long-term Glock maintenance question...

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piece of meat

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Ive had my g26 for almost 5 years now and everything is completely stock and original, all springs, parts etc. It has probably around 5,000 round count roughly. I am a new dad so range time has been far and few between lately, so the gun has basically sat unfired for around 6 months at least, with the same mag loaded to max. It travels with me every day, and spends long periods in extremely hot humid temperatures.

I know these are the 'lawnmowers' of the pistol world and are reknown for their durability and withstanding 'insane tactical youtube brutality tests', but realistically when should i start to worry about parts fatigue, esp the loaded magazines and the recoil spring? Its difficult right now cause i cant make it to the range and cant do much but sit here and assume/hope it will still be 100% reliable should a situation arise. In yalls experience, should i be worried about function/parts integrity at this point or is it just all in my head?

Thanks for any help!
 
5K rounds on a Glock is just barely taking the new gun smell off of it! I've got a G34 with well north of 145K (I stopped counting at that point) rounds through it, and everything is OEM (yep original recoil spring). A Glock is about like the AK platform and handles benign neglect extremely well (I'm not saying you are neglecting your gun at all, I'm saying you can do far worse and it's still okay).

If you truly want to remove any doubt about anything a spring change (recoil and trigger) would certainly cover you. I'd honestly say you have about another 5K rounds before you would need to even begin considering it. You can easily expect to get between 20K-50K on the guide rod, and the trigger spring considerably more. I believe Glocks factory recommendation is 10K, but it's been years since I did my last armorer's course with them.

The magazine is perfectly fine being left loaded. Metallurgy being what it is these days, the spring does not take a set or wear from being left compressed. Cycling the spring (either loading/unloading or shooting) is what actually fatigues the spring.

Based on your description you gun is perfectly fine. Just keep it lubed at regular intervals (maybe field strip twice a month, give it a quick wipe down, and lube) and it'll run when you need it to.

-Jenrick
 
I replace the recoil spring assembly and the locking block pin every 3,000 rounds... Shouldn't cost more than $20. Magazine springs are less of an issue.
 
If you have any nearby GSSF matches, you can probably get the recoil assembly and anything else the armorer thinks might be "wearing" replaced for free. You probably don't need to actually replace anything. If you've never done it, you might disassemble the upper and clean out the striker channel. Just leave it dry in there afterwards.
 
The trigger spring, slide stop lever, and slide stop spring are also common replacement parts that should be included in your tool kit.
 
If you've never done it, you might disassemble the upper and clean out the striker channel.

If as you say, you cant get to the range I think this would be a bad idea. If you have never detail stripped the slide on your Glock,
doing it now without the chance to check your work is, I think a mistake. If you have done it a bunch of times, well forget what I said.

As mentioned 5000 rounds is not that many. I would check the lube every month or so. Around here it seems to just disappear.
Never have figured out where exactly it goes, but after about a month it's just gone.
 
Maintenance is a double edged sword as in over and under. Tinkers love taking things apart required or not required. There is CYA also which is prevalent.
 
I wouldn't do anything for another six years or 5000 rounds whatever comes first.

Mine has around 12,000 and hasn't been touched.
 
I have a 17 thats about a year older than the OP's, and it just past 87,000 rounds a couple of weeks back. All Ive changed out have been the RSA's, twice a year (roughly every 7500 rounds or so).

It gets cleaned after every outing, and I strip and clean the slide, twice a year or so. I havent yet detail stripped the frame yet, but I do flush it out a couple of times a year while cleaning.
 
Thanks for the replies! I try to do basic field strip cleaning/lubing once a month or so. Based on the replies i think it sounds like i shouldnt need to worry much yet considering some of yalls massive round counts on the original parts...ill prob order a RSA just to have around in case it needs it soon, and keep an eye out for one of those matches so i can get the total inspection if i can find one
 
I've had my Glock 19 for over 25 years now. Had to replace the magazine springs once so at around 12 to 15 years. Don't worry, nothing goes bad immediately but slowly over time. When the mag springs start going bad the magazine will no longer lock back the slide after the last shot. Replace the magazine springs and your good for another 15 or so years.

Gock updated my recoil spring with the flat style captured spring one time several years ago at a "free" upgrade function and I'm still using it.
 
I dont have a Glock and I'm not a fan boy... but not a hater either. Thery're very good guns for some people.


At your current rate, I'd do a normal cleaning and ask the same question in another 5 yrs.
 
I have a Glock 17 mag that has been loaded most of the time since the mid 80s.

WB
 
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