Glocking Tall

It feels like this is getting to be a yearly occurrence.  Some maniac goes off and decides to commit the unconscionable act of mass murder using a firearm.  Afterwards, as if to script, the calls for the same knee-jerk reactions ring out:  

• Ban Assault Weapons
• Ban “High Capacity” Magazines
• Registration of Firearms

Almost like clockwork, once these calls go out, we see a spike in the purchases of ammunition &  firearms of all types.  Handguns, shotguns, & riffles all fly off the shelf.  Ammunition becomes scarce & expensive.  It’s simple economics at work.  Seemingly overnight, supply is inadequate and grossly outstripped by demand.  Prices go up and the anti-gun contingent have nobody to blame but themselves.

There is something that happens in this cycle that the anti-gun side doesn’t necessarily realize.  Every time they sound the call to enact more gun-control legislation, the ensuing panic buying puts more money in the coffers of the manufacturers.  This increased revenue for gun manufacturers, in turn, leads to increases in funding for the NRA.  This rise in funding enables the NRA to fight back against these irrational legislative proposals. 

It’s highly likely that the anti-gun voices will never truly grasp the fact that the louder they call for gun control, the more they are actually doing to fight their own cause.  It is a vicious cycle that the anti-gun critics are not willing to break, lest they seem to be “off message”.  The more that the gun-control voices stay “on message”, the more they do to ensure that their agenda will never see the political light of day.

It seems that a lot of people are curious as to the pricing of the world’s greatest pistol.  Glock prices, for new pistols, are set across the board.  This is not something that you’re going to see change, no matter how much you shop around.

There is, however, one way to get a discount on new Glock pistols.  Join GSSF.  An additional benefit you get is that you have access to take the Glock Armorer’s course as well.  GSSF membership also allows you to compete in the GSSF matches held around the country.  These matches are great fun and a good way to meet like minded shooters.  More importantly though, when you join for multiple years, you get access to the pistol purchase program.

Typically, a 9mm Glock pistol will cost $550 new.  GSSF allows you to purchase this for $450, That is a 18% discount, but it’s not really.  Getting this discount requires you to sign up for a minimum two year GSSF membership.  The cost of this membership is $60 for a new two years.  So when you figure in the price of the pistol, plus the membership, the price of your first pistol under this program becomes $510, or a $40 discount.  The actual discount on the first pistol you purchase under this program is 7%.  If you only buy one pistol under this program, the discount is negligible, at best.

Members can only buy one pistol per year on this program.  The real discount comes in the second year when you can buy another pistol at the same pricing.  At this point, we’re assuming that you’ve bought one in the first year and are buying again in the second year.  The discount of the pistol in the second year, is the 18% discount previously mentioned because we’ve already factored in the price of the GSSF membership.

If you’re only going to buy one Glock, and you want a new one, just go support your local gun shop and buy whichever model you like.  If you are planning on buying multiple, then sign up for a GSSF membership and take advantage of this program.

Yep.  Glock can do that.

As soon as I saw that video, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were using the GHOST Maritime Spring Cups.  I think they were designed for the instance that you got your Glock wet, but I think this counts too.

Credit goes to Brad Ruiter for showing me this one.

All too often holsters that are designated for concealed carry, are anything but concealed if you want to wear just a t-shirt, or anything other than a button-up shirt that will drape over the gun. Sometimes people get too worried, unnecessarily so as Mark Rogers points out, about “printing” or having your concealed weapon actually show through what you’re wearing. If you are well and truly worried, or wearing a shirt that won’t adequately allow you to conceal your weapon, I would suggest looking into an ankle holster. When wearing pants, ankle holsters offer the single most concealable way to carry your handgun. I recently obtained a Fobus Ankle Holster to try out and carry my Glock 26 about town. I have to say, the results were promising.

Fobus Ankle Holster

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See larger image Fobus Ankle Holster GL26A Glock 26/27/33 (Sports) List Price: $49.99 USD New From: $38.99 In Stock Release date April 30, 2011.

One of the things that has never really pleased me about my Glocks is the factory trigger.  It’s not as heavy, or long as a double-action revolver’s, but it’s not as light and smooth as it could be.  Knowing this, I set off on a quest to find a trigger that would be lighter, but not so light as to be considered a hair trigger.  After much internet research, I settled on the Ghost Inc. Ranger Trigger.  This trigger connector brings the pull weight down to 4.5 lb.  This is lighter than the factory 5.5 lb, but not so light as to be considered a hair trigger.  It was a weight that I was comfortable carrying and knew would be a reliable, easy to pull weight when needed.

