Sep 26 2012
MODIFYING YOUR EDC GUN – WORTH IT OR NOT?
I got to thinking yesterday about custom work on sidearms used for daily carry. Obviously I am a fan of customizations/modifications, as is evidenced by the “Pink Gun of Shame”. But all these changes can cost a buck or two, and usually involve sending your gun to live with the gunsmith for a while. So, is it worth it?
Looking back on my shooting career, I have always been blessed enough that should I want a customization (or five) done to firearm, I could afford to spend up to the amount that I originally paid for the gun on these little pleasures. It became of thing of habit, every time I picked up a new firearm I could come up with at least four things that I wanted to have done to it. It continues to be a vicious cycle, where the more I research, the more I want to have done.
Some will argue that there is a perfect gun out there that does not need any modifications whatsoever. But every person is different, and where a Glock might be perfect for one, an M&P may be the jackpot for another. So if you purchase the best firearm for your needs, fit, wants, etc. this argument may be true. You may not need work done on it; but sometimes a few customizations and modifications can just push your skills and abilities with that firearm over the top or give it that edge that you’re looking for.
The purpose of a modification is to make the firearm work better for you in your hands and under the conditions you intend to shoot 
in. Your sidearm should become an extension of you, and it may or may not need to adapt a little bit in order to become that.
Some of the most common adjustments made to firearms are new sights and trigger jobs. Both of these things, when done and used right, can make the shooter faster and more accurate. Another big one is stippling on the grip to help the shooter keep a good “purchase” on the firearm. These are just a few examples of how a few modifications can make a big difference.
Of course, the best bet is to start with a firearm that meets your specifications to begin with; but you’ll probably be hard-up to find a gun where every little detail is 100% perfect for you and your needs. Starting with a good foundation is essential. You want to have work done because you want it, not necessarily because you need it. If you can’t shoot the darn thing without the cool modifications, that’s not the gun for you to begin with.
Yesterday I went on a little road trip to see a friend of mine who happens to own Springer Precision and is a well known XD specialist. His shop is in Bend, Oregon which is about four hours South-East of the Packing Pretty Ground Control, so I took my good friend (and Packing Pretty team member) Jay Jones along for the fun.
While I was the Springer Precision shop, I had a few new modifications done to my already highly customized pink XD(M) 9mm. The mods I had done were not for competition, or lightening the recoil (it’s a 9mm, that would be pointless). I’m not going to give all my secrets away, but lets just say I got some awesome results. One being getting a new completely custom guide rod that lives up to my lofty standards, and is going to give me a cool tactical advantage (compared the old guide rod) for concealed carry/defense work. I also had my 4 inch Kimber CDP II ‘s ejector worked on a bit, and a few other guns looked at.
It felt like Christmas had come early as I stood in his shop watching Scott work his magic and make me a completely custom part. And I’m still walking on clouds today.
With all the work I’ve had done on my guns over the years, not once have I looked back and thought “You know, this really wasn’t worth the time or money”, and I have yet to meet another shooter who has not found equal value in the work they’ve had done.
All that being said, I still have plenty of firearms that I have no intention of modifying. I have Rugers, Smiths, Sigs, etc. that all shoot great and are awesome for what I use them for. But when it comes to a gun that my life is going to rely on, I feel it’s my responsibility to do everything humanly possible ahead of time to make sure that gun is going to work in my hands in such a way that I can achieve the best possible outcome. In some cases this means having work done, in other cases, it doesn’t. It all depends on the gun.
Tips for getting custom work done on your carry gun:
- Like I said before, start with the right foundation. Don’t spend your hard-earned money on a gun you don’t love and can’t shoot worth a darn to begin with.
- Have any customizations and modifications done by a reputable gunsmith.
- I do NOT recommend any modifications that will cause any inconsistencies or hinder reliability of a firearm.
- If the custom work will do anything that will discourage you from carrying your firearm, it’s not worth it.
- When it comes to trigger jobs for concealed carry work, don’t go too light. It’s easy when your adrenaline is pumping to accidentally squeeze off a round before you realize it. Competition trigger jobs and carry trigger jobs can be two very different things, and are labeled as such for a reason.
© Packing Pretty, Grace McKee 2012
Sep 26, 2012 @ 12:40:51
I really can’t imagine a worse idea than modifying a carry gun. A shooter that practices enough should be competent with any well-made factory firearm. Any modification you make will be brought up in court after a DGU, and not in a good way. Why fight that fight? Factory firearms go through hundreds if not thousands of hours of testing. How much testing will you do with your new modifications? Are you really THAT confident it will perform in the split-second you need it to? IMHO you should leave your carry gun stock and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. There is no modification you can make to any gun that compensates for a lack of competence and practice. I would focus my energy there. And remember that any change you make in your carry gun will in essence reset that process. The “natural” actions you have practiced and learned could now be wrong and go wrong in the worst way when you need to act instead of think. Just my $.02. Love the blog!!!
