:roll: I have to ask; ‘What is it about owning a Glock that seems to create this, ostrich with his head in the sand, ass in the air, mentality?’ If someone said; ‘The brakes on my Blazer aren’t as good as the brakes on my Bronco.’, most drivers would, simply, want to know more. However if any sort of statement diminishing the safety or reliability of a Glock pistol is made, then, the most intense owner/user passions seem to be aroused!
Historically, it has, now, been well-established that Glock pistols have more of a propensity to explode than many other manufactures or designs. (Which, by the way, also blowup on occasion, but without the same apparent frequency.) In reading about Glock pistols, ‘across the boards’ I’ve come to the personal conclusion that many Glock owners would be less upset if told that their spouses had been caught cheating rather than Glock pistols are easy to blow up. It’s incredible!
This often reported, frequently ignored, and usually rationalized propensity for Glock pistols to explode is exacerbated by several criteria particular to Glock’s design: (1.) excessively rebated chambers, (2.) sharp edges around the chamber, ‘leade’ area, (3.) tight polygonal hammer-forged barrels, and (4.) the use of modern high pressure cartridges in Glock pistols: i.e., 357 SIG, S&W 40, 10 mm, and (also) the 45 ACP. (I hesitate to include the 45 ACP cartridge, here, because I am of the opinion that: the use of Federal (Hydra-Shok) ammunition, owner neglect, and (at one point) a bad batch of barrel steel are the outstanding factors involved in 45 ACP Glock pistol explosions.)
I never cease to be amazed at the almost total lack of common sense regarding the use of Glock pistols that I read about across the various shooting forums. If someone said; ‘I drove my car for more than 100,000 miles without changing the oil.’ we’d, all, know what to think. (I don’t, even, need to explain – do I!) However, when some shooter brags; ‘I have shot my Glock for more than 5,000 rounds without cleaning it.’ the typical response seems to be; ‘Wow!’ What has happened to: shooting experience, military training, and good old fashioned (not so common) common sense? At this juncture, ‘Why’ even bother using Remington Golden Sabres or Speer Gold Dots in the pistol? This filthy dirty, badly neglected thing may not fire, at all; or it may, even, explode! Frankly, I doubt that the boys on, ‘Seal Team #6’ carry their pistols in this sort of crummy condition; yet, this sort of braggadocio is, both, accepted and common in far too many posts, and at too many Glock forums!
Is anything said, so far, a recommendation to get rid of your Glock pistols? No! Not in this author’s intent! ‘What’ I am stating, here - ‘What’ I am recommending - is for Glock owners to become more aware of the pluses and minuses associated with the use of Glock’s modern plastic pistols. I would encourage all Glock owners to use their Glock pistols the same way they operate their automobiles: with care, skill, and knowledge. To be perfectly candid, (which I, often, hesitate to be) I love my Glock Model 21’s. I’m very fond of the trigger pull as well as the balance of this pistol design. (I do have certain reservations about Glock’s so-called, ‘safe-trigger action’; but this is a subject for another post.) Let me offer the following suggestions for the safe use of a Glock-designed pistol:
(1.) Use common firearms’ sense: Keep your Glock pistol properly lubricated as well as reasonably clean.
(2.) Develop an acute sense of awareness about keeping your finger outside the trigger guard. Always use a holster that completely covers a Glock’s trigger guard area; and, if you carry unconventionally, take the precaution of installing a, ‘Saf-T-Blok’ device behind the trigger. I keep several, ‘Saf-T-Bloks’ around the house; if I have a Glock pistol lying about, then, I make sure there’s a, ‘Saf-T-Blok’ installed behind the trigger. Just so you know I have found that using one of these safety devices adds ZERO TIME to the draw.
Remember important (frequently un:discussed) points like; ‘If you drop a Glock pistol, DON’T attempt to catch it before it hits the ground.’ You might snare the trigger guard if you should attempt this and fire the pistol. Remember that the Glock design precludes firing on impact – so, just, let that Glock fall.’