Ghost Ranger Trigger Kit

Now, I know that trigger weight is one of those things that is like what you use to clean your gun.  Everyone has their own opinion on what the optimal weight is.  The truth is what you like and works for you may not be what works for your friends.

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GSSF has posted last weekend’s results from the River Bend Ballistic Challenge V.  Our newest contributor Tom did pretty decently, but I sucked.  I have the experience and know what to expect next time.  I can’t wait for Conyers.  If we can get enough people together, we will have a “Team GlockingTall”.

View the results

Normally, when I go to the range, I just wash may hands with the provided soap after I’m done shooting. The one thing I’ve not done is get the lead off my face. This is probably not a good thing. So I decided to take a closer look into something to help get the lead off of me when I am done shooting.

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First, I am honored to be joining Glocking Tall as a guest blogger. This blog came to my attention recently when I did a search on Twitter for the GSSF, and I began corresponding with Andy. He asked me to tell about what I’ve done to my gun for GSSF, so, without further adieu . . .

GSSF is the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation, a pistol league just for Glocks, operated by Glock, Inc. They operate about 30 matches a year all over the country. To give you an idea of the size of this organization and its popularity, the 2011 GSSF Glock Annual Shoot at the South River Gun Club in Conyers, Georgia, was the largest action pistol match in history, with over 1060 entries.

There are a lot of benefits to being a member of the GSSF. First, at every match there are factory Armorers who will inspect your pistol and replace any part that needs it, free of charge. That’s right. A lot of companies talk about their warrantees, but Glock delivers.

Second, if you sign up for at least 2 years of membership you are eligible to buy a Glock at the Law Enforcement discount price, which is a substantial savings. Plus, you get a LE gun, which includes 3 magazines versus 2 for the non-LE version.

What Gun to Shoot?

GSSF has several divisions, and the one I shoot in is Amateur. This pretty much limits me to a stock pistol and that’s fine. Because of the lower recoil and less expensive ammunition, there is no reason to shoot anything more than 9mm for GSSF.

The gun I shoot in GSSF is a Glock 17, the full size 9mm gun. The Glock 19, the mid-size 9mm, is also an excellent choice. I own one named Liberty, but I’ve never shot it in competition.

I bought my Glock 17 (Bruce) in 1992, and because of the GSSF Armorers, the only original parts left are the polymer frame, the slide, and the barrel.

What Changes to Make?

There are a few modifications I have made to my pistol, and some of them I would recommend for anyone shooting GSSF:

Sights

Just about everyone who shoots Glocks will admit that the factory sights are about the least liked part of the whole Glock system. But, even Glock will tell you that they build great pistols, and the sights were an afterthought.

So, I installed Warren/Sevigny Competition Sights with the fiber optic front sights. For about 2 years I had the red fiber in the front sight, and then I changed it to the green, admittedly on a whim. I find now that I prefer the green.

I like these sights a lot better than the Glock factory sights, especially the fiber optic front sight. They make the front sight really stand out, and they’ve made a big difference in my sight picture.

Minus Connector

The Minus Connector is called that because it has a dash, or minus sign, on the side of the part. The purpose of the (-) connector is to reduce the trigger pull of the pistol. The out-of-the-box pull weight is approximately 5.5 pounds, and some people call the (-) connector a 3.5 pound connector. In truth, Glock calls it the 2 kg connector, which translates to about 4.5 pounds in Christian units. I’ve never measured the trigger pull of my pistol, but I can say it definitely lowers the pull weight.

I only install the (-) connector on the pistol for competition or for practice, and never when I plan to carry the gun or have it available for home defense. That’s because of the possibility that, should I have to use my gun to defend myself, the lawyer for the other side would use this part against me, and try to convince a jury that I had some kind of “hair trigger.”

Other after-market parts manufacturers, like Ghost and Lone Wolf, who make the lighter connectors, but those, being non-Glock parts, are not technically legal for GSSF use.

Trigger

One other thing to do to your Glock, GSSF or not, is to smooth the trigger pull. There is a simple, do-it-yourself process easily found on-line, called the 25 Cent Trigger Job, so named because the cotton swabs and polishing compound required to accomplish it cost about a quarter.

