Operator error- G29 FTF

F

Fivesense

New member
I picked up my G29 today- the recoil is certainly manageable and I fired Sig 180 gr, Double Tap 200 gr, and Liberty Civil Defense 60 gr (2400 fps!). I was pleased with the accuracy as well- even in rapid fire my groups were respectable (and certainly "deadly enough" with the power of the 10mm).

I had one glaring issue. I shot 100 rounds (10 full mags); on the last round of each mag I experienced a failure to feed. It happened with every mag, and only on the final round. Not one FTE. I know I was not limp wristing. I think however, my shooting thumb may have slightly depressed the mag release button, somehow keeping the final round from feeding- it's the only explanation myself and the range instructor could figure. But why it only happened on the last round of each mag is perplexing.

Has this happened to anyone? I'm sure after a few more rounds through the gun, as well as a thorough cleaning, the gun will feel even better. My grip should benefit by the Talon grip I've got coming, which will cover the smooth thumb rest area and provide a little more "traction" for my thumb.
 
Is this a new or used gun? If new then load the mags and let them sit loaded for about a week, if used then you may want to look at replacing the springs in the mags? I have never had any feeding problems out of my Glocks sorry.:o
 
Brand spanking new G29. I don't think it's a Glock issue, but something I must be doing. I'm sure I'm leaning on the mag release- it's the only explanation that makes sense. The range officer watched me closely and confirmed that my grip was good. Yet he shot two full mags and did not have the same FTF on the last round. I'm going to shoot a G20 and my G29 side by side tomorrow to see if my hand moves more on the smaller grip.

My grip feels really good; I shoot my G26 better than my G17 (marginally better, but better nonetheless) and the G29 feels awesome in my hand, even better than holding my former G20. I also shot the heavy 200 gr. better out of the G29, with no recoil issues.
 
Likely your thumb is hitting the slide release. Pretty common issue, next time when you get to the end of the magazine start shooting with one hand and see if it happens again.
 
My thumb is definitely not hitting the slide lock lever.

After a thorough cleaning last night and another 200 rounds today, I experienced only about a 30% failure rate compared to yesterday- that is to say the final round in each mag only failed to feed 6 different times.

I think my issue has something to do with the mag springs just breaking in, although it's still a perplexing issue. I'm going to break the gun down for another cleaning; I'll check and see if my grip causes the mag to rise too much on the last round, somehow pushing against the inside of the slide lock lever. I'm grasping at straws, but something is weird.
 
I think however, my shooting thumb may have slightly depressed the mag release button, somehow keeping the final round from feeding- it's the only explanation myself and the range instructor could figure.
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Yet he shot two full mags and did not have the same FTF on the last round.
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I think my issue has something to do with the mag springs just breaking in, although it's still a perplexing issue.
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You had another shooter use the pistol without issue. This would seem to point at you as being the problem.

How exactly is slightly depressing the mag release button causing the round to fail to feed? Either the magazine is released, in which case you should be able to extract it without having to depress the button when done shooting as a big indicator of the problem, or it's not released and is still held captive. It's a binary condition. For that matter, why would the issue you're describing only happen on the last round in the magazine in regards to the magazine release? If you are slightly depressing the magazine release, I would think when the magazine is full that the problem would be worse given that gravity has more mass to work with.

The magazines springs is more likely imo, but on a new pistol that would still be odd. What ammo are you using when experiencing the issue? Maybe you're not getting enough slide velocity somehow.
 
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I just broke down my G29 to check on my hunch about the slide lock lever being tripped on the last round. I removed the slide and put in a mag loaded with a single round. Since I curl my pinky finger underneath the mag floor plate, I create upward pressure on the mag with my grip. In doing this with a single round, the magazine follower is actually exposed, and it pushes up on the internal part of the slide lock lever. This is what causes the slide to lock back on the final round.

This does not happen with more than one round because the follower is not yet exposed. It only happens on the last round.

Do I have a flawed slide lock lever or are the magazines themselves flawed? Each follower has the number 3 on it, but they say 10mm on the opposite side. My G17 and G26 mag followers have a 9 on them, and say 9mm on the opposite side of the follower.
 
I just broke down my G29 to check on my hunch about the slide lock lever being tripped on the last round.
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We've gone from the magazine release, to the magazine springs, and now to the slide lock lever?

Since I curl my pinky finger underneath the mag floor plate, I create upward pressure on the mag with my grip. In doing this with a single round, the magazine follower is actually exposed, and it pushes up on the internal part of the slide lock lever. This is what causes the slide to lock back on the final round.

This does not happen with more than one round because the follower is not yet exposed. It only happens on the last round.
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I thought the problem was the round failed to feed. Are you saying that the slide locked open rather than the round failed to feed?

I'm not sure you completely understand how the different parts in a semiautomatic pistol interact with each other. Magazine releases and slide stops don't typically cause failures to feed. Or when they do, it should be incredibly obvious when firing the pistol (magazines unseats, slide locks back).
 
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TunnelRat- I've been troubleshooting this since yesterday. So you'll excuse me if I had to make a few guesses in this process.

The slide locks open because it is catching on the slide lock lever. It does not complete its cycle and thus the final round does not feed.

Two range officers shot my G29; one experienced the same issue. The other did not. The one who did not does not curl his pinky under the floor plate; his hand size is such that he grips the gun completely on the grip, thereby putting no upward pressure on the magazine. The other range officer, which the same sized hands as me also curls his pinky underneath (just like I also do on my G26, which does not experience this issue).
 
