Are Glocks safe?

[Darkenfast]

Carrying a Glock with no round in the chamber is carrying an unloaded gun. You are hoping that you have a chance to use both hands to load your gun in an emergency. Hope seems like a poor strategy when your life is on the line.

First, the fact that internet pundits keep repeating that "unloaded gun" quip doesn't make it true. The time difference between Condition One/Three firing from a concealment or service holster is not so large as to effect the outcome in the majority of instances.

Second (and this has been pointed out multiple times on this and other forums), racking the slide one-handed is quite doable. I was taught the technique in the early 90s during fairly basic 1911 training in the Navy. We used live ammunition and nobody got hurt! We also trained in Condition One carry, because our Marine instructors knew that there would be situations where we needed to do that.

I would probably carry a round in the chamber with most pistols. I would NEVER consider a person who thought it through, practiced, and carried condition three to be hauling around an unloaded gun.

 

[alwslate]

While you were In training with your guns starting with an an empty chamber, and training as to how to chamber a round one handed, was anyone shooting at you really trying to kill you?

 

[steelslaver]

The question isn't really is a Glock (revolver, derringer, 1911 etc) safe.

The proper question is, is the user?

An untrained, undisciplined or careless person is not safe with an empty muzzle loading pistol.

Case in point some nimrods my one brother knows had about a 12" steel muzzle loading cannon, They proceeded to give it a good charge of shotgun powder and a steel bearing. Luckily no one was struck by the shrapnel.

I myself will stick to my S&W revolvers, because of a life time of familiarity and habits. But, I believe a Glock is safe when the user is.

 

[kbm6893]

You are incorrect here. A Glock has THREE safeties.

1. Trigger Safety. To fire the pistol, the trigger safety AND the trigger itself must be deliberately depressed at the same time. If the trigger safety is not depressed, the trigger will not move rearwards and allow the pistol to fire.
2. Firing Pin Safety. the firing pin safety mechanically blocks the firing pin from moving forward. As the trigger is pulled rearward, the trigger bar pushes the firing pin safety up and frees the firing pin channel.
3. Drop Safety. The trigger bar engages the rear portion of the firing pin and prevents the firing pin from moving forward. As the trigger is pulled rearward the trigger bar lowers down the safety ramp and allows the release of the firing pin.

After firing, as the trigger is released, all safeties automatically reengage.

The “Glock has 3 safeties” is a marketing ploy, designed to sell guns. All. Modern weapons have those same three safeties. The trigger lever covers most of the trigger, and virtually anything that gets into the trigger guard will be enough to pull the trigger. Sure, Nd’s happened before Glock, but they happened more often with Glocks, and other similar striker fired weapons, hence the term Glock Leg.

Glocks are good weapons, but I don’t think of them as beginner weapons or weapons for causal shooters. Tell me one other deadly item that literally markets itself as being so simple anybody can use it.

 

[Darkenfast]

While you were In training with your guns starting with an an empty chamber, and training as to how to chamber a round one handed, was anyone shooting at you really trying to kill you?

No, and no one was trying to kill us when we learned to draw the pistol in Condition One either. Or when we shot weak handed. Or when we practiced flashlight techniques. Or when we shot by the light of a vehicle. Or when we reloaded. Or when we ran between stations on the combat course and fired through windows and around obstacles...

 

[max503]

Thanks, everyone for the replies. I picked the gun up today and took it to the range with some of my cast bullet reloads.
It could be a while before I ever get serious about carrying this gun. I plan on working up a good CB load for it and killing some steel plates and bowling pins.
That trigger takes an act of volition to make it go off. I feel safe with it. The key is being mindful when you're using it. Just like any other gun.
Recoil was very manageable for such a small 9mm. I shot 71 rounds - no problem. We had fun.

 

[kbm6893]

Thanks, everyone for the replies. I picked the gun up today and took it to the range with some of my cast bullet reloads.
It could be a while before I ever get serious about carrying this gun. I plan on working up a good CB load for it and killing some steel plates and bowling pins.
That trigger takes an act of volition to make it go off. I feel safe with it. The key is being mindful when you're using it. Just like any other gun.
Recoil was very manageable for such a small 9mm. I shot 71 rounds - no problem. We had fun.

Shooting lead bullets from a Glock is not recommended due to the polygonal rifling. All I shoot are reloads but they’re played and not bare lead like yours.

 

[rosewood]

Shooting lead bullets from a Glock is not recommended due to the polygonal rifling. All I shoot are reloads but they’re played and not bare lead like yours.

All depends on who you ask. Know lots of folks that shoot cast and don't have any issues in Glocks. I do know for a fact if you PC your CBs, they work perfect.

Rosewood

 

[max503]

Why not shoot lead through my Glock? Will it hurt it? The ones I shot were tumble lubed, but I also PC. The bore looked fine. Nice and shiny.

Seems to be a common practice among some shooters:
A warning about the Gen 5 barrels to those who don't know. | Glock Forum - GlockTalk.

 

[rosewood]

Why not shoot lead through my Glock? Will it hurt it? The ones I shot were tumble lubed, but I also PC. The bore looked fine. Nice and shiny.

