I agree that it isn’t as necessary as it used to be and that it’s all about the TJIAB these days. But I’ve had SA do the Carry Action Job without an SRT upgrade. And then the same on a gun that already had the SRT installed from factory (so I’d still count it as him not replacing anything). The only thing I haven’t tried from him is the QTR.

Grip tape here, extended magazine base plate there, grip swap, professionally done action work.

By and large I don’t do stuff that can’t be easily reversed. Rather than drill and tap a shotgun receiver I’m seriously considering buying a new gun that has already been altered, foolish isn’t it.

I modify somethings on firearms, most often I'm repairing/replacing old springs/etc.

Other than straight replacement, mostly I upgrade/change triggers, add/replace night sights, add optics and change furniture.

I haven't refinished anything but CCR makes me want to looking at their work.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:

quote:

Originally posted by colt_saa:

Then several have been built from the ground up

Love the grips on this. Do you know if they're available?

My apologies for missing this earlier and not getting a reply to you

Esmeralda O'Keefe made those for me. She does wonderful scrimshaw work

Click here to look at Esmeralda's website

I do not currently see a pair of these being offered by her but if you email her the image of my long slide, which happens to be named THOR, I'm sure she will be able to make a set for you

I change grips.
On a 1911 I add a beavertail if it doesn’t have one.
I change sights to tritium for EDC if needed.
In the past I polished internals and changed springs on a BUG when I was a cop.

Few factory guns won’t get some kind of tinkering, my glocks got internals polished to better the trigger.

My long guns get more mods than pistols. My 'ole Ruger MkII has tons of mods. My Glock 20 has a 9X25 Dillon barrel conversion and will have a couple of extended pieces and basic connector.
Ruger MkII


Glock 20

This message has been edited. Last edited by: WERA49,

I build or change out grips on my revolvers, building the ones on my Ruger single actions, and with one exception, buying ones to improve the feel of my S&W's.

Recently I bought a Colt King Cobra .22 target, that had Colt's cheapened rear sight on it. I also didn't like the fiber optic front. I replaced both with Wilson Combat's answer. I especially like the gold dot front.

With automatics, my tinkering is usually limited to sight changes...especially with Sigs as I don't like the sight picture that's the factory standard as it covers the POI in my hands. I like the POI at the very tip top of the front sight at ~25 yds, as opposed to covering the intended POI with the front sight dot.

With two Glocks I tried a different connector and smoothed out the mechanical inards in a vain attempt to improve their miserable triggers.

Best regards, Rod

quote:

Originally posted by WERA49:
My long guns get more mods than pistols. My 'ole Ruger MkII has tons of mods. My Glock 20 has a 9X25 Dillon barrel conversion and will have a couple of extended pieces and basic connector.
Ruger MkII


Glock 20

Wow. That truly is a vintage red dot. I have never seen one so large.never

^^^
Yep, the size of a 12 ounce can of soda.
When I started my USPSA competition journey back in the early 1990's, that Tasco Pro Point was one of the best red dot options out there for open class USPSA competition.
The problem was, you really needed four of them to always have one in proper working order.
One on the pistol in use.
One in the range bag, ready to go onto the pistol.
One in transit, back to the factory for repairs.
One at the factory being repaired.
Red dot reliability back then certainly wasn't what it is today.

I'd challenge this. Most of the guys I know who carry a gun for a living have very minor mods...such as sights, mag release, maybe a magwell, or at best a grip reduction.

Modifying your gun can lead to all sorts of potential issues. Potential liability (which will really depend on what kinds of modifications you make) and potential reliability problems. My friend who's a LE rep for a gun company says the when he sees his guns fail, there is often an aftermarket part at play. My Glock 26 started having firing issues (let's just say something faily catastrophic), once I replaced the back plate and trigger, it was 100% reliable.

In my 30+ years and the shooting investigations I dealt with strongly frowned upon a modified handgun. Specifically about triggers, and anything that was more about looking "cool" than a functional issue.

You may be right and prevail in court, but our municipal counsel was big on reminding us that while you may win in the end, you have more obstacles to go though the more modified your weapon is. Why give them the opportunity.

A gun you carry for protection is a tool. If your mods are to make it more reliable / assist you in shooting versus making it more "stylish" or make it more geared towards competition.

This could only be my experience, and might only be from my local jurisdiction. Just my respectful opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Nope. I shoot them as is.

It's the carpenter, not the tool.

I know too many people who modify stuff or get too much cool guy geardo shit.

I’m curious. Why is it all the truly talented “carpenters”, IE dudes that shoot people for a living, use heavily modified firearms, but the civilian crowd insists that buzzwords win gunfights?