[bartv]

I've been doing a search over at Glock talk and found several issues on Glocks such as breech face failures,cracked frames and frame recalls. The frame recalls can be explained but what about breakages involving the slide,which is supposed to be as hard as a diamond? I read of a 19 experiencing a broken breech face after 15T rounds and another 19 developing a cracked frame after less than a thousand I think,and who knows,maybe more undeclared incidents.

I own a Glock which i carry and is my primary and I planned to buy a 30 but now I think I have to research more on this. I know nothing last forever,but some of these guns gave after only so many rounds.

These may be caused by alot of factors and it would be nice to get some added info on this,maybe the resident metallurgist might give some insight.

What do ya'll think?

[Poohgyrr]

Hmmm. Glocks are pretty tough. I've heard of a lot more cracked P220 slides than Gocks, and there are a lot more Glocks out there than P220's... Not to mention all the Kb'd revolvers & .38 Supers over the years.

[Shake]

I think if you read enough internet you'll find something bad about every gun in existence.

I'm no metallurgist, but if you like GLOCKs and they work for you, keep buying them and using them. It is pretty unlikely that you'll have problems with them.

Shake

[Correia]

No gun is ever as strong as the marketing department claims. :)

[Hkmp5sd]

I have a first generation Glock 17 that has been my carry gun for 15 years, has many thousands of rounds fired through it and still works perfectly. Absolutely no alterations or repairs. I would say they could be considered a tough pistol.

[CZ-75]

The diamond-like hardness only extends for a few thousandths past the surface of the slide.

[George Hill]

I've heard of a lot more cracked P220 slides than Gocks

That is new to me. I've NEVER heard of a cracked P220 slide.

[C. H. Luke]

Glocks certainly seem to have their problems.

However, I prefer to follow Chuck Taylor's testing of his
G17 that now has ca. 185K thru it. Granted it's not the problematic .40 but Chuck uses only Fact. full-power ammo or its equivalent Handload to get to that round count.

My own high-milage Glocks show none of the problems mentioned at all.
Still as accurate as when new. IMO they areTOUGHwithout being
"perfect".

[sig970]

I too have NEVER heard of a P220 failing as stated.

Even though I am not a Glock owner anymore, any manufacturer can make the occasional lemon. Even though Glocks are not for me, I still think of them as a quality handgun.

Don't leave them on your car dash out in the sun. They may melt;)

[Handy]

I think the G17/19 are some of the strongest 9mm pistols. However, the design is not strong enough for .40 - but I'm sure many would disagree.

But realistically, the 9mm Glocks don't have a definite life expectancy. I think that the main thing that will wear out a G17 is time and the environment breaking down the polymer. Corrosion, recoil and friction don't seem to be a factor.

[Penforhire]

I'd like to see the statistics. There's so many Glocks sold that maybe they are over-represented on-line. Could still have a "lower" mean failure rate than brand x,y,z.

[Nero Steptoe]

"The diamond-like hardness only extends for a few thousandths past the surface of the slide.


Actually, it's only a few microns, which is a heck of a lot shallower than a few thousandths.

Most of the stories about Glocks' breechface failures occur on Glocks that have been dryfired thousands of times. Also, it's entirely possible that a few out of a million would fail, simply due to imperfections in the metal.

[Mastrogiacomo]

Glock -- if I had the cash, I'd get two in a 19 and 26...:D

[surfinUSA]

The 220 had some cracked frames years ago but never slide problems.

[happyguy]

You can run over them with your car, bury them in the mud and sand, use them for a boat anchor and fire 10,000 rounds through them without cleaning them and they will never malfunction: not even a single failure.

Just don't just don't get a drop of oil in the firing pin channel or on the extractor or they will choke, puke and die.

I learned that on the Glock Talk Forum:D

Regards

[bartv]

Thanks guys,my confience in Glocks has returned somewhat.I really would like to believe that I have a sturdy,reliable weapon that Glocks are known to be.I still think that my Glock is a great gun and the most reliable I have ever had the pleasure of owning,almost 4000 rounds and not a SINGLE malfunction.Shot reloads of all types a few plated rounds even.

[Mastrogiacomo]

I really wouldn't worry, you have a great gun. If there were only two firearm brands I could buy from in this state -- I'd be happy with both Beretta and Glock. I'd trust them with my life.

[agony]

I have only heard of SIG P226 frames cracking, but that issue was fixed by SIGSauer in the 1980's.

I too have yet to hear of a 220 cracking.

[Boats]

Chuck uses only Fact. full-power ammo or its equivalent Handload to get to that round count.

