Just don't get the 80% Glock thing.

[420Stainless]

I might be up for it if it made a Glock look better, but I think the 80% frames are even uglier. One of the YouTube critics says it's a way to get a 1911 grip angle in a Glock. So if that sounds like a good feature to you, it might be worth it for that.

 

[wally]

I paid cash to a shop for my 80% AR lowers before the election.

Nothing to track them to me.

That shop also carries the pistol receivers as well.

Oops! This post just outed you!

If .gov has enough reason to go after you, the Internet is not all that anonymous -- just ask Kim Dotcom or those Silk Road criminals.

I picked up an 80% Glock simply because, it was cheap ($60), I could, and I enjoy tinkering. I was disappointed that it is even more of a block that my Glock 17L that I'd hoped to use the upper from, but once I get it running, I can be very aggressive with a grip reduction that I'd never attempt on my real Glock. Its a project and part of the hobby I enjoy.

If it doesn't appeal to you don't buy one, but why all the criticism of those to whom it might appeal to for whatever reason they have. Having real choices is what freedom is all about!

One of the YouTube critics says it's a way to get a 1911 grip angle in a Glock.

That was a large part of what tweaked my interest, but its even blockier than the Gen3 Glock

 

[Varminterror]

@Tirod

I'm sure glad it doesn't take 1,000ft.lbs. to kill coyotes, deer, or hogs.... I'm quite certain it doesn't take so much to kill people either, but with that, I don't have first hand experience. Alternatively, I DO with using SBR's and pistols to kill game way past the paltry 80-120m you've laid out. Otherwise, I'm really not sure how I could have ever killed coyotes past 700yrds with a 75 Amax in .223, since it's carrying less than half of the energy you're citing as "minimal." Not sure how any deer I have killed with a .357mag has ever gone down either.

I picked up an 80% Glock simply because, it was cheap ($60)...

[quote about converting a Glock to a 1911 grip angle]

That was a large part of what tweaked my interest, but its even blockier than the Gen3 Glock

Yeah - I was REALLY disappointed upon first receipt of the polymer80 grip frames. I have big hands, and it's way too big - and profiled like a pressure treated 2x4. It's not unshootable, but it's certainly not comfortable, and can be difficult to manage in one hand.

 

[cc-hangfire]

...
I picked up an 80% Glock simply because, it was cheap ($60), I could, and I enjoy tinkering...

I'm considering them for the same reason Wally did. I've got a couple of Glocks that the prior owners stippled & another LE gun that has severe abrasions on the grips. I got them (relatively) cheap and an 80% grip/frame is one way to change the grips to something I like better.

 

[Jim K]

While some "builders" undoubtedly want to produce a custom gun or something that is desirable but not available "off the shelf", IMHO most 80 percenters want to have something that is "off the books", thinking they will outsmart the government when "they" confiscate guns. But if that happens (God forbid), the ban will be total and absolute; no one is going to worry about serial numbers.

Jim

 

[wally]

and an 80% grip/frame is one way to change the grips to something I like better.

Make sure you can handle the 80% frame to be sure you really do like it better, otherwise you may be disappointed or in for the extra work of a "grip reduction".

 

[ExMachina]

I can get a lightly used to LNIB Glock 17 or 19 off Armslist in my area for around $475. For me to build a Glock 17 or 19, it would cost me around $700.

Sorry not paying a premium for the privilege of building a Glock.

Uh, well you're technically not building a Glock. I mean sure, you could use all OEM parts but if you're starting from scratch, why would you do that? Why wouldn't you just build your base gun with al the after market add-ons that many Glock guys seem to love to drop coin on?

For me, the math was quite simple--for $730 I ended up with a "Glock" that has superlative ergos, a fantastic trigger, a slide cut for an RMR, and a threaded match barrel. Do all those mods to that $475 Armslist Glock and you're looking at having $1100 into the gun. Even better was that I got all my parts shipped to my front door for free--that just made the project extra fun.



And that's the real point--building this was friggin fun! If speccing out your own "custom" gun is really not your cup of tea then that's cool--but personally, I would encourage anyone with two thumbs to give it a go.

 

[rskent]

or me, the math was quite simple--for $730 I ended up with a "Glock" that has superlative ergos, a fantastic trigger, a slide cut for an RMR, and a threaded match barrel.

Not really.
You ended up with a gun for sure. And a gun that you like and works for you. But its not a Glock. In the end it might turn out to be better than a Glock. But it’s not a Glock. One of the reasons I buy Glocks is that they run very reliably for me, and they have a reputation for running reliably for thousands of other folks as well. I don’t need anything your gun has. I just need a gun that runs.

I hope your gun runs trouble free for thousands and thousands of rounds. And that you like it as much then as you do today.

 

[ExMachina]

Not really.
You ended up with a gun for sure. And a gun that you like and works for you. But its not a Glock. In the end it might turn out to be better than a Glock. But it’s not a Glock. One of the reasons I buy Glocks is that they run very reliably for me, and they have a reputation for running reliably for thousands of other folks as well. I don’t need anything your gun has. I just need a gun that runs.

I hope your gun runs trouble free for thousands and thousands of rounds. And that you like it as much then as you do today.

Uh suuuuuuuure. That's why I put Glock in quotes. Of course it's not a true Glock. I doubt anybody who built one of these kits is under any such illusion

 

[rskent]

Of course it's not a true Glock. I doubt anybody who built one of these kits is under any such illusion

And I suspect that most do think they are “building“ something that is better than a Glock.

Assembling a mostly unproven pistol with the expectation of Glock reliability and better than Glock performance. I just don’t see it ending well.
In the end it’s your gun not mine and hope it works out for you because you seem to like it. Maybe I could get behind it if you called something other than “Glock”.

