Installing a beavertail backstrap on a Glock Gen4

Installing a beavertail backstrap on a Glock Gen4. This can be a painful and frustrating experience, and the bad news is that you'll have to go through it each and every time you completely break down your Glock for cleaning,
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[@philabshire]

Bless his heart, I had my Grip installed in the first 30 seconds of the video.

[@engineer2001]

Same here. I installed mine, and it was so easy I thought I must have done something wrong. So I watched this video and saw I did it right. But my Glock 22 medium beavertail backstrap just all snapped in and lined up easily with minor pressure. Not sure why his was so hard.

[@THATMONKEFELLA]

Wow you're a truly blessed gunsmith.

[@chrisrogers5614]

I also had mine in in about 30 seconds.

[@bbhsavage7554]

phil abshire same

[@denisroque7723]

Same here... "scratching head"

[@dylnfstr]

I've added and removed my backstraps many times. This guide always helps. You'd think after as many times as i've done it that it would be simple and easy.

[@simpletrick]

Insert the top of the backstrap behind the slide first. Do not engage the bottom just yet. The pin holes will align easily with no effort. Insert the pin. Once the pin is inserted push the bottom towards the mag well and it will easily pop into place.

[@kylemcmillan2480]

That's how I did it. No problem what so ever.

[@Acts-hv8bh]

Bruh the instructions clearly say to start from the bottom first.

[@banzaiib]

@@Acts-hv8bh instructions? what are those?

[@joeyshawmaine]

So I was having the same issue with my glock 19 and this video helped a lot but I did come up with an easier/less strenuous way if things aren't aligning. I couldn't do it at all squeezing so I just used a small DeWalt trigger clamp that I had in the workshop and it allowed me to slide the pin in a lot easier. I also didn't realize there was a longer pin in that little kit that comes with all the different grips so I appreciate you pointing that out. Great video, thank you!

[@gunnyretnug8096]

I used the Glock pin punch tool as a slave pin to install the longer pin and it works great.

[@juniorhustler7042]

Gunny Retnug I think the pin punch is too flimsy, just my opinion

[@sharonrichardson7734]

Damn, that worked much better..

[@kenchiken6338]

i was having a lot of trouble. thanks for the video!

[@personaldefenseandfirearme1046]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@davidshaffer4664]

At least the dude is honest and tells you what he is trying to do

[@maitai1133]

I want to thank you for doing the work in putting this video together. I really like the idea of an adjustable handle, and since I have big hands and like the idea of extra support, I put the large beavertail backstrap on my G17 Gen 4. It took me just about a minute to do - but what that says to me is that, after reviewing your video a couple times, it gave me a solid entrance into the procedure. The other thing is, since it took nine minutes for you to install yours on this particular gun, there may have been some tolerances that were tighter than others. So, in summary, thanks for your video, I'm glad it didn't take nine minutes for me to do mine, and I'm sorry it took you that long to do yours. You're golden. :)

[@tracksoldierdv2556]

I did it different i used the tool to line it up then flipped it over while i slid the pin back in. It was pretty easy

[@valgheller9849]

I did the same, using the tool in reverse by letting the longer pin push the tool guide out. It took maybe a minute.

[@MegaKenneth1984]

I used the opposite side of the pin tool, the flat surface that has the glock logo to push it in helped a lot.

[@davidrunge7041]

Thanks for this. I didn’t know where to look for longer pin! Your frustration led me to try something different. I installed hthe M Beaver Tail blackstrap before removing the pin. Then used a drift punch to start the pin out about 1/8”. Then removed the punch and used the new longer pin as the new punch and it went right in. This kept everything lined up as the new longer pin was installed. Still had to use drift punch a little on each side after install to get pin same distance on both sides. This was a g45 so they may have improved the alignment on the straps.

[@Mostvile]

The trick to getting the stubborn back straps on is connecting the top part first without locking the bottom part in place, punch the pin thru when the top part is lined up then snap the bottom in. simple. I tried multiple times doing the brute force method and it just never worked right.

[@maruquelcruz771]

Thanks a lot for the video. I just installed mine and it took me around 2 mins. Thanks to your video I knew how to make sure the pin went all the way thru without bending the grip. It was actually pretty easy to install once you were aware of the proper placement/alignment of pin/grip.

[@personaldefenseandfirearme1046]

Glad it helped, and thanks for watching!

[@SquirrelsForAll]

Thank you very, very much. Your video was absolutely beneficial and I can't thank you enough!

[@azraider9447]

Thanks for the video. It helped me be able to install the backstrap with little issue.

