Hey guys, so I'm new to having a firearm and New to this page. I just bought my first gun which is a glock 43. As soon as I bought it I put just 50 rounds in it and had to leave the range. Shortly after I was told I should clean the stock lube out. So I watched a few videos and tried to field strip the gun. I'm here to ask you guys if you think I damaged anything. First off, I messed up by not pulling the trigger after the mag was out. So I depressed those two buttons and forcefully tried to get the slide off pushing it forwards. Secondly, when I was trying to make sure it was functioning properly, i pulled the trigger and the slide jumped forwards pretty rough. After a few more videos I got the hang of it and shot the gun and it works. But it's brand new and I can't help but to feel like I've already damaged it.
New to firearms
- Thread starter Dblake
- Start date
- Status
Fire_Moose
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2012
- Messages
- 371
It should be fine. Its a machine and a tool. Its tough.
TrickyDick
Member
YouTube can be very helpful. I recommend these YouTube channels to watch. Others may chime in with their preference.
IraqVeteran8888- all around good stuff
ForgottenWeapons-great for learning about history and function
Hickock45- great reviews on products
These are my top 3. There are hundreds of gun channels, and it's really your preference that will best suit you. I chose these 3 because they're very knowledgeable and you don't watch videos staring at their bench.
IraqVeteran8888- all around good stuff
ForgottenWeapons-great for learning about history and function
Hickock45- great reviews on products
These are my top 3. There are hundreds of gun channels, and it's really your preference that will best suit you. I chose these 3 because they're very knowledgeable and you don't watch videos staring at their bench.
Make sure there is no mag and loaded round in the chamber and depress the little tabs on the side and pull the trigger and the slide should release, If it doesn't that way don't force it, clean the grease out of the spring and whatever else you see it on but be gentle as to not bend anything. There should be little rails the slide rides on and i just put a drop of oil on each one and rub it in with my finger. the slide should slide back on the frame easily and all the way back and lock then pull back on it to let it forward. I don't use the slide release cause IMO its too much force on it so i just grab, pull back and release.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
Welcome to THR.
I doubt you caused any harm to your Glock.
As mentioned YouTube can be a great resource.
I doubt you caused any harm to your Glock.
As mentioned YouTube can be a great resource.
il.bill
Member
This is a good point to remember. If you think about the pressures and physical stresses that your Glock 43 (or any pistol) goes through in just one cycle of firing, extracting / ejecting, and loading another cartridge you will realize that your 'forceful' manipulation of the slide would be very unlikely to be capable of causing any significant damage to the handgun, whether it is brand new or well used. Do not waste another minute 'worrying' about hurting it.
Guns are relatively hard to break unless you really want to do so. Obviously, they can be mortally dangerous items, so learn all you can about safe handling of your firearm. Welcome to THR and be safe.
Sunray
Member
You really have to work at damaging any modern firearm, but you need to at least read the manual. Or go to the shop where you bought the thing and ask 'em to show you how to field strip it.
Hokie_PhD
Member
I'm not an expert but I think you should be fine.
The reason for cleaning is to get all of the stuff from machining, assembly, shipping, storage etc. out.
It's also to get good lube in it.
Your gun will wear some as you use it. Thankfully most of the wear is minor and it'll get better the more you use it for a long time. Most of us won't shoot enough rounds to get to wearing one out. Well unless you compete or shoot multiple times a week.
So, congrats on the new gun and welcome.
The reason for cleaning is to get all of the stuff from machining, assembly, shipping, storage etc. out.
It's also to get good lube in it.
Your gun will wear some as you use it. Thankfully most of the wear is minor and it'll get better the more you use it for a long time. Most of us won't shoot enough rounds to get to wearing one out. Well unless you compete or shoot multiple times a week.
So, congrats on the new gun and welcome.
CapnMac
Member
Well, welcome to the fold.
And to THR.
Too much of the world is either a mile wide and an ich deep, or a inch wide and a mile deep. Here you can combine the two to your heart's content.
As stated above, Glocks are really very shooter-proof. They are very dissimilar to, oh, the brakes on your car, where you have to bleed the lines, caliper the parts, all sorts of things.
On my old 1st generation G17 I found it best to pull back ever so slightly when pulling down the disassembly tabs, then letting the spring slide the slide forward and off.
You pretty much cannot install the barrel incorrectly, and the captive springs is pretty much a only-one-way right assembly. So, putting it together is really a matter of getting the lide rails on the four metal tabs on the frame.
The way the Fire Control Group (you'll see that abbreviated as FCG here) engages the striker can feel clunky if it's out of sequence.
One thing you can do is to lock the slide back on the slide stop. Ten release the stop. The slide ought to snap forward smartly without hesitation.
And to THR.
Too much of the world is either a mile wide and an ich deep, or a inch wide and a mile deep. Here you can combine the two to your heart's content.
As stated above, Glocks are really very shooter-proof. They are very dissimilar to, oh, the brakes on your car, where you have to bleed the lines, caliper the parts, all sorts of things.
On my old 1st generation G17 I found it best to pull back ever so slightly when pulling down the disassembly tabs, then letting the spring slide the slide forward and off.
You pretty much cannot install the barrel incorrectly, and the captive springs is pretty much a only-one-way right assembly. So, putting it together is really a matter of getting the lide rails on the four metal tabs on the frame.
The way the Fire Control Group (you'll see that abbreviated as FCG here) engages the striker can feel clunky if it's out of sequence.
One thing you can do is to lock the slide back on the slide stop. Ten release the stop. The slide ought to snap forward smartly without hesitation.
Welcome to THR.
Don't worry. If it went back together and still works, you didn't do any damage.
Remember, when you pull the trigger, you're initiating a controlled ignition of propellant that will ultimately casue the pressure inside the case to rise to something in the neighborhood of 15 tons per square inch. It's going to take more than forcefully pushing down on the disassembly lugs or pulling the trigger to do any permanent damage to the gun.
Hardtarget
Member
I don't have a Glock ( !! heresy...I know ) so, I can't help you...but...welcome to THR. I think you'll enjoy your stay!
Mark
Mark
As others have posted, welcome to THR.org
!!
I noticed this part of your post...
''...leave the range. Shortly after I was told I should clean the stock lube out. So I watched a...''
If per chance you mean the slide grease, I believe its still a bronze color, no. You do not clean that out. It is break in grease, not packing grease. You can leave it in almost indefinately, within reason.
Another problem with polymer guns is, polymer when cleaning. Do not use any harsh spray solvents such as auto parts brake cleaner. These can discolor or sometimes soften the polymer material. Go with a traditional spray cleaner at the gun counter, such as ''Gun Scrubber'' or ''Break Free Powder Blast.'' I hope I got those names correct, but you'll see the commercial spray cleaners in the gun section.
I know...it's a guy thing...but read the instruction manual!! Hehe
And I echo a BIG 2nd on post#8
!!I noticed this part of your post...
''...leave the range. Shortly after I was told I should clean the stock lube out. So I watched a...''
If per chance you mean the slide grease, I believe its still a bronze color, no. You do not clean that out. It is break in grease, not packing grease. You can leave it in almost indefinately, within reason.
Another problem with polymer guns is, polymer when cleaning. Do not use any harsh spray solvents such as auto parts brake cleaner. These can discolor or sometimes soften the polymer material. Go with a traditional spray cleaner at the gun counter, such as ''Gun Scrubber'' or ''Break Free Powder Blast.'' I hope I got those names correct, but you'll see the commercial spray cleaners in the gun section.
I know...it's a guy thing...but read the instruction manual!! Hehe
And I echo a BIG 2nd on post#8
Sav .250
Member
There are times when knowing what your doing before you do it .......... certainly is helpful. J s/n.
As mentioned, YouTube should have a tutorial (audio-visual) on tear down of your weapon.
As mentioned, YouTube should have a tutorial (audio-visual) on tear down of your weapon.
redneck2
Member
For every one new gun that gets cleaned before shooting, there are probably a dozen that aren't.
Fire_Moose
Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2012
- Messages
- 371
Gun scrubber is non-chlorinated brake kleen @ 5x the cost, for the record.
herrwalther
Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Messages
- 8,132
Youtube will be your friend when it comes to learning new things about firearms. But be wary. You will find, through experience, who knows what they are talking about and who is talking out of the body part they sit on.
Also think about what happens when you fire a gun. You are setting off a very small controlled explosion to propel a piece of metal in a controlled direction at thousands of feet per second. You would have to try pretty hard to hurt a firearm with your bare hands.
In any case, welcome to the wide world of firearms. Be warned it is very addicting.
Also think about what happens when you fire a gun. You are setting off a very small controlled explosion to propel a piece of metal in a controlled direction at thousands of feet per second. You would have to try pretty hard to hurt a firearm with your bare hands.
In any case, welcome to the wide world of firearms. Be warned it is very addicting.
22250Rem
Member
If you purchased it from a dealer ask them if they have a small booklet entitled: "PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OF THE GLOCK SEMI-AUTOMATIC "SAFE ACTION" PISTOL". Besides the instructions that come with the gun I found this to be great when I became a first time Glock owner when I bought my G-19. It goes through all that stuff in detail with lots of pictures. Shop owner / gunsmith I got mine from also recommended a spray called " Quick Scrub III", made by the Shooters Choice folks because I was afraid of some of those harsh chemicals on that polymer. Once you take it apart a couple times following the instructions it'll be easy to do. I was a little worried first time, too. But now it's very simple and quick.
Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
I really doubt you damage the gun, but paging through the manual is a good idea, especially if you are new to guns in general.
Slow down a bit and be patient. Take some time to observe how the design works.
Slow down a bit and be patient. Take some time to observe how the design works.
vba
Member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2008
- Messages
- 345
Oh my! One has to make sure the gun is completely empty then pull the trigger on a Glock to field strip
That would make me pee my pants just thinking about it
Op, as above remove mag, CLEAR chamber then pull trigger, pull down tabs and push the slide forward off the frame.
That would make me pee my pants just thinking about itOp, as above remove mag, CLEAR chamber then pull trigger, pull down tabs and push the slide forward off the frame.
As others have noted, one of the strong/selling points of Glocks (which I don't personally like) is that they are pretty resistant to abuse. In the unlikely event that you damage it, you can find out that Glock itself offers very good customer service (partially as a function of being so efficient at manufacturing that they have very little money in each gun and can afford to simply give people replacements if they feel like it).
Zerodefect
member
You couldn't get the slide off, then pulled the trigger and "shot" it off?
That's harmless, just did that 4 times to my G23.4 now.
I recommend getting a 3/32" punch and watching how to detail Glock slides on youtube. Very easy to thoroughly clean your extractor every 500 rounds or so. (I do mine every 300 give or take cause it's so easy)
I use plain old Breakfree CLP from Walmart.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...Shooting+-+Gun+Cleaning-_-Break-Free-_-188140
I often use a thicker lube after cleaning with CLP. Like Wilsons Ultimalube (but i make it myself). I never use solvents on pistols. Really is no need other than CLP. Oil cleans just fine.
Check out a Crossbreed Supertuck holster for the G43.
So what Glock is next? 19? 17? 34.4? You have to have a compact or fullsize next. A 43 is a challenging one to start out with. Most instructors won't teach new shooters on subcompacts, unless they have to. And it's easier to get your grip right and basics down on a 19 or 17.
That's harmless, just did that 4 times to my G23.4 now.
I recommend getting a 3/32" punch and watching how to detail Glock slides on youtube. Very easy to thoroughly clean your extractor every 500 rounds or so. (I do mine every 300 give or take cause it's so easy)
I use plain old Breakfree CLP from Walmart.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...Shooting+-+Gun+Cleaning-_-Break-Free-_-188140
I often use a thicker lube after cleaning with CLP. Like Wilsons Ultimalube (but i make it myself). I never use solvents on pistols. Really is no need other than CLP. Oil cleans just fine.
Check out a Crossbreed Supertuck holster for the G43.
So what Glock is next? 19? 17? 34.4? You have to have a compact or fullsize next. A 43 is a challenging one to start out with. Most instructors won't teach new shooters on subcompacts, unless they have to. And it's easier to get your grip right and basics down on a 19 or 17.
Last edited:
- Status
