graycrait

Just some remarks about some things I have been trying out on one of my experimental platforms. 1. Front Sight: Dawson Precision makes a very nice "target" front fiber optic sight. Angled front with small serrations makes the small fiber rod really stand out. I recommend this for a range gun. 2. Trigger: Lightening Strike aliminum trigger makes the trigger "feel" like it is breaking just a bit crisper or less vague. Pretty expensive though and not a big return. 3. Thumb Safety: Cominolli thumb safety. I've put in three with no problems and only have the one on one of my own Glocks, my "experimental" gun. It works, is positive and needs to have some of the ledge of the lever reduced. I don't recommend this. 4. Trigger Spring: Highly recommend a 6lb trigger spring vice the stock 5lb spring. Makes for a lighter trigger pull without making the trigger pull vague or dangerous. Highly recommend. Glockworx is a source. 5. Striker spring: Increased power Glockworx striker spring works and in conjunction with a reduced power safety plunger spring lightens up the trigger pull without fear of light strikes. 6. Ghost Rocket 3.5lb hand-fitted connector. I recommend this and it will reduce overtravel. I jacked up the first one I got when I got impatient by taking too much off the overtravel "stud." The second one I took my time and it works nicely. 7. JP Enterprise magwell works but is likely overshadowed by the Dawson Precision ICE magwell with replacable delrin inserts. The JP magwell is super easy to install and fits nicely on the Gen 3 17 frame. 8. Rear is a fully adjustable BoMar but I could use just about any sight with a wide rear notch due to my aging eyes. I may replace the BoMar or "hog" out the notch. 9. Guide Rod and spring: I have several but the Lone Wolf solid steel guide rod does what it is supposed to do. It also allows me to change ISMI flat wire spring weight with little hassle. 10. I may get a titanium safety plunger to use with a standard plunger spring to see if there is a difference from using a standard plunger with a reduced power spring. Why do this stuff? Why not? It ain't my only Glock.

Left hand Glock and Right hand Glock:)

A buddy of mine bought a used HP 9mm for 75.00 one time. We had two mags. We loaded and fired those two mags continuosly for about 500 rds or maybe 300, can't clearly recall. No FTF or FTEs. Accuracy was good enough for SYA shooting. It ain't a Glock but then what is:)

I'm pretty much done with night sights. Having done military qualification at night, and some night shooting as a civilian I won't get into, I find the idea of aimed fire at night against a target I can't see well ironic in the least. I have grown fond of railed pistol lights. At the distances I need a self-defense pistol the "main beam" of a half-decent railed pistol sight offers a nice circle of light to empty bullets into, no shaking laser, no wondering if I am shooting at a friend rather than a perp. Therefore pistols sights for me are for daylight ops, target shooting and maybe daylight SYA ops in some rare circumstance. A big red fiber optic fire ball allows me to put the front sight where I need to fast. At night if my light fails me I have practiced shooting a Glock without any sights on the gun and if you trust your training you won't need or be able to use sights at night in most SYA civilian situations. Maybe an assasin can find a use for them or maybe they would have been cool in that scene in "The Untouchables" where the actor Garcia is holding that baby buggy while shooting the bad guy in the head with a .38. In the lifestyle I lead I doubt I need nightsights. Unshakeable Crimson Trace would have been so cool, but at those distances I can't get a laser to keep from jumping around all over the place.

gunrunner32 did this Cerakote for a friend of mine:

I watched a guy I know who has quite a few Glocks and many dozens of handguns clean plate racks and hammer other steel with his Glock 35 using a stock Glock G34 barrel and a 9mm Glock mag. When I talked to him about using a Non-conversion barrel he told me that he found that there wasn't enough slop in the stock 9mm barrel to .40 slide slide fit to worry about. Gun groups decently too. How common is this practice? I had been under the impression for some years that a 9mm conversion barrel was required for converting a .40 Glock to 9mm.

You may want to try Kahr CW9 or the new (if it is out yet) CM9. The CW9 may be easier to grip while firing at speed to SYA. Kahr CM9 - Style # CM9093, Kahr Arms Pistols

I have installed red fiber optic sights on all my guns that can wear them. I particularly like the one by Dawson Precision, but HiViz works well too. . Detail Page

I have never shot a Sig. However, a friend has lent me 4 SA Sigs to shoot, 1 in .22LR, 1 in 9mm and 2 in .45ACP. This is because another friend told me that Sig SAO in .45 are 1911 "killers." Hopefully a couple in TGO land know something about the reliability, durability, accuracy and functionality of Sig SAO pistols. I am thinking I need a Sig 220 in .22 then get a X-Change upper in .45 ACP. Craig

A suggestion?

