Dumb Glock Question

[firfyghter]

I've long been a supporter of people making informed decisions based on informative facts (unless it's a decision to remove our already eroded 2A rights). For the longest time my decision was and has been to choose pistols other than Glocks for home defense, CCW, and sport. The reasons are short and non-distinguishable (Top Gun parody) but nonetheless I never told people to not buy Glocks nor would ever argue that "they suck" but was able to explain my purchase decision. I'm now standing on the threshold of leaving my committed position and cheating on all of my other pistols in purchasing a Glock (let's be honest probably two or three).

But I have one question before I take the first free sample into this gateway gun. I've been a Sig owner for one of many reasons, one being that I appreciate being able to have a round in the chamber without any firing pin springs under pressure/coiled. It's just a personal preference.

My question is this: can I store a Glock as a home defense pistol where a round has been chambered for days, weeks, months, even years and not be concerned for degradation or a slight chance of a ND?

I'm aware that my Springfield Armory XD's firing pin is highly tensioned when in battery and the warning of "Do Not Store A Round In The Chamber" for my EMP has me concerned for some odd reason.

I just want to be informed before I jump feet first into this new drug called Glock.

Let the butthurt begin...

[socom2shooter]

Yes you can. I use p220 or 1911 as my usual carry guns. My bed gun is a g22. Has had chambered rounds for around two years now. Gun has over 7k rounds through it, except for recently changing the recoil spring just because I thought I should has had zero issues. I think there great guns but that is just my personal opinion so only take it for what that's worth.

[Intel0116]

I wouldent worry about it, i dont. Even if the sear somehow fails and drops the firing pin, the plunger will stop it in its tracks. The gun will not go off unless the trigger is pulled.

[Tripper]

Look at the glock design, the firing pin cannot strike the primer unless the little safety is disengaged

[Win231]

I had the same concerns back in the 80's when Glocks first came out. I thought keeping it with a round chambered was like storing a cocked revolver. The firing pin is only partially tensioned when there is a round in the chamber. As the trigger is pulled, the firing pin spring is completely compressed before releasing to fire - sort of like a slingshot or bow & arrow. There is no firing pin spring wear when storing a Glock with a chambered round.

As for another concern - an accidental discharge, there are passive safeties that must be deactivated by pulling the trigger. There is a firing pin safety, which is a spring-loaded plunger that must be lifted to allow the firing pin to move forward to fire the cartridge. You can easily test that feature by removing the slide & pushing in that plunger with your thumb. You'll notice that the firing pin only protrudes when that plunger is pushed in. After you move the firing pin back, the plunger pops out & the firing pin will not move forward. In fact, Glock recommends that you test that safety feature when cleaning your Glock by pushing in the safety plunger with your thumb & shaking the slide. While your holding in that plunger, the firing pin should rattle freely back & forth. When you pull the trigger on a Glock, a lever pushes that plunger in. And that lever in the middle of the trigger must be pushed in to allow the trigger to move.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=glock+operation+video&view=detail&mid=F8EBE0ECC777413CEC91F8EBE0ECC777413CEC91&FORM=VIRE14

http://www.genitron.com/Basics/Interactive-Glock-Pistol

However, with no manual safety, the Glock can fire unintentionally if anything gets into the trigger guard since the trigger is light - around 5.5 lbs. People have been injured when shoving a Glock into a waistband or a soft leather holster, or not being careful to ensure that no shirt tails or drawstrings get into the holster. That safety lever on the trigger can be deactivated by clothing, drawstring or anything that gets into the holster. A Glock with a chambered round should either be in a quick-access lockbox or a holster that completely encloses & protects the trigger guard. I prefer Kydex because of the rigidity & close fit around the trigger guard.

[King of the 109ers]

Gun wont go off due to Glock "3X safe" design, but I share your superstition about Springs Under Tension being left for days, weeks and months. Like a Ruger transfer bar that stays between pin and primer if trigger not pulled.

I just WANT to un-tense a spring, can't help it. I put a Snap-Cap in the Glock and drop the hammer on it just because I don't want it stored with spring under tension and don't want to drop on empty chamber, even though IIRC Glocks says "no prob".

But consider that there are frequent "barn find" cars and trucks that have been sitting on their springs, often overloaded with other stored items and while the tyres maybe toast the springs are fine is they were OK when stored.

Ditto with antique furniture. I know a guy who reupholsters 100+ year old springs all the time, and the springs were under at least some tension all that time if they held in the wood.