(3.) At least once a year, do a complete detail-strip of your Glock pistol(s). Pay particular attention to the trigger connector bar and trigger spring, as well as the slide and its internal areas. Personally, I clean out my extractor rod and firing pin channels with Q-Tips or pipe cleaners every 1,500 rounds. Clean and take a close look at the following slide components: the f.p. safety block, extractor, extractor spring & rod, the firing pin assembly - including the f.p. itself, the f.p. spring, the retainer cups, and surrounding spacer. If any of the parts in, either, the trigger group or slide are nicked or show the slightest sign of wear, replace them before shooting the pistol again.
While there are many, ‘Glockophiles’ who would take issue with me, I continue to remain unconvinced that it is impossible for a Glock pistol to, ‘slam-fire’. This would, of course, result in an, ‘out-of-battery’ firing event. I have read reports that Glock firing pins have, occasionally, been discovered protruding from their holes. This mechanical problem appears to be caused by impingement between the f.p. and the f.p. safety block. It is, also, conceivable to me that the f.p. spring cups might be involved. This is the particular reason that I clean and inspect my own Glock slide internals as often as I do; and, once again, I do NOT agree with the idea that it is harmless to repeatedly, ‘dry-fire’ a Glock pistol.
(4.) Listen to the manufacturer, (Glock) who isn’t always to be ignored; and do NOT shoot either lead or, ‘copper-plated’ bullets in your Glock pistol. Yes, I know that, ‘Harry the Frequent Poster’ over at GT uses, ‘hard-antimony lead’ with great success; and, ‘Bill the GT Glock Guru’ loves to shoot his inexpensive, ‘copper-washed’ bullets which he consumes by the many thousands of rounds; but, YOU SHOULD NOT!
(5.) Use more than average care if you reload for a Glock pistol; and I strongly recommend taking the time to run your reloads through a nice tight case gauge (Dillon) before you package them for use. (If your experience is similar to my own, you will occasionally be surprised at what you find and very glad the offending reload didn’t make it into your Glock. I’ve, also, spoken with other Glock pistol shooters who have all told me, essentially, the same thing: Either they do not use reloads; or, else, not one of them shoots reloads in his Glock pistol using the same brass beyond the sixth (6th) time. Personally, I think this is an excellent rule-of-thumb; I use it myself; and I, also, recommend it for other Glock owners who insist on reloading for a Glock.
(6.) If you use a Glock pistol in one of the previously mentioned, ‘high pressure’ calibers, then, develop the habit of NOT re:chambering the same round twice; and, no matter how many GT’ers are doing it, DO NOT reload or use reloads for any of these, ‘hot’ cartridges. I’m not saying this can’t be done; obviously it can. I am stating that it’s, just, not worth the increased risk; and let’s not forget that the manufacturer (who isn’t always to be ignored) states, in ALL recent Glock annual magazines, NOT TO RELOAD FOR A GLOCK PISTOL. (At this point, here’s a, ‘tip of the hat’ to the dummy, ‘Glockophile’ who’s going to come back at me with; ‘This is nothing more than legal boiler-plate.’ As of May, 2004, it should be painfully obvious that IT IS NOT.)
(7.) For the record, I think it’s about time that someone pointed out that it isn’t, simply, unsupported cases or powder overcharges that will, ‘kaBoom!’ a Glock. IT’S BULLET SETBACK – INSTEAD! A Glock reloader can scrupulously examine his case heads for expansion, be meticulously accurate with his powder charges, and STILL BLOW HIS GLOCK UP IN HIS FACE!
(8.) The other critical point about reloading for a Glock is being able TO GUARANTEE the grasp of the crimp - every time - on every round. With repetitively fired brass, this is not, always, an easy thing to do. In spite of the constant recommendations by several loudmouthed, ‘Glockophiles’ who frequently post, ‘Get a set of Lee FCD dies.’ (factory crimp dies) FCD’s aren’t going to save you from the dangers of using out-of-specification brass in a Glock pistol. FCD’S will, only, REDUCE THE FREQUENCY of incorrectly assembled brass going, ‘kaBoom!’ in the first place!
