HighValleyRanch
New member
Sorry for the long post, but I post these threads because I know that there are others who contemplate the same as me, and hopefully these threads help others who are considering the same.
It may not be for everyone, but to each his own.
I am not a newbie. I know what I'm doing.
So please do not post, why didn't he just sell the 20 and get a 29.
I have been thinking about this for quite a long time.
I originally did own a glock 29 for my woods concealed carry (yes, in California concealed carry of a gun in the woods is sometimes necessary).
Since at the time we were only allowed two guns on the carry permit, the choice has to be multi functional, i.e. concealable and workable for four legged critters. (Yes, we have black bears and big cats near my place in the woods).
I liked the glock 29, but found it very chunky feeling. Like many compact glocks, the hump on the backstrap feels funny, and yes, I could have done a grip mod on the 29, but the short barrel lended itself to the fat feeling, and use for hunting also requires a 4 inch barrel.
So I sold the 29 and then got a glock 20.
Well, as most know, the grip is huge on these gen 3 models. Not so much from the shooting stand point, but more for concealed carry.
Believe me, I tried every conceivable way to carry this gun. I really like it.
Winter no problem, but summer woods wandering, not so easy.
I even purchased a glock 29 magazine when I purchased the glock 20 with this chop in mind, but never did it, trying to love the glock 20 as it was.
You can't just find too many people with these, so feeling one in the hand first is not an option. I knew that the 29 grip length was not going to be a problem as I already had one before and shot it well and qualified with it.
As well, I did a glock 19 to 26 conversion way back in 1995. Same thing. I liked my 19 and liked the advantage of a shorter grip. In fact, later I owned a glock 26, but found that I liked my conversion even better. Same thing as the glock 29, the hump.
When you cut the longer glock 20 to the 29 length, the angle stays the same, but the backstrap is straighter WITHOUT the hump. The glock 29 has the hump and feels shorter because it curves in at the bottom. Here, I was able to keep it longer and merge with bottom of the magazine.
The longer barrel is hidden in IWB carry, so that is not an issue. Legal for hunting, longer sight radius, adaptable for much longer after market barrels (20 and 29 locking lugs are different), convertible between the 29 and 20 grips lengths with use of A & G sleeve adapters. With the 29 mag and a Pearce finger extension you even get the mid length grip many want.
And finally, in california we are limited to 10 rounds magazines (for the most part) and so the 29 magazine here does not reduce capacity for the normal legal 20 magazine.
SO TODAY WAS THE DAY.
It takes some gumption to take your glock to the bandsaw and start cutting!
I am a wood worker by trade, so I am comfortable doing this myself. The project took less than two hours, taking care at the end in the final fitting of the mag to the gun with the back lip. I chose at this time not to do any modification to the grip and keep it bone stock except for the chop.
But this is important....
I DID FIND THAT YOU CAN USE A DREMEL TO STIPPLE THE POLYMER AS YOU DO ON WOOD.
Before I could not find this anywhere on the internet, and everyone else uses the solder method for stippling. Using the dremel you can texture very fine and have more control. If I do any grip mods such as finger goover removal, or smoothing, i will use a dremel for texturing. Not those ugly solder iron textures you see so often nowadays.
If anyone is interested in the chop process, I can post more details. It's way more common these days.
I really like the results and now I can carry it finally without printing under even a T shirt!
It may not be for everyone, but to each his own.
I am not a newbie. I know what I'm doing.
So please do not post, why didn't he just sell the 20 and get a 29.
I have been thinking about this for quite a long time.
I originally did own a glock 29 for my woods concealed carry (yes, in California concealed carry of a gun in the woods is sometimes necessary).
Since at the time we were only allowed two guns on the carry permit, the choice has to be multi functional, i.e. concealable and workable for four legged critters. (Yes, we have black bears and big cats near my place in the woods).
I liked the glock 29, but found it very chunky feeling. Like many compact glocks, the hump on the backstrap feels funny, and yes, I could have done a grip mod on the 29, but the short barrel lended itself to the fat feeling, and use for hunting also requires a 4 inch barrel.
So I sold the 29 and then got a glock 20.
Well, as most know, the grip is huge on these gen 3 models. Not so much from the shooting stand point, but more for concealed carry.
Believe me, I tried every conceivable way to carry this gun. I really like it.
Winter no problem, but summer woods wandering, not so easy.
I even purchased a glock 29 magazine when I purchased the glock 20 with this chop in mind, but never did it, trying to love the glock 20 as it was.
You can't just find too many people with these, so feeling one in the hand first is not an option. I knew that the 29 grip length was not going to be a problem as I already had one before and shot it well and qualified with it.
As well, I did a glock 19 to 26 conversion way back in 1995. Same thing. I liked my 19 and liked the advantage of a shorter grip. In fact, later I owned a glock 26, but found that I liked my conversion even better. Same thing as the glock 29, the hump.
When you cut the longer glock 20 to the 29 length, the angle stays the same, but the backstrap is straighter WITHOUT the hump. The glock 29 has the hump and feels shorter because it curves in at the bottom. Here, I was able to keep it longer and merge with bottom of the magazine.
The longer barrel is hidden in IWB carry, so that is not an issue. Legal for hunting, longer sight radius, adaptable for much longer after market barrels (20 and 29 locking lugs are different), convertible between the 29 and 20 grips lengths with use of A & G sleeve adapters. With the 29 mag and a Pearce finger extension you even get the mid length grip many want.
And finally, in california we are limited to 10 rounds magazines (for the most part) and so the 29 magazine here does not reduce capacity for the normal legal 20 magazine.
SO TODAY WAS THE DAY.
It takes some gumption to take your glock to the bandsaw and start cutting!
I am a wood worker by trade, so I am comfortable doing this myself. The project took less than two hours, taking care at the end in the final fitting of the mag to the gun with the back lip. I chose at this time not to do any modification to the grip and keep it bone stock except for the chop.But this is important....
I DID FIND THAT YOU CAN USE A DREMEL TO STIPPLE THE POLYMER AS YOU DO ON WOOD.
Before I could not find this anywhere on the internet, and everyone else uses the solder method for stippling. Using the dremel you can texture very fine and have more control. If I do any grip mods such as finger goover removal, or smoothing, i will use a dremel for texturing. Not those ugly solder iron textures you see so often nowadays.
If anyone is interested in the chop process, I can post more details. It's way more common these days.
I really like the results and now I can carry it finally without printing under even a T shirt!
I also have to agree that you did a great job. I too do not like the humped back strap. So, I understand your desire to make the gun you have, fit the desired needs you face. Once again, great job. I bet you sweated while doing it didn't you?