Good/Bad range trip with G17

[dpriddy]

Yesterday, I went to the Brea range for the first time. Very nice place all around(staff/facility). One of the cool things I like about the place is that they don't have a minimum distance for your targets. I know nothing that great but just never seen this at an indoor range. Now my rant starts! Sorry for the bad grammar and spelling ahead of time.

After shooting about 100 rounds with not problems, (bad starts now) I had my first FTF! At first i just thought it was my fault by not letting the trigger reset fully. Trying to be positive! I'm still a NEW shooter and was focusing on my trigger pull and not taking my finger off.So another 20 rounds later I had another. This time i made sure it was not me, by releasing the trigger all the way and waiting 20 sec. Still the trigger didn't reset. This time I noticed the slide was not all the way forward (back about 1/16in), then cleared the malfunction. The next 100 I had a light or bad strike.

Today, I striped the slide all the way down and cleaned everything REALLY good, focusing a lot of time on the striker channel. I purchased this Glock used from another new shooter, from the looks of it he must have soaked the slide with solvent or oil. Channel was pretty gunked up, could have been my problem? Not to sure what else to check. Anyone have any ideas? On a good note I'm staring to get better groups, but still need years of training. All and all not a bad range trip.

[audiophil2]

Did you clean and lube it before the range trip?

[dpriddy]

Yes i did, this is my first gun so i clean before and after range trips. Its sorta like your first car. When you cant shoot cleaning fills the void.

[Sam]

I don't think you can incorrectly reset the trigger...on second shots only let the trigger go far enough for the gun to recock.

[Baxter]

Just remember Glocks don't need that much lube. Hope you get it figured out. Also what kind of ammo were you using?

[dpriddy]

I was shooting UMC and Fiocchi, both had FTF. As far as lube I only put the 5 drop as per the manual. Thanks everyone for the help!

[wrightb]

You say you're a new shooter, have you been shown how to grip it? I tuck my hand so close to the slide it will just about rip some skin off if it gets any closer, a loose grip affects the recoil as the gun has to compensate for that gap between the webbing between your thumb and forefinger before it can slide properly. Push the gun out with your strong hand, and back towards you with your week hand.

I think something else is definitely going on, but a loose grip may have an effect on it.

[Greg-Dawg]

Whenever you buy a gun ALWAYS clean it!!! Especially a used one-detail clean. I highly recommend taking a basic pistol class at your local area.

I love mine: Flawless as always.

[Shenaniguns]

Yesterday, I went to the Brea range for the first time. Very nice place all around(staff/facility). One of the cool things I like about the place is that they don't have a minimum distance for your targets. I know nothing that great but just never seen this at an indoor range. Now my rant starts! Sorry for the bad grammar and spelling ahead of time.

After shooting about 100 rounds with not problems, (bad starts now) I had my first FTF! At first i just thought it was my fault by not letting the trigger reset fully. Trying to be positive! I'm still a NEW shooter and was focusing on my trigger pull and not taking my finger off.So another 20 rounds later I had another. This time i made sure it was not me, by releasing the trigger all the way and waiting 20 sec. Still the trigger didn't reset. This time I noticed the slide was not all the way forward (back about 1/16in), then cleared the malfunction. The next 100 I had a light or bad strike.

Today, I striped the slide all the way down and cleaned everything REALLY good, focusing a lot of time on the striker channel. I purchased this Glock used from another new shooter, from the looks of it he must have soaked the slide with solvent or oil. Channel was pretty gunked up, could have been my problem? Not to sure what else to check. Anyone have any ideas? On a good note I'm staring to get better groups, but still need years of training. All and all not a bad range trip.

That area is suppose to be dry and clean

[23 Blast]

A Glock failing in any way?

Blasphemy!!!

but yeah, soaking the slide in oil usually wouldn't be a problem, as long as you later wipe off much of the excess oil. The previous owner probably didn't do that, so carbon + excess oil = gunk and FTF.

[Shenaniguns]

A Glock failing in any way?

Blasphemy!!!

but yeah, soaking the slide in oil usually wouldn't be a problem, as long as you later wipe off much of the excess oil. The previous owner probably didn't do that, so carbon + excess oil = gunk and FTF.

