Essential Glock Modifications

[Wisco]

I was just thinking about the things I do to make a Glock more perfect.

It used to be that I would just add night sights and call it good. So for many years I was shooting stock Glocks that had factory night sights or aftermarket night sights. I shot them accurately enough for my uses.

Then I wanted to improve the trigger so I went with a 3.5 connector and NY1 trigger spring. Vast improvement and no “bump” before trigger break. Consistently more accurate for me with less effort.

Recently I went to work on two G19s and a G17 with a dremel and wood burner with square waffle tip. Ergonomics vastly improved. Originally I had ground off the grooves and used skateboard tape. Better, but too abrasive.

I said recently “perfection” would’ve been the Gen3 without finger grooves or a Gen2 with rail. After replacing triggers, I now also consider that a must have.

What say you, fellow Glock users?

 

[Mizar]

May I offer some advice? Right - first, scribe lines defining clearly the area that must be stippled, both horizontal and vertical, divided in sections that have dimensions same as the "waffle" tip. Follow them closely, while doing the outside columns first. Follow the horizontal lines closely. Do the middle column of stippling last, following a straight line as best as you can. Finish with some fine grits of wet sandpaper to break the edges and smooth the transitions between the "waffles".

 

[M1key]

Not what I would consider "essential" exactly. But, have fun.

M

 

[chicharrones]

Glocks definitely need the original plastic sights replaced almost immediately. When my eyes were better, a steel night sight up front with a plain steel rear sight was good for me. Now I need some sort of "lollipop" sight set up due to older eyes.

 

[FL-NC]

For a carry/GP Glock, all I do any more is add night sights and plug the rear hole. For something to be used in competition, either adjustable sights or fiber optics, depending on the application. I have stipled grips in the past, but now about all I do is roll on a piece of bicycle inner tube to make them "sticky".

 

[Wisco]

May I offer some advice? Right - first, scribe lines defining clearly the area that must be stippled, both horizontal and vertical, divided in sections that have dimensions same as the "waffle" tip. Follow them closely, while doing the outside columns first. Follow the horizontal lines closely. Do the middle column of stippling last, following a straight line as best as you can. Finish with some fine grits of wet sandpaper to break the edges and smooth the transitions between the "waffles".

I really WAS feeling good about my work until your unsolicited advice, but that’s the nature of the internets!

 

[JTQ]

Vickers, Hackathorn, and Harrington on their preferred Glock modifications

 

[Zerodefect]

-Flush cut a smooth trigger. G34 or G41 triggers.
-Round and under cut the right side of the trigger guard to relieve "Glock Knuckle".
-Grind the magazines to an exact thickness so they drop very free (usually only fullsize 9mm mags need this)
-Agency Arms slim magwell, bonded to frame, not just bolted
-Warren Sevigny Comp sights
-3.5 connector
-maybe I'll setup a custom striker spring. Usually the medium. Sometimes a stretched light one. Depends on trigger bar friction, and reset speed.
-polish ALL the things
-SS guide rod
-Wolff 15# recoil spring, gen 3, in the fullsize 9mm's.
-verify all safety functions at all cost
-shoot 100 JHP, and 1000 FMJ before carry.

All a bit easier than what we do to 1911's.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Night sights, 3.5 connector and file off the finger groove knobs.

 

[Ks5shooter]

^^^^^^^^^^ sounds like a lot of work,last 2 posts

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I was just thinking about the things I do to make a Glock more perfect. It used to be that I would just add night sights and call it good. So for many years I was shooting stock Glocks that had factory night sights or aftermarket night sights. I shot them accurately enough for my uses. Then I wanted to improve the trigger so I went with a 3.5 connector and NY1 trigger spring. Vast improvement and no “bump” before trigger break. Consistently more accurate for me with less effort. Recently I went to work on two G19s and a G17 with a dremel and wood burner with square waffle tip. Ergonomics vastly improved. Originally I had ground off the grooves and used skateboard tape. Better, but too abrasive. I said recently “perfection” would’ve been the Gen3 without finger grooves or a Gen2 with rail. After replacing triggers, I now also consider that a must have. What say you, fellow Glock users?

You just need to change the sights and get some fine sandpaper and polish the underside of the plastic trigger guard to avoid Glock knuckle. A few thousand rounds will smooth out everything inside.

 

[Zerodefect]

^^^^^^^^^^ sounds like a lot of work,last 2 posts

It really is. But it does pay off. I get a pistol perfectly fitted to my hand that's an extension of my body. Undercutting the trigger guard isn't so much for comfort, as it is to reduce a distraction to my concentration.

I have to send my 1911's out for the same level of attention to detail. Glocks I can do myself. I considered tuning them as a side gig after doing a few for friends, but gun owners are a tough bunch of people to deal with.

