A lot of Glock shooters are worried about that hollow cavity behind the magazine well in the grip. In my Strike Industries Glock Grip Plug review, I take a look at one alternative to having a large open area.
In fact, the Strike Industries Grip Plug serves two purposes: keeps the dust bunnies out of your Glock’s grip and stores a spare tool for any emergency needs you may have.
I like this tool and use one on each of my Glock pistols. In this review, I cover the version for the third generation of Glock pistols. However, the company also offers a grip plug for the Gen4 and Gen5 handguns.
Ok, here we go…
The Glock Grip Plug Tool
The Strike Industries Glock Plug Tool has been a great addition to my Glocks.
The Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool for Glock handguns is an ingenious, multi-purpose, tool designed to plug the open area between the bottom of the pistol grip and the back side of the magazine well.
Unlike similar products on the market, however, the Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool goes much further than just a plug for this open space. The Grip Plug Tool is creatively designed to maximize the space by including a Glock pin punch tool, a flathead screwdriver, a small gun lubrication storage reservoir, and even acts as a helpful magazine ramp during loading. This provides shooters with all the critical tools necessary to conduct field maintenance on the Glock while plugging the annoying open space of the grip.
The Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool is tailor-made to fit into this crevice and lock into place by use of a tension lock fitting into the lanyard hole on the Glock grip. This open area is one of the few universally recognized annoying features about Glock pistols.
When Gaston Glock originally designed the Glock 17, I’m sure he believed leaving this area open would not be problematic to users. In fact, leaving this area open does reduce weight and unnecessary bulk. However, anyone who carries a Glock handgun for any length of time knows this open area becomes a repository of dirt, dust, lint, and anything else that can find its way into the crevice.
The Grip Plug Tool fit nicely into my Glock 23 grip with no problems.
Strike Industries has made its mark on the firearms community by taking relatively simple ideas and products then expanding them into far greater solutions. The Glock Grip Plug Tool is just one of the latest products from Strike Industries to accomplish this goal. The Grip Plug Tool can be installed without tools, but I have found removal to need a punch, small Hex wrench, or small screwdriver to complete.
The Grip Plug offers several key advantages to the shooter for grip, magazine loading, and obviously keeping debris out of the open space behind the Glock grip. Ever since Glock handguns came on the market, Glock shooters have had to contend with the debris-catching open space behind the bottom of the grip and the back side of the magazine well.
The original Strike Industries Glock Grip Plug Tool is specifically designed to plug the open grip space on Gen3 models of Glock pistols. Strike Industries also offers a second version of the Grip Plug Tool that will fit the newer Gen4 and Gen5 X models. These will not work with the Glock single stack pistols like the Glock 43.
Build your own P80 PF940C pistol?
According to Strike Industries, the Grip Plug Tool for Glock pistols will also work for the Polymer80 PF940C frames. So, if you like to build your own, get the Gen3 version of the Strike Industries grip plug for a perfect fit.
Inserting the Strike Industries Glock Grip Plug Tool into my Glock 23 was very easy, and I was able to properly install the Grip Plug without any tools. Once installed the Grip Plug fits very snugly against the base of the pistol grip with its contours naturally combining with the original grip to form a new and fluid end cap. Inserting magazines has been enhanced because the Grip Plug creates a flat landing surface extending beyond the magazine well. This extended flat surface allows shooters more confidence when bringing their magazines up for insertion.
The original Glock magazine well has an upward curved surface that a magazine can hang up on, particularly under high-stress reloading situations. With the S.I. Grip Plug installed, inserted magazines have a nice flush appearance as the magazine floor plate and Grip Plug create a seamless transition from magazine to grip. This seamless fit is kind of nice, particularly in concealed carry situations where an awkward extension (like a magazine in a Glock without the Grip Plug) could be the tell-tale give away. This better fit also assists the user with less surfaces to snag on other items.
The Glock grip is enhanced with the Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool installed and magazines are easier to insert.
Strike Industries has cautioned that “minor sanding” may be necessary for proper fitting on the Compact Glock handguns (models 19, 23, and 32), to ensure magazines are able to fall freely as originally designed. Despite this warning, I was able to install the Glock Grip Plug Tool on my Glock 23 with no modifications, and have found no obstructions to the magazines being able to fall out freely.
As you’ll note, I have installed Vicker’s Tactical Glock magazine floor plates to my Glock 23 magazines (all my Glock magazines actually), and I did not find any problems with fit or function. The rims on the base of the Grip Plug Tool fit flush with the base of the Glock grip providing a natural addition that angles forward to act as a ramp to assist shooters loading a fresh magazine.
