Much like petrolheads (those who love to tinker and mess around with cars) firearm enthusiasts often seek to enhance their gun’s performance and aesthetics through various upgrades. While some modifications can be complex and require the assistance of a gunsmith, there are several affordable upgrades that anyone can perform themselves, at home, with simple and affordable tools. In this article, we will explore some pistol upgrades that can be easily executed at home using simple tools: backplates, barrels, magazine baseplates, magazine releases, trigger shoes, slide locks, iron sights, and aftermarket magwells. Let's dive in and discover how you can enhance your pistol without breaking the bank (and your gun).
Backplates
Backplates offer a quick and easy way to personalize your firearm. Most stock backplates are plain and lack any distinctive features. However, aftermarket backplates come in a wide variety of designs, including custom engravings, logos, or even glow-in-the-dark options. There really is no real functional reason to replace your backplate and to be honest this is one of those things that is going to be purely for looks (you know, so you can post pictures of your cool gun on Instagram).
To replace a backplate, simply remove the original by using a small punch or screwdriver to push down the retaining pin. Once the pin is removed, the backplate can be slid off, and the new one can be installed in its place. Just reverse the process to reinstall it. You don’t even really need a punch in most cases and you can usually just push the small polymer retaining shoe around the striker with a pen or something. Virtually no tools are required, but each striker-fired pistol is slightly different. So, a healthy dose of youtube gunsmith videos for your specific model of the pistol should give you a clear guide on how to remove the backplate.
Barrels
Upgrading your pistol's barrel can have a significant impact on accuracy, recoil control, aesthetics, and accessory options. Aftermarket barrels are available in various lengths and finishes, with improved rifling, and sometimes even integrated ports for better recoil control. Replacing your factory barrel with an aftermarket one is as simple as field stripping your firearm and simply reassembling the handgun with the new barrel instead of the old one - if you screw this one up you should perhaps reconsider your choice to own firearms in the first place but once again - youtube is your best friend when it comes to assembly and disassembly instructions.
Magazine Baseplates
Magazine baseplates not only provide additional grip and comfort but also offer an opportunity to add personal style to your pistol and help insure more consistent reloads during competition or stressful situations. Upgraded baseplates come in various colors, textures, and designs, allowing you to customize your firearm. To replace a baseplate on most modern magazines, you’ll usually have to depress a small button on the baseplate of the magazine and then slide the factory baseplate off. Some magazine extensions or baseplates come with different springs and its best to use those as they usually are there to accommodate for the slightly different dimensions of the aftermarket baseplate.
Magazine Releases
An upgraded magazine release can greatly enhance your pistol's ergonomics and facilitate faster magazine changes. These aftermarket releases are often larger and more textured than stock options, making them easier to engage. To replace a magazine release, you’ll need a few basic tools like an Armorer hammer (4 oz, probably about $30) and a set of punches (usually about $20 on Amazon).
Some magazine releases are pretty stubborn to remove (looking at you SIG) and I’ve come up with various methods for simplifying the process but none of these are official and I have on more than one occasion ruined my parts because of my own methods - so I don’t recommend them here. Glock Magazine releases are much easier to remove and replace and all you really need to do this is a thin stiff rod (like a dental pick) to bend the spring out of the way to remove the factory one for replacement. The replacement of a magazine release can perhaps be the most complex task out of all of them despite it having the fewest parts.
Trigger Shoes
Trigger shoes can provide a more comfortable and consistent trigger pull by altering the shape and surface of the trigger. Aftermarket trigger shoes come in different profiles and textures, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your preferences. Depending on the model of the pistol you have it could be as simple as removing a single roll pin - make sure to check for dedicated replacement videos on YouTube for reference to your specific firearm model. However, despite this feeling like a complex replacement, it’s fairly simple and usually requires only a small punch and an armorer hammer. You could probably even get away with using a full-size claw hammer and a nail if you’re desperate enough.
Slide Locks
While slide locks and iron sights are functional components, upgrading them can significantly enhance your shooting experience. Upgraded slide locks often feature extended tabs, making it easier to manipulate the slide back into the battery after a reload without the need for a slingshot maneuver.
Slide locks usually are not simply just the button, but rather an entire arm and will usually require the replacement and removal of one or more springs and roll pins. Because of this, I would take special care when disassembling and reassembling your handgun when attempting a slide lock replacement - study plenty of videos, and perhaps even record your own disassembly process so you can reverse it easily by watching your own footage. Alternatively, if you fail, at least you can post the recording online for other people to learn from your mistakes.
Iron Sights
Aftermarket iron sights may give you an improved sight picture, visibility, or tritium inserts for low-light shooting. Virtually all iron sights are the same and attach to the pistol slide via a small screw (in the case of some front sights) and dovetail attachments for rear irons. Simple nifty tools like the XS Sights Sight Pusher tool can make this job super easy and precise but are expensive and do basically the same job as a piece of plastic Delrin and a small Armorer hammer. I wouldn’t recommend using punches for drifting sights because they have the potential to mar up your sights or worse, damage your tritium sight ampoules and possibly release radioactive gas near you. Delrin is a hard plastic that while stiff enough to bash the sights into place, will deform before damaging the metal sights or their finish.
What at Home Pistol Mods Do You Do?
The world of DIY pistol upgrades offers a multitude of possibilities for gun enthusiasts to personalize and enhance their firearms without the need for a gunsmith. From swapping out backplates and barrels to upgrading magazine components, triggers, slide locks, iron sights, and even adding aftermarket magwells, the options are diverse and accessible. These at-home pistol modifications not only allow you to tailor your firearm to your preferences but also provide a sense of pride and accomplishment. So, what at-home pistol mods do you do? Embrace your inner gunsmith, explore the endless possibilities, and embark on a journey of customization that will truly make your pistol your own, I hear Tyrant Designs has a bunch of cool aftermarket parts for you to try out for virtually any handgun out there! Happy upgrading!
