How does the Glock stay accurate?

[Boats]

Where ignorance is bliss,'Tis folly to be wise.
Thomas Gray (1716-1771), British poet.

Here is a quotation that captures the essence of many Glock lovers:

From passions grow opinions; intellectual laziness lets these harden into convictions.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), German philosopher.

I said Glocks are okay. The people who espouse them as if they are the One True Faith of handgunning are the ones suffering from a knowledge deficit. One visit to a forum which shall remain nameless because this is The High Road reveals the truth of my statement. All of that enlightenment for the staggering price of the mere effort of enduring the general forums there for a few minutes.

Have a nice day!

 

[Handy]

Boats opinion may not be.... welcome? But it isn't factually incorrect.

The Glock is not a magical pistol. It has several downsides, which he mentions. It is not the most reliable, most accurate or most break proof gun ever. It is an effective fighting tool, but I have to agree that there weren't any broken "barriers" or new standards set. Anything you can do with a Glock can be done with at least ten other pistols.

It's a nice enough gun if you like it, but it's certainly not a solution to any problem.

And there is plenty to dislike about them, without being "ignorant".

 

[yankytrash]

Being a lefty, I do hate the slide lock. Have to almost ungrasp the pistol to get it to release. Could be dangerous in a speed moment, like competition or general messing around back at the range. One slamfire and she'd be on the ground.

 

[Mylhouse]

I sure hope they stay precise for a long time to come, because my G20 does 1.5" @ 25 yards with little effort (hands resting on the table, of course), using the stock barrel. I have a fitted Barsto for it also, and that barrel puts the stock one to shame. If I can have this kind of precision for the next 50,000 rounds, I'll be a really happy camper.

 

[yankytrash]

Oh, finally got that mag to take 10rd. Read where sometimes they need to be slapped around abit. Loaded 9rd in'r and beat'r senseless, like a spider crawlin up my leg. Last round dropped right in.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Being a lefty, I do hate the slide lock. Have to almost ungrasp the pistol to get it to release.

Lefty here too. Learned to use my index finger to release the slide and my middle finger to release the mag. Still got some control with my last two fingers and thumb to keep control of the weapon. Takes alot of practice though. So I've learned.

 

[chevrofreak]

why use the slide release at all? pop in the mag, pull the slide back, the stop releases, then let it slam home

 

[GlocksRock]

It is my understanding from all the reading I have done on the subject that the Glock will get more accurate the more you shoot it, so long as you do your part.

 

[Handy]

The Glock will not get more mechanically accurate, but the shooter should improve.

 

[shooting4fun]

G'day All,

Regarding the accuracy of Glocks or any other pistol design, it appears that a consistent lockup of all the parts is a key. What I mean is the ability to the pistol to return to the same state for each shot cycle. Most folks key in on the barrel to slide lockup. That is why you see quite a few folks pushing on the barrel hood to see if it wiggles. Similarly the do the same at the muzzle end.

In 1911 pattern pistols there are a number of things to improve accuracy. Get a good barrel and have it fitted properly. ie. hood mates up with slide well, bushing lapped in to muzzle end of barrel, barrel link and lugs properly engaged and etc... Then there are the aftermarket items such as "group gripper" a device to provide spring tension on the barrel to enhance engagement of the rear surfaces of the barrel and slide. In a Glock, a similar function as the group gripper is that little spring that pushes up on the barrel. Yeah, the one that is attached to the dis-assembly tabs. If you have a good look at it, it pushes the barrel upwards, which enhances the lockup of the barrel and slide.

Just observations to share with all. Obiviously, not the only factors for accuracy. There are many others to include the operator. I've got to find some time out at the range to continue the research! Get out there and support the shooting sports! Cheers!

 

[Baron Holbach]

I was for a long time sceptical of Glocks. Then I shot my friend's G34 and immediately became a convert. Within a month, I acquired the G21, 34, and 35. I have cycled hundreds of flawless and accurate rounds through the first two. The 35 is anxiously waiting for me to take it to the range. In the mean time, I am looking for another Glock. Whenever I contemplate buying another 1911, doubts intrude and visions of a Glock appear.

 

[Navy joe]

Slidelock. First, install an extended one. When I use mine I do it with the trigger finger. Normally though I release the slide by seating the magazine with authority. In fact, the heel of my right hand still hurts from all that authority. If it does not unlock (like with a NFML hi-cap I just overhand rack and release.

 

[stevelyn]

The manual of arms for the Glock pistol does not advocate or advise releasing the slide by depressing the slide lock after seating a magazine.
The proper way (taught in Glock armorors class) to release the slide or to charge the pistol from a loaded magazine w/ slide in battery, is to grasp the slide overhand with at least three fingers and the heel of the non-firing hand, and violently retract and release while pushing forward with the firing hand. This does two things.
First, it creates enough inertia for the slide to reliably strip and chamber a round from what is usually a tight, fully loaded magazine.
Secondly it ensures that the slide goes fully into battery and securely chambers the round. This is similar to the force generated by firing a round in a properly gripped pistol ensuring consistent slide forward position.
Another reason is that the Glock pistol is partially cocked when in battery and has to overcome additional spring pressure when the engagement surfaces of the striker and trigger connector collide to bring the pistol to it's partially cocked status.
Never release the slide using the slide lock when loading the pistol. It's only purpose is to allow you manually lock the slide open when performing maintenance or chamber inspection on the pistol once the magazine is removed.

 

[Island Beretta]

I agree fully with Handy's last 2 posts.

N.B. The Beretta 92fs series has the title for best out of box pistol!!!

Glocks are quite often touted as the all-encompassing solution to handgun's problems.. It is certainly not the most accurate, reliable, ergonomic, value-for-money pistol around. Their is nothing revolutionary about its design and it has gone through several major and necessary upgrades in its short existence (possibly more than any of the top pistols of today-Sigs, Berettas, HKs etc.).

That said I think the Glock is the most size-efficient pistol around today, I mean a G19 compact can carry 18 shots in a regular mag. The Beretta on the other hand is often criticised for being unnecessarily big for its capacity- my Compact L is about the same size has a G19, with a longer barrel and having carried both at different times, I am just as comfortable with both.

The Glock is also easy to shoot accurately because of its grip angle and trigger setup. Again however other pistols e.g. BHP are also easy to shoot accurately. It is a pistol that I like a lot but it sits second to the Beretta for concealed carry where absolute reliability is a must!!. My prospective backup (sometimes sole carry) is a revolver - again absolute reliability is the ultimate criteria for CCW.

 

[kidcoltoutlaw]

do they have it in the first place.

 

[Yohan]

anyone who bashes Glocks are probably new to guns and are pretty wet behind the ears

The moist thing behind us Glock bashers? It's called the brain

Glocks may be reliable right out of the box, but so are baseball bats.