Product Preview: Basic Glock Upgrades

posted on August 24, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
upgrd.jpg

Although Glocks are perfectly serviceable and well-proven pistols as they come from the factory, they also enjoy one of the largest and most vibrant aftermarkets of any commercial firearm. In this regard, Glock pistols rival even the AR-15 and Ruger 10/22, with customization options that enhance performance and personalization. I had a 9 mm Glock 19 Gen4 ripe for upgrade. Here are some products I chose to suit my needs.

One of the very first steps most Glock shooters take is upgrading the sights. It’s a pretty straight forward process, though it does require a Glock-specific front sight tool—the front post nests into an oval cut on top of the slide and is secured with a hexagonal nut. To replace the plastic factory sights, I chose the AmeriGlo Combative Applications Pistol (CAP) Sights for their steel construction, tritium-powered illumination and the bold, square-shaped front “bead” (ameriglo.com, $90). The luminescent square fits nicely into the rear notch when correctly aligned, and I find the whole arrangement is faster to employ than comparable three-dot patterns.

Another oft-replaced component is the Glock’s factory trigger. Here, again, it is a mostly plastic apparatus, and the design does not optimize the trigger shoe’s surface area for sure engagement with the shooter’s finger. I found a more comfortable, and customizable, unit in the form of Apex Tactical Specialties’ Action Enhancement Trigger (apextactical.com, $100). The trigger and Gen3 trigger bar comprise a drop-in replacement assembly that smoothes and reduces the trigger’s travel, improves the break and, thanks to the shoe’s semi-flat face, improves the overall feel—at least in my opinion. For a more personalized look, the trigger is available in black, red or purple, or in the Thin Blue Line color scheme that pairs a black trigger shoe with a blue anodized safety lever. Going a step further, I also replaced the safety plunger and connector with Apex products—all aforementioned parts are included in the Action Enhancement Kit ($130)—which further smoothed the trigger’s movement and reduced the pull weight from 6 lbs., 3 ozs., to 4 lbs., 11 ozs. 

Finally, I opted to try out the Glock Striker Control Device (SCD) from Tau Development Group, familiarly called “the Gadget” (taudevgroup.com, $79). The slide cover plate replacement is intended to enhance safety, especially during holstering, and the manual of arms is similar to that of a hammer-fired double-action firearm—downward pressure on a dropped hammer will resist pressure on the trigger. In the case of the SCD, pressure on the slide plate resists the rearward movement of the striker and, through the trigger bar, the trigger itself. In this way, the SCD is first a tactile and visual indicator—trigger movement causes the SCD to fan outward—and, when pressure is applied, it can serve as a manual safety. While it in no way replaces situational awareness or safe gun handling, it does provide an extra layer of protection against unseen obstructions like shirts, jackets or spent brass that can invade the trigger guard area during the holstering motion.

Because of its no-nonsense design, business-like appearance and large-scale production, it’s understandable that a stock Glock may seem to lack character or distinction. Nevertheless, I’ve found that I can improve performance and add a bit of style.

Latest

FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA
FN “Moroccan” Mauser, semi-automatic LRB M14SA

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Trijicon Releases Green-Dot RMR

For the first time, the Trijicon RMR will now be available with a green aiming dot, providing some benefits to shooters with astigmatism and red-green color blindness.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Firearm Industry Companies Consolidate, Others Close Doors In 2025

This year has already seen some big changes in the firearm industry. They don’t quite reach the tectonic shift in 2020, when legendary firms owned by Remington Outdoor were auctioned off, but there have still been some notable shifts within the industry in 2025.

Preview: Uni-Loader

The easy-to-use Uni-Loader can save high-volume shooters a lot of time and finger pain.

CZ 600+ Introduces Switch-Barrel Capability

In 2025, CZ USA expanded its 600 series rifle lineup with the CZ 600+, a design that delivers on the company's promise of a switch-barrel platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.