Gaston Glock, in particular the semi-auto pistol market, revolutionized firearms four decades ago. The G17 was the first to use polymer frames. It offered a level durability and reliability that were almost unmatched. Since then, the compact G19 has been one of the most popular pistols ever. It had the same high-level performance as the G17, but in a compact form factor. It was equally suitable for home defense, concealed carry or duty. Adams Arms’ AA19 is a great example. The Adams Arms AA19 Despite the fact that the Glock pistols have improved over the years, the design aesthetics have become a bit stagnant. The factory hasn’t innovated much, other than changing the sizes and calibers. Glock Inc. seems to only offer models with “newer features” like front slide serrations and optics cuts reluctantly. The company does this in the most superficial way possible. This has allowed a number of manufacturers to create their own version of what a Glock style pistol should be for the 21st Century. Adams Arms is one such manufacturer. Adams Arms, known for its piston-driven ARs, and the variety of AR components it offers, has introduced its own version, called simply the AA19, of a G19 style pistol. I received one recently for review and it’s clear that this is not your father’s G19. The Double-A One-Niner On first glance, despite its new entry into the polymer-framed and striker-fired market, the AA19 appears to be a familiar pistol. The AA19’s compact, double-stack 15-round form factor is the fulcrum of this familiarity. Not to mention that it is built on a Polymer80 base. It’s true that Adams Arms has done some custom texturing. It’s impossible to miss the unique Polymer80 Triggerguard. The generous relief cut behind the triggerguard allows for a more comfortable grip. The VS19 slide assembly is what gives the AA19 a unique flavor. This package begins with a 416 stainless steel slide that has been intricately machined. The slide also features visually appealing and highly-functional serrations on both the front and rear. The slide is equipped with a set blacked out sights and an optical cut that can be used with adapter plates from Adams Arms. The adapter plate will work with popular red dot sights from companies such as Leupold Trijicon Holosun Burris C-More Vortex. The 4.25-inch 416R barrel is part of the VS19 assembly. According to the website of the company, it has match-grade rifling which will accommodate any 9mm round. The barrel has a 1/2 x28 threading pattern, which is a nice bonus. It allows for the use of suppressors and other muzzle devices. It comes with a thread protector right out of the package. The barrel and slide are both finished with a tough Nitride coating to provide excellent resistance to the weather. The AA19 is a step up in comparison to the standard Glock pistol, thanks to the Tango Down Vickers Tactical Carry Trigger. This flat-faced, short-take-up trigger offers a clean, crisp break. The trigger on my test pistol registered an average of nearly exactly 4 pounds at the break. This is, in my opinion a perfect trigger for this type pistol. The reset was excellent with minimal retravel and a distinct tactile and audible pop. The AA19 frame has an integrated Picatinny Rail for attaching your favorite accessories. The frame also has a very effective texturing, both on the front and the backstraps. A more subdued design is on the sides. I would have preferred to see the backstrap pattern around the grip instead of Adams’ signature pattern. The pistol comes with two 15-round Magpul magazines and Adams Arms’ lifetime guarantee. As we will see later in the review, this may be useful on occasion. Mixed Review I met with my friend Dave at the shooting range in order to get a different perspective on the AA19. The AA19 impressed me at first glance. During our review, a few issues arose. We both liked the aesthetics of the AA19. It’s more attractive than a G19 standard, especially with its intricately machinated slide. The ergonomics are also not bad. The 19-degree grip provided natural pointability and the relief cut behind triggerguard allowed for ample room for middle finger. This allows for a more comfortable and higher grip on the pistol. The second undercut at the bottom of triggerguard extends this comfort to the support hand. The slide has been machined with serrations on the top and a chevron shaped window to expose the barrel. This was done to reduce the reciprocating mass, and provide a flatter shooting feel. It may be effective, but it also provides another entry point for dirt and other debris that could affect the AA19. I’m not fond of slide cutouts, but I understand that some people do. It’s a matter of preference. Reliability is not a personal preference. In a defensive handgun, accuracy can be sacrificed, and who cares about the appearance of a pistol? But the pistol must run. We ran into some problems during both the bench/accuracy tests and our offhand shooting of steel targets. Three times the slide failed to cycle and twice the trigger would not reset. Shooting