Glock

Lone Wolf Dusk 19

Ammo for this review was sponsored by our friends over at

Target Barn

  Lone Wolf Arms has been making Glock compatible handguns for years now. They recently introduced their Dusk 19 handgun. The Dusk is their newest generation of pistols with a ton of great features added in. The Dusk 19 line has a bunch of different options, from a “stock” style pistol to threaded barrels with suppressor height night sights. Lone Wolf also has various color options for the Dusk 19. They sent out one with a FDE slide and ⅓ co witness sights for us to review. 

   When I say the Dusk 19 is Glock compatible, here’s what I mean. The Dusk 19 is compatible with G19 parts, and therefore, uses those styles of parts. But, it is definitely NOT a G19. Yes, the size is similar, but that is about it. The Dusk 19 specs are below in the Features & Benefits section, so you can read them there. However, there are some interesting features of the Dusk 19. It uses a Gen 4 magazine release. This gives it the ability to be reversed from side to side. So if you’re a lefty, Lone Wolf has you covered. The Dusk 19 also has Glock Gen 3 parts compatibility. It also uses G19 magazines. I used a variety of mags, including the 2 KCI mags that came with the pistol. They all functioned flawlessly in the Dusk 19. Lone Wolf also gave the Dusk a 19° grip angle. I’m a big fan of the 19° grip angle, as the pistol points really well for me. In addition to the grip angle, the Dusk also includes both a curved and a straight backstrap. I left the smaller, flat one on the pistol as my hands are not giant. If you need to mount accessories up front, the Dusk 19 has a standard picatinny rail. This makes it more compatible with various lights, as well as other accessories. 

  Lone Wolf took the most common aftermarket frame upgrades and included them on the Dusk 19. Not just a few, either, but a whole bunch. The first thing I noticed about the Dusk 19 was its aggressive texture. I love aggressive texture, mostly, and the Dusk 19 did not disappoint. This texture is everywhere. Both on the grip panels, the front of the grip, and on the 2 backstraps. It is also on the frame where you would rest your thumb or trigger finger. I really like this aspect for the ability to “feel” where your trigger finger is when not shooting. A note about those 2 backstraps, they have a place for a spare 2032 battery built into them. That way you can always have a spare battery for your optic. The Dusk 19 also received a decent beavertail to help with that annoying slide bite. The grip has a built-in magwell, not a huge one, but better than not having one. Lone Wolf also put a pretty good size undercut in the trigger guard to help you get a higher grip. Mounted up top the frame is a slightly extended slide release. It's not one of those that sticks way out, but it gives just enough to easily use. Lastly, the Dusk 19’s grip, as a whole, feels very compact in the hand. This grip is fairly short front to back, and not very wide. It even fits smaller hands pretty easily. Lone wolf did a great job designing the Dusk 19’s frame.

  Features still abound on the top side of the Dusk 19 too. The slide has front and rear manipulation serrations. These serrations are deep enough and sharp enough to use in any condition mother nature might throw your way. There’s a textured cover plate. The texture on the plate probably helps reduce glare, if nothing else, it looks good. Moving to the sights, the Dusk 19 has Night Fision ⅓ co-witness irons. The front sight is tritium and has a green ring around it. The rear is blacked out with serrations. In daylight, the green ring helps to focus your front eye on the sight. I really like the Night Fision sights, they work well. Now for the kicker, the Dusk 19 comes cut for mounting a reflex sight with a RMR footprint. I like that Lone Wolf is using an “Industry Standard” footprint for optics and not using a plate system. From the factory, it has a cover plate installed that blends nicely to the slide. Moving up front, the Dusk’s frame also has a spacer in it that can be removed. This spacer is for those that want to run a gen 4 recoil system and slide. There's zero reason to do anything with it on this complete pistol. The fit and finish of the Dusk's slide is fantastic. It is nicely machined everywhere. It also fits the frame fairly tightly. This is not something I usually say about stock Glock pistols. This slide to frame fit will also help in the accuracy department. Hand cycling the slide is smooth like butter. The PVD coating on the slide should give it a long life span, not to mention that it looks great! 