185,000 Factory Full Power. . .wait for it. . .9mm FMJ rounds or RNL reloads!!!!!!!

Oh, the horror, the abuse of such an awesome round taking its toll on Chuck's poor Glock.:evil:

The G17/19 is the model that made Glock, I consider the rest warranty repairs or kB!s waiting to happen. The .40 S&W Glocks are nicknamed H.H.A.s at our range after one blew its barrel to kingdom come.*:evil:



*Holy Handgrenades of Antioch.

[Sven]

However, I prefer to follow Chuck Taylor's testing of his G17 that now has ca. 185K thru it

Chuck's glock is currently on the bottom of the ocean... to be retrieved later. I asked Chuck about the damage report I'd read... he said that he noticed the gun frame 'chipped' near the bottom of the mag well... found it while cleaning. Didn't affect performance. Chuck said he just tore that chunk of the gun off and kept going.

Can't wait to learn the next chapter of his torture test. Chuck's a great story teller, one of the best.

[bad_dad_brad]

Glocks are incredibly tough. Their overall record, especially in 9X19 caliber in the G17 and G19 models is legendary. I have both.

I use the G19 for defense, and the G17 for range and fun. Sometimes I wonder if there is any limit to what the rugged G17 can do. It just shoots and shoots. I can't remember the last time I gave it a thorough cleaning (although I do lubricate it monthly with a drop or two of CLP Breakfree - slide, barrel, and trigger linkage).

There may be some issues when the .40S&W and/or the .357Sig is used in a frame sized for a 9mm. But a standard 9X19 Glock is pretty danged robust. Absolutely great combat pistol.

[Handy]

Boats,

Considering what happens when a sixth of those same awesome rounds are cycled through the US service pistol, I think there's a little something to be said.

[bartv]

As a result of my paranoia,I detail stripped my Glock and I noticed a trangular shaped mark on the breech face.At first I didnt notice it since it was partially covered by the extractor then I shone a light and it became clearer.It could be a machining mark because it appears to be a perfect triangle.

Has anyone noticed this?Is it normal?I cant post pics but Im sure You can picture what I mean

[Boats]

Do you see me making a case for Beretta durability?:confused:

In any event there are several well documented Beretta 92FS pistols that have lived long past their supposed "expiration count." Ted Nugent had an example.

[Dave T]

The Glock isn't quite as tough as it claims to be, but they are a little tougher than their detractors would tell you.

The metric Glocks (9mm & 10mm) are probably the best of the breed.

[Sgt]

IMHO,

Glocks make pretty good door stops. ;)

Sorry, I still have a thing about plastic....aka polymer :rolleyes:

[Midnight]

Ahem...polymer that is stronger than the steel in your 1911.

You'd be hard pressed to find a more relaible, accurate, and overall better combat handgun than a Glock.

[Handy]

Ahem...polymer that is stronger than the steel in your 1911.

What you talkin' about, Willis? The Glock is a strong design, but you can tear the frame apart with your hands. Where are you getting this from?

[Trisha]

bartv;

If the ergonomics work for you, if it points naturally when you come on-target; if you've rented one and like it - then buy it, keep it clean and pay attention to it, feed it quality ammunition and go be happy!

Firearms quality these days is likely overall far superior to any other time in history - especially when the staggering numbers are taken into account.

My G21 has seen a ridiculous number of rounds through it with never a failure of any kind, and was what let me have confidence in buying a different polymer-framed pistol, my HK USP Compact (also in .45acp).

Free your mind and get shooting, OK?

Trisha

[Navy joe]

Ahem...polymer that is stronger than the steel in your 1911

Ahem. I own and extensively shoot two glocks, I love them but...


Maybe you mean pound for pound the plastic(that's the nickel size word for polymer) is stronger than the steel in one measure like let's say ability to withstand torsional loads. Even then I doubt it. Let's see, say a 1911 frame is 12 oz of steel. How large would a Glock frame have to be to weigh 12 oz.?

Tensile strength, it's not stronger. Neither in hardness. I'm sure it is more elastic which contributes to a long life. It's also pretty ductile when you heat it with a torch I'm sure :D

So, take identical size coupons of the plastic and whatever steel is used in your gun at the correct heat treat condition and subject them to identical tests. I'll bet the plastic isn't stronger.

[Boats]

I can only presume that midnight's post was the second non sequitur I have encountered in this thread in response to my TIC posts.

