Glock 21SF issues...

[bk23103]

Some of you may remember my prior thread about trading my stock G22 for a slightly modified G21SF a couple of weeks back. Well, I got the gun out of jail and I can see why the guy traded it. It suffers from light primer strikes which result in failures to fire and misfeeds. I had about 20 malfunctions in 200 rounds, which is obvioulsy unacceptable for any defense gun.

The gun is equipped with a stainless steel guide rod and a "3.5 pound trigger connector" per the prior owner. I really like how the trigger feels, and I am quite a bit more accurate with this gun than I was with the .40 - when it works. I really hope a simple switch for the stock guide rod will help these reliability issues, but I fear that's not going to be the case.

What say you guys? Trigger spring or guide rod? And why do people switch out the guide rod anyway?

[L-2]

Light strikes generally are NOT related to the guide-rod or connector. Feel free to change them back to stock however.

In your last paragraph you didn't mention "connector" but mentioned "trigger spring". The trigger spring is also generally not related to a light strike. Again, feel free to replace that spring while you're in there and use a stock one for now.

label and bag all parts you take out should you want to use them again, however.

For a light strike, I'd clean out the firing pin channel and examine the following:
-channel liner
-firing pin assembly (the actual firing pin; cups; sleeve) and replace the firing pin spring while you're at it; in fact; replace the cups, too.

If you're unfamiliar with doing all this, ideally, find a certified Glock Armorer to show you.

People switch out all sorts of parts in Glocks. Install a stock Glock recoil spring assembly for now.

The first thing is to start with a reliable G21SF. You can modify it later and determine round-count intervals to replace things from there as reliability issues occur.

[Tri750]

Where are you located ?

A heavier guide rod is supposed to reduce recoil and help with accuracy of follow up shots
I've tried stainless and currently have Tungsten (heavier still) with stock recoil springs and if there is a difference, I can't feel it.
My G3 21SF has the now discontinued "drop in trigger job" with adjustable overtravel screw from Glockmeister and that was worth twice what I paid for it as far as trigger feel.

Did you try different ammo?
What ammo(s) were you shooting ?

[teg33]

Light primer strike usually caused by dirty firing pin channel.

[Munny$hot]

Light primer strike usually caused by dirty firing pin channel.

This or the original owner changed out the firing pin spring with a lightened one.

[nothinghere2c]

Light primer strike usually caused by dirty firing pin channel.

the only time one of my glocks suffered from light strikes was when i got a build up of goo inside the firing pin channel from a crappy bore cleaner i had been using that dripped inside the channel over time.

cleaning it out with clp and a q-tip solved this for me.

[Oceanbob]

Light primer strike usually caused by dirty firing pin channel.

This^^^

Clean out the gunk. Bone dry. No lube. Reinstall.

[SkyHawk]

Clean the striker channel and the spacer sleeve inside and out. Also clean the spring cups. Make sure the liner is not damaged nor the sleeve. I would also be looking to replace the striker spring to stock since you don't know what bubba mods were done. $3 is cheap insurance. If it were me I would also replace the recoil spring assembly for a stock one.

[DDM4556]

Glock specifically states not to get oil in the firing pin channel. Someone who doesn't know Glocks may have allowed this to happen. As stated above, cleaning it is the clear first step.

Good luck OP. Let us know what happens.

[Win231]

Many times, someone will try "Home Gunsmithing" because they like to tinker & think they can spend a few dollars & "improve" a gun after the manufacturer spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on design & testing. Or, they're thinking "modifications" will magically make them a better shooter.

Then, (as you discovered) when the gun no longer works, they'll sell the screwed-up gun & use the magic "Customized" word on some unsuspecting buyer.

[bk23103]

The issues persisted with some reloads which I've been using in my 1911's for years, as well as with factory WWB. I've tried cleaning out the channel to no avail. A friend suggested contacting Glock citing this article from 2005:

http://articles.latimes.com/2005/nov/26/local/me-guns26

[Bill Steele]

This^^^

Clean out the gunk. Bone dry. No lube. Reinstall.

This, plus buy a new stock striker spring from Glock Parts or Glockmeister dot com, no more light strikes.

[Dimitri A.]

As others have said, clean out the firing pin channel, replace the firing pin/striker spring with a new OEM unit, and check the striker to make sure the tip isn't chipped or otherwise damaged.

[Domingo]

[JustEd]

This, plus buy a new stock striker spring from Glock Parts or Glockmeister dot com, no more light strikes.

Perfect answer!