Your Privacy Choices
Home gun builders have long enjoyed assembling or modifying AR-15s and other firearms. The AR platform’s modularity has been one of its top selling points for years. It’s relatively easy for the layman to order most components and put them together or swap them out without needing too many specialized tools or formal gunsmithing training. This homebrewing trend has given rise to another, more in-depth assembly practice: turning unfinished “80%” parts into functional firearms. This has been most prevalent with AR lowers, which is considered to be the serialized “firearm”, even without all of the other pieces required to make it function. After ARs, polymer pistol frames (a la Glock) are the next most common 80% item. California-based company 80% Arms uses these DIY-oriented products as the focus of their business, and with a July 16th press release, they have announce their newest offering. Meet the GST-9, a complete handgun kit that builds off of their previously-announced frame. The release reads:
The kit is available with black and FDE options for both the frame and the slide, so you can go for a solid color or either two-toned combo.
Garden Grove, California – 80% ARMS is proud to announce the addition of the GST-9 to their aftermarket Glock® compatible product line. Engineered from the inside out to improve upon the original Glock® design, the GST-9 frame consolidates features not found anywhere else.
The complete GST-9 pistol kit contains everything needed to build a top-tier handgun at a production level price. The GST-9 capitalizes on all the strengths of the Generation 1-3 Glock® platform, while also incorporating the most popular aftermarket upgrades as standard features.
According to Jeff P., Operations Manager, “customers will be able to go from opening the mail to a competition or defense ready pistol in under 15 minutes.” Due to recent ATF regulations, the jig and frame rails for the GST-9 must be purchased separately from the GST-9 80% lower. Each jig includes one set of GST-9 frame rails. Frame rails are included with the jig, not with the 80% lower itself.
Sheehan H., Sr. Design Engineer noted that “We spent two years studying customer feedback to determine what features were missing among the different options in the market. We incorporated what we found and gave customers the option to choose how to build each frame.”
The GST-9 offers multiple grip modules for both a standard and a full-size frame that quickly attach to the contoured frame for improved ergonomics. Flared magwells speed up reload times. Ultra-slick nickel-coated rails, which are three-times original OEM length, keep tolerances tight and recoil managed for quick, precise shooting.
For more information on 80% Arms & the GST-9, please visit https://www.80percentarms.com/gst-9/
Don’t forget the jig! It’s required to be sold separately.
When it comes to handguns, have you ever wanted to roll your own? Would you like to enjoy some of the perks and features of custom Gucci Glocks without having to shell out Gucci-level cash? Then the GST-9 may be the way to go for you – just don’t forget the jig. Please let us know in the comments if you try one out, and what you think of it. See you at the range!
