HAIL HYDRA!

The Multi-Headed Glock Solution for Ammo Panics

- Tamara Keel

Once upon a time, old-school gun writers had customized project guns with individualistic names. Jeff Cooper had “Baby,” a big-bore Brno dangerous game rifle. Elmer Keith’s more prosaically named “No. 5” was an important step in the development of the .44 Magnum cartridge. Jack O’Connor had … well, perhaps he had a name for his favorite custom rifle, but I never read hunting magazines when I was little, so I have no idea what it was.

If more consideration were given, this project gun would’ve had a name from the beginning, but it wasn’t put together specifically to write about but rather to serve as a hedge against future problems.

GENESIS

In light of current events, though, let’s call it the “Hydra.” In the mythology of classical Greece, the Hydra was a multiheaded monster; even if you cut one of its heads off, the others could cause trouble for Hercules and the other Greek heroes. In the reality of 2020 America, this Hydra is a Glock with multiple chamberings — even if you cut one off from its ammunition supply, the others can solve problems for this American shooter.

When the Glock in question was initially purchased, scarcity of ammunition was the furthest thing from the mind. It was 2015 and shelves were groaning with ammunition that, looking back from the lean times of 2020, was ludicrously inexpensive.

The Gen4 Glock 35 in 40 Smith & Wesson had been traded in at the neighborhood gun shop, Indy Arms Company, and the previous owner had done some light modifications. It had a neatly executed and functional stippling job that also removed the finger grooves and permanently blended in the small beavertail backstrap.