Seems like every striker gun company has its own take on the iconic Glock 19. Some are more successful than others at replicating the easy handling and superb reliability of the G19. TriStar Arms, of Turkey, has what I consider to be a top-flight G19-inspired pistol, at a fraction of the price. It’s called the APOC. TriStar has made a couple genuine improvements to the platform, addressing common G19 complaints.
2025 saw the introduction of the APOC base model, offered in three colors. In 2026, the Pro rendition of the APOC appeared, in black only, and that’s where I joined the journey of this company’s G19 clone. The Pro version adds optic-mounting capability and a threaded barrel. Overall, I found it completely enjoyable and flawlessly reliable. There’s only one practical disappointment.
What is the APOC Pro?
This 9mm pistol has a profile nearly mirroring a Glock 19 in terms of grip angle. Those who like a little more flair will find it here. TriStar managed to craft the grip texture, cocking serrations, and lightening cuts in such a way that they are eye-catching as well as functional.
APOC Specs
The barrel is 4.5 inches. There’s a rail up front for accessories. The drift-able rear iron sight is a U-notch with green fiber optic dots. The elongated front sight has a red fiber optic insert. The sights are of average profile; I would not expect them to co-witness with every optic.
Trigger-wise, the APOC Pro 9mm is on par with Gen 5 Glocks. The trigger features a tab safety and approximate five-pound pull.
Disassembly/reassembly are the same as any Glock. Upon field stripping, I found a dual-width recoil spring with a shiny (aluminum?) captive guide rod that is remarkably soft; I can squeeze it to about 30 percent of its length with just my thumb and forefinger. This, along with two generous lightening cuts on the top of the slide, contribute to its very effective recoil management.
A standout feature of the APOC line is it runs Glock magazines. TriStar includes two 15-round TriStar mags. They seem to be very well made, with metal “lips” reinforcing the high-wear area at the top.
Functional Design
While it lacks the backstrap choices consumers are now accustomed to in polymer-lower guns, the angle of the grip and placement of controls makes it suitable for most hands. In this trial, I loaned the gun to several male training pals who have large hands, and they found the gun very comfortable, as I do.
TriStar’s intelligent design that makes this a “gun for everyone” includes a mag release and slide catch that are in easy reach of the right thumb. Unfortunately there are no ambi features as the Gen 5/6 Glocks have. The grip is textured just right—rough, but not abrasive for long shooting sessions. I realized after my most recent session with the gun that I’d not struggled to maintain grip as I normally would have with sunscreen-slathered hands.
It’s not just the texture of the grip that supports good handling. TriStar took the initiative to provide, out of the box, a customization usually “Dremeled” onto Glocks—an undercut trigger guard. This little feature fosters greater control of recoil and makes just a little more room for big hands. And though I’m not a fan of flared magazine wells, TriStar includes one with the pistol for shooters who prefer it.
The APOC Pro’s cross-compatibility with Glock mags is a great feature. We ran it with factory, Glock brand mags for a G17, and Magpul G19 mags. Not one misfeed occurred.
Optic Options
Though I didn’t attach an optic, that’s an option. They designed the optic slot for the RMRsc footprint. That’s most common among carry optics. Want to run it as a flattop? It still looks good, with sporty, weight-saving sculpted shapes on the optic slot cover that match the two lightening cuts on top of the slide. TriStar didn’t have to try so hard, but I’m glad they did. This gun is a winner in the eye candy department.
Ammo and Accuracy Testing
Between myself and others who ran their own ammo through the APOC Pro, we used at least seven brands of ammo. We even mixed some inside the same magazine. This, and the consistently reliable performance with three kinds of magazines, is what made me a believer in terms of defensive capability.
For the accuracy test, I settled onto a bench with the gun supported on a bag and set the target at 10 yards. I fired five-round groups. The 9×19 ammo fired in the test included Sig Sauer 115 grain FMJ, Hornady 147 grain XTP JHP and Federal Premium 150 grain HST. Federal was the clear standout, yielding just two holes for five shots. This gun is capable of better accuracy than expected, especially for the price.
Ammunition | 5-Shot Group Size (Inches) |
.75 | |
1.25 | |
2.0 |
Shooting and Handling
Can I cut right to the chase? It handles like a dream. The grip is comfortable and invites the shooter to hold the APOC Pro correctly. The slide stop and mag release are well within reach even for my not-huge hands. It’d be nice if the gun were ambi as so many striker guns are today, but for $399 MSRP, we shall not complain.
Those who prefer a flared mag well will be pleased to know TriStar includes a removable one the Pro package.
Trigger reset is audible and palpable without being dramatic. In other words, the trigger is just right for defensive purposes and training at every skill level. I find it comparable to the Gen 5 Glocks.
The rear iron sights appear to be Glock design, so there are many aftermarket choices here. The stock sights are good, but it’s been my experience that front sight fiber optic tubes fall out sooner or later under even moderate use. This is an upgrade the shooter on a budget could make a year or two post-purchase, when it’s more likely to be necessary.
The lightening cuts do a great job of dampening felt recoil. In a lightweight gun such as this, I think this is a great feature that enhances control and facilitates faster firing.
It’s a small detail, but important when time is of the essence, that magazines fall freely from the gun when the release is pressed under normal conditions. Every one of the three mag brands we tried dropped without fail, both empty and fully loaded.
Superb Bang for the Buck
TriStar has a great track record of making usable, attractive guns that just work and don’t break the bank. The APOC Pro is no exception. The company integrated current trends, technology, and customer feedback to produce a high-quality little shooter that, at $399 MSRP, is priced below its real value.
I confess to some confusion on holsters. Probably because the APOC Pro has a Picatinny rail and not a Glock type rail, it doesn’t fit in the holster that fits my Gen 1-4 guns. However, I’ve seen one review that says it does fit a Glock holster, so maybe it fits a Gen 5/6. I don’t have one to try, and there aren’t any custom Kydex holsters out there yet for the APOC series that I can find. As more come into circulation and more companies make molds of them, that will change, but right now holsters for the APOC series seem to be nearly non-existent, limiting the applications of the gun. This, in my opinion, is the only reason to resist the urge to buy an APOC Pro. But it’s such a solid shooting partner, affordable and usable by shooters of virtually all levels, that it seems like everyone should make room in their gun safe for an APOC Pro.