If you were to choose two companies with the greatest reputations in the handgun world—one handgun manufacturer and one carry optic manufacturer—chances are the duo would be Glock and Aimpoint. The Glock COA is a collaboration between two giants and a very good matchup. Glock is a reliable handgun manufacturer, no question there. Aimpoint produces rugged and reliable red dot sights. Firing with both eyes open allows for great speed and accuracy. Your field of view is much better, an important consideration in personal defense. Aimpoint is an exceptional company and a leader in combat optics. They introduced one of the first successful electronic sights in 1975.
The COA
The COA features an enclosed emitter design. This is more rugged and resistant to damage than an open emitter and offers greater resistance to the elements. Some shooters perform better with an enclosed emitter, but this is subjective. The reticle is 3.5 MOA.
The COA is solidly mounted with the A-CUT interface. The COA is rated for thousands of rounds of ammunition and can withstand water immersion up to eighty feet. Elevation and windage adjustments are made with a Torx wrench. At only 1.7 ounces, the Aimpoint isn’t heavy on the slide. There are eight brightness settings for daylight and dim-light use, along with four night vision settings. A-CUT mounting essentially uses two screws to bolt the sight into a wedge. The sight is longitudinally stabilized by this solid interface.
There are several COA models. I chose the Glock 19. The Glock 17 is a larger version, while the 43X is a great concealed carry handgun. When you purchase the COA, everything is properly set up. I added a few items as I tested the pistol. I am a gun crank, and I do not use gear that isn’t proven, nor do I recommend anything I have not personally tested.
I added the Radian Weapons Ramjet Afterburner barrel. With this ported barrel combination, recoil is considerably reduced. Finally, I added one of my favorite aftermarket upgrades: the Timney trigger. A great pistol just got better and far more interesting.
Firing Tests
I fired the COA extensively as issued, without upgrades. The Glock 19 is well balanced and reliable and gave no surprises. I homed in on the target and punished it in rapid fire. Results at longer range were where the Aimpoint really shined, offering stability and accurate delivery.
After a few hundred rounds in evaluation, I elected to upgrade with a few components. These features add up to saving time and increasing accuracy here and there—a desirable goal. As issued, the COA is the best combat pistol Glock has offered. That may mean it is the finest combat pistol in the world.
I have handled the Glock 43X and find it to be a good concealed carry handgun. The Aimpoint sight eliminates prior concerns with small sights and a short sight radius. Perhaps a future purchase will include the Glock 43X to replace my long-serving 43X 9mm.
While my pistol has been considerably upgraded, well, I am a gun crank, and that is what I do. The Glock COA is interesting enough to hold my attention. I shoot a lot and train hard. The COA represents decades of technology crammed into one firearm. The integration is smooth, and the setup is reliable and useful.
It is interesting in that I cannot shoot right up to its capabilities. No boasting, but I should be able to shoot well. I may fire handguns two to four times a week, depending on the workload, and I still do private instruction. I learned from some of the best shooters. Yet I cannot shoot up to the COA’s capabilities. Occasionally, I fire a brilliant run, and I am very pleased.
If this were my only gun—and that isn’t in the realm of possibility—I would shoot it even better. I don’t consider a 25-ounce 9mm to be a hard kicker. The Glock 19 is well balanced. With the Radian Weapons Ramjet Afterburner, recoil is modest, about like a steel-frame CZ 75, and that is light kicking.
The pistol has never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject. The diet has been primarily 115-grain FMJ ammunition with some 124-grain loads. Defensive loads have included 115-, 124-, and 147-grain ammunition, along with a few +P loads. For the most part, I have used Glock magazines, but I have also used some MagPul and the new Mec-Gar metal magazines. No problems of any type were encountered.
The COA fits Glock holsters with no problems on that score.
Absolute Accuracy
The COA is a combat gun. With the Radian Weapons compensated barrel and Timney trigger, it becomes a great competition gun. The weekend competitor can compete on the cheap.
I test-fired the pistol for accuracy with the standard barrel and trigger. On average, the pistol will put five shots into 2.5 inches off a solid benchrest. That is good for a Glock 19. With the Timney trigger and Radian Weapons barrel, I have fired a couple of 1.5-inch groups. That is exceptional.
Some of these groups were fired with Black Hills Ammunition 124-grain JHP loads. My long-slide Glock doesn’t deliver that kind of accuracy.
In the end, the COA is fast becoming a favorite of the high-speed, low-drag crowd and is arguably a modern milestone.
Carrying the COA
I ordered a JM Customs Kydex light-bearing, optics-ready inside-the-waistband holster. It has worked out very well, built to my specifications and truly service grade.
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel Length: 4.02 inches (Glock Marksman Barrel)
- Capacity: 15 rounds
- Weight Unloaded: 25 ounces
- Optic: Aimpoint COA red dot with A-CUT mounting system
- Finish: Black nDLC coating
- Grip: RTF6 textured grip
To locate a dealer near you, visit www.lipseys.com/dealerfinder