(9.) I cannot help, but, to question the arrangement and inherent strength of the four, ‘L’ flanges that secure the Glock slide to the frame. Most of us are aware that Glock frames flex when the pistol is fired. To the best of my knowledge no data has been developed, and nobody knows how much frame-flexing occurs while a, ‘kaBoom!’ is taking place – or the EXTENT to which this flexing contributes to the violence of an incipient explosion. Personally, I’d be a lot happier with a much stronger frame-to-slide lockup than the 4 flange system that Glock is presently using. The rumors I’ve heard about the essential design of the La Francaise pistol (The early 1900’s progenitor of Glock’s basic design.) may, in fact, be correct: Glock pistols may, indeed, be best suited to calibers equivalent to 9 mm and below. The precaution is that it needs to be remembered the La Francaise was an ALL-METAL handgun; and, because they’re, now, heading away from 40 S&W and back to 9mm, the NYPD appears to agree with this assessment.
(10.) From watching the various Glock websites over the past two years I have come to the FIRM CONCLUSION that Glock 45 ACP pistols AND Federal 45 ACP cartridges DO NOT belong together. This opinion has been reinforced by a personal experience I had while shooting my way through several packs of Federal Hydra-Shok ammunition: A friend looked at some of my spent brass and said; ‘If I were you, I’d stop using those Federal rounds in that Glock pistol of yours – right now!’ When I looked at the cases he was holding, I had to, ‘blink’: The primers had, ‘melted’ and were overflowing the cups! My friend’s alertness had saved me and my G-21 from catastrophe, just, in time! In reading across the boards, another interesting coincidence is the fact that so many G-21 failures seem to take place while using one form or another of Federal ammunition. This is a curious phenomenon that, while it clearly demands further investigation, is rapidly becoming increasingly inadequate for the Glock factory to successfully hide behind.
(11.) Of late I’ve, also, become suspicious of the Glock factory’s often repeated claim that these, ‘kaBoom!’ problems are, always, the result of defective ammunition. I’m starting to suspect that NO ONE CAUSE is at the heart of this problem. I’ve spent many hours reviewing reports of these events and the replies that have been made to them at such websites as: Glock Talk, The High Road, Stopping Power, Glock-Guns, Tactical Weapons Forums, Packing.org, etc. To date, I’ve formed this tentative conclusion: The problem is a subtle one. It cannot be clearly traced to anything as simple as merely firing, ‘out-of-battery’. I’m going to go, ‘out on a limb’, here, and suggest that several principal factors are involved: (1.) Excessive chamber rebate, (2.) Excessive chamber pressure, along with (3.) a, ‘peak pressure pulse’ that, (4.) flexes or, ‘chatters’ the slide-to-barrel lockup (5.) breaking the integrity of this lock and (6.) causing the cartridge to back out, just, enough to create many (but NOT all) of these mysterious, ‘kaBoom!’ problems.
To date most investigators have focused on the areas of: excessive chamber rebate, sharp chamber leade, and the well-known propensity of polygonal rifling to increase chamber pressure upon firing; however, based on my own investigations, I have come to additionally believe that the Glock pistol’s easily disengaged, ‘modified Browning lockup’, frame flex, and four-point slide/frame contact are other major contributors to Glock’s increasingly well-known and continually misunderstood, ‘kaBoom!’ problems.
THESE GLOCK, ‘KaBOOM!’ PROBLEMS ARE REAL! BY THEMSELVES, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY; AND ALL OF US WHO OWN AND USE GLOCK PISTOLS MUST LEARN TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH THESE PROBLEMS OR RISK HAVING OUR GUNS BLOW UP IN OUR FACES! GLOCK OWNERS MUST NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE EITHER BLINDED BY PERSONAL PREJUDICE, OR OTHER OBFUSCATORY INFLUENCES, SUCH AS: CLEVER FACTORY EXCUSES, CONTRIVED INTERNET HYPE AND DISINFORMATION, OR THAT OTHER GREAT INHIBITOR OF INTELLECTUAL ANALYSIS - VITRIOLIC ‘GLOCKOPHILE’ RANTING AND RAVING ACROSS, ‘THE BOARDS’ THAT SERVES TO DO LITTLE MORE THAN COVERUP GLOCK’S CONTINUING REAL WORLD PROBLEMS WITH OCCASIONALLY EXPLODING, BUT ALWAYS DANGEROUS, PLASTIC PISTOLS.
