Grit Grips Glock 19 Range Report
Steve and Caleb are back at the Big Spring Shooting Complex with the Grit Grips Glock® 19 clone build. We recently assembled this pistol from the ground up, and now it is time for the important part: getting it on the range and seeing how it shoots.
The pistol is built around a Flat Dark Earth Grit Grips Glock® 19 Gen 3 compatible frame. We kept the internal components relatively basic, which gives us a good opportunity to evaluate what the frame itself brings to the table.
Grit Grips Glock® 19 Build Overview
The Grit Grips frame accepts Glock® Gen 3 compatible components, so you can configure the pistol with factory-compatible or aftermarket parts.
Our pistol uses Brownells parts, including a basic Gen 3 lower parts kit. We are not using a high-end aftermarket trigger in this build. The primary exception is an extended slide catch.
Up top is a Brownells Premium optic-cut slide equipped with a Viridian red dot and AmeriGlo MOS-height sights.
The Gen 4-Style Magazine Catch
There is one notable exception to the Gen 3 configuration. Grit Grips designed the frame around a Gen 4-style magazine catch.
That is a useful upgrade. The Gen 4-style catch has a larger surface area than the traditional Gen 3 design. It is also reversible, giving left-handed shooters the ability to change its orientation.
It is a small change, but it adds useful functionality to an otherwise Gen 3 compatible frame.
AmeriGlo MOS-Height Sights
The AmeriGlo MOS-height sights turned out to be a good match for the Brownells optic-cut slide and Viridian red dot.
Looking through the optic, the iron sights sit just high enough to clear the bottom of the optic window. At the same time, they do not dominate the sight picture.
That provides usable backup iron sights without placing an unnecessarily tall set of sights in the shooter's field of view.
Grit Grips Frame Ergonomics
The main reason we wanted to get this pistol onto the range was the frame itself.
The Grit Grips design has a pronounced backstrap that naturally pushes the shooter's hand higher into the frame. Instead of having to consciously force your hand higher, the shape of the grip helps position it there.
Getting the hand higher relative to the bore can help the shooter control the pistol and return the sights to the target for follow-up shots.
There is also a subtle palm swell. The grip does not have the blocky feel that some shooters associate with traditional Glock® frames. It feels shaped to the hand while remaining relatively slim.
The Textured Gas Pedal
Another feature that becomes noticeable when actually holding and shooting the pistol is the textured gas pedal area.
The support-hand thumb has a defined location on the side of the frame, giving the shooter another point of contact with the pistol.
It is a relatively simple feature, but both Steve and Caleb noticed the additional control it provides.
Shooting the Grit Grips Glock® 19
Caleb takes the first shots after coming directly from shooting a Springfield Prodigy. Moving from that trigger to a basic Glock®-style trigger takes a little adjustment, but the Grit Grips build immediately feels good in the hand.
Even in its relatively basic configuration, the 19-length pistol handles well. Caleb notes that adding a compensator could change the shooting characteristics further, but the current configuration already makes a compelling compact setup.
Then it is Steve's turn on the plate rack.
His first impression is straightforward: the frame provides plenty of control. The gas pedal also starts winning him over once he gets rounds through the pistol.
Getting Familiar with the Glock® Trigger
A few more runs through the plate rack give Caleb time to get reacquainted with the basic Glock®-style trigger.
There is nothing exotic about the trigger in this build. That is intentional. The pistol is running a basic parts configuration rather than a premium aftermarket trigger.
That also keeps the focus on the Grit Grips frame. An aftermarket trigger could always be added later for shooters who want to further customize the pistol.
Grit Grips vs. a Factory Gen 3 Frame
After shooting the pistol, both Steve and Caleb prefer the feel of the Grit Grips frame to a standard factory Gen 3-style grip.
Steve points out that his fingers wrap around the slimmer grip a little farther, which may contribute to the amount of control he feels while shooting.
The frame also reminds them of the grip profile found on M&P pistols. The exact design is different, but the comparison helps describe the more contoured, hand-filling feel of the Grit Grips frame.
A Slim Glock® Compatible Frame
The Grit Grips Glock® 19 frame remains relatively slim despite its palm swell and other ergonomic changes. That is worth considering for anyone looking at the frame for a carry-oriented build.
The weapon light can be removed for a different configuration, and Grit Grips also makes a 43X-size frame for shooters looking for an even slimmer platform.
The result is a design that adds useful grip geometry without simply making the frame larger.
Grit Grips Magwell Option
There is one more accessory we did not cover in the original build: Grit Grips offers a compatible magwell.
The magwell installs at the bottom of the frame and is secured with a screw rather than relying solely on a friction fit.
For shooters who prefer running a magwell, that gives the Grit Grips frame another straightforward customization option.
Final Range Impressions
After several trips through the plate rack, the Grit Grips Glock® 19 clone leaves a strong impression.
The basic Brownells parts configuration gives us a familiar Glock®-style operating system, while the Grit Grips frame changes how the pistol interfaces with the shooter's hand. The pronounced backstrap, subtle palm swell, slim profile, and textured gas pedal all contribute to the overall feel.
For shooters considering another Glock® clone build, or anyone who already has compatible Gen 3 parts and wants to try a different frame, the Grit Grips design offers an interesting option.
If you have experience with the Grit Grips frame, let us know what you think. And if you need help with your parts or build, give the Brownells Tech Line a call.