Basically, what this involves is polishing all the metal parts of the Glock trigger system that contact each other, so that they are smooth, and slide easily past each other. The original method calls for cotton swabs; I used a polishing wheel on my Dremel tool. Much faster.

I’ve done this on all my Glocks now, and I would not own a Glock that I didn’t do this to. In fact, when I bought my Glock 21 a few years ago, I let my son dry fire it before I did the trigger work, and compare that to my Glock 17, and even he could tell the difference.

What Other Things Do I Need?

In addition to the pistol, all you need are four magazines, ear and eye protection, and a bag to carry it all in. Many shooters use a holster, and any belt holster will do. (GSSF rules require all guns carried in holsters to be carried empty of ammunition, with the slide locked back.) Total ammunition expended for the match would be 107 rounds, so it’s not expensive there, either

Earlier this month we reviewed “Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun“. This insightful book is an essential read for anyone who would consider themselves a fan of Glock pistols. It takes a deeper look at not just the history of the company, but the machinations that lead to their dominating two-thirds of the law enforcement market in the US. Recently, GlockingTall had the chance to interview the author, Paul Barrett, on a number of issues related to the company, gun rights advocacy, and his relationship with Massad Ayoob.

GT:
The bizarre Glock family feud that boiled over into the public eye since your book was published seems to be a battle for the future of the company. What do you think will be the ultimate outcome of this and how do you think this will ultimately affect the fate of Paul Jannuzzo?

PB:
It’s always perilous to make predictions like this. That said, I expect that at some point Gaston Glock, or his estate, will sell the company. the feud you refer to concerns who will share in the proceeds of this potential sale. The candidates include Helga Glock, Gaston’s first wife, the three adult children (Gaston Jr., Brigitte, and Robert), the newer Mrs. Glock, and the financiers who may (or may not) participate in this transaction. What seems clear to me is that Glock GMBH, the legendary handgun maker, will not be led and operated by someone named Glock once Gaston has left the scene. As for Paul Jannuzzo, I don’t see how the future control of the Glock companies will affect his fate. Jannuzzo, who has been convicted on criminal charges of financial fraud in Georgia state court, is unlikely to find future employment at Glock, even though he helped make the company what it is today.

GT:
What I was referring to with regards to Jannuzzo’s fate is that Robert Glock had tried to intervene in Januzzo’s case before the sentencing, basically corroborating Januzzo’s story about the loaner guns. If that is the case, it would knock down the racketeering charge and really put an odd twist on the whole case. A motion for a new trial has already been filed by Jannuzzo’s lawyers and is set to be heard on June 25th, 2012.  I don’t expect Januzzo to go anywhere near that company again, but this sure does pull back the curtain a bit on what is already becoming a soap opera within the family.

PB:
Soap opera is certainly a fair term for these goings on.

GT:
I totally agree with you that the family control perishes with Gaston Glock. Does it make sense then, that once Mr. Glock passes that the concerned parties would move to take the company public, or cash out to a private equity firm and totally wash their hands of the business?

PB:
I predict the family will be out of the business once Gaston Glock is gone from the scene. The company would probably be worth more as a division of a larger arms company, rather than as a stand-alone corporation. Whether it passes through the hands of a private equity firm, who knows?

GT:
I drive by the Glock offices in Smyrna on my way to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. It’s very obvious to even those driving by that there is a lot of growth happening with the company. Seeing as they currently hold two-thirds of the police market, and a significant portion of the consumer market; what do you think their next big growth segment is?

PB:
The potential for growth lies in new products. Gaston Glock has hesitated to apply his technology and brand name to a rifle. Likewise, Glock has never manufactured a .22 target pistol. I expect that new ownership will move in those directions. A police dept that issues Glock 9 mm or .40 caliber pistols would probably consider purchasing a Glock carbine. Likewise, a civilian who owns a Glock 9mm might well consider purchasing a Glock .22 to take advantage of less expensive ammunition. I’m not a businessman, but those seem like obvious opportunities to exploit the Glock reputation in new lines.

GT:
I see a lot of calls around the Internet for Glock to build a single-stack 9mm, or some other product that they don’t currently. Glock has definitely built up their reputation in the law enforcement market. I think that one of the main reasons we don’t see a Glock carbine is that the M-16 / AR-15 platform has been just as time-proven as the Glock. That being said, there is always room for innovation. I think that these new facilities will definitely help reduce the pipeline shortages that people have sporadically reported around the country. Glock R&D lately seems to be focused around migrating to the Gen 4 platform. Has Glock gotten themselves into a position where they build a product that is “too good to fail”, and they have to constantly find new means to compel their users (civilians and law enforcement) to upgrade? This seems to be the impetus behind the Gen 4 development, fro my perspective.