FALSE!!! I repeat, the striker area is to by clean and dry i.e NO OIL!!! Read the freakin manuals people


I'd usually detail strip and clean every ~1,000 or so but have went beyond that with no problems.

From the Glock Armorers Manual

[DaveFJ80]

sounds like you had lots of gunk in the firing pin channel, among other places. When I got my G19, it was used but in good shape. But I still detail stripped it (took apart the slide completely, cleaned everything out really good with a brake cleaner and toothbrush & q-tip), and did the same to the lower. Inspect all of the parts, including the springs and firing pin. Even though it looks clean, I still pulled out lots of gunk on the q-tips in those channels and off of the springs.

Once you do all of that cleaning, and make sure that it's dry in those areas, take it back out to the range and try it again. I put 400 rds of UMC and 300 rnds of WWB through my G19 so far. No a single FTF or FTE.


One of the main things I like about OC Indoor (Brea range) is they let you shoot JHP ammo as well.

[huckberry668]

I don't think oil in the firing pin channel is going to cause much of a problem. During the shooting session it's not enough time for the primer to be contanminated. The rounds do go bang when you properly loaded them right? Still, do what the manual says, remove the oil/solvent from it. only lube the moving/contact areas.

What kind of FTF? Does the tip of the round hit the bottom of the barrel or does the round get half way into the chamber? It could be the mag or you're limp-wristing it.

Limp-wristing is where you're holding the gun very lightly allowing the gun to recoil back too much to properly load the next round. Lock your wrist next time you shoot it and see what happens.

is it a factory magazine you're using? Any visible damage to the mag? or does the round fit loose inside when loaded?

it's a used gun so I suspect the mag was used too. Sometimes the mag spring gets weakened when loaded and left there for long periods of time (like 5 or 10 years). Weakened mag spring cannot provide enough tension to push the round up for proper loading.

With that said, my G19 never fails even with the factory mags I kept loaded for the last 20 years. I rotate the mags every year so they're not all loaded all the time. I'm going to replace them with new Wolff replacement springs.

is there any modification done to the gun? check out the serial numbers on the barrel, slide and frame and make sure they're the same. The check for visible modification signs.

[mala in se]

new shooter + failing glock = user error 95% of the time.

give us an idea on how you're holding the pistol when firing. i'm also thinking you're limp wristing this fail safe pistol. this happened from time to time when my 11 year old son handled it. he has since corrected this. also you should contact the person you purchased the pistol from. ask him his habits while he owned it, and possibly get you're money back if you're not happy.

i bought my G17 from a CGN member, and he took great care in it, and it is a 2nd gen that has seen thousands of rounds through it. it functions flawlessly, and i would trust my life with it (but i trust my Sig even more)

[Shenaniguns]

I don't think oil in the firing pin channel is going to cause much of a problem. During the shooting session it's not enough time for the primer to be contanminated. The rounds do go bang when you properly loaded them right? Still, do what the manual says, remove the oil/solvent from it. only lube the moving/contact areas.

What kind of FTF? Does the tip of the round hit the bottom of the barrel or does the round get half way into the chamber? It could be the mag or you're limp-wristing it.

Limp-wristing is where you're holding the gun very lightly allowing the gun to recoil back too much to properly load the next round. Lock your wrist next time you shoot it and see what happens.

is it a factory magazine you're using? Any visible damage to the mag? or does the round fit loose inside when loaded?

it's a used gun so I suspect the mag was used too. Sometimes the mag spring gets weakened when loaded and left there for long periods of time (like 5 or 10 years). Weakened mag spring cannot provide enough tension to push the round up for proper loading.

With that said, my G19 never fails even with the factory mags I kept loaded for the last 20 years. I rotate the mags every year so they're not all loaded all the time. I'm going to replace them with new Wolff replacement springs.

is there any modification done to the gun? check out the serial numbers on the barrel, slide and frame and make sure they're the same. The check for visible modification signs.

His FAIL TO FIRE is caused by the oil and gunk in the striker channel which is suppose to be dry and clean period! He claims the gun was probably dunked in oil by the previous owner which is a moron for doing so.

I posted a piece of the Glock Armorers Manual that coincides with his findings, so I have no idea how you came to your conclusion.