I own a Glock 19. That one. In terms of caliber and cool, it’s not a patch on my Wilson Combat X-TAC Commander. But my Glock’s a great gun. It’s got plenty of capacity, never-say-die rugged reliability and excellent ergos (for me). That said, a stock Glock in an inside-the-waistband holster? No thanks. Here’s are three Glock “must-haves” that make Gaston’s gat, um, perfect . . .
1. A better trigger
If a handgun’s trigger is gritty or sloppy or too heavy or too long, if it doesn’t break like the proverbial glass rod, you’ll always be fighting the gun. (Most likely pulling your shots.) Yes, you can overcome a mediocre trigger with skill and practice – just as you can play classical music on a beat-up piano. But achieving that final measure of accuracy – where you’d dare shoot a bad guy between or behind innocents (if you had to) – requires a gun with a superior trigger.
Unlike FN and Walther’s polymer pistols, a standard Glock doesn’t have a great trigger. (You could say that people who own various caliber Glocks because the trigger’s the same on all of them are making a virtue out of a vice, but I couldn’t possibly comment.) It’s graunchy. A bit gritty. The breaking point is hard to pinpoint. And the trigger pull’s heavy: 5.5 pounds. Which is good for “safety” (i.e. for people who can’t keep their finger off the trigger until they shoot) but sucks for accuracy.
Remove your Glock trigger and fit it with an upgraded trigger. I rock the Ghost Rocket 3.5 lbs. trigger. It’s got everything I like in a go-pedal in a self-defense gun: a short take-up, an extra crispy break and a short, extremely positive reset. I can fire my Ghost gun far more quickly and accurately than I can a standard 19. I know exactly when the Glock’s going to go bang. It’s a $40 upgrade, plus the cost of a good smith’s time. There are alternatives at various price points. They’re all worth it.
2. An Outside-the-Waistband Kydex holster
If you’re an inside-the-waistband (IWB) Glock schlepper, I get it. Concealed means concealed; IWB’s git ‘er done. And outside-the-waistband (OWB) holsters have disadvantages. Unless you’re open carrying. you have to wear an untucked polo or button-down shirt (untuckit.com shirts are the bomb). Even then there can be printing issues. But when it comes to speed, surprise and violence of action, a Glock 19 in an OWB holster is a thing of beauty.
For one thing, a proper OWB holster enables you a perfect grip from the git-go. If you have to change your grip between grabbing your Glock and aiming it at the bad guy you run the risk of fumbling and/or missing. Getting your thumb around your chunky monkey Glock in an inside-the-waistband holster can be a challenge, especially if the gun’s wedged in tight. An OWB holster gives you a full, unimpeded, immediate, positive grip on your brick thick Glock.
A Glock carried OWB is fast. You can lift your shirt with your weak hand, or “scrape” your thumb along the outside of your shirt and bring your gun hand up to your GLOCK, in a fraction of a second. JWT reckons speed of presentation is more important for armed self-defense than your choice of gun or caliber and shooting skill; more than 80% of defensive gun uses end without a shot fired.
I wear my 19 in a K Rounds kydex holster. We can argue about Kydex vs. leather, but my properly made, high-quality Kydex holster – held down by a suitably stiff gun belt – keeps my 19 tight to side (with room for my thumb). It eliminates printing issues when I’m wearing anything other than a skin-tight shirt (a horrible image but there you go). OWB holsters are also significantly faster and safer for re-holstering than IWB rigs. Bottom line: stashing a Glock in a Kydex OBW holster creates, dare I say it, confidence.
3. Night Sights
Why anyone would sell a self-defense gun without night sights is beyond me. (Probably something to do with money.) If you were a bad guy, would you attack in broad daylight or wait for the gloaming? If you were a good guy – and you are – wouldn’t you want sights on your Glock that perform well in low-light conditions? You would. You do.
Many gun owners fixate on the BITN (Bump In The Night) scenario. Given that so many Glock owners park their gun on the nightstand when they fall into the arms of Morpheus, I’m surprised that anyone would own a gun without night sights. Yes, you can turn on the lights. (D’uh!) But what if you have to go, gulp, outdoors? You know; at night.
There are lots of superb aftermarket Glock night sights: Trijicon, TruGlo, Glock OEM, AmeriGlo and more, Buy a set, install them and relax. You’ve got an awesome gun, a great way to carry it and the security of knowing you can defend your life in any light condition.
What are your three Glock must-haves?
1) G 26 2) Lone Wolf threaded barrel 3) Sticky Holster. RF any thoughts on the new Caracal Facebook PR push? Seems to be rather frustrating but at least they’re “communicating” monthly…
Does Caracal have a gun for sale yet? What the heck are they doing? They dumped millions in getting to market only to have some serious errors and now a two year delay getting guns back on the shelf. I’d really love to get one, the first generation was great (except for that fatal flaw) but now there’s the Strike One offering something different.
Oh boy, just what I want, a gun manufactured in a middle eastern, muslim country instead of Glock from Austria, because the United Arab Emirates are SO well known for their traditions in fine product manufacturing…what else is on your list to buy from them?…an IED perhaps?
