TFB Review: Kiral Defense Reduced Angle Backstrap for Glocks

As a lifelong pistol shooter who has spent almost two decades shooting Glocks, I’ve always appreciated their reliability but secretly always found their ergonomics—specifically the grip angle—a bit of a sticking point. The factory Glock grip angle, often described as steep, can feel unnatural for shooters accustomed to platforms like the 1911 (which I grew up shooting) or other modern handguns with less aggressive angles. When Kiral Defense reached out and offered to send their Reduced Angle Backstraps for my Glock 48 and Glock 45, I was intrigued but not entirely sold on the idea. Could this add-on accessory truly transform the Glock’s ergonomics without compromising its legendary dependability? Here’s my take after putting these backstraps through their paces.

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TFB Review: Kiral Defense Reduced Angle Backstrap for Glocks

Kiral Defense is a Michigan-based company, and they’ve collaborated with LOK Grips to develop the Reduced Angle Backstrap, aiming to address the Glock’s alleged ergonomic shortcomings. The backstrap is designed to reduce the grip angle by approximately 10 degrees, closer to the 1911. The 1911’s grip angle is generally accepted as more ergonomic for many shooters, including myself. It’s available in two variants for most Glock models: a slim version for all hand sizes and a shock-absorbing version with an injection-molded rubber insert for enhanced comfort, which should make a good fit for medium to large hands. For the Glock 48, only the shock-absorbing version is offered, while the Glock 45 (compatible with Gen 4 and Gen 5 models like the 17, 19, and others) has both options. Both are constructed with a durable nylon outer shell and a stainless steel mounting pin for secure, non-permanent installation.

The Glock 48 backstrap increases trigger reach to mimic a Glock 19 Gen 5, promising better trigger control. Both versions are compatible with Kiral’s custom laser-cut silicon carbide grip tape for those of us with sweaty hands (guilty). Priced between $29.99 and $39.99, it’s a relatively affordable upgrade. The backstraps are made in the USA, and Kiral offers a discount for military, law enforcement, and first responders using the code SERVICE5, which is always a nice touch to see when companies can accommodate that bit of extra support.

The process took me less than two minutes per pistol. The included stainless steel pin ensures a snug fit, and I experienced no wobble or shifting during testing. For the Glock 48, I noticed the shock-absorbing version slightly increased the grip’s thickness, but it didn’t affect holster compatibility with any of my CCW holsters except for those featuring a thumb strap - this makes the grip too wide for most custom leather holsters featuring a thumb strap meant for the Glock 48’s slimmer grip. The Glock 45’s slim version maintained a sleek profile, but I liked the shock-absorbing one so much that I reinstalled it and took it to the range like that. The shock-absorbing version also added a bit more palm swell and allowed me to more easily present the gun in such a way that I wasn’t hunting for my dot.

Shooting Impressions

The Glock 48, a slimline pistol and what I like to call a “proto-micro-compact”, already feels pretty small for a concealed carry pistol, but its grip angle can cause newer shooters to dip the muzzle during the presentation, and the pistol’s light weight also makes it relatively snappy - especially with defense ammo. With the Kiral backstrap installed, the adjusted angle made an immediate difference. The pistol pointed more naturally, aligning with my wrist in a way that felt closer to my 2011s or CZ 75 without me having to crane my hands forward to achieve both a good grip and a good sight picture.

This translates to faster sight acquisition, particularly with iron sights, which is all I can do right now since I refuse to get my Glock 48 slide milled for posterity. During some common drills, I noticed less muzzle flip, follow-up shots were quicker, and the overall comfort when shooting was much better, too, particularly for my wrists, with the padded backstrap. The rubber insert did dampen the felt recoil in the web of my hand, which I think ultimately reduced fatigue over extended shooting sessions. However, the increased trigger reach was slightly less comfortable for my medium-sized hands, requiring a slight adjustment in grip.

The silicon carbide grip tape was also a nice addition to the carry gun. It provided excellent traction in sweaty conditions, though it required minor trimming to fit perfectly around the backstrap’s contours, which is pretty typical for pistol grip tape. For concealed carry, the added grip thickness didn’t print noticeably under a loose T-shirt, but it does turn the Glock’s typical smooth frame into a nice piece of sandpaper that will gnaw at your skin all day. Probably best to wear an undershirt when carrying with this grip tape.

The Glock 45, a hybrid of the G19 slide and G17 frame, already handles well and has been my favorite gun to shoot in the last couple of years as my primary source of pistol practice, but the Kiral backstrap, I think, has earned a permanent place on this gun. I tested both the slim and shock-absorbing versions. The slim backstrap offered a subtle improvement in pointability without altering the grip profile significantly, making it ideal for users who prefer a minimalist upgrade.

The shock-absorbing version, however, was the standout and instantly became my favorite. The rubber insert noticeably reduced felt recoil, and the adjusted grip angle made the pistol feel more intuitive during draws from a Safariland ALS holster. Law enforcement testers, as noted by Kiral, also reported easier dot tracking with optics, and I concur— the Meprolight MPO PRO-F, even with its smaller window compared to the big window  507COMP and SRO, has been easy to acquire from the draw almost every time - a huge improvement in my estimation.

Final Thoughts

The Kiral Defense Reduced Angle Backstrap does a lot, in my opinion, to improve Glock ergonomics without sacrificing reliability or the integrity of the gun - at least for me. For the Glock 48, it transforms a solid concealed carry pistol into one that points more instinctively and handles recoil better, though the increased trigger reach may be a no-no for some people who have one specifically because of the slim grip. However, if you’ve been shooting the Glock 48 for as long as I have, a slight adjustment during practice to accommodate the slightly different grip I’ll have is worth the improvement in felt recoil.

Is it a must-have? Not necessarily—stock Glocks are plenty capable, and I’m also a huge fan of leaving your carry guns almost entirely stock aside from sights. But for shooters who’ve always felt the Glock grip angle was a compromise, this backstrap is a worthwhile investment that I think will surprise you. I truly believe the product itself is not a gimmick; instead, it’s a well-engineered solution that’s now been backed by law enforcement testing and tangible results that I can demonstrate for myself - ones I noticed even before I got to the range. If you’re looking to make your Glock feel more like a custom fit, the Kiral Defense Reduced Angle Backstrap is worth a serious look for minimal investment and no permanent modifications. If my word isn’t enough, check them out yourself at KiralDefense.com or LOKGrips.com.