Hey everybody, I’m hoping you can help me diagnose a malfunction I have experienced lately that’s got me puzzled.
I have had my Gen3 G34 lock back mid-magazine the last couple of times I have been out. I can’t narrow it down to a specific magazine, or a particular type of ammo because I’ve experienced the issue with a couple of different types. I don’t know for sure but I’m thinking it’s probably not a magazine issue.
The malfunction does not occur regularly, sometimes as much as twice a mag, sometimes I’ll go through several magazines loaded at different capacities and never experience the malfunction. The first time it happened, I gave the gun a pretty good cleaning, but today through about 350 rounds I still experienced this several times.
This gun has been a pretty high volume shooter for me, and I’ve never experienced a problem other than this one. It’s an easy fix, (tap rack bang) but this gun is my go to and I want it to continue to run like a top as it always has. Thanks for any suggestions, I’m stumped.
It sounds like your palm or hand is pushing the slide stop upwards. I had this happen to me on my G17L, my support hand was pushing the slide stop. Ditch the extended slide stop and get a regular one installed.
I guess that’s possible, but I doubt it. I have probably shot somewhere between 6-7500 rounds through this specific glock, let alone others and I have never had this issue before the other day. I have not changed anything about my grip, so why would it all the sudden start doing this?
I agree with the post above, but if you’ve shot the gun a lot and this problem is a recent development you might want to check the slide stop spring. Either it is weak, got bent while cleaning, or was installed incorrectly. I had a gen2 g17 with a similar issue, turned out the spring was bent and wasn’t applying pressure to the slide stop.
I shot my G17L exclusively for 5 years (it was my first handgun), never had it happen. Then I stopped shooting the G17L completely after getting my G19 and 26. About 6 years later I dusted off the G17L and it happened within the first 10 rounds. In my case, I did change my grip and maybe my hands got fatter in the base of my thumbs?
Agree with Brasilnuts, check that spring function. Slide stop should spring down. Maybe take a look at the slide stop itself, and make sure it isn’t messed up.
That would make sense. I will definitely check it grip when I can get out again and be very conscious I’m not bumping up against the slide stop, but being that I haven’t changed anything I thought it may be something mechanical.
Check your slide stop spring condition and orientation.
Shoot it support/other side and see what happens.
If it’s suspect otherwise, swap it for new. Cheap insurance.
OEM or aftermarket slide stop? Extended or standard?
Ditto on the spring. It sounds just like a problem a friend had with his PX4… His BIL popped the slide stop and did not reinstall the spring correctly. The lack of pressure allow the slide stop to lock the slide back with rounds still in the magazine. Cheap and simple to replace and check.
My 34 once locked after every shot after it was disassembled and the slide stop spring was oriented wrong on the stop pulling it up rather than pushing down. I imagine the same thing could happen if it’s getting weak.