  The only functional part left to talk about is the trigger. The Dusk 19 sports a flat trigger. This flat trigger is radiused on the edges, but not a lot. Therefore the trigger’s face has a lot of flatness to it. Lone Wolf also put a decent, wider than normal, trigger safety. The trigger safety is FDE to match the slide, while the trigger is black. It's sharp looking. The trigger safety also operates super easy, so you don't really even notice it. When I tested the trigger's pull weight, it came in at 5 lbs out of the box. After 1000 rds, it's about 4.5 lbs now. It has a decent trigger pull too, for a glock style trigger. There is very little stacking and it has a clean break. A notable nice feature of the flat trigger is that it breaks at approximately 90°. I was pretty happy with the Dusk 19's overall trigger performance. 

  As with everything, nothing is perfect. I did have a few minor things happen during testing. Most of the testing was done with 124g CCI Blazer Brass 9mm supplied by Target Barn. Around the 250 round mark, I had a stovepipe. No big deal. Then around the 900 mark, I had another one. This second one I attributed to the gun being dirty, since I hadn't cleaned it at all. The trigger also started getting gritty around 900 rds. So I decided the gun needed cleaning. After that, it ran fine again. I ended up running about 7 different types, and bullet weights, of 9mm through the Dusk 19. All of the ammo was brass cased. It functioned great with all the different ammunition types. I figure that only having 2 out of 1000 problems says a lot about how good the Dusk 19 is. 

  I really used the Dusk 19, no easy days for it. It went to a Steel Challenge match and ran better than the shooter, with iron sights. The aggressive grip really lets you get a hold on the gun and helps with managing recoil. Since it fits in G19 holsters, I had plenty on hand to use. I used an OWB for Steel and some drills. Then I install a red dot at the 500 rd mark. Gun still ran great. I ran some training drills using an IWB holster. Then I proceeded to shoot some Dot Torture drills. This gives me an idea how accurate the gun is, and how well I do at speed. Well, the Dusk 19 is pretty accurate, from what I saw. The decent trigger pull also allowed me to get some fairly quick, accurate shots. The Dusk's grip angle also makes it easy for me to pick up the red dot. The gun just shoots great and feels really good in my hands. 

  I also carried the Dusk 19. It carries and hides nicely. But that grip texture can get to your skin after a full day. That's the only flaw I found with the texture. But I'd rather have a decent grip texture, than have a smooth texture that feels nice on the skin. As mentioned, since it fits G19 holsters, your options are endless. Some of the previous Dot Torture drills were done from a IWB carry holster. I have no problem carrying the Dusk 19 since it is a reliable firearm. 

  If you are looking for a pistol that has a bunch of upgrades already done, the Lone Wolf Dusk 19 could be it. Yes it costs a little more than a stock G19, but you don't have to spend money on upgrading it. So you save in the long run. It functions great, has night sights, and just feels good in the hands. It really is a kind of “do all” handgun. Head over to Lone Wolf Arms if you want to check out the Dusk 19.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Compact pistol with lots of options built in

Target Market:

Those wanting a factory compact handgun with included upgrades

Features & Benefits of this product:

  • Reflex Sight Ready (RMR cut) with DUSK optic cover plate included

  • Interchangeable flat & rounded backstraps with 2032 spare battery holder

  • 19° grip angle

  • Stainless steel PVD coated barrel with DUSK profile

  • Flat trigger

  • Undercut trigger guard

  • Front & rear serrations for ease of chambering and press check

  • OAL: 6.95" 

  • Barrel Length: 3.90”

  • Height (without sights): 4.61" 

  • Non-Threaded Barrel Height (with sights): 4.94"

  • Upper Width: 1.00" 

  • Lower Width: 1.14" 

  • Magwell Width: 1.23" 

  • Weight (without magazine): 19.8/oz. 

