Generation 4 Glock 19 Issue

[TheSierraDrifter]

Good Sunday morning!

I took my Gen 4 Glock 19 out yesterday and fired 180 rounds of Federal aluminum cased ammo. The first 2-4 magazines I emptied had an issue. After firing the 2nd or 3rd round out of each magazine, the slide would lock back after the round ejected. The only way to release the slide forward would be to remove the magazine. Once or twice, the slide had a hard time moving forward after press-checking.

Before today, haven't had any issues with aluminum in 9mm, .40, or .45. Although I can't be 100% sure, I think I've used aluminum in this gun before, and had no issues. I was careful to make sure my thumb wasn't interfering with the slide stop. And no, Frog Lube has never been applied to this gun! It is a fairly new pistol and I believe only about 500 rounds have been fired through it.

Any thoughts? Anyone experience this before?

[bigbully]

Strip and clean making sure to check for aluminum shavings. Check the magazine followers for abnormal wear.

Have you done any modifications to the gun?

[DaSik]

I would clean it and check your mags. I had one problematic magazine. It was only that one i would get a FTE

[TheSierraDrifter]

Strip and clean making sure to check for aluminum shavings. Check the magazine followers for abnormal wear.

Have you done any modifications to the gun?

I found two extremely small shavings in the area opposite the plunger is on the slide. No modifications have been made to the gun except I replaced the standard mag release with a Tango Down extended release.

Interesting that something that small, or several, could cause any issues. Especially since I've shout a few thousand rounds of aluminum through various guns, and before this, have only had 1 or 2 FTE's.

[TheSierraDrifter]

Strip and clean making sure to check for aluminum shavings. Check the magazine followers for abnormal wear.

Have you done any modifications to the gun?

I would clean it and check your mags. I had one problematic magazine. It was only that one i would get a FTE

I just noticed the mags I was using have 2183 followers. Maybe this is the issue and I need to get the 9mm 3 followers.

[bigbully]

I found two extremely small shavings in the area opposite the plunger is on the slide. No modifications have been made to the gun except I replaced the standard mag release with a Tango Down extended release.

Interesting that something that small, or several, could cause any issues. Especially since I've shout a few thousand rounds of aluminum through various guns, and before this, have only had 1 or 2 FTE's.

Did you have to remove the slide lock lever and spring when you replaced the mag release?

I ask, because I replaced my slide lock lever once and reinstalled the spring wrong causing the slide to lock on random rounds.

[bigbully]

I just noticed the mags I was using have 2183 followers. Maybe this is the issue and I need to get the 9mm 3 followers.

The 2183 followers cause FTF on some hollow point rounds and would not cause the slide to lock back. However, Glock will send you the 9mm3 followers free if you call them and tell them you have a problem with your HD rounds not feeding. Some have said the 9mm3 still doesn't work for them and prefer to use the 9mm6 and slightly modify the mags. I have had no issues with my 9mm3 followers though. The floor plates are a big PITA to remove though. (I use Speer Gold Dot for HD)

[TheSierraDrifter]

Did you have to remove the slide lock lever and spring when you replaced the mag release?

I ask, because I replaced my slide lock lever once and reinstalled the spring wrong causing the slide to lock on random rounds.

I did remove the slide lock lever to install the new mag release, but I haven't touched the slide lock spring. I did have to move the magazine catch spring when replacing the mag release - I just inspected it and it looks normal.

[TheSierraDrifter]

The 2183 followers cause FTF on some hollow point rounds and would not cause the slide to lock back. However, Glock will send you the 9mm3 followers free if you call them and tell them you have a problem with your HD rounds not feeding. Some have said the 9mm3 still doesn't work for them and prefer to use the 9mm6 and slightly modify the mags. I have had no issues with my 9mm3 followers though. The floor plates are a big PITA to remove though. (I use Speer Gold Dot for HD)

Yeah, Glock sent me some 9mm 3's for my Gen 3 19, as I was having problems with Federal HST's. They work just fine now.

[bigbully]

Hopefully the cleaning has resolved your issues. The only thing else I can suggest is to see if the problem occurs with the same mags next time. Then it may actually be the 2183 followers as you suggested, but that seems out of the ordinary.

[SkyHawk]

I did remove the slide lock lever to install the new mag release, but I haven't touched the slide lock spring. I did have to move the magazine catch spring when replacing the mag release - I just inspected it and it looks normal.

If you removed the slide lock (not necessary to change a mag release) then chances are very good you installed it wrong. I see this a lot on the range.

You must install the locking block pin before installing the slide lock, making sure the slide lock spring is under the pin, and only then do you install the trigger pin.

[bigbully]

Take your slide off and take a pic of the slide lever area. It should be pretty obvious to us if it's wrong. I remember in my case the lever was actually sitting in the upward position.

[TheSierraDrifter]

If you removed the slide lock (not necessary to change a mag release) then chances are very good you installed it wrong. I see this a lot on the range.

You must install the locking block pin before installing the slide lock, making sure the slide lock spring is under the pin, and only then do you install the trigger pin.

My mistake everyone, I DID NOT replace the slide lock on this gun. I reviewed the procedures on youtube and must have been confused with another Glock I modified or disassembled.

[SkyHawk]

My mistake everyone, I DID NOT replace the slide lock on this gun. I reviewed the procedures on youtube and must have been confused with another Glock I modified or disassembled.

OK but it is still worth inspecting to be sure someone else did not mess it up. If this were happening to me, I would remove the slide lock, inspect the spring to be sure it was not tweaked, then reinstall it to be sure it was done right. Is this a brand new gun from the factory, you the original owner?

[TheSierraDrifter]

Headed off to church shortly. I'll post a pic later today. Thanks everyone for the diagnosis.