Problems with Glocks?

[Bman505]

Got this from a forum member. Can any of you help with this question?

With all the issues members have posted about Kimbers, Kahrs, Kel-tec's, Taurus, and now some with XDs...I was curious if anyone has had malfunctions with a Glock?

I don't seem to see too many.

My only issue with my Glock 19 was with Winchester WinClean flat-nose FMJ, which jammed into the feed ramp. I called Glock, got a redesigned mag follower - problem solved. My 19 was also affected by the frame recall a few years ago - I never had an issue, but did get a brand new frame out if it.

Otherwise, after many thousands of rounds, it just keeps shooting.

Anyone?

[bang bang]

I haven't used those rounds before. I haven't experienced any issues with my Glock 27. Great gun, accurate and easy to conceal.

[Garcia]

My Glock 19, which I am carrying now, has never had any problems, even after several thousand rounds. It is accurate, holds 15 rounds, easy to conceal, always shoots when I pull the trigger...perfect!

[Mdbullet]

With the amount of Glocks being made there are sure to be a few bad ones in the bunch. I personally have never had any problems with my Glocks and never had any friends with any. Like others, I have read about others with problems and 99.8% of them were resolved with one call to Glock. As far as ammo, I have never had a issue with any ammo I have ever shot. Be Safe, Dave

[Pistolpakrz]

I was window shopping at some guns shops in ABQ recently. At one store, I asked the clerk if there was any value in switching the stock plastic recoil spring guide to a metal one from Lone Wolf(I didn't mention LW). The guy said, in his opinion, it wasn't worth the cost, since Glock parts are built to withstand thousands of rounds thru the gun. Has anyone had problems with Glock spring guides or have any thoughts on this subject?

[PPK]

Do a Google search on "Glock kaBoom". You may change your mind. Or not.

Here's one of the Google hits you'll get:

http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/glock-kb-faq.html

[Pistolpakrz]

Very interesting web site. Most of the kBs occur with factory reloads or hand reloads, both using too much powder.

[Descreet38]

There is another reason for all the KaBooms with Glocks and Reloads.

First let me state that I do not talk bad about any gun. Kind of like places I can't carry - I spend my money elsewhere. In the case of guns - I buy what I want.

Now for the specific on KaBoom's. Glocks have what is termed a "non fully supported breech" This leaves the cases non supported in a pretty large area (compared to others) which can lead to blowout of the case. This is especially prone on close to max standard, +P , and +P+ in the 9mm and hot loads on the .40 S&W.

I have been reloading for many (many) years and I do not pick up or purchase any brass that is (even once fired) from a Glock.

Nothing against the pistol - it performs nicely with factory loads.

Just be warry of shooting reloads or using once fired casings from a Glock.

AND of course this same issue is shared by more than just the Glock.

I also have more on this subject in the following post.

http://www.concealcarrychat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176

[PPK]

It's that unsupported breach that makes the feed so reliably. They'll take a lot of abuse. Would I trust my life with one? Yes. Would I buy one? No.

[Jizzle]

There is another reason for all the KaBooms with Glocks and Reloads.

First let me state that I do not talk bad about any gun. Kind of like places I can't carry - I spend my money elsewhere. In the case of guns - I buy what I want.

Now for the specific on KaBoom's. Glocks have what is termed a "non fully supported breech" This leaves the cases non supported in a pretty large area (compared to others) which can lead to blowout of the case. This is especially prone on close to max standard, +P , and +P+ in the 9mm and hot loads on the .40 S&W.

I have been reloading for many (many) years and I do not pick up or purchase any brass that is (even once fired) from a Glock.

Nothing against the pistol - it performs nicely with factory loads.

Just be warry of shooting reloads or using once fired casings from a Glock.

AND of course this same issue is shared by more than just the Glock.

I also have more on this subject in the following post.

http://www.concealcarrychat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176


I wanna piggy back on what was just said. The only issue i've had is with a lone wolf barrel that i changed out just recently with the stock barrel because i wanted to shoot lead out of my glock (Supposedly it's bad to shoot lead out of a glock barrel because of the rifleing) anyway. The lone wolf had much much tighter tolerances for the brass that i was using since that brass had already been used previously in the stock barrel. I don't do +p loads or anything up near that area. But, about every other shot the slide wouldn't reset fully. The brass was apparently just a little bit stretched from the stock barrel and the lone wolf didn't like it. So long story short, I just swapped barrels back to stock and have been firing lead out of it. It has no issues. And that may be because it's a glock 30 and 45 acps don't move any faster than a daewoo. But, no leading has occured and no damage to the stock barrel.. go figure.

[Descreet38]

While I don't have any hard factual data to support this I do know that at one time many police departments used the Beretta 92FS or Cougar.

Over time a lot of those departments have traded from Beretta to Glock. This speaks volumnes in the belief that Glock is a good system.

One plus for an LEO with a Glock is they will not wind up dead because they forgot to take off the safety. A very good friend of mine in Oklahoma is no longer here because of a safety. Every time I shoot my S&W4006 I think of him.

He always kicked on the safety when he un-holstered at home because of young children.

Just remember that every gun system had their pro's and con's.