  • Caliber: 9x19

  • LWA Nitride SS Guide Rod & End Cap

  • LWA Reversible Magazine Release Button 

  • LWA Extended Slide Stop Release 

  • LWA Extended Takedown Lever

  • Night Fision lower ⅓ sights: tritium front, serrated rear

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

There are a bunch of styles available - https://lonewolfdist.com/firearms/complete-pistols/dusk-19/

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars at LoneWolfArms

An Excellent pistol

The Dusk 19 really elevates Lone Wolf. Likely the most ergonomic frame out there, flawless performance. The trigger is carry-appropriate,

Link to other reviews:

The Truth About Guns review

Price point:

MSRP = $649.95 - $699.95

Retail = Approx $600

I need it now! Availability:

Lone Wolf Arms or your local Dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Ergonomics

  • RMR cut

  • Comes with decent night sights

  • Glock compatibility

  • Grip size

Cons:

  • Couple of malfunctions over 1000 rounds

  • Texture can be rough when carrying

Score: 8.00 Great

NORTH FOREST ARMS DUAL PICTURE GLOCK SIGHTS

On one of our recent Gun & Gear Review podcast shows, we went over the North Forest Arms Dual Picture Bullseye and Precision Glock sights. We all had some questions about how they worked. We compared them to other sights on the market that had big dots and to lever action buckhorn sights. I just couldn’t leave well enough alone so I contacted the manufacturer. It was an instant response back from them. They called me instead of emailing me asking me which sights I wanted. What color, what pistol I was putting it on and even gave me a great background on the company. So within days I had a set in hand.

After a few days I received my new sights and broke out an old Glock 23, that I had converted over to 9mm with a different barrel, spring, and extractor. The sights were easy enough to push in just like any other Glock style sights. The front post comes with several screws for mounting and the rear sight just slides in snuggly into the dovetail. I opted for the orange front with the two dot rear in green.

Let’s talk about the sights themselves. The front is a big orange dot with a green tritium dot in the center. Now here is the cool part. The front sight has a post, knob, finger or wing on top. Call it what you will, but it works. The rear sight is a perfect image of the front but with a hole in the center to line up the big dot. The rear has two tritium dots that when lined up correctly will match the singular green tritium dot in the front.

Now for the cool part of this sighting system, it’s instinctive, naturally fills up in the eyes when you present the pistol. The wing on top of the front lines up with the cut out on the rear. So you have a three dot green, a big orange dot that grabs your eye and when you line up the wing in the cut out, you have a perfect sight picture. I know it sounds like a lot but it is not, it is natural and fills the eye perfectly. You can do close work and longer distances with this sight. It’s like bullseye level shooting with this sight.

I dry fired with the sights for about 30 minutes a day for about a week before I went to the range. Well I didn’t get the first shots with this system, my 15 year old daughter grabbed the gun and a handful of magazines and went to the range in the backyard. She was shooting at 25 yards and making about a 3 inch group right off the bat. After I reloaded all the magazines and set up another target, I was able to do some shooting at 7 yards and back out to 25 yards with no problems. Just line up the dots, cut outs and you’re on. I was able to double tap and transition from target to target with what felt like a natural pointing style.

