Do Subcompact Glocks have shorter lifespans?

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Glockedout17

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I'm picking up a used Gen 2.5 Glock 26 tomorrow. I always see how many rounds people have through their Glock 17's and 19's, but when it comes to the 26, the round count seems to be lower. Can a Glock 26 live up to it's big brothers legacy? Can it outlive you (as some folks say)? Can it fire 10's of thousands of rounds like it's older brothers with the same minimal maintenance? Does the age of a Glock affect its longevity? Makes me wonder.
 
Can a Glock 26 outlive you?
Yes.

Can it fire 10's of thousands of rounds like it's older brothers with the same minimal maintenance?
Yes. I have shot several hundred thousand rounds through my Glocks and my G27 already has 15K+ rounds through it and continuing to shoot as well as G22 since day one.

Does the age of a Glock affect its longevity?
My Gen2 Glock 22 only needed recoil spring assembly replaced and shoots perhaps more accurate than my Gen3 G22.
 
The recoil spring replacement interval may be shorter on a smaller Glock, but the overall lifespan of the gun should be about the same as on of its larger counterparts.
 
but when it comes to the 26, the round count seems to be lower. Can a Glock 26 live up to it's big brothers legacy?

I would imagine it has more to do with the fact that sub compact are not the most comfortable lead slingers out there and little to do with its quality.
 
I wore out the recoil spring on my G27 in less than 2 thousand rounds. Next to go was the extractor spring. I handload, and I can't load as hot in my G27 compared to the other 40SW handguns I've owned. The slide is light and the action unlocks quite fast. I've tried using a heavier aftermarket recoil spring, but that greatly increased the propensity for limpwrist malfunctions.

I only replaced the recoil spring on my big Glocks when I reached over 5 thousand, and just to be thorough. They still ran fine.

But those parts are relatively cheap and easy to replace. And I'd bet the farm that the G26 recoil spring will typically last a lot longer.
 
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I have very little experience with Glocks, but I think it is a good practice regardless to have some spare parts handy in case you need them later and for whatever reason they are hard or impossible to obtain.
 
The shorter recoil spring is the one and only disadvantage.
And that may show at xxxx or xxxxx rounds.
And less than twenty bucks provides a drop in back up..
 
As many problems as the recent Glocks are having, I would prefer a good condition older Glock over a new one; that's coming from someone that only buys new pistols.

Barrel life should be the same as a compact or fullsize.
I would think the frame & slide would last just as long too.
I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Well, I'm in the process of getting a few spare parts for my Glock 26 and 19. Just hope I never need them. Glock has great CS, so I shouldn't worry too much.
 
The only areas smaller on the 26 vs 17 are the length of the grip and the length of the slide. All other dimensions are the same. The front slide rails are further forward on the 17 vs the 26, but other than that the stress areas and contact points are really all the same.
 
But the slide is lighter. For sure, the subcompacts will receive more abuse. But I have yet to see one worn out!
 
I read somewhere that you can only run the subcompact over with a bulldozer six or seven times, instead of the usual ten. ;)

My guess would be that people put fewer rounds through them for the same reason that people generally put fewer rounds through the smaller/lighter version of any handgun--they are a bit less comfortable for high-count range sessions.
 
Since they are built strictly for carry and that is all most people are going to use them for, I would expect much fewer high round count subcompacts out there.

Like any other Glock, if you manage you break something that isn't a spring, you are likely doing something right.
 
I have a close friend who bought a G27 the first year they came out and has put quite a few rounds through it with no issues. It has never malfunctioned. He has replaced the recoil spring a couple of times but it has held up well. The finish has gotten pretty worn..the black phosphate...but otherwise it is as useful as when he got it. I think he has fired it more than the usual for non LEO but its the only Glock he has owned.
 
As many problems as the recent Glocks are having, I would prefer a good condition older Glock over a new one

What problems are you referring to? Have a G26 Gen 4 with 500 rds and not a single problem.
 
First response from bds pretty much nails it.

I will only add that there are some folks who have some of the oldest imported Glocks who have reported that the polymer around the magazine well has cracked, yet the pistols remain serviceable. Glock would most likely replace those frames, as they seem to be very interested in the scientific/research value of such things. Of course those guns are now 30 years old, and three decades of use/abuse can send any pistol to the grave.

As mentioned, the G26 is not weaker in any way when compared to the Glock 19. While the slide mass is less than its bigger brothers, Glock addressed this by using a dual-captive recoil spring assembly. The larger Glocks, by comparison, use a single recoil spring setup. Likewise when you look at the longslide Glock 34, the folks at Glock removed mass from the slide to allow the same reliable function as the G17 while using the same loads and recoil spring setup.

I don't think it's reasonable to tout them as having an infinite lifespan, but we have to take note that the G26 was one of the very first production level sub-compact 9mms to be widely successful in the marketplace. Considering its popularity with LE and CCW holders since their inception, they are certainly tested and proven. They remain as the benchmark by which littler 9mms are measured, and rightfully so. The reason we don't hear about Glock 26s shooting themselves to pieces is not the result of people not shooting them; quite the contrary. It's because it isn't an issue.
 
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I've had my G26 for about six years, its had the RSA replaced several times in that span. I doubt whether you could wear one out, you sure could neglect it, that would likely lead to failure, but you'd have to earn it.
 
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