[uzitiger]

I built one and now I am waiting to find a G-19 upper. I changed the frame to add a hooked trigger guard and I filed down the flared magwell which is not needed since the magazine is tapered at the top. I also filled in the dimples for thumb rests. Now the frame doesn't have the Darth Vader Nazi helmet flare at the bottom which interfered with my grip. I also want to get rid of the beavertail once I find an upper at a reasonable price.

 

[uzitiger]

I got a plain stainless slide fro Brownell's and now I have a Swenson G1 threaded barrel an a 19 slide. I am having some drag issues and have to smooth them before completing the build with the internal slide parts ans sights. I shortened the frame to the 19 slide and removed the beavertail which serves no purpose.

I plan to remove the paint and refinish the frame and slide before mounting the sights and installing the internal slide pars.

 

[uzitiger]

The slide is binding in the rear and if anyone can advise me on how to smooth it out I would appreciate it.

 

[uzitiger]

I botched the build. The frame is meant for a G-17 slide and the 19 slide doesn't go back far enough because of the steel rails interfering with the slide reciprocating. Now I either have to et a full length slide or get another frame meant for it.

I found out the hard way that the PF940 was made for a full size service pistol and I need a frame made for the compact G19. Helps to read the instructions which I did not read.

 

[uzitiger]

Thanks. I'll try trimming the slide stop. You just saved the project.

 

[uzitiger]

That's also my question. How much should I trim away?

 

[uzitiger]

I trimmed the stop but the slide still does not go back far enough.

 

[uzitiger]

The trimmed rails:

The plastic repair epoxy broke down when I soaked the frame in brake fluid to strip the paint. I am not sure whether removing more of the rail will leave enough material to keep the slide in place when firing

 

[uzitiger]

I was thinking the same thing to give up and get a new frame.

 

[uzitiger]

I just ordered a P80 frame for the G19 and learned from my mistake. I also learned how to change features like the flared magwell and beavertail which I changed. I'm going to get the 19 frame and build it the right way.

My mistake reminds me of when GM were assigned to copy theMG-42 machine gun and a 1/2 draftsman error resulted in the prototype not working. The army wanted to reverse engineer the machine gun to shoot 30-06 instead of the 7.92 round to give our soldiers more firepower. The army scrapped the idea after that.

 

[uzitiger]

I got the P80 frame milled and drilled then I assembled the parts from the scrapped PF940 frame. I assembled the slide using a punch from Harbor Freight to push it in. I tried using dimples in the unfinished slide (dumb idea) the painted it. Joining the upper and lower showed my lack of knowledge of Glocks where I tried to use a G-17 Swenson barrel but it wouldn't work. I later went to the local range where the salesman told me that I can't use that barrel. He knew it right away. That's why the guide rod was sticking out. The barrels are machined with different lug spacing.
Midway USA told me to send it back and they'll credit me for the unused barrel. I ordered another one made for the G19 which I'm waiting for.
I don't like the short grip on the P80 and for now I will use magazine extensions and sleeves on the hi cap magazines but I plan to extend the frame to make it like the G19X frame.

 

[uzitiger]

This project cost me more than the price of a new G-19 but the experience of building my own pistol is the reason I did it. I did end up getting a Harbor Freight drill press, a drilling clamp (important), punches and other tools to complete the project. The cost of two frames because I wanted to use a full frame with a short slide added to the costs when I trimmed the rails too much. Parts for Glocks are expensive and the Ghost Gun myth in the media is a myth.You need skills to build one. The government probably tracks our purchases which enables them to know that we built one.

 

[uzitiger]

I got the G-19 Swenson barrel and all I need are sights to finish the project. It would have helped to have familiarity with the Glock pistols before building the pistol especially with the difference with the G17 and G19 barrel lugs. When the G19 barrel arrived, everything went together smoothly.

 

[uzitiger]

This is what the new toy looks like. I tried to dimple the slide but it was not a good idea and one day I might redo it with serrations. I painted the slide and magazine extension using Dupli Color ceramic engine paint mixing semi gloss black and Cummins beige.

 

[uzitiger]

My sights will arrive Thursday and I'll take it to the range once they're installed.
The conventionally rifled Swenson barrel allows me to shoot unjacketed lead bullets.

I wanted to have a full size grip with the G19 slide and barrel but this is what I have.

 

[uzitiger]

I got the sights and had them installed. I took it out to the range and it shot nicely with good follow up. I had a couple of hiccups with some steel cased ammo and twice when I didn't grip it firmly. The Promag and Magpul magazines worked great. I don't have any Glock factory mags yet.

 

[uzitiger]

Hi, uzitiger!



Congratulations!

It good to know that your pistol is operating as hoped.

Job well done!

Best regards,

Bob

Thanks. It's a thrill to test a pistol that I built and to have it work well.

I helped my friend build an AR15 and it wouldn't retain magazines. I had to tweak the magazine latch until it worked the way it was designed with small files. At first, it only retained metal magazines but he wanted to shoot it anyway. Later I worked on it again until it retained the polymer mags.

 

[uzitiger]

I experienced failure to feed or eject with the steel Russian Wolf ammo. I tried using Glock mags and still had problems with it. Using brass cased ammo did not give me any problems at all. I suspected the Promag and Magpul mags but it's the steel cased ammo which is the problem.