The Glock 19 is one of the most popular modern pistols on the market. And for good reason. It’s simple design, cost to own, reliability, ease of maintenance and accuracy make it a no-brainer for thousands of owners and agencies alike. Although the pros outweigh the cons, the one thing a Glock isn’t is sexy. But who really cares, it was designed to do a job and do it well. For me, I like a little individuality. I add personal touches to my vehicles, so why not my firearms? There’s no reason the Glock 19 can’t be both functional AND sexy, right? This Texas based company can take your Glock from mundane to whatever your heart desires in no time with the Shadow Systems Optics Ready Slide.
Check out my previous article: Upgrading the Glock 19 | Shadow Systems Match Barrel
Glock 19
The Gen 4 Glock 19 is also one of my two daily carry pistols. No, I don’t carry two pistols at the same time. In the cooler months, I’ll wear my G19 in a Bravo Concealment holster outside the waist belt and under a coat. In the summer months, I typically carry the slimmer fitting Sig P365. One of my only dislikes about the Glock pistols are the lack of front slide serrations. Shadow Systems offers several custom slides for the Glock 19 and 17 variations, from mild to wild. And all have front serrations which checked one of my boxes. So I decided to go with the Optics Ready Slide with RMR Cut. Shadow Systems Slides are 100% Made in the USA from U.S. sourced materials which checks another box.
Optics Ready Slide
This beauty is DLC coated for durability and offers several desirable features. Most noticeable are the two window cuts on the sides and pocket cuts atop the slide. Drastically reducing the weight of this 17-4 stainless steel sculpture by more than 2 ounces over the factory slide. Also of note are the aggressive serrations on the sides of the Optic Ready Slide. Precisely milled at a slight angle to help reduce draw friction from a holster, these serrations retain a cheese grater type profile. Offering the shooter exceptional traction on both the front and rear of the pistol during high-speed operation. Atop the Shadow Systems Optics Ready Slide is a cut out for the Trijicon RMR. While I use an RMR on my competition Glock 34, I may try it out on the Glock 19. But when not in use, Shadow Systems offers a matching slide plate to fill the cutout.
Shadow Systems Optics Ready Slide Includes:
- Choose Gen3 or Gen4 compatible slide
- Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) finish
- Optic cut for Trijicon RMR17-4 Stainless Steel Slide Screws included
- The slide is completely stripped and does not include Channel Liner
- Compatible Gun Models: Gen 3 Glock 19, Gen 4 Glock 19
- MSRP: $418
Shadow Systems offers a full line up of Glock related parts. From complete guns to the smallest of internal parts. As I work my way through modifying my Glock 19, Shadow Systems components will be a large part of the equation. I’ve already tested and reviewed their Match Barrel. The TiN coated barrel really looks sharp through the window cuts on the Optics Ready Slide. I also plan to try their Elite Trigger on this build. One thing to keep in mind that all the custom slides from Shadow Systems are stripped. So make sure to pick up a Slide Completion Kit. Up next will be an article on Glock frame modification so stay tuned.
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I like the idea of getting a slide that is able to have an optic installed on it. I feel like that would be a good way to make sure that it is able to be further upgraded in the future. I should take a look into getting someone to help me install something like that if I decide to get a gun.
The optics ready slide is a direct replacement of the original slide. If you can disassemble the pistol, you can replace the slide.