The Glock Potato Chip or how did this happen

[Rapier]

First there were no Glocks, not ever. Then there was a 19, then two 19s then a 23 and now I am building two custom Glocks, how did that happen? Evil black plastic guns no doubt, some kind of curse. WoooooOooOOO.........
Ed

[Mr. 16 gauge]

how did that happen? Evil black plastic guns no doubt, some kind of curse.

Probably the chemicals used in making all that plastic.;):D

[Adam Helmer]

Rapier,

I was issued my first Glock M19 in 1989 and carried it until I retired. Glocks are the "Next Generation" of handguns, no doubt, and they are reliable to a point. My M19 went back to Smyrna, Georgia for refit 3 times because it quit on me and, happily, all malfunctions occured on the range. Glocks have a large market share, but I had enough "Stoppages" to cling to my M1911 and never look back.

I still have my duty M19 and it reposes in the gun vault next to my credentials for posterity.

Adam

[popplecop]

My son is on his 2nd Glock 40 S&W, first issue was 19 years ago still operating well when turned in. I'm an old foggey and will cling to my 1911s, first one was issued to me back in the 50s. Ever since then have never been without one.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Guess I'm one of the few who never liked the plastic look of the Glock, nor how they felt in my hands.

Just lable me an "Old Fart";)

[buckhunter]

I just cannot warm up the plastic guns. Its gotta be steel. Inf fact I really dont like plastice grips.

[Rapier]

Well guys, wish I could tell you exactly why I am building the custom 19. I can tell you that it is a specific duplicate of an existing "issue" gun that we will never see. It is being built by request as a personal sidearm for a military officer, a team commander, in special operations.

Up until yesterday I had never shot a Glock of any kind, ever, in my life. I put 100 rounds through the 19. I shot 50 rounds of factory 115s and 50 rounds of reloaded 124s, accuracy loads right from the Lyman manual. Both loads were very close to NATO actual crono loads. It took about 75 rounds or so to get use to the Mickey Mouse Glock trigger, even set to 3.25 pounds, it ain't a 1911 trigger and I am convinced, after a week of working on the gun, never will be. But by the time I got through shooting I had groups at 25 of 12 rounds into about 1.5 inches, off of a rest. Interesting thing is that the trigger while it can be made lighter is still that herky-jerky "Glock trigger." Lord help us on that account and now I fully understand why my gunsmith buddy years ago got exasperated and slung one across his shop one day, exclaiming, "This thing is garbage."

I had heard stories that Glock has improved the Gen 4 Glock barrels/accuracy substantially. But I am not a believer, unless I see my version of accuracy in my hands, so I bought an EFK stainless, cut rifled, match barrel, which I fitted, and then traded off with the factory barrel as I shot. The factory barrel was virtually identical in accuracy, which says a good deal about the factory barrel or not so much about EFK. However, the match barrel did not want to shoot the 115s and the 124s to the same point of impact, which the factory barrel would do (difference in twist perhaps). Not exactly to the same point, but within a half inch or so, which for iron sights and "the trigger" I figure is good enough to be called, same point. Why EFK? Bar-Sto was 14 to 19 weeks out and I do not have 14 weeks, EFK looked like the next best alternative.

So now the factory barrel and not the EFK barrel will go with the slide to Mag-Na-Port next week, to have two small cuts made on each side of the Warren tactical front sight. And it will be very close to being ready for shipment to its new owner, as a gift, with a spare parts package and a set of tools. Set of tools is a joke, it is just a plastic punch.

By the way, they do make stainless steel and aluminum alloy Glock frames now. But after fooling with the trigger I cannot get excited. Perhaps the metal frames would allow for you to stabilize the parts enough to get a good crisp 3.5-pound trigger. I doubt anyone can do that with the plastic frame and I myself would not dare cut the sear and sear notch on the striker, in that plastic frame setup. The stainless frame 17 gun I handled did not impress me very much. It is still not like doing a nice slick trigger on say a DA only Smith revolver.

The Generation 4 Glock has two things that are important, VS the other Glocks; 1) It has a narrow grip, allowing the magazine to be changed without changing the hand's grip on the frame and it has grip panels for comfort. 2) The Gen 4's double recoil spring system is new and improved. It does lock up with authority and has a lot to do with improved accuracy, I am sure.

I do not like the trigger for two reasons, one it is creepy and inconsistent, as a 1911 shooter (pins, plates, IPSC, IDPA, 3 gun and World Speed) both of these drive me to distraction. The other is the disconnects effect on the trigger in that it throws the trigger forward, which slaps your trigger finger at every shot. After 100 rounds your finger tip gets sensitive after having been slapped 100 times. I have, after 45 years, trained my trigger pull to stop upon the break and not pull through; I do not use a trigger stop of any kind, so the Glock was pretty rough on my trigger finger.

I took my P-226 Sig out of its holster, at the end of the session, in single action mode shot a 1 inch group due to a vertical string and put it back in the holster. I may own two Glocks right now and thought before the outing that I might get rid of the Sig, but I think I will be Glockless and still have the Sig when this little adventure is over.

I may not shoot the Glock 23 at all and just move it on down the road.

Ed