Glock 17 reliability

[LeonCarr]

6 Glock 17s since 2000, currently carry one on and off duty, estimated +/- 100,000 rounds fired through them with most of those being WWB, Blazers, and handloads, and I can count the malfunctions on one hand. One of those, an early Gen 3, has over 50,000 rounds through it with the only malfunction being a magazine base flying off during an IDPA Classifier (I have never been able to duplicate it, magazines bases were checked before the match, I guess Mr. Murphy just made an appearance that day). Most of the others were due to extended slide stops and my big sausage hands.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Blue Brick]

6 Glock 17s since 2000, currently carry one on and off duty, estimated +/- 100,000 rounds fired through them

One of those, an early Gen 3, has over 50,000 rounds through it.

50,000 / 12 years = 4,166.66 rds per year
4166.66 / 365 = 11.41 rds every day

50,000 / 5 pistols = 10,000
10,000 / 12 years = 833.33 rds per year
833.33 / 365 = 2.2 rd per pistol(total of 5) every day

 

[Grey Morel]

OP: If this were not THR, you would be reading a swath of creative curse words. Stop trolling.

 

[CTGunner]

Not trolling. I picked up a new semi custom g17 and I'm impressed with it and was hoping to get a little friendly discussion going, not upset anyone. It seems like most took the thread in good spirit.

 

[LeonCarr]

Mr. Blue Brick,

Yes, I shoot that much.

USPSA on and off since 1994, IDPA on and off since 2005, in addition to informal competition for free lunches and beverages . I try to shoot at least once a week whether I need it or not.

I am also a Firearms Instructor and teach classes.

Professional Shooter Jerry Miculek estimated in a magazine article once upon a time that in his first 24 years of competitive shooting he had shot an estimated (Saved his primer packages from reloading ammo) 800,000 rounds of ammo. 100,000 rounds in the past 12 years is not all that much if you train and compete.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[dprice3844444]

sapper,on the brass to the face issue,return it to glock.they will fix it for free and return it.i returned a g19c for the same thing. i also sent them my other g19c and my 1997 g26.my complaint was the serrated trigger was tearing up my finger after 100 rds on the 19.the 26 was serrated,but unfired.they put the smooth trigger on all 3,no charge

 

[PabloJ]

While my 'KoolAid' isn't 9x19 I hold it to high esteem second only to S&W Model 12 RB revolver. In terms of reliability it proved equal to Pistolet Makarova.

 

[Sapper771]

sapper,on the brass to the face issue,return it to glock.they will fix it for free and return it.i returned a g19c for the same thing. i also sent them my other g19c and my 1997 g26.my complaint was the serrated trigger was tearing up my finger after 100 rds on the 19.the 26 was serrated,but unfired.they put the smooth trigger on all 3,no charge

I called Glock about both the G17 and my G19 slinging brass in my face. The G19 was the worse of the two. This was early 2012 and I spoke with "Dan" at Ext. 6774.

Problem #1:Glock wanted me to send them in on my dime.

Problem #2: They were going to test some "experimental" parts in my pistols to see if it would fix it.

Problem #3: Due to problem #2 , they could not tell me when I would be able to get my pistols back.

CS refused to send me the parts. They also refused to send them to a local armorer. I told the CS guy that I would just fix it myself....... or just wait for another company to fix their problem (i.e. Apex Tactical Glock Extractor) for them.

I discovered part swapping after speaking with some seasoned Glock Armorers. I purchased serveral extractors, ejectors, and springs. Went to the range and started shooting. Then swapped around some parts til I found a combo that worked in my 19. Been smooth ever since. Havent had a piece of brass hit me in over 1,500 rounds.

 

[Blue Brick]

Yes, I shoot that much.

Wow. Most people run out $$...

 

[unwise11]

My 22 gen 3 runs like a dream, took it to Glock for a tune up, and my dad just bought a 19 Gen 4 that also runs like a dream, however mine shoots a bit better I think due to the trigger work.

I will always be loyal to Glock, and when I'm 21 my CCW will be a 19.

 

[hentown]

Blue Brick: I'm no competitive shooter, but I have shot over 300,000 rounds of my reloads through my Glocks over the past 18-yrs-or-so. It's not uncommon for me to shoot several hundred rounds through each pistol in a range session.

 

[CPshooter]

Blue Brick: I'm no competitive shooter, but I have shot over 300,000 rounds of my reloads through my Glocks over the past 18-yrs-or-so. It's not uncommon for me to shoot several hundred rounds through each pistol in a range session.

Care to comment on your experience with Glock's reliability, since that's what this thread is about anyways? That's a lot of ammo, so if anyone knows how likely a Glock is to fail, it's probably you!

