Glock Flunks Reliability Test
- Thread starter Wild Romanian
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Mike Irwin
Staff
Oh ouch, .357 Sig! 
M
M58
Guest
I tested every make of 1911 rental gun we have at the range. Wilson to Colt...
All failed to function and fire.
I concluded that is was the design flaw.
Factory fresh .22 LR ammo was used throughout.
All failed to function and fire.
I concluded that is was the design flaw.
Factory fresh .22 LR ammo was used throughout.
shootingbuff
Inactive
Well now howdy all.
Long thread.
The 1911 did fire out of battery.
The Glock did not.
This has been stated by the tester WR.
I can believe that.
Anyone who "on purpose" loads and fires bad ammo and admits to it will tell you everything. They have no reason to lie.
I think the point should be taken for what it is worth.
WR's 1911 is need of repair.
The Glock held up to it's claims as being perfection which has already been mentioned.
Discussing the merits of springs has no bearing on the fact that WR's 1911 is in need of repair.
Hey I usedto rely on 1911 to keep me safe and now Glocks do because they are a better wpn.
Still if all I had was a 1911 I would be well armed with a blunt object ;-)
relax
sb
Long thread.
The 1911 did fire out of battery.
The Glock did not.
This has been stated by the tester WR.
I can believe that.
Anyone who "on purpose" loads and fires bad ammo and admits to it will tell you everything. They have no reason to lie.
I think the point should be taken for what it is worth.
WR's 1911 is need of repair.
The Glock held up to it's claims as being perfection which has already been mentioned.
Discussing the merits of springs has no bearing on the fact that WR's 1911 is in need of repair.
Hey I usedto rely on 1911 to keep me safe and now Glocks do because they are a better wpn.
Still if all I had was a 1911 I would be well armed with a blunt object ;-)
relax
sb
bad_dad_brad
New member
It is all about physics.
I use only quality factory ammo in my Glocks. Never fails. Never ever.
But for sure there is more potential energy in a hammer driven firing pin versus a striker fired pistol and that could make a difference in reloads and extra tough primers. Who knows?
So I guess the whole point of this thread is pointless. Modern striker fired pistols like the Glock and Kahr will be completely reliable with modern quality factory ammo.
Reloading is a hobby to defer the cost of plinking and not for serious self defense.
I use only quality factory ammo in my Glocks. Never fails. Never ever.
But for sure there is more potential energy in a hammer driven firing pin versus a striker fired pistol and that could make a difference in reloads and extra tough primers. Who knows?
So I guess the whole point of this thread is pointless. Modern striker fired pistols like the Glock and Kahr will be completely reliable with modern quality factory ammo.
Reloading is a hobby to defer the cost of plinking and not for serious self defense.
I would like to see a show of hands from those that would grab a box stock 1911 off the shelf and bet some serious money that it would be more reliable than a brand new Glock.
If it truly is a function of design....there should be no problems.
I have many thousands of rounds through my Glocks and ZERO malfunctions of any kind...let alone light primer strikes.
If it truly is a function of design....there should be no problems.
I have many thousands of rounds through my Glocks and ZERO malfunctions of any kind...let alone light primer strikes.
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello, Atticus. Yes, my "all the time" pistol is a G26 loaded with Triton 125 gr +P HiVel JHPs. I carry it in a Galco pocket holster. Wearing the Docker-type pants, I have no problems with concealment and have done so without incident for around a year now.
It is the only Glock I own, but it met my carry needs better than any other handgun. The only other one that did about as well and was thinner was a Kahr P9, but mine was not reliable. The G26 is.
If I do opt for a belt gun, it's either a Browning HP or a 1911.
Best.
It is the only Glock I own, but it met my carry needs better than any other handgun. The only other one that did about as well and was thinner was a Kahr P9, but mine was not reliable. The G26 is.
If I do opt for a belt gun, it's either a Browning HP or a 1911.
Best.
juliet charley
New member
I must admit that I may be the exception to the rule, but I have owned several Colts (two Series 70, four Series 80 and three 1991A1s), and they all worked flawlessly right out of the box. The same was true for the four different Kimbers I have owned. (Don't ask me about the Springfields though--they were a different story).
I've also about eight different Glocks. Of the Glocks, one (a very early model G31) couldn't get through a magazine without at least a couple FTEs. a G23 whose best group looked like "modified" shotgun pattern, and a G32 which had a propensity of ejecting at least one round every two or three magazines right between my eyes (not a reliability issue per se, but I was never very reliable with it).
