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Diagnosing & Repairing Glock Pistol Problems

By Mike Coviello

How to diagnose and repair your Glock pistol. Glock repair chart with common Glock problems, causes and corrections along with related procedures for repairing your Glock pistol.

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GLOCK PISTOL REPAIR CHART

See Glock Maintenance for select repair procedures.

PROBLEM PROBABLE CAUSES CORRECTION
FAILURE TO EXTRACT (1) Extractor worn, broken or missing Replace the extractor
Defective ammunition Change ammunition
Dirt under the extraction claw Clean the extractor
Dirty chamber Clean the chamber
Shooting with an unlocked wrist (limp wristing) Lock shooting hand wrist
FAILURE TO EJECT OR ERRATIC EJECTION (INCLUDING STOVE PIPES) (1) Broken or damaged ejector Replace trigger mechanism housing with ejector
Underpowered ammunition Change ammunition
Dirty chamber Clean the chamber
Shooting with an unlocked wrist Lock shooting hand wrist
Lack of lubrication Lubricate
Dirty gun Clean
FAILURE TO FEED (2) Magazine not properly inserted Reinsert magazine
Underpowered ammunition Change ammunition
Dirty magazine Clean and inspect magazine
Weak magazine spring Replace magazine spring or magazine
Dirty chamber Clean the chamber
Tight extractor Replace or clean as needed
Shooting with an unlocked wrist (limp wristing) Lock shooting hand wrist
Deformed magazine (magazine sides or lip deformed Replace magazine
Weak recoil spring Replace recoil spring
SLIDE FAILS TO LOCK OPEN ON LAST ROUND Magazine follower broken Replace magazine or magazine follower
Dirty magazine Clean and inspect magazine
Weak magazine spring Replace magazine spring or magazine
Worn slide stop lever notch Contact Warranty Department if the replacement of the magazine and slide stop lever did not correct the issue.
Dirty gun Clean
Needs lubrication Lubricate
Deformed magazine Replace magazine
Trigger pin inserted too far (left or right) Slide stop lever worn This can cause the spring on the slide stop lever to bind. Check to see if the slide stop lever moves freely. If no, press the trigger pin slightly to the right until the slide stop lever moves freely.
Slide stop lever damaged Inspect and replace if necessary
Underpowered ammunition Change ammunition
Shooting with and unlocked wrist (limp wristing) Lock shooting hand wrist
Improper grip Tighten grip
FAILURE TO FIRE Slide out of battery (DO NOT FORCE INTO BATTERY) due to: deformed defective round Inspect and replace round
Under powered ammunition Change ammunition
Damaged/weak recoil spring Replace recoil spring assembly
Damaged recoil spring tube Replace recoil spring assembly
Mating surfaces of barrel, slide and the receiver excessively dirty Field strip and clean
Gun dirty/obstructed chamber Clean chamber
Shooting with an unlocked wrist (limp wristing) Lock shooting hand wrist
NO PRIMER STRIKE Worn or broken firing pin tip Replace firing pin
Obstructed firing pin channel Clear and clean the firing pin channel
Spring cups inverted Assemble properly
LIGHT, CENTERED PRIMER STRIKE Hard primer (SMG ammunition) Change ammunition
Obstructed firing pin channel Remove, inspect and clean firing pin and firing pin spring. Clean firing pin channel
LIGHT OFF-CENTER PRIMER STRIKE Tight extractor Replace
Dirty gun Clean
Slide lock reversed or not beveled Replace or reinstall the slide lock
Weak recoil spring Replace the recoil spring
INCONSISTENT TRIGGER PULL OR WILL NOT RELEASE Connector loose in housing Replace housing
Pistol is excessively dirty Field strip and clean
Wrong trigger bar Replace
Connector needs lubrication Lubricate
Trigger bar is bent or damaged Replace trigger bar
TRIGGER SAFETY FAILS TO RETURN TO ENGAGES (FORWARD) POSITION Improperly stored in original box with trigger in full forward position (trigger safety fully depressed) Replace trigger bar. When stored in original box, pistol must be unloaded, trigger in back position.
FIRING PIN SAFETY FAILS AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL Damaged, worn or defective firing pin safety Replace
LOCKS OPEN EARLY Improper hand position Change grip
Reverse tension on slide stop lever Install lever correctly and perform field inspection for proper tension.
Damaged slide stop lever Replace
  1. FTE = Failure to Extract or Failure to Eject.
    Failure to Extract and Failure to Eject have different meanings even though FTE is used for both terms.

    Extraction refers to the removal of the spent cartridge case from the chamber. If you have a spent case that it stuck in the chamber or your extractor is broken, you have a Failure to Extract.

    Ejection is where the spent case is forcefully thrown or ejected from the action of the gun. If the ejector is broken or the round is underpowered such that it does not have sufficient energy to drive the slide all the way to the rear you have a Failure to Eject. You can also have a Failure to Eject by “weak-wristing” or “limp-wristing” the pistol. One type of Failure To Extract is a stovepipe. A stovepipe is when the spent casing gets caught by the slide before being ejected from the gun. The empty case gets caught by the closing slide and gets stuck sticking out the side of the slide. It looks like a stove pipe. Stovepipes are associated with problems with certain ammunition or pistols that jam because the shell isn’t ejected properly.

  2. FTF = Failure to Feed

  3. The listed are intended as aids in diagnosing the cause and correction of problems observed when shooting. They are not intended to be inclusive or “catch-all” remedies. The actual remedy may consist of one or more of the above listed factors.

  4. The primary source of information for the above table was the Glock Armorer’s Manual, 2009.

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Filed Under: Gun Accessories, Maintenance & Repair

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