"Scalloping" a Glock?

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Bobson

Bobson

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My first Glock experience was a couple years ago during a short-ish class with the G19 (Gen3) issued to me. I did well with it and bought my own Gen3 G19 soon afterward. I sold it later during hard times, and just bought one again - picked it up yesterday. I've stuck with the Gen3.

Maybe it's my memory being fuzzy, but I coulda sworn the front of the grip had a little "scallop" notch taken out of the bottom, which allowed for a better grip (when combined with a thumb in the hollow rear of the grip) for stripping out magazines. I've attached a picture of a Glock that does have this notch cut into it. My Gen3 G19 does not have it. Weird.

Anyone know what the deal is with that?

At any rate, it's not the end of the world. I figure I'll just do it myself. Or maybe I'll cut scallops on the sides, and plug the hollow space in the back. Is there any reason to believe this may cause undesired/unexpected results, aside from unexpectedly (or expectedly, maybe) looking terrible because I'm not a professional gunsmith?

I'm also considering scalloping the magazine release (an example of this is also attached as a picture). Any reason not to do this? Am I correct in assuming doing this will void the warranty? Has anyone done it and not found it easier to manipulate the mag release without having to shift your grip on the gun?

Thanks for the help.
 

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Wouldn't let me add more than one pic, for some reason. Here's the example of the scalloped mag release area.
 

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I'm not a believer in the Glock 'Plug' that fills that hole.

If you delve deep into it, you will find that hole is connected to another 'hole' that leads into the trigger group.

Yes, it let's dirt & water in.
But it also let's it drain or fall back out every shot.

My feeling is, if Glock Perfection thought plugging it was a good idea?
They wouldn't have put the little hole in it at the top to let water & dirt fall out through it!

My early Model 23 has the front scallop in the front of the grip to allow finger hold on the mag base plate.
It's a useful feature.

I have no experience with later models, so I don't know if they still have them or not.



I would not change the area around the mag release.
To do so is only begging for an accidental mag drop from pushing it on something while holstered and losing the mag.

Nothing worse then going to a gun fight with a single-shot semi-auto!!

rc
 
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I've never been a big fan of all these frame mods folks often do to their Glocks (stippling, undercutting the trigger guard, filing off the finger grooves,etc.), but I have to admit, that scalloping around the mag release looks pretty slick !!!
I don't think I'd necessarilly want that in a self-defense daily-carry gun, since I've had mags inadvertently released numerous times, but in a range toy or competition gun, I think that's a pretty good idea !
 
Maybe you're thinking of the G17 or G22 full size Glock which has a "scalloped" out area at the bottom of the grip for ripping out a magazine that doesn't drop out normally.

Since the grip of the G19 is shorter a scallop like that would be right under the little finger - probably why the G19 never had it. With the G17 only a huge hand would grip down far enough for the scallop to be an issue.

Look at a G17/G22 and see if that's what you're thinking of.
 
What rc said is correct, as usual. Both my second generation 19 and 23 have the scallop. The magazines that came with these pistols would not reliably drop free, so the scallop was handy to have. None of my Glocks have the plug for the reasons rc described.
 
Gaston Glock's Thoughts On Grip Plugs

Mr. Glock has been quoted many times.

When asked about the opening by the mag well, "only the Americans would want to plug up a drain."
 
Different strokes for different folks. Companies like Robar and Bowie tactical specialize in Glock "frame mods", and some people do it themselves. I actually busted a slide rail on the frame of a G17 from "over use" (but the gun still fired), and the frame had been heavily textured (not related to the busted rail). Sent it to Glock, they sent it back in 10 days with a new frame and went through the whole gun free of charge, even replaced my trijicon sights. Also replaced all my aftermarket mods (trigger, etc.) with new stock parts, and sent my custom parts back in a baggy with the gun. YMMV.
 