Dec 09, 2012 @ 11:11:05
I agree about the no mods to the trigger like putting in a 3.5 lbs connector on a carry gun. Not worth trying to explain in court why the stock one isn’t sufficient. But sights, lasers extended controls are fine.
Sep 26, 2012 @ 13:18:35
J,
Thanks for reading Packing Pretty and taking the time out of your day to comment.
Based on your philosophy, nobody should d have any aftermarket work done or their gun modified to work correctly or better?
Night sights are aftermarket work that often have to be installed by a gunsmith. Should I avoid those because they are “aftermarket” and instead struggle to find my iron sights in the dark?
I have a 1911 that ejected spent casings in my face… literally, IN MY FACE. Is it really so wrong to have that fixed so that I don’t have to deal with hot brass in my face during a gun fight?
Another 1911 didn’t feed right and jammed constantly even with the ammo that was recommended by the manufacturer. I had to have a gunsmith do some grinding on the feed ramp, and now it feeds like a charm EVERYTIME. Should I have just planned on doing jam clearing during a gun fight instead of modifying the feed ramp to feed consistently and reliably?
I put tens of thousands of rounds through my carry guns each year. And on the ones that have had work done, the modifications have never once failed me. Not once. But that’s because I get my work done by a real pro.
Please note tips 2 and 3 in my article.
As far as re-learning is concerned, I’ve never experienced having to re-learn my firearm because of a modification. But I’ve never had drastic mods that cause the firearm to have to be operated differently either.
I can’t argue that the modifications will probably be brought up in court, but there’s nothing illegal about what I’ve done to my gun, and I have no problems explaining those mods to a jury.
Sep 26, 2012 @ 17:53:59
nice write up Gracie…
(what follows is STRICTLY from my personal experiences)
As you know I’m fond of my Glock! But being left handed and never willing to ‘leave-well-enough-alone’ I’ve tried a few different mix and match after market parts, here are the results:
1. night sights — these quickly became a “must have”!
2. extended slide lock/release — nice, because I have problems hitting the slide release with gloves (up here in Minnesota/North Dakota you will shoot with gloves). But not a “must have” feature.
3. “butt-plug” — is nice because of the rats nest that always seems to form in that void behind the mag well, not really a must have… :/ more of a lazy fix.
4. M-3 muzzle light — good for dark spaces (like the hallway when the dog goes nuts at 0230), for home-defense I’d call it a “must-have” for carry work I’m not sure the extra bulk is worth it.
5. the extended mag release — this was a bridge too far for me! It seemed like a good idea because of the gloves issue but in pratice it meant I’d drop my mag every time I went through a door way or into/out of a vehicle (in short it pretty much SUCKED).
Sep 26, 2012 @ 18:44:53
Isaac,
I can’t fault you for your choices on the Glock. I love Glocks, they are great guns and the trigger is awesome right off the bat.
And as for my unsolicited opinion on your choices:
1. Night sights – yes, must have.
The Crimson Trace LTG 736 light guard may be a little less bulky for you. Just a thought.
2. Extended Slide Release – nice.
3. “Butt Plug” – I have mixed feelings on this one. It’s great for keeping the gun clean, sucks for trying to strip mags out in the event of a type 3 malfunction. I’m sure you’ve practiced up on completing this task with the butt plug in though.
4. M-3 Muzzle Light – Awesome
5. Extended mag release: I have similar concerns, I’ve seen too many competitors accidentally drop their mag during a stage with these.
Thanks for reading and sharing!
Sep 26, 2012 @ 21:19:13
Hi Gracie here are my thoughts on mods. First off are triggers most stock guns are not currently machined like older firearms the tolerances are a lot greater to meet price demands. Many mods from good gunsmiths can make these corrections for instance had a friend show me a new 1911 and it clearly has only a nuetral engament between sear and full cock notch of hammer in time this will wear with the firearm producing hammer follow down or worse cause it to full auto. Modifications done by a gunsmith make the fire more comfortable to shot and bring confidence in reliability I would allways suggest not to lighten factory springs. He beauty of these are that you can adjust the fire arm to your needs while keeping the weapon as reliable as possible. Certified pistolsmith
Sep 28, 2012 @ 04:17:42
Yep, I’d have to agree if it was for anything but my night stand that anymore, that Crimson Trace light guard would be at the front of the pack for a new light (ESPECIALLY if I was carrying it for work or IF I lived in some of the nastier hellholes I’ve had the pleasure of getting shot at in…). BUT since I’m not going to carry it much AND when I do it’s with the equipment I’ve trained with for the best part of a decade… I just don’t see where the advantage is.
