Author Topic: Glock .45 dangerous!! (Read 5455 times)

lilabner · « **on:** March 13, 2004, 04:38:33 AM »

The Portland Oregonian newspaper reports this morning that the Portland Police Bureau is contacting Glock to trade in their Glock .45s for the 9mm model. Two .45s have recently blown up causing injuries to the officers practicing with them. The guns reportedly discharged before the cartridges were completely chambered. An investigation showed no evidence of faulty ammo or improper maintenance. PPB reportedly contacted other departments to report the problem and has heard similar complaints from departments in Florida and Texas.

THIOKOL · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2004, 01:34:55 PM »

They may be referring to the small run of pistols that had faulty frame rails. If you call Glock in Smyrna and give them the serial number of your pistol, they can tell you if yours is one of the pistols from that faulty run.

coyote 2 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2004, 04:29:36 AM »

I do not see how that could happen. Unless there is a live round in the chamber and another round is forced against the primer of the one in the chamber. The small run of pistols that had faulty frame rails just lost the ability to fire a round as the rear rail failed. This would not cause a round to be fired before it was chambered- in fact there was the problem - when the rail failed the weapon would NOT fire. Maybe someone else can tell me how a round can be fired before it gets chambered. I am at a loss?

Stan_TheGunNut · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2004, 01:59:38 PM »

It's my understanding that ALL Glocks are capapble of firing out of battery, one of their few shortcomings. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

KING · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2004, 04:21:05 PM »

:-D As an instructor,and an armorer for Glock...I can say that I have NEVER observed,nor heard of a Glock,(any models) firing in the mode that you are talking about.(out of battery). I also posed the question to several of the new instructors on the area departments and they came up with the same answer. Stay safe....King

Rogue Ram · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2004, 09:42:09 AM »

Believe it. One cop went to the hospital with his hand damaged, the other one escaped unhurt. The .45s are being dumped as we speak and replaced with 9mms. I am not sure why the 9 wouldn't have the same issue, but apparently they do not.

This might be the tip of the iceberg....Portland supposedly has been having Glocks going off in holsters during defensive tactics training, apparently having been struck by fake batons or some such thing. I inquired as to whether or not this was occuring with .45s or Glocks of diff calibers; I was told it involved .45 pistols.....that didn't answer my question entirely but that's all I got.

My .40 Glock is on my hip as I type, and it hasn't gone off yet! :-)

RR

PA-Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** March 17, 2004, 10:05:54 AM »

Rodger

Have why don't you have someone hit you a few times with a baton to see if it goes off!

KING · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2004, 02:47:30 PM »

Did a little checking shortly after my post. One of the guys that is also a trainer stated that he had heard about something going wrong with the .45. I have asked for a report on this but at this time it is kinda like looking fer Bigfoot. Lots have seen him...............but...........I have been smacked with a baseball bat.......once...........seems that my baton was back in the cruiser. Kel-lite seemed to do the trick as to showing the perp the " Light" so to speak. Stay safe....King :-D

Alice Cooper · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2004, 04:19:56 PM »

well, if you find out anything, please post it.since i have the g21, i'm very interested in this, but like you said, the particulars are missing....

tominboise · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2004, 07:20:51 AM »

Well, follow the link for some interesting reading:

http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/gindex.html

Tom

dla · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2004, 11:06:09 AM »

The following was cut from the Portland PD announcement and doesn't make much sense to me:

"THE GASES ESCAPED BY BLOWING A HOLE THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE CASING TEARING AWAY THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE BARREL AT THE LOCKING LUGS, BENDING THEM DOWNWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREE ANGLE."

What I don't understand is how gasses venting from the case could tear away the bottom half of the barrel. Obviously the barrel would have to give way first and then the case would rupture. So my point is that some folks would get the idea that a ruptured case can rip apart a barrel, which is a bit silly. The yield strength on the best brass I know of is around 70Kpsi, whereas carbon steels run around 200Kpsi.

Glock uses a high-temperature finish process. I wonder if that process causes embrittlement?

