Glock Grip Plugs

[VT1032]

What's the concensus? Are they a good thing to have or not? I hear a lot of people with LE backgrounds say they are stupid and prevent you from being able to strip mags and a lot of people with military backgrounds who won't run a glock without one for reliability reasons and smoother reloads. For my purposes, I'm not rolling around in the mud but I do daily ccw glocks with all the attendant lint and fuzzies. What say you?

[TR675]

I think they help with ease of reloading. I like 'em.

[LOKNLOD]

I think the drainage logic is a cop out due to the cavity being an artifact of the manufacturing process.

I don't drive around with my truck windows left down because it might dry out faster if water gets into my truck. I keep the windows up and keep the water out in the first place. This is especially true in the context of a Glock grip in military type service where it spends its life in a holster and therefore in the "funnel" position, not the "drain" position.

I have the plug installed on most of my Glocks, but haven't run out to grab one for the one that doesn't have a plug, either.

It's more work, but building an internal funnel/speed chute/whatever you call it with some filler is my favorite option.

[JV_]

I like the Glockmeister plug, it does help with reloads.

[LSP552]

I like the Pearce, and they do help with reloads.

[JBP55]

I am not aware of any LEA in this area that allows them and almost every LEA in this area is using Glocks.

[Malamute]

Lanyards aren't used much these days, but I use one on my glock at times. I believe the plugs block off that possibility. Not likely an issue for most though.

[45dotACP]

I like them. They speed things up, they haven't given me a problem yet.

[MD7305]

I like the Pearce, and they do help with reloads.

+1. I like the Pearce and their Gen.4 plug still allows me to use other backstrap/beavertails.

[23JAZ]

I like the Glockmeister plug, it does help with reloads.

I agree. They work very well.

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y494/Glocker321/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2e1e6e5b.jpg (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/Glocker321/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2e1e6e5b.jpg.html)

[SAWBONES]

They're harmless, and I've had them on two Glock 30s now for some 15 years with no downside.

I don't know that they actually improve anything but the grip, and that only slightly, specifically with the Pearce mag extensions that allow for 10 round mag capacity.

Mostly cosmetic, and as far as "keeping dirt and water out" of the gun's innards, that's just stuff & nonsense.

[Surf]

I add them and blend them to the custom heat shaped magwells that I do on my Glocks. Does aid with feeding a new mag.

[Wendell]

Lanyards aren't used much these days, but I use one on my glock at times. I believe the plugs block off that possibility. Not likely an issue for most though.

Nowlin (http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/grip-parts/grip-plugs/tactical-lanyard-plug-for-glock--prod23971.aspx) makes one that works (although it's just for the 1/2/3, not the 4).

[VT1032]

I am not aware of any LEA in this area that allows them and almost every LEA in this area is using Glocks.

Is this because of the mag stripping issue?

[Chuck Haggard]

I have them in all of my Glocks, and I can strip stuck mags just fine. Tested that theory rather stringently before using them.

I prefer the Sherer plugs, it's almost like a free mag well, no downside except that it costs like $7


They do work for keeping crap out of the gun, and I have seen Glocks disabled by enough crap in the grip cavity. That area is in fact a debris sump, but it's a minimal amount of stuff that ends up down there and it's easy to pop the plug out every once in awhile and clean it out.

[Irelander]

When I took the armorer course they said to never put a grip plug in a Glock because part of the self cleaning of a Glock was to blow debris out the grip cavity to keep the trigger mechanism clear. I believed that for a long time until I started hearing a lot of instructors that I respect tell stories of Glocks getting jammed up because of mud and dirt getting up in the cavity and into the trigger mechanism. Just last week I cleaned the lint out of my G19 grip cavity and went out and bought a pack of two ProMag grip plugs at Walmart for like $8.00. I'm happy with it. and it gives the Glock a more finished look.


I add them and blend them to the custom heat shaped magwells that I do on my Glocks.

I'd like to see some pics of that.

[Chuck Haggard]

Glock also says limp wristing is what causes Glock 22s to fail-to-feed. I often take Glock Inc. advice with a grain of salt.


I once got into a debate with a famous firearms instructor dude ref plugs. I was told if I need to have a plug to help facilitate my reloads that my reload was "inefficient". When I pointed out that Todd liked the plug the counter was that Todd was "just a gamer".

I recalled seeing this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ViI2UWFKg#t=356 (you can watch the whole thing, but the pertinent part is right there) and sending it with the question "How about these guys, are they "just gamers too?" I never heard back from FFID after that.

