5 Ways to Customize a Glock 19

When it comes to pistols, Glock is one of the most popular brands in the world for civilians, law enforcement officers, and military personnel. One of the main reasons Glock pistols are so ubiquitous in the shooting world is that they are extremely customizable. There are endless aftermarket pistol parts you can swap out for the factory components, letting you carefully tune and change your handgun to meet your exact specifications. Of the available Glock firearms on the market, the Glock 19 is easily one of the most widespread, so it makes sense that it has even more aftermarket parts available than other models. Whether you're looking for a new backplate to show off your favorite design or a trigger assembly to make taking follow-up shots and staying on target as easy as possible, here are some of our top choices for Glock parts.

1. Pistol Slide

The pistol slide is one of the most commonly upgraded parts on a Glock, as installing a new one is quick, easy, and can immediately upgrade the look and feel of your firearm. There are tons of options to choose from when it comes to Glock slides, as you can focus on appearance, functionality, or a combination of the two. For functionality, you can't go wrong with the TRYBE Defense Glock 19 Pistol Slide Version 2. This slide comes optic-ready with pre-cut sections to mount your favorite red dot sight to your handgun, which is perfect for both concealed carry and target shooting. With tons of models to suit all of the most popular optic options, you can surely find one that fits your needs. For appearance and functionality, the OpticsPlanet Excluse Grey Ghost Precision Gen 3 RMR-Cut Slide is an excellent choice. With a striking MultiCam Black cerakote and a cut out section for a Trijicon RMR red dot sight, this is a great upgrade for a serious shooter.

2. Barrel

Another easy part to swap out on your Glock 19 is the barrel! As long as you get an aftermarket barrel that is designed for the same generation as your pistol, it's as easy as taking out the old one and putting the new one into the frame, no screws or anything required. The most common reason to get a new Glock 19 barrel is to install a threaded option, allowing you to attach a muzzle device to the end. One of our highest rated threaded barrels for a Glock 19 is the SilencerCo Glock Threaded Barrel. With threads measuring 1/2x28 per inch, this barrel fits a wide variety of popular suppressors, muzzle brakes, compensators, and more. Plus, SilencerCo makes this threaded barrel for even more Glock models than just the Glock 19, so you can get one for your favorite variations.

3. Conversion Kit

While this upgrade might be a little more exotic than others, it certainly makes a statement. A conversion kit makes your Glock 19 much larger, turning it into a carbine. This works by fitting your firearm into a much larger frame, often with an extended barrel, a stabilizer, and longer attachment rails across the top. Some of the most well-known conversion kits are the CAA MCK Micro Conversion Kits. The CAA MCK also comes with a charging handle to make chambering a round easy, as well as a spare magazine holder, a brass catcher, and more features that make using your firearm easier and more user-friendly. This is perfect for everyone from casual shooters to experienced marksmen, and it's easy to install!

4. Back Plate

The backplate on a pistol is what holds the firing in place in the frame, and it serves an important role in ensuring the firearm fires smoothly. Despite being an important part of the firearm's components, the back plate is fairly easy to swap out, and it is the perfect part to show off some of your own style since you see it every time you aim the pistol. We have tons of back plates on the website in a variety of designs, so you can choose the one that fits your style the best. MILSPIN makes some great options, like their popular MILSPIN American Flag Slide Back Plate. They also have engravings, quotes, and other designs that let you personalize your Glock 19 in a unique way.

5. Pistol Trigger

One of the strongest upgrades in terms of performance you can make is replacing the trigger in your Glock 19. While you can do this yourself at home, it is more difficult than the other upgrades, as it involves replacing some small parts that require precision. If you do decide to get a new trigger, there are plenty available that suit certain purposes, such as competition triggers that are designed with a low pull weight to help you take quick, precise shots to get the highest score. The Timney Triggers Alpha Glock Competition Trigger is one of our highest-rated options for match shooting, and for good reason. Firstly, it comes together as a package so that you can install it yourself. Additionally, a standard Glock 19 trigger has a pull weight of about 5 pounds, while the Alpha Competition Trigger is a smooth 3 pounds. This reduction occurs without sacrificing the reliability Glock is known for, so it's prized by competitive shooters.

Shop Glock 19 Parts Today!

Here at OpticsPlanet, we have all the gun parts and accessories you need to make your next build as best as it possible can be. Whether you're shopping for 9mm ammo for your Glock 19 or need a red dot sight mounting plate to fit your new optics-cut slide, we have it all!