Just picked up my first Glock, the infamous G19.
I’m sure any Glock owner can answer this question since all glocks are similar.
What mods should I make to my stock G19 to improve reliability (maybe some accuracy) and durability? Where is the best place to buy the parts? I really don’t want to spend more than $150 until I have a few thousand rounds through it.
I’m a lefty so I would like the extended slide release. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
Spend your $150 on ammo and learn to shoot it well. When people started to hang aftermarket stuff of their glocks, that’s when we see those glocks break, malfunction, etc. About the only thing you must have, is a set of good night sights (read Heinie Slant Pro Straight 8).
I wouldn’t change anything, unless of course it has the factory plastic sights on it. If so, replace them with some good metal sights. There are plenty of options in that department.
Other than that, leave it stock and just shoot the bejeezus out of it. In my opinion most modifications tend to reduce (not improve) reliability, and I think you’ll find it to be pretty durable and plenty accurate in its stock form.
FWIW, I’m a lefty and I don’t use the extended release. But then I slingshot the slide so I guess it’s a non-issue for me.
Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to the world of Glock.
Derek
Thanks, for the advice- the sights are the plastic ones, already planned on replacing them…any suggestions?
So I shouldn’t be worried about the plastic guide rod?
Regarding sights, I like the Heinie Straight Eights too. They’re nice and simple, and reasonably priced as well.
I’ve never had a problem with the plastic guide rod, nor do I know anyone who has. I have no personal experience with any aftermarket guide rods, so I can’t really comment on them.
Derek
Heinie slant 8’s for sights and the factory glock extended mag release.
A bunch of mags and some professional shooting instruction at a shooting school. OH, quality holster, belt and mag carrier. Kydex or leather, but spend the money to get quality stuff.
None, it’s fine.
(maybe some accuracy)
Good sights. Hienies, Warrens (I-Shot has them), even some plain 3-dot Trijicons if you’d like. Shoot it a bunch and the trigger will start to wear in and be smoother, too. Neither will make the gun more accurate but it’ll help you shoot it better.
durability?
Change out the sights. The plastic ones can get damaged easily. Other than that, everything’s pretty robust.
Where is the best place to buy the parts?
Lone Wolfis a good place to start.
I really don’t want to spend more than $150 until I have a few thousand rounds through it.
I’m a lefty so I would like the extended slide release.
Extended release, $16, set of good sights, $100, and you’ll be good to go.
The extended slide release is probably fine for a lefty, I’d avoid the extended mag catch though. It will dig into your hand between your middle and ring fingers, and potentially spit out a mag, depending on your grip and size of your mitts. I guess squeezing the grip for reloads would be quick though 
Oh, and skateboard tape sticks to Glock plastic well.
Go with Heinie Straight-Eights or Warren tacticals depending on what type of site you prefer.
Just buy a some extra glock plastic guide rods and put a new one in every 5,000 rounds. Aftermarket guide rods are a waste of money.
Already done!
There is nothing that you can do to increase the reliability except to stick a plug in the grip to keep dirt out. I bought one from glockmeister and it’s really good. You may eventually want to upgrade the sights, but you should mainly just shoot it a lot right now.
I agree on mainly needing to just shoot it now with no modifications, not even sights. At least not yet. You may discover you like the stock sights. I do. The money that you would spend on sights would be better spent on extra magazines or ammo.
Sights and ammo. Better early than after you’ve scraped off the front doing single hand drills.
After you shoot the hell out of it try going to a GSSF match. They’ll give it a once over by an armor if you ask. Many will replace all the springs for free or a few bucks.
The only thing a Glock needs to have replaced is the plastic sights. Get a good holster, extra mags and mag pouches - ammo of course and have fun getting good with it.
Congrats on the purchase.
Get some kind of metal sights on it.
Get lots of ammo and mags…one is expensive the other is not if you look around.
Get a decent holster and gunbelt.
Look into getting some training with it.
Shoot the ever-loving piss out of it.
You will never be the SAME!!!
Enjoy!!!
I would also recommend a Ghost 3.5 lb connector and a .25 cent trigger job.
First off, stock up on factory hicaps. Then buy about 500-1000 rounds of ammo. After that pick up some spare parts. Springs, connectors, recoil assy, etc…
Bypass the .25 trigger job as I’ve seen to many people bend the connector and disable their gun. I personally like the OEM 3.5lb connector and the Olive NY 8lb trigger.
I prefer Meprolights, orange rear - green front.
So in summary:
Mags
Ammo
Mepro’s
springs, pins, connector’s, recoil assembly.
Oh and a Comp-tac C.T.A.C or Infidel.
http://lonewolfdist.com/
http://www.glock-doc.com/
http://comp-tac.com/
Things I always changed on every stock Glock I ever bought:
Change out the trigger to the G17 trigger. The compact guns have a “grooved” trigger face that I never liked, and the smooth face of the G17 trigger agreed with me better and didn’t wear as much on my trigger finger after long hours of shooting. I have sissy office hands.
Change out the slide stop to the factory G34 slide stop. Unlike some, I choose to drop the slide with the slide stop lever as opposed to slingshotting the slide when performing a speed reload. The stock piece on the G19 is not intended for this purpose and the gun is designed to be run with the slingshot method.
Change out the sights. When I was shooting Glocks I always just went with 3-dot Meprolights, but after running different sights on my 1911s, I would now opt for a tritium front post only and either a Warren or Heinie rear with my preference being for the Heinie (having no hands-on experience with the Warren of yet).
As I’m now considering re-entering the world of Glocks, I think I will also opt for a replacement barrel so that I can shoot lead reloads. I prefer a semi-wadcutter or truncated cone lead round for a variety of reasons, and lead through the polygonal (sp?) rifling of the stock barrel is a no-no.
Items 1-3 can be done for under $100, and the re-barreling can be left for much later if you decide that ammo choice is a factor for you.
In terms of improving reliability, do nothing. In fact, items 1 & 2, as well as the barrel swap, could actually serve to reduce the reliability of the firearm if done incorrectly or with sub-standard parts.
As mentioned–leave it alone other than the sights. You don’t want the mag releases, etc, etc.
Buy a few small parts to have-in case. The only things I ever broke were a trigger spring and a locking block pin(and yes it was installed correctly)
That’s between 2 Glocks with 40k
I wouldn’t monkey with the weapon until you have at least 1,000 rounds through it.
Typically the Glocks don’t need anything to make them run reliably out of the box. They tend to do that pretty well on their own. Fire at least 1,000 rounds through the weapon (with some of your preferred carry ammo in that number) and make sure the weapon functions properly.
If the weapon has some sort of factory QC issue, it will show up in the first 1,000 rounds usually.
If it goes through that 1,000 rounds without problem, you really don’t need to do anything to make the weapon more reliable or durable. You should be set on those fronts.
As to accuracy, the only thing I would recommend are new sights. Stock Glock sights suck hosewater in my opinion. I changed mine out to Heinie sights and I am much happier with them. You don’t really need any other accuracy mods.
Trigger work can be done on the Glock by several decent smiths, but most people do just fine with the Glock not having any trigger work.
A special note about the G19…In my experience the Glock 19 is extremely susceptible to limpwristing when using the relatively weak FMJ practice ammo.
I love my Heinie sights.
I prefer them to Novaks.
So I shouldn’t be worried about the plastic guide rod?
Nope. I have seen G17s and G19s with tens of thousands of rounds through them that have the original guide rod and spring and that run just fine.
Don’t worry about it.
Just buy a new factory recoil assembly at the recommended intervals (I believe it is something like 6,000 rounds…not sure about that…) and be done with it.