Roland Special Revisited in 2024 | 9-Hole Reviews

Published on December 20, 2024
Duration: 6:01

This video revisits the Roland Special, a heavily customized Glock 19 configuration originating in the late 2000s/early 2010s. Initially developed by Chuck Pressburg, it combined a KKM match barrel, Surefire X300 light, and an ATEI-milled slide for an optic. The original rationale included improving mechanical accuracy and mitigating carbon buildup on the light's lens. Modern iterations leverage readily available aftermarket parts and factory optic cuts, with products like the Radian Ramjet offering a more integrated and secure compensator solution.

Quick Summary

The Roland Special, or Gunslinger Pistol, is a customized Glock 19 configuration from the late 2000s/early 2010s. Developed by Chuck Pressburg, it combined a KKM match barrel, Surefire X300 light, and often a compensator to improve accuracy and manage carbon buildup. Modern iterations leverage extensive aftermarket support and factory optic cuts.

Chapters

  1. 01:06Introducing the Roland Special
  2. 01:22The Origin Story of the Roland Special
  3. 01:36KKM Match Barrel and Surefire X300
  4. 02:01Compensator Integration
  5. 02:23Rise of Slide-Mounted Dots
  6. 02:28ATEI's Role in Customization
  7. 02:40Glock 17 vs. Glock 19 Comparison
  8. 03:05ATEI Today and Modern Alternatives
  9. 03:14Aftermarket Boom and Factory Updates
  10. 03:42Radian Ramjet: A Modern Solution
  11. 04:20Modernized Roland Build Example
  12. 04:34Recoil Characteristics and Performance
  13. 04:52The Future of Integrated Compensators

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Roland Special?

The Roland Special is a heavily customized Glock 19 configuration, also known as the Gunslinger Pistol. It originated in the late 2000s/early 2010s and typically features a match barrel, a weapon-mounted light, and a slide-mounted optic, often with a compensator.

Who developed the original Roland Special?

The Roland Special concept was developed by Chuck Pressburg, a retired sergeant major with special operations experience. He experimented with a Glock 19, incorporating a KKM match barrel and a Surefire X300 light.

What were the original goals of the Roland Special?

The initial goals for the Roland Special were to improve the mechanical accuracy of the Glock 19 using a match barrel and to mitigate carbon buildup on the lens of the Surefire X300 weapon-mounted light by adding a compensator.

How has the Roland Special evolved with modern aftermarket parts?

Modern versions of the Roland Special benefit from a boom in aftermarket parts, including slides with factory optic cuts and a wide variety of compensators and threaded barrels. Products like the Radian Ramjet offer integrated solutions.

What is the Radian Ramjet and why is it significant?

The Radian Ramjet is a modern compensator for Glock pistols that shrinks the overall footprint compared to older designs. It uses a superior tapered screw attachment method, which is more secure than traditional set screws that can loosen.

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