Be that as it may, I would only point out that my steel 1911 isn't firing a sissy pistol cartridge. The breechface would likely have long fallen out of any non-9mm Glock before 185,000 rounds went downrange.:neener:

[Handy]

Since there are 10mm and .45 Glocks, are you sure you want to take that bet? I'll bet somebody has been racking up the miles.

Speaking of that, I must say that the Glock top end is one of the nicest made. The barrel to slide fit is truly excellent. Relative to my Sig, it is a better fit.

[Boats]

Since there are 10mm and .45 Glocks, are you sure you want to take that bet? I'll bet somebody has been racking up the miles.

I am sure of this phenomenon too. Many of those guys on GT who claim to have spent maybe $800-900 for two new or three used Glocks, (because they're so tough, who could need more?) seem to have spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 on ammo (a good mix of reloads and factory, but never lead bullets) to claim some ridiculous non-malf round counts that, of course, are all God's honest truth.:scrutiny:

[Handy]

What is it about the Glock slide engineering that seems so flimsy to you?

[Boats]

Nothing in particular, but there are well known instances of breechface failures and hairline ejection port cracks, so I have no reason to believe that a few microns of tennifer make a Glock slide any more durable than any other slide for any condition but corrosion.

Carry on.

[Handy]

Agreed. There is nothing about Tennifer that does anything but make the surface tougher. That's different than stronger. And it may contribute to the extractor chipping.

But like I said, that's a beautiful piece of machine work out of solid bar stock. Maybe not the best ever, but pretty nice.

[DonGlock26]

Next time someone at the range says his pistol is tougher than your Glock simply throw his gun to the end of the range and hand him your empty Glock and say "your turn". Oh and wear running shoes.:neener:

[makdaddy03]

While I have never owned a Glock. I have read in mag articles and heard from friends that theirs have fired hundred of thousdands of rounds through their Glocks, with only minimum repairs needed.

[1911Tuner]

Is anything as tough or as perfect as "they" claim? From
Mike Tyson to the Porsche 911 Turbo...almost never.

Is the Glock "Tupperware Junk" as its detractors claim?
Again...take it with a grain of salt.

Every machine that is available for public consumption has its
champions and its naysayers...which depends on either
personal experience or lack of same.
The answer lies somewhere between the two extremes.

Is the Glock indestructible? Of course not. Nothing made by
man can ever be. Is it junk? Of course not. If it were,
the cops who carry it would have put the word out long ago, and Glock would have gone belly up.

Do I think that gun rag tests are rigged? Do I think that
the manufacturer supplied them with armorer tuned
pistols with which they ran their tests? Yes...Don't you?
Do I believe that the test gun is representative of what
Joe Average can expect to find in a local gun shop?
Possible, even very probable, though not to be expected every time, good pistol OR bad pistol.

Of all the different examples of each make and model that is assembled and sold, it's inevitable that a few lemons are going to slip through once in a while. When we get a good one, we tend to sing its praises. When we get a bad one, we are just as quick to label the make and model as junk.

It's all perspective.

Cheers!
Tuner

[Rich357]

1911Tuner-
"Do I think that gun rag tests are rigged? Do I think that
the manufacturer supplied them with armorer tuned
pistols with which they ran their tests? Yes...Don't you?
Do I believe that the test gun is representative of what
Joe Average can expect to find in a local gun shop?"

In the case of magazines testing Glocks I would be surprised if
there was any tuning. There isn't much to tune on a Glock. I have a fair pile of Glocks and they all work just fine. If they were fussy and required tuning I should have run into one by now.

Rich

[Andrew Wyatt]

I'm really not that fond of glocks, primarily because even the 9mm ones are bricks.


they seem pretty stout, but I think an all steel gun would be stronger.

[1911Tuner]

Rich...There's always a way to optimize and tune the function of
any machine...and there are some horror stories to go along with
the glowing testimonials just like any other design.

Mass-production has come a long way, but there's always a lemon
to slip past the QA department once in a while. I've bought
many Colt pistols over the years, and have seen only one that
had a problem that couldn't be solved with a little tweak here and there. I've also seen and heard of the "Other Kind" from
all corners. Luck of the draw...

Cheers!
Tuner

[bartv]

1911 Tuner

Good analysis,all the points you made were right on.GuessI'll keep my Glock and hope that it isnt one of the lemons.
Im really reluctant to let it go,the only pistol I have owned that has yet to malfunction.
Guess the horrors of breech face failures and cracking slides in Glocks got to me.
Its true that I like to shoot 1911s coz it more comfortable and I can use cheap lead reloads,but you cant beat a Glock in reliability.

HAPPY FATHHER'S DAY EVERYONE

[444]

No.