Proven Glock upgrades for competition?

[RustVendor]

Its becoming another fact that I have to recognize as aging.
I have been ignoring eyesight changes bc i do not want to get old man readers or bifocals.
There a few funny changes like late life loss or onset of astigmatism that I have experienced as well as heard from a bunch of irl buddies.

Makes shooting a dot different when you develop astigmatism in your non dominant eye and your dominant eye is clear. Didnt have that before.

interesting, have you tried a green dot? I've read that it's not as bad with astigmatism but not sure if that's true. I actually use a green just because I like it, luckily made it into my 40s without any overt sight issues. Hearing on the other hand....

 

[wtf_calguns_migration]

interesting, have you tried a green dot? I've read that it's not as bad with astigmatism but not sure if that's true. I actually use a green just because I like it, luckily made it into my 40s without any overt sight issues. Hearing on the other hand....

I was going to, but the far sighted thing on top of it is something I need to deal with first.

It's one thing to read text on your iPhone funny. Totally diff with I'm reading sights weird.

 

[ZChaosFactor]

Recognizing this likely is a very personal preference, what size red dots do you prefer on your optics?

I see Leupold is running a sale on DeltaPoint Pros. 2.5 MOA or 6.0 MOA are my options. Thoughts?

Bigger is generally preferred for action shooting sports

 

[Chukarman78]

I have a 19 and a 17 I compete with. My 17 is bone stock except for trigicon sights and a magpul mag well

The 19 has a holosun 407, overwatch precision mag well, and Johnny Glock combat trigger.

 

[steves86ta]

I shoot USPSA and some smaller matches with a Glock 19 or a Glock Clone (PSA Dagger). I actually shoot the dagger a lot more than the glock.

I have a couple daggers and the glock, they are all setup identical.

Timney alpha Trigger
Johnny Custom Glocks Timney Reset spring
Uncaptured guide rod and wolff springs

I tried out a Reddot but wasnt for me.

 

[Experimentalist]

So Leupold is running a $100 off sale on the DeltaPoint Pro. Thank you to everyone who weighed in on the issue, your advice is greatly appreciated.

I bought one 6 MOA unit along with the rear iron sight. I like having the irons as backup, just in case. I've also heard some find irons helpful in certain situations.

I like the green image of the Holosuns, but red certainly works and given the sale, combined with the fact one of my guns is designed to take that footprint and it just made a lot of sense.

Now on to things like holsters and mag carriers. I've been considering the wares on Ben Stoegers' web page (again under advisement of the esteemed experts here).

 

[Markbsae]

Got a pair of 19's and did them both the same. Aftermarket slide with RMR cut. Holosun 407 on one and 507 on the other. Both have tru-glo suppressor height night sights, Skimmer triggers and extended mag releases. They have both been reliable and easy to shoot without going full crazy on mods.

 

[Dvrjon]

The Radian Ramjet/Afterburner looks pretty cool, I would like to try such a thing on one of my Glock 19's. But I think the compensator would need to be sliver soldered to the barrel, or otherwise "permanently" attached to avoid creating a Category 3 assault weapon. Yes, I'm in California and it's a stupid law. That's why I like the ported Bar-Sto barrel. The muzzle is not threaded, and by the time it's properly fitted will be flush with the end of the slide. No legal issues there.

The Radian Ramjet/Afterburner provides a ported barrel which extends past the slide. The micro-compensator is attached to the barrel with a pass-through lock screw. It doesn’t use a threaded barrel, so it isn’t a Cat 3 AW.

Pistols

• A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following: (A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer; (B) A second handgrip; (C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearer's hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel; (D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
• A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

 

[wtf_calguns_migration]

There are way better carry optics guns than Glocks. It boils down to a swing weight deficit and dot control.

Lim Optics is 2011s.

Open is 2011s and a few nuts running CZs

I guess if you want to run in a Prod class with as issued guns that's fine.

 

[H. Bowman]

Ammunition and training are about the best things to throw at a glock.

 

[ikeo1]

There are way better carry optics guns than Glocks. It boils down to a swing weight deficit and dot control.

Lim Optics is 2011s.

