Until recently Glock pistols were viewed as guns for military, law enforcement, personal defense and competitive shooting. While many of these semi-automatic handguns were capable of being used in the field for hunting, most Glock owners never seriously considered them for that purpose. That has now changed with the introduction of the Gen4 MOS (Modular Optic System) pistols. The standout for hunting among the four Glock MOS models is the G40 Gen4 MOS chambered in 10mm Auto.
There are several reasons for the Glock 40 to be viewed as the optimum hunting pistol in the line. Proper fit of the pistol to the shooter’s hand enhances the precision with which bullets can be placed on the target, and the Glock 40 comes with four grip-adapter options to optimize the fit and feel of the gun to the shooter. Two of the adapters feature a beavertail, and the remaining two are molded to follow the original contour of the frame. These adapters are easily installed or removed with an included tool used to negotiate their retention pin in and out of the upper portion of the backstrap. The grip portion of the frame is checkered around its circumference for those with small to medium hands who may not want or need the added dimensions of an adapter. In addition, the reversible magazine catch and the accessory rail on the dust cover are other features that allow a hunter to personalize the pistol for specific needs.
The slide of the Glock 40 MOS is what attracts the immediate attention of the handgun hunter. Located between the rear sight and the ejection port is a 2-inch removable plate that can be replaced with one of four adapters that come with the pistol to accommodate multiple brands of mini reflex sights. Mini reflex sights, such as the Leupold DeltaPoint and Trijicon RMR, offer some distinct advantages over standard open sights in that all you have to do is put the illuminated dot on the target and execute an acceptable trigger pull to hit your target.
That said, the Glock 40’s adjustable open sights are excellent. They feature the longest sight radius of any Glock pistol at 8.19 inches, which provides a high degree of precision sight alignment for accurate shooting. The one downside to the Glock MOS pistols is that the factory sights are not high enough to be used in conjunction with a reflex sight should the optic fail at that critical moment. The good news is that higher aftermarket sights are available should this be a concern.
The barrel length of 6.02 inches is equaled only by the G17L and the G24 in Glock’s line, and it maximizes the velocity produced by the powerful 10mm Auto cartridge. The 10mm, loaded to the original levels of pressure and velocity specified by Norma when it commercially introduced the cartridge in the early 1980s, approaches .41 Magnum ballistics in a similar-length barrel. That power is controlled by a compound recoil-spring system, which makes the Glock 40 the softest-recoiling 10mm pistol that I have had the pleasure of shooting.
One often-overlooked feature that I particularly like is the protrusion on the outer surface of the extractor, which slightly extends from the side of the slide when a round is chambered to act as a loaded-chamber indicator. With a simple sweep of the index finger the hunter can verify the pistol is loaded, leaving nothing to chance when the quarry presents itself. Technically the Glock 40 MOS is a well thought-out and executed piece of hunting equipment.
I tested the pistol on my backyard range, where I was able to chronograph it and evaluate its accuracy potential out to 100 yards. While I consider this type of hunting handgun to be predominantly a 50-yard gun, there are circumstances that may require a shot beyond that distance. The two things I ask when hunting with any firearm are: Can I, with all things considered, hit a 6- to 8-inch kill zone reliably; and will the bullet’s terminal ballistics provide the penetration and expansion necessary to make a clean, ethical kill? My testing showed the Glock 40 MOS can be effective to 100 yards with certain loads, but of course this is highly dependent on the shooter and situation.
I performed the accuracy tests with my two hands resting on a stable surface, similar to how a hunter might rest the pistol from a treestand or ground blind. At 25 yards I used the factory open sights, as they are more than adequate for taking game at that distance. For the 50- and 100-yard tests I installed the dual-illuminated Trijicon RMR, which features an orange, 7-MOA dot. This tiny optic requires no batteries, which is a plus, and the large dot size aids in ranging the target without affecting accuracy. Some may disagree, but the large dot works for me and others who understand its benefits.
To sample a good cross-section of 10mm loads, I tested five types of ammunition and fired three, five-shot groups with each at 25 and 50 yards. The Glock 40 MOS produced an overall group average of 2.68 inches at 25 yards and 4.89 inches at 50 yards—accurate enough for hunting big game at those ranges. Of the loads I tested, Barnes Vor-Tx Handgun 155-grain TAC-XP, HPR 180-grain JHP and SIG Sauer Elite Performance 180-grain FMJ met the accuracy criterion of all shots in 8 inches or less at 100 yards. The others were close but not close enough.
In the 480 rounds I put through the gun during testing, no malfunctions or stoppages occurred. This is a testament to the quality and reliability of the pistol. The Glock G40 Gen4 MOS is an excellent hunting handgun. It is accurate, dependable and has sufficient power to take game cleanly when you do your part.
Technical Specifications:
• Type: semi-automatic pistol
• Caliber: 10mm Auto
• Capacity: 15+1 rnds.
• Barrel: 6.02"; cold hammer-forged; poly-gonal rifling, 6 grooves, 1:9.84" RH twist
• Trigger Pull Weight: 6.5 lbs.
• Sights: adjustable, white-outlined rear notch; fixed front blade w/white dot; slide milled for mounting optics
• Grip: checkered polymer
• Metal Finish: matte-black nitride
• Overall Length: 9.49"
• Weight: 28.15 ozs.
• Accessories: optic-adapter kit w/4 mounting plates, 4 backstrap inserts, 3 magazines, magazine-loading tool, polymer case
• MSRP: $699
