“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

 – “The Lorax”

I’ve been thinking about my Glock. What to do with it really. I like just about everything about it, except unfortunately how I shoot with it. It puzzles and frustrates me. In short, I wanna rock my Glock. But I can’t. Or I don’t know how. 

The Glock is one of the most popular pistols in the world. It has been used by too many police departments and military’s to name. In the hands of civilians it is a popular choice for recreational and competitive shooting, home defense and concealed carry.  Basically there is a Glock for everyone, and if it’s not exactly how you want it, there’s almost limitless aftermarket options. Make no mistake though, there are plenty of Glock haters out there. It’s ugly, it’s plastic, it’s overrated. I suspect much of this hate has less to do with the actual functionality of the gun and more to do with its widespread success. 

Even with my problems with the Glock I am a fan. I like how the Glock fits in my hand. It feels solid, points easy. Nothing feels cheap. There is a reason this is such a popular gun. The Glock has a reputation for reliability and my experience hasn’t led me to question that reputation. I even like how it looks believe it our not. It has a simple utilitarian but elegant design. Purpose built.

So what’s my problem? I can’t shoot this thing with any consistent accuracy. I’ve talked about the dreaded low and left and this pistol seems to bring out all of my bad habits. It’s not you it’s me, only it really is me. I know this gun is capable of being accurate. It’s not uncommon for me to hit a bulls eye on the first shot and put next 4 in a reasonably tight group surrounding it. And then…it all falls apart. Groups start opening up and I start heading low and left. The sights, though basic (and plastic some complain) are easy to acquire and focus on. Like the rest of the gun they are simple and functional. I have dry fired this gun hundreds of times and used dummy rounds to determine if I’m flinching or anticipating. I just can’t figure out what my problem is and I’m at my wit’s end.

The trigger on my Glock 17 appears to be of good quality and has just about everything I look for in a trigger. It’s predictable and provides excellent feedback. When dry firing the trigger has a well-defined 1st stage that stops at an obvious wall. There is only the smallest hint of creep and then the trigger has a positive and distinct break. The reset is strong and tactile. For all intents and purposes the trigger is solid. The criticisms, if there are are any legitimate criticisms, include a fairly long take-up, a heavy break and a somewhat longish reset. This is of course at its heart a duty pistol and I have a hard time criticizing the trigger when looked at for its intended purpose. The break of the stock trigger is somewhere between 5 and 6 pounds. I have had difficulty getting a more accurate estimate due to the shape of the trigger and how my Lyman trigger scale engages it. I have been torn about modifying my Glocks trigger because I don’t feel like anything is wrong with it. Whats wrong instead, is my ability to shoot well with it. I’ve overcome bad triggers before. Again, not saying the Glock trigger is bad. The trigger of my S&W SD9VE is in comparison horrible. Yet I have learned to shoot that pistol with reasonable accuracy and manipulate the trigger with confidence. 

So what am I going to do with this pistol? I really want to make it work for me. I’ve toyed with a myriad of ideas. Have the slide cut for a red dot, replace the factory sights, or modify the trigger in some way, have all been researched ad nauseam. After shooting my Glock again last weekend along with another of my 9mm handguns, I’ve finally decided to take a chance on a new trigger. I thought about changing a couple of the trigger components piecemeal and seeing what kind of results I could achieve using the most economical approach but decided ultimately that if I was going to do it I would invest in a complete overhaul or kit. Of course there are nearly as many options for Glock triggers as there are accessories for your AR. I finally settled on the ZEV Technologies Fulcrum Drop in Kit. It’s fairly well regarded and reviewed, and in some circles considered to be the pinnacle of Glock aftermarket trigger options. In part 2 of this review I will go into detail about my experience with the ZEV Trigger and see if it improves the functionality of the pistol and more importantly help me shoot more accurately and consistently.