The G36: Glock's Subcompact .45

by
posted on December 1, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Glock G36

The subcompact, single-stack Glock chambered in .45 ACP introduced in 1999—the G36—doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It’s an ideal choice for self-defense, packs all the performance enthusiasts have come to expect from the company and still, somehow, avoids headlines. Going unnoticed is a valuable and rare skill for a pistol designed for concealed carry, but the relative silence in the two decades since its introduction has been deafening.

Magazine capacity is six cartridges, and that single-stack design keeps the G36 slim, a virtue that minimizes printing during concealed carry. Overall width measures 1.18". It has a 3.78" barrel, weighs 22.4 ozs. with an empty magazine and overall length comes in at 6.97".

The semi-automatic features the company’s familiar Safe Action system and, as expected, sports a businesslike black look. The frame is polymer and the steel slide is finished in black Tenifer. There was no place to hang weaponlights or lasers on early models. Glock added an accessory rail in 2013, however.

As for performance, B. Gil Horman reviewed a model for American Rifleman. He explained, “On the range, the G36 demonstrates a more manageable level of felt recoil than might be expected of a lightweight pistol. The .45 ACP rounds produce a solid thump into the shooting hand but it's not as snappy to the wrist as a Glock chambered in .40 S&W. The narrow single-stack grip feels great in smaller hands like mine, and the smooth, 5.5-lbs. factory trigger is easy to master.”

A pair of finger grooves at the front of the pistol grip and texturing at the back ensure a solid purchase on the pistol, even in inclement weather. Current prices for a new model, when you can find them, are running $650 and up, depending on configuration.

Their popularity with knowledgeable gun enthusiasts is made obvious by the fact FFL shelves aren’t exactly teaming with fresh-from-the-factory G36s. In fact, they’re usually hard to find in stock—despite the fact the pistol has flown under the radar for more than two decades.  

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.