[@TheSteddypoundin]

Thank you I've given up on installing mines before watching your video. It took me 15 minutes but I got it thanks to you

[@Victor-ig9ef]

I used the tool that it came with the straps to guide the pin in and it took me like a minute

[@DrFrankenschtein]

Yeah I'm not really sure what all the fuss is about. I just picked up my G19 and putting the straps on was easy as pie.

[@bigghuncho6181]

Victor same here!

[@LeeJack3939]

Also used the tool that came with my G17 and it went together perfectly.

[@xFTPxJesusx]

Same no harder than pushing pins into an AR

[@alfonsoperez9575]

Yup me too! Then I watched the video to make sure I did it correctly!!! :D

[@davidjirvin5410]

The exact same thing happened when I got my new Gen 5 a couple weeks ago the exact same thing happened to me step by step and I end up giving up and putting the middle size standard one on and then put a tail and grip around it and now I'm still not happy with it my friend bought the Jen 5 model 19 and he got it to go on so now I'm going to have to go back and cut the back end of the talon grip off so I can get to the back strap and try to put the beavertail on once again thanks for your information and insight and shared frustration of this process thank you

[@alphapyro360]

mine was super hard and i didnt know how to do it.. this was the video that made it possible. thank you!

[@howarddsd1168]

I struggled for nearly one hour attempting to get that pin inserted. I viewed your video and in 5 minutes......................I finally did t!!

[@OpenCasket19]

Other videos made it look easy and I thought I was just dumb, but seeing this I figured it out and got mine on. Thanks

[@WildWing-wl7nj]

Interesting video. My new 26 Gen5 actually didn't come with additional backstraps, and now I'm glad it didn't.

[@SierraTango00]

Finally, I got it in. Tell the men. Thanks for the video, took me so long to try and figure this out.

[@garciajonathand]

Super helpful, thanks mate

[@bcuz2975]

I added the new ducktail grip before I even shot my G 17. Pin was not too bad of a fit in my case. Thanks for demo

[@philliesreject]

I set it up with the tool like in this video and once i got a bit of the pin in i used an empty mag to tap it in worked great

[@stlouisblueslover73]

Dude!!! That was painful to watch. You made that much harder than it needed to be

[@lastfirst23163]

I had the same problem. This video was great for me as I thought I was breaking it.

[@aridian7787]

Thank you so much for this!🙏🙏🙏

[@GoogleAccount-hr9yx]

Thank you so much! Great video 👍

[@jamesst.patrick9768]

Matt I am one of your biggest fans and I have the highest respect for you. I am a first time gun owner I just got my first hand gun (Glock 17 Gen 5 in March 2019 and I also own a JTS M12 AR Semi Automatic Shotgun (I’m beginning you to do a review on this please, you can use mine). Well, I installed the beavertail with the light from my cell phone in under two minutes. Dark.

[@ethankimsey7189]

Good video man thank you very helpful

[@RColon-rc9ob]

Glad to see you got it done. I would’ve given up, thinking I was damaging the pistol.

[@ericsirk6250]

This was a good watch. Proof that coming sense is a rare thing

[@bschmidt744]

I latterly had mine done before you got to step 1....fit perfectly Glock 20 Gen 4

[@MrDop1950]

Purchased a new Glock 17 Gen 4 in December. Your video was quite helpful in locating the longer pin. Put on the beaver tail backstrap yesterday. Didn't have any problem putting in the new pin with the backstrap. Just got it started, held it up tight and drove the pin home. No problem. Took all of 2 min. tops. I think the pin will self-locate if you are close and you let it. Mine did.

[@personaldefenseandfirearme1046]

+Kenneth Dopheide Congrats on your purchase, and I'm glad the video helped. Thanks for sharing the technique that worked for you, and thanks for watching!

[@emmanuelmarroquin3643]

I found that it help to frame pin to push the Glock backstrap tool back out of the handle frame. It helps keep everything aligned

[@americanpatriot7178]

Standard 19 gen 4 here, was a pain and I ended up actually bending the back strap where the hole and pin misaligned, luckily I didn't force it too hard and avoided any permanent damage.

[@OldManTupX]

Thank you!

[@DisgustedGenXr]

I had mine changed as soon as he said take the pin out. Kudos for overcomplication video ever made

[@Sipes1990]

When you go to install the pin leave the little plastic tool in and it will keep the holes aligned. As you push the pin through the plastic tool will just fall out. No hammering/beating necessary.

[@911Estyle]

Very helpful

[@Forumrida38621]

I used the pin remover tool and just kept going on it.. took a bit to get it going but now seems easy

[@bigghuncho6181]

Thanks bro. I thought I needed a tool or something. Now on to rear sight alignment...

