Glock 17 upgrades?

[lakersfan]

I got:

Stainless steel guide rod 17 lb

Talon Grips

Extended slide lever (Glockstore)

Sevigny competition sights (on order)

I'm not sure I want to do the 25 cent trigger job on a gun without some sort of thumb safety...

[tacticalcity]

I add the following and only the following to defensive Glocks (would go further on a race gun).

1. New night sights. I like the SPARTAN sights from Ameriglo.
2. TangoDown Vickers extended slide stop.
3. TangoDown Vickers extended magazine release button (just right, not too far out).

The one thing I never do on a gun intended for self defense is mess with the trigger. I want the reliability that comes from the factory. If this were something intended for competition use or just plinking, I would go nuts with it and change out whatever struck my fancy. But not for something that carries with it a lot of liability, not to mention has my rear end depending on it working.

[Glocked@45]

Training is the best a newer shooter can do. I never understood the extremes some people do to their Glocks for range shooting or home defense, then again its not my money.

Since your out in Riverside check out FTA at Raahauges and look at the General handgun 2 day course, worth every penny.

[Bob Hostetter]

>>> 1,000 rounds plinking by yourself with no training just means you spent $250 doing it wrong. <<<

Hopetonbrown, how would you know he was doing it wrong? Kind of a big assumption on your part don't you think? Unless you were there and that assumes you would know if he was doing it wrong.
There are a lot of ways to do things and that includes shooting. There are a lot of very good self taught shooters. Besides I am always suspect of anyone telling me their way is the only right way. Are you a proven instructor with a documented real world resume?

OP, go to Glocktriggers.com and take a look at their trigger kits. They are very reliable and you can adjust the trigger pull weight to whatever you are comfortable with. If you want an extended mag release button go to Lone Wolf and order a stock release for a Glock 20 or 21 for $4. It is the same release button that Glock uses in the 34/35. Heine makes excellent sights, very durable and reasonably priced, you can get them blacked out or with tritium inserts if you want night sights. Skip the Titanium Nitride coating on the barrel. While it will increase the surface hardness of the barrel it won't give you any increase in accuracy or reliability.

[Whatthepho?]

Trigger wise, Im in love with the Zev triggers, But as a HD gun. I'd leave it stock. My main defense guns are stock with the exception of a larger mag release. I dont want to risk having a failure when i need it the most. I dont think the Tin coating is necessary, the stock barrel coating is smooth and slick as it is.

The mag release was changed after a couple of shooting courses/ drills. Under normal condition i can drop the mag just fine. Under stress. I cant press it far in enough to release the Mag. Take some courses, then adjust your gun to tailor your needs.

[nedro]

Bob Hostetter's suggestion is to buy an OEM trigger bar that's been polished for $150. What a bargain.

Have you tried a nice trigger?
I mean a nice one, not one you bought and dropped in?
Sure, I have a $200.00 Zev-tec trigger, but I didn't, "Just drop it in." I find that most people who think a light trigger is dangerous are just on the leave it stock team. And nothing more. Didn't say it was bad, it just is what it is.
BTW $1200.00 for a gun course? HA, HA, HA! What a joke!

[BigPimping]

Add Vickers extended slide stop and mag release then you're done.

This is what I did. Very nice I must add.

[BigPimping]

Sell it and buy a P320/VP9/PPQ, THEN you are done.

Oh my how funny. Never sell a Glock. Avoid overpriced boutique guns and get more Glocks!!!!

[wl518]

Sheriff of Baghdad is in town in July for pistol and carbine courses. I recommend him if ITTS is not your flavor. As far as upgrades I'd go with warren fiber set off of amazon. And the TiN barrel? Be a baller and just buy a Wilson combat barrel after you get better at shooting. Waited 3 years to get one and it's well worth it.

[Bananajacksonthe 3rd]

At this point sights are on order, gen 3 add on beaver tail and another magazine. Going to check out a training course and get something going in that regard. By no means is this my first handgun or should I say me being a new shooter. But I can always stand to learn more and to work on becoming a lot better at shooting.

[Bob Hostetter]

Actually its a polished trigger bar, a new ejector housing with an overtravel stop, a reduced pull weight connector, a polished striker block and spring, a trigger spring, an extra set of striker spring retainer cups, and 3 different level of striker springs for tuning the pull weight.

