So you’ve got a Glock, and you’re making some modifications? It could be the first time, or you could be well into changing up your Glock pistol.
Well, as you’re probably aware, with the Glock being a well-established American favorite, the aftermarket has grown wild with customization options. We also understand it can be daunting trying to figure out which components are worth the money.
So, in this article we will check out five of our favorite aftermarket Glock slides that we think will give you bang for your buck, will look great and will serve you well.
Now let’s slide on through with the reviews and find the perfect one for you…
Top 5 Best Aftermarket Glock Slides To Buy 2023 Reviews
1. AlphaWolf OEM Serration Slide
First off we have this AlphaWolf OEM Serration Slide, which has a Gen 3 OEM style profile, which includes the nose and serrations.
The construction…
The Alpha OEM Serration slide is a very clean and basic design which should be a subtle upgrade to your factory slides. It’s made from a sturdy 416 stainless steel, which should function longer than your factory slides too.
The serrations on this slide allow you to gain quick and firm contact, making it less likely for your fingers to slip when you are pulling the slide back to load up the chamber. Additionally, this is a USA made product, so you won’t have to worry about inferior construction processes and materials being used.
One downfall to this set-up is that it doesn’t come with sights. However, if you are in the mind frame of modifying your Glock, it could be a good excuse to select your own personal choice of sights to add to your set-up.
Choose your look…
The overall look is a slick-looking matte finish that will give your Glock a high-quality look. In addition, Lone Wolf – the company that makes this AlphaWolf slide – will allow you to request customizations to the design. These options include engraving, custom ports, and different paintwork on the slide.
Also, you can pay a little extra and have the slide shaped to support suitable optics that you may want to add.
All-in-all, we like this slide because it doesn’t stray too far away from the original “Glock look,” yet it opens the door for new customization options.
Pros
- Gen 3 OEM style profile.
- 416 stainless steel.
- USA made product.
- Slick matte finish, but maintains the “Glock look.”
- Firm grip.
- Customization options.
- Reasonably priced.
- High-quality finish.
Cons
- No built-in sights.
2. Brownells Slide For Glock G43
Next up we have this Brownells made Glock Slide for G43 pistols, which has been designed with the intention to be easier to use than your original factory slide.
Get a grip…
Anyone who owns a Glock G43 will know that it can be frustrating at times trying to get a solid grip on the factory-installed slide. That’s why Brownells have designed this slide with deep-set serrations, so you really can get a firm grip when pulling the slide back.
Plus, the actual serrations are cut with 90-degree angles, so they allow you to really get the strong and quick contact that you need.
A smooth and compact design…
This slide is also made to be very smooth in functionality, and it doesn’t add any extra bulk to your G43. This means you’ll be able to conceal your weapon in the same way as if you had a factory slide on your pistol.
The construction…
A specially heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel billet has been used to make this slide very strong and durable. It is also waterproof and is hard wearing with its black Nitride finish.
Brownells have added a typical dovetail rear sight and tenon cut front sight to this design.
Finally, this sight comes with easy to follow instructions on how to add your new slide to your Glock, and we certainly think this will be a superb upgrade from your original factory slide.
Pros
- 90-degree serrations.
- Smooth and compact.
- 17-4 stainless steel billet.
- Waterproof and highly durable.
- Dovetail rear sight and tenon cut front sight.
- Black Nitride finish.
- Excellent instructions.
Cons
- You might want customizable sight options.
3. Grey Ghost Precision Glock 19 Slide, Stripped – V1
Moving on now, we’re taking a look at this Grey Ghost Precision Glock 19 Slide that’s an excellent upgrade for your Glock 17 or Glock 19 pistol.
Solid construction…
Grey Ghost has used a 17-4 billet stainless steel to make this slide extremely tough, durable yet smooth in functionality. They’ve also used tighter tolerances with this design so that you get a more accurate and reliable shooting experience. The finish is a black Nitride which covers the entirety of the slide, both inside and outside.
Precision cuts…
Of course, one of the most important aspects of the slide is to be able to gain an easy and firm grip. This GGP V1 has lightening cuts that are made easy to grip because of the angles they are cut at. Also, because this is a custom engineered design, more thought has been put into making this a lighter and higher-functioning Glock slide.
It should have a better balance on the muzzle than your ordinary factory slide. Plus it has been made to cope with exposure to the elements and tough weather.
Come rain, come shine…
Whether you find yourself drenched in rain or waist-deep in mud, this slide should give you a better chance of keeping your Glock functioning when you really need it.
Pros
- Glock 17/19 upgrade.
- 17-4 billet stainless steel.
- Angled lightening cuts.
- Lightweight design.
- Balanced muzzle.
- Weather-resistant and great for rugged use.
- Black Nitride finish.
Cons
- In the mid to high-end price bracket.
4. Agency Arms Glock 17 Gen 3 Urban Combat Stripped Slide
Now we’re checking out this Agency Arms Glock 17 Gen 3 Urban Combat Stripped Slide that has an RMR cut as standard. Plus, it features a battle plate for when you don’t have the RMR installed.
