GLOCK slide will not go completely into battery?

[sherman123]

Recently my 2nd generation G23 stopped going completely into battery. It needs a little nudge on the back of the slide most times to do so. Not sure how long it's been doing this but I noticed it while shooting recently and yet it still has functioned reliably despite this. My first though it possibly the recoil spring. What are some other things that could possibly cause this? Thank you for all help.

 

[Sam1911]

A) recoil spring
B) Incredibly dirty
C) recoil spring AND incredibly dirty

Recoil springs should be changed every few thousand rounds. They're a wear item, like your windshield wipers.

 

[JDGray]

With an empty chamber pull the slide back a 1/4" or so, let go of it, and it should return to battery by its self.

 

[miles1]

This link will show you if your recoil spring needs to be replaced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK-5Fw3yjcM

 

[Drail]

I'm betting on "incredibly dirty".

 

[kc.38]

If these are reloads, check your OAL.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You don't say if it does this loaded or unloaded.

Somewhere there is a beautiful picture of a Glock Kaboom. This occurred when shooting lead bullets, and there is a photo of the cartridge cases, starting with a normal-looking one, and progressing through greater and greater bulges, until you get to the one with the head blown off.

The pistol had buildup at the chamber mouth, and since the Glock will fire out of battery, the shooter didn't notice the slide wasn't going all the way home until KABOOM!

 

[Captains1911]

Recoil spring. A new one costs like $5.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Easy as the Glock breaks down fully I would do a detail strip and use some of the Gun blast cleaners. Reassemble with new spring, hit lube points. Should do the trick.
Get a pack of 3 for like $10. Should do you for a bit!

 

[mgmorden]

Cleaning is mostly free. Replacing recoil springs is dirt cheap. I'd say do both and see if that fixes it.

You didn't state how long you'd had this gun but if you bought it used that's a definite thing to check. You never know how much a used gun has been shot or how often it was cleaned. They can usually be returned to perfect working condition with some cheap springs and elbow grease, but you do need to check them thoroughly.

 

[hentown]

Somewhere there is a beautiful picture of a Glock Kaboom. This occurred when shooting lead bullets, and there is a photo of the cartridge cases, starting with a normal-looking one, and progressing through greater and greater bulges, until you get to the one with the head blown off.

The pistol had buildup at the chamber mouth, and since the Glock will fire out of battery, the shooter didn't notice the slide wasn't going all the way home until KABOOM!
Vern Humphrey is online now Report Post

Vern, I'd appreciate it if you would furnish a link that that "somewhere." I can understand a Glock's Kabooming due to lead build-up, but I don't think that has anything to do with a Glock's firing out-of-battery.

AS to the OP's question, I concur with what's already been said. This sure as heck ain't rocket science!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

As best I can recall, it was actually posted some years ago right here on The High Road. It certainly showed a clear progression of the failure to completely lock.

 

[rbernie]

IIRC, Gen1 and early Gen2s could fire with the slide as much as 1/8" out of battery, and that was the subject of a running redesign/change.

The scenario described above can be duplicated if a strong striker spring and weak recoil spring combination is used, especially with longer than spec cases.