Glock Malfunctions

Glock handguns are famously reliable, durable and simple to operate and maintain. Malfunctions are rare, but all pistols are complex machines that have parts that can fail. Most operational problems with Glocks can be prevented by cleaning, lubricating and maintaining your gun. If your problems persist, consult the list below for some of the most common Glock pistol malfunctions, along with possible causes and solutions.

  1. Failure to extract

    • If a casing lodges in the chamber after you fire the bullet, a number of things could cause the problem. If the extractor is broken, replace it. If you used faulty or underpowered ammunition, try other bullets. If you were shooting with a limp wrist, lock your strong wrist while you shoot.

    Failure to eject

    • If the casing removes from the chamber but jams before it can be fully ejected, look for the following problems. If the ejector is damaged, replace the entire trigger mechanism . If the ammunition is underpowered, replace it.

    Failure to feed

    • Sometimes a bullet may fail to feed from the magazine into the chamber. If the magazine is not properly inserted, remove it, then insert it fully. If the magazine is damaged, replace it. If the magazine spring is too weak or worn, replace it. Underpowered ammunition or a weak recoil spring may also not be cycling the slide back far enough. Remember to lock your wrist when shooting. A tight extractor can cause failure to feed. Clean it or replace, if needed.

    Slide does not lock after last cartridge

    • The slide of your Glock should lock open after you fire the last shot. A broken magazine follower, weak magazine spring or worn slide stop lever may all be culprits. Replace as needed. If the trigger pin is inserted too far leftward, it may cause the slide stop lever to stick. If this lever is stuck, press the trigger pin rightward slightly. Use proper ammunition and lock your wrist when shooting.

    Failure to fire

    • If the slide is not fully forward, you may be dealing with a deformed cartridge, underpowered ammunition, a weak recoil spring, or a shooter with a limp wrist. Replace damaged or defective parts or ammunition.

    Incongruent primer strikes

    • If the primer on the rear of the bullet does not have a dimple on it after you pull the trigger, or if the dimple is light and does not ignite the primer, you may be dealing with a broken firing pin, a blocked firing pin channel, an inverted spring cup or a hard primer. Clean and replace broken parts. An off-centered primer strike could mean the extractor is inserted too tightly or the slide lock is in backwards. Change these parts.

    Odd trigger pull

    • If the trigger pull is not uniform, check for a loose or non-lubricated connector. Also verify that your gun has the correct trigger bar and that it is not damaged. Replace and clean parts as needed.

    Slide locks open before magazine empties

    • If you still have rounds in the magazine, but the slide locks open, check your hand position. Your thumb may have engaged the manual slide stop lever. Also check the tension of the slide stop lever spring. Replace if damaged.