Shot my new glock 26 today...

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no_morelipfrom_you

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Put 200 rounds through it. Had 4 misfires in 200 shots, the first two I suspect were my fault for not releasing the slide and letting it snap back (into battery?) hard enough. But the last two, as far as I can tell, had nothing to do with me.

Range master told me to shoot with both eyes open? Last time I shot was 17 years ago and I was told to shoot with one eye closed. That was also all of about 20 rounds, 15 of them being a .22. Now I can shoot fairly accurately with one eye shut, but open both and I have no idea what I'm doing. Is this guy wrong? Am I wrong? I am still somewhat new to all this.

A couple times the slide did not shut itself all the way. Hung up about a 1/4 inch back. Gave it a light tap and it went. Is that normal? How many rounds does it take to break it in?

With the last 100 rounds I didnt place any emphasis on accuracy. I just wanted to get a lot of rounds through it to break it in - and to get over my flinching. Went through them pretty quickly. The magazine springs were pretty stiff at first too.

Would buying a larger caliber and practicing with that cause the 9mm to feel more timid? Or should I just quit being a wimp. I dont flinch with both eyes open but with one eye it looks like the pistol is going to get out of my hand...it is so small I cannot even get my pinky finger on the grip. Would hate to shoot a .357 deringer. Remember the mini gun will smith got in MIB?

I would have asked the range master all of this but I was there at closing time and he was in a visible hurry to clean up and get out of there. So thanks for any responses :D
 
The "two eyes open" shooting is probably a preference thing when training with a CCW type weapon. The Glock 26 isn't exactly a bullseye target shooters platform of choice. For me this is a moot point so I never pay any attention to my eyes really. My left eye was 20/60 the last time I got checked (with glasses on) and it's really not used much. Closing it really doesn't offer me any better sight picture.

Glocks are pretty loose fitting out of the box so you're probably "limp wristing" the thing. I've had similar failures in my CZ RAMI in .40S&W when doing some really slow fire. Wouldn't hurt to clean it out really really well (q-tips and such, get all the factory grease out of there) or to polish up the feed ramp a bit. Pay attention to locking your wrist though and I'd bet they go away.

If the lack of support for you pinky bothers you you could get a magazine extension for it -- I think. I can't remember the legality of that with a magazine that already holds 10 rounds -- but that goes away in 30 days anyway :D
 
Someone (I think my uncle) told me to shoot this way (both eyes)...however I never really liked it so I stayed with one. Later, I was taught by an expert to use one (dominant) eye (which I was already doing), especially if it matches your main shooting hand. And if it doesn't, he recommended training to use the non-dominant same-side eye.

There is a test to see which eye is dominant...Put out your hands far in front of your face. Extend your wrists so that your hands are pointed upward (fingers extended, looking at the back of your hands). Put the hands next to each other so that there is a semi-small hole for you to look through. Keeping both eyes open, slowly bring your hands to your eyes while you look through the hole the entire time. Wherever the hole goes, that is your dominant eye.

Basically, one eye is in command and the other is helping to focus in on individual objects...such as a bullseye. So go with one eye.

As for the 26, it is one of the few guns I own that has never had any malfunction of any kind, ever. All my other Glocks have had teething issues early on, however. These issues were minor and as each Glock quickly broke themselves in, all problems completely disappeared forever. The problems were never frequent and were all easy to clear (with the exception of a packet of AA ammo I unfortunately shot through my 19...but that's a different story). I can't say that about my Kahrs which took extensive time with numerous malfunctions to finally break-in. I feel infinitely more confident in my Glocks than I do in my Kahrs, now...even though at least my MK-40 has become completely reliable since its early problems.

Try putting some more rounds through your 26 to see if it only needs to break itself in. If you still have problems upon completion of your second trip (during your third trip), you might have a lemon. But I doubt you do. And the more you shoot it, the easier it will be to shoot it (obviously). My 26 is way tame in my opinion. You just need to get used to yours.

seed.
 
