Big Bore Brick: Modifying a Glock’s Grip

A common complaint about Glocks, especially among those of us with smaller hands: the grip is too thick. It just doesn’t fit. Glock themselves have addressed this with the “SF” (small frame) models. There is another way . . .

I picked up the Glock 30 .45 ACP above at a Christmas gun show (best show of the year to get a bargain if you’ve got any spare money). I couldn’t pass on this at the price; the gun was nearly new in the box.

But the grip was just too large. The trigger-guard hook really added to the bulk. It would have made a great concealed carry piece for someone over 6 ft and 180 lbs. But I liked the Glock so much I wanted to make it work for me. (5’7″, 165 lbs).

I hit the net, research “grip reduction.” There’s a lot out there, but there’s some crappy work, even by “professional” gunsmiths. Some will fill the hollow backstrap with epoxy, then grind the backstrap, texture and finish with a spray-on coating.

One of the advantages of a polymer frame: the surface is “self-healing”- scratches and abrasions don’t show. And one of the reasons Glocks are so comfortable to shoot: the hollow back-strap. Even with hot loads of any caliber, the back-strap it absorbs and dissipates recoil forces. Unless you fill it with epoxy

After deciding what would work and what wouldn’t, I stripped the Glock down, took a deep breath and started in with Dremel and Exacto knife.

I removed the trigger guard hook, re-contoured the finger grooves, deepened the trigger guard under-cut and reduced the back strap.

The back strap was interesting. As stated above, I didn’t want to lose the hollow by filling with epoxy and grinding, and I didn’t want to have to spray-finish the frame. I found a guy on “Glock-Talk” with a better way . . .

Carefully heat (I actually used a candle!) the grip and then press it against a hard flat surface. A kitchen counter-top works fine. Going slowly, I had to heat and press five times before I got the contour I wanted.

Using this method, you keep the hollow at the backstrap (maintaining the flexing and absorbtion of recoil) and the polymer’s self-healing surface.

I stippled the worked areas (rather than an over-all re-surfacing) with a wood-burning pen, with a tip ground to give the effect I wanted. I practiced on the inside lid of the Glock carrying case.

I added a smooth-faced Glock trigger, “Ghost” five-pound tactical trigger kit (less over-travel, faster re-set) and Trijicon night sights.

The finished Glock is now my daily carry piece. It’s reasonably light and compact and totally reliable, accurate. It’s filled with 11 rounds of .45 ACP goodness. Best of all, it fits.

WARNING: Any such modification to any gun will immediately void ANY warranty. Mistakes can and will destroy your gun, possibly making it unsafe.

Even if done with care and taste, if you have purchased your gun for “investment” purposes (your wife REALLY doesn’t believe that, does she?), you will, upon making such modification, whether by yourself or by a “professional,” reduce its re-sale value. “Custom” means just that- custom: made for you. No one else is going to look at your modifications with your loving eyes!

But if you want your gun to fit, to speak for you in that instant most dire; if you want your gun for a LIFE preserving companion, this is one way to go.

There are many others.