How to Fit ZEV Slim/IDPA Mag Well to a Gen 4 Glock with Medium Backstrap

[tdoom15]

Thought I would share in case anyone else wanted to do the same.

I like the ZEV Slim/IDPA mag well as it works well with factory (non-extended) glock base plates and it's not as big as some other mag wells out there. I've recently started using the medium backstrap with beavertail on my gen 4 Glocks, but wanted to be able to keep on using the ZEV mag well. I tried the grip force adapters and the fit was poor IMO and it did not feel very secure, so I decided to to give this route a go.

I started by cutting the bottom tabbed section of the backstrap completely off using a dremel with the cutting wheel. Don't cut any higher than you have to in order to remove the tabs.

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/Mobile%20Uploads/20150814_215746_zpsdq2oe6xu_edit_1439604105790_zpse7j9yqae.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150814_215746_zpsdq2oe6xu_edit_1439604105790_zpse7j9yqae.jpg.html)



Smoothed out the inside of the backstrap

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_195215_zpsypqobf46.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_195215_zpsypqobf46.jpg.html)



Then I took the sanding drum and sanded down enough area for the bottom of the backstrap to fit in between the frame and the mag well

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_195154_zpszrp6e9n0.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_195154_zpszrp6e9n0.jpg.html)

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_195129_zpscwqbcuv5.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_195129_zpscwqbcuv5.jpg.html)



I'm pretty happy with the final result and it actually holds the backstrap in place more securely than the factory locking tabs.

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_195725_zpsl55zipxh.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_195725_zpsl55zipxh.jpg.html)

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_195734_zpsq636wqyx.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_195734_zpsq636wqyx.jpg.html)

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_195645_zpsnji72tsm.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_195645_zpsnji72tsm.jpg.html)



Picture with the factory base plate

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab246/apexdbetta2/20150814_201230_zpsropzw44f.jpg (http://s868.photobucket.com/user/apexdbetta2/media/20150814_201230_zpsropzw44f.jpg.html)

[birdkiller]

Well, you just cost me some money. I've been considering the slim magwell, and your pictures just convinced me. Thanks. Good looking grip work, did you do it yourself?

[South]

........

[JB326]

Hopefully this isn't too bad of a necropost, but I had a question... Are you using a gen 3 magwell or a gen 4/ small frame (i.e. No backstrap)?
Thanks- great pics and how-to.