Plug Specifications
- Overall Length:
- Overall Width:
- Weight: 0.6 ounces (with oil), 0.29 ounces (empty)
- Tools: 7/62″ Hex wrench/punch, small flathead screwdriver, small oil reservoir
- MSRP: $9.95
The Grip Plug Tool is rather compact to fit into the Gen 3 Glock grip space. Despite its small size, I was able to use the Pin Punch (7/64″ Hex key) to field strip my Glock 23 with no problems. The Hex punch fits snugly into its mounting slot but can be pulled out relatively easily. When pulled out, the Hex punch can be reversed to provide the user a compact flathead screwdriver. The rim on the base of the Grip Plug Tool perfectly aligns with the bottom of the Glock grip, and also provides a subtle rest for the user’s fingers when using the pin punch or screwdriver.
Though not quite as easy to use as a standard Glock Disassembly Tool, I did not find any major issues when using the Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool. I would caution users when using the screwdriver to make sure you are tackling appropriately smaller jobs. The flathead screwdriver is small and intended for jobs needing a smaller screwdriver. So don’t expect to put together a major appliance with the Grip Plug Tool screwdriver, but you should be confident in smaller firearm-related jobs.
Using the pin punch from the Glock Grip Plug Tool was easy.
At the top of the Grip Plug Tool, and hidden from view when inserted into the Glock grip, is a small plastic gun oil reservoir. This plastic oil reservoir fits snuggly into its storage location, but can easily be removed when work is needed. The reservoir has a flip-open style lid that is attached to the reservoir with a plastic strap. The reservoir storage area is machined to allow the reservoir to fit deeply into the Grip Plug housing. You will notice a rectangular cut towards the middle of the Grip Plug, and away from the circular hole for the reservoir. This cut is for the plastic strap attaching the reservoir cap to the reservoir itself. This simple additional cut allows the user to very securely insert the reservoir using friction tension, so there is very little chance it becomes dislodged during the use of the Glock.
When preparing to remove the oil reservoir I would highly recommend removing the Hex punch/screwdriver first. Though not necessary, this first step just gives you more room to manipulate the small reservoir while reducing the risk you might tear off the lid trying to pull it out around the punch. There is a small lip around the top of the reservoir, but my fat fingers just couldn’t gain grip purchase there to remove the reservoir, and you’ll probably notice that attempts that way often just open the lid and expose the user to possible lubrication oil spills or tearing the lid off.
Removing the Hex punch first, and then lifting from under the reservoir cap strap was easiest for me.
Instead, once you’ve removed the hex punch/screwdriver, I would recommend using a fingernail or other small pry tool placed underneath the plastic strap attaching the cap to the reservoir. Once in position, this provides enough purchase to gently begin rocking the reservoir back and forth while pulling upward. As long as the user isn’t too forceful, the reservoir should come out with minimal effort and fully intact with the lid closed and still attached.
Strike Industries does not provide an exact measurement on the amount of oil the reservoir, but the reservoir will hold more than enough oil to complete field lubrication more than once on your Glock. Unlike some firearms that recommend liberal amounts of lubricating oil, Glock actually recommends very little lubrication for their pistols. Brutal test firing with tens of thousands of rounds Glock pistols proved to be able to continue operation with very little if any lubrication.
During one of my Glock Armorer courses, the instructor actually told the class Glock developed the minimal lubrication recommendations to satisfy military and law enforcement users who were so accustomed to lubricating their firearms. We were told when Glock initially released the Model 17 there were no lubrication recommendations because the pistol was designed to function dry.
The flush-fitting S.I. Glock Grip Plug helps reduce snagging or revealing concealed carry protrusions.
Final Thoughts
When I first saw the Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool for Glocks I was very intrigued. After using the Grip Plug for several months now on my off-duty Glock 23, I have been very impressed with its functionality and the extra tools that come stored away inside. The fit of the Grip Plug Tool has been outstanding, and I have noticed a greater ability to insert magazines without snagging as a result of the Grip Plug installation.
I really appreciate having a punch tool handy, as well as a little bit of oil. Though I usually have plenty of range supplies with me when I go shoot at the range, I don’t have those items handy just walking around. Sometimes a quick bit of maintenance is needed, and the Grip Plug Tool provides users just about everything they need for that. I have enjoyed the Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool enough that I have one for my Glock 23 and one for my Glock 22. BlueSheepdog recommends the Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool for any Gen 3 Glock users.
Purchase these below MSRP here:
The Strike Industries Grip Plug Tool for Glocks out of the package.
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