It seems like nearly every manufacturer is producing a Glock clone these days—but does the Black Rain Frontline fall into that category? The quick answer is no, this is not just another Glock clone.
Walk around some gun stores and you will start to see a trend. Just about every firearms manufacturer out there is trying to make their own version of the Glock. It’s as if the Gen 3 Glock is the pizza dough of the gun world — add your own toppings, toss it in the oven, and voilà! You’ve got a “new” handgun.
From budget-friendly knockoffs to high-end custom builds, Gen 3 clones are multiplying faster than memes on the internet. And why not? The Gen 3 Glock is practically the AK-47 of handguns: simple, reliable, and well-tested by everyone from elite operators to your Uncle Tom with his “tactical” cargo pants.
While Glock sets the gold standard — I’ll say it again — they’re boxy, ugly, and come with very few options. Black Rain has changed this and then some.
When I hear of a gun company making a “new” handgun based on the Gen 3, I picture a clone with their name stuck on it. But Black Rain changed the ergonomics and added some great features.
Have you ever heard a classic song that’s been re-recorded by a new artist? It may have the same words, but often the music is very different. Sometimes the song is faster, slower, more upbeat, or even a different genre altogether.
This is the best way I can describe Black Rain’s new Frontline handgun. It’s built around the Glock platform with Gen 3 compatible parts, but it’s a new gun.
Why a Glock Design?
Why do so many companies base their handgun designs on the Gen 3 Glock? The answer is simple: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Glock’s third generation perfected the company’s original design with features that struck a perfect balance of simplicity and reliability.
Reliability is king in the firearms world, and this design is about as reliable as Chuck Norris at… well anything.
The Gen 3’s striker-fired design, simple internal components, and polymer frame allow it to hold up in unbelievable conditions. From dusty deserts to icy tundras, it’s hard to get one of these things to not work.
Another reason for the Gen 3’s popularity is the aftermarket support. There is an ocean of parts, accessories, and upgrades out there. From threaded barrels to custom triggers, slides, and frames, you could build an entirely new Glock from aftermarket parts if you wanted.
The foundation is there, but some want different ergonomics, style, and flair. Black Rain hit a home run with their Frontline series.
What Makes the Frontline Different?
While the Black Rain Frontline uses the Gen 3 Glock as a foundation, Black Rain put its own spin on the design, resulting in a pistol that feels like a fresh take on a classic handgun. Here are some of the things that stood out to me after spending some time with the Frontline handgun.
Slide Design and Sights
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Frontline is its slide. Black Rain added aggressive front and rear slide serrations, making it easier to manipulate even with sweaty or gloved hands. I like this because it allows me to grip the slide from the front or back when racking it.
Also, a small section on the front of the slide has been cut out, allowing you to see the end of the barrel. This is a great touch that gives it more of a modern look.
As with most handguns these days, this one comes with an optic-ready slide. Black Rain uses an RMR cut on their slide which I like as it’s among the most popular for full-size optics.
The sights on the Frontline are one of my favorite things about the gun. Amerigo sights come standard on the Frontline which include a rear U-shape sight and a glow-in-the-dark front sight. Even for those who do not shoot much, this is an easy sight system to aim with.
Of course, you can still replace them with any Gen 3 compatible sights if you want something different.
Grip Texture and Ergonomics
The grip is another area that stands out on the Frontline. Unlike the Gen 3 Glock’s smoother grip texture, the Frontline has a soft, but functional texture that wraps around the entire grip.
They added a texture pad to the sides of the frame where your thumb naturally rests while gripping the gun. I get a little picky about texturing being too light or too heavy on handguns. This is one area where Black Rain excelled.
The angle of the grip remains Glock-like, but subtle tweaks in the shape make it more comfortable to me. An obvious undercut just below the rear of the trigger guard is a huge improvement for this platform. It makes the grip feel less bulky and helps with recoil.
Trigger and Controls
The trigger on the Frontline is tuned to be a bit crisper than the stock Glock trigger. It has a clean break and short reset as would expect. With my trigger gauge, I averaged 3 lbs. during the take-up and 5.5 lbs. on the break.
The mag release and slide stop/release were standard Gen 3. I’m not a big fan of the small mag release on the Gen 3 handguns, but that’s not a huge issue. I was able to drop the mag without any problems during mag change drills.
Pick your finish
Black Rain is the second largest applicator of Cerakote in the country. That means your options are no longer “black or brown.” They have an impressive paint and design team that can customize just about any color or design you want. If the multiple color options Black Rain already offers aren’t enough, get ahold of them for a custom Cerakote finish.
Besides color options, they use both Fiber and CO2 lasering to provide more customization options for their customers. Just like their rifles, you can work with them to build a truly one-of-a-kind handgun.
On the Range with the Frontline Handgun
No matter how “pretty” a gun is, how it functions on the range is what matters most, right? I took it to the range with a mix of factory FMJ and hollow points to see how it handled. Ammo To Go provided a variety of ammunition for the review so thanks to them, I put a lot of ammo down range.
Reliability and Function
From the first mag to the last, there were zero malfunctions, even when I deliberately limp-wristed it. I fired the handgun as fast as I could to make sure it wouldn’t have any feeding problems. Plus it’s fun to do an ammo dump…
After a while, I feel pretty confident saying this gun will carry the same legendary reliability as a Glock pistol.
Recoil and Accuracy
Recoil was about what you would expect on a Gen 3 platform. Because it uses a single recoil spring, the recoil is just a little stronger than a gun with a double recoil spring. But that’s not to say the recoil was bad by any means. I think the grip made more of a difference for me than a double recoil spring would have.
I was consistently getting tight groupings at 15 yards, with only slight deviations when I pushed the range out to 25 yards. Normally I would install an optic during a review, but I liked the stock sights on this gun so much I decided to keep using them instead.
And a holster?
Because of some of the modifications to the slide and grip, I tested some of my holsters for Glock handguns. The Frontline fit in all of my leather Glock 19 holsters without any issues.
When I tried some of my duty holsters, I found it worked well in the Safariland 6378 concealment holster. It didn’t fit in a few of the others I tried, but I didn’t test them all out. At some point, I’ll be testing it out in more Safariland tactical holsters to see if there are others it works with.
Final Thoughts on the Black Rain Frontline
The Black Rain Frontline handgun takes the solid foundation of the Gen 3 Glock and builds on it in all the right ways. It’s not just a Glock with a fancy slide — it’s a well-thought-out pistol with meaningful upgrades. The sights and grip modifications are my favorite things about this gun.
I also like the slide serrations and the small cutout at the end of the slide. During my range time with the Frontline, I used multiple brands of mags and all of them worked just fine.
While purists may argue that nothing beats an original Glock, the Frontline offers a great alternative for those who want a Gen 3-style handgun with some extra bells and whistles.
In a sea of Glock clones, the Black Rain Frontline doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does refine it. It’s a modern, reliable, and downright fun handgun to shoot—everything you’d want from a Glock-inspired pistol and more.
