So my family was competing in the Glock Shooting Sports Foundation match this weekend. Great fun by all and a well run match. I saw a few official Glock Armorers at a table and had a quick question about my pistol. So, I ask them about spring replacement at various round counts and suggested my Glock had probably exceeded those round counts but ran just fine…what are your recommendations?
He proceeds to strip my Glock completely apart, thoroughly clean it, reaches into a box and replaces every spring in the gun, then test fires the gun 10 rounds using his ammo (he insisted on using his ammo). He hands it back to me and says “Thanks for being a Glock customer” - no charge.
Professional,polite, and exceeding expectations…Well done Glock!
That’s really cool. I had a similar interaction with Glock a few months ago at a trade show, but it didn’t go quite as smoothly. At first, the two guys were really standoff-ish. Granted, it was an hour or so before the end of the day, so they were probably tired and wanted to wrap up the day, but they didn’t seem like they wanted to talk. This was at first and after they realized that I somewhat knew what I was talking about the two of them became friendlier. In the end, one of the guys helped me with what I was looking for. These company reps no doubt get inundated with know-it-alls and “been there done that” types so it probably gets old for them quickly. I’m glad you and your family had a great experience and enjoyed the match.
I’m sorry for the hijack, but related to where this thread is going, does anyone have a listing and/or a source (other than GLOCK itself…) for the updated factory parts (current extractor with correct springs/plungers, updated ejector, correct recoil spring assembly) for Gen3 and Gen4 for 9mm and .40 pistols?
I know I saw this info somewhere here on M4C a while back, but my searches have come up empty.
Thanks, and again, sorry for the hijack.
I had heard 2500-3000 rounds for recoil spring assembly and all springs around 5000-6000rds from a glock armorer while attending one my pistol instructor re-certification classes. I honestly don’t know if there is an official answer. I should have asked while that guy was in front of me.
“In 2008 while attending the GLOCK recertification course, that advice changed. That instructor said that the “recoil spring assembly” should be changed every 3,000 rounds to prevent damage to the gun and assure reliability.”
I was there today too and got a couple of guns tuned up with the free “inspect and upgrade” treatment. Shooting the breeze with those techs is my favorite part of a GSSF match. You can get the same deal from the Smyrna plant any day of the week; walk up.
Recoil spring replacement interval is longer on the
Gen 4.
Truthfully, I think you are ok going up to 5,000 on the Gen 3 and earlier single-spring 9mm models, The Gen 3 single-spring .40s and 357sigs should be replaced more aggressively, especially on the compact frame models like the Gen 3 23 and the IIRC, 32 respectively., I would go 2,000 rounds on those.
I’ve stopped by Smyrna on a couple of occasions and had their armorers inspect my Glocks. In each case, they thoroughly inspected them, replaced worn parts, and replaced springs in all of my magazines (last time I had 15 magazines with me). They seemed happy to do it and no charge. They are just 5 minutes from I-285. Each time took less than an hour total time including time to check in at the guard shack.
Interestingly, my overall experience with Glock at GSSF has been the same as the OP. However, at the match in Jackson, NJ a couple of weeks ago the armorer (coincidentally the assistant to the armorer at my re-certification class) refused to change the RSA on my wife’s G19. I told him there were over 3k rounds through it. He did a function check and said the RSA was fine. I told him I was also an armorer and knew of the test but that the round count should dominate. No go. He also removed the grip plug because it was not OEM. Knowing we would be at another GSSF match in August, I left it alone. It was father’s day and not in the mood for further frustration. My wife and I use these matches as a means of bonding, traveling around the country and keeping our skills sharp in between IDPA. I could not figure out his motivation considering Glock sends parts to the matches by the box load for free.
In contrast, at the match in Salt Lake City, a few months ago, the armorer was two hours late and a line began to form. I let the organizers know I was an armorer and could lend a hand. I worked on guns for an hour. When the official armorer showed up he said thank you and invited me to take whatever I wanted from the four boxes of parts sent by Glock. I took an RSA for my G17. If I had judged Glock based on one bad experience I would have been terribly wrong.
So he replaced some springs for you? BORING! I was at a class and a Glock rep showed up… and brought a G18 & some 33 round mags with him. Got to mark “shoot a G18” off my bucket list. That was awesome!
Seriously! It’s know-it-alls like that which can spoil an otherwise wonderful day. An ambassador like that can do more harm than good. I have yet to try a GSSF match but hope my experience matches the OP’s.
Flying Hunter-
I agree brother…that was COOL of the rep to do that! How did yall do at the shoot?
Also, your thread brought up something Ive been meaning to ask here, if I may now in this thread.
Ive got 3 of the old AWB mags marked LEO USE ONLY or whatever they say. Been used by me and others a ton. Would Glock replace these with new mags or rebuild them if asked? They are G21 mags fwiw.
FH-GLAD you had fun at the match!!