UAE is quite secular and modern in general. As a Marine we went there to aid in training their New Marines. They were more than welcoming, through us a feast, everyone was remarkably friendly. Their Marines were great guys, and they hate Iran with a passion. When we went on liberty in Dubai, there was a wide variety of people including women who looked like super models walking around in short skirts and dresses. We could drink alcohol, and not one person can gave us a sideways look, in fact some local men purchased our meal for us. I may not agree with all their views, but they are an excellent ally to have in the middle east.
UAE is and ultra-modern and non extremist country. It’s one of the few where you can leave your hotel pick a random direction and just walk.
Nobody is waiting to chop your head off with a dull knife for their way over done snuff video. If anyone did hassle you the extremely well armed and professional police their would F-them up with methods that would get jail time in our country.
Eric Prince founder of Blackwater International moved his whole family there after he got tired of the shit going on in the US of A.
Don’t confuse every Arab or Muslim country with extremists. The UAE is a great country and great Ally. I believe they actually have a few Female Fighter pilots who are dropping JDAM’s on ISIL/ISIS/Inbred Goat rapers in the country formerly known as Iraq.
Im just fine with my IWB. If you train enough with i…….its second nature. I dont have to alter my grip at all.
Night sights? Yes. Absolutely. Trigger? Meh. Factory trigger is just fine. It does what its supposed to do Consistently. Can it be improved upon? Hell yes. I Did a 25 cent trigger job and a ghost adapter. But it wasnt NEEDED.
Gen2 G19, Alien Gear 1.0
I agree, I think the factory trigger is just fine, and the reset is awesome. I shoot very well with it
even though my little Glock 19 is plastic toy… i never miss with it. lol you can guess im not a fan of the HP Printer equivalent of a gun. but i got it due how common it is and ease of getting parts and local smithy. they are good, but faaaar from great guns. yes its good enough to bet my life on it, till you drop it. on my rig its my backup high on the carrier in left hand position top most moles out of danger of damage or muck. Ar500 XL rig. my XDm is at my right side.
trigger is not an issue. well lets put it this way with 15 yrds i never miss and almost never use sights lefty or righty. with 10-7yrds i hit tagets blind folded and never miss center line of target.
its 90% the training vs the gun. train both hands, with both eyes. focus on your offhand, Not you good one. that eye/hand will always do well. the more you practice you weaker, the better your primary will become. besides in self defense you Can Not count on your good hand. you might be holding a child or injured wife and need to use your other hand from a variety of positions. Practice all of them including laying down firing above, side and below you with both hands from time to time.
just like any other fight, if you have to think of what to do next, You Lose. it must be instinct. the choices come easier if your not focusing on mechanics in a fight and will make better n safer choices. might not need to shoot at all. if your confident they might run, if your shaking and scared they have no reason to fear you and might take advantage of your fear. if your stable and speak with a steady voice, they most likely will leave you alone.
trust me it does matter, confidence saves lives just like a strong military, with good leadership. weakness only gets people hurt/killed, just like a weak military that withdraws and has no real leadership.
The SIG P320 comes with two of those out of the box………
^He’s right, you know.
Yeah, if you don’t mind a gun that is larger in every dimension (LxWxH) and heavier, too. Even the P320 Carry is still larger in two dimensions, and although though it is .08″ shorter, it also has .10″ less barrel than the G19. So, a fail there, too.
And all that is before we start talking about price, and cost of mags/accessories.
Sorry, folks. Given how long it took to get to market, I though the SIG P320 would be better in at least SOME areas…
Well yeah when you compare a full sized gun to a compact one it’s bigger. Even so the dimensions are so similar the argument is ridiculous, if you get your panties in a wad over less than three ounces I’m not sure how you made it this far. The P320 has a better trigger, and blessed be night sights, and a quick google search shows the compact model for 399 online, with night sights.
It took Glock a whole generation to copy S&W. At least the P320 shows some original thinking, a modular platform so folks of all sizes can use the gun comfortably.
And that “whole generation” that Glock took to “copy” one tiny feature of S&W’s otherwise-Glock-like pistols, Glock was kicking S&W’s ass all around the block in sales, in almost every market. And still is.
Yeah, it sucks when you are already selling every pistol you can produce, and the only way to grow your market is to try to steal a competitor’s tiny market segment that consists primarily of whiney folks who say “But I don’t like the way a Glock FEELS in my hand! Even if I can shoot it better/faster! Waa!”.
So very much agree.
I’d rather have a flashlight than night sights.
…and I’d rather have a DA/SA gun with a hammer, but I’ll just show myself to the door.
Same here, a CZ p09 preferably
I carry a CZ P07. Best of both worlds since you can swap in a 5 inch barrel if you really want it and just use P09 magazines. For concealment you can stick with the shorter barrel and 16 round flush mags. I usually carry the flush 16 round mag and a spare 19 round mag or two. I think the only competition is the XD series but I don’t really like those. I’m considering getting a competition pack to get to 24 round for the home defense scenario, although H&K also has 25 round extenders too and I’m sure most major options do too.
A business aquaintence let me dry fire his CZ-75D PCR that he had sent to Cajun Gun Works for a trigger job, which involved replacing a lot of parts, not just smoothing. Both DA and SA were just plain beautiful.
