LIMP WRISTING???

[Merle]

Greetings,

Recently I overheard a conversaton that stated Glocks were more prone to limp wristing problems than other brands.
The claim was that the frame compressed due to its plastic construction, and that the Glock was worse that the other plastic frames.

I guess the guy didn't know (or care) the difference) between plastic & polymer, but that was secondary to me. I had never heard of any special issues about polymer vs steel or aluminum frames, but I'm not at all that familiar with Glocks. I have shot several, but never owned one.

Is there even a grain of truth to this claim, or is it another case  of internet wisdom?

 

[OSOK]

That statement has been around since Glocks came out. I really don't believe it, having fired a Glock 22 with just my thumb and index finger on the weapon as a demo. I think most issues that limp wristing gets blamed for is poor grip letting the thumbs drag the slide.

[Merle]

That statement has been around since Glocks came out. I really don't believe it, having fired a Glock 22 with just my thumb and index finger on the weapon as a demo. I think most issues that limp wristing gets blamed for is poor grip letting the thumbs drag the slide.

OK, thank you. I have learned that the uninformed & detractors are not to be taken as gospel, but on a subject I am not familiar with it can be difficult to tell the difference.


PS: what is that armadillo drinking? He sure looks happy!!

 

[OSOK]

A little bit of Mt. Dew. Not sure if there is anything else mixed in it!

[Merle]

A little bit of Mt. Dew. Not sure if there is anything else mixed in it!

Thanks, I couldn't quite make out he can.


 

[Ak.Hiker]

Several folks have mentioned that the Glock 36 is more prone to limp wristing that the other models. To be honest I have never heard of the problem on any other model Glock. If you are running 230 grain +P in a Glock 36 you do need to hang tight.

[bubbinator]

As a Firearms Instructor with a State Police Agency, I trained hundreds of agents on the Glock 17 9mm and Glock 22 .40 Cal.  Limp Wristing is a term used to describe an improper grip which results in the slide closing on a shell case that fails to clear the ejection port (called stove piping).  The weapon, especially the Glock 17 has to be gripped firmly (not a death grip, just firmly controlled) to allow the recoil forces generated by the firing to allow the slide to work as designed, pulling the case out and ejecting it and going back into battery.  The weak grip, or limp wrist lessens the available "body mass" necessary for the recoil forces to work against to let the pistol design function. We had less of a problem with Glock 22s on this than the earlier Glock 17s. My personal Glock 21 never has done it, but then I am aware of the phenomenon and consciously avoid it.  Hope this explains it a little. 

[Oldshooter]

Is there even a grain of truth to this claim, or is it another case  of internet wisdom?

Good question! sometimes I think people dont understand that something printed on a computer moniter from the internet is not necessarily gospel or valid. All it really proves is that someone has access to a computer and the internet. Kinda like internet dating, what's to say that Don Juan, aint Don Knots with a computer and an internet connection. 

[Keith L]

Any semi-auto pistol can be "limp wristed", and I don't know if Glocks are any more or less likely to fail as a result of it. One of the local police had trouble at the range with his Beretta 9 MM when they first got them years ago when he qualified when he was ill.  He was so relaxed that he never got the gun to cycle.  And that gun had a metal frame.  The officer earned an unkind nickname as a result, and hearing the explanation is how I heard this story.

[Merle]

Several folks have mentioned that the Glock 36 is more prone to limp wristing that the other models. To be honest I have never heard of the problem on any other model Glock. If you are running 230 grain +P in a Glock 36 you do need to hang tight.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that would be a good idea!

 

[Merle]

As a Firearms Instructor with a State Police Agency, I trained hundreds of agents on the Glock 17 9mm and Glock 22 .40 Cal.  Limp Wristing is a term used to describe an improper grip which results in the slide closing on a shell case that fails to clear the ejection port (called stove piping).  The weapon, especially the Glock 17 has to be gripped firmly (not a death grip, just firmly controlled) to allow the recoil forces generated by the firing to allow the slide to work as designed, pulling the case out and ejecting it and going back into battery.  The weak grip, or limp wrist lessens the available "body mass" necessary for the recoil forces to work against to let the pistol design function. We had less of a problem with Glock 22s on this than the earlier Glock 17s. My personal Glock 21 never has done it, but then I am aware of the phenomenon and consciously avoid it.  Hope this explains it a little. 

Thanks for the reply. I am familiar with the meaning, but I was questioning the part about Glocks being more likely to jam due to the "compressibility" of the frame. That sounds bogus to me.

 

[Merle]

Is there even a grain of truth to this claim, or is it another case  of internet wisdom?

Good question! sometimes I think people dont understand that something printed on a computer moniter from the internet is not necessarily gospel or valid. All it really proves is that someone has access to a computer and the internet. Kinda like internet dating, what's to say that Don Juan, aint Don Knots with a computer and an internet connection. 

Absolutely right. I have heard this little gem several places - gunshops as well as internet!
Thus my question here, where I figured I would get a better answer.
I'm having a bit of trouble believing the compression of the frame is a real problem.

