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

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.