To give the light/company their due: its absolutely a really cool piece of gear (that I’d strongly look at if I was starting out) and comes from a quality company.
A new light, with a new switch and a new holster; that all seems like an awful lot of retraining to replace a piece of gear I already have and which seems to do its job pretty well.
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Sep 27, 2012 @ 07:16:51
[...] MODIFYING YOUR EDC GUN – WORTH IT OR NOT? [...]
Sep 27, 2012 @ 15:38:22
@Gracie… I have several firearms with modifications and some things are well worth doing… even to your EDC/concealed carry guns… but regardless of performance, I recommend folks think about the legal ramifications after a self-defense firearm use… particularly if they’ve had their gun modified…
That’s why I carry and recommend my NRA/CCW students here in Ohio carry factory-loaded ammunition… the liability aspect… Mr. Prosecutor will open with, “so you hand-loaded those cartridges… special… special just to kill someone.” Just a few reads of Ayoob’s books will explain it.
I think folks are OK with night sights, grips, and certain other modifications… but as soon as you modify the action such as the trigger or trigger pull… deactivate the magazine disconnect safety (if your gun has one – and I hate them)… or other items…
As soon as you’re involved in a shooting or accidental/negligent discharge… the attorney’s and prosecutors will have all the “ammo” they need… “Lightened the trigger pull?”… “So you had a “hair-trigger” installed?”…
Good post, just some things to think about… besides performance and reliability…
Dann in Ohio
Sep 28, 2012 @ 05:52:37
I’m with you Gracie, well said. The most common argument I hear against modifying a carry gun is that if you’re involved in a shooting, the lawyers will jump all over it. I know lawyers who both agree and disagree with this thinking.
My thoughts are that a shooting is either justified or it’s not. A 4 lb trigger versus a 7 lb trigger is irrelevant, as is whether or not you changed out your crappy Glock factory sights.
Besides, how would they know you’ve modified it? It’s not like you painted it pink or something! Oh, wait…
Sep 30, 2012 @ 21:41:26
Brandon, as a former police officer… if you’re involved in a shooting, your gun will be taken as evidence… and here in Ohio the local department or the Ohio BCI investigators working with your local department will examine it and trigger pull check is easy and pretty standard… and “justified” is not always clear-cut…
I recall a case where a guy shot a man in self-defense in our jurisdiction and it may have been clearly justified until it turns out the man was the gal’s ex-husband who the gal was seeing on the side… now what was the motive… hmmm… “well, I didn’t mean to shoot him, the gun just went off.”… “Mr. Crime Scene Investigator, in your expert opinion, could the gun go off much easier with the lightened trigger the defendant had modified?”… so now it’s manslaughter and wrongful death lawsuits…
Plus I’ve seen two accidental/negligent discharges end up in court… one in criminal court and one in civil court and in both cases modifications and the lack of modifications came into legal play.
It does happen, so is the modification on an EDC carry gun, especially the trigger pull being lightened, worth it? Each person needs to be educated and decide for themselves…
Dann in Ohio
Nov 03, 2012 @ 20:50:02
Gracie – This is a great article. You have A LOT more experience than I do, but one thing I have figured out in the last few years is that there is always something I want to change. I have a Springfield XD45 (4″) and the factory trigger made me CRAZY, I also decided to add a delta point. I have a Buckmark .22 pistol, I am happy with it just the way it is. I ended up absolutely addicted to High Power long range rifles, and there is ALWAYS some improvement to be made there. I actually have to tell myself that enough is enough.
There are so many reasons to modify a gun, maybe it will fit your hand better, night sights like you said, for a rifle the Length of Pull, adjustable cheek pieces, triggers, etc. Your reader J Marler is right, that practice will allow a person to do well with most any weapon, but that does not mean that utilizing a well respected gunsmith wouldn’t make it better than a factory piece. I have always thought that factory pieces are made for the masses, they cannot bring the gun to absolute perfection without increasing the price quite a lot. (Look at custom 1911s for example.) Still, there is a time and a place for a custom 1911 and a place for a factory gun. I think if customization will make a person, especially a lady, feel better about the gun and go to the range more – then it is a no brainer! Customize!