I got to looking at this S&W Mdl 10 and the Glock 19 and it dawned on me, "This is the Perfect Pair." Folks can say all they want but I doubt that few could convincingly argue against that this pair of handguns constitutes an intersection of "old and new" of a couple of the most reliable & practical self-defense handguns ever made.

I got this 3rd Gen G19 in near perfect condition then I went "mad" with the grinder, Dremel, Fordom and wood burning pen. I wanted to leave this one a little more conservative in case someone says to me, "the Glock grip feels so much like a block of wood." But without the extreme cuts I have done on previous personal Glocks, which alter the basic Glock frame so much as that most folks find it so severe a departure from stock Glock that it "weirds" then out. Anyway here is another of my own personal carry Glocks, a G19. It points flat, is an easy firm grab out of a holster or the rim of the bathroom sink, even with wet hands, and would likely appeal to even those with smaller hands. My hands measure out to "large" for gloves but I like to be able to squeeze the grip hard if I have to, so like a smaller gun grip and also want my short fingered wife to be able to easily handle any of our self defense handguns. 1. Cut all Glock stippling, front and back, including taking a bit more off the Glock backstrap "hump." 2. Cut up where the trigger guard meets the grip. This and the above backstrap cut along with # 3 below makes the gun point flat, like a 1911. 3. Take some material under the tang to give a bit higher grip. 4. Stipple all the grinding areas for better "traction" as well as cover up the hideous grinding marks.

3 trigger's work well for me: Glock, 1911 and Star BM. S&W M&P is fine but the grip hits my thumb bone funny and it is slightly more "fiddly" than a Glock. Ruger SR9C is great but I have quite a few Glocks and the great SR9C trigger isn't enough to give up my more simple Glocks. The XD works for me but I don't like the high bore axis or the grip safety; the trigger is fine with me. The Kahr's trigger pivot pin has that point that intrudes down into the trigger and my poorly repaired and now crooked trigger finger jams up against it at the major knuckle. Even on my Glocks I carve off some material at the top of the trigger guard. For pocket carry I use a KT P32 that has a modified P11 trigger shoe fixed onto the trigger. I tried out the LC9 thinking it might be an improvement over my two PF9 experiments, but alas it was not an improvement, although I like the concept of the two pistols. Maybe the Kimber Solo or the new Sig will be the Holy Grail of pocket 9x19s for me. Until proven otherwise I will stick with Glock 9x19 and KT P32. The Stars and 1911 are range guns. Craig

Sean, I have never messed with an RTF or Gen 4. I like the RTF rough finish. The Gen 4 is OK but if I had a Gen 4 9mm I would convert it to a single spring recoil rod. If your RTF were mine I would take some 600 grit with a sanding block like "Patton" said to do and hit it a couple of light licks where you think it needs it most. Then see if you like it, then hit it a lick or two again if you don't until you are satisfied or disgusted. If you get disgusted with it you could give it to me and I'll take it down all the way and stipple it. I'll charge you the same as I do Dave, Rowdy, Lew and Richard. However, as one poster said you may want to just slip an inner tube over it. I just traded for a Gen 3 G19 I have to strip and stipple. I've been eyeballing a very nice condition Gen 2 G17 also, but have sort of deal brewing for a S&W revolver. If the S&W deal goes south I probably will get the Gen 2 G17 if it is still available. I am through trading Glock 9mms for other plastic guns after my latest debacle. A fella can't have too many 9mm Glocks in case of a "zombie apocolypse." Craig

If my trigger finger worked like most folks' I would say the Kahr CW9 would be the king of the small 9mm. Due to some hand anamolies after tendon repair I can't say that, so my judgement is based on something different than most folks'. Both the PF9 and LC9 are quite credible personal defense guns but they are not for me to use effectively quickly. I have to compromise by choosing something different. I wish the slim 9mm by Keltec and Ruger were the best options over the Kahr CW9 for me but they aren't. For someone else they just might be. I'll stick with Glock.

