps viewers up to date on the latest products. IBIS at the fourth annual GSSF II match. It was not to be, however,
indoor and outdoor ranges offer firearms owners a chance to as Guardian Class shooter Sergey Shevchenko edged out the
shoot recreationally or test their skills among the region’s finest favorite with a combined winning time of 55.71 seconds and
competitors across a number of firearms disciplines. just a single penalty on match day. Iereshchenko took home
IBIS hosts some of the most prestigious shooting the second-place award with a combined time of 58.19, and
competitions in Europe, several of which are the company’s Alexander Karpov continued his own successful year with a
primary events for handgun shooters: the IBIS GLOCK Cup; third-place finish and a combined time of 59.50, which bested
and GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) series the fourth-place finisher by more than four seconds.
matches. As Ukraine’s GLOCK distributor, IBIS began hosting As the high attendance numbers—and terrific competitive
these events in 2016, and by 2017, participation had increased times—show, IBIS GLOCK events have spurred enthusiasm
dramatically: The four GLOCK matches held that year drew in for competitive shooting in Ukraine, including among women
more than 400 competitors total, with the largest individual and youth shooters. There are four primary classes of shooters
match hosting more than 120 shooters. In 2018, IBIS in GLOCK IBIS events: Amateur, Lady, Civilian Guardian, and
increased its number of GLOCK events to five and included Civilian Master. Certain events also offer team competitions,
a steel match, GSSF I and GSSF II, IBIS GLOCK Cup I, and and IBIS and GLOCK are working to encourage more young
IBIS GLOCK Cup II. The largest of those events saw 110 people to compete in these matches.
competitors, with the total number of shooters at 418. The combined efforts of GLOCK and IBIS are paying
The 2019 IBIS GLOCK competition year was only half dividends in Ukraine. Top shooters are afforded an opportunity
over as this article for the GLOCK Annual 2020 was being to compete for prizes, and a whole new generation of Ukrainian
prepared, but it’s clear that enthusiasm for GLOCK events shooters has been drawn to the shooting sports thanks to
is strong. Top competitors are flocking to IBIS events from these events. For those competing internationally or working
around the region. In April of 2019, 120 shooters attended to compete at that level, it’s quite possible you’ll find yourself
the GSSF I competition. Ukranian Master Class shooter Vitaliy shooting against a Ukrainian competitor at your next major
Iereshchenko took first place with a combined time of 56.68 event—and if you are, be prepared. Not only is it a safe bet
seconds across three separate courses of fire. In second was these Ukrainian champions have GLOCKs in their holsters, they
Dennis Rabah with a combined time of 61.10 seconds. On sure know how to shoot them!
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 65
BARBADOS,
A SMALL ISLAND WITH A
BIG PASSION
THIS BIT OF PARADISE IS HOME TO A COMMUNITY
OF DEDICATED SHOOTING SPORTS COMPETITORS.
■ ARTICLE BY SEAN CURTIS ■ PHOTOS BY RODNEY GARNES AND FRANCISCO PILGRIM
T
his past October, a group of shooters gathered
together on the month’s first weekend to compete
in one of the most beautiful settings in the
Caribbean—Barbados. This tiny island, some 166
square miles, is home to the Barbados Rifle and
Pistol Federation, Inc. It is a bastion for the shooting sports,
and one of the jewels in the crown of this island refuge for
firearms is the GLOCK Shoot.
I spoke with Charles Belle, the club’s Vice President, to learn
more about the organization and the GLOCK Shoot. Formed
in 1908 as the Barbados Miniature Rifle Club, the Federation
is one of three shooting clubs that exist on the island today.
At 111 years old, it has helped keep the shooting sports alive
in a place most likely to be billed a vacation destination. The
club has a 1,500-strong membership, all the more remarkable
considering a total island population of around 300,000.
While the organization supports Olympic ISSF, IPSC, and
The first day of the GLOCK Shoot is for invididuals,
law-enforcement shooting, one of its biggest events is the while the second day is all about team competition.
GLOCK Shoot. I asked Belle how the shoot was set up. He
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G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 67
GLOCK CONTINUES TO
GROW IN CANADA
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONSUMERS ALIKE IN AMERICA’S BORDER
PARTNER TO THE NORTH FLOCK TO GLOCK FOR THEIR HANDGUN NEEDS.
■ ARTICLE BY JAMES CASSELLS ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLOCK
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L
ast year, Brazil’s largest state police force, the 22 is by far the most popular sidearm for law enforcement
São Paulo Military Police, set out to select a suitable officers in the United States, and the powerful .40 AUTO
sidearm. After several rounds of grueling testing, round offers plenty of threat-stopping power. Drop-testing
the GLOCK 22 Gen5 was selected as the agency’s has become standard in law enforcement firearm evaluations,
duty weapon. and the GLOCK SAFE-ACTION® system, which utilizes three
The São Paulo Military Police force includes more than independent passive safeties, helped secure GLOCK the top
100,000 personnel who serve an area of almost 100,000 position during the São Paulo Military Police testing. Consisting
square miles within the state of São Paulo. The city of São of a trigger safety, firing pin safety, and drop safety, the GLOCK
Paulo itself, known as Grande São Paulo, is home to over SAFE-ACTION system removes any possibility that the gun will
20 million people and ranks as the twelfth largest city in the discharge when dropped, something that’s a real possibility for
world. Such a large population, and the inevitable crime that officers who might find themselves in a close-quarters struggle.