[@busa2010]

I was able to install the beaver tall to my Glock 19 gen 5. I felt the device to line the whole and pushed the pin from the other side. I5 took me 1.5 mins.

[@nickslosubi690]

I used the supplied tool and my phone as a hammer and did this with little to no fuss. G19 gen5 FDE/BLK sld

[@davidlawson8930]

Thank God for your video, this damn Glock almost became America's next reported UAP

[@adancorona7110]

Wow thanks on the 1st part it's a no brainer I just need help putting the switch

[@bloodstone6196]

Glad you dont have to change the lock block.

[@kyanscruggs2476]

Thank you

[@fozzy7199]

i tried this once upon a time and got frustrated then gave up. I watched this and read a few of the top comments and decided to take it one step further: I used a mini Irwin Quick Grip clamp from the back of the strap to the front of the trigger guard and I did both gen 4 g19s in under 5 minutes total. Thank you to those that commented with your tips and tricks, and to the video creator, for making it soo much easier the 2nd time around. Finally my middle 'trigger finger' popping symptoms are mostly eliminated with the medium beaver tail strap. The larger strap was a bit too much for the size of my hands but the medium/smaller one helps a ton.

[@carloweis]

20 secs. Put the tail on first. Clip it in top and bottom. Then chase the short pin out with the long pin. Works every time.

[@jamesl5500]

I've been using my glock 17 with a beavertail for months and didn't know you had to pin it and it wasn't just a clip on lol

[@timothyedmiston8756]

WOW you did it the hard way had mine on in about a min or two

[@vaqueroaleman]

Take a military style boot lace and wrap it around the trigger guard and back of the strap twice, start the first part of a square knot with the lace and this will let you get the strap really tight and snug. Then it's a little easier wrestling the pin in the hole.

[@kylemcmillan2480]

I use the medium beavertail back strap on both my Gen4 and Gen5 19s. I didn't have any trouble at all installing then.

[@atikun]

LOL, to be honest, I'm one of the unlucky guy with mine also, so I give u my whole sympathy.

[@skeetnailer]

thanks for the tip on the punch and extra pin, didnt know about that, however punch is trash. also try inserting pin from other side, had much better luck, also hold up to a lamp and if nothing hole, you should be good, use the end of a screwdriver to lightly tap

[@michaelw.urbansr.8617]

well yours is my 1sr how too video on the back straps.The position of my hand on my G19Gen4 has my index finger rubbing the bottom of the trigger guard and after 100 or so it gets sore....i need to put more grip at the top of the grip up at the beaver tail while not adding anything to the bottom of the back strap.trying to straiten our my wrist..Helpful video thanks

[@Cybersomnia]

Use the tool to keep the holes aligned, then take your pin and use it to push the tool out, then to align the pin in center for those who are a little obsessive over symmetry, I found that using the corner of the "][" shaped part that holds the other backstraps has just enough length to basically push that pin perfectly even into the frame

[@Acts-hv8bh]

People in the comments are being very apathetic. Anyway I had a similar issue and what I did was line up the top part of the beaver tail first and do not line up the bottom. Continue working the pin in thru the top and it will slide in rather easily. Then after pin is installed, firmly press against the bottom of the beaver tail and it will snap or click into place.

[@jc4liferesearch5]

Thanks

[@sethtenrec6476]

because of some of the comments on here I was able to install mine easily and I'm normally all thumbs! big thanks to the KZbin community!

[@christopherc7350]

Use a small trigger clamp. One end on the front of the guard and then just ball up a paper towel to push on for the other end. Pin pops right in.

[@davidlabedz2046]

I'll be trying this soon. Hope arthritic hand can manage this!

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

It takes 10 minutes but you only need to do it once, it's worth the effort if you want a beaver tail I personally don't care for it cause the way I grip I won't get slide bite, but I know some people are adamant about it, specially ppl that are coming from something like a 1911 and trying out Glock

[@michaelshanahan4965]

This should all be done with the slide off. I’ve installed 6 of these, 2 worked great the other 4 sucked, 2 of them I returned. The other problem is every time you want to take your Glock apart you have to go through this. So guess what? you just don’t install. Money down the drain. Part added to parts draw with all the other stuff that doesn’t work and we were too lazy to return.

[@joshhorn2284]

Tell me you over complicate something, without telling me you over complicate something.

[@alexsmith4374]

helpful video. got mine done quicker bt i get ur fustration ty man'

[@gramps5157]

I didn't get off to a good start, when I tapped on the pin the pin went flying. After a 5 minute search I found the pin. After that I had no problem, the pin went right through with no problem.