Fred, my next gun is going to be a P07. Believe it or not the extended factory CZ 75 mags will run in the P07 and P09 reliably. For the P09 you have to remove that little rubber buffer, but it gives you 26 rounds in 9mm
His list is good for any gun that doesn’t have what he listed, whether it’s a Glock or Not A Glock. Of course many guns DO come with non-crappy triggers (even many Glocks luck out)
…and a rotating cylinder with 6 chambers. Now we’re talking!
I’d rather have both. I carry a 5.11 ATAC PLx clipped in one pocket for EDC. Slim and comfy to pocket carry, runs on AAAs. Got it from the NRA store for $24.99. It replaced my Surefire E1B which costs a lot more and is brighter, just based on carry comfort. The E1B is on nightstand and glovebox duty now.
I’ve never owned a firearm with night sights so I won’t knock them, I can only say I’ve never had any desire to own a firearm with them. My main defensive handguns are a Ruger GP100 Wiley Clappp for carry and a 6″ stainless GP100 with a fiber optic front sight and white U notch in back for home. Every semi-auto I’ve ever owned had white 3 dots. The Wiley Clapp has a Novak rear (no dots) and a gold bead front, which I absolutely love. The gold (nice touch Ruger, it’s actually the gold bead, not the brass bead that Colt went with) bead is REALLY reflective while the fiber optic I put on the 6″ does a great job of gathering side light it’s only so-so with reflecting light. I like to hold the light up high enough to illuminate the sights as opposed to using it down low where you lose your dots and have to use the silhouettes of the sights. In this respect the WC is perfect and the 6″ GP OK. I bought my light a few years ago, it’s 140(?) lumens which I thought was pretty bright when I bought it, but seems like it’s on the dim side nowadays.
I realize that there is a small window where there is enough light to identify the foe while still dark enough to make target acquisition with white 3 dots difficult. But add a light to the mix and it’s a non factor. Given the choice, I’d take a light over glow-in-the-dark sights any day.
I have become enamored of the Lone Wolf extended slide lock lever. It makes all the difference in the world in being able to easily take down the Glock. I first put it on to make it easier to get the G21 frame into and out of the Mech Tech upper; I’ll put that extended slide lock lever on every Glock I ever get.
I also am a fan of the G30’s flush-fit 9-round magazine. The 10-round is fine, sure, but the 9-round makes the G30 almost pocket-able, while still delivering 9+1 rounds of .45.
On the other end of the spectrum, Kriss/Magpul’s “25+” round magazine is fantastic. I’ve got a few of ’em, they deliver about 29 rounds of .45 in a well-built, fully reliable package.
Just to clarify, how does the slide lock make the gun easier to take down? Do you mean the extended disassembly tabs?
STB410 is correct. The “disassembly tab” is called a slide lock. You may be confusing it with the slide stop lever which is what holds the slide open on an empty magazine (or by manually lifting it with your thumb).
Very much agree. The factory part is just flat-out too small.
I’m down with the night sights, and in fact that’s my only Glock must-have. I continue to scratch my head at the stream of claims from this site regarding the superiority of OWB holsters. A good IWB holster keeps the grip high and tight, with plenty of room for a proper grip, not to mention with a proper leather IWB setup the belt gets to help you in weapon retention scenarios…the only thing OWB would be better for is getting MWAG’d by some ninny with a cellphone.
As for the trigger, if you try hard enough you will conjure up an application for which any given trigger is inadequate. I’m having some trouble imagining a _plausible_ self defense scenario where the stock Glock trigger wouldn’t work, though.
I read all I could in the picture, before continuing. Is that weird?
Weird? Nooooo.
One of these……
http://www.survivalops.com/shop/full-auto-and-select-fire-glock-kits/
ATF requesting sale records in 3….2….
well, i agree with num 1 and 3, but you are way off on 2. if you have a good IWB holster (say g code incog) you will be just as fast and have the same reholstering advantage that an OWB kydex holster has, with the added benefit of better concealment and control. while I am a fan of kydex hoslter (and I have made more than a few that were primary where for SOF operators on mission), they do allow for more movement of the gun on your hip. This is not to say that it will come out or anything crazy like that, just that your ability to keep in concealed/”print free” is harder. Of course this is all stipulated based on the climate you are in. As I am sitting here in FL and carry a G19 in shorts and a T-shirt an OWB holster is a NO-GO. even in the winter I do find myself going for the Incog more than any other CCW holster I have though
I wouldn’t modify the trigger on a self defense piece; to many ways it can come back and bite you. I already hope I never have to use a gun for more than sporting and fun, I don’t want to make a bad situation worse. I’d personally much rather just get used to a heavy stock self defense trigger (like my SD9VE which is worse than Glock’s) or cough up the extra dough for a gun that has a good factory trigger. Massad Ayoob did a good job explaining why here among other places:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/01/brad-kozak/the-massad-ayoob-chronicles-part-v/
Agree. As a lawyer, I avoid the 3.5 triggers ( unless it was for a dedicated completion gun). The liability arguments by plaintiffs lawyers are plausible to jurors. My brother is excellent with tools, and from videos he learned how to smooth the triggers on his Glocks, and did mine as well. With the grittiness smoothed out, it’s far more serviceable. No, it doesn’t “break like a glass rod”, but after almost 25 years with my G19, I believe I can “Git ‘er done.”
BTW, YES! Night sights.
1: Extended slide release (or slide stop, if you’re a smarmy cunt) lever.
