mrbladedude
Member
They seem small and thin compared to the solid steel slide rails of the SIG. Just wondering how strong/durable they actually are? Looks like they can bend easily. Am i worrying for nothing?
How durable are the Glock Slide Rails?
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jaysouth
Member
They seem to hold up for hundreds of thousands of rounds.
Even if they only go for one hundred thousand rounds, that would be stellar performance. If you can afford to buy that much ammo, you will not sweat replacing them.
Even if they only go for one hundred thousand rounds, that would be stellar performance. If you can afford to buy that much ammo, you will not sweat replacing them.
atblis
Member
You might find this hard to believe, but the Glock will probably prove to be the more durable pistol in terms of number of rounds fired before a major component fails (slide, barrel, frame). This is assuming it doesn't blow up first. 
kingpin008
Member
I'd gather that they're pretty durable, seeing as how there are millions upon millions of them in circulation - from military to civilian. Never have I ever heard of an issue with the rails on a Glock.
rellascout
member
Durable enough.... LOL
I know it will sound strange, but I have it on good authority...yes GGI again...that the lessor contact of the polymer frame rails are actually more durable than the full rails of alloy or steel frames
Well, there has been at least one issue (this report is fairly thorough if a bit melodramatic):
http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/problems.html
It is important to note, however, that this was a manufacturing/QC issue rather than a weakness of the design, and it was fixed long ago. This sort of thing happens to every gun out there, although Glock the company could sometimes stand to be more forthcoming and upfront when such issues arise....
As far as I'm concerned, in real-world use Glock slide rails, despite appearances, are as durable as any and likely more durable than most.
fatcat4620
Member
Ask a glock with 200K
cobblestone
Member
Indestructable
In the motorsports industry I work in, (motorcycle road racing) we learned about eight or nine years ago that thicker and stiffer isn't always better. The stout thick rails on a polymer frame would cycle the molecules in the frame faster. The thinner, lighter rails act as enough of a guide to do the job, but without pushing the plastic around too much. After all, the frames are plastic.
The sig will probably hold a truer path as it slides, with less deviation of angle along its length. But that doesn't improve accuracy. The bullet isn't fired until the barrel is locked, and the bullet is gone before the barrel moves, so if the glock slide wiggles and flexes around on the frame (we're talking micro nano's here, nothing measurable of course,) no negative issues will result, and the additional flex of the polymer will serve to keep it from cracking.
Like others have said, and I agree, we have put thousands upon thousands, and THHHOUOUSSAAAANNDSSS of rounds through our glocks, of all sizes, and lengths. Their reliability is unquestionable.
Shoot safe
-theQman23
The sig will probably hold a truer path as it slides, with less deviation of angle along its length. But that doesn't improve accuracy. The bullet isn't fired until the barrel is locked, and the bullet is gone before the barrel moves, so if the glock slide wiggles and flexes around on the frame (we're talking micro nano's here, nothing measurable of course,) no negative issues will result, and the additional flex of the polymer will serve to keep it from cracking.
Like others have said, and I agree, we have put thousands upon thousands, and THHHOUOUSSAAAANNDSSS of rounds through our glocks, of all sizes, and lengths. Their reliability is unquestionable.
Shoot safe
-theQman23
Full length rails are stronger in terms of handling abuse, such as using the gun as a hammer. But not so good in terms of handling flex. If the rails on a Glock were longer, the slide would bind when the frame flexed. They'd have to either loosen up the slide/rail fit or stiffen up the frame. (Then the stiffer frame and looser fit would put more wear on the rails. So now you're losing performance until you get all the way back to the other end of the spectrum: rigid frame and full length glass-fit slide rails). So the rails look flimsy on a Glock, but they were designed to complement the plastic frame. They're a compromise. Actually, they would be cylindrical pins in the perfect flex-frame gun. That would allow a super tight interface. But then they might not be strong enough and/or might wear out faster. And they wouldn't be as effectively self-cleaning.
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Chuck Taylor has close to 300,000 rounds through his. This is an old link when he was at 250,000. http://www.notpurfect.com/main/glock.htm He has replaced some small parts and magaznes, but no frame rail failures.
I had a good friend who shot competition. He had a FIRST gen Glock 17 9mm he would do horrible things to. First off, he shot nothing but lead(in the factory barrel), NO jacketed. Second, he would load these himself to make Major caliber, loading 160 grain LRN to something like 1200fps...after shooting this way for years, and probably over 150K rounds, suddenly his Glock was shooting WAY off to the side. Like 10 feet off to the left at 20 yards. What had happened was the slide BROKE, cracked from the ejection port to the bottom of the slide and was STILL FIRING and cycling! Once he figured out why it was "shooting funny", he sent it back to Glock and they replaced the slide....!!!
If they will take that abuse, I think the slide rails are just fine.
If they will take that abuse, I think the slide rails are just fine.
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Sheepdog1968
Member
It really does put it in perspective. It also puts into perspective those that whine firearm X is too expensive. Like it really matters if you shoot a lot. Get what you like. If I ever had a firearm that I shot that much, I think I'd want to hang it over the mantle in my home as it would have definately earned that place of honor.
481
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In the February 2011 issue of Combat Handguns, Taylor's Glock 17 (made in 1988) has now digested a total of 277,000 rounds since mid-1992, many of which were fired through the pistol by students using it as a "loaner" during his training class.
Whether you like Glocks or not, it would be hard to contest the assertion that this makes the Glock 17 one of the most durable (if not, the most durable) pistols available in the U.S. market. I also remember seeing in early Glock advertisments, that Glock, Inc. is in possession of a west coast range rental unit that has some 383,000 rounds through it, multiple rings in the barrel from being fired with bullets lodged in the barrel from "dud" loads, that remains functional and produces 3" groups at 25m without any major parts failures.
Oh yeah...the frame rails? 277,000 rounds over 19+ years...ehh, they sound pretty fragile to me.
OP
OP
mrbladedude
Member
Wow where r u getting that price for ammo? Here at my walmart a box of 50 9mm costs $15
Lvl21nerd
Member
i guess im wrong but i thought Sigs had Aluminum slide rails...
(Sig p226, p228, p220, etc....)
(Sig p226, p228, p220, etc....)
REAPER4206969
Member
They do.
There are some SS framed variations though.
There are some SS framed variations though.
atblis
Member
It's not clear if he was talking about the frame or slide. I've also looked at the Glock slides and thought that the rails looked thin.
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