[@InternetSavage]

The pin was a little tight but didn't seem too hard to get in, maybe gen 5's are a little different.

[@michaeljohn8905]

I have big hands and I’ve never had slide bight. I’m 6 , 4 with hands to match and I fail to see how people are having this problem. Not trying to mock anyone I’m just not having this problem. I just bought a police buy back Glock 23 and the last guy installed a larger blackstrap and it’s actually feels pretty good. I still like that Normal on my 19

[@freddobbs9435]

prior to putting the bevertail on remove the bt grip already on the rear of the grip, the bt will slip right on...

[@homegrownluv8106]

How about pushing the pin tool through to line up the back strap then through the other end install the pin pushing and guiding the pin tool out. Works great!!!

[@netanskizelensky9940]

i have no problem installing my glock 19 gen5 backstrap.its just simple...push the lock halfway and insert the longer lock.then push the longer lock all the way through and youre done.

[@Locoandchooch]

I gave up. It’s to cold to do this, I’ll wait till spring lol

[@DredgenEwok]

Yeah I did mine in 1 min I do have a 19x so the new generation style might be easier

[@AustinJones330]

Hey guys, was having this problem myself and found a way to do this so much easier. Get two of these “trigger housing pins” that’s what Glock calls them. Just barely put both pins in the holes on either side, once you know both are past the backstrap holes and are actually in the holes of the gun itself, make the two pins meet and touch. Once you’ve done that, put the gun on a flat surface and push down until the pin on that side is as flush as you can make it with the table. Take the smallest tool you can find (in my case it was a Alan wrench) and push it the rest of the way through. Easy and painless.

[@will-manprince-walker167]

I tried all mine in about 2 minutes with no problems , on the Glock 45 gen 5

[@jimfinn3992]

Dude I feel the backstrap pain took me 45 minutes and I almost got the pin in 4 times but I pushed too hard on the last little push

[@davidjames4583]

i didn't use the standard grip that was already on an the beaver tail went on with np....I only need one grip not one on top of the other....

[@TallJason357]

I used Duct tape and a chamber lock to install the large beavertail on my Gen 4 Glock 22 today, what a pain in the ass it was Lol

[@joegress9561]

He is Glock Bob Ross!!

[@MrJmpishnery]

The first time I tried to install the backstrap on my 19 Gen4 I struggled with it for 5 minutes and it still wouldn't fit. I soaked it in some hot water for about a minute then it went on without any trouble.

[@magnum9229]

This guy is great. Still can't do it. Tossed the Backstraps in the case. That's where they'll stay.

[@jeremybishop5605]

Leave the pin from the tool in, use it as a slave pin then use the main pin to push the tool out.

[@anemoneyas]

i just used the plastic side of a punch hammer to get it in. if you have one it's worth it to just use that. took about 30 seconds.

[@timmay2k]

That’s why u need a roll pin tool set. Wheeler sells em.

[@jamesst.patrick9768]

I wish I could learn from you, you are awesome.

[@danielmatos4490]

To install pin easily Instead of pulling out the tool you can use it as a guide to follow the pin in from the other side

[@kyley808]

Glock tool in left side pin in right side use the tool to guild the pin it worked for me. Nice video tho thanks

[@personaldefenseandfirearme1046]

Thanks for watching!

[@anthonyw895]

I did what simpletrick advised. Took a couple minutes.

[@fbrieden]

Am I the only person who carefully used a Wheeler Engineering 3/32" punch as a drive/slave tool? It took me longer to find the appropriate size punch than install a beaver tail on my Glock 30.

[@theculture9406]

Where can I find that tool to align the holes?

[@AtticusFinch907]

Does not matter for me. Carpal tunnel in one hand. Nerve in neck running down to the other hand in the other hand. Pain flares up and I struggle with movement. I do it I just have to manage the pain.

[@Colombiano671]

mine went in perfectly fine

[@isko120370]

about to be a glock owner here...why not install the pin left to right not right to left since during the alignment the tool just went in without problems?

[@Lanlawns]

The extended beavertail back strap takes up too much room at the bottom of the mag well now I can't fit the plug back in. Wonder if I should take the back strap back off try putting it on with the plug already in....Ill let ya know what happens. I don't see why the back strap would have to come off for disassemble and cleaning, please elaborate. Helpful video, thanks.

[@mikemc1114]

You can buy a plug with slots that accommodate the back strap tabs. Check Ebay. I think Pierce makes them.

[@10milligang71]

Why does it look grey on the slide is it just dirty or holster wear?

[@miduv82]

Don't know what to say. All mine fit up fine with no issues.