FL-NC said:
Different strokes for different folks. Companies like Robar and Bowie tactical specialize in Glock "frame mods", and some people do it themselves. I actually busted a slide rail on the frame of a G17 from "over use" (but the gun still fired), and the frame had been heavily textured (not related to the busted rail). Sent it to Glock, they sent it back in 10 days with a new frame and went through the whole gun free of charge, even replaced my trijicon sights. Also replaced all my aftermarket mods (trigger, etc.) with new stock parts, and sent my custom parts back in a baggy with the gun. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Wow. So it doesn't void the warranty?
 
I have smoothed off the trigger guard hook on my G27 and it made it so much easier to stuff in a pocket or holster.
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slapdead

Nice job of eliminating the hook. Looks like it was done by a custom shop.
 
Thanks guys. I just never like the hook so decided with some sanding rolls on the dremel carefully took it down. I kind of like the look too but the real beauty is in how much more functional it is. fwiw I left the hook on all my larger Glocks as it is somewhat useful on them.
 
You can do a lot to a Glock with a Dremel and woodburning tip.

http://www.tacticalshooting.com/glock-customizing/

https://robarguns.com/custom-weapons/handguns/custom-glocks/

Scallops can go on the sides, too.

European gun fighting philosophy tends to promote non drop free magazines as the user only gets a few and has to reload them. Hence the original Glock mags actually swelling when loaded and sticking in place. Drop free is an American concept largely fostered by having a large supply and competitiors used to fast reloading - after the stage is done the shooter can calmly go back and get his.

A Glock with twice the ammo might not shoot to slidelock in a typical defensive use, and new mags are drop free. Being caught out due to some malfunction and forcing the mag free to clear the weapon really goes to bad ammo or some other malfunction - it's certainly not a good thing to be stuck like that. But it has to be asked is the modification addressing something that happens frequently or is it another "combat gunfighter" mod rarely needed?

Once altered Glocks aren't stock and too often the weapon loses value unless the modification is attributable to a specific gunsmith. Much the same as hot rodding the family jalopy - well maintained stock configuration leaves no questions about "what else got Bubba's attention inside?" Mods aren't always bad but it introduces speculation where none previously existed.

Some custom touches are nice, tho, have to admit I've done it. It's the contrast between a full on kustom 1911 or GI - plenty of middle room for all of us, too.

As for the hole in the grip the feature was largely due to engineering a molded frame, not tactical use. If water and debris can flow out, it can get IN, too, and a holstered Glock allows it to run down to the works simply due to grip angle and gravity.

So, plugs are sold, not because Gaston Glock is a master gunsmith or shooter. Hardly, he made his fortune in cabinet hardware first - drawer hinges and slides, not guns. http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=919283&CAT=148

There's always a lot of chest thumping about what guns and features are "best," just think them thru and do what you like.
 
Old Glocks had that opening. They didn't exactly have drop free mags back then, and some sand could make them hard to get out. It's not really needed anymore. But you can add it easy enough.

The only grip mod I do is to round the underneath of the right edge of the trigger guard. Makes the gun so much nicer to shoot.
 
ATLDave said:
If you're having to strip out magazines with any frequency, fix your gun.
Click to expand...
How would one do that? My G23 only drops free about 70% of my mags. I've tried stuffing mags in with paper around them to "stretch" the gripframe out... worked for about 10 minutes but then reverted to not dropping them free.
 
I'm not a Glock guy, so I don't have specific instructions to give you, but I see lots and lots and lots of Glocks being shot in practical pistol competitions, and they all drop their mags freely (a gun that won't drop a magazine is non-competitive/useless in USPSA). Try to figure out where it's binding/rubbing and then polish that. Or, if it's just one magazine that does it, throw that mag away or mark it only for certain uses.

But fix it. A magazine needing to be stripped on a gun designed to drop them freely (or dropping sometimes but not others) is a failure mode.
 
Not sure I would bother scalloping the Mag release when there are dozens and dozens of aftermarket releases that make it far easier to reach. Heck even sticking a stock 34/35 "extended" mag release is a vast improvement on previous gen glocks.
 
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