This is not a "Glock Bash" nor a "1911 Love-Fest." Right now, I do not own a 1911 (nor do I intend to), and my carry weapon is a G30 (for which I wouldn't swap).
To be blunt, I would not bet my life (or serious money) on either one to perform "off the shelf."
Why do 80% of police departments own Glocks? first off i highly doubt that figure.
Reason#1. = Cheap discount prices offered to LEO agencies for purchase of Glock as service weapons.
Reason #2. Alot of police are not proficient with firearms.. esp handguns. Anyone can be taught to shoot a Glock= pull it, start pulling the trigger until it runs out of ammo.....
Unlike a 1911 where a manual saftey has to be disengaged.
I'm not a real big fan of Glocks, I own one, [G-20] have had a case seperation and resulting kaboom, but i love 10mm and there are not a whole lot of factory handguns chambered in 10mm. I use it as a duty weapon, but I'm going back to 1911 model [Para P-14 ltd] for several reasons that don't be needed to be mentioned here.
Guns are tools, and picking the right tool for the job is important, but choosing one that fits the needs of each individual. 1911 fills that bill for me, They are simply a better overall weapon than a Glock...IMHO. I have a box stock Para, [except for its sights] it has never failed me, for any reason.
12-34hom.
Reason#1. = Cheap discount prices offered to LEO agencies for purchase of Glock as service weapons.
Reason #2. Alot of police are not proficient with firearms.. esp handguns. Anyone can be taught to shoot a Glock= pull it, start pulling the trigger until it runs out of ammo.....
Unlike a 1911 where a manual saftey has to be disengaged. I'm not a real big fan of Glocks, I own one, [G-20] have had a case seperation and resulting kaboom, but i love 10mm and there are not a whole lot of factory handguns chambered in 10mm. I use it as a duty weapon, but I'm going back to 1911 model [Para P-14 ltd] for several reasons that don't be needed to be mentioned here.
Guns are tools, and picking the right tool for the job is important, but choosing one that fits the needs of each individual. 1911 fills that bill for me, They are simply a better overall weapon than a Glock...IMHO. I have a box stock Para, [except for its sights] it has never failed me, for any reason.
12-34hom.
I believe that its 70% of leo's use glocks based on holster sales. As far as the glock goes this is why its poplular.
1. Reliable
2. Durable
3. Accurate
4. Simple to shoot well because of consistent trigger. (speaking of 5.5 pound pull not the 8 and 12 pound versions)
5. Low bore axis and short trigger reset makes them very quick to fire for multiple rounds.
In my department about half of the guys used to carry 1911's. But reliability problems caused all but one of the guys to go with various glocks in 40, 357 sig and 45 auto. One guy went with a HK USP in 45 auto and he carries it cocked and locked. I currently own a Para P14 limited its an ok gun. But I would not trust my life to a 1911 in this day and age as their are more reliable guns out there.
PAT
1. Reliable
2. Durable
3. Accurate
4. Simple to shoot well because of consistent trigger. (speaking of 5.5 pound pull not the 8 and 12 pound versions)
5. Low bore axis and short trigger reset makes them very quick to fire for multiple rounds.
In my department about half of the guys used to carry 1911's. But reliability problems caused all but one of the guys to go with various glocks in 40, 357 sig and 45 auto. One guy went with a HK USP in 45 auto and he carries it cocked and locked. I currently own a Para P14 limited its an ok gun. But I would not trust my life to a 1911 in this day and age as their are more reliable guns out there.
PAT
Mike Irwin
Staff
You guys have ALL missed one of, if not the, biggest reason why Glock is so popular with law enforcement...
COST.
Glock has made some KILLER deals to police departments that make it a lot more cost effective to go with the Glock than with the deals offered by other manufacturers.
A gentleman that I know was part of the procurement board for a medium-sized police force in Pennsylvania, about 65 officers.
They now carry Glock 9mms because the per-unit price offered by Glock blew everyone else out of the water.
COST.
Glock has made some KILLER deals to police departments that make it a lot more cost effective to go with the Glock than with the deals offered by other manufacturers.
A gentleman that I know was part of the procurement board for a medium-sized police force in Pennsylvania, about 65 officers.
They now carry Glock 9mms because the per-unit price offered by Glock blew everyone else out of the water.
Mike Irwin
Staff
A Ruger distributor or wholesaler made a bid for this police force's guns.
