New Glock Or Classic Glock?

Some of you will remember an episode in American culture in the mid-1980s when Coca-Cola introduced “New Coke.”  Falling in market share against Pepsi, Coke executives had the brilliant idea to almost literally shoot themselves and the whole company in the collective foot.  Based on secret taste tests, the decades-old formula of Coca-Cola was modified to be a little sweeter and more Pepsi-like.  Well America went nuts.  Letters and phone calls attacked the company with overwhelming disapproval.  Such an uproar was raised that the company switched back to “Classic Coke” three months later.

As an observer at the time, I actually predicted that Coke would switch back to its old formula.  When the popularity of Coke bounced back after its return to crush Pepsi for all time, we all wondered if the whole thing could have been one fantastic marketing ploy.

With so much dissatisfaction with GLOCK’s Gen4 marque, could Gaston be thinking along these same lines?

Gun enthusiasts are much like car enthusiasts.  They want the best, but they don’t like change.  They are cheap, but they don’t like cheap.  They are deeply patriotic, but they want their machines to work and to last and to be tough.  What the hell are we supposed to do?  It’s who we are.

Along comes GLOCK.  After a thousand years of selling the same virtually unchanged pistol, they make a couple of inconsequential changes and everyone is up in arms…. or up without arms, as the case may be.  Admittedly, the new compound recoil system had some problems at first, but that’s all effortlessly and harmlessly figured out now.  The other changes only effect you if you have use for them.

Modular backstraps:  I don’t need ‘em, so I don’t care.

Larger and Reversible magazine release:  I don’t need it, so I don’t care.

More aggressive texture:  I may or may not like it.  I haven’t decided yet.  I usually put a Hogue sleeve over my GLOCKs anyway.

If anything, I think the SF and RTF models were GLOCK’s New Coke.  I think Gen4 is GLOCK’s attempt to bring back Classic.

Are people still whining about Gen4s?  Yeah.  Read this guy’s tantrum about plastic sights, trigger pull weight and backstrap thickness.  All things that are either the first things you change on any gun or inconsequential.  I mean bitching about plastic factory sights is like complaining that your new car came with Walmart motor oil in it.  You’re gonna change it eventually anyway, right?  The Glock trigger pull is kinda like what Glock IS.  You’ve got other choices out there.  And if you want it different, you can change it for a few bucks.  Glock is not going to change it because they have 600 lawyers telling them not to.

Anyway, as far as I know, Gen3s are still available and will be for a long time.  And Coca Cola used to have cocaine in it.

My dad was a badass.  An old-school badass.  He could back it up.  He’d seen the freakin’ elephant and he’d taken it out with his bare hands.

He didn’t often talk big, but when he did, you knew you had to take him seriously.  One topic he talked big on was what the world has now come to know as the Constitutional Right and Social Obligation to Carry a Gun.

Recently in the news this natural right has been questioned again because of the poor judgement of one George Zimmerman.  If my father was alive today, he would have some stern words for the Media, Mr. Zimmerman and America regarding this Zimmerman/Martin fiasco.  They would be similar to the admonition he wrote in Chapter 20 of Living with Glocks.

Carrying a loaded gun with the ability and will to use it is not a casual fling meant to bring some excitement into your boring life. It is an all-embracing lifestyle and must take precedence over your respect for law, your fear of social criticism, your love of humanity, your wardrobe and your drinking habits.

You can never be unaware of the weight you carry on your hip or under your arm. You can never forget your responsibilities. You must wear your Glock with the same allegiance as your wedding ring. If you’re not married, your Glock is your wedding ring. Wear it for life. Don’t even think about leaving home without it. Be prepared to use it at a moment’s notice. Carry it all the time. And shoot to kill.

“Liberty or death,” the meaning of which is clear and absolute, is but a trivial phrase if you do not carry a gun. For freedom-loving Americans, the five most important words in the English language are, and always have been - from my cold dead hands.

This Zimmerman/Martin case may be the moment that what my father called “Crime Facilitators” or gun control advocates have been waiting for.  Watch out for similar stories popping up.  Think about it.  Should we prohibit everyone from driving cars because your brother-in-law once got lost?  Should we scrap all shoes because a bully in elementary school wrongfully kicked an innocent nerd?  These instances suck, but just like guns, cars and shoes save many more lives than they screw up.  Technology is dangerous because it is so powerful.

Over the years there have been many who have taken my father’s big talk about the Natural Right to defend oneself with a gun very seriously.   Tim Schmidt, who started the United States Concealed Carry Association was directly inspired by my father’s writing.  Everywhere, you will find Robert Boatman’s thoughts quoted and discussed.  Check out some of these influential examples.