So to finish up, I really think these sights are a novel idea for those who might have a hard time just being able to acquire three dot sights, or regular sights due to poor vision, glasses, or what have you. They glow in the dark, they are big enough to be quick yet built shapely enough to do precision work. I have to say I like them. Their website pictures did them no justice by just looking at them. You just had to see them in person. If you’re looking for a good set of tritium sights, the North Forest Arms just might be what you’re looking for.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Unique Dual sight picture tritium sights

Target Market:

EDC, Hunters, Competition shooters, & Plinking

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Tritium sights

  • Easy to see

  • Bright front orange dot

  • Unique design

  • Easy to install

  • Quick to acquire

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

White front sight

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at NorthForestArms

I recently put a set of NFA dual picture sights on my full size 9 mm handgun. This was the 3rd set of sights I’ve put on this handgun. The original sights, then a set of tritium and fiber optic sights from a popular brand, and now these dual picture sights from NFA. I’ve gone to the range a few times with them plus used them in a Tactical Class where a course was set up with various different targets with various scenarios. Once I adjusted to the new sights and how to line them up for either quick or precise target acquisition/shooting I could immediately see a difference in my aim, groupings, and how much faster I could line my sight up to the target from a low ready position and then get the shot off. Very impressed with these sights and can’t wait till they come out with sights for my other handguns.

Link to other reviews:

RTT : Guns & Gear on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $149.95

Retail = same

I need it now! Availability:

North Forest Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Rugged

  • Great construction

  • Good quality

Cons:

  • I really could not come up with any

Score: 7.00 Good

Freedom Wolf 80% frame

  The 80% frame market is super hot right now. When Lone Wolf came out with their 80% Freedom Wolf frame, I definitely wanted to try building one up. Especially since I am a fan of their Timberwolf frames. The Freedom Wolf frame is noticeably different from other 80% kits on the market. 

  As with most 80% kits, the Freedom Wolf comes with the tools needed to make a complete stripped frame. These include: the “Stencil” or Jig as most call it, Drill bits, front and rear rails, rail caps, 2 backstraps, a magazine well, and adhesive. Yes, that last one is glue, don’t worry, it works way better than I imagined it would. Having a flat and curved backstrap is a pretty nice option in an 80% frame kit, as is the removable magwell.

  There are instructions online on how to machine/assemble the Freedom Wolf. So I’ll give the quicker run down. First, remove the piece of plastic where the locking block goes, just pull it out with pliers. Next remove the 2 tabs, where the locking block goes, with pliers. Then, VERY CAREFULLY, dremel the tabs down flush with the inside of the frame. This was probably the most tedious part for me to do. Now install the “Stencil” and put the whole thing in a vice. Drill the holes as stated. Now dremel out the dust cover pieces and the tabs in the recoil spring area. 

  Now that that part is done, we move onto the gluing of the rails. This is what seemed odd to me, but it worked out fine. There are 2 front rails and 2 rear rails, both with rail caps. The rear rail caps are left and right specific. Now get a small paint brush or 2, steal them from your kids, or go buy some. They will be unusable when finished. Paint some of the supplied adhesive on the rail pockets. Slide the rails into these pockets with the rail facing out. Then apply more adhesive to the outside of the rails, along with some on the rail caps. Push together firmly until the glue sets. Now wait 48 hours minimum before doing anything else with the frame. After that you can assemble the frame. You’ll need a parts kit with a locking block and a gen 4 magazine catch. The gluing is different, but it works well.

  I ordered one of the Lone Wolf parts kits for the Freedom Wolf. It’s just easier since it comes with all the correct parts for this frame. I installed the parts kit and put a gen 3 slide on the frame. Almost every time I would release the slide, the pistol would fire the striker. Or, if I slowly released the trigger, when it hit the reset, it would fire. Not good. I installed a different slide, which made it worse. The Lite Slide from Strike Industries seemed to work the best on this frame. I then tried a different disconnector, that helped a little. Next a different trigger bar. You get the idea. Finally I had figured out which parts worked and which didn’t. After hours, the pistol now functions correctly about 90% of the time. It appears that the rear rails on the Freedom Wolf frame sit up higher than they should. This causes the striker to not be held with as much surface area of the trigger bar. Causing it to fall off when the slide is released. If the trigger housing pin hole had been drilled off, by me, then the housing would set up higher, actually making this less of a problem. I did try to bend the rear rails down slightly, with no luck. But it did reinforce the fact that the adhesive is top notch stuff.

