Glock 45 Review: Full Grip, Compact Slide Tradeoffs

The Glock 45 is chambered in 9mm Luger, not .45 caliber. GLOCK’s specifications pair a 4.02-inch barrel with a full-size grip and a standard 17-round magazine, which is a more useful description than the model number alone (GLOCK).

This Glock 45 review is a research-based assessment, not Mike’s personal range test. Its main appeal is room for your hand without the longer slide of some full-size designs, but that grip also deserves careful attention if size is your main concern. Choose it on fit and a supervised evaluation, not a claim that most shooters should have bought it first.

What does this Glock 45 review cover?

The focus is the standard G45 shown on GLOCK’s product page. It is not an assessment of every optics-ready configuration or modified pistol sold under a similar name. Record the exact model and sight arrangement before comparing reviews.

The manufacturer lists 7.44 inches of overall length, 1.34 inches of overall width and 5.47 inches of height including the magazine. Weight is 21.73 ounces without a magazine or 24.48 ounces with an empty magazine (GLOCK specifications).

That distinction avoids a common comparison mistake. A bare-pistol weight and a weight including an empty magazine describe different things. Neither is the weight of every possible equipped, loaded setup.

The product page also lists the Safe Action system, front slide serrations, interchangeable backstraps and an ambidextrous slide-stop lever. The magazine catch is reversible, which isn’t the same as saying every control is simultaneously identical on both sides (GLOCK).

These are features to discuss during familiarization, not a reason to skip it. A person who’s comfortable with another handgun may still need a clear introduction to this one’s controls and manufacturer’s instructions.

What does the full-size grip change?

It changes the fit question. If a smaller grip leaves you uncomfortable, the G45’s full-size grip may deserve a supervised evaluation. If reducing the outline of the pistol is your main priority, shortening the slide doesn’t make that full-size grip disappear.

Andy Rutledge’s published review for Eagle Gun Range praised the larger grip for shooters who want more room, while treating the longer grip as a limitation for concealed carry. Those are his judgments from handling and shooting the pistol, not measurements made by Mike (Rutledge’s review).

Suppose you’re comparing two pistols and one feels comfortable for the first few seconds. That alone doesn’t settle whether you can follow the safe-handling directions comfortably or manage the controls without confusion. Ask an instructor to evaluate the fit with you instead of making adjustments by guesswork.

Don’t turn hand size into a rule about who is allowed to use which pistol. Your reach, comfort and prior experience need to be evaluated together. If something hurts or forces awkward handling, say so before live fire starts.

If you’re new to lessons, review the first-session preparation guide and confirm your equipment plans with the instructor. You don’t need to arrive with a firm purchase decision.

What does independent shooting evidence establish?

Rutledge reported no malfunctions in the G45 examples he shot and described the trigger as his favorite among the Gen 5 examples he had tried. His report also described the pistol as comfortable enough for him, while acknowledging that the grip’s shape wasn’t his ideal (Eagle Gun Range review).

That is useful firsthand evidence from the named reviewer. It isn’t a controlled durability study. The article doesn’t provide a total test-round denominator for the no-malfunction statement, so this review doesn’t invent one.

The same article contains sweeping language calling GLOCK the safest and most reliable pistol. That claim goes beyond the specific experience reported, and it isn’t adopted here. No manufacturer’s name removes the possibility of a defect, a maintenance problem or a handling mistake.

There is also a small specification conflict worth catching. Rutledge’s 2018 article lists 24.98 ounces with an empty magazine, while the current manufacturer page lists 24.48 ounces on that basis; this assessment uses the current manufacturer figure rather than averaging them (Rutledge, GLOCK).

Treat a review’s impressions as questions for your own supervised evaluation. You may prefer a different grip feel or trigger. That doesn’t make either person dishonest; it means the judgment involves a particular shooter, not only the specification sheet.

What should a South Florida lesson help you decide?

Ask for help evaluating fit, understanding the controls and identifying any handling questions before you focus on equipment preferences. Tell the instructor whether you’ve used another handgun and whether you’re bringing your own G45. Don’t assume an instructor has a rental example of the model.

Suburban Protector’s private instruction page welcomes beginners and lists a firearm and protective equipment among the provided items. Ammunition and range fees are additional, so confirm those arrangements rather than treating the lesson description as an all-inclusive equipment purchase.

For Palm Beach County, the page lists indoor instruction locations including Palm Beach Shooting Center in Lake Worth and Shoot Straight in West Palm Beach. For Broward County, it lists Declaration Defense in Pompano Beach and Gun World in Deerfield Beach (private lesson locations).

Pick the location through the booking conversation, not through assumptions about the business’s Boynton Beach base. The actual appointment setting affects travel and what you should bring. Confirm the venue before leaving home.

If noise or first-visit nerves are part of the hesitation, read Shooting Range Anxiety: A Calmer First Lesson. You can ask for a briefing and an agreed pause procedure without turning the session into a test of confidence.

Who should skip the G45 or delay a decision?

Skip it if the full-size grip works against the size requirement you actually have. You don’t need to defend a mismatch because a shorter slide sounds like a compromise. Evaluate the complete object, not one attractive dimension.

Delay the decision if you haven’t yet identified the problem you’re trying to solve. “I want something different” and “I can’t comfortably manage this grip” lead to different conversations. An instructor can help separate unfamiliarity from a genuine equipment-fit issue.

Also pause if you’re assuming a favorable review means your specific pistol needs no inspection or care. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and seek appropriate assistance for anything abnormal. Published reliability reports aren’t warranties about the firearm in your possession.

The useful verdict is narrow: the G45 offers a documented full-grip, shorter-slide arrangement that some shooters appreciate, while asking you to accept the grip’s size. Rutledge’s review illustrates both sides rather than eliminating the tradeoff (published evaluation).

Glock 45 review questions

Is the Glock 45 a .45-caliber pistol?

No. The manufacturer’s G45 specification lists 9mm Luger, also described as 9×19. The model number is not a caliber instruction. Always check the markings and the correct owner’s manual for the specific firearm, and have ammunition questions resolved by a qualified instructor or the manufacturer before use (GLOCK).

Is the Glock 45 a compact pistol?

Calling it compact without qualification can mislead. Its defining combination is a compact-length slide with a full-size grip, and GLOCK lists a height of 5.47 inches including the magazine. Look at the complete dimensions and your own fit needs rather than treating the shorter slide as proof of a small overall package (specifications).

Does the published review prove every G45 is reliable?

No. Andy Rutledge reported no malfunctions in the examples he shot, but his article doesn’t supply a total round count for that statement. His experience is useful evidence, not a population-wide failure rate or a guarantee about your firearm. Keep inspection, appropriate care and safe handling separate from brand reputation (review).

Do I need to own a G45 before booking a lesson?

No. Suburban Protector’s private lesson page says a firearm is provided and welcomes people without experience. Explain that you’re comparing equipment and confirm what is available for your appointment. The service description does not establish that a G45 rental or demonstration model is available on a particular date (private lessons).

Ask for a fit-focused private lesson

If this Glock 45 review leaves you unsure whether the grip suits you, ask Suburban Protector about private instruction. Include the handgun you currently use, any fit or control difficulty, and your preferred Palm Beach or Broward County location.