a Variety of Ammunition With the AA19 During the test, we shot the AA19 using a variety of ammunition including defensive ammunition and range loads. The AA19 fed reliably everything we shot, except Hornady’s 115-grain Critical Defense ammunition. The three failures were with the Hornady load. I will admit that I have had a couple pistols fail to feed with this particular type of ammo. I’m no engineer, but that flex tip can sometimes be extra grabby, and cause the pistol to hang up. In this case, we noticed that the Critical Defense ammunition would only hang when using the Magpul magazines provided. David had a few Glock factory magazines and we tested them. We had no problems feeding the rounds that day. We were more concerned about the trigger not resetting than we were about that issue. You can always test the magazines and ammunition to see which ones work best in your pistol. The trigger problem is a different matter. You can’t test that. It either works on any given Sunday or it doesn’t. According to the reviews I’ve read, the Tango Down Vickers Tactical Carry Trigger gets high marks across the board. It’s possible that the trigger on this particular AA19 is a lemon. Adams’ lifetime guarantee can help you fix this problem. A quick trigger replacement should fix this issue. The AA19 performed well in terms of shooting. The lighter mass at the top also seemed to make the pistol shoot flatter than a G19. There was however something about the frame which felt a bit sharp and “slappy”. It wasn’t abusive; it was just noticeable. I’ve used similar sized pistols, like the SAR9 C or the Walther PDP Compact, that have a softer push that feels more like an abrupt slap than a gentle one. The solid texture on the AA19 frame allowed for a good grip and control. This also makes the impulse easier to control. We didn’t use suppressors for the review, but we had to remove the thread guard because it kept coming loose and I didn’t want to lose this on the range. I see this a lot with companies who offer threaded-barrels. Why not spend an extra dollar and include a few O-rings for high temperature that the thread protector will be able to snug against in order to prevent it from walking off of the barrel? During a part of the test David and I fitted HB Industries Micro-Comp Thread Protectors to the barrel. It appeared that it may have reduced muzzle flip a little. To be honest, I couldn’t tell for sure. It did not come off with the O-ring that accompanied it. It was worth the upgrade just for this reason. Shooting for Accuracy, Adams Arms did send us adapter plates to use an optical. We ended up using the fixed sights. Personal preferences may come into play here. The AA19 comes with a black serrated front blade, and a blacked out rear sight. There are no dots, lines, dashes or anything else. All is black. Some people may prefer to use completely black sights with a red dot optic, so that the fixed sight doesn’t compete for the user’s focus. This argument is moot because the sights in this case are too short to co-witness with a red dot. It seems that a little cost-saving is involved. This will likely lead to the buyer purchasing and installing aftermarket sights. We finished our testing by shooting at a bench from 15 yards. We used premium loads from Federal Hornady Speer and Sig Sauer for this test. This particular AA19 would not be mistaken as a tack-driver, but it performed well enough for its intended purpose. The average groups were between 2.25 and 2.75 inches with a best group measuring 2.12 inches. This was shot with Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown 147-grain load. We had a limited selection of ammo to test. A little time spent on finding the AA19’s preferred load can go a long ways in tightening those groups. The Bottom Line If you’re looking for a Glock style pistol, but want a little extra for your money, the AA19 might be the answer. The AA19 offers a number of features that a standard G19 does not. These include better texturing, ergos, a threaded barrel, and a slide that is uniquely machined. Adams Arms entry into the pistol industry does have a MSRP of $1000. This price isn’t exactly a cheaper option. Even if the buyer decides to install a set aftermarket sights. It’s up the user to decide whether the improvements are worth the extra cost. When it comes to features that today’s modern consumer is looking for in a combat pistol, the AA19 has them all and a bit more. Visit AdamsArms.net for more information. Adams Arms AA19 Specifications Caliber: 9mmBarrel: 4.25 in
Overall Length : 7.75 Inches
Height: 5.11 Inches
Width : 1.2 inches
Weight: 25 ounces
Grips: Polymer
Sights: Blade front, blacked-out blade rear
Action: Striker-fired
Finish: Nitride
Capacity: 15+1
MSRP: $1,000 This original article was published in Combat Handguns May/June issue 2022. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue reading Didn’t get what you were looking? Search for Perfect Polymer Player The post Shooting the Adams Arms AA19 first appeared on Personal Defense World.