accompanies it, places high demands on the São Paulo Military The GLOCK 22’s unmatched parts interchangeability also
Police officers, all of whom require superb training, coordination, helped it win the São Paulo tender, thanks to precise machining
and equipment. and thoughtful design, while the pistol’s interchangeable grip
When the São Paulo Military Police set out to replace inserts allow the gun to be custom-fit to any officer. Finally,
its existing sidearms, it developed a rigorous evaluation for the durable nDLC finish means these guns will hold up well to
firearms submitted for consideration. This evaluation included rough handling, high heat, and moisture, all requirements for a
a reliability test that required firing four test pistols to 10,000 service pistol in tropical climates such as São Paulo.
rounds without cleaning or lubrication during the process. The In its historic, first-ever international tender for service
test firearms were also drop-tested from a height of 2 meters sidearms, the São Paulo Military Police have now, through
(6.6 feet) and six different angles—a total of 64 drops—to careful evaluation and extensive testing, verified what U.S. law
simulate being dropped by a horseback-mounted officer and enforcement officers have known for years: That the GLOCK 22
ensure they would not discharge during such an accident. is an utterly reliable, durable, and safe firearm that’s perfectly
Additionally, the agency tested parts interchangeability and suited for the rigors of daily duty. Brazil is the largest country
precision of each of the solicited firearms as part of its review. in Central and South America and, with a population of 208
This was the first time a Brazilian law enforcement agency million people, it is the fifth most populous country in the world.
had conducted an international tender for service pistols that Following the São Paulo agency’s decision to adopt the GLOCK
included a hands-on evaluation. The GLOCK 22 Gen5 won the 22 as its duty weapon, it’s likely other police departments in
tender, beating competing models from SIG Sauer and Beretta. the country will examine the data and choose the GLOCK 22 or
“All tests were implemented in a very transparent and public another GLOCK model as well. GLOCK has always been one
manner, as any interested party could participate in these of the leading manufacturers of sidearms for military and law
tests as observers,” said GLOCK America’s Managing Director enforcement agencies. As the São Paulo tender included one
Patrick Voller. of the most rigorous hands-on evaluations tests performed on
Following the successful bid, GLOCK will provide 5,000 firearms for use by law enforcement, the GLOCK 22’s contract-
GLOCK 22 .40 AUTO pistols to São Paulo’s elite CHOQUE, winning performance is a clear testament to the firearm’s
COE, GATE, and ROTA Special Forces officers. The GLOCK design and manufacturing quality.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 73
NEW MATCH,
TRUSTED GLOCK
A HOBBY COMPETITOR TAKES ON A MATCH DESIGNED
TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPECIALIZED SKILLS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
■ ARTICLE BY MIKE WHITE
I
have been a fan of GLOCK for a long time. I purchased This TPC was my first experience participating in a match
my first GLOCK 22 when I returned from my U.S. Army of this nature. The match was a lot of fun and a humbling
deployment to Iraq in 2004. Since then, I have purchased experience. Due to the nature of TPC being law enforcement
my current GLOCK 19, which I utilize as my duty weapon, and military personnel-based, the match was more focused on
and a GLOCK 43 for off-duty carry. So, I was happy to see shot placement and tactics, which the scoring favored, versus
that GLOCK was one of the many generous sponsors of the being purely time/speed-based. It was a great way to combine
NRA Tactical Police Competition (TPC) I attended, which took training, tactics, and some competitive fun all in one match.
place on March 23, 2019, at the Skip-J Range in Anderson, I was placed in a squad of about 12 guys, a mix of guys from
South Carolina. Before this match, I did have some experience other agencies and several from my agency. I found being with
participating in competitive matches, including a GLOCK competitors of different experience levels to be very beneficial;
Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) match and many 2-Gun some of the men from my agency are part of specialized teams,
competitions in Arizona, where I used my G22 Gen3. I felt I and I wouldn’t normally had the chance to work with them.
had a pretty good grasp on what to expect as far as the rules Although this is an individually-scored match, NRA’s TPC was
of competing, although no prior competition experience was a great chance to learn new tactics and try different strategies
required to attend the TPC. suggested by the more experienced guys I was with.
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SCHOOL OF GLOCK
BOB JONES UNIVERSITY STUDENTS LEARN SKILLS THEY’LL
KEEP FOR LIFE WHILE RACKING UP WINS AT PISTOL COMPETITIONS.
■ ARTICLE BY SCOTT E. MAYER ■ PHOTOS BY BOB JONES UNIVERSITY
A
t Bob Jones University (BJU) in Greenville, South told me that team members had indicated they wanted more
Carolina, Head Shooting Coach Dan Seibert leads experience and began looking at what other action pistol events
his team of Bruins to regular wins on the pistol were available. “A lot of the guys were shooting GLOCKs, so
shooting range. “It’s not a club,” Coach Seibert one of the head coaches said, ‘Hey, why don’t we go to a
tells me of the six men and two women who make GLOCK match?’ and it just kind of took off from there. Our guys
up the team. “You know, there are some schools where the really liked it.”
shooting program is more of a club, but we’re actually part of Today, most Bruin team members shoot GLOCK pistols
the Athletics Department at Bob Jones University.” year-round. GSSF matches make up the bulk of the events in
While many college shooting teams compete in some of which the team competes.
the slower moving or stationary events such as air pistol, this “It has become a major portion of our calendar,” says
university team, which took its first steps in Steel Challenge, Seibert. “Last year, we went to three GLOCK matches in the
shows off its skills at action-packed handgun events, including fall and three in the spring, six total, and that was a lot for us.”
GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) matches. Overall, the team competed in nine matches last year, and in
the Three-Man Team category, Coach Seibert and his Bruins
CAREER GOALS took first place in every GSSF match they attended.
Seibert joined BJU’s shooting program as Assistant Coach
in 2017. According to him, the team originated with students MAKING THE CUT
who were criminal justice majors. They were not looking Seibert takes a proactive attitude toward recruiting new
for a path to the Olympics. Instead, many were getting into team members and looks beyond just criminal justice majors.
fields where they could be staking their lives on their ability Next year, the team will have students who are majoring in
to effectively shoot a handgun and wanted an activity in line everything from business to education, with career plans
with their career paths. Today, the team competes within the ranging from healthcare to wildlife management.
university’s Scholastic Action Shooting Program, which in turn The first thing Seibert looks for in a new recruit is someone
is part of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. with a shooting background. He also says that having prior
“We wanted to expand the program,” says Seibert of how competition experience is a big plus. “Even if they don’t have
the team started shooting more than the the two or three Steel that,” he says, “if they came up in a family who did a lot of
Challenge matches it had been competing in each year. He shooting or hunting, that’s a plus too.”
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G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 77
W
ith a lineage that pre-dates the American A HISTORY LESSON
Revolution, the bold and daring feats The first annual David E. Grange, Jr., Best Ranger
accomplished by the U.S. Army Rangers Competition was held in 1982. Two years before, a
are world-renowned. “Elite” is often used gentleman by the name of Richard A. “Dick” Leandri had
to describe the bunch, but in these modern, established the Chairborne Rangers organization; that
millennial times, that word, sadly, is overused and subsequently group of civilian professionals played a critical role in
cheapened. So, let’s shy away from the clichés and instead getting the event off the ground. Leandri was devoted to
borrow a line from their creed: “I accept the fact that, as a both the Rangers and the competition. In fact, his passion
Ranger, my country expects me to move further, faster, and for the event ran so deep that, in 1998, he traveled to the
fight harder than any other soldier.” The line sheds much light competition against his doctor’s advice because he wanted to
on the depth of a Ranger’s character. be close to his Rangers. He passed away at the competition
For the past 36 years, somewhat quietly, an annual after falling violently ill.
competition has taken place with the goal of identifying The competition’s namesake, General (Ret.) David E.
the best two-man Ranger buddy team in the Army. The Grange, Jr., is a living legend in the Ranger community. After
competitors are mentally prepared to travel more than 60 41 years of service spanning 20 campaigns and three wars,
miles by foot, over 60 hours, to demonstrate their technical Grange was among the first to be inducted into the Ranger
and tactical proficiency. In 2019, 54 Ranger buddy teams met Hall of Fame in 1992, its inaugural year. Today, at age 94,
at the starting line of the competition. In the end, only one team Grange still conducts himself as a true leader in the Ranger
was crowned Best Ranger. community, faithfully attending the event that bears his name.
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BEST RANGER
COMPETITION IS
“WORLD-CLASS”
THANKS TO GLOCK
GLOCK GIVES BACK TO THE ELITE SOLDIERS OF THE U.S. ARMY RANGERS WITH
ITS SUPPORT OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST ENDURANCE COMPETITIONS.
■ ARTICLE BY JEREMIAH MCCARTHY
THE COMPETITION TODAY a weighted litter movement. Then they swam across “Victory
The graded events of the competition change each year to Pond,” conducted another foot movement to execute an Urban
ensure competitors come prepared for anything. Buddy team Assault Course, hopped on a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter,
runs, marksmanship, ruck marches, and day/night orienteering and fast-roped into the range complex to shoot five separate
are all standard fare, while written exams, knot tests, parachute marksmanship events.
jumps, and mystery events help keep things fresh. The field was cut to the top 26 teams at the start of day two,
With the 75th anniversary of D-Day in June 2019, it was and only 16 of the 54 teams that started the competition would
only appropriate that the 2019 Best Ranger Competition was finish on day three. Because there are no planned periods for
held with a World War II theme, for it was on the beaches of sleep during the 60-hour competition, competitors catch cat-
Normandy the Rangers earned their motto, “Rangers, Lead naps when they can.
the Way!” Each of the 33 events in the 2019 competition was
dedicated to a specific World War II battle in which Rangers “Their equipment has to be
fought, and World War II-era weapons were used in some of the
marksmanship events. ‘Ranger-proof,’ so it’s no
Day one of the 2019 competition began with a simple
foot race, but one in which the distance was unknown to the
surprise GLOCK pistols have
competitors, which made it difficult for the soldiers to pace frequently been featured at the
themselves. They’d eventually run 8 miles before immediately
moving onto the next event, an obstacle course, followed by Best Ranger Competition.”
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 79
GLOCK RECOGNIZES
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN
POLICE GAIN GLOCK IN EXCELLENCE AWARD
THIS HIGHLY REGARDED ORGANIZATION WORKS TO PROTECT
THE RIGHTS AND LIVELIHOODS OF WOMEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
AROUND THE WORLD—AND GLOCK IS RIGHT THERE WITH THEM.