Glock beat it handily.
I just about shat a brick when he told me that.
Glock beat it handily.
I just about shat a brick when he told me that.
Well, Mike, I'm sure you remember back when Glocks cost about what Rugers did at the retail level. While Rugers have stayed relatively constant, pricewise, in relation to the rest of the gun market. while Glocks have skyrocketed to near-SIG/Beretta price levels.
I think you and I know who that price jump is subsidizing.
I think you and I know who that price jump is subsidizing.
Master Blaster
New member
One word here,
Wild romainians test is silly, but the 1911 did not fire out of batteryas suggested by some here, the design of the 1911 precludes this, What happened is that the slide or the firing pin seated the high primer with its energy, then the primer ignited firing the gun. The striker did not have the energy to seat the primer and fire it.
Glocks do fire out of battery, this is a well known fact and responsible in part for some of the Kabooms.
If you doubt that glocks fire out of battery here is a simple test you can perform at the range.
load a glock any caliber, slow fire a couple of rounds, pick up the shells and examine the primer, you will see a round indent with a slight squarish mark.
Now rapid fire 5 rounds as fast as you can and pick up the shell casings and examine the primer. You will see an EGG shaped indent which is shallower at the top and deeper at the bottom
This means that the striker has hit the primer before the round is fully chambered and the slide is fully forward, and as the round is moving the slide with striker protruding is going forward and this causes the teardroped shapped indent on the primer.
Try this with a .45 1911 and you will find a round indent no matter how fast you fire.
By the way I like my glock 26.
Wild romainians test is silly, but the 1911 did not fire out of batteryas suggested by some here, the design of the 1911 precludes this, What happened is that the slide or the firing pin seated the high primer with its energy, then the primer ignited firing the gun. The striker did not have the energy to seat the primer and fire it.
Glocks do fire out of battery, this is a well known fact and responsible in part for some of the Kabooms.
If you doubt that glocks fire out of battery here is a simple test you can perform at the range.
load a glock any caliber, slow fire a couple of rounds, pick up the shells and examine the primer, you will see a round indent with a slight squarish mark.
Now rapid fire 5 rounds as fast as you can and pick up the shell casings and examine the primer. You will see an EGG shaped indent which is shallower at the top and deeper at the bottom
This means that the striker has hit the primer before the round is fully chambered and the slide is fully forward, and as the round is moving the slide with striker protruding is going forward and this causes the teardroped shapped indent on the primer.
Try this with a .45 1911 and you will find a round indent no matter how fast you fire.
By the way I like my glock 26.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Now rapid fire 5 rounds as fast as you can and pick up the shell casings and examine the primer. You will see an EGG shaped indent
which is shallower at the top and deeper at the bottom
This means that the striker has hit the primer before the round is fully chambered and the slide is fully forward, and as the round is
moving the slide with striker protruding is going forward and this causes the teardroped shapped indent on the primer."
Not necessarily.
It can also mean that the firing pin is not fully retracted when the case is being extracted/ejected.
which is shallower at the top and deeper at the bottom
This means that the striker has hit the primer before the round is fully chambered and the slide is fully forward, and as the round is
moving the slide with striker protruding is going forward and this causes the teardroped shapped indent on the primer."
Not necessarily.
It can also mean that the firing pin is not fully retracted when the case is being extracted/ejected.
Missed the point??
Mike, go back to my post and read.
Cost to the police is the #! reason Glocks are carried by Police, period.
Thier are many weapons out thier that are reliable, accurate, etc... but they won't sell them cheap as Glock will.
Deputies here carry Glock 31, think that was thier first choice? Guess again.... The sheriff here evaluated several models, but choose Glock because he got them DIRT cheap.
Which would you rather carry a Sig 229 in 357Sig or Glock 31 in same caliber. Which is the better overall weapon system??
Which one costs more?
Inquiring minds wanna know....
12-34hom.
Mike, go back to my post and read.
Cost to the police is the #! reason Glocks are carried by Police, period.
Thier are many weapons out thier that are reliable, accurate, etc... but they won't sell them cheap as Glock will.
Deputies here carry Glock 31, think that was thier first choice? Guess again.... The sheriff here evaluated several models, but choose Glock because he got them DIRT cheap.
Which would you rather carry a Sig 229 in 357Sig or Glock 31 in same caliber. Which is the better overall weapon system??
Which one costs more?
Inquiring minds wanna know....
12-34hom.
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