Like most Glock pistols, the G17 is a great handgun that offers plenty of firepower, whether for defensive carry or competition.
But Glock’s no-frills design does in some instances leave a little to be desired. Leaving all else the same, let’s take a closer look at the slide.
It does what it’s supposed to do, but it could be way better. That’s what we accomplished in the design of our X1 Glock 17 slides. We entirely optimized the pattern. Here’s how we did it.
The Glock 17 X1
There are numerous ways in which our X1 Glock 17 slides outperform the stock G17 slide. Here are the main ones.
- Broad compatibility
Starting with compatibility, we could hardly call any aftermarket Glock slide the best if it didn’t offer the home builder or tinkerer a great deal of flexibility. Fortunately for you, the X1 does. It is compatible with Gen 3 G17 frames and with minor modifications may be rendered compatible with Gen 4 and 5 models. It is also compatible with most G17 pattern platforms, like Polymer80 frames.
- Lower reciprocating mass
Arguably the main optimization we made to these Glock 17 slides has got to be the CNC-machined windows that significantly lighten the overall weight of the slide. Adding these windows has enabled us to lighten the reciprocating mass of the platform, which is one of the main contributing factors to felt recoil. This can lessen shooter fatigue and lower muzzle flip as well. (Pro tip: if your goal is to lighten recoil, consider adding a G17 compensator as well, as one of these can cut both felt recoil and muzzle flip without counteracting shot power.)
- Optics compatibility
Another huge optimization we made to these Glock 17 slides was that we engineered them to be compatible with RMR-pattern optics, though they also come with a slide plate if you choose not to utilize this feature.
- Choose your sights
One great thing about the X1 slide is that you can choose your Glock sights. If you want, you can reinstall the old irons, or you can upgrade your G17 with Glock night sights or fiber optic sights that offer superior low-light visibility for faster target acquisition in the dark. If you choose our Glock sights, you will have the flexibility of running them as co-witness with another optic if you have that installed.
- Superior heat dissipation properties
The precision cut windows in the X1 slide also offer another huge advantage on top of recoil reduction: heat dissipation. During periods of high sustained firing, your Glock’s barrel will get hot, and a hot barrel wears faster. This design is superior to the stock Glock 17 slide which completely encloses the barrel and hinders heat dissipation. Plus, on top of accelerated wear, a very hot barrel will not perform as well, or shoot as accurately, as a cold barrel. (Tip: replace your Glock 17 barrel with a model that sports fluting. Fluting increases the surface area of the barrel, which will also aid in heat dissipation.)
- High strength, precision machined
Our Glock 17 slides are made in the United States from strong, durable 17-4 stainless steel which is naturally corrosion resistant.
- Low-maintenance by design
Not only is the alloy we’ve chosen for these G17 slides inherently corrosion resistant, these slides are available in several different finishes, including black nitride and Cerakote finishes that are hard, chemically stable, and provide an excellent moisture barrier to insulate the steel against corrosion. Moreover, these finishes offer excellent permanent dry lubricity, without the need to supplement heavily with liquid lubricants that can trap abrasive particulate matter and fouling, counterintuitively accelerating wear.
About the Glock 17 Vapor Combo
While our X1 G17 slides are among the best aftermarket slides available, if your goal is expressly to cut muzzle jump and recoil and you’re willing to replace more than just the slide, look into a Vapor slide and barrel combo.
These barrel and slide combos feature matched porting that considerably reduces recoil and which also splits the gasses around your sights so as not to muddle your sight picture. They enable faster, more accurate follow up shots with less recoil and muzzle rise.
For more information on these Glock ported barrel and slide combos, take a look at the previous link or get in touch with us directly.
For More Information About Our Glock 17 Slides
While this article details all of the optimizations we made to our X1 Glock 17 slides, if you’re interested in learning more about our slides, visit the previous link.
You can also get in touch with one of our representatives if you have questions about compatibility with any specific aftermarket, clone, or Glock-pattern frame. We’ll help you figure out if our slides are compatible with your build.