I'm pretty sure millions of cops carry their Glocks cocked all day every day and not a single issue.

Now the fact that Glocks have no 'safety' once cocked has been blamed for a few NDs. I wouldn't want to be fumbling with a trigger lock on a cocked Glock.

[P5Ret]

My question is this: can I store a Glock as a home defense pistol where a round has been chambered for days, weeks, months, even years and not be concerned for degradation or a slight chance of a ND?

I'm aware that my Springfield Armory XD's firing pin is highly tensioned when in battery and the warning of "Do Not Store A Round In The Chamber" for my EMP has me concerned for some odd reason.

I just want to be informed before I jump feet first into this new drug called Glock.

Let the butthurt begin...

Yes you can, and don't worry about it. Springs wear by compression and expansion, not be being kept in one condition or the other. There was a story a few years back about a box of loaded WWII 1911 mags found in a warehouse, and all of them functioned fine, despite being loaded for 60+ years at the time.

Are you talking about an XD or an EMP? Storing a 1911 style pistol with a loaded chamber probably isn't the best thing anyone can do. Carrying it in that condition safely isn't too difficult, but I don't think I'd store one that way.

[dsvla007]

firfyghter - I've carried a G30 as an EDC/CCW with the chamber loaded for 2 years. Just shot same gun for my CCW recert. No issues. BTW - I also have a 3.5 trigger upgrade. The key is to have a holster that TOTALLY encompasses the trigger guard. I run a Blackhawk CQB level 2 holster as well as an AlienGear IWB 3.0. Both holsters are very secure & comfortable and generously cover the trigger.

[451040]

My question is this: can I store a Glock as a home defense pistol where a round has been chambered for days, weeks, months, even years and not be concerned for degradation or a slight chance of a ND?

First, a Glock is the last pistol you need to be concerned about regarding reliability. Second, store the pistol in a full Kydex holster or with a "mic" type Kydex trigger guard.

[Whatisthis?]

I've long been a supporter of people making informed decisions based on informative facts (unless it's a decision to remove our already eroded 2A rights). For the longest time my decision was and has been to choose pistols other than Glocks for home defense, CCW, and sport. The reasons are short and non-distinguishable (Top Gun parody) but nonetheless I never told people to not buy Glocks nor would ever argue that "they suck" but was able to explain my purchase decision. I'm now standing on the threshold of leaving my committed position and cheating on all of my other pistols in purchasing a Glock (let's be honest probably two or three).

But I have one question before I take the first free sample into this gateway gun. I've been a Sig owner for one of many reasons, one being that I appreciate being able to have a round in the chamber without any firing pin springs under pressure/coiled. It's just a personal preference.

My question is this: can I store a Glock as a home defense pistol where a round has been chambered for days, weeks, months, even years and not be concerned for degradation or a slight chance of a ND?

I'm aware that my Springfield Armory XD's firing pin is highly tensioned when in battery and the warning of "Do Not Store A Round In The Chamber" for my EMP has me concerned for some odd reason.

I just want to be informed before I jump feet first into this new drug called Glock.

Let the butthurt begin...

It appears you made your decision long ago with incorrect information. Just because the firing pin spring is compressed some, does not mean a round would go off if something were to happen to the spring. But hey, people believe what they want and it's difficult to show them the truth unless they want to see it.

[JCMILLER]

On another note, there is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to safety.

[firfyghter]

You peoples are a real class act, thanks for the help. This will provide the assurance I was looking for regarding this purchase. The benefit is also that I now have an additional firearm that a newbie can try out in the grand picture of being a firearm ambassador and promoting the 2A here behind enemy lines. Hopefully I'll actually be able to get it on my CCW before expiration since the policy is "reversed" from shall back to may issue. Message me if any of you are in the OC and coming up on expiration. I'd love to chat and share opinions/ideas.

[GlockN'Roll]

On another note,

there is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to safety.

Glocks, like all firearms, are only as safe as the user...

[Doctor Suarez]

The thread has already done a fine job of explaining the safety aspects. I will merely chime in to say that I too had a weird, irrational aversion to Glocks for years. Recently however I picked up at G17, at first simply because I felt like I should add a classic 9mm Glock to the collection while they're still available in CA.

However, once I took possession and started working with the gun, I found that I immediately regretted not buying one when I first started shooting. It turns out the herd is totally correct. They're fantastic pistols and true classics.

[Dimitri A.]

There are no dumb questions when it comes to firearms safety. After acquiring your Glock, you'll probably kick yourself for not having gotten one sooner.