Introduction
Few pistols have seen the proliferation of Glock’s venerable design. The polymer framed striker pistols are everywhere. Today we will take a first look at a new-to-me Glock design, we are reviewing the Glock 29 10mm Compact pistol.
Background
I must admit; to be completely honest I have never been a big fan of the Glock design. But in my defense it has been based mostly on aesthetics and looks. As the design’s service record and popularity are undeniable.
But as my tastes have matured, I have become more and more open to Glocks and the band of clones that copy them. So I suppose it should come as no surprise that my curiosity built when I opened up the case of the brand new model 29 Compact.
9mm pistols are for sure my favorite pistol round, but there is something a little magical about the 10mm. For only one more millimeter you gain impressive power and performance. Obviously there is more to the design than just a bigger bullet, there is additional powder capacity which increases velocity.
All the 10mm bros can’t be wrong, so I decided it was my turn to descend into the 10mm rabbit hole. And the Glock 29 was the vehicle of choice. The model 29 is an abbreviated version of the model 20 10mm pistol. Trimmed up and reduced to fit in a CCW holster of your choice, but still bring the 10 millimeter heat.
Specifications
Type Striker Fired
Size Sub-Compact
Caliber 10MM
Barrel Length 3.78″
Color Black
Capacity 10 Rounds
Accessories 2 Mags
Sights Fixed Sights
Frame Material Polymer
Finish Matte
Glock 29 Features
Safe action trigger system- prevents accidental discharge of the pistol
10 round magazines- holds ten round of 10mm Auto
Low Profile Sights- the compact sights pop in your sight picture
Picatinny accessory rail- to add your preferred weapon-light
Grip texturing- to help you hold onto the pistol under recoil
Other models and Generations
The Glock 29 is available in both a 4th gen and 5th generation. The Gen 5 version incorporates some of Glock’s latest changes. Such as interchangeable grip backstraps, removed finger grooves, and ambidextrous slide release. These are some nice features for those who are looking for them.
As mentioned above, the model 29 is a compact version of the larger Glock model 20. The larger model 20 allows additional grip area as well as additional weight to better allow the shooter to control the pistol.
If you find yourself trying to decide which model would better fit your needs, I would for sure get your hands on them. For my hand size, I find the 29 to be almost too small. I think adding a +2 magazine base plate would easily solve that concern for me.
Glock 29 Review
To review the Glock 29, a friend and I took the pistol and a few boxes of ammunition into the hills. The model 29 was literally new in the box unfired by me, so it was with great anticipation that we prepped for shooting.
Loading the chubby 10mm cartridges into the magazine wasn’t a challenge. Using the provided magazine loader that comes with the gun seemed to only add time to the process. It didn’t take long before we were stacking shots on targets.
It is not uncommon for shooters to create an idea in their mind of how a new gun experience will go. Having no experience with the Glock 29, I had imagined it would be a fairly spicy kick. With perhaps a little bit of a challenge to control.
Shooting the Glock 29
Shooting the pistol actually turned out to be much more pleasant than I had expected. The recoil wasn’t bad at all when shooting 180 grain ball ammo, and controlling the gun only took a little bit of time to get used to. The short grip was a slight hindrance, though one I could deal with considering this pistol is optimized for concealing.
The controls worked great and allowed quick manipulation of the pistol. The sights, though simple, were very useful and effective.
I was surprised at how easy it seemed to shoot the model 29 accurately. Keeping shots on milk jug sized targets at around 15 yards at a swift cadence was impressive. As someone who does a lot of fishing in bear country, my shooting companion mentioned how the 29 might serve as an ideal fishing companion.
After shooting the 29 for afternoon I’d say I have to agree. Ten or more rounds of 10mm Auto would make a great deterrent to any menacing assailant two-legged or more.
One of the more common praises of Glock pistols is their reliability. The simplistic design has simply worked for decades.
During our shooting we experienced only a single malfunction, where a round failed to fully seat into battery. A slight tap was all it took to correct the situation. While I am not positive what caused the malfunction, I find myself quick to dismiss it as potentially an unbroken in pistol. The ammunition and pistol functioned flawlessly together outside of this single issue. Time will tell if it was a singular event.
With a comfortable and pleasant experience shooting the Glock 29, its sub six-hundred dollar street price seems to be pretty fair. There are a few other comparable pistols in the same price range. Though many of them lack some of the 29’s advantages. For example; the Springfield Armory XD compact shares its size. But lacks the Glock reputation and service history. The Smith & Wesson M&P shares the service experience but lacks a compact model. These features tend to make the Glock 29 stand out.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Nice consistent trigger pull
- Simple yet useful sights
- Compact size can go anywhere
- Did I mention it’s 10mm?
- Glock
Cons
- 10-round capacity
- Can be a bit of recoil for some
Report Card
Shootability (B+) shooting the Glock 29 was easier and more fun than I expected.
Ergonomics (B) Everything was very comparable to other Glocks, but for the slightly short grip.
Reliability (B+) Aside from the single malfunction, it seemed to run fantastic.
Accuracy (A) The accuracy of the pistol was better than expected
Value (B+) There are few other options out there for a compact 10mm, especially with this reputation.
Preferred Ammunition
I shot both Blazer 180 grain ball ammunition and American Eagle 180 grain ball ammunition through the Glock 29. Both of them seemed to work and shoot great. For more serious work I like shooting Speer Gold Dot 200 grain hollow points.
Shop all Glock pistols at Palmetto State Armory
Upgrades and Accessories
Holster
The Glock 29 for sure needs a good holster. Whether you want to use it as a concealed carry pistol, or as bear-mace, you will need a way to keep it close. A whole harness system like those offered by Crossbreed Holsters is a good way to keep it close. And if maximum concealment is your goal, the concealing options from Galco will help keep your Glock high and tight.
Weapon Light
A good light source is important for a CCW pistol. A compact pistol like the Glock 29 would benefit from one of the many compact weapon lights like the Streamlight TLR8.
Magazine Baseplates
Additional length can be added to the grip with extended floor plates. And the addition of more capacity is also welcome. These ones from Pearce will give an additional rounds, as well as helping you control the pistol better.
Sportsmans Warehouse has the full Glock pistol lineup, shop here.
Final Thoughts on the Glock 29
I said in the beginning that I was never a big Glock fan, but that view is changing. The Glock 29 is surely on my list of Glocks I don’t mind having. It fills a pretty small niche of 10mm compact pistols, and it does so with Glocks service reputation and style. For a reasonable price it has good features paired with a great shooting experience. If you are looking for a really powerful compact pistol, make sure you don’t look past the Glock 29 before spending your hard earned money.
-CBM