 

[Merle]

Any semi-auto pistol can be "limp wristed", and I don't know if Glocks are any more or less likely to fail as a result of it. One of the local police had trouble at the range with his Beretta 9 MM when they first got them years ago when he qualified when he was ill.  He was so relaxed that he never got the gun to cycle.  And that gun had a metal frame.  The officer earned an unkind nickname as a result, and hearing the explanation is how I heard this story.

Strangely enough the only cases I am personally aware of involved 9mm - perhaps those shooting a 45 ACP knew they had to hang on good & tight?

 

[OBXPilgrim]

I let a guy at the range shoot my Glock 21 45 acp years ago (actually it was 4 guys) who could jam it with every shot.  He was the only person that it jammed on.  His only pistol was a 44 mag 629 (don't start knocking it - I have one too), that he was so used to allowing it freely recoil in his hand, that he didn't understand the need to forcibly grip the gun and provide some resistance to the recoil.  Every one of us told him what he was doing wrong, but it didn't matter.  In his hands, were the only time that pistol has ever jammed.  RN, FN, SWC, it don't matter, it will feed & cycle except for when that guy shot it. 

Gently hold a 44 mag in your hand & let it fly up when you fire it & you'll know the mechanics of how you have to behave to screw one up.  I bet there are many others (brands of autos) that Mr Jam-master could have made malfunction, but that was the only we tried that day.

Hope that helps
 

[Merle]

I let a guy at the range shoot my Glock 21 45 acp years ago (actually it was 4 guys) who could jam it with every shot.  He was the only person that it jammed on.  His only pistol was a 44 mag 629 (don't start knocking it - I have one too), that he was so used to allowing it freely recoil in his hand, that he didn't understand the need to forcibly grip the gun and provide some resistance to the recoil.  Every one of us told him what he was doing wrong, but it didn't matter.  In his hands, were the only time that pistol has ever jammed.  RN, FN, SWC, it don't matter, it will feed & cycle except for when that guy shot it. 

Gently hold a 44 mag in your hand & let it fly up when you fire it & you'll know the mechanics of how you have to behave to screw one up.  I bet there are many others (brands of autos) that Mr Jam-master could have made malfunction, but that was the only we tried that day.

Hope that helps



Thanks for the reply. Next time someone tells me that story, I'll ask about how other brands worked for him.

 
 

[Ole Man Dan]

It's not just the Glocks; I've seen 1911s, Sig's ect... that were limp wristed.
It's not the gun, it's the guy.

I heavily taped the wrist of a notorious 'Limp-wrister' and he could suddenly shoot with no malfunctions.
Now he tapes up to shoot for qualifications.  (Comes off when he's thru)
(I wouldn't want to be on the street with him...)

[Oldshooter]

Does this mean you wont get shot with a semi auto large caliber in San Francisco ? 

[Dee]

The Glock 17 is VERY PRONE to this type of jam. I can jam one any time I want to, and used to do it on the range, to stress the importance of a firm grip to officers I was training. The 1911 can be jammed this way but, not repeatedly.
The polymer frame on a Glock does not compress, it flexes, but the real cause is the 9mm round is anemic to the point that the combination of heavy slide and weak spring, makes it easy to take away the momentum from the slide, that it needs to properly cycle. I never used my thumb, a weak grip, and weak wrist was all that was required to cause stoppages in this model and caliber. I have never tried it in any other 9mm Model Glocks, but have in several 40s, and 45s. I could not. Just the 9mm 17. Other 9mm Glocks? Would just have to try it and see.
I have seen many officers, when after seeing this demonstration, go out and get a heavier caliber, while some did not care, because they really never thought it could happen to them.

[WL44]

I agree with Ole Man Dan, can be done on virtually any pistol I'd guess. Dee suggests a Glock is more prone to this than a 1911, I think it may depend on caliber and load to a large extent. I can think that the risk is higher with the larger pistols in the lighter recoiling calibers. Certainly everyone here seemed to speak from experience.

I tended to jam a Para from time to time shooting weak hand only on long shots for IPSC, when you tend to have a more relaxed grip and the gun has more free recoil than with a two handed grip. It has never happened with my Glcok 23 that I recall.

Both are 40 S&W, and both are shooting major loads (170 plus PF). That may make a difference I suppose. Also, a 23 needs a firmish grip just to hang onto, so limp wristing it is probably less likely I'd think.

This is Glock 23 vs a Para with a bull barrelled top end.

[Dee]

WL44, I carried two Glock 23s. Excellent round, in an excellent carry weapon. I was NEVER able to limp wrist the 23 into jamming. It was a good balance in round power, and slide weight.
Your also right about the 1911. Ball ammo in factory speck loads is difficult to limp wrist jam, but lighter loads are easier to jam.

[S.S.]

Does this mean you wont get shot with a semi auto large caliber in San Francisco ? 

 
I was waiting for it from someone 

Must be Pretty safe in parts of Atlanta too!

[Oldshooter]

Does this mean you wont get shot with a semi auto large caliber in San Francisco ? 

 
I was waiting for it from someone 

Must be Pretty safe in parts of Atlanta too!

 

I'm sorry. the devil made me say it! what can i say, it came to my mind and my fingers responded! That was wrong and not befitting a moderator of this forum!