Glock .40 durability

[1990SHADOWBOATS]

I know from looking, not a lot of information is out on the web about the durability of the .40 Glocks as to what I am going to ask here.
I have tried to post this to GT but was not given a straight answer from anyone.

What makes a Glock like my 22 fail or brake/wear out?
is it just springs and small parts "not a issue I can buy them and keep handy"
or
is it problems like the rails shear off or the frame cracks and breaks. "this is what scares me"

The reason I am asking is I have bought a used police issue G22. I have called Glock to find out what year it was made, after not being able to find the serial number suffix. I was told that it was imported July 2003. I bought this gun August 2011 and am trying to estimate how many rounds that might have been shot through the gun. I am guessing about 3000 to 5000 rounds might be close to the total but I will never know.

Thank you for your time
Don

 

[REAPER4206969]

In 1998 the FBI tested the Glock models 22 and 23, they went 18,500rds. without failure.

The 22/23 is the first, and by far the most popular .40 pistol on the planet. It wouldn't be if it wasn't durable.

At 5000rds. it's not even broken in. Probably not even at 50,000rds.

ETA:To better answer your question, replace the recoil spring assembly every 3,000rds. or so and it is highly unlikely that you will experience any problems.

Anything that does break, Glock will repair or replace. You made a wise choice with the 22.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 22/23 is the first, and by far the most popular .40 pistol on the planet.

The .40 S&W debuted in the S&W 4006; Glock just got guns on dealer shelves a few days before S&W did.

I won't argue it's popularity, though. For better or worse, it is.

To the OP:

Generally good guns; Reliable, combat accurate, durable. That said, .40 Cal. Glocks seem to have a higher occurance of KB's than any other .40 for a given number of specimens. It's the lack of chamber support. I can't comment as to whether the 4th gens have addressed this, though a LW or Bar-Sto tube will remedy it in older models

 

[REAPER4206969]

Glock just got guns on dealer shelves a few days before S&W did.

First is first.

That said, .40 Cal. Glocks seem to have a higher occurance of KB's than any other .40 for a given number of specimens. It's the lack of chamber support.

It has nothing to do with chamber support. In nearly all reported cases I've seen reloads were involved.

 

[MachIVshooter]

First is first.

Exactly. The 4006 was introduced first, along with the cartridge S&W developed.

It has nothing to do with chamber support.

Get a clue

If a gun can't handle SAAMI spec. handloads, it gets a bad rap, and deservedly so. As for over-book loads, I've hammered my 4006 with loads that many others couldn't take, including an HK USP that lost it's extractor. The 4006 was not bothered one bit. I didn't chance them in my G22 (traded off later).

Look, we all know you're a fanboy. But please, if you can't be honest with yourself, at least be honest with others. I own a G20, I appreciate it for what it is. But I also know what they're not.

 

[jackpinesavages]

Your G22 having been a LE issue has maybe 2000 rounds through it, tops. Our department annual qual. is just under 100 rounds total, but that's such a huge variable from agency to agency. We can use our sidearms off duty just for shooting around, but again, that's an agency variable.

From the LE Glock Armorer's, IIRC, we recommend changing the RSA (recoil spring assembly) about every 2500-3000 rounds. Do NOT keep the old one for a "spare". At all of $3 for the new RSA it's disposable. However, you can go with some upgrades if you like, and for those I highly recommend... http://www.efkfiredragon.com/glock-...ual-action-recoil-spring-stainless-steel.html

Skip the substandard LWD and just go to the best and enjoy!

 

[jmr40]

I'm not sure why, or even if the G-22's seem to KB more often. Considering how many are out there I'm not 100% convinced they actually KB anymore than any other .40 cal. gun. The unsupported chamber is just one possible theory and Glocks aren't any worse in that regard than many other makers who do the same thing.

My personal theory.

The 40 S&W round is pretty hot round. Many of the guns chambered for the 40 were simply 9mm pistols re-tooled for 40 and probably won't hold up as long to the hotter 40 round as the same gun chambered in 9mm.

The G-22 has proven to be a good gun. I wouldn't worry too much about buying a used one. You do read about 40 cal Glocks coming apart more than other brands, but it does happen to most other brands too. There just aren't nearly as many other brands out there chambered in 40 S&W.

The 4006 is a tank, as are all of the steel framed S&W 3rd gen pistols. They are all good, under rated pistols and would be a top choice if I wanted to push the envelope with reloads. In any caliber they were offered in.