As I’ve indicated, I DO reload for my Glock Model G-21’s. All of my reloads are manufactured to fire at pressures concomitant with velocities between 800-825 FPS while using 230 GRN FMJ ball ammo, AND 925-950 FPS with 185 GRN JHP ammo. I, also, take the precaution of using 45 ACP +P brass; and, I keep the good habit of not re:chambering the same round twice! Furthermore, as I’ve indicated, after six reloads I discard the used brass before I have to start worrying about: increased case length, case-head expansion, wall-thinning and advanced brittleness, or primer pocket problems. (None of which I’ll stop to correct because I run a high-volume progressive press; and most pistol ammunition, simply, isn’t worth the time for me to do high precision case prep on.) Oh yeah I, also, own Bar-Sto Precision match barrels; but, they’re not always installed in my G-21’s. Much of the time I’ll, simply, use my standard 3rd generation barrels. (This, of course, tells you that I do not regard any aftermarket barrel – broach-rifled or not - as a, ‘cure-all’ for Glock’s, ‘kaBoom!’ problems.)
For their own personal safety, I believe that people who own and use Glock pistols need to understand that:
KaBOOMS! ARE MORE OFTEN CAUSED BY LOOSE CRIMPING AND/OR BULLET SETBACK THAN BY BULGED CASEHEADS, OR POWDER OVERCHARGES! Add any or all of the other factors I've mentioned into this mix and that, 'kaBoom!' is absolutely guaranteed!
Although I fully recognize that kids aren’t going to stop smoking grass, and, ‘Glockophiles’ usually can’t be reasoned with, nevertheless, I sincerely hope that you enjoy shooting your Glock pistol(s) as much as I like to shoot mine; and (because I hate to see women cry) that you, also, shoot your Glock with wisdom and safety, too. :wink:
Note: (Yes, it is, ‘kaBoom!’, ‘KaBOOM!’ or, ‘kB!’ – Not any of the other frequent misspellings we, so often, see. Dean Speir invented the word; and he’s the ultimate authority on how it should be spelled! These are the ways HE spells it.)
Historically, it has, now, been well-established that Glock pistols have more of a propensity to explode than many other manufactures or designs. (Which, by the way, also blowup on occasion, but without the same apparent frequency.) In reading about Glock pistols, ‘across the boards’ I’ve come to the personal conclusion that many Glock owners would be less upset if told that their spouses had been caught cheating rather than Glock pistols are easy to blow up. It’s incredible!
This often reported, frequently ignored, and usually rationalized propensity for Glock pistols to explode is exacerbated by several criteria particular to Glock’s design: (1.) excessively rebated chambers, (2.) sharp edges around the chamber, ‘leade’ area, (3.) tight polygonal hammer-forged barrels, and (4.) the use of modern high pressure cartridges in Glock pistols: i.e., 357 SIG, S&W 40, 10 mm, and (also) the 45 ACP. (I hesitate to include the 45 ACP cartridge, here, because I am of the opinion that: the use of Federal (Hydra-Shok) ammunition, owner neglect, and (at one point) a bad batch of barrel steel are the outstanding factors involved in 45 ACP Glock pistol explosions.)
I never cease to be amazed at the almost total lack of common sense regarding the use of Glock pistols that I read about across the various shooting forums. If someone said; ‘I drove my car for more than 100,000 miles without changing the oil.’ we’d, all, know what to think. (I don’t, even, need to explain – do I!) However, when some shooter brags; ‘I have shot my Glock for more than 5,000 rounds without cleaning it.’ the typical response seems to be; ‘Wow!’ What has happened to: shooting experience, military training, and good old fashioned (not so common) common sense? At this juncture, ‘Why’ even bother using Remington Golden Sabres or Speer Gold Dots in the pistol? This filthy dirty, badly neglected thing may not fire, at all; or it may, even, explode! Frankly, I doubt that the boys on, ‘Seal Team #6’ carry their pistols in this sort of crummy condition; yet, this sort of braggadocio is, both, accepted and common in far too many posts, and at too many Glock forums!