I could write a dissertation about why using the slide release is better than the “powerstroke” method.
2: Extended magazine release.
Even with long fingers I have to shift my grip to drop the magazine on my stock Gen 3 G19
3: Fobus Paddle Holster.
These are the best holsters ever. I have one for all 3 of my carryable handguns.
The trigger has never bothered me (it’s no 1911, but… does it have to be?), the sights are perfectly cromulent, and I need a holster I can take off quickly.
At the risk of being a “smarmy cunt” I hope your dissertation involves at least a paragraph on how using the slide stop as a slide release wears out the slide stop notch in the slide, how much it costs to fix said wear, and how to manipulate a pistol in a self defense scenario when it fails to lock back on an empty magazine.
Sarcasm aside, using the slide stop that way can and will round off the notch in the slide. If that’s how you train, rock on, but please be aware that it wasn’t designed for that.
“: Extended slide release (or slide stop, if you’re a smarmy cunt) lever.
I could write a dissertation about why using the slide release is better than the “powerstroke” method.”
Please do so. This has not been my experience and I would be interested in yours. JWT
Never understood Glock fanboys when they stated Glocks are great once you upgrade triggers, sights, internal components to make it a great gun.
If the gun is so great, why does it need so many upgrades to make it great.
I say a grat gjn is one that needs the least upgrades out of the box.
The sleek lines (meaning almost no extra lines whatsoever), the commonality across the ENTIRE platform, the ease of home gunsmithing. Those are just 3 of the many reasons we fanboys like a Glock…yes, even when things don’t come perfect from the start. Cheap, crappy, plastic sights means we don’t have to feel bad tossing them out. You can talk all you want about your $800 Sig being perfect out of the box, but a $525 base price makes my Glock, even after all my fav mods, cheaper than that Sig every day all day.
Comparing a Glock to a $800 Sig (which at that price point would have to be one of the classic Sigs) really isn’t a fair comparison. I’ll put my $525 stock Sig P320 Compact up against your modified Glock any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
You are on to something with the Sig P320. It seems to be everything the glock is and more, with a better trigger and real modularity. If the P320 doesn’t win the Army’s MHS competition, many people need to go to prison. Only time and results will vault the P320 over the Glock as a combat pistol, but I believe it will. Sig waited a long time fir a striker fired gun but they hit a grand slam.
Except foe the .45s, where the parts aren’t compatible with any of the others. Which is idiotic.
Get AGrip!
http://www.BrooksTactical.com
Glock 26 in an iwb.. second mag with finger groove extension.. deep cover… however, my sig 239 shoots straighter, hugely better trigger…
What are your three GLOCK must-haves?
1 A different gun.
2. A better gun.
3. A nicer gun.
I thought you own a couple yourself. Perhaps I’m mistaken.
I do. A 19 and a 36.
But I carry them because I don’t care about them. If they got seized by the cops, I’d shrug.
I’d like to know what your top choices are for concealed carry or just to have at home, since Glocks are apparently so unworthy.
See, his fundamental problem is they work too well, so he never has to tear them down and bitch about how all the innards aren’t polished.
Glocks work well enough for what they are. The Glock was designed first and foremost to be a way to market a low-COGS product to government agencies in such a way as to maximize the manufacture’s profit margin.
In that aspect, Glocks have been highly successful.
The LWD 416R barrels and caliber swap barrels are very nice. A stainless steel or tungsten recoil spring / guide Rod upgrade are also an improvement. And a good gun light, of course, but just about any full or midsize SD pistol can benefit from one of those.
Like you, I had a G23. It fit my hand like a glove. (And not OJ’s glove…)
The only gripe I had was the slide release. I couldn’t consistently drop the damn slide.
Replaced the stock slide release with Glock’s extended slide release.
Nirvana. It was my daily carry for a few years.
also, (further to above), night sights on both, also CT lasers on both..
When I bought my G35 it already came with a 3.5 pound trigger – I wouldn’t use a Glock with anything else now.
“Why anyone would sell a self-defense gun without night sights is beyond me.”
That’s simple, at defensive distance the last thing you’re going to worry about under the stress of a defensive shooting is the sights. With the reduced size and cost of lasers, the same could be said about anyone who doesn’t use a laser on a defensive gun or a gun mounted flashlight.
Night sights don’t illuminate your target and if you’re in total darkness they do nothing for you. You’re much better off shooting at night and learning how to hit a torso at 30 feet without worrying about a sight picture to slow you down. Not only can you accurately shoot without sights, at defensive distances you’ll be much faster .
at defensive distance the last thing you’re going to worry about under the stress of a defensive shooting is the sights. There was a reason that the GI 1911s had tiny sights which were just for the range. Combat shooting was more of a point and shoot affair.
You can be in relative darkness when your target is not. You might be waiting in a dark a dark room when a home invader is in a lit hall for example. I would be probably do better with my Trijicon HD night sights in that scenario than I would without them.
I shoot at night, a lot, this weekend is nice for shooting at night since the fireworks dull the sounds of gunfire (I can shoot at home on my own property). I also have to qualify on a night course. I bought night sights once upon a time. Then they wore out and no longer glowed. It turns out that I didn’t need them and I never had an issue qualifying without them. So I never bought a set again. I just spend some time in the dark and low light putting shots on a torso target. I’d much rather rely on shooting and practicing at night than using night sights that I’ve never shot in the dark. You should be able to hit a torso at 7 yard on moonless night, without any sights. If you’re stopping to take a sight picture, that threat has closed that gap and is now knocking you to the ground.
