This post was originally published here.
Last year, I had the opportunity to shoot and review a custom pistol from Danger Close Armament (DCA). I loved it. So, I was delighted when DCA’s David Service reached out to me about doing the same with their custom Glock 45. The custom Glock 45 from Danger Close Armament came ready to go, complete with a Holosun EPS red dot and a Surefire X300 Turbo weapon light.
The Danger Close Armament Custom Glock 45
I mentioned in the previous review that I’m often skeptical of custom pistols. But, like the DCA/Rainier Arms P320 I previously reviewed, this Glock 45’s enhancements are targeted. Every one serves an obvious purpose without any fluff.
Maybe you could say the DCA logos machined onto the slide and barrel are fluff. But the A-10 Warthog and falling bombs with the lightning bolt look very cool, without compromising performance. So, they’re exempt.
Also, like that other pistol, the Danger Close Armament Glock 45 is dead accurate. I’ll get into that below, along with the oh-so-smooth operation. Full disclosure, I don’t get to keep this gun, and it will be back at DCA by the time you read this. Let’s begin with the gun’s features.
DCA Glock 45 Features
Glocks are so ubiquitous that I don’t feel the need to go into basic stuff. It’s a Glock 45. I’ll focus on the enhancements instead. We’ll look separately at the slide, the grip frame, and then a couple of other important features.
Keep in mind that while I address this particular pistol, it merely represents services provided by Danger Close Armament and is not a retail firearm. DCA can tailor those services to what you want or need. This is David’s personal sidearm, so it has the features he wants.
DCA does offer complete firearms if that’s what you want.
The Slide
This pistol has DCA’s Level 4 slide machining package. It includes weight-reduction pockets, wraparound front serrations, and the cool DCA logo mentioned previously. But just stating that doesn’t do these features justice. We need to look at each.
The weight-reduction pockets are machined into the slide’s top and sides. Each pocket is stippled to improve grip and reduce glare or reflection. The sides and corners are beveled to reduce a bit more weight and streamline the slide. Likewise, the front serrations not only cover the sides and top, but they also have the same stippling. The serrations and stippling provide superior slide manipulation in any conditions.
This gun also features DCA’s new Chunk Porting, which reduces muzzle climb by 30 percent. The slide port is accompanied by an aligned barrel port. The slide is cut for the Holosun EPS optic.
DCA offers cuts for that optic, plus the Holosun 507C and 509T; Trijicon RMR/SRO; Leupold DeltaPoint Pro; Aimpoint ACRO; and the Sig Romeo X Pro. They can also convert your Glock MOS to a dedicated cut that doesn’t require a plate. Serrated, blacked-out DCA front and rear sights round it out.
The Grip Frame
My test pistol features DCA’s “Operator” frame package, with ambidextrous “Shooter’s Cuts” and “Shooter’s Ledges,” an index cut under the trigger guard, and a 360-degree grip reduction with DCA’s proprietary “Brain” stippling.
I’ve never been much of a Glock fan, primarily because of the grip. Don’t get me wrong, I know Glocks perform, but I just don’t like how they feel in my hand. This DCA Glock, however, is a whole different world.
The grip reduction rounds out those boxy angles that I dislike, and the “Brain” stippling is probably the best I’ve ever run for both comfort and positivity. I’ve found it hard to achieve both, but DCA delivers.
The subtle cuts and ledges are nonetheless effective. The cuts for the thumb and forefinger really add to the grip’s comfort. Likewise, the ledges are right where I want them for my offhand thumb. The ledges also have the “Brain” stippling. This grip frame is what Glock grip frames should have been all along.
This gun’s frame also has a custom OD Green Cerakote job to match the slide. DCA offers other Cerakote options, as well as black nitride.
Barrel and Trigger
DCA outfitted this particular pistol with their match-grade fluted barrel with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating for maximum durability. Black nitride and gold TiN coatings are also available. The barrel’s port, as noted, aligns with the slide’s Chunk Porting.
Factory Glock triggers are meh, as most of us know. They work fine, but they’re nothing special. This DCA Glock 45 features a custom Glock performance trigger that takes away any semblance of “meh.”
There’s a short, smooth take-up with no grit. It breaks cleanly at what my Lyman Trigger Gauge averaged at 4.1 lbs. Combined with the grip, this trigger takes away everything I don’t like about factory Glocks.
The Danger Close Armament Glock 45 On the Range
My previous Danger Close Armament test pistol was among the few test guns I’ve run that were point-of-aim, point-of-impact right off the bat, without an optic. I was curious about this one, too, so I tested it with the iron sights before going to the optic.
I was pleased to see that this Glock is just as dead accurate as the DCA Sig I ran last year. The nice trigger no doubt helps, not to mention all the other enhancements.
This gun is just a pure pleasure to shoot. The chunk porting significantly reduces muzzle flip, bringing me back on target smoothly and more quickly. I spent two range trips happily working over the dueling tree, knocking over plates, and even testing my skills out to 50 yards. I’ve never come close to shooting a Glock as well as I shot this one.
The gun handles smoothly with easy slide manipulation and a slightly flared magazine well. The mags have the same green Cerakote as the frame and slide. And the comfort level is noticeable. The grip, with its well-conceived cuts and the nice stippling, contributed significantly to my shooting experience.
My co-tester and I put 200 rounds of 115-grain Federal American Eagle FMJ and 160 rounds of 124-grain Magtech FMJ downrange with nary a hiccup. This gun is very reliable, as I expect a Glock to be. Our friends at Ammo-to-Go kindly provided the ammunition.
A Word About Value
I rarely get excited about custom pistols. In fact, I usually pay them no attention at all. But I must admit to loving the two Danger Close Armament guns I’ve run. They are clearly head and shoulders above their factory counterparts. I like that each enhancement serves a distinct purpose that I can see and feel when running the gun.
Shooting is first and foremost a skill. But top-quality tools can make that skill easier to practice and hone, as demonstrated by these two guns. I’m normally a fairly good shooter. Never as good as I aspire to be, but what serious shooter ever is? This DCA Glock 45 helps me shoot better, which I never thought I’d say about any Glock.
How do you put a price tag on that? I’d say we’re all different when evaluating that trait. Custom guns, of course, cost more than factory guns, but looking at DCA’s services, I think they are worth it. You can buy one of their guns or send yours in for them to do their thing.
They offer services for selected Glock, Sig Sauer, CZ, FN, and Smith & Wesson M&P pistols. You can also buy barrels, sights, and plates separately.
Final Thoughts
I told myself that I wouldn’t gush over this pistol. But I’m afraid I have. So be it. I appreciate quality work, and this DCA Glock 45 has it. I also appreciate that such work serves an actual purpose. The only enhancements that don’t serve a purpose on this gun are the logos. But they look awesome, so they don’t count.
This pistol is among the best-performing firearms I’ve ever run, and I run a bunch in my line of work. I probably shoot other people’s guns as much as I do my own. But that gives me a broad basis for comparison. Comparing a custom gun to factory guns isn’t fair, I know, but that’s how it goes. It costs more for a reason.
I can say that if ever I decide to go the custom pistol route, I’ll turn to DCA first. Why wouldn’t I? I’ve now run two of their guns, a Sig and a Glock. Both were fantastic. I really wish I didn’t have to return this one, but I’m sure David wants his sidearm back.
Anyway, give Danger Close Armament a hard look. You won’t be disappointed.
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