Law Officer.com

The Political Crucible

Free Liberty Writers

Utah On Target Defensive Training

The Mental Militia 

Pennsylvania Firearm Owner Association

Urban Grounds

Nevada Firearms Academy

Guns.com

If you read a quote of my father’s (credited or not) in someone’s blog, forum post, sig line or description of how they feel about the Second Amendment, you can bet they “Get it.”

We learn that straight out of the box, the new Gen4s have a reduction in the length of pull of 1/8th of an inch.  Length of pull on a pistol is the measurement from the rear of the backstrap to the front of the trigger.  Shooters with small hands or short fingers prefer shorter lengths of pull.  The grip size has often been a complaint about GLOCKs.  I personally never felt that the substantial grip of the GLOCK was a problem.  I have medium hands.  I like having a good chunk of real estate to hold onto.  For those operator who find themselves wearing gloves, I can see a real benefit to the smaller grip.

The smallest of the two provided backstraps actually increases the size of the grip to what we are used to: the proportions of the Gen3 and earlier pistols.  The larger back strap adds an 1/8th an an inch to the length of pull.

I’ve yet to shoot a Gen 4 with the large backstrap installed.  As soon as the snow melts I’ll do just that with my new 23.

At the end of this clip, we learn that Law Enforcement it gradually transitioning away from the .40 S&W to 9mm and 45 ACP.  Dave says these calibers increase shooting scores and reduce the wear and tear on service pistols.

By the way, this and future GLOCK videos will be posted on my new YouTube Channel GlockWhisperer.

Since the passage of the National Firearms Act in 1934, each and every machine gun and its transfer from one owner to another must be reported to the government. Taxes are collected every time one changes hands. Federal and regional law enforcement keep track of who owns one and where it moves. Since 1968 machine gun have been illegal to import into the USA, and since 1986, no newly manufactured machine gun can be owned by a ordinary citizen.

So what does that mean? It means that while upstanding citizens of the United States are legally allowed to own fully automatic firearms, there are a number of hurdles to jump.

1) There is $200 of taxes paid at each transfer of a registered machine gun.  Comes out to $400.00 for the seller transfer plus the buyer transfer.  Classic!  Get you coming and going.
2) There is paperwork attached to each transfer. You will have files not only with the federal government, but with state and local law enforcement as well. Your approval is at their whim.
3) Because importation stopped in 1968 and newly manufactured guns have been disallowed since 1986, and the old guns are wearing out, there is an extremely limited number of eligible machine guns to trade.
4) Because machine guns are in limited supply, and because they are old, collectable and extremely desirable, they have become extraordinarily expensive. An M16 is currently in the $16,000 range. A Colt Tommy gun can be $40,000. Even the lowly MAC10 can be $4,000. This effectively keeps machine guns out of the hands of the ordinary citizen.

To add insult to injury, the GLOCK aficionado will never be able to own a G18 because it was manufactured after 1986 (not to mention it was made in Austria after 1968).

So what is a law abiding American who wants, deserves and has a natural right to a machine gun to do? What would you say if I told you that you can convert your current AR-15 into an awesome rapid-fire weapon that may even be better than an M16? More reliable, more controllable and – best of all – MUCH more affordable?

Slide Fire Solutions of Texas (of course) will change the way you train with your AR-15.

Most of us have tried and succeeded to varying degrees to bump fire our ARs. It’s fun, but that’s about it. It’s not controllable and not accurate and it could be very dangerous. It is basically the best way to treat your precision weapon like a toy. It is a poor substitute for a real rapid-fire firearm.

The Slide Fire Stock will give you the thrill of full-auto while retaining the control and accuracy of your AR-15 that you have trained up. The basic idea is that instead of your belt loop, the sliding shoulder stock of your AR provides the fixed point against which the recoil of the rifle repeatedly actuates the trigger. You mount the gun just as you would a normal AR. You aim just as you would a normal AR. When you are ready to fire, you put your finger in the finger guard just as you would your normal AR. Instead of pressing your finger against the trigger, however, you stabilize your finger against a clever brace and then pull the rifle forward with your left hand. The rifle, along with the trigger, moves forward until your stationary finger depresses the trigger and the gun cycles. The recoil pushes the gun back (resetting the trigger), but you are still pushing it forward. The gun instantly responds to this push forward and the trigger is immediately activated again by your stationary trigger finger.

This is a complicated explanation for a simple, clever and flawless process. No permanent modifications are needed to install the Slide Fire. No normal functions are compromised. No convenience, comfort or esthetics are given up.

Why is it legal? The honest and simple answer is: “At the whim of the BATFE.” Will it stay legal? “At the whim of the BATFE.” Slide Fire Solutions has a letter confirming that the BATFE (ATF) has recognized this device as legal, but it has done that in the past too. One is forced to recall the plight of Bill Akins and his “Accelerator.” The good news for the Slide Fire is that it employs no springs in its device. It is completely activated by the pre-existing workings of the gun and your finger. Let’s hope for the best, but you may want to act swiftly on this.