  Even with all of the problems I had, the pistol does shoot well. At least now that I got it to somewhat work properly. The frame is super comfortable. It is much smaller than the Polymer 80 or factory Glock frames. So people with smaller hands might like this better. Of the 4 slides I tried on the Freedom Wolf, all fit snug with very little play. 

  If you really want to challenge yourself building an 80% frame, the Freedom Wolf might be just the thing. I didn’t have good luck with the one they sent out for review. At least we know they didn’t hand pick it. I understand it’s an 80% frame, I was just hoping for something that worked better. Lone Wolf makes some awesome stuff. I love my Timber Wolf complete frame. The Freedom Wolf, not so much. So go check out some of the other great stuff Lone Wolf makes.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

80% compact Lone Wolf frame - “Glock 19” size

Target Market:

Anyone wanting to build their own pistol

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Accepts Gen3 or Gen4 G19/23/32/38 slides (via dust cover adapter)

  • Fits in standard Glock® 19 holsters

  • Extended beavertail designed to disperse recoil impulse

  • Ambidextrous reversible Gen4 style magazine catch

  • Undercut trigger guard for higher grip placement

  • No finger grooves

  • 2 back strap sizes

  • Removable magwell

  • Fixture, drills, glue, and slide rails are all included

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Nothing

What others are saying?:

3 Stars on MidwayUSA

needs a better jig

I bought this because of the slimmer grip and I wanted to see how the build process differed from that of the polymer80. the stencil as they call it, instead of jig, does in my opinion not hold the frame securely enough. as i drilled my holes I could see the frame rocking in the stencil. I can see now that the locking block pin hole is now more of an oval and when inserting a rod through the trigger pin hole I can see it is not at a 90 degree angle to the frame. the build quick. the whole process only took about 10 min. that is mostly due to that fact the you don't need to cut a channel for the guide rod and no cutting off the extra polymer from the rail area. all in all it turned out ok, but should have a better jig.

4 Stars on MidwayUSA

Nice frame, parts support is lacking

The good: I really like the ergonomics and feel of this frame. I really like how it goes together - it is more like an OEM Glock and less like a Polymer 80. I have 2 Polymer 80 pistols and I like this one better. I like the jig. I followed the instructions including use of a drill press and drill press clamp. It went great! I think it will be awesome once I finish it. The bad: I've finished my frame, but I have yet to complete it because I cannot get lower parts. First, the locking block is a special part from Lone Wolf, part number LWD-4361. They are backordered from Lone Wolf and I can't find them anywhere else. A Glock 19 OEM locking block won't fit without modifying the frame in addition to what the instructions say. I emailed Lone Wolf and recommended that I wait for their parts to be available, which might be a couple months. The mag release and trigger housing are Gen 4 parts, while the remaining parts are Gen 3. So, you can't buy a gen 3 parts kit and expect it to work. I am waiting for the backordered Lone Wolf parts kit that I ordered. Once parts are available, I think these will be the best 80 percent Glock lowers on the market.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing Found

Price point:

MSRP = $174.95

Retail = $149.95 at Brownells

I need it now! Availability:

Lone Wolf or Brownells

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Same size as their TimberWolf frame

  • Fits most Glock 19 holsters

  • Drill bits and Jig included

  • Comes with 2 size backstraps

  • Comes with oversized magwell

  • Gen 3 or 4 slide compatibility

Cons:

  • Not 100% Safe

  • Jig doesn’t fit well

  • Needs a drill press instead of a hand drill

  • Glue dries quickly during assembly

  • Waiting 48 hours for glue to fully cure

Score: 5.00 Mediocre

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Angry Bear Arms RMR tall sight kit

  A lot of people are switching to a red dot optic on their handgun. Because of this, they most likely will need a set of back up iron sights that can be seen through the optic. This is where Angry Bear Arms comes in. They make inexpensive sights for Glock and M&P pistols in various sizes from short to extra-tall. The tall RMR set was the one sent to me for review. 

