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This is supposedly due to newer extractors. I have never witnessed it in person but I am not the end all be all source of Glock knowledge.
I wouldn’t be worried about buying a newer Gen 3 but thats my 0.02 USD
i have a 2011 gen3 17 and it has had one stove pipe in 400 rds… and i get the brass in the face still.
Read all of dis:
http://rationalgun.blogspot.com/2011/10/glock-were-pretty-good-choice.html
Edit: Yeah, I’ve got a couple-month-old 2011-production Gen 3 19 with about 500 rounds through it, no malfunctions to report. Also plan on getting a NIB Gen 3 17 for my gal for christmas, (she wants a fullsize, I dont understand why). If I experience any extractor issues I will A. attempt to sand down the extractor if that is an issue and/or B. replace with a LWD extractor, though that will take some time to acquire. In short, I wouldnt worry about extractor issues because even if they do present themselves, they are fixable.
No, not at all. I have three 3rd generation Glock pistols. One of them was purchased in November of 2010. It’s a Model G-19(RTF2); and this is the Glock with the MIM extractor rather than the (stamped ?) steel billet extractor that came with my earlier manufactured Glocks.
Quite frankly, I am NOT willing to trust my life to any Glock other than a 3rd generation model. Now, like most things, ‘Glock’ there are, at least, 3 different versions of Glock’s most recent MIM extractors. I think I’ve got either the second or third version that’s presently out there.
The MIM extractor my new G-19 came with was a little tight and had a tendency to bind on the high spot when I first got the pistol. What I did was to polish the heck out of this extractor with my Dremel Tool. After I brought it up to a mirror polish; it gave up some of its height and fit smoothly into its groove.
So far I’ve been through almost 3,000 factory rounds without the slightest problem. (Well, I did have one FTF; but I’m pretty sure I have to take the blame for that. That still makes my new 3rd generation G-19 well over 99% reliable!)
Me? I wouldn’t own any 4th generation Glock pistol. I don’t like the new, ‘half-baked’ Tenifer process or the gray powder coating it leaves behind. I don’t like the new higher, ‘kick plate’ trigger bars and the heavier trigger pull (reset) that results. Neither do I care for these new, ‘bump’ firing pin safety cams Glock is presently using - These, ‘bumps’ add a lot of extra friction to a gen 4’s trigger pull. The MIM extractors and new recoil guide rods are livable - even workable - but why bother with them if you really don’t have to?
As for Glock’s new adjustable backstraps? Gosh, why am I totally unimpressed. That thing has, ‘plastic abortion’ stamped all over it! There’s even a rumor going around right now that Glock, GmbH is no longer using its original, ‘D6’ polymer frames. Supposedly some sort of newer cheaper polymer is presently being used in the construction of new Glock frames.
Anyway, I’ve got three of the older 3rd generation Glock pistols; and I’m very glad that I do. Ain’t nothing superior, better designed, or better made about 4th generation Glocks to me. In fact I’m pretty certain that my next, ‘new Glock’ is going to say, ‘FNH’ on the slide! 
My 3rd gen, 2011 G17L is having feeding issues that I suspect are related to the extractor.
Damn MIM parts…they are ruining a lot of good guns in the last few years. Sometimes you’ve just got to use a machined part to get the job done.
My O.D gen3 G22 had a few fail to feeds in the first couple houndred rounds, havent had any issues in the last 500 rounds or so…
When looking at used Glock 19’s what serial number range should one avoid?
Is there a site or FAQ that shows how to get the manufacture date from the serial number?
Are you saying that the older extractors were machined? I am honestly not sure how the old ones were made.
FWIW 2 of my 3 Glocks have the “new style” dip extractor (g17, g26) both give me strong and consistent ~3 o’clock ejection. they are 05 and 09 year of manf. guns.
The older extractors were cast, learn something new every day. They were apparently never machined.
Gen 3s are GTG.
IF you have extraction problems, replace the extractor (which was always investment cast) with a new one.
I have a March 2011 G19 with the dipped extractor.I have just over 2400 rounds through it.The only time ejection seemed weak was with 400 assorted rounds of 115 gr. loads.
I’ve had no stovepipes or other malfs and havn’t been beaned on the head except with three of the 115 gr’loads.
It runs everything else fine,including my 147 gr. HST’s. This is my first 3rd Gen 19,have been on 2nd Gen G19’s for a lot of years.
I’ll probably go ahead and get an LWD extractor for it anyway in case of future issues.
It’s mostly resting right now while I’m testing out a new PPQ.Still carrying a 2nd Gen daily.
I’ve put probably around 1000-1500 rounds through a stock few-month-old Gen 3 Glock 17, and have not seen any problems or failures with it. The ejection seems to be normal, for now. The gun has seen a wide variety of ammunition and has been fired with and without lights.
I have fired a couple hundred through two other late G17’s that also seemed to run well with a few different types of ammunition. Both guns were fired stock with no light.
In short: no failures witnessed or reported with those 3 weapons.
That is as far as my first hand experience goes for 2011 Gen3’s.
I have a Sept. 2011 manufactured Gen 3 G19. No FTF, FTE in 700 rounds. I am getting cases in the face though, I am hoping it clears up.
Gen 3 G19 with a test fire date of 10-31-2011. Only put ~200 rounds through it, but got consistent brass to the head and one stovepipe using Federal Champion, Winchester White Box, and Magtech, all 115gr FMJ. Taking it back out tomorrow for further testing.
G19 Gen3 with a 11/11/11 test fire date has been GTG for 750 rounds using low power 115gr stuff like UMC and PMC. A few cases to the head for the first 250 rounds or so, but this seems to have improved. I took a look at the extractor (marked w/ #4 casting) and it seems to have minimal seams or casting marks compared to some of the others I’ve seen posted here. Not as good as the older ones, but not bad. I purchased a LW extractor in case I need it, but so far so good.
I have a newer gen 3 G22 with the new style extractor. Around 1K of trouble free rounds through it so far, mostly either WWB or tula, some of the cheapest ammo to be found.
Considering all the reports I have been reading you might be better off just looking to GunBroker for Gen 2 and early Gen 3 Glocks to make sure you’re getting a good one. My Gen 4 17 even after having the recoil spring replaced by Glock is still giving erratic ejections.