Open is 2011s and a few nuts running CZs

I guess if you want to run in a Prod class with as issued guns that's fine.

if he’s just starting, it’s always good to run what ya got before you start spending on those other guns. You don’t need a lot to make a Glock competitive. A good trigger and an optic and you’re gtg.

Upgrading a gun comes later once you’re hooked and think equipment can make you better. It can but usually a lot later.

 

[wtf_calguns_migration]

if he’s just starting, it’s always good to run what ya got before you start spending on those other guns. You don’t need a lot to make a Glock competitive. A good trigger and an optic and you’re gtg.

Upgrading a gun comes later once you’re hooked and think equipment can make you better. It can but usually a lot later.

If he is starting 200-300rd range packs of wwb. Tons of trigger time on practice days with a timer + video.

Too many people get their heads and wallets wrapped up in some specific competition mechanic. They also go buy crutches.

The problem would be not knowing, learning a tiny thing, buying to enhance the tiny thing, wash-rinse-repeat.

How many people get into the reloading rabbit hole not realizing that should be an optimization for handgun competition? Load dev for accuracy and function per an individuals optimal performance? I based it on class and event type. It wasn't global, my bullseye loads aren't action pistol recipes. Totally diff guns with their assorted class gear rules and setups.

It's just easier for people to start out with a ~40oz whatever and get their mechanics down. See a lot of shooters that have to go back to fix a lot of mechanics issues due to movement and control with light pistols.

The $299 Sportmans rock island special and wwb would be a better way to start logging progress. Practice days are low commitment. Then pull out the existing polymer gun and diff the runs.

You can spend $299 on tungsten weights + recoil setups for a polymer gun.

 

[ikeo1]

You can spend $299 on tungsten weights + recoil setups for a polymer gun.

cries in SSI P320 parts.

Everything else I agree with, except CZ's need a lot of work to be competitive and reliable. I don't think I've seen anyone with a stock CZ SP01/Shadow 2 lol.. I'm serious about this too. Glock, you can get away with a trigger, recoil spring, minus connector , extended slide/mag release (already included in G34) and you're gtg for your first year with all the rest of your equipment. That's probably $150 in parts.

I respect the glock guys cause they just run but they're ugly.

 

[wtf_calguns_migration]

cries in SSI P320 parts.

Everything else I agree with, except CZ's need a lot of work to be competitive and reliable. I don't think I've seen anyone with a stock CZ SP01/Shadow 2 lol.. I'm serious about this too. Glock, you can get away with a trigger, recoil spring, minus connector , extended slide/mag release (already included in G34) and you're gtg for your first year with all the rest of your equipment. That's probably $150 in parts.

I respect the glock guys cause they just run but they're ugly.

Doesnt have to be a CZ.
Hell it doesnt even have to be your gun.
The "as delivered" G34 setup is ideal for a lot of people to set as a polymer baseline.
Its cheap, and so common that its a basis for conversation during practice about what to work on.

Could say the same thing for a generic 5lb singlestack or 12lb-6lb stock DA/SA gun.

Youre moving with the pistol on an action range.
Lot of factors impact your action range #s more than putting flat range trigger or "flat" recoil under a microscope.

Figure 4-6 sessions worth of #s down on a practice day with whatever polymer gun you have.

Swap with someone to a preferably all steel gun after polymer muscle memory is built and run a dataset.
Swing, stop, transistion speed, etc etc etc.
Its not the 80s or 90s where we all have metal guns.
Go run around all wild with a light polymer gee whiz gun spraying mikes and Cs.
Focus practice to eliminate obvious mikes AND mechanical problems that slow you down.

You have to make data driven decisions whether you benefit shaving tenths in the ways that benefit your consistent and reproducible results.

You dont get to consistent and reproducible wihout putting in reps over time logging the #s.

All things have trade offs.

You cannot gear buy your way out of seconds worth of mistakes and bad movement.

 

[sjb323]

Another very involved USPSA shooter here. As stated on the first page of this thread, USPSA is definitely NOT an "equipment race for athletes", nor is it just running around and shooting as many rounds as you can at some targets. Being actively involved in action pistol is hands down the best way to improve your shooting. Typically, two things happen after you shoot your first match: a) you realize that you suck and get addicted to improving yourself, or b) you realize that you suck and you're too embarrassed to come back.