Is anything said, so far, a recommendation to get rid of your Glock pistols? No! Not in this author’s intent! ‘What’ I am stating, here - ‘What’ I am recommending - is for Glock owners to become more aware of the pluses and minuses associated with the use of Glock’s modern plastic pistols. I would encourage all Glock owners to use their Glock pistols the same way they operate their automobiles: with care, skill, and knowledge. To be perfectly candid, (which I, often, hesitate to be) I love my Glock Model 21’s. I’m very fond of the trigger pull as well as the balance of this pistol design. (I do have certain reservations about Glock’s so-called, ‘safe-trigger action’; but this is a subject for another post.) Let me offer the following suggestions for the safe use of a Glock-designed pistol:
(1.) Use common firearms’ sense: Keep your Glock pistol properly lubricated as well as reasonably clean.
(2.) Develop an acute sense of awareness about keeping your finger outside the trigger guard. Always use a holster that completely covers a Glock’s trigger guard area; and, if you carry unconventionally, take the precaution of installing a, ‘Saf-T-Blok’ device behind the trigger. I keep several, ‘Saf-T-Bloks’ around the house; if I have a Glock pistol lying about, then, I make sure there’s a, ‘Saf-T-Blok’ installed behind the trigger. Just so you know I have found that using one of these safety devices adds ZERO TIME to the draw.
Remember important (frequently un:discussed) points like; ‘If you drop a Glock pistol, DON’T attempt to catch it before it hits the ground.’ You might snare the trigger guard if you should attempt this and fire the pistol. Remember that the Glock design precludes firing on impact – so, just, let that Glock fall.’
(3.) At least once a year, do a complete detail-strip of your Glock pistol(s). Pay particular attention to the trigger connector bar and trigger spring, as well as the slide and its internal areas. Personally, I clean out my extractor rod and firing pin channels with Q-Tips or pipe cleaners every 1,500 rounds. Clean and take a close look at the following slide components: the f.p. safety block, extractor, extractor spring & rod, the firing pin assembly - including the f.p. itself, the f.p. spring, the retainer cups, and surrounding spacer. If any of the parts in, either, the trigger group or slide are nicked or show the slightest sign of wear, replace them before shooting the pistol again.
While there are many, ‘Glockophiles’ who would take issue with me, I continue to remain unconvinced that it is impossible for a Glock pistol to, ‘slam-fire’. This would, of course, result in an, ‘out-of-battery’ firing event. I have read reports that Glock firing pins have, occasionally, been discovered protruding from their holes. This mechanical problem appears to be caused by impingement between the f.p. and the f.p. safety block. It is, also, conceivable to me that the f.p. spring cups might be involved. This is the particular reason that I clean and inspect my own Glock slide internals as often as I do; and, once again, I do NOT agree with the idea that it is harmless to repeatedly, ‘dry-fire’ a Glock pistol.
(4.) Listen to the manufacturer, (Glock) who isn’t always to be ignored; and do NOT shoot either lead or, ‘copper-plated’ bullets in your Glock pistol. Yes, I know that, ‘Harry the Frequent Poster’ over at GT uses, ‘hard-antimony lead’ with great success; and, ‘Bill the GT Glock Guru’ loves to shoot his inexpensive, ‘copper-washed’ bullets which he consumes by the many thousands of rounds; but, YOU SHOULD NOT!
(5.) Use more than average care if you reload for a Glock pistol; and I strongly recommend taking the time to run your reloads through a nice tight case gauge (Dillon) before you package them for use. (If your experience is similar to my own, you will occasionally be surprised at what you find and very glad the offending reload didn’t make it into your Glock. I’ve, also, spoken with other Glock pistol shooters who have all told me, essentially, the same thing: Either they do not use reloads; or, else, not one of them shoots reloads in his Glock pistol using the same brass beyond the sixth (6th) time. Personally, I think this is an excellent rule-of-thumb; I use it myself; and I, also, recommend it for other Glock owners who insist on reloading for a Glock.
