New sights, new disconnector, some minimal trigger work. Is all of this a good idea for a carry gun? What kind of liability is possibly involved by changing anything from box stock?
With the exception of new sights, you should be pretty much good to go with a stock Glock, unless:
A: you’re used to a different gun,
B: you have regulations or orders WRT trigger weight, sights, etc.
C) you just plain want to. Vickers extended control parts are nice, but not a necessity, at least not for me.
Liability isn’t an issue unless the wrong person gets shot, or the gun fires when it isn’t intended (and in this case, I’d look to user error first).
The factory Glock trigger breaks in nicely after 1000 rounds. Add sights, a Vickers Mag release, Vickers Slide Stop, and call it good.
I suppose I was thinking about what a jury would think. Would the modifications be the icing on the cake? True, if the wrong person gets shot, it probably won’t matter.
This has been discussed a lot - search around.
When it comes down to it, it depends entirely on the skill of the lawyers - both yours and theirs… Make sure you find a self defense lawyer now who is experienced in handling self defense cases.
Also helps to paint yourself as a regular shooter who doesnt modify a CCW for personally defense, but does so as the shooter enjoys getting the most out of them when shooting his guns at the range…
I think the best thing any CCWer can do is take classes and join leagues so it is documented that you know what you are doing when it comes to firearms and enjoy the sport of shooting and not a self defense nut.
Well. I’ll just list my mods, and how they came to be. Then I’ll list the ones I think should be done first. Top three.
10-8 Performance Sights.
The stock sights are garbage. I flipped 'em. AmeriGlo I-Dots sights are great, but I changed 'em because why the fuck not? Warrens looked cool. Warren sights were great, but they rusted. Went to Hienies. They were cool, but I wanted a U-Notch. Went 10-8, it was great. Kept 'em.
LWD 9x19mm non-LCI extractor (I’ll put in an APEX FRE at 20k)
My OEM extractor was the problem child type dip extractor. I wasn’t taking my chance. Extraction has been just fine.
OEM 30274 Ejector
My Gen4s didn’t come with it, because I got mine before they started issuing those as standard.
White Sound Defense High Reliability Extractor Depressor Plunger
Ejection was A LITTLE weak, so I checked it out. Made a positive difference. $20 well spent.
Polished Trigger Parts
The stock glock trigger was a bit “creepy” so I cleaned it up a little bit with a dremel polishing head, and a little polishing compound. It was great.
OEM NY1 Spring
I heard good things about how the setup worked, gave a good trigger in conjunction with the minus connector, and gave a strong reset. I shoot to cadence, not reset, but I still apreciated the advantage of having a strong/audible reset.
OEM “-” Connector
It’s necessary if you’re going to roll the stronger trigger spring, and want to maintain around a 5 lbs. pull or so.
G17 OEM smooth face trigger
Everybody else was doing it, so I tried it, and discovered that it didn’t make my finger itch when it got sweaty. Kept it.
Removed finger grooves
Those grooves made the inside of my fingers sore. Fuck those grooves.
Under cut trigger guard
I got glock knuckle, and wanted a higher grip.
Grip Force Adapeter
I shunned it for a few months, but then everybody else was using 'em, so I tried 'em out to see what the hype was about. My splits got tighter, my groups got better, and I wasn’t getting slide bite. It was like buying skill.
Glockmeister Gen4 Grip Plug
Having a big open channel in the gun that goes straight to the ignition system is retarded. I plugged that shit.
OEM Maritime Spring Cups
I live in Oregon. Lots of rain. I carry OWB, and have had water get in my gun before.
Glock OEM Threaded Barrel
I run suppressors. Kind of mandatory for me. AAC Ti-RANT is recommended. :neo:
TangoDown Vickers Gen4 Mag Catch/Slide Catch
I used Glock OEM extended controls before. The stock slide catch is useless. The standard mag catch was too small. They were good, but mediocre. Needed better ones. TangoDown saved the day.
Wolff XP Mag Springs
I was using +2 floorplates so I thought they were needed. Never gave me a problem.
TangoDown Vickers Floorplates (used to use Glock OEM +2)
I tried 'em to see if they made extraction easier if I had to pull the magazine out. They did, but that wasn’t important. The important part was that they didn’t pinch my hand when I put 'em in the gun.
Mandatory:
TangoDown Vickers Parts - They make controls easier to use.
New Sights - It should be a felony to call the plastic ones “sights”.
LWD/APEX Extractor - Insurance.
1000 round function test - Proof of function.
On a defensive pistol I would change sights and the magazine release if you don’t like the stock release. I would run a stock trigger.
I know of professional who would agree with this advice.
Unless you put one of those Punisher rear slide plates on it or have the quote “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds” from the Bagava Ghita etched into the slide I wouldn’t worry too much about how a prosecutor describes your gun to a jury.
I would just get some good sights an extended slide release ( I run the factory Glock ones) and polish the trigger bar. I tried one of the lighter disconnectors and didn’t like it.
I cut down a 17 to a 19 sized grip, filled the backstrap gap, and put on good sights (hackathorns). I run a vickers mag catch on my CC gun and one that is slightly bigger (but still smaller then an OEM extended) on my range gun. Good holster, belt and maybe a wml makes a slick cc setup.
Like another poster said, combine search terms “glock carry modification defense liability jury” would get you some great threads where the topic has been discussed ad nauseum.
I changed the sights on my EDC G19 (Trij HD) and G26 (Ameriglo I-Dot Pro). I then shot them a bunch, filled them with ammo from the gtg list, and stuck them in holsters.
For me, the must-have list includes:
Better sights. Trijicon HD Night Sights are sweet.
Extractor/ejector upgrades if your gun needs them.
Nice to have:
Polished OEM (-) connector
OEM smooth-face trigger
Under cut trigger guard (I get Glock knuckle)
Open the inside of the trigger guard bow
Stippling
Grip Plug
OEM Maritime Spring Cups–I live in Washington. Lots of rain, just like Oregon.
Okie John
You will be on trial to determine whether or not you were justified in using lethal force, and/or whether or not you were negligent in shooting the wrong person.
You will NOT be on trial to determine if you had customized your pistol.
*If you don’t have any money you may end up with a shitty lawyer that will let your broke ass end up in the pokey.
All,
Thank you for the replies, it sounds like I will be GTG with the modifications I am planning on. Sights, disconnector, trigger polish. Call it good enough.
Add training and a good holster.
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Nater,
Do you have any links to this story? Sounds like an interesting read. Thanks.
Night sights,3.5 lb. Ghost connector, $.25 cent trigger job, if new gun APEX extractor kit for reliability and your good to go. Older guns you can skip the APEX extractor. They usually work.
I carry a GEN 2 G19 for CCW. It has the following done to it:
- 3.5 connector
- Ameriglo PRO (Hackathorn) sights
- Vickers Tactical Mag Release
- Vickers Tactical Slide Catch
- Polish all internals (removing burrs, etc).
- Butt plug.
There is no liability with changing out anything (wives tale).
C4
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