True but IMHO there are two types of failures. One is related directly to an inherent flaw in the design, which is the more troubling of the two. It is too early to tell if that is the case here but I suspect we’ll know shortly as these guns get more and more rounds down range in larger numbers. The second is a flaw in the material used. That failure happens with anything ever made by man.
If it is a flaw in the design, then Glock is guilty of the same issue (which I don’t think they are).
C4
Grant,
I think you’re right on track. I’ve cracked a Glock 17 slide at about 55K rounds that took about six years of service life to accumulate. And if S&W (or Glock) is replacing cracked slides with no problems as both of them do, then it’s pretty much a non issue. Try getting an auto manufacturer to replace a major component in comparable use circumstances and see how that works out for you.
Agree. What really matters is how the company deals with the issue.
C4
These are the same. The material specified is part of the design.
The way I see it, you can have design flaws and manufacturing flaws. You need to start witha good design, then your production methods, QC standards, etc. ensure your product is consistent with the design.
I agree that the design has to be GTG from the get go, otherwise you’ll just make a bunch of defective widgets. The mfg thing though comes and goes. It takes good discipline to ensure quality during manufacturing over the lifetime of a product. Let a bad batch of steel in, don’t program the CNC machine correctly, you name it and you’ve just produced a bad batch. You can correct it later in future batches, but the damage is done by then. Some companies recover, some don’t.
BTW, I wouldn’t get too wigged out over a slide that lasts 20K rounds. That’s not directed at you, just a general statement WRT the topic at hand. I don’t think this sample is indicative of a poor design. Time though will tell.
I concur with most statement’s about guns breaking, it is up to the shooter to stay on top of the maintenance of the firearm you will trust your LIFE too. if you dont check your gun after you take it to the range and clean it, then shame on you.
Most firearms come with “LIFE TIME WARRANTY” the bad thing is that we dont. even if we can call the company and ask for a new slide we cant ask that if our gun failed when we really needed it and we dont survive to make the phone call.
now if S&W M&P had magazines that were worth a damm, i might consider them almost as good as a glock.
I will wait before i jump in the M&P wagon.
I’m just pissed that this guy can aford to shoot 21.000 rds in a couple of months…Grr…I’m jealous.
3M sells spray on adhesive that you can use to make the S&W mags stick in the gun just like Glock. 
Robb- Good thing you censored d** as opposed to shit. I hate the word d** but shit doesn’t bother me! 
At 300 rounds through my M&P45, should I slow down a little? 
What exactly do you see as the problem with them?
God made “MAN” of which many are broken:D …The P’sOS need to be shot…
But like you I never liked Glocks and have seen several bite the dust with less than 21K. :mad:
Lots of mechanical things bite the dust regaurdless of cost or engineering or lenght of service…one could start with the space shuttle…
No they are not. A piece of steel with a defect in it is not part of the design.
We are talking semantics. I agree with what you’re saying.
Our Department issues the M&P in 9mm (have about 1,100 guns in the field). We received the first 9mm T&E guns to leave the factory.
One of our armors bought two of these T&E guns after the testing was done and uses them in his CCW classes as loaner guns. Both guns are well over the 30K mark, with no parts replaced.
What caused the slide in the original post to crack? We might never know for sure, but I for one do not think there is a problem with the gun or the design.
I have had my issued pistol for about 1.5 years now, with about 7K through it. Haven’t been shooting it much for the last 10 months due to health issues. The more I shoot it, the more I like it.
I am not ready to sell off my 9mm Glocks, but I don’t know that I’ll be buying any more Glocks.
It was my attempt at humor…some people call me sense of humor ‘odd’ at times. But I just do what the voices in my head tell me.
With regard to the first comment- I almost posted the EXACT same thing. Didn’t want to stray too far off topic and bring God too far into this…
Robb- yes, that actually was funny!
Now that is pretty funny!
C4
Oh wow that brings back memories as it’s been around 10years or more since I’ve had a Glock mag stick in the mag well.:rolleyes:
Or has Glock gone a few steps back in magazine design?
It really depends on the Glock and the mag as tolerance differ from weapon to weapon and mag to mag. I had GEN III glocks that just didn’t like some mags. I think it is somewhat normal.
C4
I’m also in the camp of waiting to see what happens over the long haul before making any changes to a system that is working I.e., USGI Mags versus PMAG’s, Glock and 1911’s versus M&P etc.
I got to hold an M&P for the first time last night (because I’m not interested in buying one), and the ergonomics for my hand were horrible. The Glock fits me better, but the 1911 fits like a glove.