(6.) If you use a Glock pistol in one of the previously mentioned, ‘high pressure’ calibers, then, develop the habit of NOT re:chambering the same round twice; and, no matter how many GT’ers are doing it, DO NOT reload or use reloads for any of these, ‘hot’ cartridges. I’m not saying this can’t be done; obviously it can. I am stating that it’s, just, not worth the increased risk; and let’s not forget that the manufacturer (who isn’t always to be ignored) states, in ALL recent Glock annual magazines, NOT TO RELOAD FOR A GLOCK PISTOL. (At this point, here’s a, ‘tip of the hat’ to the dummy, ‘Glockophile’ who’s going to come back at me with; ‘This is nothing more than legal boiler-plate.’ As of May, 2004, it should be painfully obvious that IT IS NOT.)
(7.) For the record, I think it’s about time that someone pointed out that it isn’t, simply, unsupported cases or powder overcharges that will, ‘kaBoom!’ a Glock. IT’S BULLET SETBACK – INSTEAD! A Glock reloader can scrupulously examine his case heads for expansion, be meticulously accurate with his powder charges, and STILL BLOW HIS GLOCK UP IN HIS FACE!
(8.) The other critical point about reloading for a Glock is being able TO GUARANTEE the grasp of the crimp - every time - on every round. With repetitively fired brass, this is not, always, an easy thing to do. In spite of the constant recommendations by several loudmouthed, ‘Glockophiles’ who frequently post, ‘Get a set of Lee FCD dies.’ (factory crimp dies) FCD’s aren’t going to save you from the dangers of using out-of-specification brass in a Glock pistol. FCD’S will, only, REDUCE THE FREQUENCY of incorrectly assembled brass going, ‘kaBoom!’ in the first place!
(9.) I cannot help, but, to question the arrangement and inherent strength of the four, ‘L’ flanges that secure the Glock slide to the frame. Most of us are aware that Glock frames flex when the pistol is fired. To the best of my knowledge no data has been developed, and nobody knows how much frame-flexing occurs while a, ‘kaBoom!’ is taking place – or the EXTENT to which this flexing contributes to the violence of an incipient explosion. Personally, I’d be a lot happier with a much stronger frame-to-slide lockup than the 4 flange system that Glock is presently using. The rumors I’ve heard about the essential design of the La Francaise pistol (The early 1900’s progenitor of Glock’s basic design.) may, in fact, be correct: Glock pistols may, indeed, be best suited to calibers equivalent to 9 mm and below. The precaution is that it needs to be remembered the La Francaise was an ALL-METAL handgun; and, because they’re, now, heading away from 40 S&W and back to 9mm, the NYPD appears to agree with this assessment.
(10.) From watching the various Glock websites over the past two years I have come to the FIRM CONCLUSION that Glock 45 ACP pistols AND Federal 45 ACP cartridges DO NOT belong together. This opinion has been reinforced by a personal experience I had while shooting my way through several packs of Federal Hydra-Shok ammunition: A friend looked at some of my spent brass and said; ‘If I were you, I’d stop using those Federal rounds in that Glock pistol of yours – right now!’ When I looked at the cases he was holding, I had to, ‘blink’: The primers had, ‘melted’ and were overflowing the cups! My friend’s alertness had saved me and my G-21 from catastrophe, just, in time! In reading across the boards, another interesting coincidence is the fact that so many G-21 failures seem to take place while using one form or another of Federal ammunition. This is a curious phenomenon that, while it clearly demands further investigation, is rapidly becoming increasingly inadequate for the Glock factory to successfully hide behind.
(11.) Of late I’ve, also, become suspicious of the Glock factory’s often repeated claim that these, ‘kaBoom!’ problems are, always, the result of defective ammunition. I’m starting to suspect that NO ONE CAUSE is at the heart of this problem. I’ve spent many hours reviewing reports of these events and the replies that have been made to them at such websites as: Glock Talk, The High Road, Stopping Power, Glock-Guns, Tactical Weapons Forums, Packing.org, etc. To date, I’ve formed this tentative conclusion: The problem is a subtle one. It cannot be clearly traced to anything as simple as merely firing, ‘out-of-battery’. I’m going to go, ‘out on a limb’, here, and suggest that several principal factors are involved: (1.) Excessive chamber rebate, (2.) Excessive chamber pressure, along with (3.) a, ‘peak pressure pulse’ that, (4.) flexes or, ‘chatters’ the slide-to-barrel lockup (5.) breaking the integrity of this lock and (6.) causing the cartridge to back out, just, enough to create many (but NOT all) of these mysterious, ‘kaBoom!’ problems.