■ ARTICLE BY BRAD FITZGERALD ■ PHOTOS COURTESY OF IAWP 2019 ANCHORAGE
G
LOCK is proud to announce its continued support actively campaigns on the hot topics affecting law enforcement
of the International Association of Women throughout the world, including the scourge of human
Police (IAWP; www.iawp.org), the world’s largest trafficking and ending the use of sexual violence in conflict.”
organization devoted to supporting female police The challenges and dangers facing police officers are
officers. Founded in Washington, D.C., in 1915, many, and GLOCK is proud to stand behind the world’s largest
the organization’s first president was Alice Stebbins Wells, organization of female police officers as it promotes diversity
who worked as a Los Angeles police officer beginning in 1910, and provides member support. As a supporter, GLOCK was
making her one of the first female police officers in the country. proud to sponsor the Excellence in Performance Award during
Today, IAWP supports women officers around the globe. IAWP’s 2019 convention, its 57th annual event, which took
The organization’s mission is “to strengthen, unite, and place in Anchorage, Alaska. That award went to Investigator
raise the capacity of women in policing internationally.” To Hsin-Ye Tseng, who works for the Criminal Investigative Bureau,
accomplish that mission, IAWP embraces diversity and Republic of China (Taiwan).
maintains an open and honest relationship with its members, A press release issued by GLOCK and IAWP noted that
listening to them so that it can effect changes in law Investigator Tseng is renowned for her communications skills
enforcement practices and policies that better meet the and her dedication to “providing quality policing service to
needs of female officers. The organization also develops foreigners visiting Taipei.” She is well-regarded as a liaison
resolutions that help improve not only the lives of its members, between her agency and other countries, including the U.K.,
but of women in general around the world, such as working Australia, Thailand, Singapore, and the U.S. She regularly
to eliminate violence against women and preventing and works with interns at the Police University, and in 2017 she
intervening with human trafficking cases. participated in the S.W.A.T. training program delivered by a
Membership in IAWP is not limited to female officers. Since Rapid Action Unit of the Police Nationale in France, the first
1976, the organization has accepted both male and female law female to take that course.
enforcement officers. This has helped to spread IAWP’s important Investigator Tseng is just one of many whom the
message throughout the world’s law enforcement communities. organization works with and support in the promotion of
IAWP publishes Women Police Magazine. According to fairness and justice for both officers and civilians, both of
the magazine’s special centennial issue, “The organization which are critical to moving forward the global effort to improve
now has members in almost 70 countries, provides an women’s rights. GLOCK is proud to support her and all the
authoritative voice on the issues facing policewomen, and other dedicated women of law enforcement around the world.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 81
AMMO FOR YOUR GLOCK IS NOT AS GENERIC AS FUEL FOR YOUR CAR.
■ ARTICLE BY MASSAD AYOOB
T
he purpose of your GLOCK is to fire ammunition,
perhaps in self-defense, but certainly for training and
“Training” and “practice” are not
practice—and there’s the first line of demarcation redundant terms. “Training” is
when it comes to talking about handguns. Defensive
ammunition tends to have an expanding bullet and
preparation for use of the duty
a premium price, while “range ammo” is more affordable ammunition in a potentially
and normally found with a full metal jacket configuration. But
there’s more to it than that, because if your range time is life-threatening emergency.
focused on self-defense skills, you want your practice and
training ammo to duplicate as much as possible the recoil and
“Practice” is repetition of what
point of aim/point of impact coordinates of what is colloquially has been learned in training.”
called the “duty load.”
Note that “training” and “practice” are not redundant
terms in this context. “Training” is preparation for use of the
duty ammunition in a potentially life-threatening emergency.
“Practice” is repetition of what has been learned in training.
The shooter practicing for a match may want to focus on
the lightest, least powerful load allowed that gives the most
accuracy; the shooter repeating drills to hone defensive skills
probably wants more power and won’t find much practical
Frank Steiger Photo
EXPERT ADVICE
F
ew people of my GLOCK 19, GLOCK
know more 43, and GLOCK 43X.
about GLOCKs When everyday
and their ammo training at the range or
than master having a fun family day
shooter Shane Coley, of target practice, there
captain of Team GLOCK. are numerous loads
Speaking about the 9X19, that would provide an
the most popular and enjoyable day at the range.
available semiautomatic A 115-, 124-, 135-, or
pistol round today, he even a 147-grain 9X19
told GLOCK Annual, can all be great loads to
“Generally, for personal-defense loads, the popular bullet weight practice with, and in ball ammo—full-metal jacket—all can be
is going to currently be 124- or 147-grain. Both loads, with a found at reasonable prices.
reliable jacketed hollowpoint bullet, will give great penetration, For competition, Team GLOCK is currently shooting a
expansion, and consistent velocities, while still allowing the 147-grain jacketed hollowpoint in 9X19. It’s a very soft load
shooter to comfortably manage recoil. With defense loads for us to shoot, it has proven to be incredibly accurate, and
usually having a little more powder, causing a hotter load, the has been very reliable in our competition pistols. Whenever we
heavier bullet might be the better choice, as it tends to shoot a have to compete with .40 AUTO, we use a 180-grain jacketed
little softer than the lighter, faster bullet. Try them both out and hollowpoint that is equally as reliable and accurate as our 9X19
see which works best for you. I have seen excellent results out competition setups.