The average person will take 1.3 seconds to draw and get a shot on target when they have to react. A relatively fit young adult male will easily cover 7 yards in those 1.3 seconds. So where in there do you have time to use sights. As soon as you clear that holster you should be finger on the trigger and shots at center mass. Now, if you say you’d have you gun out at the first sign of trouble then you should have been looking at option A and moving in the opposite direction as trouble. If your plan A is a gun fight, it’s time to reevaluate plan A. If you’re at home and you have home field advantage, you have many better options. I love a fast strobing high watt/lumens flashlight. The strobe will disorient anyone who is looking at it to the point where they wouldn’t be able to tackle you if they charged at you from 7 yards.
I learned a lot by shooting and qualifying at night. I found that night sights are a marketing gimmick that’s geared towards someone who grew up shooting tiny little groups from a fixed position. I bought them once and then realized that I could spend that $100 on other stuff.
Right on. I agree 100 percent. The bad guy is not going to wait on you to point and aim at just the right spot to him, he’s going to be all over you by then, probably high on drugs it will take a lot to drop him so you May need those extra two or three shots you could have gotten off if you hadn’t spent so much time amingfor that sweet spot.
If you don’t need em, you don’t need em. But I am pretty much that guy that “grew up shooting tiny little groups from a fixed position”, as that was all the ranges in the area offered. The first time it actually occurred to me I wanted night sights was after the Aurora movie theatre shooting. I imagined myself being on the floor behind a seat with enough time to take an aimed shot only because I was not the sole focus of the attacker. Any sights other than night sights would have been worthless for me. My eyes are not great to begin with, I’ve worn contacts for over 30 years, and while I can see 20/20 at any range, my depth of focus is reduced so that if I am focused on the front sight, the target is more blurry for me than someone with natural 20/20, or if both eyes on on the target, most front sights are a worthless blur. Poor lighting only makes it worse. My Trijicon HD night sights are the exception and improved this vastly. It’s not just the tritium, they have bigger dots than factory sights on my SR9c and the front one has a very prominent yellow dot on a tall post with photo-luminescent paint in addition to the tritium. I can actually point shoot with both eyes on target and that big yellow front sight is still visible enough in my lower peripheral vision to help guide me. I usually am relaxed at the range, but when I practice drawing and shooting “tense”, my point of aim when the muzzle comes up tends to be slightly left of where it is when I am relaxed, and a prominent front sight, even seen peripherally, helps me to adjust quickly before trigger pull.
I may never need my night sights in reality, but it is reassuring that in whatever scenario my imagination can conjure up, I will at least be able to use my sights if I want to, even in the dark. I do need more diverse training though, and since a new 14 million dollar superfancy range with an actual shoot house just opened up not far from me, I plane on getting more realistic SD training. Maybe I will look at night sights as unnecessary one day too, but I am not there yet.
“plan” rather, not plane
I like the call for an OWB, especially with a G26. Since I prefer a flush mag when I carry a G26 (otherwise might at well go G19, right?), it sort of melts into my flesh when carrying in an IWB rig. The tiny amount of separation an OWB kydex rigs gives, provides just enough grip to gain purchase before drawing. My choice is this: http://www.cooksholsters.com/comfort-series-owb-iwb-holster/
Although, if not for the cost, I’d prefer this: http://www.alabamaholster.com/product/the-flapjack/
Holsters are like bicycle seats — one man’s Barcalounger is another man’s pike up the patoot. A holster remains the ultimate in personal choice.
Night sights are great — you may not need them, but why wouldn’t you want them?
And everybody craves a better trigger, even though Glock triggers are pretty good as striker-fired pistols go. Yes, Glock triggers are mushy and vague, but Glock is a fighting gun, not a target pistol. Polish the internals and you’re GTG.
And no, I’m not a Glock fanboy. I’m not even a fan.
Having owned a Glock and well familiar with the trigger, why in the hell didn’t Glock offer a factory cleaned-up trigger upgrade?
Three boxes of ammo to make sure they all function. Shoot some water jugs to make sure you do not have fragmenting ammo. The plastic holster that Glock sells works fine.
First off, I’m definitely not a “Glockie” (only have 2 and not ashamed to proclaim my profound & whorish lust for many other makes/models) but FOR ME, the Gen 4 Glock 19 is the perfect CC pistol. Followed closely by Walther PPQ M2 and gaining ground quickly is the XD45 Mod. 2 (it’s a .45, what’s not to love?) That being said, my 3 MUST haves for my G19 are;
1) Ameriglo Pro I-Dot Sights (orange outline front for my old tired eyes). Notice I didn’t refer to them as “night sights”. For me they are superior for bright sunlight and LOW-light situations. In the dark, it doesn’t matter what sights you have if you don’t have a light to illuminate your target.
2) Sticky Holster or Alien Gear IWB holster
3) Pearce pinky finger mag grip extension
4) Supplemental draft pick…Talon Grips customized stick-on overlays are awesome for wet, sweaty, or cold hands adding no extra bulk to the grips.
