The RXM Versus the Glock Gen 3 – Who is the Most Glock?

The Ruger and Magpul collaboration that resulted in the birth of the RXM was not on my bingo card for 2024/2025. The Ruger RXM made waves. Ruger makes functional and affordable semi-auto handguns. I would have never expected Ruger to make a Glock clone, but maybe the writing was on the wall when they released the PC Carbine with a Glock magwell. The RXM takes advantage of the Glock Gen 3’s patents expiring.

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Specifically, Ruger and Magpul’s first RXM cloned the Gen 3 Glock 19. Glock’s most famous handgun has always been the Glock 19, so it makes sense the RXM would be the compact model. Since I have both on hand, I couldn’t help but be curious enough to compare the two guns. Better yet, did Ruger beat Glock at doing Glock things?

Many companies have made copies of the Gen 3 Glock series, but this is the first time a legacy manufacturer has copied the Glock. The RXM is a Glock Gen 3 clone at its core, but there is a significant difference between the Glock and the RXM. The RXM has a removable, serialized chassis system. This allows you to swap the chassis between grip modules and frame sizes.

Magpul has already released a series of multicolored grip modules, and if the RXM box is any indication, we are bound to see new slides as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see 19X-sized, full-sized, and my favorite, a full-sized slide with a compact grip. The removable chassis opens up a broad aftermarket of support. I imagine companies like Sharp Bros. and Icarus Precision will soon produce their grip modules.

Looking further into the future, we will likely see PDW-style grip modules that are brace or stock-ready and have the proper paperwork. The RXM departed from the Gen 3 Glock. It’s not just another Glock clone. I will give Ruger credit for doing something different and interesting.

With that out of the way, let’s discuss the other way Ruger departed from Glock with the RXM.

Glock didn’t get into the optics-ready market until the Gen 4 series. Before that, the only Gen 3s that were optics-ready came from custom shops and optics cuts. You need a good reason not to release an optics-ready pistol in the current market. Ruger didn’t have a good excuse, so the RXM is optics-ready.

The RXM outdoes the optic-free Gen 3 and arguably outdoes the Glock MOS series. Both companies offer an optics system that fits multiple optics.

The RXM uses a slide with various strategically placed threaded holes and a series of pins to accommodate many different optics.

You can mount an RMR, DPP, RMSc, and other optics without a problem. Optics like the ACRO or the Steiner MPS will require some form of plate to accommodate them. The MOS series uses plates, but plates have proven to be problematic, and tolerance stacking is never great.

The RXM comes with metal sights, which beats the Glock iron sight game. The front sight is a night sight, and the rear is blacked out. The iron sights sit high enough that you can cowitness through most optics. Glock has the same plastic sights they’ve always had. The RXM can use any Glock pattern sights and vice versa.

Gen 3 was a great series but lacked any kind of left-hand friendliness. The RXM continues that tradition. It’s not lefty-friendly at all. The magazine release isn’t reversible, and the slide release stays on one side. There are still some big differences.

The finger grooves aren’t present on the RXM, which is subjective, but I don’t like grooves, and I don’t think most people do. The RXM grip isn’t as blocky or thick as the Glock 19 Gen 3. The merit of a thinner grip can also be subjective, but I prefer it.

What’s not subjective is the magazine release design. Magpul did a great job of designing the grip and scalloping near the magazine release to make engaging it much easier. My reloads with the RXM are quicker than my reloads with the Glock Gen 3 19. With the Glock, I am reaching out to find the magazine release.

The RXM grip also features a larger rear overhang, which prevents slide bite. I get a fair bit of slide bite with the Gen 3 Glocks. The trigger guard on the RXM features an undercut for a nice high grip.

Interestingly, both guns have a distinct feel that makes them feel like a brand of their own. If you’ve used Magpul AR-15 grips, you’ll be familiar with the feel of the RXM. It’s very K2, and the Magpul polymer feel and texture are evident. The Glock grip is also distinct, and if I were blind, I could pick it out of a lineup.

In terms of raw mechanical accuracy, I don’t think many shooters could tell the difference between the two. However, from a practical perspective, the presence of a red dot makes it easier to shoot accurately. Out of 50 yards, I was nailing targets with ease.

The iron sights of the Glock 19 Gen 3 make that tough. Both guns are easy to control and shoot fast. I noticed no significant difference in split times…as long as I turned the optic off. Red dots also make it easier to shoot faster.

However, since red dots on handguns weren’t as common when the Gen 3 was introduced, I turned the dot off and used the irons. Recoil and muzzle rise between the guns differed very little, if at all. The only main difference I found was the fat grip of the original Glock tends to spread recoil a little more throughout the whole hand.

Glock set a new standard for reliability in firearms. There is a reason they dominate the market, and there is a reason Ruger copied Glock. The guns work. They are very simple, and you can strip one down with a single punch. I like to think the gun’s simplicity tends to help its reliability.

The RXM has proven to be quite reliable—at least mine has been. With that in mind, it’s only been out for a few months. The Glock Gen 3 has been around since 1998. Glock gets the nod because it has a much more proven track record. It’s been used around the world and abused, but it still keeps that reputation for quality.

The RXM has one weird issue. With Glock OEM magazines and possibly other metal-lined options, the slide will occasionally lock open with rounds in the magazine.

A big question many folks had was about the interchangeability between the RXM and Glock 19 Gen 3. We already mentioned that sights are interchangeable, but so are slides. If Ruger sold the RXM slides, Glock Gen 3 owners might have an awesome upgrade to consider. The optics mounting system makes it worth the upgrade.

You could also throw your favorite Gen 3 slide on the RXM. You can swap barrels if you want a threaded option. In terms of triggers, most Gen 3 triggers will work. The RXM uses a partially cocked striker system, just like the Glock. Some triggers convert the partially cocked striker to a fully cocked striker. Those triggers reportedly do not work with the RXM series.

I haven’t found a holster that fits the Glock 19 that doesn’t fit the RXM, including Safariland holsters with retention devices. The holster ecosystem around Glock is massive, and it’ll be easy to find the right rig for you.

READ MORE: Ruger’s Copycat Glock: The RXM — SHOT Show 2025

The RXM breathed new life into an old(ish) design. It’s easy to see why the gun is getting so much positive traction. It refined the ergonomics and introduced a modular and innovative optics mounting option while keeping the gun’s simplistic layout. Ruger had the benefit of almost 30 years.

Best yet, the gun is affordable. If you shop around, you can find it for less than $400. The RXM is a solid little gun and better than the Gen 3 Glock. I’m excited to see what comes next for the Glock series of semi-auto handguns.

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