I’ve been shooting a Gen 5 G17 in IPSC competition for just a bit over two years. In that time I have something close to 17K rounds through Gen 5’s and a Gen 2. I love my Glocks, to the point that last fall I sold every other pistol I owned and decided to commit to only Glocks.
But a thing happened. I joined PSTG and started submitting video’s and getting some really great feedback. I have been working hard and I started really watching the top shooters in IPSC and USPSA. An old question started creeping back in my mind: would an all steel gun be better suited to my sport? I shoot Production and at matches I am surrounded by a sea of steel - I’m alone with my Glock. So I keep thinking; what do these folks know that I don’t? So I decided to settle the question. I started looking at all steel competition guns and settled on a new Shadow 2. I was really thinking of going Tanfo Stock 2, but Shadow 2’s are so common here in Canada that sourcing parts and mags will not be an issue.
Here it is:
The stock trigger pull was nice at 8.75 DA and 2.75lbs SA. I dropped in a 13lb mainspring and it dropped the DA to just over 7lbs. SA remains at 2.75. Take up is very smooth and does not stack, and SA has only a bit of creep and zero over travel thanks to the set screw adjustment. It’s a very acceptable competition trigger for only a spring change. I’m not sure I like the polished smooth trigger face, but we’ll see how that goes.
It is very heavy (46.5 OZ)! 1.3lbs heavier than my Gen 5, which to put it into perspective is like taping more than a can of beer to my Glock.
I disliked the thin and slippery stock grips so I installed a pair of Lok palm swell Bogies. They fit my larger hands nicely and are grippy as hell. I wish they were a little taller, as there is some empty space above the grip before it meets the frame ridge where my support hand palm could use some texture.
I have a very good baseline for core drills with my Glocks so I’ll report back here with my findings. My intention is to really give the Shadow a good test and see what I can do with it. I lubed it up with Lucas Red N’ Tacky, the 2000 round challenge starts now!