So, I’m looking to put together gen 3 based 19 utilizing an aftermarket frame. Cost wise it’s cheaper just to buy a new gen 3 19 for the slide and components but I’m open to the possibility of a non factory glock alternative if for no other reason than to get one that’s actually in spec.
I don’t like Gucci glocks and want something simple. Black PVD, DLC coated or whatever, maybe more aggressive side and top serrations, but no RMR cut, fluting, or skeletonizing.
Recommendations on quality barrels would be appreciated too. Something drop-in with a threaded barrel option but with better accuracy potential than factory.
I’ll through my vote for a KKM barrel. Hey offer extended threaded for just about every Glock. I noted a significant increase in accuracy from the stock version.
I like the looks of the https://www.landersweaponsystems.com/frame war hammer slide. It’s not busy or excessive like the agency or salient “Gucci” glocks. can be had with or without RMR cut. Price and turn around isn’t bad either. Scroll down to the war hammer slide.
No experience with them, but Ihave been thinking about a very simple non OEM side.
I have used a Suarez slide in the past on a G19 G4 for an RMR. That slide was a little louder than I like in the engraving, but otherwise superb in fit and function. No windows or other silliness. Not sure who his manufacturer was.
Agreed. I spent a while debating between all of the aftermarket barrels out there but KKM always seems to be the standard against which all others are measured. Reminds me of the G SSA. The only thing I wasn’t sure about was their weird thread pitch but when I asked, they told me they used it because it allows their comp as closer fit to the barrel. They do also offer the standard 1/2x28 thread. My next choice would have been one of the simpler Agency offerings than Brownells recently started carrying. I’m not aware of too many aftermarket slides that don’t have an RMR cut.
Fwiw my big reasoning for going with a complete aftermarket slide, as opposed to sending a OEM slide out, is to avoid BTF issues. My current glocks are intermittent with the issue but not enough for me to chase the fix down a rabbit hole.
Its not cheap but Unity’s ATOM slide does have an optic plate that just uses the standard rear iron dovetail. You’d have the empty forward dovetail to deal with aesthetically, but I read somewhere that their slides have modified ejection port dimensions that Randy Lee from Apex Tactical said would help with the BTF. Not sure if that is true since I only remember seeing it once, but I want to say it was from a decent source.
I have been considering the same thing recently, and toying with the idea of sending my gen 3 slide out for milling, or going to an aftermarket to avoid the hassles of a spare frame that will inevitable grow into another full build…
They are somewhat local to me, but I have been looking at Maple Leaf for the milling. They are not too costly, so paired with an OEM slide I am way below the cost of any of the big name slides. I was eyeballing the Scout cut, with the idea of asking them not to cut all the way through on the side windows. same option with the War Hammer cuts mentioned above, and even if you throw in something like a basic Alpha Wolf slide from Lone Wolf, you are below the base costs for most big name bling slides.
And I know nothing about them other than seeing them the other day, but Midway is carrying a cheap slide, at about $175, with basic front and rear serrations. And it seems really cheap compared to everyone else, but I dont know if that is realistic pricing for a slide (If you are dropping in a $150 barrel and a $80 parts kit, you are close to a $400 slide package), and the others are just charging a premium for the extra profits. Seems like a reasonable cost for a basic slide.
But along your thoughts in the original post - if you can find a police trade in gen 3 22 or 23 for $330-350, and sell the frame off for $75 or $100, that might be the way to go. You know, if you dont mind a conversion barrel and .40 on the slide…
I have both a Polymer 80 G19 and G17 frame ordered (in addition to having a complete gen3 17) so I’m thinking the plan is to go with a non-OEM slide for the 19. I’m going to email a few companies and see what they have to say about the corrected slide geometry. The lone wolf ALPHA seems to be the most cost effective. I’m honestly really torn on doing the whole RMR thing but I think it may be beneficial to pick up a slide already milled for it so if I want to I have the option down the road. I just don’t see the benefit of putting $$$ into OEM slide given the potential for issues though.
KE Arms ALPHA, BRAVO, and Charlie models look pretty good and LE pricing through brownells is excellent so they might be contenders.
The Suarez looks pretty good aesthetically and for the price. I’ll email them and see if I could order one without the loud logo. Does theirs include a cover plate for the RMR cutout by chance?
ETA: NM I saw that it includes a cover for a small price. If I can get it without a logo it may be a winner.
I’ll have spotty comms for a little bit but I’ll be putting a complete gen 4 ATOM slide up for sale in a few weeks. Not sure if generations matter for the slide but if not and you’re interested, I can give you some more details.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ETA - never mind, looks like gen3 to 4 may not be a good idea. You have me interested in the Polymer80 stuff though, if only they’d release a gen 4.
I posted these pics in the Glock thread, but here’s my G19 on the polymer80 frame. I kept the slide stock, because while I like some of the machine work done by some companies, I just couldn’t justify the expense as it’s almost completely cosmetic. I thought about adding front serrations but installing the TangoDown/Vickers slide racker eliminated that need completely. While it was tempting to get a more cool-looking slide, I was concerned about any added machine work affecting a smooth draw stroke or re-holstering, as well as messing with the weight of the slide. It’s been 100% reliable so I don’t want to potentially mess with that.
No RDS planned for this one; I have an RMR on my G17. I really like shooting this one with irons and the TBRCi comp.
Thank for posting. I love everything about that. Honestly I have high hopes for these frames. They offer really everything I’ve ever wanted out of Glock pistol.
Also, oddly enough this is the first I’ve seen of the racker lol
That looks awesome. If a gen 4 slide would fit, that would be exactly my option, but my 19 is a gen 4, so it will stay as it is for now. I am considering doing a full build 19 on a P80 frame, that is where my slide looking has come into play, just having a hard time justifying the almost a grand for a fancy slide, bbl, sights, and small parts kit. That Suarez looks pretty good, and simple to boot.
The only drawback to the polymer80 frame is that the trigger guard is wider and outside the envelope of the OEM frame, so it won’t fit many Glock holsters that use the trigger guard to retain the pistol. That’s a big fail IMHO and they should have designed it to be 100% Glock-holster compatible. It works with all my holsters that use the weapon light to retain the pistol, so I just dedicated my P80 frame for weapon light use. You also have to swap the X300 lock plate from the U plate to the Picatinny one. I just swap back to my OEM frame for use with non light holsters.
Here’s the link to the Vickers Tactical slide racker: https://tangodown.com/shop/vickers-tactical-slide-racker-gsr-03/
I don’t press check using the front of the slide; I always press check from the rear as I’ve always found that easier. Try out the slide racker before you purchase a slide with front serrations; you may find out that they’re unnecessary and save yourself some money.
That’s messed up about the frame. My 17s live with a wml on them but I guess for a 100$ frame I can live with modding the trigger guard as needed though I suppose.
Last time I was looking around for Glock slides I saw the Briley was going to be making Glock slides. From what I’ve read and seen Briley makes quality stuff.