The slide locks open because it is catching on the slide lock lever. It does not complete its cycle and thus the final round does not feed.
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That may have been good to include in the opening post. A slide locking open is not quite the same as a failure to feed. That's like saying your brakes locked up and not mentioning that it was because the car came to a stop from a crash.

The simple explanation is it's user induced. It happens to a lot of people. As for your theory about defective magazines/slide stops. Easy check. Put two rounds in the magazine (snap caps preferably). Insert the magazine and chamber a round. Then run the slide holding the pistol as you would normally. Does the slide lock back and not feed the last round?
 
That may have been good to include in the opening post.
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You clearly did not notice my original post was made yesterday, so you're late to the party, trying to play catch up. The slide locking open is also causing a failure to feed of the final round.

Your responses are arrogant and annoying. I don't need your assistance, so thanks.
 
You clearly did not notice my original post was made yesterday, so you're late to the party, trying to play catch up. The slide locking open is also causing a failure to feed of the final round.
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I read all the posts. You didn't include comments about the slide stop in the initial post. You said the magazine release. That's not the slide stop. You didn't mention the slide stop until today when you said you thought it was magazine springs and that you'd check your grip again to see if you were hitting the slide stop. You also didn't mention the other range officer having the same issue until very recently.

I'm not being arrogant. I'm trying to figure out what the problem is in order to help you. But your diagnosis has changed a number of times. The check I mentioned with using two rounds will work to check your problem. Or are you saying that if you load one cartridge into the magazine, seat the magazine, and run the slide it will lock open when you bring the slide to the rear without feeding that round at all? These are all new updates to your thread, and in your excitement to update the thread you're missing some details that will help people understand.
 
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These are all new updates to your thread
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Yes, that's the point. That's also why I originally posted here, as I was looking for help to diagnose the problem.

The internal slide stop lever/mag follower possibility did not occur to me, a range officer, a Glock armorer, or anyone in the forums yesterday, probably because it seems to be a rare issue. I know I've never experienced it in any of my Glocks- 17, 19, 26, 20, or 43.

So to your helpful suggestion about loading a round in the magazine and running the slide back with my pinky curled underneath- yes, the slide locks and the issue is duplicated.

Therefore, my next step is to discuss the issue with Glock to find a solution. The good news is I'm extremely accurate with my first 9 shots and I'll hopefully never need more.
 
Yes, that's the point. That's also why I originally posted here, as I was looking for help to diagnose the problem.
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I know, but you're saying I'm trying to play "catch up" and until I asked some questions those details weren't part of the thread. That's why I ask questions, to get more details for people reading the thread. It's not just about you as well. Other people may have a similar problem and find this thread, so the information helps them too.

The internal slide stop lever/mag follower possibility did not occur to me, a range officer, a Glock armorer, or anyone in the forums yesterday, probably because it seems to be a rare issue. I know I've never experienced it in any of my Glocks- 17, 19, 26, 20, or 43.
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The slide stop is one part, there isn't really an external and internal component. Now you're right that it can be acted on both on the outside of the frame by the tab as well as inside the frame by the magazine follower. Slide stops holding open slides does happen to folks but not usually in the manner you mentioned (hence Pgfins comment since its often from the user).

One possible solution is it could still be magazine spring related to a point. New magazine springs are very stiff and exert a lot of force (especially those subcompact magazines). That in combination with pushing up on the base of the magazine might be enough to get the problem you have. You could try leaving the magazines fully loaded for a few days to see if that breaks in the springs a bit and maybe relieves a little pressure on the followers. This might help stop the slide stop from being triggered. It's no guarantee but it costs you nothing to try.

If you are concerned that you might have incorrect parts either for the slide stop or magazine release, I'd recommend looking at http://www.lonewolfdist.com/. They have pictures of I think all of the parts they sell, including the stock Glock parts (I think they have pretty much all the stock parts). That would at least allow you to compare markings.
 
I'm not aware of Glock changing follower designs specifically for Gen 4 versus Gen 3. Gen 3 magazines will work in a Gen 4 and vice versa. The only thing is Gen 3 magazines won't let you use a Gen 4 pistol with the magazine release switched to the other side (for lefties) because the magazine bodies don't have the needed cutout. I have G19 Gen 3 magazines that are ten years old that have the same markings as my G19 Gen 4 magazines that are brand new. And again, the magazines work in both generation pistols.
 
The 6th comment down in this thread mentions the same issue with #3 followers. I bet I will find more such comments upon further research. If so, it sounds like a simple call to Glock to get the #4 followers.
 
It's worth noting that a number of people in that thread mention having no problems with the #3 followers (including the OP), but it can't hurt to ask. Hopefully it won't take you as long as that one customer, Chucky2, to get the followers. It looks like other got them pretty fast though, plus we're passed the holidays.
 
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The OP in that thread had a Gen 3 G20SF. I suspect the other posters also had Gen 3 Glock 10mm and thus, #3 followers.

If I read the Glock website correctly, the Gen 4 10mm should have follower #4.

There is about a 1/10 inch difference in the height of the grip of the Gen 4 G29s to the Gen 3 G29s. The Gen 4s are shorter. So if the #3 followers are even slightly "taller" than the #4, upward pressure on the mag surely can cause an issue.
 
It's interesting that the Team Glock store says those followers work in both the Gen 4 and Gen 3 Glocks (G20, G20SF, G20 Gen4, G29, G29SF, G29 Gen4, G40 Gen4 MOS). I'm not sure that number refers to a specific generation and isn't just a revision number (the followers on my G19 mags say "9"). Still, the latest revision is probably a good thing.
 
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