In my opinion the PF9 and its glossy clone, the LC9, are reliable save your a.. pistols that are easy to carry. They need serious practice to be comfortable and efficient with, especially off-hand one-hand fast shooting. I have had 2 PF9s and 1 LCP now. I like the theory but don't like the execution overall in either. Both need just a bit better grip with a shorter trigger pull. If I had to make due with either I can and would, but given other options that are efficient and effective I'll choose something else.

Traded off one of my specially crafted G26s for a LC9 the other day. Took the LC9 to the Viola Valley Shooting Range yesterday and had 4 other experienced shooters take a few turns with it after I wrung it out. We all agreed, it ain't much and certainly little better than a PF9, maybe less so due to price point and manual safety. It can be used effectively as a one handed belly gun, but INMHO other guns are better at that task. J- frame for one, Kahr for another, even Ruger LCR. I traded it today for a 3rd Gen G19. In my opinion you simply can't beat a 9mm Glock, nearly one for any occasion. Craig

The only thing I have found about Cerakote is that there is a dimensional change (thickness) to some small extent. If you have the gun done top to bottom inside and out you will need to address contact points. But that is a small price in my mind compared to easy cleanup, if cleaning plastic can be called "hard." The stuff works well on my metal guns. I am just starting to shoot "The Turd" 1st Gen G17. As most of you can tell from seeing my guns colors don't bother me too much. In the case of the G17 I wanted to see how the color comes out. It looks different on the Cerakote (NICS Industry) website. There is an ever so slight texture on this gun now that I like over the pretty slick 1st Gen plastic 23 yr old Glock plastic. I am having another Glock done up in another frame color I'll post when I get it back.

Lone Wolf Distributors - Product Detail - Lone Wolf Gen4 Guide Rod Adapter SILVER - $9.95 With that part you can make have your G4 9mm Glock use the Gen 3 single recoil spring. "What were those guys thinking when they decided to change the 9mm Glock from a system that works more reliably than any other handgun to one that almost works with a .40 recoil set-up?" Someone should give their accountants a crushing wedgie.

gunrunner32 (this forum) helped me rejuvinate my 1988 1st Gen Glock 17. I like Cerakote because it sheds dirt pretty well. Once my wife got this pistol in her hands she claimed it as her own. When it was stock black she gave it a big yawn, now she thinks it not only feels good but looks good. As an aside, if you have not handled a 1st Gen 17 the grip feel is totally different than a 2nd, 3rd or 4th Gen 17s. I think Gaston and his team got it right the first time, capitulating to screechers on the later generations. Any shortcomings to the 1st Gen grip can be easily addressed with grip tape or a woodburning pen. What were they thinking when they added finger "humps?"

I have had "3" 9mm 1911s. 1) Dan Wesson Pointman 9; 2) Armscor .38 Super with 9mm barrel 3) Rock Island 9mm. The RIA was the best of the bunch in my opinion. The DW worked well but didn't justify the price point over the RIA. The .38 Super worked well also with the 9mm barrel. For my money I would go RIA in 9mm and not look back.

My buddy bought a used Hi Point 9mm a few years ago and I got several hundred rounds of ammo. We only had two mags. We loaded those mags as fast as we could and shot all the ammo. The gun functioned fine. I've shot several and owned one HiPoint carbine in 9mm. They all worked. I would like to shoot the .45 but am not going to buy one just to shoot the thing.

I went through a Scout rifle phase but didn't want to spend lots of money on ammo or get 'recoiled' to death so I made up a couple of light weight pseudo Scout rifles in .223 and 30-30. But have since decided for my practical purposes a 20 gauge Mossberg works best. The Remington was especially fun to shoot with its shortened barrel and nice 3 point sling.

A couple of friends gave me a Winchester 62A from the mid 50's today, about 90+ condition. This is the same model I learned to shoot Bantam roosters out of the roosting trees on my grandpa's farm back in the early 60's. So now I have no need to hunt for a Remington 572 to trade one of my Ruger MKIII's for. The 62A shoots Colibras just fine. Therefore I paid it forward by giving my "custom" MKIII 22/45 to a young guy who likes to shoot but hasn't a decent .22 pistol.

In general I like Ruger products and am very interested in having one of their 1911s in my hands. I'm more interested in seeing their parts production, fit and finish. If it is spec'd a 1911 it should work work well enough as do most full-sized all steel service pistols of this design. Would I carry one? Not any more than I would carry or have carried the 10 or so 1911s I have had over the years - which means not at all. Like several of the older cars I have had over the years I think 1911s are fun to fool with and then run on the weekend.