Are Glocks safe?

[hittman77]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[kbm6893]

My son was in the Army and he loves them. I have never shot a Glock and am hesitant to buy one, but mostly because too many people are on the fence about owning one and if I am correct, they only have a 1 year limited warranty. I want something that looks more appealing and has a better warranty while still be reliable and affordable for my budget. I have yet to decide what I will buy next but I am looking around for a 9mm/40cal with at least a 4 inch barrel or longer. (not for carry)

If the warranty is keeping you away from Glocks, then don’t worry about it. Glock will take care of anything basically forever. I just bought a Gen 2 Glock made in 1993. It’s an NYPD gun and I carried almost that exact gun way back then. I figured being 28 years old and having shot mainly +P duty ammo for that time, it might need a once over. I called Glock and they said send it in. They got it in 12/22, and I had it back in my hands on 12/24. Nearly every internal component and every spring was replaced. Other than the $15 it cost me to ship, and the $106 for the new night sights I requested, they charged me nothing. Even sent it back in a factory hard case. I didn’t bother sending the mags because I replaced the springs myself, but if I had, they would have put new ones in, as well.

By the way, I believe Glocks are “safe”. But they are “less safe” than hammer fired or striker fired without a safety. They are more susceptible to human error. I have several M&P pistols, and the all have external safeties. I never plan to carry the Glock 19 I just bought. I have other guns for carry. The 19 was bought for nostalgia and for range use. But if I ever carry that 19 or any other Glock, I would definitely get that striker control device. Placing my thumb over the striker plate would be just like placing my thumb in the hammer as I holster. If the company made one for the M&P line, I’d have one on all my M&P’s. I’m never going to be as comfortable holstering a striker gun as I am a hammer fired one.

 

[MorrisGray]

*KBM* Thanks for the reply and the info. I would say that is outstanding service from Glock. Just guessing they don't want to advertise it.

ALso... thanks for your service as a LEO

 

[MorrisGray]

By the way I just order one each of these two pistols ...
... S&W Law Enf, M&P40 M2.0 Compact, 12098, 4", 3x13 mags (striker)
... Walther Creed 9mm Full-size 16rd 4" Pistol 2815516 (hammer)
And I appreciate everyone's help and opinions here on this site.

 

[rogerwnuss]

I am surprised to hear anyone finds the Luger- I mean, Glock grip angle a natural pointer. Especially since that's one of the biggest gripes I've heard from others.
It terrifies me how many times I've seen young guys bring their wives/girlfriends into a gunstore to get their first pistol, and go straight to the Glock case, when they should be looking at da revolvers...imho anyway...

 

[Puller]

^^^ Here's the thing about a lot of Glock haters . . . not only do they hate Glocks, but it seems to be important to them that others hate them too.

Fortunately, there are a lot of Glock owners who are completely satisfied with the product and, obviously, the vast majority of Glock owners are just as safe as other brand firearm owners. Funny thing to, I don't seem to recall any Glock owners wagging their fingers at other brand gun owners.

Shoot what you like to shoot, it's all good.

 

[kbm6893]

^^^ Here's the thing about a lot of Glock haters . . . not only do they hate Glocks, but it seems to be important to them that others hate them too.

Fortunately, there are a lot of Glock owners who are completely satisfied with the product and, obviously, the vast majority of Glock owners are just as safe as other brand firearm owners. Funny thing to, I don't seem to recall any Glock owners wagging their fingers at other brand gun owners.

Shoot what you like to shoot, it's all good.

I’m surely not a Glock hater, but I have found Glock fans to be extremely condescending towards all other brands of guns. If the OP on this thread had posted his thread in a Glock forum, he would have gotten far different responses. I participated in a thread similar to this, asking why Glocks don’t offer a safety model like other makers do, and the responses were not kind.

 

[smoothshooter]

True safeties are not on guns, a true safety is on us and is directly related to the gray matter that sits between our ears.

I will say that having an external safety does have a better chance of saving one's a**, when we're being negligent, than not having one.

kobsw

The gray matter safety is more likely to fail than a mechanical one.

