Glock: If you want to upgrade your Glock, some options may improve performance and make the pistol more comfortable. But it would be best to be cautious about any modifications that may cause your pistol to fail.
For example, some extended magazine release levers can get in the way of your competent manipulation in a life-or-death situation by distracting you from your fine motor skills.
Extended Magazine Release
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The magazine release is a crucial part of the gun and can make an enormous difference in speeding up your reloads, which is especially important during competition or defensive shooting. This is an excellent upgrade for anyone looking to step up their game.
However, it’s essential to choose the right one. Some extended mag releases stick out too far and can be challenging to reach with tiny fingers or a tight grip. Some can easily be snagged when picking up the gun from a table or holster.
Custom Slide
Glock 19 custom slides can be customized with serrations and cuts that reduce the pistol’s weight, which may improve recoil management. These modifications also add gripping surfaces to enhance the slide’s handling.
One of the easiest modifications for Glock owners is to remove the extractor depressor plunger assembly from the front of the slide. This spring and plastic bearing are known to interfere with cartridge ejection, potentially leading to unintentional discharge.
This can be done by removing the screw and extractor depressor plunger assembly from the outside of the slide and slipping it off the back of the firing pin channel. This should leave the firing pin channel clear and unobstructed. Some people even add cocking serrations to the front of the slide for added manipulation ease.
Slide Stop Lever
This little lever sits in front of the slide and catches it when it’s entirely back. It can also be pushed down to release the slide and chamber a round. This is a very fast method for unloading and clearing jams.
Gun manufacturers call this little lever the slide stop or the catch lever. However, they all recognize that it can be used to chamber a round when pressed down.
This can be a lifesaver if you need the strength or skill to rack the slide back. Just insert an empty magazine and use the notch on the magazine follower to push up on the slide stop lever. That’s your “cheat” when you need to finish it quickly.
Rear Sight Extension
The Glock is a fantastic firearm that law enforcement and the military use for reliability. It is also a very customizable gun that can be suited to any shooting style.
Having the correct sight picture is essential for accurate shooting. Getting your front and rear sights lined up over the target is critical. There are two familiar sight pictures: the six o’clock hold and the center hold.
Use a rear sight extension to improve your sight picture to get the most out of your Glock. This simple modification increases the distance between your rear sight and the bottom accessory rail of your slide, eliminating the sharp edges that catch on gear during rapid racking. This can improve your accuracy by reducing the angular error you experience when aiming.
Trigger Extension
The Glock trigger is an eminently shootable pistol, but its design has shortcomings. Many of these are minor and are addressed by internal modifications, such as a spring here or a connector there.
To remove the slide from your Glock, you must deactivate the strikers by pulling the takedown lever on both sides of the gun (the right-hand side is a bit easier). Then, pull the slide back slightly, and the lock engages with the bottom of the frame.
This is where the Gen 5 changes begin to show up. The new lock uses a different recoil spring and introduces a new trigger bar.