[Irelander]

I recalled seeing this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ViI2UWFKg#t=356 (you can watch the whole thing, but the pertinent part is right there) and sending it with the question "How about these guys, are they "just gamers too?" I never heard back from FFID after that.

That is the video that I watched a while back that made me re-think it and get a plug.

[The Fuzz]

Glock says their guns are perfect...Glock Perfection. When I worked elsewhere, they issued Beretta 96G's. They switched to the Glock 23 and 22's right after I was hired in 2005-2006. I was given the option of a 22 or 23 and opted for the 22. When I came in to get mine, I was given a 23 and told to take it and like it....Rookie. I shot it and hated it. I risked getting into trouble and carried my own Glock 21 Gen 3 during my FTO training. (They allowed personal owned weapons when one was out of FTO) I was sold on my Glock 21 that I had since 2001 and loved it. I shot it well and it didn't snap like that 23 did. As time went on I started to notice other guys shooting their 22's and having the round nose dive into the feed ramp. I started to research it and found that we weren't the only one with that issue. Indiana State Police had recently dumped their 22's of 17's because of their issues.

I later sent myself to Glock Armorer School and someone asked about the ISP switch. The Glock Rep blamed it on the shooters and it "wasn't the guns". After a misunderstanding, my 21 was taken to the crime lab and I was issued a Glock 22. I took it out and found that it didn't feed at all with anything with the weapon light and only mild 180 grain loads without it. I brought it to the attention of the brass and was told that I was limp wristing, my weapon light was to heavy, and that my weapon light was to tight. Yeah, they drank the Kool Aid boys. I know of three FTF’s in OIS's at that agency. I wrote letters to my FOP and to training to express my concern and was blown off. I encouraged guys to buy Glocks in 17 or 21's until the nightmare Glock 21 Gen 4 came out. I like my Gen 4 9's but wouldn't own a 21 Gen 4. Two state agencies have dumped them for the more expensive Sig 227's. The biggest issue I have with Glock is that they don't admit to anything. I get that there will be issues with mass produced weapons but at least say "Hey, we screwed up and we will fix it".

With that said, I don't take any weight what Glock says about anything. I ask guys who see a lot of students put a lot of round down range about aftermarket parts. Guys like Chuck Haggard and Wayne Dobbs are two good sources. I would put more weight behind what they say about the Glocks than a Glock Rep because they haven't been sucked into the The Glock Perfection Hypnosis. With that said, next year I’m getting some plugs and some Apex Extractors.

[DocGKR]

I use the Scherer slug plugs.

[Kyle Reese]

I like the Glockmeister plugs.

[Trajan]

I too use the Glockmeister grip plugs.

However, that drainage port isn't just there from the manufacturing process. I've had the rim of an Azoom sheer off and end up in that channel. Removed the grip plug and it fell right out. Not that the grip plug hurt anything, but after that I'm not sure I would get the backstrap filled with epoxy.

I haven't noticed an increase in reload speed, but it never hurts I guess.

In summery, it doesn't matter IMO. Put one in if you want, don't if you don't want to.

Disclaimer: I only CCW and I don't live in the Middle East.

[Chuck Whitlock]

I prefer the Sherer plugs, it's almost like a free mag well, no downside except that it costs like $7


I use the Scherer slug plugs.

Does anyone have a current source? Both Brownells and Midway show them discontinued.

[Chuck Haggard]

Does anyone have a current source? Both Brownells and Midway show them discontinued.


I haven't bought any of those in awhile, so I had been unaware that those two vendors weren't carrying them. In digging around the interwebs I fear that Scherer may have gone out of business.

[VT1032]

Well, that settles it. Just put pearce backstrap compatible grip plugs in my 19 and 26. Thanks for the info, guys.

[JonInWA]

I think the plugs make the most sense if you're going to be exposed to high-velocity dirt, dust, sand, etc-for example, if you're exposed to rotor wash, particularly in areas of fine, talc-like dust/sand. I keep a plug in my Glock parts bag "just in case", but I don't normally use it. Periodically, I'll clean out my receiver cavities on my Glocks-canned air works well, as does a guncleaning toothbrush.

I don't think a plug "hurts," but I think that they're over-rated. Then again, they're inexpensive, and it's kind of a no-harm, no-foul either way sort of thing.

I've never had a problem reloading any of my Glocks without 'em.

All things being equal, I'm be more concerned about drainage being unimpeded that I would be about accumulated detrius (yeah, I inspect/field strip the things, which puts a screetching halt to any accumulations), but I don't think either is a significant issue to most.

Best, Jon.