On a really good day I can shoot better with my Glock 26 than I can with my Glock 34.
My Glock 26 came new from the box with the slide stop incorrectly installed and I replaced it with one of the spiffy 'extended' version like the one on my 34.
It has never malfunctioned since.
 
Clean and Lub really good

Clean and Lub your Glock really good. I like breakfree products just as long as it's done. After 500 shots if it's still causing problems then I would start thinking about other problems with your new Glock. If limp wristing is a problem a good weight lifters wrist band from any sports store are very helpful at range. If your shooting well with one eye then stay with works for you. Your local range guru is not the one who is going to be looking down your sights when your defending yourself.
:)
 
I bought a G26 two weeks ago, and as of Friday I'd fired 870 rounds through it without any malfunctions. I've used a mix of Remington & Winchester +P+, and "ordinary" Winchester 147gr JHP's for all of my shooting so far ...

The diminutive 9mm Glock 26 has a strong recoil spring assembly ... the same one used in the G27 (.40) and the G33 (357SIG).

If it's strong enough for .40 & 357SIG, you can see how it might seem a bit stiff for the 9mm when brand new (or, maybe I should say more than sufficiently strong), especially for someone that hasn't fired a handgun in many years ... and especially a polymer framed pistol in that time. This would probably accentuate any shooter tendency to "limp wrist" if the shooter was "new" to the pistol. Now, add to the mix the Glock frame's slight flexion during shooting, and you might have an explanation for a couple of the failures to return to battery during shooting.

Edited to add: Lock your wrist, and firmly grasp the pistol.

It doesn't require a "death grip", and you're not trying to crush it ... Just use a properly firm grip and locked wrist.

Sometimes folks may exhibit the tendency to momentarily "ride the slide" when releasing it to strip a round from the magazine and chamber it. This can sometimes result in the failure of the slide to completely close into battery when loading the pistol.

The slide needs to be cleanly and briskly released ... think of releasing a slingshot. There are times when I watch someone hesitate to release a slide that's locked back, or that they've pulled back ... and see them "ease" the slide forward for a bit ...and then often experience a failure of the slide to close into battery. I almost wonder if they're afraid they're going to "startle the round" by allowing it be chambered in the intended manner.:)

Follow the basic safety rules at all times, but most especially when you're distracted by an unexpected malfunction. Always think SAFETY, and always remember to keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you're ready to intentionally shoot.

The use of one or both eyes is often an instructor/shooter preference issue. I use both techniques myself, but under different conditions.

The use of a single eye for slow, accurate target shooting is comfortable for many folks ... while the use of both eyes in some defensive situations, especially circumstances involving movement, allows for better depth perception, stereoscopic vision and threat area awareness and observation ... although "tunnel vision" is something that must be addressed in training for many folks, regardless of how many eyes you may come equipped with ... ;)

It might not hurt if you had a friend that was familiar with Glocks accompany you to your next range session ... or else asked the assistance of a local firearms instructor. I realize this last suggestion might not be as easy as it sounds, but it's worth a try, especially considering the length of time that's passed since you last handled and shot a firearm.

Talk with the Rangemaster you mentioned the next time you're there.
There isn't any reason your range sessions with your new pistol shouldn't be both safe AND enjoyable, you know ... :cool:

Welcome back to the world of responsible firearms ownership and safe shooting.
 
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Here is another suggestion: get yourself some grip extensions for those mags. I have small hands and find it much more comfortable with the grip extensions. I use Pearse extensions; they're in the $7.00 area.

I limp wristed my 26 when I first got it. My favorite is the 30 and after shooting the 30 and then going with the 26, I was subconsciously thinking about much less recoil. There is less recoil but I was still underestimating the recoil of the 9mm and had FTF's.

As for one eye or both eyes, it's really up to you. Maybe using one eye at first would be easier since you haven't shot in so long?

I'm trying to train a friend of mine to shoot. She's having multiple problems and we can get some solved one time but the others pop up later. She either keeps flinching or pointing the 26 down before she squeezes the trigger in anticipation of recoil.

All it takes is good practice. You have to have good practice habits or else you'll carry the bad habits with you into a potentially life threatening situation.
 