 

[Wyo]

This from John Farnam - the gun in question was a S&W, not a Glock, but his conclusions at the end of the post seem generally applicable to most any handgun. And, yes, any handgun can bite you if you're sloppy:

“Funny things, accidents. You never have them, until you're having them!”
AA Milne

From a Police Chief in TX:

“Last week, a fellow and his wife were parked after dark at one of our local convenience stores. Before going into the store, the male (driver) retrieved a kydex IWB holster containing his M&P Shield (9mm, no manual safety) from the console of his SUV and was attempting to put the whole thing inside his waistband (appendix position) while still sitting in the vehicle.

While trying to finesse the package into place inside his pants, the gun discharged!

The round was a Hornady 9mm Critical Defense. It performed as advertised! The single round entered his abdomen and did not exit.

The pistol (now clear of the holster) was subsequently found by our officers on the passenger-side floorboard, with the spent case still in the chamber.

A bystander stopped and rendered aid, holding pressure on the entry wound, probably saving the injured man’s life!

Our EMS arrived quickly and transported the man to our local hospital where surgery was performed immediately.

Surgeons subsequently informed me that the bullet mercifully missed the femoral artery, but bleeding was still profuse!

The victim lived through it, but with some permanent disability likely.

The holster in question was well-used, and poorly maintained. One of the screws that secures it to the backing was loose. Another was missing. This allowed plenty of ‘flop,’ and the pistol was thus not well-supported.

The culprit in this case was likely an errant finger, which is the usual cause of UDs, but at this point a definitive cause is probably not discoverable.

Lessons:

Guns are dangerous! Can we say that too often? Poor gun-handling habits represent a time-bomb, as we see! When you can’t continuously wear your holster and gun while driving, get a combo that you can. Unnecessary gun-handling, such as taking guns off and putting them back on several times during the day, is relentlessly associated with UDs. If you’re going to wear a gun, wear it all day and don’t touch it (absent good cause).

Holstering a pistol while seated in a vehicle is not recommended, but when it is to be done, it has to be done with much care and attention to detail. I would not recommend putting a holster containing a loaded pistol (any brand of pistol) into your pants, in the appendix position, while seated in a vehicle, in the dark, under any circumstances!

Maintain your equipment! Most kydex holsters have screws. Screws come loose! Floppy, loose, worn-out, broken holsters are an invitation to disaster. Worn-out holsters need to be replaced with new ones!

Always have your trauma kit close-by, and be sure you know how and when to use everything in it. The bullet-hole you treat might be in you! Help may be on the way, but you are still the ‘first responder!’”

My comment: I don’t think it is possible to handle deadly weapons “safely.” Yet, I think we can handle them carefully.

Risk attaches to having guns in your life, no matter what brand of gun, and no matter what procedure you adhere to.

Risk also attaches to not having guns in your life!

We can teach you how to own, keep, store, carry, and use modern guns correctly, but there are still no guarantees.

In plain English, the term “guarantee,” translates to “false promise!”

/John"

 

[John Patrick]

Glocks don't have EXTERNAL safeties but they are safe nonetheless. Glock design makes it IMPOSSIBLE for the striker to contact the primer unless a human finger is pulling the trigger. When partially cocked, the striker still resides over a frame ledge that will not allow the cruciform to drop. Unless the trigger is deliberately pulled, the striker CANNOT accidentally release - though I am sure know-nothings with attempt to disagree.
IF a Glock shoots you in the leg, it was YOUR FINGER than caused it, not any design defect of the gun.
The BEST way for professionals to carry a Glock is in a holster that blocks trigger access and HOPEFULLY the person doesn't draw the pistol using the TRIGGER!

This is inaccurate. A Glock or any other striker fired pistol will fire when the trigger is pulled, whether the trigger was deliberately pulled or not.

That also applies to any other sidearm without an engaged external safety, whether grip safety or lever, or both.

The significant issue is holstering and reholstering and allowing clothing or any other obstruction to interfere with the pistol, and particularly the trigger.

 

[rosewood]

This is inaccurate. A Glock or any other striker fired pistol will fire when the trigger is pulled, whether the trigger was deliberately pulled or not.

That also applies to any other sidearm without an engaged external safety, whether grip safety or lever, or both.

