0
Why Are Glocks So Reliable? Simplicity At Its Best
Glocks are world-famous for being the most reliable platform on the market. And it has held that crown for a long time. While any good shooter acknowledges that any firearm can fail, Glocks are one you don’t have to worry about as much.
Glocks are far from aesthetically pleasing from the factory, but they are built to perform in harsh conditions and withstand significant abuse before needing any servicing.
However, since Glocks are mass-produced, there are plenty of parts to spare. So you don’t have to worry about long lead times should a part go bad.
Glock has the best aftermarket support of any pistol. Source: reddit
These are some of the reasons why members of the Special Operations Command worked the system to keep the Glock 19 in use even after the Sig Sauer M17/M18 became standardized.
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Today, we’re going to discuss what makes the Glock so reliable. Everything from what sets it apart to the simplicity of the whole system and what makes it such a fine platform.
Materials
Glock made polymer pistols famous. It was the first company to have a pistol with an entirely polymer lower, which also made it the lightest on the market at the time. Remember, this was back in the early-to-mid-80s.
The slide is made of 4140 heat-treated stainless steel, and I won’t get too into metallurgy, but it’s lightweight, highly corrosion-resistant, and can withstand more than enough pressure to perform well.
All of this gives the Glock a lightweight yet durable platform to work off of.
The internals are also guaranteed to last 15,000+ rounds, so the average shooter can get a lifetime out of his or her Glock.
No External Hammers
One of the most obvious reasons Glocks are so reliable is the lack of an external hammer. Glock uses a striker-fire system that moves a much smaller hammer to the inside, limiting exposure to the internals.
Since there are no moving parts on the outside, you don’t have to worry about dirt or debris getting in the way of your action.
That’s not to say that hammer-fired pistols aren’t reliable, but there’s a reason why pistols that need the utmost reliability move the hammer inside.
All the magic happens inside. Source: reddit
Safe Action System
Even without a manual safety, the Glock remains one of the most safe brands of pistols on the market. How does Glock do it? With three independent safety systems.
I’m going to quote Glock here so you can understand exactly how each system works, and then I’ll translate it for the newer shooters out there.
Glocks remain extremely safe without a manual safety. Source: glock
Trigger Safety
Glock’s Description:
“The trigger safety is the first safety in the firing sequence. It’s incorporated into the trigger in the form of a lever, and when it is engaged, it blocks the trigger from moving rearward. To fire the pistol, the trigger safety and the trigger itself must be deliberately depressed at the same time. If the trigger safety is not depressed, the trigger will not move rearwards and allow the pistol to fire.”
Translation:
The trigger safety is integrated into the trigger, and unless it is pressed, the trigger will not go backward. Since there is no external safety, this eliminates the pressing of your trigger involuntarily.
Firing Pin Safety
“The second safety, the firing pin safety, mechanically blocks the firing pin from moving forward in the ready-to-fire condition. As the trigger is pulled rearward, the trigger bar pushes the firing pin safety up and frees the firing pin channel. If you decide not to fire and release the trigger, the firing pin safety automatically reengages.”
Translation:
The firing pin, or the little pin that strikes the back of the bullet, is constantly blocked by the firing pin’s safety. Unless the trigger is pulled, this safety keeps the firing pin from moving forward into a firing position.
This is also great for drop safety, but there’s one for that, too.
Drop Safety
Glock’s Description:
“The final safety involves the trigger bar, which rests on the safety ramp within the trigger mechanism housing. The trigger bar engages the rear portion of the firing pin and prevents the firing pin from moving forward. As the trigger is pulled rearward, the trigger bar lowers down the safety ramp and allows the release of the firing pin. After firing, the trigger bar moves upward and re-engages the firing pin. As the trigger is released, all safeties automatically reengage.”
Translation:
The trigger bar gives your trigger leverage to lighten up the pull. The trigger bar and the rear portion of the firing pin are connected, and when you pull the trigger, and the trigger bar moves backward, it engages the firing pin until the last moment.
Once the trigger is released, the trigger bar reengages the firing pin. Unless the trigger is pulled, the firing pin cannot get free of the trigger bar, so dropping the firearm will not cause a round to go off.
Quality Control
Typically, mass-produced firearms suffer from quality control issues. Glock, like any other manufacturer, can sometimes suffer from this, but the company has come a long way in terms of quality control. It has some of the best in the pistol game.
Quality control is essential for a company’s survival, especially when dealing with government contracts for firearms.
The last thing Glock would want is to send out a ton of rotten pistols and ruin its reputation.
Mass production without sacrificing QC. Source: glock
Conclusion
There’s a reason civilians, law enforcement, and the military trust the Glock: They simply work.
Glocks are reliable and easy to use. Their widespread use also makes finding spare and aftermarket parts cheap and easy.
Thanks to Gaston Glock, we have the finest fighting pistol on the planet.
Everyone says, “Thank you, Gaston”.
