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Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Review: Glock 47 MOS, the Border Patrol Glock 17 With a Shorter Dust Cover
Our Rating: 8.4/10
- Street Price: $620 to $786 for the standard G47 MOS (use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
- Caliber: 9x19mm
- Action: Striker fired, Glock Safe Action
- Barrel Length: 4.49 in.
- Overall Length: 7.95 in.
- Slide Length: 7.32 in.
- Height: 5.47 in. with magazine
- Width: 1.34 in.
- Weight: 23.21 oz. without a magazine, 25.93 oz. with an empty one
- Capacity: 17+1, with optional 19, 24, 31 and 33 round magazines (10 round models for restricted states)
- Sight Radius: 6.65 in. with the polymer sights
- Trigger Pull: 26 N, about 5.8 lb. (Glock spec)
- Optics: MOS cut with adapter plates
Pros
- Glock 17 sight radius and capacity
- Swaps slides with the G19 and G45
- Ran 1,000 rounds without a stoppage
Cons
- Gen 5 design, now a generation behind
- Costs more than a Glock 17 Gen 6
- Glock’s US site files it under LE
Quick Take
The Glock 47 MOS is a Glock 17 that GLOCK redesigned for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2019. It has the G17’s 4.49 inch barrel, 17 round magazine and full grip, but the frame’s dust cover is cut back to Glock 19 length. GLOCK’s own page says it “maintains parts compatibility with the G17 Gen5 MOS, G19 Gen5 MOS, and G45 MOS.” That’s the whole point of the gun: one frame, three slide lengths.
We put 1,000 rounds through ours with no malfunctions. It shoots exactly like a Gen 5 Glock 17 MOS, which makes sense, because GLOCK’s January 2023 launch release said the G47 MOS “will replace the G17 Gen5 MOS” in the commercial lineup.
The buying detail almost every G47 review misses: the Gen 6 Glocks shipped in 2026, and GLOCK’s US site now files the G47 MOS page under Law Enforcement. Its breadcrumb reads Home, Law Enforcement, G47 MOS. Retailers still have commercial G47s, from $620 at Classic Firearms to $785.99 at Guns.com when we checked, while a Glock 17 Gen 6 sits at $620 almost everywhere. Unless you want the slide swap with Gen 5 parts, the Gen 6 Glock 17 is the better buy.
Best For: Shooters who already own Gen 5 MOS Glocks and want a full-size frame that takes G17, G19 and G45 length slides. Not for a first Glock buyer, who should start with the Gen 6.
Why GLOCK Built the G47
In 2019 Customs and Border Protection picked GLOCK for a new duty pistol contract, and it wanted one gun that could be set up for different jobs. GLOCK’s answer was a Glock 17 Gen 5 MOS with a frame whose dust cover ends at the Glock 19 length. Put a G47 slide on it and you have a full-size duty gun. Put a G19 Gen 5 MOS slide on the same frame and you have the full-grip, compact-slide gun the commercial market knows as the G45.
GLOCK brought it to the commercial market in its January 16, 2023 release, which also introduced the GLOCK Performance Trigger. The release says the G47 “has the same sight radius as the G17” and lists it among the guns compatible with that trigger.
You can see the difference at the front of the gun. On a G17 the frame runs almost to the muzzle. On the G47 the frame stops short, and a longer stretch of slide hangs out past the rail.
Glock 47 vs Glock 17, 19 and 45: The Numbers
The G47 shares its overall length, barrel, height and capacity with the Glock 17. It’s 2.05 ounces heavier than a G17 Gen 6 without a magazine, at 23.21 ounces against 21.16, because it’s still a Gen 5 design. The G45 is the same full grip with the G19’s 4.02 inch barrel.
| Model | Barrel | Length | Height | Weight, no mag | Capacity |
| Glock 47 MOS (Gen 5) | 4.49 in. | 7.95 in. | 5.47 in. | 23.21 oz. | 17+1 |
| Glock 17 Gen 6 | 4.49 in. | 7.95 in. | 5.47 in. | 21.16 oz. | 17+1 |
| Glock 45 Gen 6 | 4.02 in. | 7.44 in. | 5.47 in. | 20.32 oz. | 17+1 |
| Glock 19 Gen 6 | 4.02 in. | 7.28 in. | 5.04 in. | 20.11 oz. | 15+1 |
The Gen 6 Problem
The G47’s slide swap only works with Gen 5 MOS parts. GLOCK changed the barrel and optic system on the Gen 6 guns, so don’t assume a Gen 6 Glock 19 slide will go on a G47 frame. If you’re buying into the Glock system today, every new G17, G19 and G45 on the shelf is a Gen 6, and the G47’s main trick doesn’t carry over to them.
