This past spring I was pretty excited to see Trijicon’s new offering in the SRO. From my initial assessment, it looked like Trijicon had done a solid job building a new red dot sight focused on target shooting and competition. The SRO complemented Trijicon’s already dominating line of duty ready RMRs and at the same time put in to play lessons learned from Trijicon products previously pressed into use by demanding handgun shooters of all kinds.
What didn’t change with the introduction of the SRO are the challenges faced when someone wants to mount a pistol red dot on their handgun.
I made the decision to lean into those difficulties and get some guns ready for red dot testing, and wrote about the challenges of setting up a red dot on your handgun here.
What I found out as I explored the available options is that I had a partner that was ready and willing to help me get my guns set up now!
GLOCK Versatility
For a long time, Lone Wolf Distributors has been a dependable goto source for GLOCK parts. My first exposure to Lone Wolf and their quality was in a set of conversion barrels for a group of LE turn in GLOCK 22s. I intended to use these guns for rentals in my defensive handgun training courses. They quickly and easily modified my former Detroit Police .40 caliber pistols into 9mm guns that were easy and inexpensive to shoot.
Lone Wolf opened my mind to what I call GLOCK Versatility.
Speed
When I got word that Trijicon had been able to set aside an SRO for me to test it wasn’t a huge jump to figure out where to reach out for help with the project. I knew Lone Wolf would be able to help me get set up. What I didn’t realize how fast they were going to be able to make it happen. That was a major learning point for me when it came to how LWD runs its business. Plain and simple Lone Wolf is set up in a way to help you get your gun up and running quickly.
Options
Custom Slide Machining
Plain and simple if you need a GLOCK cut for an RMR they are your people. They are set up to handle any GLOCK you can put a dot on and just about any dot you can put on a GLOCK. All told there are well over 120 options that Lone Wolf can have you set up with for your optic on a GLOCK.
They also can handle your S&W Shield.
The machining is well done and the time frame is just plain fast. I’ll tell you more about that in a minute.
Custom Slides
Despite the fact that GLOCKs are commonplace, I can understand the desire to keep your GLOCK in stock configuration. Machining a slide alters your pistol forever. I can understand why some would want to avoid that route.
The Alpha Wolf series of slides is the answer to that. Starting at $189.95 you can have a custom stainless steel slide cut that will house your RMR. It is super easy to select the options you want on the upper and you can even have it built out completely for you with Lone Wolf parts.
The Alpha Wolf slide with the RMR cut looks svelte.
What Lone Wolf did for me.
When I first spoke with JR, the head honcho at Lone Wolf, and explained what I was trying to accomplish we tossed around a bunch of ideas. We settled on Lone Wolf sending me a complete Lone Wolf GLOCK 17 Upper with an RMR mounted on top. This would give me a solid upper and an RMR to compare with the SRO. To get the SRO up and running and to test out their speed, I also sent a GLOCK 17 slide from my collection to LWD for machining. This worked out so much better than my previous experiences in slide machining had.
Common GLOCKs
GLOCK 17s and 19s are some of the most common handguns out there and I have some 17s laying around.
In the past, when I have needed a slide cut for a red dot optic, I’ve taken it into a very innovative and talented local smith. The guy made magic happen with machines. I’d drop my slide off and let him know my time frame. Then I would wait. And wait. And wait some more. I’d call him a couple of times as our agreed upon time would approach. He wouldn’t answer. Finally, I’d just show up. The work would be half done and I would have to wait as he tried to wrap it up.
Turn Around
Lone Wolf isn’t a fly by night shop run by a mad professor of a gunsmith. I had no idea how professional of an outfit JR Shepard ran until this week. My slide shipped to them late in the day on Tuesday, October 1 via USPS Priority Mail. I opened the package with my newly cut slide on Wednesday the 9th.
Lone Wolf advertises a 1-3 day turn around on GLOCK slide cuts for 20 different optics. I asked JR point-blank if he cut me any slack because I’m a writer. His answer was a simple, “Nope.” Although he could be blowing smoke, I’m inclined to believe him.
Final Thoughts (for now)
Lone Wolf provided by machining services gratis which I greatly appreciate. They also provided a complete Alpha Wolf upper with an RMR01 for testing. What I appreciate even more is the fact that Lone Wolf gets the fact that when you are trying to get a new gun set up, RDS or not, you are ready to have that gun set up. For me, as a writer, I have deadlines to deal with. Shooters have deadlines too. Whether it is a big match or the urgency you feel in getting your new carry gun in the holster, Lone Wolf gets it. They make mounting a red dot on your handgun simple and fast.