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 83
I
didn’t use to consider myself a GLOCK collector. Then I IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE GLOCK … .
looked in my gun safe. It was easy to see, by the number You may not realize you’re a collector, too—but if you have more
of GLOCK pistols therein, that I was a devout member of than one GLOCK in your safe, you’re a collector. Join the club.
the tribe. Still, was I really a collector? The GLOCK Collectors Association (GCA) was established
The answer is yes, though maybe I’m not a member in in 1995 by three friends who really liked and were interested
the traditional sense of a firearms collector, one who searches in GLOCK pistols. Yet, at the time, little did they know the
for rare models and preserves them in a safe anticipating an
increase in value. I’m more of a GLOCK user. I started off with
a GLOCK 17, and from there it snowballed. Or maybe it was
“People don’t tend to buy
more like a frenzied wildfire. Next, I had to have a long-slide in just one 9X19 GLOCK model
.40 AUTO. Then it was a GLOCK in .45 AUTO—then a second
in .45 AUTO. I competed with GLOCKs, so add those match like the G19. They find a need
pistols, and I have a frame or two I’ve modified for custom
guns. So, it turns out the entire time I’ve been a collector and
to own others like the G43,
I didn’t even know it. G34, and G26. ”
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THE GLOCKS OF
TAC-CON
AT THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TACTICAL CONFERENCE OFFERED
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, GLOCK PISTOLS DOMINATE.
■ ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY MASSAD AYOOB
F
or more than 20 years, the RangeMaster Tactical Having been a regular presenter and student at Tac-Con for
Conference, known to its habitués as “Tac-Con,” has several years now, this writer has seen all manner of defensive
been not only a hub of diverse self-defense training, handguns in play. From snub-nose .38s to long-barrel pistols and
but the site of a challenging, annual self-defense even guns mounting carry optics, all the major manufacturers are
handgun match. Here’s how RangeMaster itself represented in the hands of contestants on the firing line. But one
describes the three-day event: brand seems to dominate: GLOCK.
One reason for this is found in the manifesto posted in the
The Tactical Conference originally began as a major mid-winter Tac-Con section at the RangeMaster website, taccon.info:
indoor pistol match. It started as a major IDPA event in 1998, but
within a couple of years, the format was changed to use more One thing that sets Tac-Con apart from many other
realistic, mannequin-type targets and actual carry gear. national training conferences is that we are 100% focused on
It soon became obvious that the attendees were more self- defensive contexts for private citizens who carry concealed.
defense oriented than purely competitive shooting oriented. We know that competition, sport shooting, and hunting all
Also, a number of self-defense trainers were in attendance. It have tremendous value; but at Tac-Con, our only focus is
occurred to us that if we could have those trainers present blocks personal defense. Every training block is built for average
of instruction during the match, the attendees who were not busy people whose primary goal is to avoid danger whenever
shooting could be learning useful skills. At the same time, the possible and protect themselves and their families if danger
trainers could showcase their teaching skills to an interested ever finds them. The training is all very practical, designed
group of potential students. The Tactical Conference was born! for modern, real-life contexts (so, no flaming helicopters or
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A CHALLENGING MATCH
Since Tac-Con grew out of a match, a challenging
competition has always been a part of this training-focused
event. It was originally called the “Polite Society Match,” a name
originating in a Robert Heinlein quote and popularized in the gun
world by the late Col. Jeff Cooper. That quote read, simply, “An
armed society is a polite society.”
Today the competition is known as “The Defensive Pistol
Multiple Tac-Con winner Gabe White shoots his GLOCK 17
Match,” and its inherent challenge is that the course of fire Gen5 from behind simulated cover, having drawn from an
changes every year—you won’t know what it is ’til you get appendix holster under shirt.
there! You can, however, expect very fast draws, shots from
concealment, difficult targets that include 3-D mannequins that nepotism involved: Lynn always shoots in a squad with the
have to be knocked down with a “heart” or “brain” hit, and some regular competitors, in front of everyone, as we all do. Two
top-tier competitors. others to watch in this category are Gail Pepin, another who
has won High Woman more than once and switches between
CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS her G34 and a G17 Gen3, and Melody Lauer, who took High
At the match, GLOCKs have won more often than any other Woman with a G19 in 2018.
brand. Says Givens, “Year after year, there are more GLOCKs in Another category that draws a crowd of talented GLOCK
the top 10 than any other make.” shooters is Lawman. Over the last three years, each winner
One man to beat every year is multiple winner Gabe White, was shooting a 9X19 GLOCK. In 2017, Lee Weems won with
who was featured in an earlier issue of this publication as the a G17 Gen2, and I came in second with a stock G19 Gen5.
only man before or since to shoot a perfect score—drawing In 2018 it was the reverse, with me taking High Lawman and
from concealment!—on the incredibly demanding Bill Rogers Lee second, each with the same GLOCKs. In 2019, Wayne
Advanced shooting course. He used a nearly all-stock GLOCK Dobbs beat us both for High Lawman (and not for the first time).
34 to accomplish that feat, though he has recently switched to Wayne was shooting a GLOCK 19.
a G17 Gen5. The 2020 Tactical Conference will be held in Dallas, Texas,
GLOCK is popular among the female contestants, too. Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29. Sign up early if
The G17 is the current choice of Lynn Givens, who has been you want to get in! I Hope to see you there.
High Woman at the Tac-Con shoot more often than any other For more information on the 2020 Tactical Confernece,
woman. Lynn, who is one of the busy administrators who keep visit www.eventbrite.com/e/tactical-conference-2020-dallas-
the event going, happens to be Tom’s wife, but there is no tickets-60665750894.
