shorten and rduce G17 grip questions

J

johnwilliamson062

Moderator
I am considering a Gen 4 Glock for the smaller grip seriously, but also considering a grip reduction and chop of a Glock 17. If i did this to a Glock 17, what would the benefit be of getting a Gen 4? The backstraps would be removed in the modification of course. I know all gen 4s have a double guide rod in the 9mm and earlier generations do not, but I am not sure that really does much for me in 9mm. Any Gen II or Gen III gun is compatible with all generation Glock magazines, correct?

I can get a Gen II Police trade in for a few hundred dollars less than a Gen IV, so that is really what I am specifically considering.
 
Im not a fan of the Gen 4's, mostly because I like the 3's as they are, and dont need to mess with the grip (other than stippling the non RTF2 versions).

If youre modifying the grip anyway, why bother with the Gen 4?

If this is initially just an exercise, Id go with one of the police trade ins and have at it.
 
If youre modifying the grip anyway, why bother with the Gen 4?
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I don't see any reason as a right handed shooter who has no problems with the single guide rod in a Gen III G26. Just want to check with people who know a lot more than me to make sure there are no other benefits.

and have at it.
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I will be sending it somewhere to have this done if you were imagining me digging in with my dremel. If i had an example to base my work off of and mic extensively, I might try it myself, but I don't.

"chopping" - Generally refers to shortening the magazine well. Cutting a G17 mag well so G19 or G26 magazines will fit. This modification retains the longer sight radius of the larger model while achieving the concealable grip of the smaller model. This is the modification I would really like.

"reducing"- removing the hump on the Glock back strap where the hollow section is after filling the hollow in with bedding compound. Usually also includes texturing the grip in order to blend it. I'd like a smaller grip but also like the Glock grip angle, and this modification changes the grip angle.
 
if you were imagining me digging in with my dremel.
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I was! The first ones always the scariest! :D

My biggest adventure so far has been to stipple mine. Im not concerned with the grip size or angle, so thats not an issue for me. I easily hide a 17 under a tee shirt.

The stippling does make a big difference in how the gun locks into your hands though, and I find it is an improvement, and easily done, once you do the first. :)

From what Ive seen, if youre the least bit handy, I dont think the reduction would be that big a deal. I tend to use hand tools. Dremels scare me. To much power! :)

Its my understanding you can get a replacement frame from Glock for about $150. Suarez has them on occasion for less. An alternative if things dont work out.
 
I currently pay the bills with a dremel. More or less. I atleast use one daily in my day job. That would be another project though. I am really trying to work my project list down to something manageable.
 
Hmm, have you held a gen 4 G19? Or better yet shot one? If you're not set on the longer slide, maybe just put a Talon grip on the no backstrap frame and call it good. Just a thought.
 
I have held a G19 Gen 4, but I have not fired one.
I don't think the talon grip will get me much. I would like to shrink the grip, not change the texture. The double stack Glock grip is a bit wide for my hands. Any little bit I can reduce it will make it more comfortable.

The idea isn't to get 2 rounds, or in this case 5 more than my current set-up, but rather an extra inch of sight radius. I already have higher capacity magazines I can use with my sub-compact Glock.
 
I have played with a G19 that had the frame shortened to G26 dimensions as well as a number of Robar frame reductions done on G21's and G17's.

The frame reductions made the G21 feel almost G17 sized and the G17 felt small to me

If you are struggling with the girth of the G17 frame, a grip reduction will make a huge difference.

Theres more to it then just grinding away the plastic. Robar fills in the hollow area at the rear of the frame and then shapes that into a really nice shape.

The 19 with the 26 length frame made one HECK of a concealed carry pistol. The frame length is the hardest part to conceal
 
I have a Gen3 17 with a Hogue gripsleeve and a Gen4 21 with the large beavertail backstrap. Neither gun is very ergonomic for me, I have always wanted a better palmswell grip on these guns, but I think I can shoot these both fine the way they are.

IMHO a Glock needing extensive grip modifications to suit the shooter is probably the wrong gun for that shooter in the first place. I'm a big fan of the HK P30 and VP modular grip system and I have a P30 with the large back strap and the large sideshell panels, and that grip feels like it's molded to my hand. It makes a difference in the way it shoots. The Walther PPQ M2 and S&W M&P guns are more ergonomic than the Glocks (again, "MHO"), which are great pistols on their own merits, and I wouldn't part with them under any circumstances. But we're kidding ourselves if we think they're for everybody!
 
JDBerg,
Can you recommend a polymer striker fired doublestack 9mm with the sight radius of a G17, the grip length of a G26, and the mag availability of Glock 9mm pistols(10,12,15,17,33 round reliable OEM magazines abound). ???
 
Can you recommend a polymer striker fired doublestack 9mm with the sight radius of a G17, the grip length of a G26, and the mag availability of Glock 9mm pistols(10,12,15,17,33 round reliable OEM magazines abound). ???
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I can't. What I would say though is that the sight radius on a G26 doesn't seem to really be a detriment. I can get just as tight groups with my G26 as my G19, though to be fair I haven't printed them at 50 yards. Now maybe you're doing bullseye shooting so you'll notice the difference, but I've never heard anyone say the sight radius on the G26 is deficient and seeing what professional shooters like Miculek can do with even a J frame makes me think shooter skill is far more the dominating factor with handgun shooting. That said you would gain some velocity back, though many of the self defense ammunition manufacturers use faster burning powders given the widespread use of shorter barrels.
 
Can you recommend a polymer striker fired doublestack 9mm with the sight radius of a G17, the grip length of a G26, and the mag availability of Glock 9mm pistols(10,12,15,17,33 round reliable OEM magazines abound). ???
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Hmm, the Sig P320 might come close. I think you can do a full slide with subcompact frame but not 100% sure. I know you can do a compact slide with subcompact frame which would be like a G19-G26 hybrid. Mags probably aren't quite as versatile as with Glock but there are several options. Maybe worth a look?

Edit: Definitely possible with the P250: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/04/chris-dumm/gun-review-sig-sauer-p250-9mm-2sum/
So I would think it would work with the P320 as well - looks kinda goofy though. :)
 
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JDBerg, Can you recommend a polymer striker fired doublestack 9mm with the sight radius of a G17, the grip length of a G26, and the mag availability of Glock 9mm pistols(10,12,15,17,33 round reliable OEM magazines abound). ???
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Lane does nice work on polymer guns in general and Glocks in particular, and his services are reasonably priced, so hopefully he can help you out;

http://www.coldborecustom.com/Services.html
 
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shooters like Miculek can do with even a J frame
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Miculek has sponsors paying for 100,000 rounds a year. I fire 1% of that centerfire and maybe 2-3% 22lr in a very good year. I'll take any advantage I can get. Plenty of other people have decided this modification is worth their while.

Considered Sig 320. Still sort of keeping my eye on it.
 
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