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"So," you say to yourself, "I've Built a couple of Polymer 80 pistols already, what is the big deal about the Freedom Wolf? I have to 'glue' the Rails into the frame? The Magwell is as blocky and ugly as an AMC Gremlin?? Any other differences???"
In this first Chapter, let's talk about the parts. Can't Build without parts. So, if you are planning a Freedom Wolf Build, you should know a few things before you send out for happy little bags of Freedom pieces.
First, Polymer 80 frames are based on Glock Gen 3 pistols. But Lone Wolf is different. The Freedom Wolf is based on a Glock Gen 4. There IS a difference, a BIG difference...
So, let's take a look at the basics...
Part 1, LOWER PARTS:
1. Trigger Bar/Shoe
P/N-4497 (Grooved Trigger), or
P/N-3608 (Smooth Trigger).
These vary from Gen 3 Trigger Bars. A small 'bump' on the Shark-Fin helps to stabilize the Trigger Bar when swapping the Magazine Catch for left-handed use. If you never plan to swap the Mag Catch over, a Gen 3 Trigger Bar will work fine.
2. Trigger Housing
P/N-30275 (9mm -Ejector marked "30274"),
P/N-28927 (40 S&W -Ejector marked "28926"),
P/N-30561 (357 Sig -Ejector marked "30499").
These are very different from Gen 3. Gen 3 Housings will NOT fit a Wolf frame, period. But the Gen 4 Housings are all the same for every Gen 4 model Glock (except for the 'slim' single-stack models), and Gen 3 G20'SF' and G21'SF' models where Glock initially pioneered the slimmer Housing design. Extractors can be removed and swapped-around as well, and are the only aspect that is different between the listed P/Ns.
3. Trigger Connector
P/N-7965 (5.5 lbs - marked ".")
Gen 3 Connectors fit fine however, and may have a slight difference in trigger-feel, but which one is 'right' will depend purely on preference.
4. Trigger Spring
P/N-350 (same as Gen 3)
NY1 and NY2 Trigger Springs are compatible as well, P/N-7405 (Olive) and P/N-7412 (Orange) respectively. "Ungh! I can't pull the !@#$! trigger!!!"
5. Slide Lock (Take-Down Lever)
P/N-301 (same as Gen 3)
Extended Controls are also interchangeable between Gen 3 and Gen 4.
6. Slide Lock Spring
P/N-8073 (Gen 4 'flat' style), or
P/N-39567 (Gen 5 'coil' type).
Lone Wolf got creative on this one, and molded their frame to take either the flat-type springs used in Gen 4 models, OR the Gen 5 coil-type. Either works fine.
7. Slide Stop (Release)
P/N-2919 (same as Gen 3)
Extended Controls are also interchangeable between Gen 3 and Gen 4.
8. Magazine Catch
P/N-7534 (Standard), or
P/N-8794 (Extended).
These are 'reversible' for left-handed shooters. Be sure to get the appropriate Gen 4 Trigger Bar if intending to swap over to South-Paw configuration!
9. Magazine Catch Spring
P/N-280 (same as Gen 3)
Not much to say. It is a small springy metal rod. Glock uses them in (almost) every model... (G21 Ambi, anyone??)
10. Pin Set
P/N-420 (Trigger),
P/N-4368 (Locking Block),
P/N-427 (Trigger Housing -polymer*).
Same as Gen 3 pins. *Polymer 80 frames should NEVER use an OEM-style polymer Trigger Housing Pin. That is why they include their own steel pin. However, the Freedom Wolf can safely use a polymer pin. Yuck, but it is safe...
11. Locking Block
P/N-4361 (DISCONTINUED*)
HUH? That is right, LWD DELIBERATELY designed their Freedom Wolf frames to use a discontinued Locking Block. Unlike Polymer-80 frames that include their own proprietary FRLB (Front Rail/Locking Block component), Lone Wolf decided to 'stick it to the buyer' by using a special flat-sided discontinued Locking-Block. They manufacture their own replacement ($31) that they are happy to sell you, when it is actually in stock. While you CAN use available Blocks P/N-7894 as used in most Gen 4 Glocks, LWD will VOID your warranty if you modify your frame to use these thicker, beefier Locking Blocks. But hey, Lone Wolf will make you pay to ship-in a frame for warranty anyway, so does it really matter? Combat Armory sells a suitable replacement for the discontinued Blocks for $20... Check 'em out if you want to go that route. For me, the Freedom Wolf isn't a 'frame' to begin with, it is just a hunk of plastic, so cutting-out a couple extra strips of polymer wouldn't matter much, but to each their own.
Part 2, UPPER PARTS:
1. Slides
G19 (9mm), G23 (40 S&W), and G32 (357 Sig) Slides are all directly compatible with the Freedom Wolf frame.
