Custom Pistol Build

[MilesTeg]

I've been debating on what to take on for my next gun related project. I was going to start a poll and get everyone's opinion, but as it so happens I clicked one internet picture and now I'm obsessing.

So now the next project up to the plate is a custom built Glock variant. The plan right now is to have it in 40 S&W and 357sig. Just like my hunting rifle thread this is open for discussion in all fashion. I will layout my initial questions below.

Does anyone here have any experience doing this?
Any cool pictures or ideas.
Should I start from a stripped frame or get a donor gun.
Is there any unique tooling I will need to install the different parts kits?

Any input is appreciated.

 

[MilesTeg]

Here is the picture that sent me down this rabbit hole.

 

[MilesTeg]

Here's a couple of the parts I'm leaning towards.
Frames
RAPTOR ONE GLOCK BILLET SLIDES | Design Dynamic Tactical

I still don't have a trigger group or barrel picked out yet.

 

[Magnus]

Here is the picture that sent me down this rabbit hole.

Clear some room in your hole for me! I've been at the edge for months, and this is the final push!

Are you looking at the Spectre kits?

 

[MilesTeg]

Clear some room in your hole for me! I've been at the edge for months, and this is the final push!

Are you looking at the Spectre kits?

I haven't ran across them yet. I will look at them and see if there's anything I like. I've found quite a few different places to buy stuff from that I didn't know existed and also different products I never knew existed. I really have opened a can of worms for myself.

Honestly if I had the money I would have bought one of these. http://www.agencyarms.com/complete-pistol-build

 

[hoodfu]

The idea of spending $1400 on a Glock is nuts. Look at a CZ Tactical Sport Orange or CZ Shadow 2 or something. Or an EAA Witness Elite. All truly top of class guns for the same price range.

 

[Podmonkey]

Here is the picture that sent me down this rabbit hole.

Gotta say, that is a pretty damn cool Glock.

 

[Podmonkey]

The idea of spending $1400 on a Glock is nuts. Look at a CZ Tactical Sport Orange or CZ Shadow 2 or something. Or an EAA Witness Elite. All truly top of class guns for the same price range.

Sometimes the coolness of a thing overrides its logical value. That Glock is one such a thing.

 

[MilesTeg]

The idea of spending $1400 on a Glock is nuts. Look at a CZ Tactical Sport Orange or CZ Shadow 2 or something. Or an EAA Witness Elite. All truly top of class guns for the same price range.

Ya does nothing for me. I already have a mid level 1911 and that looks very similar to a 1911 design. I use to hate glocks until I picked up my 43 now I'm a convert.

 

[dsdmmat]

I have built several 1911s and an EAA witness Silver team comp gun already. I am currently working on another 1911 full sized single stack, fully ramped barrel with a rail on the dust cover. I really don't like dust cover rails on 1911s but it is what I have so it is getting built.

 

[DoD1776]

Glocks

 

[MilesTeg]

I have to say I don't get some of the logic here what makes a custom glock any less of a good idea as a custom metal frame gun?

 

[MilesTeg]

Clear some room in your hole for me! I've been at the edge for months, and this is the final push!

Are you looking at the Spectre kits?

I found the Spectre kits. I don't think I will use one because I want to be able to take this to the range with me. The 80% frame is a cool idea for pistols, but no ghost gun for me they're too scary. I was actually surprised at how cheap that Gen 3 frame was. At $75 it almost seems like a no brainer to use it.

 

[hoodfu]

Sure. With the ones I mentioned, they'll shoot better than a Glock. With this expensive custom Glock, it won't shoot any better than one that's $400.

I have to say I don't get some of the logic here what makes a custom glock any less of a good idea as a custom metal frame gun?

Because a custom metal gun will shoot fantastically. A Glock will always just be a $400 honda civic. There's a reason why almost all of the top shooters use CZ 75 based guns in production class in USPSA. Can you shoot well with a Glock? Yes. Is it far easier to shoot better with a good metal frame gun? Every day of the week. The light weight (even lighter with that custom gun with the lightening cuts) absorbs recoil horribly compared to something that's just a hair under the 50 ounce NY limit.

 

[Magnus]

Here's a couple of the parts I'm leaning towards.
Frames
RAPTOR ONE GLOCK BILLET SLIDES | Design Dynamic Tactical

I still don't have a trigger group or barrel picked out yet.

I didn't see this post. The frames at the glockstore are really reasonable, but the damn 19 is sold out.

 

[Darth]

At that size, go 10MM or GTFO.

Then you have all 3 calibers.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Sure. With the ones I mentioned, they'll shoot better than a Glock. With this expensive custom Glock, it won't shoot any better than one that's $400.


Because a custom metal gun will shoot fantastically. A Glock will always just be a $400 honda civic. There's a reason why almost all of the top shooters use CZ 75 based guns in production class in USPSA. Can you shoot well with a Glock? Yes. Is it far easier to shoot better with a good metal frame gun? Every day of the week. The light weight (even lighter with that custom gun with the lightening cuts) absorbs recoil horribly compared to something that's just a hair under the 50 ounce NY limit.

What makes you think he wants a custom Glock for competition?

Those custom metal framed guns with tight tolerances fail under adverse conditions by the way.