[Bananajacksonthe 3rd]

Oh my how funny. Never sell a Glock. Avoid overpriced boutique guns and get more Glocks!!!!

Not saying that Glock is the best but I agree. Handgun wise I wont own anything but glock. Maybe a sig if it's super discounted but I find the feel of glock in my hand is the most comfortable.

[Erick Danielsen]

Black Center Tactical offers pistol classes in Corona; I've taken several of their classes and plan to take several more. I learn a lot, feel safe, have fun, and they have reasonable prices and round counts (1 day class, $120 or so, and 200 rounds).

I think training is the best place to spend money, followed by sights. You will probably need a holster, mag pouch, good belt, and at least three mags total for a class. You can get by with the basic glock slide holster on a sturdy belt and some cheap plastic mag pouches to get started - as you learn what works for you and what does not you will have a better idea of what to get.

If you want to get fancier off the bat, an OWB Kydex belt holster with no cant is what I would get for classes. Black Center Tactical actually makes some great ones, but there are a ton of options out there. Kydex mag pouches work great too, two singles rather than a double will give more flexibility. Lots of belt options; look for one that has plastic sewn in to stiffen it up and help distribute the weight of the gun and ammo instead of sagging.

Regarding sights, there are a lot of different options out there and you should figure out what works well for you. That said, plain black serrated rear sights with a big dot or fiber optic front sight, or night sights get recommended frequently.

Edit: ITTS is also an excellent choice.

I second this, I've taken a couple classes with Johnny and he runs a good outfit. His fighting handgun 1 class is a great beginner class. I recommend everything mentioned here. Mags, ammo, holster + mag pouches, good belt, and a couple classes. Chat with other students and check out what sights they put on they're Glocks. Sights are the only changes I would make to a Glock.

[Matt P]

Bob is pretty respected here Hopetown. You should read a few of his posts. He can walk his talk. Just sayin....
I agree with Bobs recommendations. And I do instruct individuals in shooting.
Silly ness to suggest greater liability or lack of reliability if you modify your defensive firearm. Most mods are perfectly reliable. My opinion is formed on performing these types of services for the last 10 years or so.
Maybe Hopetown you have been in more shootings then I have. I even tried LE work for 12 years to increase my odds. Heck, I have carried easy 20 years without needing to bust caps.
Most with handguns use them on the range exclusively. I can make just as many arguments why you should modify your defensive firearm as those who say you should not.
Amazing this argument continues. There is absolutely no foundation to not doing it due to liability. Unless your CCW issuing agency does not allow it.
A lighter trigger will allow less movement and greater accuracy. Sure it would be great to be able to obtain the same level of accuracy regardless of the trigger weight. But when you are a new shooter, there are many things you will struggle with when shooting. Allowing for less energy to be used to make the handgun discharge will be one mod that will give you the absolute best result and most bang for your dollar.
I see students struggle with horrible heavy triggers all the time. The biggest cause for lack of accuracy with handguns outside the students input.
Gaining accuracy will immediately give you confidence. Learning to be as accurate as you can be and taking as much time as you need to obtain it. An excellent starting point for any new shooter.
I would not suggest any multi day course of all kinds of elevated skill sets or tactical type training. Many shooters without strong fundamentals flounder in such courses. They sacrifice those fundamentals in an effort just to complete all the other tasks. So you may have fun, but what will you really learn?
Start with a Handgun 1 class, basic or fundamental class. Possibly check to see what technique do they encourage when shooting. There are many. If you respect the abilities of shooters who run and gun through competition, inquire if they instruct in that technique.

[flhxxx]

Ghost EVO Elite Trigger Kit (professionally installed)
Apex Tactical Safety Plunger
Vickers tactical extended mag release
Trijicon HD Night Sites (I prefer orange outline)
None of this is all that expensive....

Buy about 2000 rounds, sign up for a class or three and break that bad boy in real good.

Get yourself a dry fire pistol like the SIRT and practice practice practice at home. Owning a firearm is a huge responsibility, you should work at becoming reasonably proficient with it so as to minimize the risk that if you ever actually have to use it you will hit your intended target and no innocent bystanders.