The most frustrating part. Buying 2 or 3 front sights to get the pistol zero'd perfectly. Nothings worse than a Glock that shoots different than your other Glocks.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

^^^^^^^^^^ sounds like a lot of work,last 2 posts

Fun work though.

 

[Wisco]

-Flush cut a smooth trigger. G34 or G41 triggers.
-Round and under cut the right side of the trigger guard to relieve "Glock Knuckle".
-Grind the magazines to an exact thickness so they drop very free (usually only fullsize 9mm mags need this)
-Agency Arms slim magwell, bonded to frame, not just bolted
-Warren Sevigny Comp sights
-3.5 connector
-maybe I'll setup a custom striker spring. Usually the medium. Sometimes a stretched light one. Depends on trigger bar friction, and reset speed.
-polish ALL the things
-SS guide rod
-Wolff 15# recoil spring, gen 3, in the fullsize 9mm's.
-verify all safety functions at all cost
-shoot 100 JHP, and 1000 FMJ before carry.

All a bit easier than what we do to 1911's.

Are you talking about competition Glocks?

I obviously didn’t clarify in my post what is essential for what purpose, but competition probably requires way more upgrading than a carry gun or plinker.

Here’s maybe a silly question for you, but with a 3.5 connector and NY1 trigger - how much improvement would I feel with the polishing? And what things specifically do you polish?

I ask because it’s been below zero a lot lately and I’ve got time to polish...

 

[JeffG]

For me, metal night sights, and done. Mine are carry guns.

 

[Striker]

I've been running the 3.5 connector and NY1 trigger spring setup for 15 years or so. That and some steel night sights are the only mods on my Glocks.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Sell it and get a Smith & Wesson? Just kidding, I like others would like better sights although I would choose XS express sights.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I read somewhere, maybe on THR, that Glocks come from the factory with plastic dovetail protectors on the slide.

 

[WestKentucky]

It's a glock built to be generic as can be. You made a good start on that gun but you still have ground to cover on it. Thin the grips, polish the magwell and mags so that they eject rather than release, contour the trigger guard,
Replace the godawful factory trigger, taper the magwell for quick reload, and remove that stupid divot with pronounced rim that cuts my thumb knuckle. Now that the lower is fixed you go up top with a new barrel with traditional rifling in a threaded extended barrel with a lightened slide and stronger springs. Tune the extractor to throw more to the side than to the face. Top it all off (literally) with sights manufactured by anybody other than Nerf.

Now that your $500 glock is a $1500 full custom you scratch your head and ask yourself why you didn't start off with something a little closer to (ahem) perfection.

 

[Mizar]

Sorry, Wisco, my bad...

 

[rskent]

I used to think sights and a little trigger work. Nights sights, HDs if I have the cash. Adjust the trigger to about 5 lbs. and on two finger guns, trim a little off the top of the trigger dingus.

The last Glock I bought still has the standard plastic sights and the factory trigger. I must be getting used to the factory setup. Or more likely I am starting to realize that they seem to shoot OK right from the factory.

 

[Browning]

Well...you don't really NEED anything other than the stock pistol. My Glock 17 is just stock and that's the one I've shot the most and taken to a couple classes.

Nice to have (IMO) are...
• Replacement metal sights with a green front NS and a blacked out rear sight.

• Undercut trigger guard to avoid Glock knuckle.

• Stippled grip with the finger grooves ground off.

• Extended slide stop.

• Slightly flared mag well.

I'm more focused on being able to see my sights, feel of the pistol and mag changes.

I have 5 Glocks though and my most customized Glock (4th gen 23) happens to be my favorite looking/feeling one out of the Glocks that I have. Probably not a coincidence.



I haven't really jacked around with the various aftermarket triggers. I've tried a couple of them on the guns that friends have had and while smoother they didn't really seem worth the price. Maybe I just haven't ran across the right one.



My bang around every day carry piece is usually a much loved Gen 3 26 and on that I just put on grip tape in addition to the front green NS, blacked out rear. I need to break down and get it stippled.

 

[Zerodefect]

I polish the strikers surface where it's pulled. The entire connector and trigger bar. And the striker safety. I may even smooth the sides of the plastic trigger.

All of my CCW pistols get this level of attention. I don't trust my life to a factory robot.

 

[1KPerDay]

The triggerguard hump removed. I can live with everything else.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Essential mods, none.

I could pull a Glock off the shelf of a gun store and shoot it just fine. So essential none.

I like night sights and there is no doubt the sights are the weakest link on a new Glock. So I replace them. With a G26 I undercut the trigger guard. I will point out I shot them without an undercut for years, so again not essential, but I like to do it.