I think the problem is with those folks that think you don't have to clean a Glock. They shoot thousands of rounds and never even run a patch thru the bore. If you clean the gun regularly, there are no issues.

I at the very least pull a bore snake through all my guns before I leave the range to knock out any residue and add a light coat of Remoil for rust protection.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

I would be interested in seeing Glock's explanation on why they do not recommend lead in their barrels. Everything I have read was anecdotal. No real facts other than those that shoot it and never have problems. Wonder if there are any real world examples out there showing there is a problem with it?

Rosewood

 

[rockquarry]

I would be interested in seeing Glock's explanation on why they do not recommend lead in their barrels. Everything I have read was anecdotal. No real facts other than those that shoot it and never have problems. Wonder if there are any real world examples out there showing there is a problem with it?

Rosewood

I've never owned a Glock and have never fired one. In 1989 when these guns were pretty new on the scene, a friend bought one. I had been doing extensive work with three 9mm pistols, a Beretta 92F, a Walther P4, and an S&W (don't recall the model but it was a much later development than the 39).

I had developed a cast bullet handload that worked well in my three guns and functioned reliably. I have no reason to believe my ammo was out of spec as I used a .356" bullet then but switched to a .358" bullet sometime later. Even with the larger bullet, it's slightly under SAAMI specs as I've measured it with a micrometer.

When I tried my handload in the Glock, it locked up tightly. With difficulty, I was finally able to get the slide back and eject the cartridge. That was my sole experience with Glock and cast bullets. I had no use for any handgun that didn't work with such handloads.

I still shoot the Beretta and Walther, along with a Sig P226 that I purchased in 1989. These guns have had many thousands of rounds of cast bullet handloads fired through them. I don't recall a single malfunction.

 

[kbm6893]

I would be interested in seeing Glock's explanation on why they do not recommend lead in their barrels. Everything I have read was anecdotal. No real facts other than those that shoot it and never have problems. Wonder if there are any real world examples out there showing there is a problem with it?

Rosewood

Just a few sources:
Close sidebar

American Hunter | Lead for Glocks?

Shooting lead in Glocks | Firearms Talk


Seems to me to be enough of a consensus to not do it. If I did do it, I’d clean the barrel with a Lewis Lead Remover every time. I bought some lead 230 grain .45 ACP a few years ago. I’m just trying to use it up. Doesn’t load or shoot as well as my plated bullets do.

 

[rockquarry]

Just a few sources:
Close sidebar

American Hunter | Lead for Glocks?

Shooting lead in Glocks | Firearms Talk


Seems to me to be enough of a consensus to not do it. If I did do it, I’d clean the barrel with a Lewis Lead Remover every time. I bought some lead 230 grain .45 ACP a few years ago. I’m just trying to use it up. Doesn’t load or shoot as well as my plated bullets do.

Newer Glocks may handle cast bullets, though I don't know this for sure and likely will never find out. I did no investigation when I found my cast bullet loads would not chamber in a Glock more than thirty years ago, so offer no ideas other than maybe a tight chamber and that may be wrong.

As for cast bullets in handguns generally, if a cast bullet doesn't shoot well, as with your .45 bullets, they probably are not the right fit for your gun or are the wrong alloy for your load, or both. A properly fit cast bullet of the proper alloy for your load will at least equal or often exceed the accuracy of a good jacketed bullet or plated bullet.

 

[kbm6893]

Newer Glocks may handle cast bullets, though I don't know this for sure and likely will never find out. I did no investigation when I found my cast bullet loads would not chamber in a Glock more than thirty years ago, so offer no ideas other than maybe a tight chamber and that may be wrong.

As for cast bullets in handguns generally, if a cast bullet doesn't shoot well, as with your .45 bullets, they probably are not the right fit for your gun or are the wrong alloy for your load, or both. A properly fit cast bullet of the proper alloy for your load will at least equal or often exceed the accuracy of a good jacketed bullet or plated bullet.

I have three .45 ACP’s. A Colt GI from 1944, a S&W 4566, and a S&W M&P. In the M&P, the slide would sometimes not go fully into battery. I had to bump it to close. The lead worked fine in the GI 1911 and the 4566. Plated bullets chamber fine in the M&P. These were 230 grain bullets from Missouri Bullet Company.

 

[shocker]

Shooting lead bullets from a Glock is not recommended due to the polygonal rifling. All I shoot are reloads but they’re played and not bare lead like yours.

Can always get an aftermarket barrel with conventional rifling, if the stock barrel doesn't like the cast being shot through it.

 

[Vtgw938]

Disregard.

 

[max503]

Thanks for the heads-up about lead in the Glock. I'll stick with PC for now. I make both.

 

[kbm6893]

Can always get an aftermarket barrel with conventional rifling, if the stock barrel doesn't like the cast being shot through it.

I know. That’s what I’d do if I was going to shoot lead.

 

[rosewood]

Interesting. Read the "Glock" provided explanation and basically said lead builds up faster and the gun needs to be cleaned more often is the reason you shouldn't use lead.

That applies to all guns!! Duh.