Do it yourself grip reduction possible?

[Ian]

My friend needs to remove a little from the back strap of her 19.
Her trigger finger is resting against the frame when she is shooting.
This doesn't seem to be a problem with my 34.
She sculptures with stone, is very skilled, and has an amazing amount of tools.
I am sure she can do this herself.
Any advice as to where to remove and how much material to remove?
Many thanks.

[Don At PC]

I am not saying it can't be done but you couldn't offer me enough money to try it on any of my Glocks. After it's altered ALL of your Glock Warranty is GONE forever.

Your personal hand grip technique can be adjusted and returned to the original configuration but once you shave off the Glock plastic ------ It's gone.


Just my personal opinion. Others may dissagree.;c ;c ;c

[Speedrock]

If it's her trigger finger there is someone doing sculpting at the front of the grip quite like on a 1911 to allow better reach for shorter fingers. They also undercut the triggerguard quite abit to move the fingers up on the grip.

http://www.burnscustom.com/glock.html

http://www.barsto.com/grip_reduction.cfm

[Ian]

Thank you for your replies gentlemen.
I was not aware that it would void the warranty, are you 100% sure?

[Don At PC]

Call Glock and ask, but betcha I am correct. That way you will have zero doubts.

[V Creed]

Brownells web site has the directions of "how to" do a Glock grip reduction, and has all the material available for not much $$$.

Burns did a G-19 grip reduction for me about 2 years ago and I like it. I'm thinking now of doing a G-20 myself, unless Burns has an inexpensive G-20 option.

[Wild Bill]

You probably will void the warrantee by altering the frame. I'm not sure how much of a factor that is if the gun is uncomfortable or difficult to operate as-is.
There are many Glocks out there with 100,000 plus rounds through them. I don't know how many of these guns needed warrantee work, but I'll bet not many.
Make the gun fit and work for you. After all, these pistols aren't really that expensive. if the frame needs to be replaced at some point, I think Glock will sell you one for a couple hundred bucks.

[Powder Monkey]

Purchased a new Glock 21 last weekend, and I've been considering a grip reduction myself. Not an absolute necessity, but you know how it is; tinkering, hotrodding, customizing is just part of our nature. Robar company offers a nice package at around $200. The Barsto product is hard to beat at $145 with about a one week turnaround time. My concern is Glock engineered the pistol to ah, "perfection"? If you start tinkering with that... My experience along those lines goes back to customized automobiles, and it hasn't always been good. In fact, it usually turned out to be more of a headache. It would be nice to see a grip reduction range report from someone after expending several hundred rounds.

[V Creed]

The grip reduction that Burns did on my G-19 did not affect function at all. The pistol still functions 100%. Love the grip now, since it points more like a Colt 1911 than a Glock.

[Washington,D.C.]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/General/DisplayPDF.aspx?f=glock.pdf

[Washington,D.C.]

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/GunTech/NewsletterArchive.aspx?p=0&t=1&i=381

[MBR]

Also try.............

http://www.bowietacticalconcepts.com/

Im thinking about sending a 30 to them or Robar.

[glockxgray]

I do custom grip reductions for alot of people at my local club.
I cant seem to find a pic at the moment, I will post one tomorrow, I believe they are at work.
Not difficult to do, but I also know mine looks better than any I have seen.
Of course I would say that wouldnt I.
I will post a pic tomorrow and you can compare.
I have done 2 as of late for local LEO, they loved the difference.


Later

GXG

[glockxgray]

As Promised

G30 with Stippling, grip reduction and trigger guard undercut (http://www.hunt101.com/img/319539.JPG)


G21 Grip Reduction, Stippling and Trigger Guard Undercut and rounded trigger guard (http://www.hunt101.com/img/319542.JPG)

GXG

[V Creed]

Originally posted by glockxgray
As Promised

G30 with Stippling, grip reduction and trigger guard undercut (http://www.hunt101.com/img/319539.JPG)


G21 Grip Reduction, Stippling and Trigger Guard Undercut (http://www.hunt101.com/img/319542.JPG)

GXG

I don't see that the rear portion of the grips have been reduced to any significant degree, which is the #1 thing that Glocks need reduced. The rear portion of the finished grip should be almost straight, with no big fat bottom curve that makes the pistols point high, IMO.

