Breaking in a new gun....Glock 42

[shortyb]

Man, that brings back memories. I was actually a firearms instructor before an armorer. Was for almost all 40 of my years in service. Also, a patrol rifle and tactical (SWAT) instructor, but the most rewarding was that I was an instructor trainer. One of the things that I stressed more than anything to new instructors, was to recognize how new shooters went about doing things and encourage them to keep doing it (as you say, if it isn't tactically stupid or dangerous). Train with what they are comfortable with, and as long as at the end of the day, the results are the same, keep training that way until it was innate behavior. Who cares if it was not exactly "textbook". Really detested the ones who thought they were above others because of their role, and tried to tell everyone that their way was the best/only way to do things and made anyone that didn't follow them feel stupid. Allowing folks to do things that made them feel confident and comfortable, even if it colored outside the lines a bit, made for quicker response. This dramatically reduced the "thinking" and focused on the "doing", which at the moment of truth, did not lend much time to do the former. Been through many of these situations, and seen most turn out ok because of good response training. Seen a few not go so well too because of lack of training or trying to adhere to formal procedures that didn't feel natural or instinctive.

 

[burbguy82]

UPDATE:

 

[burbguy82]

So the above pic......

I had a moment to mess with the Glock42 I have been having issues with feeding .....

it seems as though the firing pin / striker is impeding rhe travel of the case whilst the case is on its upward move to feed into the chamber.

It is almost 100% repeatable.

My other 42, does not petrude nearly this much while rhe slide is in motion.

Typically a striker fired gun has a small light spring just forward of the striker to prevent the striker moving forward...... i will be contacting glock again.

it would seem rhat this is a near failure of the firing pin safety or a over engagement of the portion of the fcg that pushes the block upward....

what say you glock armorers?

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

The striker safety plunger should obviously prevent that from happening, and it should have reset into the safe position by that time in the cycle. Maybe the safety plunger is sticking in the bore and not popping back into the safe position after every round. Machining issue, assembly issue, dirt/lube issue, weak spring, something.

That's that on the corner of the extractor?

 

[burbguy82]

The striker safety plunger should obviously prevent that from happening,

that is what i thought, but a check of another 42 and a 19 shows otherwise

That's that on the corner of the extractor?

What? Be more specific is possible.

 

[football]

When the pistol fires, the slide goes rearward at a very fast speed. The firing pin is flung to the rear as this happens, and it should not be protruding from the breech face at all as the slide moves forward, picks up the next round from the top of the magazine. I could see your failure if you were just hand cycling ammo through the gun perhaps, but not while it’s actually firing.

Take the firing pin out (super easy) and clean the firing pin and firing pin channel of any old lubes that may be preventing the firing pin from sliding properly in the channel. Froglube or bio based lubes are notorious for gluing parts together and should be avoided.

Clean the firing pin and channel and make sure no oils or solvents or anything else are on them. Reinstall dry.

 

[Revving2Redline]

A heavier Tungsten guide rod for G42 will fix 90% or more issues, using 100grain Sig FMJ helps too. My hands couldn't get a good grip so i trade for Browning 1911 380 Black Label.

 

[Revving2Redline]

A heavier Tungsten guide rod for G42 will fix 90% or more issues, using 100grain Sig FMJ helps too. My hands couldn't get a good grip so i trade for Browning 1911 380 Black Label.

Or get the Ruger 380 EZ Security, I think G makes a G25 double stack which might be ok or P365 380 from Sig.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

What's that on the corner of the extractor?

Referring to this (and fixing my spelling):

 

[burbguy82]

Referring to this (and fixing my spelling):

View attachment 292940

oh. that is just the extractor . On glocks that I have seen, when there is a round chambered the extractor is no longer flush. subtle difference, but it is there. I am confident the extractor is not the issue/ I wish I had a better camera.

 

[football]

Glock extractors (and some other semi auto pistols) have a little nub that sticks out when a round is chambered. It acts as a loaded chamber indicator. It works good, especially in low light. When you pull the gun out , you can slide your finger over the extractor in low light and instantly know for sure that a round is chambered.

 

[football]

Or get the Ruger 380 EZ Security, I think G makes a G25 double stack which might be ok or P365 380 from Sig.

I’m a huge .380 fan. I have owned most pistols chambered in this caliber.

The Glock 25 (limited release, discontinued, no longer available) is probably the best one I have shot. That or the P365-380. I am a huge fan of these two. Put the XL grip on the P365 and use it with the 12 round mags and it’s sweet.

The Ruger is pretty nice too. Just am not a fan of polymer pistols with safeties so I can’t overlook that (they don’t sell it without a safety).

The Smith EZ 380 is the biggest pipe of junk on the planet. Lots of issues all over the net and it’s this gun and Smith refuses to fix it. Has fundamental design flaws and needs to go back to the drawing board. The 9mm version of the gun is generally ok.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

oh. that is just the extractor . On glocks that I have seen, when there is a round chambered the extractor is no longer flush. subtle difference, but it is there. I am confident the extractor is not the issue/ I wish I had a better camera.

Yes, I'm aware of that. Why does that spot look like it's been flattened or worn off?

 

[burbguy82]

Yes, I'm aware of that. Why does that spot look like it's been flattened or worn off?

oh. I think it is just the light angle. No wear there.

