Accurizing a GLOCK

[mtrmn]

Rather than work on my Glock, I worked on my reloads and tailored my ammo to the gun.

 

[hentown]

I have tried all kinds of aftermarket parts on my Glock 30 out of curiosity. The Wolff non-captive recoil springs and guide rod caused binding and failure to return to battery. The Wolff firing pin spring was a little too soft and caused occasional light primer strikes with no bang. The Wolff mag springs folded up inside the mag well after a few thousand rounds and twisted out of shape. The titanium safety plunger button made no difference at all, neither did an aftermarket barrel.

The only thing that made a positive difference was the Trijicon HD night sights and the Peirce mag extensions. The sights are a great improvement and the grip extentions solved my pinky pinch problem and improved my grip. Other than that, I've had to replace everything else with factory Glock parts again to get it back to 100% reliable.

Clean and polish the parts if you like, but leave them all stock Glock factory parts.
__________________

I probably don't have as much experience with Glocks as you, but I have fired over 300,000 rounds of my reloads through my Glocks. I've used Wolff guide rods and springs for years, with no "binding" or other problems. I've never had a steel guide rod break; have had two Glock factory guide rods break...G30 and G26.

I despise the feel of all Glock factory trigger connectors, so I install various brands of aftermarket connectors in my Glocks. Never have had a connector-related failure.

I do polish all the mating surfaces of the firing mechanisms of my Glocks.

I do own and like a threaded, compensated KKM barrel for my G21. Also own and like Lonewolf barrels. Never noticed a "hit or miss" quality control problem with my LWD barrels. Am using two new, threaded LWD barrels right now, for suppressing my G26 and G17.

My "limited" experiences with my Glocks just don't mirror yours.

Oh, yeah, best groups I ever shot with a handgun @ 100 yds were two sub-5" groups with my G21, outfitted with a threaded, compensated .40 Super barrel.

 

[LeonCarr]

What mtrmn said.

Tailoring your ammo to the gun works much better. For what some of the aftermarket match grade barrels cost after purchase and fitting by a gunsmith, you can be set up to handload.

IME the greatest accuracy gain is from switching to JHPs for your 9mm handloads. I have seen just switching from FMJ or plated bullets to JHPs cut group size in half, especially if you use Nosler or Sierra JHPs.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Blackhawk30]

Hickok45 routinly hit a gong at 80 yds.I think you need to practice more if you thin a Glock 27 is only good for 15yds.


If I wanted better accuracy than what a standard Glock has to offer I would change the type of gun. I have a Glock (yes just one, I know hard to believe Glock fans) and it's accuracy is good for it's intended use - close range self defense CCW (Glock 27 in 40 cal). Up to about 15 yards with its 3" barrel.

 

[bowhntr04]

I amazed at the accuracy of my g19. Had a 23 that would shoot high beyond 5 yrds. Didn't care for .40 and moved on. Sights and grip aren't the greatests, but overall it's an impressive little gun.

 

[burk]

Too those complaining about the Glock stock trigger, how many $500 poly striker fired guns have better stock triggers? The XD is OK, Ruger SR90? Smith M & P? Yeah right, the FNH? really? Sig 2022 (I know it's not striker)? The reality is the only one out of the box in the same league as the Glock is the XD maybe. And i'd take a Glock stock trigger over the HK's at half the price.

That said, changing the connectors and doing a trigger job are worth it on a Glock (My M & P .45 needed it far more). On my Glock 19 I have gone to a titanium guide rod/steel spring, shock buff, trigger job, weighted mag well plug, oversized slide release, trijicon nights, weighted Mag plates, and JP mag release. It is the most accurate combat pistol I own, although my Kimber Pro CDP will give it a run. I have the stock barrel, and the only way I'd change would be a threaded barrel.

My old Kimber eclipse 5" (had to sell) gave me 1.5" groups at 25 yards, my Glock comes in at 2.5", same as my CDP, not bad with the stock barrel.

 

[jr_watkins]

Wilson Combat

I left my Glock 27 stock, but decided to experiment with my Glock 22 with the goal of better accuracy. My accuracy isn't near as good as what I read from you guys, but at 15 yards my 50 shot unsupported groups were at about 4 inches consistently.
I installed a Wilson Combat barrel that required fitting. I was fairly patient and used a stone to take off material until it functioned about 80% of the time cycling snap caps. Then I stared shooting, getting plenty of practice clearing jams, and after several range trips and several thousand rounds, it became reliable.
Shot another 50 round group and was at 3 inches at 15 yards. That's a pretty good improvement and well worth the effort I thought. Put the factory barrel back in and shot the same 3 inch group.

Lesson learned, the exercise was a good learning experience, but it was the practice not the hardware that made the difference.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Glocks have been around less than 30 years. I think in 1941 no one would be claiming fantastic accuracy in a 1911. In 1941 people who owned 1911s probably had more in common with Glock owners today than 1911 owners today. Read a thriller from the 50s and 60s and see which characters were carrying 1911s.

I'm not claiming in 30 years Glock will become what the 1911 is today, in fact I think that is unlikely, but to say that it can't is wrong. Gaston is old and you don't know what is coming next.

 

[Old Fuff]

During the 1930’s and 40’s some bullseye match competitors used .45 service pistols in the .45 part of a tournament. They received a handicap if model 1917 revolvers were also being used because of their supposed (if not actual) accuracy advantage. This upset the management at the Colt factory who responded with a new National Match version that was assembled using selected parts, and fitted with better sights and a better trigger pull. Any advantage the stock revolvers had disappeared.

There is no reason that a match grade Glock couldn’t be made, either by the manufacturer or custom shops. This hasn’t happened for two reasons – lack of substantial demand, and higher production costs. As has been noted, some improvement can be realized at far less cost by careful hand loading and selection of ammunition.

 

[gym]

As told by a guy who sells a lot of glocks, when I asked , 'why don't some have night sights", people expect to pay a certain amount for a glock, "whatever the number was then," Maybe $450.00, and the majority of them won't pay another hundred for night sights. So if you want them, I can have my smith put them on for you.
It's a 5-550 dollar gun now and once you go to $600.00 plus tax and call in, the average Joe says wait a minute, I was looking at $500.00, for $650 I will pass.
A lot of everyday folks buy glocks as their first gun, with no idea what they really need or want.

 

[tarosean]

Gaston is old and you don't know what is coming next.

Sure we do. Shorter here, longer there, and now thinner. No real deviation from the original.