 

[TAKtical]

I have three 17's. OD, FDE, and black. I also have hundreds of thousands of rounds through them. The only thing Ive ever HAD to replace is mags. But I have seen guide rods melt in 1000rnd range trips. I replace mine with a stainless version and I also replace my trigger with an aluminum version. Not because I had to, but because i wanted to. Glocks are fun to mod.

 

[hentown]

Care to comment on your experience with Glock's reliability, since that's what this thread is about anyways? That's a lot of ammo, so if anyone knows how likely a Glock is to fail, it's probably you!
__________________

I can honestly say, with one exception, that my Glocks just never fail, nor have they ever failed, except when I've made a reloading mistake. Occasionally I'll leave a primer high or put one in backwards, and that always causes a failure.

The exception was a 2nd Gen G17 that I'd bought used, with an unknown number of rounds through it. Bought it during the Klinton ban, and part of my motivation was that it came with "standard" cap mags. After aboiut 10,000 of my reloads, I noticed that the G17 was shooting left, while I was shooting at an indoor range. When I got back home, I discovered a tiny, hairline crack just forward of the ejection port.

Glock rep told me over the phone, his not having seen the pistol, that they'd replace the slide free. I wound up getting a new slide with all internals except a barrel and a complete Gen 3 lower. Tech charged me $43 for the new lower, so I was/am a happy camper with that deal.

So, bottom line is that I find my Glocks to be just about 100%, shooting my reloads.

FWIW, my ARs never fail either!

 

[TarDevil]

I don't own a Glock, but while qualifying for my CCW, we had to stop numerous times for the sole Glock shooter (17) to clear jams.

 

[Okiegunner]

I like kinda off-beat military/police hammer fired type handguns. Cz-999, Sig 2340, Tanfoglio Force/Police, Beretta 92F (not FS), etc.

Anyhow, what I am getting around to is the Glock G-17 has really grown on me. I do not own one, but have shot this pistol at the range on numerous occasions. Though (to me) ugly, it seems to be very robust, simple and well made.

For that matter, and I'll through up a shameless purchase pitch. If someone owns a decent shooter (cosmetics do not matter that much to me) in the $350.00-375.00 range, contact me. I am most likely a buyer.

BTW...I am not trying to offend anyone @ this price. However if you happen to be a little short and need to sell...Once again, no offense intended, just chiming in.

 

[golfer_ray]

I am not as experienced as many of you, but, as detailed in another thread, I've been married to a wonderful woman for 27 years. One stipulation she had when we married is that I could not have a gun in the house. After 25 years of marriage, I told her that I played by her rules for the 1st 25 years, but I was going to change a few things for the next 25, & that I was going to get a gun, but I would keep it in the garage. Then in the past two months, we've had 2 neighbors robbed at gunpoint in their homes, & beautiful wife told me that she'd reconsidered the house ban. So of course(!) I had to buy another pistol! Because we have a handicapped daughter I didn't want a revolver, but I wanted the most reliable pistol. Over and over and over, which involved several hours of research, all I read was that with a Glock, every time you pull the trigger, it goes bang. So I am now the proud owner of a Glock 17, & although I shoot the CZ 75B a little better, the Glock is a fine pistol & so far has worked just fine.

 

[hentown]

I am not as experienced as many of you, but, as detailed in another thread, I've been married to a wonderful woman for 27 years. One stipulation she had when we married is that I could not have a gun in the house. After 25 years of marriage, I told her that I played by her rules for the 1st 25 years, but I was going to change a few things for the next 25, & that I was going to get a gun, but I would keep it in the garage. Then in the past two months, we've had 2 neighbors robbed at gunpoint in their homes, & beautiful wife told me that she'd reconsidered the house ban. So of course(!) I had to buy another pistol! Because we have a handicapped daughter I didn't want a revolver, but I wanted the most reliable pistol. Over and over and over, which involved several hours of research, all I read was that with a Glock, every time you pull the trigger, it goes bang. So I am now the proud owner of a Glock 17, & although I shoot the CZ 75B a little better, the Glock is a fine pistol & so far has worked just fine.

Sounds to me like either: (1) Your wife got smarter after 25 yrs and/or (2) you finally developed a case of testicular grandiosity.

 

[mudriver]

My son just got a G17 and had one stovepipe on stage 2 of a 3 gun shoot. He cleared it fast, though. Thats the 2nd failure in 200 rounds. Is there some reliability tips i should consider? ie fluff and buff?

FWIW my 226 will shoot anything and refuses to fail.

 

[ActingGrandNagusBrunt]

I have yet to experience Glock's "ironclad" reliability firsthand. I have normal tested Glock 17, 22, 23, 30, 36 and even got to play with an 18 once. And stress tested all the same models except the 18. All had feeding problems, extraction problems, magazine problems etc.