 

[Hk Dan]

I haveover 70k through my USPSA Limited gun, a G35. With a couple of trigger springs replaced, it has been stock since Day One. Mp ossues. No problems, and it just keeps getting sweeter.

 

[el_jefe]

If you're that concerned, call Glock and send it in to get it rebuilt. Takes about 3 weeks, and they will replace any internals that need it, test fire the gun, and make sure that it's to spec. They even gave me a new case.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

If a gun can't handle SAAMI spec. handloads, it gets a bad rap, and deservedly so. As for over-book loads, I've hammered my 4006 with loads that many others couldn't take, including an HK USP that lost it's extractor. The 4006 was not bothered one bit. I didn't chance them in my G22 (traded off later).

as you shouldn't.

glock (and all other guns with diminished chamber support) kaboom from a combo of diminished chamber support, generous chamber dimension, and uncle bubba reloading in his basement.



my emp40 has even less chamber support than my glock 40cal, and yes, there's a guy that blew his up with a reload on the emp thread on 1911 forum.

many people like to press their luck with reloads in these guns, but i'm not one of them. factory fresh ammo is the way to go in glocks and emp's, and all others with similar chamber dimensions.


glock 40cal's are the most popular 40's on the planet because they work with quality ammo. period. you hear about them kabooming more than other pistols mainly because of this fact as well.

 

[Zerodefect]

-springs. Especially the trigger spring
-get fresh updated magazines. Glocktalk has how to identify the fresh ones, or just buy mags from a company that has them out of stock often, like Lonewolf. Then you know your getting the latest mag.
-replace slide lock lever and spring
-replace mag release and spring
-replace take down lever thing and spring
-get some real sights

And your Glock should be good as new. Just don't let your Golden Retriever chew it in half. That's killed more Glocks that anything else.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I have fired many hundreds of rounds through my Glock 22 and there has not be a single incident of ANY kind. To put that in perspective, it is the ONLY pistol I have ever owned or shot with relative regularity that did not experience any kind of problem. They aren't the most exciting, not the most beautiful, and hardly unique (from other Glocks), but I cannot in good faith claim that any other gun available is MORE durable and reliable as Glock.

 

[voyager4520]

Early .40 and .357SIG Gen2's didn't have the extra metal extended forward from the front frame rail insert. That extra metal was added later for reinforcement against frame battering as the slide hits the frame around where the guide rod base sits. Most Gen2 .357SIG's have the extra metal, but most Gen2 .40's do not and that's part of why it's recommended not to put a .357SIG barrel in a Gen2 .40.

Frame battering: http://i27.tinypic.com/2qidbx1.jpg

All Gen3 .40's and .357SIG's have the extra metal to make the frames last much longer, but some police departments with really high round counts have reported that extended metal starting to crack so they replaced their Glocks. I have no idea what round count that would occur at, probably near or over 100,000 rounds.

Here you can see the extra metal: http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16773338&postcount=3
You usually won't see that on a brand new Gen3, it's usually only revealed after a few thousand rounds.

Some people say using a recoil buffer will reduce frame battering. I've never seen a Gen3 or earlier Glock with a really high round count that had used a recoil buffer the whole time compared to a similar round count frame. Though CCF Raceframes does say you should only shoot their frame with a recoil buffer installed so they must've seen the difference themselves with their frames.

I've never seen a sub-compact suffer from frame battering, nor a Gen4. Even though there will be some plastic missing on the front frame rail insert in both those are molding voids not frame battering. The dual guide rod assembly is supposed to greatly reduce if not completely stop frame battering, in my opinion that's the #1 reason Glock used it in Gen4.

 

[daytodaze]

Thousands of rounds and I've had no problems. My guns are stock, and my ammo is from the factory. I've never felt the need for a hotter round, and when I do I shoot my .357 magnum. To me, another gun being able to handle hotter rounds is a moot point. Any mechanical device will eventually wear out or break, but a glock happens to have very few parts, and generally lasts a very long time.

Cops don't carry them because they blow up and fail, they carry them because they perform reliably and as well as any other duty gun at a much lower cost. Enjoy your gun, and if you like it and are still worried about having an old model you can get a brand new model for about $500.

 

[ny32182]

Glock 22 and especially 35 are very popular in certain kinds of action competition; go ask this question in the competition forum and you can probably get responses on what wears out from people who run 10-20k+ rounds a year through them.

Virtually any police trade will have a negligible round count.