That’s why we rate the G47 as a buy for one shooter: somebody who already owns Gen 5 MOS Glocks, or wants a cheap way into Gen 5 slides on the used market. For everybody else, a Glock 17 Gen 6 gives you the same size and capacity, a lighter gun and the newer optic system for $620 or less at the retailers we track.
Who Should NOT Buy This Gun
- First-time Glock buyers: The Glock 17 Gen 6 is the same size, lighter and $620 or less at the retailers we track.
- Concealed carriers: At 7.95 inches long it’s a full-size duty gun. Look at the Glock 19 or 43X.
- Gen 6 owners who want a slide swap: The G47’s interchangeability is with Gen 5 MOS parts.
- Anyone who wants a commemorative edition at standard price: The gold Cerakote G47 editions sell at a premium and don’t shoot any differently.
How the Glock 47 Compares
Glock 17 Gen 6 ($583-$620)
Same barrel, same length, same 17 round magazine, 2.05 ounces lighter, and the Gen 6 optic system with three plates in the box. It’s the full-size Glock we’d buy today. The only reason to pick the G47 over it is Gen 5 slide compatibility.
Glock 45 Gen 6 ($620-$655.20)
The G45 is the configuration CBP could build from a G47 frame with a G19 slide: full grip, 17 rounds, 4.02 inch barrel. It’s half an inch shorter at the muzzle, which makes it easier to carry OWB and a little quicker out of the holster. Our Glock 45 Gen 6 review covers it in depth.
Glock 19 Gen 6 ($597.60-$620)
If the G47 is too big to carry, the Glock 19 is the answer: 0.67 inch shorter, 0.43 inch shorter in the grip, 15+1. It’s the best all-round Glock, and our Glock 19 Gen 6 review explains why.
How We Tested It
Our test gun was a standard black G47 MOS with three 17 round magazines and the factory polymer sights. We shot three range days in October 2026, 1,000 rounds total, and ran half of it with a Holosun 507C on the MOS plate.
Phase 1: Trigger and Controls
It’s a Gen 5 trigger: a light take-up, a firm wall and a break GLOCK rates at 26 newtons, about 5.8 pounds. The reset is short and easy to feel. The slide stop is ambidextrous, the magazine release reverses, and the flared magwell helps on fast reloads.
Phase 2: Reliability
1,000 rounds, zero malfunctions. That included 300 rounds of steel-cased ammo, a 200 round dirty run with no cleaning, and a box of 147 grain subsonic. Nothing surprised us, and on a Glock nothing should.
Phase 3: Accuracy
Five-shot groups from a rest at 15 yards ran 1.8 to 2.3 inches with iron sights. With the red dot, our best 25 yard group was 2.6 inches with Federal HST 124 grain. The 6.65 inch sight radius helps with irons, which is the reason CBP wanted the long slide.
Ammunition Log
| Ammunition | Rounds | 15 yd group | Notes |
| Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ | 400 | 2.2 in. | Fast strings, no issues |
| Wolf 115 gr steel case | 300 | 2.3 in. | Dirty, still 100% |
| Federal HST 124 gr | 150 | 1.8 in. | Best accuracy |
| Winchester 147 gr subsonic | 150 | 2.0 in. | Soft, fed perfectly |
The Slide Swap
We moved a Gen 5 G19 MOS slide onto our G47 frame and shot 100 rounds that way. It ran, and it shot and handled like a G45. We then put the G47 slide on a G45 frame for another 100. Again, no issues. That’s the feature you’re paying for, and it works as GLOCK says.
What This Means for You
The G47 is a reliable, accurate full-size Glock with a smart frame. It just arrived late: GLOCK released it commercially in 2023 and moved its whole commercial line to Gen 6 three years later.
Performance Results
Reliability (10/10)
No stoppages in 1,000 rounds across brass, steel, hollow points and subsonic, plus 200 rounds of slide swaps.
Accuracy (9/10)
Under 2.5 inches at 15 yards with everything, and the long sight radius makes iron sight shooting easier than on a G19.
Ergonomics (8/10)
Full Gen 5 grip with interchangeable backstraps. Shooters with small hands will find the G17-size grip long.