Stock trigger & controls fully acceptable, but love the Ghost 4.5lb connector (not for lighter trigger but very smooth crisp operation/feedback). Definite performance enhancers with the Tango Down Vickers mag release and Vickers Tactical Slide Stop/Release. The Lone Wolf slide removal lever is nice too.
Better title: “Three things I felt I needed to do to my Glock to make it right for me”
You’re not as bad as Nick, but damn! Leave a little room for preference! Not everybody is JUST LIKE YOU!
Unbelievable. If you can’t hit with a handgun with a 5.5lb trigger you need more range time to work on trigger control, not a 3.5lb trigger.
^ This.
As a guy who loves shooting revolvers, I had to chuckle in agreement at this. 5.5 lbs would be a freakin’ Holy Grail of double-action revolver triggers…
I have 6lb and 6.26lb on my SW 627’s…some comp guys are below 5lb, but you have to be careful on primer selections. With 6lb da trigger, I can shoot most any factory load with no light-strike fails.
I’d have to agree.
I shoot handguns with light triggers (in the 1lb range), heavy triggers (in the 12lb range – DA S&W’s) and can put rounds on target with either one.
The issue people complain about with triggers isn’t the weight as much as the quality of the pull. Trigger pulls that are creepy, squishy, uneven, gritty, crunchy, etc – really stand in the way of accurate shooting.
Striker pistols have a characteristic trigger of squishy/springy take-up, and (in some designs) poor resets. There’s not much than can be done to clean some of them up. Glock triggers are what they are, and while you can change the length of the throw vs. the weight, there’s really not much that can be done to make them a really crisp trigger.
This is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to revolvers. When you need to shoot a revolver for accuracy, you thumb the hammer back and now you’ve got a target trigger. Need a fast trigger? Just pull the DA through. Best of both worlds, as it were. You could have that on a pistol too…. but you’d need an external hammer, and now you’re out of the striker-fired class of pistols.
I agree to a point. Gritty, rough triggers are annoying regardless of pull weight. Let’s just not blame the trigger for failing at marksmanship.
DG, what can be done with the S&W DA semi-auto trigger? I’ve been told they’re hopeless.
This is incredibly timely. I just got a call telling me my LGS had a blue label 19 come in. I’ve been waffling between it, the P320 and a PPQ for a while.
The PPQ I can’t find anywhere, even just to grip and dry fire, so I’m a bit wary (my hand size is a little wonky) to pick one up. But, the trigger is supposedly buttery smooth.
The 320 seems like a nice middle ground and feels more solid than the Glock. But, accessories appear to be few and far between (and things like extra mags are pricy).
The Glock is more flexible and easier to modify. It’s also pretty fungible, should it not work out for me in the long run. But, it needs a little bit of investment to get it where it should be as a defense/carry gun.
If I got with the Glock, based on the comments and talking to a few others, I’m thinking the following are the three immediate essentials I need to pick up:
1) new slide lever lock – I thought about the Lone Wolf, but the Trapezoid caught my eye as not being wider than factory, protecting my holster when carrying
2) extended slide release – the Ghost standard should be good
3) suggestions are good – I was thinking a Ghost Edge 3.5 as a drop in solution, but the potential legal ramifications are troubling; night sights, but it was pointed out that they are really only good for that first shot; laser or light, but that’s a lot of bulk to add; 25 cent trigger job, but it sounds like I can get the same by just using the trigger enough
I’m wondering if the best option for #3 would just be a 1000 rounds of 115 RN.
Never had this much trouble before.
Running a thousand rounds through it, while fun, is a lot more expensive than a drop-in cleaned up trigger. Whatever blows your skirt up.
I personally agree on the extended slide release.
YMMV, as always…
Wouldn’t dry firing work? I figure a 100 or so repetitions per night should get me there in no time.
This would be my first Glock, so maybe I’m missing something.
“Wouldn’t dry firing work?”
Quite possibly. Can someone who actually knows comment?
You could just dry fire with a snap cap for #3 and save ammunition cost.
Understand the desire for a drop in trigger and the concerns associated if you ever have to defend yourself in the legal system. I have a 23 Gen 4. My solution was a basic level Pyramid trigger from the Glock Store. Didn’t change the pull weight however does provide a cleaner break and a smooth trigger (I don’t like ridges on a trigger). I also installed a heavier steel guide rod which has helped smooth out recoil and allow for more accurate follow up shots. These two mods makes a good, low cost and reliable carry pistol much easier to shoot well.
First, a stock glock with 5.5 pound connector, does not, ever, yield a 5.5 pound trigger pull. It yields anything from 6-8 pound trigger pulls, with the Gen 3’s better than the Gen 4’s, generally speaking. I just put the following setup in both my Gen 4 Glock 17 and 19:
1) GlockTriggers.com Guardian trigger (stock OEM glock parts mirror polished
2) Olive color NY1 8 pound trigger spring
3) Ghost Edge 3.5 pound drop in connector
4) Zev Tech slicked up striker block with reduced power striker block spring
5) Zev Tech lightweight extended striker
6) Ghost 4 pound, reduced power striker spring
Both now read an actual 5-5.5 pound trigger pull that is butter smooth, for a glock. Very crisp clean break, with little if any overtravel and no sight disruption. This setup ignited federal, wwb, umc, cci and Sellier and Belloit. YMMV
or just buya better gun and save the yourself the headache
Show me a better gun at the price point, that is more reliable, more proven, less prone to breakage, that has fewer moving parts, that is easier to field strip and armor, that has better parts availability (both OEM and proven reliable aftermarket parts), more magazine availability/compatability, etc…….do you get the point. Now, I totally understand if you dont like the feel, looks, trigger, ergos, etc. There are plenty of other good choices out there, but you cant deny the Glocks for what they are. A great, simple combat pistol. I also love 1911s, Sigs, CZs, Beretta M9 and others. To me, the Glock is the ultimate combat pistol.