I get a kick out of this. You forgot to mention that you were using junk re loads, wolf ammo or some junk surplus ammo that doesn't even meet standards. When the manual says "use quality ammunition" they don't mean wolf, and they don't mean steel casing. I called and asked to clarify what was meant by that from H&k and Glock. But some people just develop a hate for Glocks because they want to be "outside the bubble", and think they are. The truth is, there are a lot of people who believe in buying a Ford, because they are reasonably priced, reliable,plentiful and have been around a long time. There is always somebody that makes sure they put themselves outside the bubble, buy a Mercedes SUV for 65,000 and then pay out the <edit> for repairs, up keep and insurance. At the end of the day a vehicle half that price will do the same job and better for cheaper.

Case in point, the glock. Now I have H&K's, S&W, a Dan Wesson Valor, but what, at the end of the day, do you think I put on my hip when I carry? Yes. That's right. A glock. And while I trust my life to my USP, as it is one of the BEST firearms I have owned and shot (even more so then my $1800 1911) my glock will not fail me, and if it does, it won't do it for a long time after that, and the chances it happening during a tense situation are pretty astronomical.

The glock concept got it right; simple, simple, simple. Now if your an operator, you need more.....but the Glock is meant for protection, not for playing an offensive role.

Just as the 1911 is not a good choice for carry. Period. It's great to have and shoot and leave on the nightstand, but that is about it.

If you do your part, run brass through your gun EVEN at the range, and don't limp wrist, the glock will run. And some of the mags I see that come with some of the pricier brands can't hold a candle to the glock design.....even usp 9mm mags are a little sad.....plastic all the way through. Glock mag is stainless wrapped with polymer, and if you look at the inside of the mag its slightly polished.....just to aid in feeding.

I'm not a glock fanboy by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a standard, and like any standard, it has its place.

 

[tarosean]

I get a kick out of this. You forgot to mention that you were using junk re loads, wolf ammo or some junk surplus ammo that doesn't even meet standards.

If he was using quality ammo, then what? Wonder why the peeps on Glock boards other others around the "net" try to dissuade buying anything after a M serial number Gen 3-4?

 

[Grunt]

While I don't own a G17...yet, I do have a Gen 2 19, Gen 2.5 G27, and a Gen 3 23 and 21. All of my Glocks are from the pre-Obuma era and have worked great. From what I understand, "change" wasn't all that happened in the White House but at Glock as well somewhere around 2008 to 2009 and the reliability that made Glock famous seemed to start declining. Now I'm sure especially after reading some responses here that there were a few bad Gen 2 and 3 Glocks that were made before 2008 that had issues too but the problems I hear about over the entire timespan between the Glock 17 first coming to our shores to the Obuma era guns are still far more rare than some of the problems heard about the later Gen 3 and Gen 4 models. Also, while it is only a rumor as best I can tell Obuma has officially blamed Bush for the problems at Glock!

 

[mes228]

Glock

If it's not some reloads that you are shooting. It's really quite simple, if you own a Glock 17 that jams IT IS BROKEN. That's the long and short of it. I suggest you send it back to Glock for repair. I've owned at least 20 or so Glock 17,19,22,23 Generation 3's. Not one has burped in any way for well over ten thousand rounds. Actually, I suspect I have 10k through just one of them - a Glock 23 that I've carried for about 13 years. This OPINION applies only to Gen 3 and the Models mentioned. The early Gen 4's apparently had some ejector problems that have been fixed according to what I read. By the way I currently own 2 Custom 1911's (owned probably 20 or more Custom, semi-Custom, and factory), H&K 45C (this makes the 5th H&K), Sig 226 & 239 (owned probably 15 or so), Beretta, Taurus, Rossi (.357 revolver) and 3 Glock's. I still carry a Glock 23. None of the above mentioned pistols is one whit more reliable than a Glock 17. Your pistol is broken or the ammo is defective. Just my opinion but it's based on owning a lot of pistols.

 

[powder]

I'd say the G17 is on par with 226s. Armorer for both, +s and -s for both.

Competition or training weekend, I'd take the SIG.

Duty pistol? A G19.

 

[9mmepiphany]

It's really quite simple, if you own a Glock 17 that jams IT IS BROKEN.

If only Glock would realize that too.

I have friends who have late Gen3 and Gen4 9mm Glocks who can't get Glock to do anything but switch out parts.

One friend had a G19 that worked fine for the first 1k rounds, then started with the BTF at about 1100. He sent it to Glock, they sent a shipping label, and it returned worst than before (more BTF per mag), so back it went to Glock...on their dime.

Now I'm hearing that Glock won't cover shipping for service for folks with the same problem and they won't guarantee that the new parts will fix the problem...you can send it back, on your dime, if it is still acting up. The irritating thing is that they have such an easy gun to replace parts on, but they won't send you the replacement part