If I may, I'd like to get in on this. I have to ask; ‘What is it about owning a Glock that seems to create this, ostrich with his head in the sand, ass in the air, mentality?’ If someone said the brakes on my Blazer aren’t as good as the brakes on my Bronco, most drivers would, simply, want to know more. However if any sort of statement diminishing the safety or reliability of a Glock pistol is made, then, the most intense owner/user passions seem to be aroused!
Historically, it has, now, been well-established that Glock pistols have more of a propensity to explode than many other manufactures or designs. (Which, by the way, also blowup on occasion, but without the same apparent frequency.) In reading about Glock pistols, ‘across the boards’ I’ve come to the personal conclusion that many Glock owners would be less upset if told that their spouses had been caught cheating rather than Glock pistols are easy to blow up. It’s incredible!
This often reported, frequently ignored, and usually rationalized propensity for Glock pistols to explode is exacerbated by several criteria particular to Glock’s design: (1) excessively rebated chambers, (2) sharp edges around the chamber, ‘leade’ area, (3) tight polygonal hammer-forged barrels, and (4) the use of modern high pressure cartridges in Glock pistols: i.e., 357SIG, S&W 40, 10mm, and (also) the 45ACP. (I hesitate to include the 45ACP cartridge, here, because I am of the opinion that: owner neglect, and (maybe) a bad batch of barrel steel are outstanding factors involved in 45ACP Glock pistol explosions.)
I never cease to be amazed at the almost total lack of common sense regarding the use of Glock pistols that I read across the various shooting forums. If someone said; ‘I drove my car for more than 100,000 miles without changing the oil.’ we’d, all, know what to think. (I don’t, even, need to explain – do I!) However, when some shooter brags; ‘I have shot my Glock for more than 5,000 rounds without cleaning it.’ the typical response seems to be; ‘Wow!’ What has happened to: shooting experience, military training, and good old fashioned (not so common) common sense? At this juncture, ‘Why’ even bother using Remington Golden Sabres or Speer Gold Dots in the pistol? This filthy dirty, badly neglected pistol may not fire, or else it may explode - anyway! Frankly, I doubt that the boys on, ‘Seal Team #6’ carry their pistols in this sort of crummy condition; yet, this sort of braggadocio is, both, accepted and common at far too many Glock forums!
Is anything said, so far, a recommendation to get rid of your Glock pistols? No! Not in this author’s intent! ‘What’ I am stating, here - ‘What’ I am recommending - is for Glock owners to become more aware of the pluses and minuses associated with the use of modern Glock pistols. I would encourage all Glock owners to use their Glock pistols the same way they operate their automobiles: with care, skill, and knowledge. To be perfectly candid, (which I, often, hesitate to be) I love my Glock Model 21’s. I’m very fond of the trigger design as well as the balance of this pistol design. (I do have certain reservations about Glock’s, ‘safe-trigger’ design; but this is a subject for another post.) Let me offer the following suggestions for the safe use of a Glock pistol:
(1) Use common firearms’ sense: Keep your Glock pistol properly lubricated as well as reasonably clean.
(2) Develop an acute sense of awareness about keeping your finger outside the trigger guard. Always use a holster that completely covers a Glock’s trigger guard area; and, if you carry unconventionally, take the precaution of installing a, ‘Saf-T-Blok’ device behind the trigger. I keep several, ‘Saf-T-Bloks’ around the house; if I have a Glock pistol lying about, then, I make sure there’s a, ‘Saf-T-Blok’ installed behind the trigger. Just so you know, I have found that using one of these safety devices adds ZERO TIME to the draw.
Remember important (frequently un:discussed) points like; ‘If you drop a Glock pistol, DON’T attempt to catch it before it hits the ground.’ You might snare the trigger guard if you should attempt this and fire the pistol. Remember that the Glock design precludes firing on impact – so just let that Glock fall.’