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ATTENDANCE SOARS AT
GLOCK ANNUAL
SHOOT XXVI
FAMILIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND MILITARY VETERANS GATHERED
IN RECORD NUMBERS FOR THE 26TH ANNUAL COMPETITION.
■ ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ANDRE M. DALL’AU
T
he GLOCK Annual Shoot at CMP Talladega, these competitions is on safety and accuracy, while providing
Alabama, comprises several events rolled into a welcoming atmosphere to all. The record-breaking GLOCK
one action-packed weekend. Not only do record- Annual shoot was one of 50 outdoor matches in 2019 that
breaking numbers of men, women, and families awarded prizes both to the winners and to others in random
enjoy competing on the GLOCK Sport Shooting drawings. (GSSF gave away an average of 22 pistols, more
Foundation (GSSF) stages, GLOCK also hosts a Law than two-dozen membership extensions, and over $4,000 in
Enforcement and Veterans Appreciation Day and invites cash prizes and gear per match during 2019.)
GLOCK Matchmeisters to engage in a head-to-head match to
determine who gets their name engraved on the trophy cup as DEFENDERS UNITED IN BATTLE
the winner of the famous “Gunny Challenge.” AND COMPETITION
For the 26th consecutive year, 2019’s GLOCK Annual One essential component of the Annual Shoot weekend
Shoot hosted like-minded, similarly equipped, and equally is the low-key but important Law Enforcement and Veteran’s
experienced GSSF sport shooters at one of the most Appreciation Day celebration. During the year, GLOCK reaches
modern and well-run ranges in the country, the Talladega out to law enforcement and military veterans who not only
Marksmanship Park. And what a shoot it was, with entry defended our nation but suffered injury during their service, and
numbers for 2019’s event besting 2018’s. hosts them at various events, including the Annual Shoot.
GSSF was created in 1991 to offer simple but challenging This year, seven defenders took to the range to shoot their
courses of fire that serve as a gateway into other sport GLOCKs in a friendly competition, one in which they were
shooting endeavors for its participants. The emphasis in able to share their common experiences while relaxing with
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G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 89
We were tied up two and two (out of five strings), and it came
down to one plate. I missed and he didn’t, and Dennis beat me
by one shot and a quarter of a second!” Butch Barton came
in third, while Bruce Braxton took fourth place and went home
with a new GLOCK as his prize. For first place, Kirchhoff was
awarded a $3,000 prize, with $2,000 for second going to
Boone and $1,000 to Barton for third.
As the record-breaking numbers at the 2019 GLOCK Annual
Shoot prove, GSSF is introducing more new people, especially
families and women, to active competition. With its simple and
fun courses of fire, people new to the shooting sports enjoy
that they can show up with a cased GLOCK, ammo, and safety
gear, listen to the range officers, and win the very first time.
But even seasoned GLOCK shooters enjoy the GSSF. Top shot
Kirchhoff said, “I have been in GSSF for 20 years. It is simple
for beginners, but at the level that I am, you have to be fast and
accurate. It is the perfect test of anyone’s handgun skills.”
N
ow in its fifteenth year, the GLOCK “Gunny Challenge”
is a head-to-head matchup of GLOCK “MatchMeisters”
that takes place at the GLOCK Annual shoot. This
meeting of some of the best competitive shooters in the country
shows no sign of waning in popularity. That’s partly due to the
Annual shoot itself, which has historically drawn more shooters
than any other pistol competition in the nation. But it also owes
its field of champions and vast audience of spectators to the
man for which it’s named.
Ermey was discharged from the Marines in 1972 for
medical reasons and labored at a variety of jobs before finding The Gunny (right) at his namesake challenge
his stride playing the iconic Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in used the GLOCK 40 and G43 during competition.
the Vietnam era epic Full Metal Jacket. His portrayal was so
memorable, so powerful, and left such a lasting impression Gunny became nothing short of a household name. Although
that he not only earned a Golden Globe nomination but a we lost Ermey in 2018, the GLOCK Gunny Challenge carries
lasting nickname: “The Gunny.” Ermey soon became the go-to on his name and his legacy of duty, honor, and country.
guy for playing authority figures, menacing tough guys, and Legend says no person is gone if people still speak their
military leaders in more than 70 feature movies. Add to that his name. Thanks to GLOCK’s Annual Gunny Challenge, the
hundreds of episodes of Mail Call, Lock N’ Load with R. Lee memory of “The Gunny” R. Lee Ermey will always be with us.
Ermey, and The Outdoor Channel’s GunnyTime series, and The Semper Fi, Gunny.
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GLOCK honors 2019 Concerns of Police Survivors Benefit GLOCK Supports NRA Whittington Center
Fund. during NRA Annual meeting 2019.
