Hilton and I recently both wrote articles regarding the current popularity of custom machined slides on service weapons. Hilton reviewed the Innovative Gunfighter Solutions modified M&P Slide and I wrote about whether or not we needed the fancy work to begin with. Both of us agree that the extra serrations do add some utility. The added traction to aid in one handed (and some two handed) manipulation of the pistol is not lost upon us. However, we still got hate in the comments here and on Facebook about how important it is to have that added ability to rack the slide should one of your hands become otherwise occupied or incapacitated.
Both Hilton and I have put a lot of thought into one handed pistol manipulations. Heck, Hilton designed an entire line of pistol sights with it in mind. Since collaborating on the 10-8 Pistol Test #1 with Hilton, one handed manipulations have been a staple of my training regimen. In other words, we take it seriously. But let’s be real here. Will serrations on the top of your Glock or M&P slide make it easier to cycle the slide? Yes. Will it give you an option or two more? Probably. But let’s keep things in perspective. I have trained such that I can reliably perform one handed manipulations just as quickly with or without the serrations using either the rear sight or edge of the ejection port (especially on a prominent one such as that on a Glock.)
That is not to say that I don’t like slide top serrations. As shown in the pictures above, I dig the serrations and they do add some functional purpose. But as Hilton stated in his article, they are a luxury item. How many deaths of cops or armed citizens can be attributed to slick, unmachined stock Glock slides? If the mods make you feel better, have at it. But novice shooters or those with limited funds would likely be better served spending the couple hundred bucks on a class with a good trainer, training ammunition, extra magazines, a good holster or a SIRT pistol from Next Level Training.
Now if you are already a high level shooter and you’re looking to eek out that extra 5-10% of performance out of your Glock or M&P, then give ATEi or IGFS a call and enjoy!
I agree Tim, expert, novice, to beginner shooter’s should learn with what they got right out of the box.Afterwards look into items that could help or aid I should say with your weapons mechanics.
Great read tim.
Robert White Western Training Division
The firearm accessory and modification market is much like that of cars and motorcycles. I once met a guy who had a sportbike that was the same make/model/year as mine. He proceeded to tell me that he would be able to out ride me, as he had installed whatever brand titanium exhaust system, which was however many pounds lighter than the factory system that I still had installed. Well, in theory, he may have had a point. But since he was about 50 pounds heavier than me, his theory was lost in his reality. If you can’t maximize the capabilities of the stock items, modifications won’t likely help you much.
For those on a limited budget, Skateboard tape or grip tape is a valid option. Its an expendable item and will need to be replaced every so often, but it costs about $5 for a roll of it, and works well to help with traction. Its also a good option for LEO’s who cant permenantly modify thier duty guns.
I would recommend ATEi over IGFS as the latter company is essentially a direct copy of the work popularized by Doug over at ATEi.
I’m very interested in this machine work, but my reasons are not exactly typical: I have a mild case of hyper-hidrosis and my hands are practically never dry. As such, I can’t do a press check the way most people would, and occasionally I struggle with just an admin load because my hands are so slick I can’t get a good purchase on the slide.
Grip tape helps, but clothing tends to drag over it and I carry underneath my t-shirt most of the time. I’m keen to see if this machining would provide a better solution.
I’m in no way connected to either company but this is all getting played out and tired with the, “Doug invented slide serrations and everyone else is a copy” posts that seem to accompany any review about either company. No, Doug didn’t invent slide serrations. Several a gunsmiths have been doing it for years . Rogers being one of them. Even the stated, ATEi was the first to market it as serrations for aiding in one hand manipulation isn’t valid. Again, the same was said about serrations on a particular 1911 built by a well known smith almost 15 years ago. It’s normal to stand up and defend a friend for a perceived wrong comitted by another person. But to blindly say that Doug invented the slide serrations simply isn’t true. Get over it already.
As far as serrations being a needed upgrade to a pistol, I agree with what was stated by the authors of both topics, after mastering one handed manipulations with a stock pistol, the added luxury of the serrations is a bonus . It does look good in book, especially the ATEi work. The radius serrations on the IGFS guns just look like over kill to me even for a fighting/working pistol.