Value (6/10)
At $620 it’s a fair price for a Glock. Next to a $620 Gen 6 Glock 17, it’s hard to justify unless you want Gen 5 slides.
Technical Deep Dive
The Shortened Dust Cover
The dust cover is the part of the frame under the barrel, ahead of the trigger guard. On the G47 it’s G19 length, which is what lets a G19 slide sit on the frame without the frame poking out the front. The accessory rail is the same as a G19’s, so any light that fits a G19 fits a G47.
Magazines
It takes standard 9mm Glock double stack magazines. GLOCK lists 17 rounds as standard with 19, 24, 31 and 33 round options, and G19 magazines also work in it.
| Component | Specification | Benefit |
| Frame | Gen 5, G19 length dust cover | Takes G17, G19 and G45 length Gen 5 slides |
| Barrel | 4.49 in. | G17 velocity and sight radius |
| Trigger | 26 N, Performance Trigger compatible | Standard Glock pull, flat-face upgrade available |
| Optics | MOS cut with plates | Fits most popular pistol red dots |
| Size | 7.95 x 5.47 x 1.34 in., 23.21 oz. | Full-size duty gun |
Upgrades Worth Making
- Steel sights: The factory polymer sights are the first thing to replace. See our best Glock sights.
- A red dot: The MOS cut is the reason to own it. See our best pistol red dots.
- A weapon light: Anything that fits a G19 rail fits. See our best pistol lights.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Holster fit: Most G17 holsters fit, but light-bearing holsters must match the light. Check the maker’s G47 listing.
- Gen 6 parts: They are not Gen 5 parts. Buy G47 slides, barrels and triggers listed for Gen 5.
- Plain sights: The polymer sights wear. Swap them for steel night sights.
Final Verdict
The Glock 47 MOS is a very good full-size Glock with one clever idea: a frame that takes three slide lengths. It ran 1,000 rounds without a stoppage, shot well with irons and a red dot, and did the slide swap exactly as GLOCK says.
It’s also a Gen 5 gun in a Gen 6 world, and GLOCK’s US site now lists it under law enforcement. Buy it if you run Gen 5 MOS Glocks and want the swap, ideally near the $620 low. Buy a Glock 17 Gen 6 if you just want a full-size Glock. For more options, see our best Glock pistols and our Glock 17 vs Glock 19 comparison.
Final Score: 8.4/10. A smart Border Patrol frame that the Gen 6 Glock 17 has mostly made redundant.
Specs from GLOCK’s G47 MOS page. Prices from our live price check across 200+ retailers on October 28, 2026.
FAQ: Glock 47
What is a Glock 47?
The Glock 47 MOS is a Glock 17 size 9mm with a G19 length dust cover on the frame. GLOCK built it for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2019 and released it commercially in January 2023.
What is the difference between the Glock 47 and Glock 17?
Same barrel, length, height and 17 round capacity. The G47 frame has a shorter dust cover, so it takes G19 Gen 5 MOS slides. It's a Gen 5 design and weighs 23.21 ounces without a magazine, 2.05 ounces more than a Glock 17 Gen 6.
Can you put a Glock 19 slide on a Glock 47?
Yes, with Gen 5 MOS parts. GLOCK says the G47 MOS is compatible with the G17 Gen5 MOS, G19 Gen5 MOS and G45 MOS. A G19 slide on a G47 frame gives you a G45 size gun. Gen 6 parts are a different system.
Is the Glock 47 discontinued?
GLOCK's US site now lists the G47 MOS under Law Enforcement, and the commercial line moved to Gen 6 in 2026. Retailers still had commercial G47s from $620 when we checked.
How much does a Glock 47 cost?
Standard G47 MOS pistols ran $620 to $785.99 at the retailers we track when we checked. Gold Cerakote commemorative editions cost more.
Why did CBP choose the Glock 47?
CBP wanted one frame it could set up in more than one size. The G47 frame takes a full-length slide for duty and a G19 length slide for a shorter gun, with the same grip and magazines.
Is the Glock 47 good for concealed carry?
Not for most people. It's 7.95 inches long and 5.47 inches tall, the same as a Glock 17. A Glock 19 or 43X carries much easier.
Does the Glock 47 take Glock 17 magazines?
Yes. It uses standard 9mm Glock double stack magazines, 17 rounds standard, with 19, 24, 31 and 33 round options. Glock 19 magazines also fit.
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