I see all the complaints of late gen 3 And gen 4 with brass to face issues or weak ejection, but between 3 glocks at our range, 1st gen 17, 2nd gen 17, and 2nd gen 19, all three exhibit this issue as well. Using mostly WWB, and some more powerful hand loads. Is this due to older springs possibly?? The 1st gen 17 is an AZ prefix indicating very early model
I have a Gen4 G21 that had BTF and very weak ejection until i tryed EXPENSIVE winchester ranger-T ammo. Test fire date on my 21 is 22Oct 12. Glocks arn’t the AK-47’s of the pistol world that we where lead to believe:confused: Glock Perfection!!
I would like to think it would be weak power but is it just a glock issue in general(all generations)? It shoots the most accurate with lower loads than a m&p does.
Or could it be the age of them needs replacement springs on all 3?
Or b/c the ejection port on all 3 show signs of brass rubbing the ejection port could they need it lowered?
Try changing out the RSA for a new one first ($6-8 part). Had the same thing happen to me on a old gen3 g19 I hadn’t shot in a long while. BTF almost every shot, changed out the RSA with the unit from a newer Gen3 I had right there on the range, problem gone instantly. 1600 rnds later still running like it should no BTF.
Yes older springs are a very likely culprit.
You should change out the RSA, and then if that does not work try changing the extractor and the extractor depressor plunger.
It’s also worth noting that 9mm glocks have always sent some brass to the face, especially cheap 115gr FMJs.
I conclude the answer is yes to varying degrees from my experience with Gen 1,2,3, and 4 which a year or so ago was confirmed by Randy Lee himself on thread about Glock extractors on this forum.
I am a retired LEO and bought my G21 NIB at the LEO blue label price. IMHO if i buy a NIB firearm of any make or brand i expect it to run right from the get go, without having to buy more “parts” to make it run right just IMHO. I expected with all the hype for Glocks that it would properly eject with all ammo i feed it. There are guys that don’t reload and just wanted a WWB range plinker. It rubs me the wrong way to have to put money into a NIB pistol to make it eject properly. If you choose to customize you Glock that is a different story that is called your choice. But what i expected was this Glock to eject strongly using any ammo, either high powered or low powered ammo. IMHO the Glock is a $450 pistol and not worth the post panic price of $620+ people are paying for it at this time, this is just IMHO.
All Glocks have the possibility to do that because of the ejector location relative to the extracting case.
There is a gap in which the fired case has to slide back over the next round while the next round is pushing upwards on it before it hits the ejector. If the extractor loses control of it before it hits the ejector it will go in random directions.
The speed at which the gun cycles and the speed/strength of the cartridge stack pushing against the bottom of the extracting case can all affect ejection.
If you look at a M&P you will notice that an extracting case pretty much hits the ejector almost exactly the same time as the lip of the case leaves the chamber, that is why it always has strong ejection.
I suspect the reason that Glock did it this way was to allow for more leeway on ejecting live rounds without putting stress on the ejector. Extract a dummy round slowly from both M&P and a Glock and you will wince as you watch the extraction on the M&P.
This does mean that you will not have the same ejection pattern over the life of the gun on a Glock. As springs wear out and ammo pressures change, so will ejection pattern. It will be particularly noticeable on guns with brand new magazines and slower slide speed (ammo or RSA).
Did you recently start using new magazines in older guns?
I’ve owned a Gen 2, 3 and now 4. To make a long story short, the Gen 2 and 3 would send a case over my head occasionally from what I remember. Now my Gen 4 G19 shot brass in every direction including but not limited to straight up, 6 o’clock into my eye, 9 o’clock, around the clock once to multiple times per magazine with practice ammo. There’s pages of testimonies on m4c and elsewhere about these problems with just as many skeptics blaming limp wristing.
The problem is real, if you don’t have it then drive on. If you do, hopefully Smyrna or Apex can fix it.
Over the years I’ve owned a Gen 3 19, a Gen 3 23, a Gen 4 23 and now a Gen 2 19. Of the four only the Gen 4 exhibited the problems of erratic ejection. However it only cropped up after about 1000 rds. At first I thought it was the ammo (cheap Tulammo) but the consistent ejection that I’ve come expect really took a nosedive after the 1k mark. I’m not one for finding the right ammo to practice with because it can get really expensive. I decided to stick with 9mm and so I traded it for the Gen 2 19. The Gen 2 will sporadically throw a round straight back and hit me on the top of the head. Say once every 40 to 50 rds or so. IIRC the Gen 3s (both made before 2008) were pretty much the same as the Gen 2 in terms of ejection.
There is a difference in reliability and a pretty pile of ejected brass from a fine tuned 1911. The 1911 may eject the brass right into a cup sat at 4’ away at 4 oclock, but might function worth anything with dirt or water or carbon build up.
Yep went to drop free mags and some gen 4 mags
I agree with you but that just ain’t always the case.
If you want a 9mm that runs like a sewing machine, get a Hi Power, Beretta 92 or an older Sig 226 or 228.
Sounds like the same issue. Not every round, but maybe 30-40 and one on my arm or head.
I will try the RSA and then maybe extractor spring from there to help some and report back
I agree on the hi-power, but the beretta and sigs require LOTS of lube and maintenance comoare to a glock IMHO and experience
Crow Hunter, You have given the best explanation on this issue i have read yet. Good work Thank You
I agree that would explain the issue with all gens not just late 3&4
What I would personally do is, without changing anything else, try taking the magazines and leaving them loaded long enough to “take a set” and reduce the magazine spring force a little bit.
Go ahead and get new RSAs and extractor SLB springs, and change them out one at a time while keeping the other items constant and you will know which one is your problem and which one to keep extras on hand for. But I bet you will notice a significant decrease in BTF once the mag springs stop pushing so hard on the extracting case. Although you might need new SLBs on the really old Glocks if the springs have fatigued enough that the extractor is “floppy”.
pat701
Crow Hunter, You have given the best explanation on this issue i have read yet. Good work Thank You
Glad you found it useful. I had plenty of time off recently along with time to babysit by brother’s M&P 9c and nothing better to do than take them apart and see how they worked. That and previous experience with a BTF G19 years ago.
Like what?
Change springs every now and then? Theres nothing on a handgun that can’t be changed out or fixed in a few minutes if you have the right tools and know-how.
My Gen2 Glock19 ejects fairly steadily over my shoulder.
I have replaced the springs twice (once at 7k and once at 20k) in it over the last 15 years.
I notice a bit of erratic ejection when using newer magazines till they get a little worn in.
Using cheaper ammo tends to cause a change as well.
That being said, I’ve noticed these exact same circumstances with a SIG226 (West German), a Beretta M9 (issue with personal factory mags), and a Browning Hi Power (90s manu).
No handgun is a sewing machine, maintenance and learning how it operates is your guideline here… shoot the snot out of it before you carry it so you have an idea of what it’s going to do.
I carry my Gen2 Glock 19 over the other handguns, fwiw. It does not hesitate to go bang on quality ammunition.