Glock problems - whats the fix?

At first there were no problems, but all of a sudden I started experiencing light strikes where the round would not ignite every so often. As time has progressed it has gotten worse.

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A thorough cleaning should fix the issue. The striker channel is probably dirty and causing the light strikes. LE trade-ins typically are not shot much, but also do not get thorough cleanings very often. With being worn day-in and day-out, stuff can get into the striker channel (just as with any gun, not bashing glocks here).

How many rounds and what type of ammo have you shot through the pistol? Lack of cleaning carbon buildup behind the striker face or something as simple as a prematurely worn/broken striker spring.

I would put my money on what allaroundhunter posted. Sounds like the striker or firing pin channel to me. Just clean it, then shoot it for a year, then clean it again. Enjoy.

NewDefender said:

Does anyone know if this particular model or design is notorious for this type of issue?

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As stated above, a thorough cleaning and close inspection of the striker, striker channel, spring, cups, etc, replacing anything that looks worn.

If it still has issues, then replace the various fire control parts.

Oh, and don't use graphite as a "lubricant" as I have seen done before!

What they said.

NewDefender said:

At first there were no problems, but all of a sudden I started experiencing light strikes

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If it shot fine at first then suddenly started producing light strikes, I would suspect that the jarring of shooting probably knocked loose some caked on fouling inside the striker tube channel and keeping the striker from moving forward or fouling build up is keeping the striker pin block from moving up to release the striker fully.



Clean the tube and scape any hard caked on fouling packed at the bottom of the channel and clean the striker pin block on the slide (there's a hole that opens into the bottom of the channel to clear debri out of the channel. I would just clean the entire slide while you have it disassembled, but cleaning these two areas should address your light strike issue.



Bottom of striker tube channel where hard caked on fouling often builds up (you can see the rectangle striker pin hole at the bottom). I sometimes have to soak the tube with Hoppes #9 solvent for 15-20 minutes to soften the hard caked on fouling before I can scrape it off with a small flat head precision screwdriver.

How did you take apart the slide? I never found a way to take the slide plate off

I will be easier to look it up on youtube than describe it verbally here, but all you have to do is use a small punch, etc, to slide the plastic sleeve around the striker forward a bit, and the rear plate slides right off. That is one of the beauties of the Glock; detail stripping couldn't be made any easier.

A couple things you might consider:

-Ammo: Are the primers properly seated? If they are above flush, that could be the cause.

-History: What is the history of the gun? If it has had a "trigger job" done on it, and you are using hard primers (Russian) you might have a combination of components that is simply not compatible. My G34 with stock trigger lit Tula primers 100% of the time, but my buddy's with lightened striker spring got a consistent ~4% light strike rate with them... he used softer Federals for reliability.

If none of that is at play, then, as mentioned it basically has to be a dirty or otherwise movement-restricted striker/channel.

(ny posted while I was texting)

BTW, I am assuming this light strike is with factory ammo, not reloads?

Robbins, with the slide end up, using a flat screwdriver, press down on the back of the striker assembly (black plastic cylinder thingy - see top picture) while sliding out the slide plate. Be careful as the plunger for the extractor will pop out.

Once I clean the slide parts and air dry, I do not use any oil or lubricant.

Installation is the reverse and when the plate hits the top of the plunger, push down on the top of plunger to slide the plate and lock it in place.

FYI, I clean my slide once a year along with every other part.

allaroundhunter said:

A thorough cleaning should fix the issue. The striker channel is probably dirty and causing the light strikes. LE trade-ins typically are not shot much, but also do not get thorough cleanings very often. With being worn day-in and day-out, stuff can get into the striker channel (just as with any gun, not bashing glocks here).

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+1 And lube it per Glock instruction at least initially with six drops of oil. Be absolutely certain the firing pin channel is bone dry.

Use less oil or grease.

That's an easy fix, trade it in for an M&P, SR9 or an XDM.

It's not the ammo and it's not a particular Glock model issue.

More than likely it's a dirty / brass shavings in the striker channel. There are vids all over the net about detail stripping Glocks. Strip the slide down and clean it up and see if you still get light strikes. Bet you wont if it's all still OEM stock.

What is this thread about? Glocks never have problems.

I haven't had a misfire in almost 20 years. But ha ha anyway. I understand the need for attempts at humor. You do have to avoid certain mistakes. Overlubrication is the main one.

NewDefender said:

As far as the ammo goes..its sellier and bellot

Does anyone think it may have something to do with the particular model/gen of the glock?

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S&B is good ammo.

No, unlike magazine/recoil spring rates that changed over the Gen/models and years, striker (firing pin) spring is same for all Glock models.

If a good cleaning still results in light strikes on factory ammo and you need to replace the striker/firing pin spring, it's $3.95 for factory spring - http://www.topgunsupply.com/glock-firing_pin-spring-all-models.html

Excellent post by BDS. One thing to note is that there's a plastic sleeve riding the length of the striker channel. When you clean it out, take care you don't use an implement that will scratch this plastic lining. And personally, I wouldn't spray it with brake cleaner or other strong solvents.

I thought a Glock could go 1,000,000 rounds in a desert ful of sand and camel crap and wouldn't fail?

NewDefender wrote,

Does anyone know if this particular model or design is notorious for this type of issue?

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and

Does anyone think it may have something to do with the particular model/gen of the glock?

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You've asked this question twice, and it's possible there may be a model in the Glock line-up that is prone to some kind of problems, but you haven't identified the model or generation of the Glock you have.

Like previous posters stated...clean the firing pin channel...AND MAKE SURE IT IS BONE DRY.

You can check this by pressing the striker pin block and at the same time shaking the upper in line with the firing pin. You should hear it move freely back and forth in its channel. If it does not then it needs to be cleaned.

JTQ said:

NewDefender wrote,

and

You've asked this question twice, and it's possible there may be a model in the Glock line-up that is prone to some kind of problems, but you haven't identified the model or generation of the Glock you have.

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I thought that no one was going to point this out.

I've been shooting GLOCKS for decades, and have never heard of a particular model having any problems with light firing pin strikes. Get on Youtube and learn how to completely disassemble your slide and clean out your firing pin channel. Use pipe cleaners and q-tips and make sure it is clean and DRY. If that does not fix the problem, and you still have light strikes with MULTIPLE brands of ammo, mail the gun back to GLOCK immediately.

Sellier $ Bellot is excellent ammunition. CZ actually uses it for their factory test shots, probably because of the Czech link and convenience plus ease of keeping things consistent between the U.S. and Czech Republic shops.