P80 Glock frames

[CraigC]

A little background. I got my first Glock about 30yrs ago, a G21. Nine years later came a G19. Shot them very well and for about 15yrs total. Just never could warm up to the grip angle or shape. I reckon I'm rather weird because I'm mostly a traditionalist but shot Glocks for years before I ever shot a 1911. After that happened, the Glock's days were numbered as far as I was concerned. I sold the G21 during the AWB for a profit and later traded the G19 for an XD .45, which I still have. I've always been very positive about them. I just found something I liked better and have been happily Glock-free for 16yrs.

Fast forward to the pandemic and all the craziness surrounding it. In 2020, I started spending a lot more time with my AR's and semiauto pistols and a lot less with my sixguns. When Sleepy Joe started in about pistol braces and "ghost guns", I knew it would only be a matter of time before there was a run on them, whether any legislation was passed or not. So I scooped up several braces and a handful of P80 frames, for future posterity, I told myself. I can't leave well enough alone and my record for keeping an AR lower that didn't magically turn into a rifle is measured in months, not years.

Rather than spending twice as much gathering parts to do a full aftermarket build, I found a brand new Gen 3 G17 at my local shop for $500 and decided to use it instead. It took me a couple hours to finish that final 20% of the grip frame and get it put together. Only to decide it would be easier to leave the mag release and spring and just get new parts. I got it assembled enough to see what it was going to feel like and then ordered more parts, along with some Magpul magazines. What I ended up doing is all aftermarket in the grip frame and left the Glock frame fully functional. The trigger is ZEV, Vickers mag release, P80 magwell, with factory pins and other small parts. I have to say that it is more comfortable than the factory frame. It is not as comfy as my favorite XD9 but I'm still rather pleased to have a Glock in the rotation again. I may yet put together an aftermarket slide and barrel, because it's a shame to have that grip frame laying there all lonely like.

 

[FL-NC]

Have you fired the P80 much?

 

[jmr40]

That looks interesting. How much cost is involved, and do they make something for a G19?

I've never really been in love with Glocks, but at the same time I've not found anything until recently that worked better for me. I started with 1911's and 357 mag revolvers. But sometime in the early 90's bought a used Glock. I knew I wouldn't like it, but it was cheap enough that I figured I'd keep it long enough to confirm that I hated Glocks, then could sell it and get my money back.

But while I never loved it, I didn't hate it either. It just worked for me and from the 1990s until recently a Glock of some type was my go-to handgun. I've tried others but kept coming back. But recently the Sig M17, M18 and 365 have won me over. I still have a few Glocks though and would consider modifying one.

 

[1KPerDay]

Cool. How's it run?

 

[CraigC]

I've run several magazines through it. The sights need a little adjustment. The ammo shortage has me staying a bit conservative on the round count. So far it runs fine, without a hitch.

They do have a G19 version and I have one, plus one other full size. Not sure how available the frames are now but I paid $99/each for them. The damned ZEV trigger was $168. The magwell was $69. The Vickers mag release was $18. The slide release $12 and various other small parts were $30. So about $400 for the grip frame and parts.

IMHO, the SIG 320 is infinitely more comfortable in the hand. I actually compared it directly to the G17 and almost bought it instead but decided to go ahead with my little project. I handled the tungsten Legion version last year and absolutely loved it.