An Odd Glock Q

[LUPUS]

In an other website, a Glock fan claimed that the dust cover of the Glocks flexes upwards and downwards during cycling , so the it touches and catches the slide to retard its recoil and reducing the felt recoil during cycling.

This the first time I ever heard such kind of stuff.
Any comments will be appreciated.

Regards.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

While it is possible that there is some flexing, it seems very improbable that it is a deliberate design feature to reduce recoil. Perhaps someone, in the future, will take high speed photography of a Glock firing cycle.

 

[SDC]

The dust cover definitely flexes during firing (you can see it here at around 0.50, but with some NSFW language; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0VjdI_S_HM ), but the idea that this does anything to retard the slide is ludicrous. Tell him not to eat the paint chips any more.

 

[VARifleman]

Agree with the above. There definitely is flexing, but you don't make designs like that because friction IS wear and you lube the thing so that friction is minimal. The amount of slowing of the slide due to possible contact is minimal due to the low friction coefficient of polymers on steel and the fact that there is hardly any area or significant force pushing it into the slide.

 

[LUPUS]

Tell him not to eat the paint chips any more.

Be sure that he is a definite coolaid drinker...

 

[HoosierQ]

FWIW I have noticed just that. Upward flexion that keeps the dust cover in contact with the slide. So it is true as far as that goes. Whether or not it's a feature, that is another matter.

 

[CountGlockula]

But if it does happen, Glock Talk has a step by step remedy. Try a search: I think they call it "Pig Nose".

 

[basicblur]

Back when I was doing research (and bought my first Sigma) I remember reading 'bout folks bitching 'bout S&W quality because of the gap between the dust cover and slide. S&W's story was it was designed that way-they claim in their tests of a certain gun (that will remain nameless!), if you get the gun extrememly hot, the different expansion rates of metal/plastic would allow the dust cover to eventually contact the slide, which could/would cause malfunctions.

In an earlier post, someone mentioned they wouldn't buy an M&P because of it's "droopy nose". Not being that interested/familiar with M&P, I assume what he was talking about by the pix he posted was the gap at the front of the dust cover. I'm wondering if this gap is also by design as S&W claims the larger than normal gap was for the Sigma?

 

[Baneblade]

The Glock 17 was originally designed to flex. That is why there are some problems with the 40S&W pistols. The biggest change, as far as I know, they have made to adjust for this is modifying the locking block.

On old Glock 22's with the old style locking block you can see where the slide has worn and metal has been shaved off.

As for affecting the recoil, I can not say for sure, but I doubt that is part of the reason it is designed that way.