I don’t hate Glocks, I actually carry a Glock 29 regularly, but if you are willing spend money to fix it, why not buy a better weapon in the first place? The Sig P226, P229 series have tons of aftermarket support and magazines, as well as Cz 75, and like you said the 1911, (although brand, make and model have a lot to do with if a 1911 is gonna work)
I don’t agree with any of the 3. A SD weapon is generally for up close and personal protection and a lighter trigger or night sights are not going to help in a close emergency encounter. Also, if the fraction of a second difference between a IWB and OWB holster is going to make a difference in life or death, the odds are that you are already sunk. The three things you need need are a reliable gun, guts and ammo.
If you need a Glock the best models are the 17, 21SF, 23, and 29. Overall I put the Glocks trigger above FN and defiantly a SiG. overall if you need a plastic framed pistol Glocks are still #1.
This is the same Lance from TFB right? I’m assuming you’ve actually never touched a good trigger. Glocks aren’t bad, but they’re the Honda Civics of guns.
Glocks fell off the list of contenders for me after Gen 2 because of the damned finger groves. You could put the worlds best trigger and sights on it, and I would still hate them. Almost any semi-auto pistol I have ever picked up feels better in the hand. At least they wised on on the G43, but thats not the size Glock I would want.
Whenever Gen 5 comes along, Glock should offer interchangeable front straps along with back straps so you could get a grooveless one if you want, like Magpul does with the MIAD grips I bought for my AR.
Removing the finger grooves: See your Dremel manual.
I replaced my Glock triggers. I bought a defense pistol, not a legal defense pistol.
If you don’t subscribe to the idea of the best tool for the job then you might as well just carry a rape whistle.
I upgraded all my glocks to the Ghost Evo trigger kit. I’ve owned several of their great kits and the Evo is their best. I love my Hidden Hybred holster IWB or OWB and it’s very comfortable. They all have the Truglo TFO sights and my new 43 has the heavy duty version of the TFO sights which I really like.
I have one Glock, a Gen 4 G 19. I did what I do with any new firearm. I shot a couple hundred rounds before deciding if I needed to do anything to make it more to my liking.
I polished the internals, and replaced the connector with a Ghost Rocket 3.5 lb connector (Not the kit, just the connector). I did this to eliminate over-travel, and to lighten up the trigger a little bit. (Measured trigger pull with the new connector was at 5 lbs, with no more over-travel.)
I bought it with the night sights, but when it’s on the nightstand it wears a Surefire X300 light.
It rides in a Blade Tech Eclipse OWB holster.
So, ever-so-lightly modded, and just right for me.
I see a lot of people mention the Rocket and Evo. I’m curious why not the Edge? I’m looking at it and like the drop in convenience, but if it’s worth the extra for the part plus added cost of smithing, I don’t mind paying.
I don’t believe the “Edge” had been introduced when I bought my connector, but more to the point, I was addressing the over-travel problem with the new connector. The Rocket needs a bit of hand fitting to get it just right, but it gave me the trigger pull I like. The Edge doesn’t address over-travel, so I likely would have passed on it anyway, though it would likely lighten the trigger pull.
Understand though, that this is a just personal thing with me. I’m just used to firearms with a certain kind of trigger, so I carried that over to my Glock. One of the nice things about a Glock is that if you don’t like your particular connector, it’s inexpensive and easy to change.
A stock Glock 19 in a IWB Alessi is just right for me. I have carried this rig for years.
I was an independent contractor when Glock came out with their line….traveled coast to coast [and in between!] demonstrating semi-automatics to police departments. This was the time when department issued personal firearms migrated from revolvers to semi-autos.
Now, after the G17s they finally came out with the G21…….bought the first one I shot! Still have it. Unmodified…..best combat pistol in existence…PERIOD!….move along…nothing else needs said…
1- Standard GLOCK Trigger on my Gen 2 G17. Thousands of rounds have made it very nice.
2-Mitch Rosen OWB G17 holster, works great, easy to carry.
3- Would prefer a Streamlight TLR-3/4 to night sights. Best thing about night sights is that they’re Metal.
Glocks are Excellent handguns. The triggers do need work, and a good holster is good for any carrying. I personally have little use for night sights, as I’m usually home/in a good place at night, and the 870 with a Surefire light in the forend is pretty handy at home. I’d add a 4th must have: Ammo! lots of it!
The primary issue I have with OWB carry is that most shirts don’t cover the holster completely. Simply reaching up to get something off a store shelf can expose my firearm.
My VG-EX Sig 226 cost less than PD price of a basic g22-23. If it had ever been issued or fired I’d be surprised. Trigger is perfect out of the box, rail for light & $35 for 2 more mags. Had night sights immediately replaced with 24/7 big dots. My 1 Glock I put dead eye ring sights. No sights is an improvement under 7yards.
