Glock Frame Longevity

leftover,

The first one cracked on both sides where the dust cover meets the heavier part of the frame, just below the start of the rails. The second developed a hair line crack from the hole for the slide stop pin to the cut-out for the slide lock. Last one cracked on both sides from the mag release hole back to the cut-out in the frame (under the stocks). It also cracked from the cut-out for the thumb safety back to the grip safety slot.

First gun had digested approx. 2500 rounds of ball duplicate reloads.

Second gun shot all ball ammo (issued by my department) or ball duplicate reloads. Probably 7000 rounds total.

Third gun had fired about 5000 rounds, mostly ball duplicate reloads and maybe 500+ Federal Hydra-Shoks.
 
That's not good at all Dave. Never had an aluminum Commander, but I would have expected the manufacturer to compensate me if it did.

I have a few Glocks BTW. Like em, but don't worship them the way some do. Everything plastic I've ever owned has become brittle and cracked eventually (at leat those items that are requiredd to have some strength anyway)

I'd be interested to see if anyone can provide some firm evidence to back up the rumors. Chuck Taylor's G17 has cracked at the base of the grip, and a guy on GT just posted a bic of his Glock grip with a chunk missing (for no apparent reason !)

Food for thought
 
I believe the general concensus among the more philisophical people here is that it's pointless worrying about the lifespan of a weapon. We all know we must replace our car someday. Same for our TV set, stereo, and wardrobe. Everything has a lifespan. Maybe a few Glocks might have suffered some form of embrittlement due to special circumstances, but quite obviously the vast majority isn't affected. If yours eventually does, just go out and buy a new one!

I think at the core of all this is the "there might be a ban someday and this'll be the last gun I'll ever own" inner mentality among many of us.
 
Good points dsk

I was just thinking that I've had a white UPVC patio door for 12yrs. The sun beats down on it day after day. It has no carbon black (like a Glock has) to minimise effects of UV. It SEEMS to be in fine shape after all this time - the handle mount areas have not torn away. I'm sure the Glock material is better AND does not see nearly as harsh conditions.

People have plastic siding on their houses too - any word on that splitting or becoming brittle ?
 
There are more than a few departments issuing Glocks.

Some dating back to the late 70s or early 80s.

Love Glocks or hate them, the evidence will tell the tale. To date, I've heard no substantiated information showing those "early" Glocks are disintegrating.

My agency recently (last year or two) issued Glocks. Too early to see "plastic fatigue", but I'll keep my ears open.

Just for the record, Glocks shoot okay, but I'll not buy one of my own. They just ain't that appealing to me. I do own a H&K USP 40. I'll have to see how long it takes for that to fall apart.

Hard information always beats speculation.
 
There is a thread over at GlockTalk titled "age and polymer breakdown" that discusses this. Read MarkCO's post.
And there are many other threads over there that discuss this as well.
In fact, Mr. nylon has participated in some of them.
 
I am sure than more than a few of us will be in the graveyard long before the frames of our Glocks turn into dust.

Polymer is not the same plastic that your kids toys are made from.

Comparing some of the modern polymers to "plastic" is like saying stainless steel and copper is the same because they are both "metal".
 
Well, the rumors have not been substantiated, so I guess my Glock will be around for a very long time - certainly longer than those aluminum Commander frames.

If there were any truth in the story about the Austrian forces, then someone here would surely have heard about it by now.

Now all we need are some high cap mags that don't wear out so quickly !
 
Comparing some of the modern polymers to "plastic" is like saying stainless steel and copper is the same because they are both "metal".
Click to expand...

I can't think of any modern "plastic" that is not a polymer. I don't want to play with words, but I do get a little amused when I'm looking a new guns and some gun shop commando says "that's not plastic, it's polymer." Wood is made of polymers (cellulose), but no one calls a wood stock a polymer stock. Polymers are simply large molecule chains made of smaller units. A couple semesters of organic chemistry usually convinces people how complicated the subject can be.

Things made of plastic will deteriorate over time. The polymer chains begin to break down into their smaller components and eventually the item may have different physical properties. Some plastic items, such as a dashboard, may have more volatile ingredients mixed into a harder plastic compound to make it softer. Over time, the volatile substances can evaporate and the plastic item can become brittle. UV light, oxygen, ozone, heat, etc. can cause or accelerate deterioration.

Some plastics simply last longer than others. The materials used in pistol frames are usually very durable and long lasting. Chances are it will outlast the owner if cared for. A chunck of steel will still be a chunk of steel in 1000 years if it is protected from corrosion. Will a chunk of nylon still be a chunk of nylon in 1000 years or at least have the same physcals properties? Does it really matter? Examining a 10 year old plastic milk jug in a dump demonstrates plastic breaking down. Of course it's perfectly acceptable for a product intended to be disposable. There are certainly a few pistols made that could be considered disposable also (and they are not necessarily made of plastic).

It would be interesting to compare today's metal and plastic firearms 1000 years from now. Unless of course they are all been intentionally destroyed by then.
 
My point was that some people want to compare the Glock frame to the milk jug. They think they are both made from the same "plastic".

They are not the same thing.

You say a block of steel will still be a bolck of steel 1,000 years from now. You are correct.

Place a Glock and a steel 1911 outside on the ground in the rain and snow for a month and see which one will still work.
 
Yes it is absolutely true that all Glocks will become brittle & crack, usually before 1000 rounds. Please send all your potentially failing Glocks to me and I will see that they are safely stored. :D
 
If your Glock's frame self destructs, I'll just bet that Glock, Inc. will replace it. Then it will be good for another 20 years or so.
 
Place a Glock and a steel 1911 outside on the ground in the rain and snow for a month and see which one will still work.
Click to expand...

How about a glock and a "polymer" 1911?:confused:

That Glock frame certainly won't rust like the 1911. However, the Glock still has plenty of non-plastic parts. Looks like you can get the worst of both worlds with and plastic pistol. Decomposition of plastic AND corrosion of metal parts.

Or maybe take that Glock and a steel 1911 and put them on top a stove for and hour and see which one will still work.

A little silly isn't it? Any pistol subjected to the above conditions shouldn't be relied on until thoroughly examined and tested.

I guess it always has to turn into a Glock vs. 1911 argument. There are far more issues than just materials when comparing the two.

Many modern "metal" pistols (including some 1911's) have plastic parts on them. Over time these things DO become brittle and break. Just check out the trigger guards on old Mossberg 22's. While the plastics used in modern guns are certainly superior to those used in old guns, they certainly will not last indefinely, just longer. Then again, things like triggers and mainspring housings aren't under the same stress as a frame. And they generally cost a lot less to replace when they do break.
 
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