E
ach year, GLOCK supports hundreds of events “GLOCK’s generosity has helped support the leadership
and charitable organizations across the nation training and development of hundreds of American youths
at the local, state, and national levels. GLOCK’s across the country,” said Bill Davis, National Executive
contributions to these programs demonstrate the Director. “GLOCK has been integral in our development
company’s commitment to making a difference. of marksmanship programs here recently, expanding our
The “giving back” philosophy has been an enduring initiative engagement with these young Americans. We sincerely
of GLOCK, and many organizations throughout the nation appreciate their support that goes well beyond just the
benefit each year from GLOCK’s donations, sponsorships, and financial piece.”
scholarships. Here are some highlights from 2019. GLOCK funds go to support various activities of the Young
Marines. Specifically, funds are used to support the annual
YOUNG MARINES leadership academy, the new marksmanship program, and
GLOCK has been a long-time sponsor of the Young Marines various scholarships for Young Marines to attend summer
(youngmarines.com) program, which received $50,000 from programs. Members of Team GLOCK and the GLOCK Sport
GLOCK in 2019. The Young Marines is a youth education and Shooting Foundation have participated in the Young Marines
service program that teaches children the importance of self- Annual Leadership Academy in Oregon the last two years.
confidence, academic achievement, honoring our veterans, Having them come out and spend time with Young Marines
good citizenship, community service, and living a healthy, drug- while doing some familiarization and marksmanship training
free lifestyle. has been an outstanding addition to this event.
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S
cenario-based learning is rapidly becoming There are currently 27 Safety Villages across the U.S. and
the most sought-after form of firearms training. six in Canada, but the Cobb County Safety Village is the first to
Force-on-force courses are filling nationwide as have a dedicated firearms safety house.
concealed carriers and home defense-minded gun “GLOCK has been a fantastic supporter of our mission at
owners pursue safety and problem-solving training the Safety Village. By funding the GLOCK safety house, we can
in the everyday environments in which they live. Strengthening provide an in-depth gun safety program that will reach thousands
home-defense skills in a home-like structure, using inert of kids every year,” says Carter. Construction on the GLOCK
training tools and role-players, is akin to a pilot learning to fly safety house began in September 2019 and it is anticipated that
in a mock cockpit utilizing a flight simulator. it will be ready to receive students in the spring of 2020.
This type of immersive, hands-on learning isn’t just for The plan for the GLOCK safety house, when it comes to
adults. It’s proven to be an excellent method for teaching fire children, will include utilizing inert (non-firing) training guns on
safety, life-safety skills, and, yes, firearms safety to children. which students will learn about and practice the “Hands up
Regarding the latter, GLOCK has partnered with the innovative, and away! Go tell an adult!” safety communication drill should
learning-by-doing educational facility known as the Cobb they find a gun in common household areas. Students will first
County Safety Village in Cobb County, Georgia, to take youth work with local law enforcement officers, who would model
firearms safety education to the next level. and demonstrate these skills and then role-play “I found a
The Cobb County Safety Village Foundation, Inc., a gun” scenarios in a household setting. This kind of scenario-
501(c)3 organization, is an eight-acre miniature town modeled based learning allows kids to learn, rehearse, and troubleshoot
on the landmark architecture of downtown Marietta, Georgia. firearms safety skills in a controlled and safe environment.
It includes a fire station and commercial and residential “We are not here to teach gun handling or how to shoot,”
structures. Each building, sidewalk, intersection, and other explained Carter. “That is the responsibility of the parents. Our
feature on the property can instantly be transformed into a goal is to teach children how to prevent and avoid physical
near-real-life classroom teaching injury prevention and life- contact with a firearm and learn critical communication skills to
saving skills. alert an adult.”
Early in 2019, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners Over 22,000 students experienced the Safety Village
accepted a generous $100,000 donation by GLOCK to build during the 2019 school year, and another 4,000 kids, parents,
and maintain a dedicated firearms safety training house at and seniors participated in the summer Family Fun Safety
the Safety Village. When completed, it will be a 20-foot by Days. Second- and fourth-graders from Cobb County and
30-foot replica home equipped with a kitchen, living room, Marietta also visit the Safety Village once a year to experience
and bedroom. age-appropriate training programs with a professional first
“When children sit in a classroom too long, their attention responder. When it comes to firearms safety, students
span and learning retention deteriorate,” says Allison Carter, learn strategies for what to do should they come across a
the Village’s Director. “Safety skills are best learned and firearm at home, at a friend’s house, or in a public space. For
rehearsed by children and adults in an environment that looks more information on the Cobb County Safety Village, visit
and feels familiar.” cobbcounty.org/public-safety/safety-village.
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T
he shooting sports industry is growing by leaps “Women on Target” program sees thousands of brand-new
and bounds, and much of that growth is directly shooters transform from nervous and fearful to safe and
attributable to thousands of women heading to empowered in these one-day classes. Organizations such as
the range. Mothers, daughters, sisters, and best A Girl & A Gun, The Well Armed Women, and Shoot Like A
friends can be found “making brass” at Ladies’ Night Girl, as well as the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program
and Date Night events, shooting competitively, hunting, and are championing the movement as you’ll see on the following
becoming certified firearms educators. Easily the fastest- pages, .
growing demographic in the shooting sports, women are The impact of this rapidly growing demographic reaches
proving to be a significant influence on market trends, product well beyond the range. Women are now a driving force in the
design, and safety education. evolution of firearms and gear design. The old “shrink-it-and-
According to a recent report by the National Shooting Sports pink-it” mindset of manufacturers—the belief that smaller guns
Foundation, “The face of America’s target shooters is changing. and gear produced in “feminine” colors would be enough to
New target shooters—those who have taken up the sport in satisfy female shooters—has been replaced by intelligent
the last five years—are younger, female, and urban … .” Nancy design and advanced engineering solutions that truly meet
Bacon of Southwick Associates in another study notes that women’s needs.
six-million women hit the range for target shooting in 2016. And Families, too, are discovering the joy of shooting thanks to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016 reported that women the moms and sisters taking those first steps.