What drugs do you have to take to be in your forties and write like a 29 year old “wigger”?
STOCK Glock 26 or 27 (19 prints too much–really should sell it)
IWB Holster 4 o’clock strong side
small handheld flashlight in weak-side pocket (Fenix E12)
I have never understood the 19. The 26 for CCW, for everything else the 17.
Glocks also need to not be in all caps because they aren’t abbreviations or acronyms. They’re just a regular proper noun that gets one capital letter right at the beginning.
“GLOCK” is the trademark name, not “Glock.”
My only Glock ‘must have’ = a CZ (P 07 or 09)
I don’t have to worry about re-holstering. The trigger is as fast, or as light and crisp, as I want it to be (ie DA for fast, SA for light and crisp), not squishy and springy. The grip doesn’t feel like a block of wood – and I don’t need to do any mods/trigger jobs/sight-jobs. Also has a little less muzzle flip and is a little more accurate. Ultimately this is what I feel confident with, and to each his own in that regard. But the manual of arms on a (polymer) hammer-fired CZ is what I feel gives ME most control, and therefore and most confident with. I don’t like thumb safeties, so that rules out a bunch of the others. And while the XDM grip safety isn’t bothersome and eliminates the re-holstering concern (and the triggers are much better than a Glock), i still prefer a long first trigger pull as my safety mech – and having the control and precision of a hammer fired gun. But having said that, I’m not exactly selling my Glocks (or XDM’s) either. They are what they are, they are just not MY preferred option.
Talon grips!!!
IWB Kydex holsters work just as well as OWB, and usually conceal much better. It’s nice to wear OWB, but you generally have to dress in more baggy clothes, and some of us take pride in our personal appearance.
My Glock must haves?
1) Ghost connector, with a full high-polish job on all trigger components
2) Kydex or hybrid holster, for IWB or OWB use
3) Night sights
4) Grip reduction & stippling job, if not Gen 4. I haven’t shot enough Gen 4 to know if I would need one for it.
“and usually conceal much better”
In what way? I have a raven concealment phantom. It can be worn either IWB or OWB. Either way it is the same thickness, so the bump (pants plus holstered gun) is going to be the same, just the gun on one side or the other.
Sure I get if my shirt comes up when I am OWB you will see the bottom of the holster. Come up far enough and you will see the grip of the gun whether IWB or OWB.
To me concealment = hiding the grip (pokes out) and the over all bump. I am not worried about the bottom of the holster showing if my shirt comes up a bit.
How is IWB more concealable than a OWB? I guess if your cover garment comes up a little you can see the bottom of the holster?
Both would be the same thickness/bump that could print, both will show the grip if the shirt comes high enough.
For G26 in a Raven Concealment Phantom at 4 o’clock works just fine, nice and tight to the body.
Carrying a Glock IWB isn’t all that difficult, you don’t have to wear ridiculously baggy clothes.
I’m carrying a G19 IWB wearing a shirt and jeans right now, and you wouldn’t see it unless I told you it was there.
Then again, I don’t have a low-speed, high-drag, tactical beer belly. Being lean around the midsection does help quite a bit.
My must-have? A Walther PPQ! And that’s from a 17+ year Glock fan boy. I still have two G19’s set up perfectly and won’t get rid of them. But I don’t remember last time I shot them. After the ergos and the trigger of my PPQ’s Glocks make me want to cry.
I bought one of those K rounds OWB holsters after reading this article. It showed up in 3 days and carries my Shield like a dream. Thanks.
I use an outside the waistband whenever I can. I really like the $15 fantastic plastic holster made by Glock. I also use the front night sight made by Glock along with the adjustable sight made by Glock. I am satisfied with all three parts. At this time for $63 you can get all three items. That price includes shipping. I tried a Glock with Trujicon night sights before I bought my Glock. I loved the pistol but the rear night sight did not help my night shooting. But regardless cost is not a reason not to have night sights on a Glock pistol.
I consider a grip plug (to cover the hold in the base of the grip) a must have for any Glock, simply for the increased protection against dirt getting inside the weapon. (Especially if you tend to visit the range in snowy or muddy conditions.)
At less than $4 it’s a no brainier addition and takes about 3 seconds to install.
Your grip plug choice is far better than choice number 3!
That’s not technically a new trigger, its a new connector and springs.
For me, I’d add decal grips from tractiongrips.com, and extended slide locks and slide releases.
Two out of three ain’t bad. You had me up until night sights. It’s time we abandon the seemingly meaningless innovations of the patridge sight and, like most pistol manufacturer’s, move into the next century of technology.
In a real low light situation, you are physically incapable of safely eliminating a threat with night sights installed on a pistol. Why? You first violate basic gun law number three (always be sure of your target and what is beyond).
In low light, all you see is your sights glowing back at you, giving you a warm fuzzy feeling that your alignment is correct. But where, on the other side of those sights, is the threat?
Check the science. Night sights, although very cool, stack the deck against you.
My suggestion; look up hexsite, do some research and get a true advantage over a threat.
Hate Ghost connectors, never felt one as described above.Minus connector and polish job work for me.
Kind of an odd article and long list of additional suggestions in the comments for something billed as “Perfection”.
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