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There really does seem to be a strange love/hate relationship between gun nuts and Glocks. For some reason, the brand is either avoided like a Christmas fruitcake, or it’s canonized into the “gospel” of all that is wonderful about handguns.
As for me, I do like Glocks for their sheer simplicity and reliability. If I can’t trust a handgun to take a round from magazine to impact every time I pull that trigger, then that weapon remains steadfastly, a safe queen. It’s true, Glocks certainly aren’t the most beautiful handguns on the market. But then, that’s probably going to be the last thing on my mind in a lethally defensive situation.
That’s why I’ll conceal carry a Glock 10 times out of 10. Hey, I’d rather live with an unattractive, plain-looking handgun, then have a homicide detective commenting on how my 1911’s custom grips are pretty sweet: “But too bad the poor guy’s safety is still on.”
However, I will say that Glocks are not totally exempt from imperfection. In fact, there are a few aftermarket updates that I’d suggest for Glock owners, even if there are only three of practical importance.
No. 3 – Extended Slide Stop Release
One of my smaller pet peeves about Glock weapons is that they possess strange ergonomics. In one sense, they feel a little awkward in the hands. Yet by the same token, their ergos are ingeniously designed — that is, if the proper high-and-tight grip and isosceles stance is being practiced.
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After handling more than a few Glocks, however, I have noticed that they all seem to have a factory slide-stop release that feels more difficult to manipulate than picking a dime up off the floor while wearing mittens. The cool part is that Glock knows this and offers an aftermarket solution (for those of us cursed with perpetual mitten-like dexterity and short fingers).
Replace your current slide release with the extended one, and you’ll feel better in no time.
It’s like chicken noodle soup for the sidearm.
No. 2 – Aftermarket Sights
This issue is usually one of preference, because I’ve met more than a few Glock carriers who are completely happy with their factory sights. However, if you’ve been shooting for decades with other pistols using the usual dot configuration, then it’s understandable why Glock’s factory sights could cause annoyance.
If you’re simply more partial to dots instead of boxes, then feel free to change out those sights for something that makes you more comfortable. Lone Wolf offers convincingly good aftermarket Glock sights, as well as glow-in-the-dark tritium sights for your casual evening shootouts.
However, if you do purchase tritium sights, then you should know that they tend to accumulate accuracy-damaging dirt, and the tritium glow tends to slowly degenerate within just a few years. Other than that, night sights can provide just another advantage if you’re forced into a tactical engagement after daylight hours.
No. 1 – Trigger Pull Upgrade
Admittedly, this is an issue that I’ve held against my own Glock for a few years. Even though I’ve put hundreds of rounds down range with the gun, I have always felt like my 19’s trigger pull weight was heavy enough to generate concern about possibly throwing off a crucial shot.
So in order to put those nightmares to rest, I decided to purchase a ZEV Tech trigger upgrade kit. They even claim to bring that five-pound pull down to about three, while not diminishing the weight of the spring itself. It was an easy win for me.
And since it’s a mod that you can purchase on Brownells for less than $10, then this attempt is well worth it (especially if you suffer from dreams where you try to shoot the velociraptor, but you just can’t seem to pull that darn trigger hard enough to squeeze off a round into the reptilian beastie).
It’s a Glock … So Let’s Not Get Too Crazy People
Some of these mods will require above-average knowledge of the weapon in order to get them done, so there is a chance that you might need to take your baby to the local certified Glock armorer. However, if you do have a rather extensive knowledge of gunsmithing (or of Glocks in general), then you might be able to get by with this guide: Glock Armorer’s Manual.
It is true that there are plenty of other aftermarket mods (even aesthetic ones, believe it or not.) Nevertheless, let’s not sacrifice the gun’s simplicity in the name of upgrading just to upgrade. At the end of the day, it’s an all-round great gun.
So let’s not get too crazy people; it’s Glock that we’re talking about here.
What aftermarket updates would you add to a Glock? Share your thoughts in the section below:
