talk to me about the different 'gens' of glocks
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JTQ
Member
Gen 4 gives you adjustable back straps, larger mag release button, and dual recoil springs for the compact and full size guns. The sub-compacts always had the dual recoil springs.
I think the kaboom problem is the result of user error, though my belief is the Glock's may be less tolerant of "user error" than some other designs. If they say don't shoot lead bullets or reloads through your Glock, and you shoot way over pressure reloads with lead bullets, I suppose a kaboom could be expected.
I think the kaboom problem is the result of user error, though my belief is the Glock's may be less tolerant of "user error" than some other designs. If they say don't shoot lead bullets or reloads through your Glock, and you shoot way over pressure reloads with lead bullets, I suppose a kaboom could be expected.
Yeah you can buy a various selection of aftermarket barrels and shoot reloads but I still wouldn't. Every Glock thread I've seen where the gun blew up was firing reloaded ammunition.
Waywatcher
Member
Pretty much any user manual ever disclaims liability from reloaded ammo, Glock is no different there. Glocks are less tolerant of an over pressure situation than, say, a 1911, and most Glocks run high pressure ammunition to begin with. Careless reloads in a Glock go kaBoom.
I would advise a Gen 3 first and foremost, but if dead set on a Gen 4 I would go .40.
I would advise a Gen 3 first and foremost, but if dead set on a Gen 4 I would go .40.
I chose gen 3 because it seems to be a proven design (and at the time, there were prblems reported with the gen 4). I do not know if the gen 4 versions have more support in the chamber. Most reports I have read suggest that less support in the chamber to improve feed reliability, along with the use of reloads have resulted in KBs. I do not believe the 9mm or 45 suffer from this as much as the 10mm and 40S&W, but I can't point to anything to support that.
TheReiver
Member
I replaced my beloved Glock 19 (idiot for selling it) with a Gen 3 because personally the changeable blackstraps, different recoil spring, and reversible mag release aren't worth the extra money to me. I'm not convinced that one is mechanically superior to the other.
jerkface11
Member
The checkering on gen4 sucks.
TheReiver
Member
I didn't like the texture much either. I put some leftover grip tape from the last skateboard I built on the grip of my Gen 3 and it's great apart from how it snags my shirt sometimes.
VA27
Member
I still have my first (1988) G17. Untold number of trouble-free rounds downrange. I have a 10 year old G22, same thing. Not one of the 120 G22's we have has ever given a moments trouble. Zero, zip, nada kabooms.
Kabooms happen from overpressure. Overpressure can be caused by;
Bullet setback from rechambering the same round too many times.
Using poor condition brass that doesn't resize properly allowing bullet setback upon chambering.
Shooting cast bullets and allowing lead/lube to build up at the chamber throat to the point that it causes bullet setback.
Loading the wrong ammo in the magazine. I saw a G21 kaboomed when a round of 40 got into a magazine. When the slide cycled it out of the mag the extractor missed it and it was loose in the chamber. the shooter got a 'click', did a tap-rack, which loaded the next 45 into the chamber and pushed the 40 round into the bore. When the 45 round went off it set off the 40 round and buldged the barrel and the slide.
Keep your Glock clean, use good ammo and it will be fine.
Kabooms happen from overpressure. Overpressure can be caused by;
Bullet setback from rechambering the same round too many times.
Using poor condition brass that doesn't resize properly allowing bullet setback upon chambering.
Shooting cast bullets and allowing lead/lube to build up at the chamber throat to the point that it causes bullet setback.
Loading the wrong ammo in the magazine. I saw a G21 kaboomed when a round of 40 got into a magazine. When the slide cycled it out of the mag the extractor missed it and it was loose in the chamber. the shooter got a 'click', did a tap-rack, which loaded the next 45 into the chamber and pushed the 40 round into the bore. When the 45 round went off it set off the 40 round and buldged the barrel and the slide.
Keep your Glock clean, use good ammo and it will be fine.
MagnunJoe
Member
+3 on the Generation 3 choice. If u go as a guest to the forum General Glocking, U will find dozens of "Glockers" really pissed of @ their generation 4 Glocks.
RBid
Member
I like the Gen 3 grip & texture, but the Gen 4 mag release and dual recoil spring are great in my preferred Glock (the 23). I bought a Gen 3, but I would have grabbed a Gen 4 if I had been able to at the time.
IMO, the stronger recoil spring makes Gen4 the one to have in 40SW. And the Gen3 for 9mm. Pretty simple. This is for the full and compact models. I think the subcompact is pretty much the same thing, functionally, in both generations.
If you want better chamber support, avoid pre gen3 40SW and 10mm. That's just my generalization.
If you want better chamber support, avoid pre gen3 40SW and 10mm. That's just my generalization.
SpentCasing
Member
I have a Gen3 17 and Gen4 19. I prefer the 4s due to the grip texture and the bigger mag release. If I ever get rid of the 17 it will be replaced by a Gen4 34.
JTQ
Member
My understanding is the entire reason for the Gen4 was to get the G22 to work properly, and consistently, with an attached light, and that is the reason for the dual recoil springs. The other features, such as the bigger mag release, adjustable back straps, different texture (and what feels to me like more rounded corners) of the grip frame, were really just throw-ins as they were changing the frame anyway to accommodate the dual spring.
Most of the Gen4 problems were reported with the 9mm versions as Glock took a few try's dialing in the proper recoil spring strength to allow the 9mm versions to work with a variety of 9mm power levels. The early Gen4 9mm models didn't work well with low powered, light weight rounds. Glock is a good company and produces a quality product. They've got the Gen4 9mm's figured out by now. If you like the features of the Gen4's, you should be able to buy the 9mm versions with confidence.
mohunter55
Member
gen 2 .40s could have chamber support issues if shooting crappy lead reloads (of course all guns could). Gen 3's are proven although some say glock's new gen3s have the same brass to the face issues as the gen4s. I only have experience with the gen3's from 5 or more years ago and they have been great. I have 2 gen4's one is good, the other has brass to the face with 115 grain ammo
TimboKhan
Member
I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I don't know that the quality of the reload isn't the bigger culprit if your blowing up an aftermarket barrel. Reloading and the effects thereof isn't my forte though, so I really don't know.
rbernie
Contributing Member
In addition to the changes to the backstrap, recoil spring assembly and mag release, the Gen4s have the SF contours available on the earlier SF models, as well as a modified RTF (texured finish). The Gen4 is 'smaller' in the hand than the earlier Gen3.
Early Gen4s had ejector issues that caused them to get a bad rep, but the current ejector designs have been 100% for me.
The standard Glock polygonal rifled barrels have a propensity to lead up faster than groove-n-land designs, and will spike pressures faster as a result when leading gets to be bad. You can shoot cast ammo through your Glock, but I usually clean the barrel every 100 rounds if I shoot cast. You cannot 'shoot out the lead' by following a cast lead box with a FMJ box - you have to scrub the barrel. I use copper ChoreBoy strands wrapped around an oversize bronze brush, and it pushes the leading right out. If you shoot cast lead in a stock Glock, you have to stay ahead of the leading and it's hard to see it forming - this is why most folk simply suggest avoiding it.
The Gen3 and Gen4 factory barrels that I've seen in 9mm, 40S&W, and 357 Sig all offered good-to-excellent case head support. The 45 ACP barrel in my Model 21, on the other hand, did not. I also run an aftermarket (Storm Lake) barrel in my range Glock 21, since I don't clean it much at all and it sees cast bullets almost exclusively (and the stock barrel wasn't all that great for case head support).
This is also why they seem to be overrepresented in KaBOOM! incidents - they unlock faster since they don't have the snap of the hammer banging them into battery and holding them there for a fraction of a second longer.
Early Gen4s had ejector issues that caused them to get a bad rep, but the current ejector designs have been 100% for me.
The standard Glock polygonal rifled barrels have a propensity to lead up faster than groove-n-land designs, and will spike pressures faster as a result when leading gets to be bad. You can shoot cast ammo through your Glock, but I usually clean the barrel every 100 rounds if I shoot cast. You cannot 'shoot out the lead' by following a cast lead box with a FMJ box - you have to scrub the barrel. I use copper ChoreBoy strands wrapped around an oversize bronze brush, and it pushes the leading right out. If you shoot cast lead in a stock Glock, you have to stay ahead of the leading and it's hard to see it forming - this is why most folk simply suggest avoiding it.
The Gen3 and Gen4 factory barrels that I've seen in 9mm, 40S&W, and 357 Sig all offered good-to-excellent case head support. The 45 ACP barrel in my Model 21, on the other hand, did not. I also run an aftermarket (Storm Lake) barrel in my range Glock 21, since I don't clean it much at all and it sees cast bullets almost exclusively (and the stock barrel wasn't all that great for case head support).
Interesting. The slide had to change to make room for the larger recoil spring assembly, but I wasn't aware that the frame internal dimensions were changed as well.
Striker fired pistols have to use slide mass and the recoil spring almost exclusively to control the timing of the unlocking during recoil, unlike hammer-firing guns that can use both hammer spring, recoil spring, and slide mass. That makes the striker fired guns a bit more sensitive to changes in ammo power and spring strength.
This is also why they seem to be overrepresented in KaBOOM! incidents - they unlock faster since they don't have the snap of the hammer banging them into battery and holding them there for a fraction of a second longer.
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