Your choice becomes not IF you can finally have the fun and superior firepower of a fully automatic battle rifle, but WHY NOT? For less than the cost of a pair of transfer tax stamps, you can now enjoy the full and intended capabilities of your AR-15.

Many thanks,
Chip M.

I just read “the infamous Chapter 20 in Living with Glocks”.   It’s nice to have finally found something I can read that hits the core of what I believe.  I’ll be buying the book now.
G. in Texas

I am a Patriot, a Tea Party’er, I believe our govt, under its current leadership is out to destroy our constitution and it’s for that reason that I’m armed and for that reason I own a Glock, .. reliability. Having read some of your stuff, the 2nd Amendment is more important to me than my family and friends can realize and I enjoy reading your stuff. I believe tyranny is upon us and that history may repeat itself, and for that reason, I own a Glock, …and other firearms. It’s a real honor knowing who you are, who your Dad was and I know I hooked up with the best out there.

Sincerely, Bill

Thanks again, I appreciate it.

T. Owen=

Top brands like Galco, Don Hume, Blade Tech, Tauris, FIST, Holsters Plus and others, some no longer available from the manufacturers.

If you want a little bit of Glock history and an excellent holster for a great price please bid.  If your holster was featured in Living with Glocks, I’ll provide a note that indicates the page number.  Of course if you need a copy of Living with Glocks, check out Boatman Books.

To see all my auctions go here, my user name is az-morgan.

Galco Holster for sale

Living with Glocks

Great Savings on the Information You Need

People are always asking me what my recommendation is for The Best Glock Book.  Even though it would be easy to tell them that my own book, How to Customize Your Glock is the best, I take this question very seriously.  The answer depends on who the reader is.

If the reader is a beginner, just getting into Glocks (either from ground-zero or from another platform), I always recommend Patrick Sweeney’s The Gun Digest Book of the Glock.  Sweeney approaches the subject carefully and thoroughly.  He’s a knowledgeable gunsmith and a great communicator.  A perfect combination for the greenhorn.

If the reader is already familiar with Glocks, but is hoping to make the jump to the next level, I recommend Ptooma’s The Complete Glock Reference Guide.  This is also a good book for beginners, but it is written for those who are already familiar with gun language and terms.  It goes deeper into the nuances of the Glock as well as some modifications and maintenance. 

If the reader is interested in competing with his or her Glock, then there is only one correct answer and that is Robin Taylor’s The Glock in Competition.  Taylor assumes you are already addicted to Glocks and are ready to push the envelope, and he is ready to push with you!

Finally, if the reader is wondering why he would want to carry a gun at all, and a Glock specifically, my father’s Living with Glocks has an almost miraculous ability to convert the timid into the tenacious.  The Second Amendment will become second nature after reading this electrifying book.

My own Glock Book makes an excellent supplement to any and all of these other titles.  No other Glock Book walks the reader through disassembly and re-assembly like How to Customize Your Glock.  That is the reason I offer package deals at GlockBooks.com.  With every type of Glock reader in mind I have devised packages to fit specific needs.  Plus you save over buying the same books anywhere else!

First there is the Full-House Ultimate Glock Library.  You will save $29.00 over buying these six books anywhere else.  This package is for every Glock shooter who wants everything in print on his or her favorite pistol.

Next is the Tinkerer Glock Library.  Three books that focus on the Glockster who wants to get inside and customize, modify and personalize Perfection.

Then the Glock Competitor’s Edge Package includes three books that offer the information to bring you to the next level in your gun games.

For beginners, I’ve designed the Quick-Start Glock Package.  You want to know the history and the revolutionary features of your Glock?  You need to know how to care for and repair your Glock?  Here’s the info in this set of books.

Guns not only fascilitate personal protection, they actually hold all of society together.  Learn the deeper rights and responsibiliteis of gun ownership in this Tea-Party Glock Package.

Glocks, like all artifacts, are products of their time and culture.  The three books in the Warrior-Sage Glock Package contemplate the implications of a society that needs guns to sustain itself.

If you are looking for the last word on the history of the Glock pistol, the Glock Historian Package is for you.   These books were written by insiders who were there when the new-fangled plastic pistol was introduced to the world.  Their perspective is invaluable.

Finally, there are three books that every Glock shooter must have on his or her shelf.  They compose the most well-rounded encyclopedia of Glockdom and I offer them at great savings in the Glock Reference Package.

Remember, you save $15.00 on each of the standard GlockBooks libraries over buying the individual books anywhere else.  And you save $29.00 on the Full-House Ultimate Glock Library!  Go to Glockbooks.com and invest in your Glock education.

Keep on Glockin’

Morgan