The suggestion regarding the Pearce magazine grip extensions is a good one.

They only extend the magazine to include a "pinky rest", and don't increase the capacity. Pearce model number PG-26.

I bought a few of them when I bought my G26, to use on half of my magazines.

So far, I've found a quick "tactical" reload is a bit easier to comfortably perform using a magazine with the grip extension. Although it's curved, it "seats" easier and more positively (to me) than when using the standard flat-bottomed magazines. It doesn't matter (again, to me) one way or the other when performing a "combat" reload with an empty pistol (slide locked open) as there isn't any "resistance" to inserting the fresh magazine. Just a personal preference thing ...

I could've bought the +2 L/E magazine extensions when I bought my G26, but since I was buying the G26 for it's small size I decided to remain with the stock 10-round magazines. (I'd have bought a G19 if I wanted more capacity and a larger grip frame). The Pearce grip extensions only increase the length of the grip toward the "front", and using the stock (flat) magazine base plates makes for a really concealable subcompact pistol in specific instances.

I'll say one thing about the stock base plates and shooting +P+ ammunition, though, and that is that the increased recoil impulse of the +P+ loads tends to cause my little finger (curled under the grip) to get banged around a bit during extended shooting. Just a little tingling when the edge of the base plate slams into one of my pinky knuckles after 3-5 rapid magazine loads.

It reminds me of how my trigger finger distal knuckle gets hammered by the trigger guard during extended shooting of +P loads through my S&W 642-1 ... ;)
 
You have what may be the most perfect concealed carry pistol ever devised!!
In addition to the above, I would lose those stock plastic sights first thing!! I prefer Trijicon tritium night sights.
What do intend to carry it in??
Might I suggest this:

Armortek.gif

It's a Galco Armortek paddle holster. It's adjustable for straight, FBI, or crossdraw cants. It's what my baby rides in!!! :D
 
Glocks run better on less lube. They are not like SIGs and 1911s.

A little lube on the outside of the barrel.
A little lube on the underside of the slide near the barrel chamber.
A little lube where the frame rails ride.
A little lube on the "trigger" parts.

Don't lube the firing pin channel.

I got this advice from a Glock factory rep who was fixing, upgrading, and cleaning Glocks taken to him by shooters at our local GSSF shoot a couple of years ago. I've followed his advice and hand no problems with my Glocks.

It is relatively easy to limp wrist a 9mm Glock. It is easy to figure out if limp wristing is the problem just shoot a few mags with a firm grip and wrist.

Good luck,
Rich
 
The one or two eyes open thing is pure preference... I mean, both eyes open gives you a tactical advantage as far as seeing other would-be bad guys but on the range, shooting at paper, I don't see how one is preferable to the other, other than in a serious situation, you are very likely to revert to what you do on the range.

As to Glock reliability, the only two I've owned were both 23s, one brand new and one used. Neither has ever failed with me shooting... And I only shoot new ammo, never reloads in them. And I can't recall ever having a single failure with a 9mm Glock. Having said that, whatever failures I have in the first 200 to 300 rounds of a brand new gun, I don't hold that against it. Esp if the shooters experience is somewhat limited. Stick to good ammo, concentrate on everything you do, keep the gun clean and lubed (but not over-lubed) and get some lessons if needed.
 
My 26 has only ever failed to go into battery (or jammed in any other way) when using very light target ammo, such as Remington ballisticlean. If you're using full-power ammo, it's possible you are riding the slide forward a little when you release it. When you pull back the slide to chamber a round, let go and keep your hand moving to the rear. Let it go forward with a slam! You can't hurt it that way (though you should let it down easy when there is no round to chamber.)

One other possiblility is that your grip is touching the side of the slide, cutting down the amount of force given to the slide by the recoil and leaving it without enough force going back. I suspect this, rather than a weak grip, is the real reason behind some of the so-called "limp-wristing." I've shot my Glocks with a very weak grip and never had any problems, but I've seen plenty of people at the range with grips that put some portion of a hand or finger on the side of the slide. Pointing the thumbs down works for some people, others point them at the target. But keep them away from the slide!
 
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