 

[mgmorden]

Some people just like projects to tinker with. I enjoy "messing around" with guns probably just as much as shooting them.

I haven't yet built an 80% Glock (though it's on my "to do" list), but for example a lot of times when I look at shotguns I intentionally look for older ones that need work. By the time I'm done replacing parts and refinishing stuff a lot of times it would have been cheaper to just buy a gun that was already in functional condition, but then I wouldn't have had a project to work on .

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I'm not going to comment on the Glock thing (don't like them anyway), but to all of you who are saying "just buy a gun for cash from a private party" in an effort to have an "off-record" or non traceable gun: that is getting more and more difficult to do.

It has been my observation over the past few years that private party firearm sellers are demanding the buyer sign a bill of sale, give up a copy of their state ID (sellers just photograph the buyer's driver's license with an iPhone), or both. Then they just store a digital copy on their phone or home computer indefinitely. If "that day" comes, and the government comes looking for that gun, the guy you bought it from is going to print out your driver's license for them.

As others have stated, purchasing an 80% firearm doesn't mean it can't be traced back to you. It would not be difficult for the government to subpoena credit card or paypal records to confirm your purchase. I suspect the vendor has to keep your info for at least 7 years, if only for tax/audit purposes.

Probably the only way you're going to get a gun completely off record is to 3D print almost all of it, and then machine all the metal components yourself from totally raw materials. And no, I'm not advising anyone do that.

 

[rskent]

Probably the only way you're going to get a gun completely off record is to 3D print almost all of it, and then machine all the metal components yourself from totally raw materials. And no, I'm not advising anyone do that.

And even then, if “they” wished, all they would have to do is track ammunition / component sales. So that “off the books” gun had better be a flintlock. And you will need to learn to make your own black powder. OK, could be a fun project.

 

[zignal_zero]

Well, I agree with the guy who doesn't "get" the whole 100% Glock thing but this ain't a bash Glock thread so...

I think most folks who build "80%s" are wanting a gun that "doesn't exist". No "firearm transaction" EVER occurred. The gun was BORN in their garage. I get it but ain't in that crowd. I'll sign 4473's all day, have a couple stamps, and have never been in a boating accident.

That said, I started building AKM's in between the drying up of Dracos and the introduction of the Yugo M92 because I couldn't buy that style of AK. While I could accidentally trip over them, these days, I still like to build. Something about someone seeing your gun, asking where it cam from, and getting to say you built it. Well what country is it from? Which part? I haven't finished my Romerican yet, but it will ride in the trunk when I do.

So.... I believe most do it because they watched Jack Reacher too many times, but some just like doing it.

 

[TanklessPro]

If you want a Glock,get a Glock. An 80% Glock is not really a Glock, it's what a Glock could be.

 

[zignal_zero]

If you want a Glock,get a Glock. An 80% Glock is not really a Glock, it's what a Glock could be.

Kind of like a CZ P10

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I have a friend that built one with the tan frame. He picked up a Glock 19 from a guy that made a failed attempt at reshaping and stippling the frame. Talk about an adoration. For under $350 my friend had a nice gun.
I have no need for a custom Glock type pistol so, I don't see me building one because, on the LE program, I can get a new Gen 5 at a very good price.
But I understand that different people have different reasons for doing the 80% builds and that's ok with me. I also know that they don't need my approval ether.
I try to remember that most of us love guns and enjoy the time we spend shooting, working on and playing with them. Some should try to remember that posting about guns should be fun too.

 

[Wisco]

I don't know much about the 80% Glock-like lowers, but it seems like a fun project if you're patient and equipped for the work. The 80% lower I held was not comfortable to me, but the Lone Wolf frames are and so are Glock lowers that have been worked over with a sander and then stippled. The more companies making 80% lowers will eventually yield more choices that fit more people.

My holiday project was a cheap ($325) Gen3 G17 that I went to work on with a Dremel, woodburner and waffle tip.

 

[Tiro Finale]

There's a certain type of satisfaction that comes with building something yourself. Nothing like heading out to the garage after lunch, firing up the ol' drill press, and spending all afternoon on a fun project. For me, it's not about the end result. I could buy the end result at any local gun store. It's about the experience and enjoyment of it all.

 

[Bowtieman66]

I’ll stick with my 100% Sig 228R.. hasn’t let me down yet.

 

[WestKentucky]

I can see it for a custom gun, but absolutely not for anything near stock glock. If your buying high dollar aftermarket parts then it will be sensible to put the collection of those parts on a cheaper 80% frame than it would be to buy a factory gun and have a bunch of parts left over.

 

[rskent]

I get the self-satisfaction part. I do. But what I don’t understand is working hard to end up with less. Its not like Glocks are expensive or something. If you end up with a Sorta Glock 19 for 350 bucks, have you really saved anything in the long run? If your Sorta Glock frame holds up and you get the round count and reliability that a Glock would get, I guess so, and I stand corrected. But its questionable? Does anyone here know anyone that has run one of these guns hard, or has one with a high round count that is trouble free?

 

[Spats McGee]

I see it exactly like I see building ARs. Either someone (1) enjoys building things; (2) doesn't want a paper trail; or (3) some combination of both. I won't be building one any time soon, but I won't rule it out, either.

 

[DMK]

... I looked into it and it actually costs MORE to build a Glock 17 or 19 than to just go buy a Glock 17/19....I know quite a few guys that have built an AR and they end up saving at least $100 if not more.

I never understood why someone would take the time to learn, research, buy all the materials and build a firearm, just to go the cheapest way possible.

I've built a lot of firearms (never a Glock though) and never saved any money at all. I did it because I wanted the education, experience and the gun built exactly the way I wanted it. It's expensive to do it right.

It's the same reasons why real hot rod cars are built and not bought.