The significant issue is holstering and reholstering and allowing clothing or any other obstruction to interfere with the pistol, and particularly the trigger.

Yep, if only the human trigger could pull it, my trigger pull gauge wouldn't work.

 

[John Patrick]

As much as I would prefer to carry a DA/SA pistol, they are slower on the very critical first shot than a striker fired pistol.

Imo, a striker fired pistol with a frame mounted 1911ish style safety is ideal. Thankfully available.

 

[vinn]

"years ago", the Russ won the olymics with a M U pistol without a safety AND threads on the barrel tip weight. the chinezs had to install a safety and no threads on the tip, on their version of the M U. the compitision was Smith and wesson.

 

[petepeterson]

As much as I would prefer to carry a DA/SA pistol, they are slower on the very critical first shot than a striker fired pistol.

Not being argumentative, but are you saying a striker-fired pistol equipped with a manual safety is a faster first shot than a DA/SA auto with the hammer down and the safety/de-cocker in the "fire" position?

 

[John Patrick]

Not being argumentative, but are you saying a striker-fired pistol equipped with a manual safety is a faster first shot than a DA/SA auto with the hammer down and the safety/de-cocker in the "fire" position?

My SA/DAs do not have safeties. They are either decocked and ready to go, albeit slowly because of the long, heavy pull, or they are cocked with no safety. Sig P226, CZ SP 01 Phantom.

The answer is yes, a striker fired pistol equipped with a frame mounted 1911ish safety is faster. The safety is swept as the pistol is presented.

I can almost match times but I can’t match time and the precision of the first, critical shot. The striker fire wins, despite my preferred outcome.

 

[max503]

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.

All this means is that the boolits were seated out too far for that gun. The Glock must have had a shorter chamber.

I've been having excellent results with powder coated boolits in my Glock. Here's a quick 10 shot group at 25 yards.

 

[max503]

I started this thread. I've had my Glock for a little while now. Long enough to get to know it. Here's what I've found.
A Glock is just like any other gun. It is what it is. It's designed for a purpose. As a gun owner its my responsibility to use it properly - or get rid of it. I admire the design of this machine. I respect the power that it has and the damage it can do. It is a very interesting addition to my hobby.
Will I EDC it? No. It doesn't suit my needs for that. I want a gun that I can put in my pocket and forget about, even when I'm rolling around on the driveway changing my oil. I want to go to sleep on the couch with it, hidden away in my pocket, even when the family is around. A Glock isn't good for that. I'm not a cop and I live in a peaceful town. But I think the Glock is a neat-o gun and I like having it and it is there if I ever need it.

Is it safe? Yes. 100%. But its also like a high-maintenance woman. It's got its payoff - if you're willing to put the time into it.

 

[rockquarry]

All this means is that the boolits were seated out too far for that gun. The Glock must have had a shorter chamber.

I've been having excellent results with powder coated boolits in my Glock. Here's a quick 10 shot group at 25 yards.

Your assessment may be right but I didn't follow up to verify this. It was not my gun. I have no interest in seating a bullet to a different OAL just for one gun when the OAL I was using was fine in at least three other 9mm pistols.

 

[Jimmy4570]

Gaston Glock's little sewing machine represents a marvel of modern manufacturing to produce a reliable and inexpensive firearm suitable for lazy large organizations. They are no more nor less safe than any other in fact. It's inherent weakness is a severe intolerance for anyone violating rule #2 of firearms safety and demands that its handler keep everything in the environment out of the trigger guard while manipulating it. For all the people who poo-poo the notion of Browning's thumb and grip safeties the Browning design offers greater protection against the dreaded gun grab in which too many officers and agents are murdered by goons who manage to wrest handguns away from good guys. Those handguns with manual safeties have been shown time and again to prove effective at preventing criminals from successfully using a Browning handgun against an officer or agent. For all its manufacturing high points and successful marketing the Glock and its modern compatriots in the market suffer from poor ergonomics and "feel" compared to designs turned out over a century ago.

 

[yikes]

You know what's best for you. But it's better you grab that deal if it worth it.

You don't know when you'll get a good deal like that next.