Glock troubleshooting

[Jon2]

I have a Glock 21 that exhibits an interesting malfunction. The symptom is a "click" when the trigger is pulled - after ejecting the round, I notice a small indentation on the primer where it was clearly hit by the firing pin, but I guess not hard enough to make it fire. I would blame the ammo, but it's happened across multiple brands.

What's interesting is it never happens when I'm firing the gun - only when someone else is doing it. Yesterday I did manage to cause the malfunction by moving my trigger finger into different positions - using the very tip of my finger for example - but I can't reliably reproduce the problem. So my suspicion is that it's probably the safety causing the problem, but what to do about it? Has anyone seen a similar problem?

On a related note, if it turns out I need to take it to someone to repair, does anyone have recommendations on a shop in the general South Bay area?

[XDRoX]

My guess is you got some oil in there around the firing pin. Try cleaning it out and see if that works.

[Fishslayer]

That's unpossible. Glocks are perfection...

[taguin]

^ try this first. If that doesn't work there is a Glock armorer at San Jose Gun Exchange. Hope this helps.

[PRonyan]

Sounds like the firing pin hole may be gunked up with oil. You have to make sure you don't get oil inside the little hole that goes into the firing pin chamber. You should take apart the slide, remove the firing pin and spring and clean and dry everything. It has to be absolutely dry in there. There are a lot of little parts so don't do it yourself if you are not sure of the process.

^ try this first. If that doesn't work there is a Glock armorer at San Jose Gun Exchange. Hope this helps.

[PRonyan]

BTW For all the purists, it should be called a striker instead of a firing pin. I always call it a firing pin.

Sounds like the firing pin hole may be gunked up with oil. You have to make sure you don't get oil inside the little hole that goes into the firing pin chamber. You should take apart the slide, remove the firing pin and spring and clean and dry everything. It has to be absolutely dry in there. There are a lot of little parts so don't do it yourself if you are not sure of the process.

[PRonyan]

One way to test the striker is to remove the slide and push in the small firing pin safety button so that the striker is moving freely. The firing pin should protrude out of the hole if you tilt the slide forward. You should hear the striker moving back and forth freely when you shake the slide.

BTW For all the purists, it should be called a striker instead of a firing pin. I always call it a firing pin.

[Fatstackz]

Are these reloads or factory loads?

Could be a batch of high primers if handloads. Most likley though, the above post are correct. When doing cleaning its important to keep the muzzle pointed down as to not allow any cleaners/oils to penetrate the stryker channel. Its an easy fix though.

[RoundEye]

One of the steps of a basic GLOCK function test includes verifying that the firing pin moves freely inside the firing pin channel.

Steps to verify:

1.) Unload and Clear (physically verify that there is no round in the chamber and remove the magazine)
2.) With the slide forward pull the trigger all the way to the rear and hold it there.
3.) With the trigger depressed, place the side of the pistol near your ear and shake it forward and backward. With each shake you should be able to hear the firing pin moving freely back and forth in the firing pin channel. (It should sound like a rattle)

If you don't experience the intended result, you have isolated an issue with the firing pin assembly, and it should be taken to a GLOCK Armorer for further diagnosis and repair. This is just one idea off the top of my head, but there could just as easily be an issue with the trigger and trigger bar, which cannot be verified without visually inspecting the pistol.

[Oceanbob]

Clean that weapon. YouTube has plenty of take-apart Glock cleaning take down videos. Not hard.

No oil on the striker. None.

[sammy]

Is the firing pin mark off center when this happens? My guess is it is slightly out of battery.

[Jon2]

You guys are awesome. As soon as the kids take their naps, I'll take a look and see if it's something this simple.

Someone asked if the mark on the primer was off-center. The answer is yes, it is. Someone else asked if these were factory loads - yes. I've had it happen with PMC and Remington both.

Thinking the Glock Armorer course they offer at Front Sight would be an excellent investment for me.

[G-forceJunkie]

Glock calls it a firing pin, thats what they call it in armors school and what they print in their manuals. With that said, I'm going to guess its one of the following:

Gunked up firing pin channel. If you remove the slide and shake it, does the firing pin rattle? It shold. Gunk is either slowing it down, or there is enough crud impacted in front of the pin to reduce its protrusion.

Tip of firing pin worn or broken, again, reducing the protrusion.

The firing pin and firing pin saftey damaged. These parts can wear wear, forma burr, and impede action. Also, if the tip of the trigger bar that depresses the firing pin saftey is worn, it may not be disengaging it all the way and slowing down the firing pin causing the light hits.

BTW For all the purists, it should be called a striker instead of a firing pin. I always call it a firing pin.

[RoundEye]

If you remove the slide and shake it, does the firing pin rattle? It should.

If the slide is removed, you'll need to depress the firing pin safety with you thumb prior to shaking for the pin to move freely. With the safety engaged, you will not be able to hear anything when shaking the slide alone.

[Dhena81]

Replace all 33 parts its not very hard to do

Take the back cover off the slide and clean it out go on YouTube and search for Glock detail strip its so easy to do.