I own a Glock 19. That one. In terms of caliber and cool, it’s not a patch on my Wilson Combat X-TAC Commander. But my Glock’s a great gun. It’s got plenty of capacity, never-say-die rugged reliability and excellent ergos (for me). That said, a stock Glock in an inside-the-waistband holster? No thanks. Here’s are three Glock “must-haves” that make Gaston’s gat, um, perfect . . .
1. A better trigger
If a handgun’s trigger is gritty or sloppy or too heavy or too long, if it doesn’t break like the proverbial glass rod, you’ll always be fighting the gun. (Most likely pulling your shots.) Yes, you can overcome a mediocre trigger with skill and practice – just as you can play classical music on a beat-up piano. But achieving that final measure of accuracy – where you’d dare shoot a bad guy between or behind innocents (if you had to) – requires a gun with a superior trigger.
Unlike FN and Walther’s polymer pistols, a standard Glock doesn’t have a great trigger. (You could say that people who own various caliber Glocks because the trigger’s the same on all of them are making a virtue out of a vice, but I couldn’t possibly comment.) It’s graunchy. A bit gritty. The breaking point is hard to pinpoint. And the trigger pull’s heavy: 5.5 pounds. Which is good for “safety” (i.e. for people who can’t keep their finger off the trigger until they shoot) but sucks for accuracy.
Remove your Glock trigger and fit it with an upgraded trigger. I rock the Ghost Rocket 3.5 lbs. trigger. It’s got everything I like in a go-pedal in a self-defense gun: a short take-up, an extra crispy break and a short, extremely positive reset. I can fire my Ghost gun far more quickly and accurately than I can a standard 19. I know exactly when the Glock’s going to go bang. It’s a $40 upgrade, plus the cost of a good smith’s time. There are alternatives at various price points. They’re all worth it.
2. An Outside-the-Waistband Kydex holster
If you’re an inside-the-waistband (IWB) Glock schlepper, I get it. Concealed means concealed; IWB’s git ‘er done. And outside-the-waistband (OWB) holsters have disadvantages. Unless you’re open carrying. you have to wear an untucked polo or button-down shirt (untuckit.com shirts are the bomb). Even then there can be printing issues. But when it comes to speed, surprise and violence of action, a Glock 19 in an OWB holster is a thing of beauty.
For one thing, a proper OWB holster enables you a perfect grip from the git-go. If you have to change your grip between grabbing your Glock and aiming it at the bad guy you run the risk of fumbling and/or missing. Getting your thumb around your chunky monkey Glock in an inside-the-waistband holster can be a challenge, especially if the gun’s wedged in tight. An OWB holster gives you a full, unimpeded, immediate, positive grip on your brick thick Glock.
A Glock carried OWB is fast. You can lift your shirt with your weak hand, or “scrape” your thumb along the outside of your shirt and bring your gun hand up to your GLOCK, in a fraction of a second. JWT reckons speed of presentation is more important for armed self-defense than your choice of gun or caliber and shooting skill; more than 80% of defensive gun uses end without a shot fired.
I wear my 19 in a K Rounds kydex holster. We can argue about Kydex vs. leather, but my properly made, high-quality Kydex holster – held down by a suitably stiff gun belt – keeps my 19 tight to side (with room for my thumb). It eliminates printing issues when I’m wearing anything other than a skin-tight shirt (a horrible image but there you go). OWB holsters are also significantly faster and safer for re-holstering than IWB rigs. Bottom line: stashing a Glock in a Kydex OBW holster creates, dare I say it, confidence.
3. Night Sights
Why anyone would sell a self-defense gun without night sights is beyond me. (Probably something to do with money.) If you were a bad guy, would you attack in broad daylight or wait for the gloaming? If you were a good guy – and you are – wouldn’t you want sights on your Glock that perform well in low-light conditions? You would. You do.
Many gun owners fixate on the BITN (Bump In The Night) scenario. Given that so many Glock owners park their gun on the nightstand when they fall into the arms of Morpheus, I’m surprised that anyone would own a gun without night sights. Yes, you can turn on the lights. (D’uh!) But what if you have to go, gulp, outdoors? You know; at night.
There are lots of superb aftermarket Glock night sights: Trijicon, TruGlo, Glock OEM, AmeriGlo and more, Buy a set, install them and relax. You’ve got an awesome gun, a great way to carry it and the security of knowing you can defend your life in any light condition.
What are your three Glock must-haves?