accounted for 10 percent of the nation’s hunters, translating to “Every new lady who comes to shoot with us for the first time
1.1 million women donning camo and harvesting game. soon after brings her husband and kids. Safety is crucial, and no
What’s spurred this growth? Many women cite self-defense one appreciates that more than the moms. Now we see whole
as the primary motivation for first picking up a gun. families come to learn and practice together,” says Adam Copp,
“I bought my first gun after a very scary experience with a owner of Howell’s Gun Shop & Indoor Range in Gray, Maine.
coworker,” says Cynthia J. “I needed to get my concealed carry Without a doubt, women are playing an increasingly vital
permit and learn how to both keep myself safe and how to be role in passing on our nation’s greatest pastime to the next
safe with a gun.” generation, and they are the inspiration behind much of the
While self-defense may be the initial reason so many innovation seen in the products produced today. Next time
women become firearms owners, extended participation you’re headed to the range, show this article in the 2020
in the shooting sports quickly follows. Women’s-only GLOCK Annual to your mom, aunt, sister, or best girlfriend and
training programs are thriving nationwide. The NRA’s ask her to go with you. We bet she won’t say no!
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BECOMING AN
OUTDOORS-
GLOCK provides introductory and advanced handgun
WOMAN
skills classes, as well as basic safety workshops, to BOW
participants in the company’s home state of Georgia.
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SHOOT
Shoot Like A Girl’s state-of-the-art mobile range
travels the country bringing safe and friendly
firearms and training to women across the U.S.
LIKE A
GIRL
G LO CK A N N UA L 202 0 97
A
ny parent worthy of the title will attempt to pass
on hard-learned lessons to their offspring. Study
of the animal kingdom reveals that most parents,
though in different times, places, and ways,
will instruct their young on how to survive and
thrive. This can take the form of demonstrating a survival task,
such as hunting, and then supervising the young in their first
attempts. Eventually, the offspring are (hopefully) successful
and move on.
Any number of individuals influence their tribe’s younger
members. From daycare providers, grandparents, and other
close relatives to teachers, sports coaches and their friends’
parents, the more experienced impress hundreds of lessons
If educating your child about self-defense includes the use of firearms,
on our youths as they progress in this world. For many, that
professional instruction on safe and responsible handling should be
includes lessons on self-defense. That’s a tough one for some, considered not only vital but mandatory.
especially parents, but a discussion about the issues related to
personal-defense is one well worth tackling. can start at an early age. The National Rifle Association’s
Eddie Eagle program (eddieeagle.nra.org) has been fielded for
YOUR HEAD UP AND ON A SWIVEL some time and tested positively. It can and should be used to
In his seminal monograph, Principles of Personal Defense, introduce younger individuals to firearms safety. The National
Jeff Cooper, founder of the Modern Technique of handgun Shooting Sports Foundation’s Project ChildSafe website
shooting, lists “awareness” as his first principle in maintaining (projectchildsafe.org) also boasts numerous training resources,
one’s safety. Cooper’s decision to place awareness before including videos that help talk about this subject to children of
anything else makes perfect sense: As he put it, “What you different ages, quizzes, safety kits, and more. Hunter education
don’t know can jolly well kill you!” courses are another good resource, even if you and your
I see this first principle violated all the time. The biggest children don’t intend to hunt. Understanding how to safely
cause these days is the proliferation of smartphones; too many handle and store a firearm for anyone can go a long way toward
folks walk through life with all their focus directed down in front preventing a tragedy.
of them. That’s a pretty poor position for one to be aware of My youngest daughter recently appeared to have short-
what’s going on around them. circuited a situation in which the outcome could have been
How and when do you teach situational awareness to your ugly. Without going into detail, she was aware of a trespasser,
children? It can begin at an early age. Kids learn early on, for confronted him firmly, and the trespasser was deterred. I
instance, not to touch a hot stove or pet a strange dog. A few other credit a “Youth 250” class she attended at Gunsite (gunsite.
examples of teaching situational awareness include: com) for giving her an appreciation of awareness and the
confidence to face trouble. (Of course, having a GLOCK 19 on
• Crossing a street or road. Teach your child to look one her probably assisted too!)
way, then the next, and throw in a question or two about
what can be seen in either direction. IT’S A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION
Like any activity, firearm safety and use benefit from regular
• Walking through a public park or mall, pointing out places
one should not attempt to go without very good reason practice, and making that practice a family affair only enhances
and, perhaps, not without escort (for example, an alleyway the experience. Hold informal target sessions outdoors
or an area sheltered from public view). or work on formal drills at an indoor range. Competitive
shooting should also be in your wheelhouse. There are many
• Never leaving your car while it’s running and never shooting disciplines any shooter can explore, from slow and
leaving the keys in the ignition. Explain to your kids steady NRA-sanctioned bull’s-eye matches, long-range steel
why not following this practice can lead to a carjacking or silhouette, and GLOCK Sport Shooting Foundation matches
an unintended accident. to action-packed 3-Gun events and the fast-paced game of
sporting clays. No matter what gets you excited about shooting
KNOW THE TOOLS AND HOW TO USE THEM and shooting more often, there’s a competition out there for
It cannot be stressed enough that, if firearms are to be part you and your kids. Show them the way—you won’t for a minute
of the plan, professional instruction is vital. Such training, again, be sorry you did.
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