PB:
I don’t really have more to add on this. Your guess is as good as mine.

GT:
In my experience, I have seen just as many Glock haters as I have seen Glock fans within the community of gun owners. Why do you think these firearms are so polarizing? Is it a matter of envy, or is it an elitism against the fast-rising Glock?

PB:
You’ve identified at least a couple of the reasons for Glock resentment. Some American gun owners may feel a patriotic loyalty to the 1911. Others look down on the Glock as “ugly.” Yet another explanation may be that American consumers love to love (and hate) products. Mac vs. PC. Ford vs. Chevy. It’s an old American story.

GT:
After reading the book and perusing the source notes, you hit the mark in presenting both sides of the gun advocacy and anti-gun discussion. Has the research that you conducted in the writing of this book shifted your opinion from where you were when you began writing this book, has it give rise to an opinion that wasn’t previously there, or has it galvanized an existing opinion on this heated argument?

PB:
Writing this book reinforced my impression that diehard activists on both sides of the debate distort data to reach the conclusions they seek to reach. This work has also reinforced my view that attitudes toward firearms are largely symbolic. The question is less what guns do for people as a practical matter, but more what guns mean to people as a cultural and political symbol. For this reason, it’s difficult to get people to talk calmly about gun ownership and related matters. I consider myself an unusual case: I enjoy target shooting. I see the appeal of firearms. I have no problem with trained people keeping guns in their homes for whatever reason they choose, especially for self-protection and sporting purposes. But I also understand why many people are uncomfortable around guns. And I myself am uncomfortable when gun owners justify their attachment to firearms as a reflection of what might be called an “insurrectionist” tendency – the notion that government is an enemy and gun owners must be prepared to overthrow the government. I am uncomfortable with the “infidel” t-shirts and the ridiculous epithets tossed at our current President (“communist,” “fascist,” and all the rest). Extremists have a constitutional right to hold their extreme views. That does not mean that I feel comfortable about those views. When you mix firearms and implied violence with those views, I get very uncomfortable. Just one man’s opinion.

GT:
I think that your way of thinking is shared by more people than you might think. The main problem we’re facing is that political discourse in this country has been hijacked by the extremes. Anyone in the middle of the spectrum aren’t easily compartmentalized. I am pro-gun to the point where I also enjoy target shooting and keep multiple firearms for historical significance, family heirlooms, and home defense. At the same time, if the President is re-elected, I’m not going to make run on my local gun shop to stock up for the “liberal apocalypse”. Do you think that there is room in the conversation for a moderate voice, or is the discussion around gun rights always going to be dictated by the extremes?

PB:
I fear that professional fundraisers dominate the gun debate – on both sides. They are not interested in calm debate. The NRA wants to keep gun owners in a constant state of panic about imaginary “gun grabbers.” The anti-gun lobby has become irrelevant in the face of declining crime rates. I foresee a continuing loosening of gun restrictions to a point where we may risk more of these stand-your-ground type confrontations. I hope that does not come to pass. But I am worried about it. I favor moderation, live-and-let-live, and common sense. And gun safety. If you’re going to own one, know how and when to use it.

GT:
Massad Ayoob is arguably the most prominent voice in self-defense, training, and the legal issues surrounding the use of deadly force since Jeff Cooper. What Mas knows has filled many books and he continues to speak out on these issues. What did you take away from your time with him that didn’t make it into the book?

PB:
Mas and his companion Gail Pepin are friends of mine. They have been generous with their time and knowledge. Our warm relationship is a good illustration of how it is possible for people of good will to reach out across ideological and cultural lines. We agree to disagree about certain issues, and that does not prevent us from enjoying each other’s company. I respect their dedication to craft and their deep knowledge of firearms.

Do you agree or disagree with any of Paul’s points? As always, comments are open below for discussion.

Earlier this year, I heard about a new book being published on the history of Glock, both the pistol and the company.  The book, entitled Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun, is look inside of a company many know of, but few truly know.  I decided I’d go to Amazon and pick it up for my kindle and read it in my spare time.  What I found was a book that was nothing short of riveting.

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See larger image Glock: The Rise of America's Gun (Kindle Edition) By (author) Paul M. Barrett List Price: $26.00 USD Release date January 10, 2012.