Gen 4 Slides have a larger Recoil Spring/Guide-Rod Assembly (RSA), with dual-rate springs. The RSA retainer 'hoop' at the front of the Slide is much larger on a Gen 4 than on a Gen 3. The RSA is too big to fit in a Gen 3 frame, and the slide is too big at the front to fit a Gen 3 frame either. However, LWD did include a small insert for the front dust-cover area, to fill the gap if you choose to install a Gen 3 Slide and RSA...
2. Barrel
G19 (9mm), G23 (40 S&W), and G32 (357 Sig) are all directly compatible with the Freedom Wolf frame.
The 9mm barrels are smaller in diameter than the 40 S&W and 357 Sig barrels however, and must be matched-up to the 9mm slides. G23 and G32 barrels are directly interchangeable into each others' Slides. 9mm 'conversion' Barrels are commonly available aftermarket production items for the G23 and G32 slides.
Gen 4 Barrels originally came with larger RSA 'Pockets' on the bottom, in front of the Locking Lugs than Gen 3. Gen 4 RSAs would tend not to seat fully if installed with a Gen 3 Barrel and occasionally caused installation or recoil cycling problems. Most Barrels produced now are Gen 4 compatible, and use of a Gen 3 RSA with a Gen 4 Barrel is acceptable, problems with reliability or RSA damage are poorly documented and extremely rare, at worst.
3. RSA (Recoil Spring or Guide Rod Assembly)
P/N-8703 (9mm, marked "0-4-3"),
P/N-7815 (40 S&W, 357 Sig, marked "0-3-3").
Gen 4 models have a larger Recoil Spring/Guide-Rod Assembly (RSA), with dual-rate springs. This was initially designed for the Gen 3 Sub-Compact G26 and G27 models, and Glock liked the upgrade so much that they expanded the design across their entire line-up. This RSA is too big to fit in a Gen 3 frame. However, a Gen 3 RSA can fit a Gen 4 Slide with an aftermarket adapter-ring, but many of these rings will only work on aftermarket all-metal Guide Rods.
4. Internal Components
Glock Gen 3 and Gen 4 Upper Parts are all interchangeable. Well heck, that was easy!
Stay tuned for additional Chapters, discussing use of Gen 5 components, alternate-configuration Builds with mis-match frame-size slides (G17, G22, G31, etc...), and maybe the best way to ditch that 'what-the-hell-were-they-thinking' Magwell... Thanks for reading, please post any updates or corrections to the information contained herein. Hereon. Here..Whatever. On this post.
In this first Chapter, let's talk about the parts. Can't Build without parts. So, if you are planning a Freedom Wolf Build, you should know a few things before you send out for happy little bags of Freedom pieces.
First, Polymer 80 frames are based on Glock Gen 3 pistols. But Lone Wolf is different. The Freedom Wolf is based on a Glock Gen 4. There IS a difference, a BIG difference...
So, let's take a look at the basics...
Part 1, LOWER PARTS:
1. Trigger Bar/Shoe
P/N-4497 (Grooved Trigger), or
P/N-3608 (Smooth Trigger).
These vary from Gen 3 Trigger Bars. A small 'bump' on the Shark-Fin helps to stabilize the Trigger Bar when swapping the Magazine Catch for left-handed use. If you never plan to swap the Mag Catch over, a Gen 3 Trigger Bar will work fine.
2. Trigger Housing
P/N-30275 (9mm -Ejector marked "30274"),
P/N-28927 (40 S&W -Ejector marked "28926"),
P/N-30561 (357 Sig -Ejector marked "30499").
These are very different from Gen 3. Gen 3 Housings will NOT fit a Wolf frame, period. But the Gen 4 Housings are all the same for every Gen 4 model Glock (except for the 'slim' single-stack models), and Gen 3 G20'SF' and G21'SF' models where Glock initially pioneered the slimmer Housing design. Extractors can be removed and swapped-around as well, and are the only aspect that is different between the listed P/Ns.
3. Trigger Connector
P/N-7965 (5.5 lbs - marked ".")
Gen 3 Connectors fit fine however, and may have a slight difference in trigger-feel, but which one is 'right' will depend purely on preference.
4. Trigger Spring
P/N-350 (same as Gen 3)
NY1 and NY2 Trigger Springs are compatible as well, P/N-7405 (Olive) and P/N-7412 (Orange) respectively. "Ungh! I can't pull the !@#$! trigger!!!"
5. Slide Lock (Take-Down Lever)
P/N-301 (same as Gen 3)
Extended Controls are also interchangeable between Gen 3 and Gen 4.
6. Slide Lock Spring
P/N-8073 (Gen 4 'flat' style), or
P/N-39567 (Gen 5 'coil' type).