[Bman505]

Dez,
Would you mind telling us more about your friend and how he died? I carry with the safety one and it has me wondering.

[Jizzle]

Bman, how old are your childeren if you don't mind me asking?

[tblt44]

My Kahr is 100 % as long as I dont insert the mag then rack the slide to load a round.If you follow the instructions it works fine.

[Bman505]

Bman, how old are your childeren if you don't mind me asking?

Have a daughter that is three and one on the way due in July.

[Jizzle]

sweet. i don't think safeties help or hinder childeren as far as hand guns go. you just gotta keep it in a good spot right? she's three. so she's short atm. or if u need to just keep a lock on it. but the most important thing is education. i realize she's three and can't really grasp anything yet. but take her to the range. i dont' mean to be mean. but let her experience the sound a bit. that should scare her from touching it until you can go farther than that knowledge wise. it's just a thought. take her on a feild trip.

btw, i dont' wanna seem out of place or tell you how to teach ur child about guns or how to raise ur kid. I apologise if it comes across that way. I jsut don't think a safety is gonna save your kids life so to speak if they start playing with it. cause whats the first think kids do when they get ahold of something? start pressing stuff and banging stuff. its just me. keep it out of reach/education. and that's good to go. im a big fan of the KISS rule. the less stuff i gotta worry about when i have to potentially put down the BG the better. and a saftey being on or off isn't something i wanna worry about when he's about to cut/shoot/hit me. Hence the reason for my glock and 1 in the chamber.

[Descreet38]

He had just came off a double back and had about 1hr sleep and was called back out on a massive manhunt around Norman OK. Evidently he grabed his duty weapon (S&W 4006) and put it in the holster.

Later that day him and two other officers cornered the BG. While attempting to get a clear shot it was stated he seemed to be dead on target but his weapon didin't fire. Unfortunately the BG fired hitting him just above the vest at the bottom of the throat.

The investigation showed he had the weapon on safe. Knowing him I can only believe that in his haste to leave home he holstered it with the safety still on.

I NEVER ever carry with the safety on but that is training from 27+ years of SO in the Army as well as just a belief.

Of course when I carry a 1911 it is loaded and C&L

[Jizzle]

ya that's for sure.

[mark5019]

i just sold my glock 17 1st generation bought new 1986
never had a prob with any ammo, brand etc.
lost track of round fired after 10,000 lol only reason i sold it was for a xd 9 as i have a glock 27

[Jizzle]

lol so you have an "interracial" relationship going on huh? XD and Glock in the same family.. Shame on you.. :) :)

[mark5019]

kinky:) but both have there merits

[Jizzle]

lol. lemme know when xd comes out with a 10mm and ill check it out.

[sinclair]

As several have already commented, many of the blown up Glock problems are not only related to reloads, but a disproportionate number of those seem to involve reloads using Accurate Arms #5 powder. (see reference by PPK on page one)

But not all. If you go to page two (bottom click on PPK's reference) you will see the all agency warning broadcast from the incident with the Carrolton Police Dept. using factory ammo.

Discreet38 gives another reference to another thread here that is even more telling. Quoting from his reference:

The number of case failures in the .40 S&W is serious enough that Accurate Arms no longer recommends reloading of .40 S&W cartridges for firearms without complete case head support.

At the bottom of page one Jizzle says he has no problem with shooting lead from his stock barrel. But enough reloaders do that I think he has been lucky so far. Even Glock says not to shoot anything but new factory copper jacketed in their manuals. (Polygonal rifling)

The evidence is out there. The evidence does not say that the Glock is a bad gun. The evidence points to potential safety issues for reloaders. Glock agrees. This is not a reloaders choice for inventory.

[Chuck]

Jizzle,
I did not catch the fact that you were using plain lead in your Glock.
Do you have an aftermarket barrel that makes this safe? If so, good for you and I am sure you already know what I am about to say here. Maybe this info will help someone else then.
If you are still doing this with a stock barrel, I urge you to stop and switch to jacketed bullets only.
Like stated above, the Glock uses polyagonal rifling. More importantly, the barrel constricts from the chamber to the muzzle. That constriction makes leading even more likely to cause high pressures earlier than it would in a straight barrel.
I have been to the Glock armorer's school twice and am still currently certified. I have visited with the Glock reps whenever they had open booths at trade shows (they usually send armorers/trainers with the sales reps to these things). At both armorer's schools and in casual conversation with the reps, I have discussed the use of lead bullets. There is a good reason Glock warns against using cast bullets.
You can get away with it for a short time if you are diligent about using a lead removal tool but to me it is just not worth the risk. The cost of an aftermarket barrel is worth $100-$130 to avoid this problem if you really want to shoot lead.
I have seen a couple of Glocks (model 31s shooting the same lot of Maine Cartridge Co. 125gr JHP) rapidly disassemble the magazines and break the mag catches. This was just from bullet setback. I have seen models 19, 23 and a model 22 fracture the frame from hot handloads. This is the curse of the partially supported chamber that makes for reliable feeding but does not tolerate high pressures as well as a fully supported chamber.
These are just the ones at our local range and from bad jacketed ammunition.
My Glocks are too valuable to me to risk plain lead through the stock barrel.