To date most investigators have focused on the areas of: excessive chamber rebate, sharp chamber leade, and the well-known propensity of polygonal rifling to increase chamber pressure upon firing; however, based on my own investigations, I have come to additionally believe that the Glock pistol’s easily disengaged, ‘modified Browning lockup’, frame flex, and four-point slide/frame contact are other major contributors to Glock’s increasingly well-known and continually misunderstood, ‘kaBoom!’ problems.
THESE GLOCK, ‘KaBOOM!’ PROBLEMS ARE REAL! BY THEMSELVES, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY; AND ALL OF US WHO OWN AND USE GLOCK PISTOLS MUST LEARN TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH THESE PROBLEMS OR RISK HAVING OUR GUNS BLOW UP IN OUR FACES! GLOCK OWNERS MUST NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE EITHER BLINDED BY PERSONAL PREJUDICE, OR OTHER OBFUSCATORY INFLUENCES, SUCH AS: CLEVER FACTORY EXCUSES, CONTRIVED INTERNET HYPE AND DISINFORMATION, OR THAT OTHER GREAT INHIBITOR OF INTELLECTUAL ANALYSIS - VITRIOLIC ‘GLOCKOPHILE’ RANTING AND RAVING ACROSS, ‘THE BOARDS’ THAT SERVES TO DO LITTLE MORE THAN COVERUP GLOCK’S CONTINUING REAL WORLD PROBLEMS WITH OCCASIONALLY EXPLODING, BUT ALWAYS DANGEROUS, PLASTIC PISTOLS.
As I’ve indicated, I DO reload for my Glock Model G-21’s. All of my reloads are manufactured to fire at pressures concomitant with velocities between 800-825 FPS while using 230 GRN FMJ ball ammo, AND 925-950 FPS with 185 GRN JHP ammo. I, also, take the precaution of using 45 ACP +P brass; and, I keep the good habit of not re:chambering the same round twice! Furthermore, as I’ve indicated, after six reloads I discard the used brass before I have to start worrying about: increased case length, case-head expansion, wall-thinning and advanced brittleness, or primer pocket problems. (None of which I’ll stop to correct because I run a high-volume progressive press; and most pistol ammunition, simply, isn’t worth the time for me to do high precision case prep on.) Oh yeah I, also, own Bar-Sto Precision match barrels; but, they’re not always installed in my G-21’s. Much of the time I’ll, simply, use my standard 3rd generation barrels. (This, of course, tells you that I do not regard any aftermarket barrel – broach-rifled or not - as a, ‘cure-all’ for Glock’s, ‘kaBoom!’ problems.)
For their own personal safety, I believe that people who own and use Glock pistols need to understand that:
KaBOOMS! ARE MORE OFTEN CAUSED BY LOOSE CRIMPING AND/OR BULLET SETBACK THAN BY BULGED CASEHEADS, OR POWDER OVERCHARGES! Add any or all of the other factors I've mentioned into this mix and that, 'kaBoom!' is absolutely guaranteed!
Although I fully recognize that kids aren’t going to stop smoking grass, and, ‘Glockophiles’ usually can’t be reasoned with, nevertheless, I sincerely hope that you enjoy shooting your Glock pistol(s) as much as I like to shoot mine; and (because I hate to see women cry) that you, also, shoot your Glock with wisdom and safety, too. :wink:
Note: (Yes, it is, ‘kaBoom!’, ‘KaBOOM!’ or, ‘kB!’ – Not any of the other frequent misspellings we, so often, see. Dean Speir invented the word; and he’s the ultimate authority on how it should be spelled! These are the ways HE spells it.)
Gee, thanks guys! Looks like I'm going to have to stay up late trying to outdo myself, now. :mrgreen:
