Issue with brand new Zev G19- need help.

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

Took my new Zev 19 to the range last Sunday. Standard Zev G19 except with an added Zev compensator and threaded barrel. I use ETS magazines with Zev magazine extensions. I shot standard Remington UMC and Federal FMJ. I shot (5) 19 round magazines. This is a new gun and a modified glock, so I do expect a break in period but I don’t really expect malfunctions. Maybe these are not malfunctions but just kinks that need to be worked out.

First of all when I racked the slide to load the gun, the slide would fail to fully lock into shooting position, I had to use my palm as a “forward assist”. I noticed this happened a few times and it looked like the extractor was not able to grip the rim of the bullet or the slide didn’t have the forward momentum necessary to fully put the bullet into the breech. I used both threaded ZEV barrel and non threaded ZEV barrel and had same results. Is this problem coming from the recoil spring and guide rod or something else like the feed ramp on the barrel?

Second, the slide never once locked open after the last round. Is that normal for a Zev? I know they modify Glocks pretty extensively but I don’t know if that is a feature or not. What would be the cause for that?

Third, every 4 or 5 rounds I would have to manually cycle the gun to eject a round that failed to fire. After examining the round, I noticed that the primer had an indention from the striker. I would load that round back into the mag and fire again without a problem. Is this problem coming from the striker or striker spring? I was using ammo I purchased within the last 7 days, 2 boxes of Remington, 1 box of Federal.

It kind of worries me thinking that this is my EDC, and the first time I used this gun, I experience these things. What are your thoughts?

2

Not sure about the first two, but change out the striker spring with a heavier one to combat the light primer strikes.

Edit: For the second issue, are you accidentally riding the slide release? I did this a lot when I first got my 17.

If not, maybe the recoil spring is too heavy. I have 15lb spring in my 17, and it locks back with underpowered loads.

3

About 1/8 inch or so out f battery? What internals are you using? I had a similar experience with a G17 with Ghost internals. A combination of the firing pin spring, recoil spring, and the trigger spring was the culprit. Back to OEM and it was fixed. In my case, the extractor was engaging properly; check to make sure this is the case with yours as well.

4

First of all, you carry a gun you’ve not shot? And then continue to carry it after those problems? I would rethink that.

Second, send it back. What’s wrong is their problem to find and fix.

Some might wonder if this is another of your “look at my kit, it is so exotic ” posts, perhaps.

5

Zev barrels need a break in. I’d take off all of the extra tacticool stuff and fire it without the junk. They have such tight tolerances. On top of that, the slide is lighter than factory. It has so many variables to tinker with. That’s why I don’t mess with those totally tricked out things.

You could completely strip the slide and remove the trigger bar to make sure they assembled it correctly. Sometimes the pins are not even seated properly, affecting extraction.

I’d try a standard G19 spring, first. Most of these are set for low recoil ammo for competition. 18 or 15 pound, at least.

I’d never carry a Zev for SD. I’ve seen them fail in competitions.

I do a stock Glock, personally, though I have switched to a SS Guide rod and lower weighted recoil spring.

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6

I’d personally just carry a stock Glock. So much money to end up with an expensive paperweight.

7
  1. Are you letting the slide feed from a magazine, and slam home from slidelock?
  2. Try 1 handed, your support hand migh be holding the slide lock- i had to switch to stock slide locks, anything else wont lock back due to my grip.
  3. Light strikes- due to light striker spring most likely.
  4. Dont carry a gun you havent vetted, especially a non-stock gun. Make sure you clean and lube new guns before shooting them.
8

I agree with CDR. I would take off the comp and use stock glock mags, put 500 rounds of full strength ammo like Speer Lawman through it. Let the gun (barrel and slide) break in. Or as others have said for the money it’s not your problem - send it back. Personally whenever I thought it was good (break in by me or them) I would pout at least 1k of decent ammo through it and 250 rounds of your SD ammo before I would carry it. I use HST.

9

Who would have thought we’d see a day when G19’s had to be broken in to run right…:dance3:

10

In all fairness, most guns, Glocks included, require some sort of break-in.

However, I would trust a stock Glock to go bang right out of the box; if I had to choose between some of the major companies, unopened boxes in front of me, and I gotta choose one to rely on from that moment out: More likely going to be Glock.

With that being said, I carry a CZ everyday.

11

I trust a Stock Glock but these Modded Glocks are a little bit more trouble than they’re worth. The require a break in because they do right tolerances. The slide is lighter and the springs are lighter. They’re more of a gamer gun than something I’d trust my life with.

I have a tricked out Glock but I’ve put over 800 rounds (it’s up to 2250 now) before I considered carrying it. I had some Agency barrel that didn’t work worth a damn.

I, too, have jumped onto the CZ wagon as they’re one of the best once the grip is changed and I added the spring kit. I have 3 CZs, though I have 9 Glock pistols.

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12

Comp’d Glocks usually require a lighter recoil spring if you intend to shoot low pressure practice ammo, including AE 124gr. With a Silencer Co barrel and TBRC comp, factory G19 recoil spring and AE 124, the cases were dribbling out, not ejecting over the shoulder. Freedom Munition 9mm would fail to cycle periodically. I changed to a 13 lb EMSI recoil spring and that cured the ejection. The G19 I was trying these components with was a gen 5 and stock besides the barrel, comp and spring (once changed).

If you’re using 124 gr NATO spec or +P 9mm, the stock recoil spring works.

I’ve had issues with the slide not locking back account my grip, but not attributable to the gun itself. I ahve the same issue as MegademiC with catching the slide lock lever. I use the Tango Down/Vickers slide lock lever, but may be changing back to the stock ones.

I once tried a reduced power striker spring and I would occasionally get soft striker hits. I went back to the stock spring and haven’t had a FTF (taht wasn’t ammo related) since.

Good luck with the Zev…kinda a bummer to have to tweak a high end custom pistol

NC

13

I am sure they fire the gun and it works before it leaves the factory. So sending it back might not be the quickest way to get answers.

Beg, borrow or steal another stock 19. Start by using OEM magazines, then switch to 3 or 4 types of factory ammo. when you load the first round are you bringing the slide all the way back to your shoulder and releasing or just far enough to fit a round in?
Exchange complete firing pin and spring. After all this then it might be worth sending it back.

edit: call Brownells etc if you can’t get another G 19. Order a OEM magazine, firing pin and spring. It will not cost much.

14

LOL, $2,500 but why hold Zev accountable?

15

I had the same issue with my Zev Glock 19. I was getting frequent light primer strikes (not firing) on ammo that had heavy primers, because the Zev striker spring was too light. The recoil spring was also too light so it didn’t have enough force to push the slide fully into battery, and it could be pulled out of battery very easily. I kept the Zev Trigger in the gun but replaced the Zev striker and recoil springs with the factory Glock springs and I’ve never had an issue since.

16

There has been a lot of foolishness in this thread:

Really? To function?

I’m with you Business Casual.

I especially liked this part: edit: call Brownells etc if you can’t get another G 19. Order a OEM magazine, firing pin and spring. It will not cost much.

I guess cost much is a matter of perspective - Brownell’s prices: mag - $19.99; striker assy (firing pin) $45.17; recoil spring $7.99. So $73.15 to troubleshoot his $1200.00.00 Zev Bling19.

17

First, Its the only pistol I own, so that’s what I carry it, better than having nothing right. When I got to shoot it for the first time, I found some issues, so that why I’m here asking about them. Second, it might not be a ZEV problem, it could as simple as the wrong kind of ammo or wrong spring. And maybe your just insecure, perhaps.

Where did you get $2500? This is a ZEV Glock Defender, $1200 brand new. And my LGS included 2 ETS magazines with ZEV mag extensions.

I appreciate your input, I have the guide rod that has the screw in the front end, should I replace just the spring or the entire spring/guide rod assembly? Also on the striker, should I replace just the spring or the spring/striker assembly?

Do you recommend using ETS magazines or should I use OEM Glock magazines? I liked the ETS because they were clear, and I don’t have enough experience knowing the difference between the two. Do you think the light primer strikes was a striker spring issue or a ammo issue?

18

. And maybe your just insecure, perhaps.

Yes, that must be it! Thank you.

19

Use as much of the factory parts as you can. Break in the barrel, then add one at a time seeing what works and what doesn’t.

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20

I think the light primer strikes were most likely due to the striker spring, and not an ammo issue. Obviously I can’t be 100% sure, but a new striker spring fixed mine and I’ve never had a single light primer strike with any ammo since I replaced the spring. I don’t think you need to replace the striker at all, just the spring. As for the guide rod, you can get a factory Glock Guide Rod assembly and spring for $6.99 at Midway. I would get the rod/spring assembly together. That’s what I did, and replacing the guide rod and spring and striker spring fixed my issues immediately. The slide cycle and trigger pull won’t be quite as light as they were with the Zev springs, but it will be back to 100% reliable for carry. I feel like the Zev springs are made for competition with competition ammo. Hope that helps!