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Glocks, especially Glocks in hard-hitting calibers like .45 ACP and 10mm Auto, have one thing going against them: their polymer frame.
This keeps them light, but that is a double-edged sword. On one hand, they’re comfortable to carry and handle. On the other hand, they don’t absorb recoil nearly as well as heavier, all-steel handguns like 1911s.
Fortunately, there are practical (and relatively simple) Glock upgrades you can make to help combat recoil (which can improve accuracy in turn). Here are two of them.
Heavier Guide Rods
If your Glock’s factory guide rod is made of plastic, that, like the polymer frame, is a blessing and a curse.
It’s light, but once again, it lacks the mass necessary to absorb recoil, and even worse, being so far forward in the platform and so light, it simply does nothing to combat muzzle flip.
There are tungsten guide rods you can buy that are as much as 4 times heavier than the stock guide rod.
These guide rods don’t simply add mass to the pistol, they add mass near the muzzle. This pulls down on the muzzle of the gun automatically when firing, helping to control muzzle rise.
It also helps Glock pistols point more comfortably, which is a bonus when training.
Compensators for Glocks
The other thing you can do to help combat recoil in your Glock is install a compensator. Compensators, called muzzle brakes when mounted to a rifle, substantially reduce felt recoil.
Actually, as impactful as the installation of a heavier guide rod can be, a compensator for your Glock is the number one upgrade you can make to combat recoil.
What a compensator does is simple. It changes the way gases are dispersed at the muzzle. In the case of most compensators, gases are ported upwards.
This directs some of the force of recoil up at the muzzle, instead of back towards the shooter. This results in a net force pushing down on the muzzle of the gun.
Not only does this limit muzzle flip, but it can seriously cut back on recoil, in some cases, by as much as 50%.
Plus, some companies, like Anarchy Outdoors, make compensators for Glock pistols that are easy to install.
Beyond Glock Upgrades: What You Can Do
Glock upgrades like these are fine to make, and make no mistake about it, they will positively impact performance by limiting felt recoil.
But upgrades are only half the battle. There are other things you can do to limit felt recoil.
One is to shoot lighter loads. Look at your load data. Bullet weight and muzzle velocity (a product of propellant and bullet weight) will both impact felt recoil. Make it easier on yourself though. Muzzle energy is the number to look at. The lower it is, the less recoil it will produce. Shoot lighter loads (with a lower muzzle energy) and that will cut recoil too.
Training also has no small impact on handling and how you respond to recoil and muzzle flip.
One aspect of this is to learn to shoot with a proper stance. Bend your knees slightly and lean into the pistol. Don’t stand up straight or you will be poised to be knocked off balance.
Also, getting the right grip on a handgun, Glock or otherwise, also makes a big difference. Think “high and tight.” That is, you want to hold the gun as high on the frame as possible, maximize surface area contact between the pistol and your hands, and hold it tightly.
Making these Glock upgrades and adopting good shooting form and habits can go a long way towards mitigating the effects of felt recoil and muzzle flip.