[glockxgray]

I suppose you would need to feel the grip to believe its a major redux, its not all about the palm swell on a stock Glock. I know Brownelles sells a Grip Redux Kit that has you fill the backstrap with a Glass resin, then you reduce it and coat the grip in a "bedliner" like material. I reduce the checkering flat and then blend it, radius the sides and remove the checkering on the fromt strap, the combination of all these gives a much more ergonomic grip, with an overall size redux. I dont get so invasive so as to threaten the integrity of the frame at all. Also, the channel fill technique prevents debris from escaping in the event you get dirt or sand or whatever into the internals of the pistol.

There are ways to remove more material to straighten the backstrap on the Glock similar to a 1911, but then again if thats what you are looking for maybe you ought to try a 1911.

The numerous redux and stipple jobs I have done (70+)have been from word-of-mouth. Thats all the assurance I need that my work WORKS.

To each his own..

GXG

[glockxgray]

Originally posted by V Creed
The rear portion of the finished grip should be almost straight, with no big fat bottom curve that makes the pistols point high, IMO.

By the way, if you are pointing "high", its not the gun, you might try adjusting your grip. I dont try to fix a Glock, they dont need fixin, I just enhance it.

GXG

[gunplumber]

Having performed around a thousand grip reductions over the last decade, and having designed many of the "features" I now see offered by others, I think I am qualified to say that the directions provided by Brownells, while not "ideal" in my opinion, are unlikely to cause you any serious problems. The one thing I'd recommend against is the modeling clay. Yes, you need to dam the recess, but a small cleaning patch wiped in floor wax paste (not liquid) and rammed down to the bottom of the recess is a lot easier to remove than sticky, gooey, modeling clay.

And no, a grip reduction does not necessarily alter your warranty. Only if the grip reduction CAUSED the problem, would it void the warranty.

And yes, if you point muzzle high it usually IS the silly hump Glock sticks on the back of the frame. The gun is designed for one particular hand - finger grooves are another example. UNless you have long and skinny fingers, the grooves are useless. My middle finger sits on top of the groove.

It is not one size fits all, and thats why I do so many reductions.

More info at:

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/smith/glock/pagesmithglock.htm

[glockxgray]

Originally posted by gunplumber

And yes, if you point muzzle high it usually IS the silly hump Glock sticks on the back of the frame. The gun is designed for one particular hand - finger grooves are another example.
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/smith/glock/pagesmithglock.htm

To each his own, I suppose that if you had to fire a Glock in self defense you couldnt adjust your grip accordingly??

13 yrs of IDPA shooting has taught me, adjust your grip if you have to, we have to learn to adapt, the gun wont adapt to us unless we alter it.

GXG

[gunplumber]

yes - to each his own - thats why cars have adjustable seats, we can buy pants in more than one size, and we can change the grips on a handgun to better fit our hands.


the gun wont adapt to us unless we alter it. EXACTLY - thats why I alter it! I adapt the tool to fit the physical characteristics of the user. Something that Walther figured out (adjustable backstraps) and 1911 shooters figured out (flat mainspring housings, high beavertails, various grips). Glock is just a little slow. Its called "ergonomics" - its this 30 year old "new idea"

Why would you "adapt" the grip texture with that soldering iron stuff? Shouldn't you adapt to the gun by growing grip tape on your hands?

[glockxgray]

Originally posted by gunplumber
yes - to each his own - thats why cars have adjustable seats, we can buy pants in more than one size, and we can change the grips on a handgun to better fit our hands.


the gun wont adapt to us unless we alter it. EXACTLY - thats why I alter it! I adapt the tool to fit the physical characteristics of the user.

The point I was making is that if there were a situation where you had to use a pistol you have never shot, are you trained to adapt???
Or would the obituary read " Alas, he died because the Glock shot high."




Originally posted by gunplumber
Why would you "adapt" the grip texture with that soldering iron stuff? Shouldn't you adapt to the gun by growing grip tape on your hands?

As for a soldering iron, I dont use a soldering iron, I do use heat but with a much more controlled tool that I designed and am having patent on as I write this. And I wont take offense to your comment, I am not here to start a *****ing match.

I will afford you respect as long as it is given, I mean Coors has been brewing beer for 100+ years, they are really experienced, but their beer still sucks!!