 

[shortyb]

Wow, just saw the pic. There is absolutely no reason the striker (firing pin to many) should be protruding like that after being fired and returning to battery. The forward portion of the striker is a complex machined shape and must be very precise to engage/disengage from the firing pin safety plunger. I have seen in use the edges on this part of the striker wear excessively to the point it no longer engages properly with the plunger. Could be it was machined improperly as well or improper striker number assembled into the gun. It can also be a piece of machining inside the striker tube or plunger that inhibits free movement. Or the tiny spring on top of the safety plunger is broken/missing. Send it back and mention this or include the pic of the extended striker. They should be able to repair this fairly easily by dropping in new/proper striker and plunger or addressing any machining problems. Or bring it me .

 

[burbguy82]

Wow, just saw the pic. There is absolutely no reason the striker (firing pin to many) should be protruding like that after being fired and returning to battery. The forward portion of the striker is a complex machined shape and must be very precise to engage/disengage from the firing pin safety plunger. I have seen in use the edges on this part of the striker wear excessively to the point it no longer engages properly with the plunger. Could be it was machined improperly as well or improper striker number assembled into the gun. It can also be a piece of machining inside the striker tube or plunger that inhibits free movement. Or the tiny spring on top of the safety plunger is broken/missing. Send it back and mention this or include the pic of the extended striker. They should be able to repair this fairly easily by dropping in new/proper striker and plunger or addressing any machining problems. Or bring it me .

I went to my local gun store, and they had a few. Being as I am friends with the owners, they left me take apart two other 42s, and one 43x and one 19. They all had the same thing going on...........but on theirs and my wifes 42s, the pin did not protude as much.

The firing pin block should be blocking the firing pin from forward movement past the slide face.....I would think.

I will be sending it back to Glock.

I have to wonder if quality control has gone down since the death of Gaston Glock to appease bean counters? In research, I find that back in 2014 there were issues, and that Glock resolved the issues. 11 years later......still an issue.

I selected this because typically, if you buy a Glock, it is near perfect.......Guess not these days.

 

[Hohn]

True. For me, I care less about comfortability. Maybe carrying a gun for the last 30 years in one way or the other has an effect on that opinion. I change the wardrobe to fit the gun. Luckily, I am of a build that it really does not matter, short of a Desert Eagle, unless I am in exercise clothes, in which case this gun fits nice. This was really not about concealed carry, as opposed to the function of the gun. With that said, the Glock 42 is one of the biggest small pistols out there, which can easily be carried.

Size comes with diminishing returns, too small can mean to tight. I think the 42 is a really nice mesh between size and shootability, especially for the inexperienced shooter.

A gun should be comforting, not necessarily comfortable.

I think the trend towards ever-smaller guns has gone too far for many people and they are carrying guns they simply can’t shoot well enough to count on. Multiple times I’ve been to the range and someone has a standard silhoutte target and there are many misses at seven yards! Most memorably, a guy with his gf was there and he was spraying them all over the paper silhoutte while she was missing it entirely and not even on paper. At seven whopping yards. That’s close enough most knife attacks will not be stopped before a CCW is drawn. A brand new shooter with no training or fundamentals carrying a micro pistol seems perhaps as likely to hurt a bystander or themselves as they are to hurt a BG.

My carry gun is barely smaller than a G19, but I can smack a standard steel silhouette with it at 25y 10/10 at a pretty reasonable pace of shooting (about 8 seconds for 10 rounds). I’m still too slow from draw to first shot (aren’t we all).

My point here is that I’m not very good with a pistol, but choosing a slightly larger, more shootable pistol— the P10s is my case— lets me not only have a gun with me, but have the confidence I can make hits with it once deployed. Unfortunately, the deployment (the draw and presentation) are arguably the most important and most perishable skill and I’m not nearly as confident in that.

 

[shortyb]

The firing pin block should be blocking the firing pin from forward movement past the slide face.....I would think.

Absolutely.

I will be sending it back to Glock.

Good call.

I selected this because typically, if you buy a Glock, it is near perfect.......Guess not these days.

These days? Not hardly.

 

[shortyb]

A gun should be comforting, not necessarily comfortable.

I think the trend towards ever-smaller guns has gone too far for many people and they are carrying guns they simply can’t shoot well enough to count on. Multiple times I’ve been to the range and someone has a standard silhoutte target and there are many misses at seven yards! Most memorably, a guy with his gf was there and he was spraying them all over the paper silhoutte while she was missing it entirely and not even on paper. At seven whopping yards. That’s close enough most knife attacks will not be stopped before a CCW is drawn. A brand new shooter with no training or fundamentals carrying a micro pistol seems perhaps as likely to hurt a bystander or themselves as they are to hurt a BG.

My carry gun is barely smaller than a G19, but I can smack a standard steel silhouette with it at 25y 10/10 at a pretty reasonable pace of shooting (about 8 seconds for 10 rounds). I’m still too slow from draw to first shot (aren’t we all).

My point here is that I’m not very good with a pistol, but choosing a slightly larger, more shootable pistol— the P10s is my case— lets me not only have a gun with me, but have the confidence I can make hits with it once deployed. Unfortunately, the deployment (the draw and presentation) are arguably the most important and most perishable skill and I’m not nearly as confident in that.

While size can contribute to issues, especially for inexperienced shooters, it really boils down to fundamentals. If you can't shoot a small gun well, chances are you will not being doing much better with a bigger gun. Or vice versa. Yes, one should choose a gun size you feel confident in shooting (and hitting your target!), but fundamentals should be the first priority.

I'm generally not a big fan of "micro" guns due to limitations on ammunition size etc., but recently purchased a S&W Bodyguard 2.0 that is TINY. But I can shoot it extremely well and very accurately at up to 15 yards, which I personally consider the upper range I would use this type of weapon for.