(3) At least once a year, do a complete detail strip of your Glock pistol(s). Pay particular attention to the trigger connector bar and trigger spring, as well as the slide and its internal areas. I clean out my extractor rod and firing pin channels with Q-Tips or pipe cleaners every 1,500 rounds. Clean and take a close look at the following slide components: the f.p. safety block, extractor, extractor spring & rod, the firing pin assembly - including the f.p. itself, the f.p. spring, the retainer cups, and surrounding spacer. If any of the parts in, either, the trigger group or slide show the slightest sign of wear, replace it before shooting the pistol again.
(4) Listen to the manufacturer, (Glock) who isn’t always to be ignored; and don’t shoot lead bullets in your Glock pistol. Yes, I know, ‘Harry the frequent poster’ over at GT does it all the time; but you should NOT.
(5) Use more than average care if you reload for a Glock pistol; and I strongly recommend taking the time to run your reloads through a nice tight case gauge (Dillon) before you package them for use. (If your experience is similar to my own, you will occasionally be surprised at what you find and very glad the offending reload didn’t make it into your Glock. I’ve, also, spoken with other Glock pistol shooters who have all told me, essentially, the same thing: Not one of them shoots reloads in his Glock pistol using the same brass beyond the sixth (6th) time. Personally, I think this is an excellent rule-of-thumb; I use it myself; and I, also, recommend it for other Glock owners who insist on reloading for a Glock, as well.
(6) If you use a Glock pistol in one of the previously mentioned, ‘high pressure’ cartridges, then, develop the habit of NOT re:chambering the same round twice; and, no matter how many GT’ers are doing it, DO NOT reload or use reloads for any of these calibers. I’m not saying this can’t be done; obviously it can. I am stating that it’s, just, not worth the increased risk; and let’s not forget that the manufacturer (who isn’t always to be ignored) states across-the-board NOT TO RELOAD FOR A GLOCK PISTOL. (At this point, here’s a, ‘tip of the hat’ to the dummy, ‘Glockophile’ who’s going to come back at me with; ‘This is nothing more than legal boiler-plate.’ As of February, 2004, it should be painfully obvious that IT IS NOT.)
(7) For the record, I think it’s about time that someone pointed out that it isn’t, simply, unsupported cases or powder overcharges that will, ‘kaBoom!’ a Glock. IT’S BULLET SETBACK – INSTEAD! A Glock reloader can scrupulously examine his case heads for expansion, be meticulously accurate with his powder charges, and STILL BLOW HIS GLOCK UP IN HIS FACE!
(8) The other critical point about reloading for a Glock is BEING ABLE TO GUARANTEE THE GRASP OF THE CRIMP - EVERY TIME - ON EVERY ROUND.
With repetitively fired brass, this is not, always, an easy thing to do. In spite of the constant recommendations by several loudmouthed, ‘Glockophiles’ who frequently post, ‘Get a set of Lee FCD dies.’ (factory crimp dies) FCD’s aren’t going to save you from the dangers of using out-of-specification brass in a Glock pistol. FCD’S WILL, ONLY, REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED BRASS GOING, ‘KaBOOM!’ IN THE FIRST PLACE!
People who shoot Glock pistols need to understand that:
KaBOOMS! ARE MORE OFTEN CAUSED BY LOOSE CRIMPING AND/OR BULLET SETBACK THAN BY BULGED CASEHEADS, OR POWDER OVERCHARGES! Add any or all of the other factors I've mentioned into this mix and that, 'kaBoom!' is absolutely guaranteed!
Although I fully recognize that kids aren’t going to stop smoking grass, and, ‘Glockophiles’ usually can’t be reasoned with, nevertheless, I sincerely hope that you enjoy shooting your Glock pistol(s) as much as I like to shoot mine; and (because I hate to see women cry) that you, also, shoot your Glock with wisdom and safety, too. Good luck to you!
Note: (Yes, it is, ‘kaBoom!’, ‘KaBOOM!’ or, ‘kB!’ – Not any of the other frequent misspellings we, so often, see. Dean Speir invented the word; and he’s the ultimate authority on how it should be spelled! These are the ways HE spells it.)