Lone Wolf got creative on this one, and molded their frame to take either the flat-type springs used in Gen 4 models, OR the Gen 5 coil-type. Either works fine.
7. Slide Stop (Release)
P/N-2919 (same as Gen 3)
Extended Controls are also interchangeable between Gen 3 and Gen 4.
8. Magazine Catch
P/N-7534 (Standard), or
P/N-8794 (Extended).
These are 'reversible' for left-handed shooters. Be sure to get the appropriate Gen 4 Trigger Bar if intending to swap over to South-Paw configuration!
9. Magazine Catch Spring
P/N-280 (same as Gen 3)
Not much to say. It is a small springy metal rod. Glock uses them in (almost) every model... (G21 Ambi, anyone??)
10. Pin Set
P/N-420 (Trigger),
P/N-4368 (Locking Block),
P/N-427 (Trigger Housing -polymer*).
Same as Gen 3 pins. *Polymer 80 frames should NEVER use an OEM-style polymer Trigger Housing Pin. That is why they include their own steel pin. However, the Freedom Wolf can safely use a polymer pin. Yuck, but it is safe...
11. Locking Block
P/N-4361 (DISCONTINUED*)
HUH? That is right, LWD DELIBERATELY designed their Freedom Wolf frames to use a discontinued Locking Block. Unlike Polymer-80 frames that include their own proprietary FRLB (Front Rail/Locking Block component), Lone Wolf decided to 'stick it to the buyer' by using a special flat-sided discontinued Locking-Block. They manufacture their own replacement ($31) that they are happy to sell you, when it is actually in stock. While you CAN use available Blocks P/N-7894 as used in most Gen 4 Glocks, LWD will VOID your warranty if you modify your frame to use these thicker, beefier Locking Blocks. But hey, Lone Wolf will make you pay to ship-in a frame for warranty anyway, so does it really matter? Combat Armory sells a suitable replacement for the discontinued Blocks for $20... Check 'em out if you want to go that route. For me, the Freedom Wolf isn't a 'frame' to begin with, it is just a hunk of plastic, so cutting-out a couple extra strips of polymer wouldn't matter much, but to each their own.
Part 2, UPPER PARTS:
1. Slides
G19 (9mm), G23 (40 S&W), and G32 (357 Sig) Slides are all directly compatible with the Freedom Wolf frame.
Gen 4 Slides have a larger Recoil Spring/Guide-Rod Assembly (RSA), with dual-rate springs. The RSA retainer 'hoop' at the front of the Slide is much larger on a Gen 4 than on a Gen 3. The RSA is too big to fit in a Gen 3 frame, and the slide is too big at the front to fit a Gen 3 frame either. However, LWD did include a small insert for the front dust-cover area, to fill the gap if you choose to install a Gen 3 Slide and RSA...
2. Barrel
G19 (9mm), G23 (40 S&W), and G32 (357 Sig) are all directly compatible with the Freedom Wolf frame.
The 9mm barrels are smaller in diameter than the 40 S&W and 357 Sig barrels however, and must be matched-up to the 9mm slides. G23 and G32 barrels are directly interchangeable into each others' Slides. 9mm 'conversion' Barrels are commonly available aftermarket production items for the G23 and G32 slides.
Gen 4 Barrels originally came with larger RSA 'Pockets' on the bottom, in front of the Locking Lugs than Gen 3. Gen 4 RSAs would tend not to seat fully if installed with a Gen 3 Barrel and occasionally caused installation or recoil cycling problems. Most Barrels produced now are Gen 4 compatible, and use of a Gen 3 RSA with a Gen 4 Barrel is acceptable, problems with reliability or RSA damage are poorly documented and extremely rare, at worst.
3. RSA (Recoil Spring or Guide Rod Assembly)
P/N-8703 (9mm, marked "0-4-3"),
P/N-7815 (40 S&W, 357 Sig, marked "0-3-3").
Gen 4 models have a larger Recoil Spring/Guide-Rod Assembly (RSA), with dual-rate springs. This was initially designed for the Gen 3 Sub-Compact G26 and G27 models, and Glock liked the upgrade so much that they expanded the design across their entire line-up. This RSA is too big to fit in a Gen 3 frame. However, a Gen 3 RSA can fit a Gen 4 Slide with an aftermarket adapter-ring, but many of these rings will only work on aftermarket all-metal Guide Rods.
4. Internal Components
Glock Gen 3 and Gen 4 Upper Parts are all interchangeable. Well heck, that was easy!
Stay tuned for additional Chapters, discussing use of Gen 5 components, alternate-configuration Builds with mis-match frame-size slides (G17, G22, G31, etc...), and maybe the best way to ditch that 'what-the-hell-were-they-thinking' Magwell... Thanks for reading, please post any updates or corrections to the information contained herein. Hereon. Here..Whatever. On this post.
