Advice Needed Glock 19 ejection issues

[CTGunner]

I'm looking for some advice on how to proceed with a gun issue. I have a glock 19 gen 4 that consistently ejects brass all over and frequently to my face. I sent the gun back with a detailed explanation and just received it back. When I got it back the paperwork didn't indicate what was done. So, I called today and the rep told me that they could not reproduce the issue and that I need to lock my arms etc. I asked what bullets were fired and he insisted they ran 180 grain blazer through it with no issues so there was nothing he could do for me. He said I have the option to send it back again, but this is getting expensive. I have been looking but can't find any sure fire fixes as my part numbers all look correct? Also, is there any chance they didn't actually test the gun? I have never heard of 9mm in 180 grain. Any advice would be appreciated.

Also I don't think my hold of the gun is the issue because my glock 26 doesn't do this at all.

 

[Spats McGee]

. . . . I asked what bullets were fired and he insisted they ran 180 grain blazer through it with no issues . . . .

I'm afraid that I don't have the answer to the ejection problem, but the bolded part seems a little unusual. I did a quick search and found a few references to 180 grain 9mm. I didn't know anybody even made such a thing. The heaviest 9mm of which I was aware is a 165 grain, and I only know one dude who shoots those, and he only shoots those in competition. . . I guess what I'm saying is that it seems pretty unlikely that they'd use 180 grain to test your G19, just because it is (AFAICT) a pretty uncommon round.

What ammo are you shooting?

 

[ku4hx]

Every semi-auto I've ever owned, beginning with a BHP in 1970, has thrown brass all over the place, and into my face too, at one time or another. Since I roll my own, I've found essentially the low powered fodder to be more prone to this whereas the full power stuff is not so much. My Gen4 is no exception.

Accurate Arms powders even cautioned in their very first load manual against using certain bullet/powder combinations in Glocks. Glocks, and many other "high performance" handguns (their terminology), require a minimum power threshold to operate and perform properly. Maybe your ammunition of choice is too weak.

Advice? Well, you can either live with it or you can live without. If you've done all you can reasonably do, can't eliminate your issue and just can't take it any longer, get rid of the gun and try another. Not every gun is compatible with every shooter and, frankly, you sometimes have to "kiss a lot of frogs" to get the prince (or princess) you want.

I just live with it ... just simply no big deal to me. A bit like gnats in the Sunny South, I know they're there I just long ago learned to ignore them.

 

[Woolecox]

I have a bunch of semi auto pistols (including 3 Glocks) and have never had one throw brass in my face. Sounds like a common problem with some of the new 4th Gens. Assuming you are having this problem will all kinds of ammunition, it is most likely one of the following:

Extractor
Ejector
Bolt face

I guess you have already cleaned all those surfaces and scraped off any junk that might be causing the issue? Extractors are pretty easy to tune and most all Glock parts are inexpensive and easy to replace.

There is a ton of info out there on the web. I would hope the factory would fix it for you but it might be quicker and easier to give someone like http://www.glockstore.com a call or take it to a good Smith.

Good luck!

 

[JDR]

I have a bunch of semi auto pistols (including 3 Glocks) and have never had one throw brass in my face. Sounds like a common problem with some of the new 4th Gens. Assuming you are having this problem will all kinds of ammunition, it is most likely one of the following:

This was a notorious issue with early Gen4 guns, I had the problem with an early Gen4 22, based on the SERNO on your gun you should check that it has the "0-3-4" Recoil Spring Assy. (RSA), and the newer 30274 ejector.

 

[Terlingueno]

My G19 Gen4 did that too, with most ammo, including my spicy handloads. It came with the 0-4-3 recoil assembly and the 30274 ejector. The solution in my case was to replace the factory extractor with an Apex and change out the LCI spring loaded bearing with a Non-LCI spring loaded bearing. Not a single issue since the replacement in 13,000 plus rounds.

 

[L-2]

My advice is to ensure it has the correct parts as "JDR" mentioned above.
You might want to call Glock back just find out what 9mm ammo was likely used. The "180" grain info must have been spoken in error.

I recommend NOT spending money on the aftermarket extractors, EDP parts, and guide-rods/recoil springs. One to two hundred dollars goes fast for parts which end up doing nothing for one's gun (I hate to admit I know from personal experience).

Although not a 9mm, the G23 or G32 models have wonderful ejection. I'm just mentioning something to consider particularly if one really likes the size and already has some investment in holsters or other accessories.

 

[Deanimator]

I have never heard of 9mm in 180 grain.

That's because it doesn't exist.

That's a ***.40 S&W*** load (which I hate).

There's a non-zero chance that in fact they DIDN'T look at your gun, but looked at somebody else's .40 S&W gun (Glock 22, 23, etc.).