 

[MilesTeg]

At that size, go 10MM or GTFO.

Then you have all 3 calibers.

I have no hate for the 10mm but have no interest in that caliber. The 40 is for cheap range sessions. The 357 is for all other times. I've been obsessing on getting a 357 for a while.

 

[MilesTeg]

I didn't see this post. The frames at the glockstore are really reasonable, but the damn 19 is sold out.

Ya I don't think I will be carrying the pistol concealed so I was looking at the larger frame.

 

[Darth]

I have no hate for the 10mm but have no interest in that caliber. The 40 is for cheap range sessions. The 357 is for all other times. I've been obsessing on getting a 357 for a while.

Same caliber as 40, and can be case formed into .357Sig.

Man up and reload for it.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Man up and reload for it.

Reloading is for losers with nothing but time.

 

[MilesTeg]

Same caliber as 40, and can be case formed into .357Sig.

Man up and reload for it.

Lol I know already have 4000+ 40 S&W I would have to sort out 10mm sounds painful. I've never checked powder I wonder how much more is in a 10mm.

 

[Darth]

Reloading is for losers with nothing but time.

Yeah, and? xD

 

[Darth]

Lol I know already have 4000+ 40 S&W I would have to sort out 10mm sounds painful. I've never checked powder I wonder how much more is in a 10mm.

For me, 5.5Gr Power Pistol in .40S&W vs 7.2 in a 10MM.

For my loads. Range loads.

 

[Phazer]

Because a custom metal gun will shoot fantastically. A Glock will always just be a $400 honda civic. There's a reason why almost all of the top shooters use CZ 75 based guns in production class in USPSA. Can you shoot well with a Glock? Yes. Is it far easier to shoot better with a good metal frame gun? Every day of the week. The light weight (even lighter with that custom gun with the lightening cuts) absorbs recoil horribly compared to something that's just a hair under the 50 ounce NY limit.

Bingo. When I let new shooters with their first polymer self defense 9mm pistols (Glock, S&W Shield, Ruger LC9S, etc) try my full-sized 45acp Sig 1911 with 5" barrel, they're always impressed at how much more accurate they are with the full-size pistol with a 1911 trigger.

That said, I'm all for owing as many pistols as you can comfortably afford. Whatever style floats your boat... go for it.

For the record, I have yet to use a 1911 for a self defense pistol course. For different courses, I've used: Glock 19, Glock 43, Springfield XDS 9mm, and Ruger LC9S.

 

[HEX]

What makes you think he wants a custom Glock for competition?
Those custom metal framed guns with tight tolerances fail under adverse conditions by the way.

Well, he did say this is a range gun, so to me that may as well be the same thing. I don't compete in anything generally, but for a range only gun I'm far more interested in how it performs than how it looks.

As far as that second part, I'd have to call that a myth; at least in regard to what kind of guns @hoodfu is talking about and I agree with him absolutely that something along those lines is going to be a far superior range gun over a dressed up Glock any day of the week. It's true of course super high end 1911s and such, that have ridiculously tight tolerances, can have issues but not the higher end CZ75 production class guns he was referring to. This is also kind of where the term 'custom' can be ..well, kind of used subjectively in the gun world anyway.

That all said, I also think that people should do whatever the hell with their money that makes them happy; so if a dressed up Glock makes someone more happy than what I might consider a more 'performance' gun then they should get a dressed up Glock.

EDIT: I will say also though that I see a lot of opinions around the forums that I think sometimes may fall either into lack of experience of shooting certain kinds of guns to really know the differences, or that some people also want to endorse what they have and they use because it's what they're accustomed to. The example given by @Phazer in the post above this one is one I see often as well; or the similar one when people shoot the CZ SP-01 and realize how crazy accurate it seems over more common plastic fantastics.

 

[MilesTeg]

For me, 5.5Gr Power Pistol in .40S&W vs 7.2 in a 10MM.

For my loads. Range loads.

Lol no wonder why the 10mm is a beast that's a decent amount more powder.

 

[fnfalguy]

As sometimes there doesn't need to be a logical reason for doing something, I find myself looking at this and prepping to start going down this rabbit hole.

The Roland Special Glock 19 - Guns & Ammo

 

[MilesTeg]

Lol at my skill level you could put the highest level 1911 in my hands and I will probably shoot the same as a stock Glock. I have a 1911 I shoot defensive pistol with. It's a great gun but I still don't have a full sized striker fired gun. I'm like most people I think Glock are ugly and that's why I said I would never buy one. Then when the 43 I came out and I saw one at my FFL I decided to pick it up and check it out. I've never had a gun feel so natural in my hand. After shooting it I because a Glock convert. This brings my to this point I want a standard size Glock I don't have one. Because I still find Glock ugly I was researching different variants and found out it possible to build one from the ground up and I was hooked. I'm glad people are so passionate about their particular style but I like to diversify. Here's my 1911 for you fan boys.

 

[Darth]

Lol no wonder why the 10mm is a beast that's a decent amount more powder.

That's the starting load. Buffalo Bore puts that to shame. That's that starting load for 40 as well. You can push 10Gr. with 10mm.

I snapped a steel chain on a steel target with a full power 10mm.