Editor's Note: This feature is from our companion service, Shooting Wire.
Some months ago, Lone Wolf Distributors announced a concept gun envisioned by US Concealed Carry Magazine Editor Kevin Michalowski and built by them. Using a Glock 19 frame, their slide, barrel and some internals, they made a custom Glock-type pistol for just about the price of a stock Glock pistol.
Kevin’s idea was to have a custom gun that had performance options, just a little cosmetic work, but was otherwise a nearly-stock gun. Kevin called it the Grey Man Gun, after the concept of the ‘grey man.’
As he put it, “An individual who possess all the skills and mindset to pass nearly unnoticed in any situation. He does not stand out. He hides his true skills until they are needed. But then he is ready when called upon.” His concept gun was designed to do just that; have all you needed to do what had to be done.
In short, the new gun was to have a custom configured “AlphaWolf Slide,” G19 length Lone Wolf barrel with a custom cut barrel crown, optional FDE PVD coating on both slide and barrel, a lightweight striker, tungsten guide rod, and complete Lone Wolf small parts kits in the upper and lower receivers.
For a short time, Lone Wolf Distributors will have the Grey Man available as a complete pistol, though they will have upgrade components for users to make their own “Grey Man Gun.”
The sample gun arrived in a black nylon pouch with the Lone Wolf Distributors logo. There was no magazine with the gun, but that’s easily remedied. The stainless steel slide featured the ‘wave pattern’ cocking serrations, front and back, as well as the excellent Ameriglo Classic Green/Yellow night sights. Like the slide, the barrel was stainless and both were rendered in a pleasing satin finish. This gun didn’t have the PVD or Cerakote finishes – which are available from Lone Wolf.
A list of parts included the following:
If you don’t want the “silver” satin stainless look, finish options include a Flat Dark Earth PVD, BattleCam Urban Cerakote or BattleCam Black Cerakote.
I had a pair of new GLOCK Gen5 guns in for evaluation at the same time. I grabbed the Wheeler Engineering Professional Digital Trigger Gauge and took measurements of each of the three guns using Wheeler’s “bladed trigger adapter,” meant to give a good reading on triggers with the drop-safety paddle feature.
The Lone Wolf Grey Man averaged 4lb, 9.3 oz., the GLOCK 45 was 4 lb, 1.9 oz and the GLOCK 19 Gen5 MOS averaged 4 lb, 3 oz. – all rather close. The LWD Grey Man trigger didn’t really seem all that different in dry practice.
At the range, I ran the sample through the Comparative Standards exercise I’ve been using since mid-summer. So far, the champ was the S&W M&P9 M2.0 Compact 3.6” – barely beating the same firm’s M&P380 Shield EZ and in the same class as a range of GLOCK pistols including a Gen3 G19 and the G21SF in 45 ACP.
The new champ in the Lone Wolf Distributors Grey Man. I checked zero first with the Black Hills 124 gr. JHP +P ammo I was using and the trigger was ... well, abrupt. Sudden, you might say. It was distinctly different than the Glock factory triggers but not feathery, just very clean. If I ever wanted a “surprise break,” I got it with the GM. The average of five singles from the Raven Concealment Systems Perun holster at 25 yards was just over 2.1 seconds – but with three points “down.”
That was a learning experience.
The singles from “low ready” at fifteen yards measured in at .91 and .85 – very good for me. The Wizard Drill-inspired pair from 10 yards were just over two seconds, thus far a personal best. I’d gotten a real sense of the trigger by the end of the exercise.
I moved from that to the “Ten Penny Challenge” using the target from Cerino Training Group. I’d like to say I hammered all ten penny images – each measuring the same as a US penny, .750” in diameter -- from five yards, but I got a solid seven of ten. I also used Cerino’s target for the ‘trigger cadence drill.’ It’s marked for four rounds per bar (2.8” wide by 6” high), but I shot five per – the first at one second per shot, then ½ second per shot following by “full-tilt.” The last of those were all in the “bar,” at sub-quarter second splits. I went back to the center target image and finished with ½ second splits before I left the range.
There were no stoppages with the sample. I used a MagPul magazine and a Gen4 Glock magazine in the new gun.
I’ve just started on this one, it’s very interesting. We’ll keep you posted.
-- Rich Grassi