Recover Tactical products are designed by Israeli weapons engineer and industrial designer Tamir Porat. The P-IX Modular Platform was designed as a chassis for Glock pistols to give them some of the AR-15 ergonomics like a safety selector and forward Picatinny rails. It can use standard AR accessories like pistol grips and arm braces, or (with the right NFA paperwork or authorizations) shoulder stocks.
It doesn’t require permanent modifications to the pistol, and can be installed in seconds.
The P-IX is made of a glass-reinforced polymer available in Black or Tan. It includes accessories such as an AR-style pistol grip (which can be used to hold an extra magazine), a rail-mounted angled foregrip (which also can be used to hold an extra magazine), a folding pistol brace (with optional cheek-rest), and detachable picatinny rail sections.
It goes without saying that paying attention to the status of local and federal statutes regarding the legality of pistol braces is a necessity with this product. For Law Enforcement Agencies, this is obviously less of a concern, and for individuals who SBR their Glock on an ATF Form 1, it opens up the options to include accessories like stocks and vertical foregrips.
COMPATIBILITY
The P-IX compatibility list includes Glock 17s and Glock 19s in Generations 2, 3, 4, and 5. As well as some others. This is where I ran into my first problem with the P-IX. While the Gen 3 Glock 19 fits in the P-IX, the standard Gen 2 and 3 magazine releases are a slimmer button that doesn’t work with the P-IX magazine release lever. I went back through my Glock Armorer Manual and had to verify this, but sure enough, the fatter mag release lever is a feature of Gen 4 and Gen 5 Glocks. There is an oval magazine release lever available for the early generations of Glocks which wasn’t released on the US market – so on an Israeli product, this might be why it works on theirs and not on ours.
A Glock 17-length slide (at minimum) is needed for suppressor use with the P-IX. On shorter-barreled pistols like the G19, as the barrel tilts upward on recoil, the suppressor hits the top of the P-IX at the front. When not using a suppressor, the steel blast shield should be installed to protect the plastic from the heat and pressure of muzzle blast. To cycle the pistol, a charging handle slides over the top of the slide and engages in the slide grooves.
The P-IX is definitively a right-handed platform. The safety selector (that blocks pull of the trigger linkage) is right-handed only. The charging handle is on the left side of the chassis, requiring left-handed shooters to reach over or under the gun to function the charging handle. The pistol slide stop can not be accessed when inside the P-IX. meaning the slide can’t be manually locked open. To close the slide from slide-lock, the magazine needs to be removed. This might complicate the rare failure-to-extract malfunction if your typical clearance method requires locking the slide.
PERFORMANCE
With Magpul folding sights at 25 yards, it was no problem keeping rounds in a roughly 4″ group. The top rail is fairly short, which doesn’t allow for a lot of sight radius. A red-dot sight would no doubt improve accuracy. Taking the pistol out of the P-IX and replacing it didn’t affect the group or shift the zero. At 21-feet, even with the short sight radius, stacking the bullets in a tight knot wasn’t a problem, even shooting fast (2+ rounds/second).
APPLICATIONS
Other than a fun range toy, what applications does the P-IX have? I’ve given this some thought. In a law enforcement context, a small bag in the trunk of the cruiser with a P-IX and a few extended magazines gives a jump in firepower that can be implemented in seconds. This assumes officers are carrying compatible pistols without accessories that would get in the way like flashlights, aftermarket sights, or slide-mounted red dots. Maybe there are some old G17’s in the armory that the department could get some more life from by using them in a pistol-caliber carbine role. Thus accessorized, it could extend the accurate range and rate of fire for the average officer.
In a non-law enforcement context, it gives another home defense option for shooters who may not be as proficient with handguns. Having some additional grip and stabilization would allow for better accuracy and recoil-control. Extra real estate for accessories like flashlights, lasers, and red dot sights makes this a formidable defensive tool at in-the-home distances. It’s still a pistol caliber, with all the limitations of pistol ballistics, but for home defense applications for less skilled shooters it could be just the training wheels they need until their skill and confidence improve. Recover does make 16″ barrels and handguard extensions to make this an non-NFA platform with closer to carbine handling characteristics. The longer barrel means more handguard space and a little velocity gain.
As an avid hiker, I typically don’t go into the back country without some backup. The P-IX completely encapsulates the Glock, protecting it from the wear and tear of rough country hiking, while giving a platform more capable of delivering accurate fire outside of normal pistol distances.
The P-IX comes with a 90-day money back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
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Safety and Legal Notice: Always use firearms responsibly and follow applicable safety guidelines. Ensure you are aware of and comply with local laws and regulations regarding the ownership, carry, and use of firearms. NFA Rules (or local equivalents) may be applicable for some configurations of this product. This product is intended for lawful purposes only. The reviewer and the manufacturer are not liable for any misuse or illegal use of this product.