All in all its up to each individuals taste, I dont have an issue with modded guns to improve their functionality, just learn to shoot before assuming its the gun.

And I am through

GXG

[gunplumber]

your arguement is self-contradictory.

You modify guns to improve handling yet criticize others for modifying guns to improve handling.

I can drive a car with the seat too far forward (love that Willis Jeep!) Doesn't mean I choose to.

I can shoot an M16A2 with its excessively long length of pull. But I prefer an A1 stock.

I can shoot a glock 21 with fingergrooves AND wraparound handall grips. But I sure wouldn't choose to.

Modifying a gun to better fit one's hand IMROVES safety, first round hit probability, followup shots, and drawing and holstering.

Seems pretty self-evident to me.

But if "learning" to shoot an ill fitted gun is what you want to do, then its no sweat off my brow. But to reduce to the absurd - you would also insist on adapting to shoes of the incorrect size for your foot. Its the logical progression of your assertion.

[glockxgray]

Point taken
Lets just agree to disagree.

And if I critisized others for modding guns, why am I modding guns.. I merely stated that one should learn to shoot before assuming its the guns fault.

Thats all.

GXG

[Ian]

If you grip the gun, and your trigger finger is resting on the side of the frame, whilst pulling the trigger(instead of a nice gap) then your hand is too small for the grip.
It doesn't matter how experienced you are.

[V Creed]

Originally posted by glockxgray
Point taken
Lets just agree to disagree.

And if I critisized others for modding guns, why am I modding guns.. I merely stated that one should learn to shoot before assuming its the guns fault.

Thats all.

GXG

Let me explain. I have various 1911's, Sigs, CZ's, and one Ruger 97, that all point-shoot to relatively the same spot on the target. My Glocks, however, point way high (when point-shooting unsighted) compared to all my other pistols. So why not reduce or eliminate the bottom rear grip-hump on the Glocks so they will point the same as the rest of my pistols? Makes KISS sense to me. ;Q

As for shooting, I have won over 35 first place trophys in combat-style pistol shooting competition and was once a member of the US Army V-Corps Advanced Marksmanship Unit Pistol Team.

[glockxgray]

V Creed

I wasnt questioning your abilities, obviously you are quite proficient with a handgun. Many Kudos.

I never said one shouldnt reduce the palm swell of a Glock, most of the grip treatments I do include this, I personally feel a complete straightening of the GLock backstrap MIGHT be detrimental to frame integrity. I do reduce mine, just not enough to be invasive.
I also believe that the channel on the Glock backstrap serves another purpose, recoil reduction, if you have ever seen a slo mo of a Glock being fired, there is a sustantial amount of flex in the Polymer frame, thats one of the things that makes a Glock a great pistol, that flex. Light weight plus recoil absorbsion. I wonder if removing that channel affects that flex?? I dunno, just a thought.

It really is a matter of personal preference, if it works for you then by all means do it, whatever it takes to improve your surviveability. I stipple my frames because under adverse conditions, a Glock tends to get slippery, some prefer not to have this done to their Glock.

I am just thankful there are different companies out there that offer enough of a selection that we can usually find exactly what we are looking for in the way of mods, including Arizona Response Systems.

GXG

Jon

[glockxgray]

Originally posted by Ian
If you grip the gun, and your trigger finger is resting on the side of the frame, whilst pulling the trigger(instead of a nice gap) then your hand is too small for the grip.
It doesn't matter how experienced you are.

We werent talking about that area of the gun, we were talking about the backstrap and how it relates to high impacts, but I see your point.

Please understand, I am the first to grab a stock Glock and start carving it, while my treatment still has a palm swell, it isnt as nearly pronounced as a stocker and does make all the difference in the world. I chose Glocks to begin with because of their rake and their bore axis relation to the hand (Glocks with a grip redux sit much lower in the hand for better control) compared to a 1911, which I also shot for years, I have no use for them now, their rake feels odd to me.

Again, just my opinion, and we all no what opinions are like.

LOL

Jon

[PAHLAVAN]

Sad to say this is why I gave up my G-21 for the 22. Grip was just too big with Hogues and Gloves on. I felt it could be knocked out of my hand easily if I was holding it one handed.