 

[spazzymcgee]

I had the exact same problem with my Gen 4 Glock 19. I spoke to a rep that actually knew his stuff, and he basically told me that the Gen 4 Glocks are designed to be used with heavier weight ammo. Me told me that I had to break the recoil spring assembly in until it could eject lighter weight ammo properly, and he was correct. At the factory, they test 9mm Glocks with 124 grain ammo, he said. For me, 115 grain wouldn't work at first. Erratic ejection, as you describe. 124 and 147 grain stuff worked from the start, so I recommend that you shoot 124 or 147 in it until it breaks in. After about 400 rounds, my Glock started running fine with everything. Some people out there (Like James Yeager) say that it's just a limp wrist, but that is NOT always the case. I sure don't limp wrist my guns, and my Glock had lots of trouble with light ammo until broken in.

If you need some affordable 124 or 147 grain ammo, look into Freedom Munitions. My Glock ran and runs that stuff flawlessly.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I had to send my late gen 3 back twice before they fixed it. They replaced the ejector with a different one #30274 and replaced the ejector. I have never had brass to my face with any other semi auto. Send it back as being unacceptable.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I would have thought that Glock would have fixed the BTF issue by now...I can only think they don't consider it widespread enough to address across the lineup.

It is an issue that started with late model Gen3 Glock 19s. It doesn't seem to have spread to other chamberings.

The common factory answer has been to change out first the ejector and than the extractor...which seems to address many of the problem guns

It isn't a limp wrist issue. It is a extractor design issue. The problem arose when that redesigned the extractor to address feeding problems.

The redesigned extractor often doesn't have control of the on the round as it is extracted from the chamber...so it doesn't hit the ejector and isn't kicked sideways out of the ejection port.

What the case is doing is floating, in the area above the now exposed magazine, where it is then struck by the returning slide. This kicks it into the leading edge of the ejection port, which kicks it back into your face.

It is easy enough to test. Just chamber a round from your magazine and then remove the magazine. When you fire the round, the extracted casing should eject out the ejection port. If the extractor doesn't have control of the casing, it will drop down the magazine well.

Glock won't fix this. They'll tell you that the extractor is fully functional as long as a magazine is in the gun. If you accept that, you're all set.

The only fix that I've ever seen that really works is minimally the installation of the Apex Tactical extractor. An additional modification that you can have performed is to lower the side of the ejection port...similar to what you'll commonly see in 1911s...and that G19 has gone many thousands of rounds (as a training gun) without ejection issue

 

[HammsBeer]

I will get maybe one or two BTF per mag with cheap fmj ammo in a G19 gen 4. With full power JHP ammo it seems to disappear, so I think it's more an issue of slide velocity where it's not kicking the casing out fast enough and it ends up lingering around the ejection port.

Frankly I'd prefer a gun kick that casing out with authority; the cartridge has done it's job and is now worthless at the moment.

 

[rskent]

CTGunner – The brass to face thing with the G19 is pretty common.

The bad news is that apparently Glock thinks that once the case leaves the gun it isn't their problem.

The good news is that it can most likely be tempered with ammo. Even better if you are a reloader. Just bump up your loads a few tenths. I think I went up .2 grains or so. The BTF went down to only now and then. When I tried 124 grain bullets it went away completely. I am way too cheap to buy 124 grain bullets all the time so I get smacked now and then. My face, my decision. Also parking my G19 in the safe with the slide locked back for the first few months seemed to loosen things up and make the gun run better in general. I read that somewhere on the High Road.

If you are not a reloader you are stuck between shooting more expensive ammo or modifying the gun. I hope you get things sorted out. For me, the G19 is worth the effort to get it running right.

 

[Zardaia]

Had the same problem several times. First Glock was a gen4 19 that did it, traded in for a 17. 17 ran fine a few hundred rounds, then started putting brass in my face. By that point I liked the gun so I did some research and fixed it. Can't say for sure which part did the trick or if it was a combo of all 3 but:30274 ejector, apex extractor, and heavy 1 piece guide rod w/gen 4 adaptor. Zero problems since.

 

[Ernest T]

Make sure you have a good firm locked in grip. Let someone else shoot it, and see if they also have the problem. Even a slight loosening in grip, which can occur until you get used to a new gun will exaggerate the problem.

As others have noted if this is not grip related it will often cure itself as the recoil spring and extractor break in. In my case it took something like 600 rounds before I noticed that I wasn't getting hit as often, and around 1000 rounds before it became a rare occurrence. Replacing the extractor is a last resort. Some gunsmiths can reshape the existing extractor to change the direction the casings are ejected.

 

[CTGunner]

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to run it some more to see if the recoil spring breaks in. I may try the apex extractor, not sure yet.

 

[WinThePennant]

Here's what you do with a Gen 4 G19 that has extraction issues. I did this, and mine works beautifully. I never had extraction issues, but I did have some BTF issues (like a lot of 9mm pistols do - not just Glock!). Now, my shell casings extract perfectly with a nice rainbow arc to my right.

1. Do not use 115 grain ammo.

2. Throw out the Glock extractor, and replace it with an Apex extractor.

https://store.apextactical.com/WebDirect/Products/Details/191895