A safety-conscious design…
One very important consideration that Agency Arms have taken with this slide is that they have not put serrations on the top of it. Instead, the serrations are placed at a 45-degree angle. This means that you have to position the muzzle away from your body when pulling the slide.
The battle plate built into this design is made to be incredibly intuitive for the shooter. And enables you to have one-handed manipulation of your Glock 17.
Lightweight construction…
By replacing your factory slide with this Agency Arms version, you will reduce the overall weight of your Glock. However, this will not forfeit any strength and functionality. In fact, this is actually the lightest slide that Agency Arms manufacture for the Glock 17.
Other key features include three built-in windows, plus five serrations at the front of the slide and seven at the back. As we’ve already mentioned, this is an RMR suited design, which will be well-balanced in use.
Pros
- Balanced for RMR installation.
- Safety conscious design.
- Battle plate construction for one-handed use.
- Incredibly lightweight.
- Three-window design.
- Serrations front and back at a 45-degree angle.
Cons
- You might not want RMR sights.
- In the higher price range.
5. Zev Technologies Glock 19 Gen 5 Orion Stripped Slide
The final slide option we’re looking at comes from Zev Technologies, and it’s built for Glock 19 pistols. It’s a stripped slide design made to fit with RMR cover plates, and it comes in a DLC gray finish.
A non-slip design…
This Orion slide is made with a lot of thought to give you a high-functioning non-slip design. The special pattern that covers this slide makes it incredibly easy grip and then pull back your slide.
Plus, it has serrations that have rounded edges so that you can grip the slide bare-handed without the discomfort you might experience with sharper-edged serrations.
Precision made…
Being made from one solid piece of 17-4 stainless steel billet, you’ll be adding a very strong and durable slide to your Glock 19.
Zev Technologies has had the aim to make this slide more accurate and high performing than your standard factory slide by using tight tolerances and manufacturing techniques. They even have a patented “optic cut,” which is designed to allow optics to be securely mounted onto your Glock pistol.
In addition…
This slide has been made to be ultra-lightweight and therefore should give you a noticeable improvement over the use of your factory slide.
Finally, the gray DLC coating added to this slide makes it incredibly tough and resilient for use over long periods. There’s also an RMR adapter plate included with this piece of kit.
Pros
- Built for Glock 19.
- Fits RMR cover plates.
- Non-slip design.
- 17-4 stainless steel billet.
- Tight tolerance design.
- Lightweight with rounded edge serrations.
- Gray DLC coating.
Cons
- You might want a black DLC coating.
Best Aftermarket Glock Slides Buying Guide
So now we’ve looked at our 5 best choice aftermarket Glock slides. And we think all of them will offer excellent improvements to your Glock Pistol. We have only included slides that give you extra grip in comparison to the factory slide, and most of them are lighter and more fluid in functionality.
Safety first…
We would just like to acknowledge the safety-conscious design of the…
Agency Arms Glock 17 Gen 3 Urban Combat Stripped Slide
By not putting the serrations on top of the slide, it makes the process of pulling the slide a lot safer – which could be of great appeal to some gun users.
Best RMR slide for Glocks…
Many Glock users want to add an RMR sight, and so we did include some slides that cater to this desire. Our favorite Glock slide that can accept RMR sights is the…
Agency Arms Glock 17 Gen 3 Urban Combat Stripped Slide – DLC
This slide can incorporate an RMR sight with no issues, holding it firmly in place. And it has been designed to balance your gun, slide and RMR sight properly when they are working together.
Don’t slip…
Another issue that some Glock users want to alleviate is the worry of slipping when pulling the slide back.
Out of all the slides we checked out, by far the most impressive for non-slip was the…
Zev Technologies Glock 19 Gen 5 Orion Stripped Slide
As a side note, this slide also caters extremely well for RMR sights.
A conservative option…
If you are looking to just slightly modify your Glock, a good choice subtle improvement could be the…
AlphaWolf OEM Serration Slide
This slide looks the part, gives you a nice bit of extra grip, and is designed very similarly to the factory slide. However, you’ll most likely get a bit more strength and durability out of the AlphaWolf over the factory slide you already have.
So, What Are The Best Aftermarket Glock Slides?
Finally, our overall favorite aftermarket Glock slide is the…
Grey Ghost Precision Glock 19 Slide, Stripped – V1
This slide offers a great all-in-one upgrade option to the factory slide you get with your Glock pistol. It’s reasonably priced, made in the USA and looks and functions very well.
To conclude, we would like to thank you for checking out our favorite aftermarket Glock slides. Plus we hope you’ll find a fitting choice that will modify your Glock pistol for better performance and a more personalized look.
Many Americans will agree that modifying your Glock to a more personal taste is a good way to go. Knowing your particular firearm and how it works can definitely be enhanced through the process of modification. And ultimately you’re more likely to get a better performing Glock as the end result.