  Angry Bear Arms has quite a few options when it comes to sights. All are made from US sourced steel and made in the USA. The sights have a black nitride coating, so they should last a very long time. What makes the sights stand out, is the $40 starting price for a set. The option I chose for review was the - Glock RMR Cut, Tall profile, Fiber Optic Serrated Sight Kit. Price on it is $45.95 and is from their “Bear Bones” line. This line only comes with the front and rear sight, front sight screw, rear sight set screw, and the red and green fiber pipes. Other kits they make come with a sight tool and/or various front sights of different heights. Those are more geared for someone who wants to get a precise impact point with their chosen ammunition.

  The RMR tall kit is basically for use as a low witness back up for the red dot sight. The sight notch base just barely sits above a recessed mounted red dot. Hence the RMR in the name. I am using a Holosun 507C with them, and it works great. The Holosun is recessed into the slide, and must be for these sights to work. Angry Bear does make a MOS extra tall sight for red dots that are not recessed. 

  Installation is pretty routine. Take out the old sights, install Angry Bear Arms sights. Since these are Glock sights. The rear sight is dovetailed in, so a sight pusher, or some other way of sliding the sight into place, is needed. Angry Bear also has a set screw, that screw down from the top of the sight, to help hold it in place. The sight hasn’t moved on me, or do I think it ever will. The front sight is screwed in from below. I used blue (242) loctite on the screw to help keep it from backing out. As with all Glock style front sights, don’t over torque the screw. Since the front sight is fiber optic, now one must install the fiber rod into the sight. I chose green, they supply red also. Green was chosen because it is not the same color as the red dot optic. Take a lighter, or something hot, and heat the end of the fiber up. Then just press on it a little to swell it out. Slide the rod through the front sight, from back to front. The fiber should stop when it hits the swollen part. Then cut the other end off, leaving a little bit of room to heat it up. Then, when hot, press the end to swell it and hold the fiber in. Angry Bear Arms supplies enough fiber for you to mess up a few times. Now you can go shoot the handgun.

  These sights have pretty much everything I want in a sight. The rear notch is just wide enough to allow the right amount of light on each side of the front post. I really do like the sight picture. Yet the front sight is narrow enough to give good accuracy. I opted for the serrated set, which puts some nice horizontal lines on the face of the front and rear sight. This helps cut down on glare, either from the sun or a flashlight. Yes, it really does cut down the glare over smooth sights. The rear sight has been smoothed out on every corner of it. This is a nice touch for the price and it will keep it from wearing on your clothes. The front side of the rear sight is straight and flat. This would give you a good purchase to rack the slide off of something like a table, etc. This would only work if there wasn’t a red dot in front of it. The front sight is nice and square, giving a really good sight picture. One can’t really dehorn a front sight like you can the rear. I definitely would use these RMR tall sights without an optic. They are a nearly perfect sight picture for my taste.

  If you're in the market for a quality, inexpensive sight set, go check out the Angry Bear Arms sights. I could not be happier with the form and function of the set I received. Next time I get a new slide, I definitely know where I’m headed to get some sights.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tall sight for use with recessed red dot optic

Target Market:

Those needing a back up iron sight for use with a red dot

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Serrated front and rear sights

  • Fiber optic front

  • Red and Green fiber included

  • 0.305” tall front sight

  • 0.310” tall rear sight

  • All steel construction

  • Black Nitride coated

  • Made in USA

  • Available for Glock and M&P

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different heights, non-fiber optic, kits with 3 front sight options 

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Black Diamond Guns & Gear on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $45.95

Retail = $35.95

I need it now! Availability:

Angry Bear Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good sight picture

  • Fiber Optic front with Red or Green fiber

  • Inexpensive

  • Serrated for glare reduction

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Not always in stock

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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