Regarding the equipment race, I've probably shot with literally hundreds of dudes who have spent thousands of dollars on the latest gear, but still finish at the bottom of the heap -- don't be that guy. It's much more rare to shoot with someone who finds a gun that they like, sticks with it, then focuses their time and money on ammo and training -- be this guy.

As mentioned above, if you like your Glock, just shoot it for a while as it is. As you progress, you'll learn the shortcomings of your pistol and what options are out there. You'll also have the opportunity to talk to other guys at matches about what they use, and more often than not, they'll let you shoot their guns. But be warned, next to PCCs, modified Glocks seem to the bed far more often than any other gun out there.

Congrats on your retirement, by the way!

 

[Experimentalist]

...I respect the glock guys cause they just run but they're ugly.

How did you know I'm ugly?

Joking of course. I'm enjoying the conversation, everyone's insights are greatly appreciated.

 

[Scooterpilot]

Installed the Bob Vogel trigger in my 34. The trigger parts are OEM and polished and tuned for Vogel's specifications. It has about 3 1/2 lb trigger pull. Much smoother than stock, cleaner break and reset. Has an adjustment for take-up too.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

Work on strengthening your trigger control, and recoil anticipation, and general handling of your glock. That is the best upgrade.

And few upgrades.

Example:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Firearms/s/1IPbjMDbT9

The shooter's build:

Reddit

www.reddit.com

 

[ikeo1]

As mentioned above, if you like your Glock, just shoot it for a while as it is. As you progress, you'll learn the shortcomings of your pistol and what options are out there. You'll also have the opportunity to talk to other guys at matches about what they use, and more often than not, they'll let you shoot their guns. But be warned, next to PCCs, modified Glocks seem to the bed far more often than any other gun out there.

So true. Everyone takes Glock "perfection" and starts to add all these parts to it and it stops working reliably and blame glocks. Lol Then you ask them what they did to the gun and only the frame is OEM glock, even then its stippled or taped or cut. Lol The mixing and matching of tolerances between manufacturers is the main culprit for it I think.

That said, my g19 has a zev slide with radian ramjet and it's been gtg. So some things are ok, but you gotta test it. I have about 2-3k rounds through it and no failures.

 

[SteelChallengeFiend]

Thank you for your advice ZChaosFactor.

I'm nearing retirement and considering expanding my firearms hobby in new and interesting directions. I think IPSC style competition has the greatest appeal, but really have an open mind at the moment.

You make reference to an "Uncapped guide rod / proper spring". I'm unfamiliar with uncapped guide rods - guessing this is simply a guide rod with the end that passes through the end of the slide removed? I'm also curious what qualifies as a proper spring and why.

I presume you've experience with each of these upgrades; might you elaborate as to the subtleties of why this particular trigger is advantageous for you? Does the weight enable a better cadence when engaging multiple targets, does the overall feel abet an undisturbed sight picture?

Hoping you don't mind the many questions, I really am starting from zero here.

And thank you.

If it's IPSC style shooting you're looking to do. Meaning, any kind of USPSA, Steel Challenge, etc. Then a stock Glock will have plenty of accuracy for any shot you'll ever need to take. It also depends on the division you will be competing in. The Glock 34 is illegal in IPSC, lucky for you, almost all competitions here in the USA are USPSA rules where it's legal.

For Production - Talon Grips, Vogel Iron Sights, Competition Trigger of your choice (such as Glock Performance Trigger, Tactical Trigger, Timney Trigger) I have only used the Timney Trigger and highly recommend it.

For CO - All of the above and get your slide milled for the RMR footprint (unless you have a MOS version) and put either a Holosun 507 Competition or Trijicon SRO.

For Limited Optics - Do all of the above and put on a big magwell to help you with reloads.

All that being said. As I am sure others have already probably told you. None of it matters for a beginning shooter. We can hand you a $10,000 Atlas Open gun and you will place in the bottom regardless. To put it in perspective, people have won titles and set standing records with pretty much stock Glocks. Bj Norris winning Steel Challenge CO, while setting a stage time world record, and coming in 0.1 behind the Open Gun Division overall winner all while using an almost stock Glock 47 comes to mind.