Double D · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2004, 12:10:54 PM »

If the unsupported case head ruptured, the gas will all be vented straight down on the feed ramp. This could split the barrel.

KING · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2004, 01:14:14 PM »

That is the only direction that the gasses could go,.......down. This is the area where there is a small section that does not support the case head. I am attempting to look into it further at this point,but so far have not come up with much. We have one of the guys that is in training at the present time and he and on other officer are going to look into this for me. I cant but have some suspicions that there me be some ammo fault someplace,possible reloads. This has been seen with reloads previous to these incidents and does spark a little bit of the curious with me. Hope I find the answer but...............two local P.Ds were over for coffee and this discussion did come up. All are carring the .45 ACP. All officers kinda looked like a deer in the headlights when it was brought up. Will keep on this to see what stones I can turn up...................stay safe.....King :roll:

Rogue Ram · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2004, 05:31:16 PM »

I heard someone say in passing over there today that there is some suspicion being cast upon the ammo. Not sure of the brand, but it is said to be +P+. Of course that doesn't answer any questions about guns going off on impact.

Sorry Joe, no one I work with or for allows loaded guns during defensive tactics training. However, I have in fact been hit with a club, stabbed with a needle, attacked with a piece of broken glass, and had someone try and take my gun the hard way once. It's hell getting old......crooks are still young and I hurt when I get up in the morning.

dla · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2004, 08:32:04 PM »

Quote from: Double D

If the unsupported case head ruptured, the gas will all be vented straight down on the feed ramp. This could split the barrel.

Sorry, but that doesn't make sense at all. Not at all.

The escaping gasses are at a lower pressure than when they are contained in the case. If they don't rupture the barrel normally, why would they rupture the barrel when the soft brass case lets go?

I could possibly believe the gasses melting a stripe into the barrel. Possibly.

lilabner · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2004, 04:53:51 AM »

I did not mention but should have mentioned that the news article said the Portland PD is fully satisfied that the 9mm Glock is not a problem. The article said this is because there are significant differences in design between the two calibers.
The reporter who wrote the news article is likely anti-gun and not in the know on firearms design. However, the thought struck me that Glock .45 owners have a right to know about it and check it out. I don't own Glock but have always thought they are great guns.

Varmint Hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2004, 12:21:03 PM »

You can always do what I did. Sold off my Glock pistols and replaced them with HK USP's.

They don't have half the problems that are popping up in the Glocks.

Another benefit is the stainless slide on the USP. It doesn't show holster wear (or rust) like the Glock which has a tenefer finish, that is not quite as durable as it is cracked up to be. I shot Glocks for many years but am much more confident in the HK's.

Next 45 will be a Para LDA. :wink:

VH

kevin · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2004, 01:37:27 PM »

I have a few interesting tidbits to share with you all, I have had my own personal g 21 have a mis hap with the problems that are plaging you all, first I was in mandate training here in georgia, during a string of qualifing fireing my glock made a rather strange sound and saw dirty grey smoke come from the area between the slide and frame, the gasses vented unto my hands and turned them black, blew the magazine right out of the mag well, at that the closest range officer and real close partner ran up to me and we stopped all fireing on the range , much to my relief I had all fingers in place,our armour on duty checked over the glock and we found no problems, but for saftys sake it was sent off to glock with the shell caseing that was still in the glock, now what was found out is that the glock funtioned evactly as it was designed to, and thje at falt problem was the ammo,which was purchased at bulk factory reloads from a reputable reloading company the company sent me 1,000 rounds of factory 185grin speer gold dots for the miss hap, and I am happy to say the glock is in my holster today and after 5,000 plus rounds has never failed me and with proper care will never fail when at the time of need take care and be safe, as of now I own a g 17 g19 g20 my favorite hunter companion,and tried and tested 21. Kevin

paladyn · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2004, 05:08:23 AM »

That's just one of the reasons I never shoot reloads of any kind.

Savage · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2004, 01:43:18 PM »

Commerical reloaders use basicly the same loading process as the factory ammo maufacturers. I seldom shoot anything but reloads, mine of course!
Savage

CharlieinKansas · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2004, 11:27:03 AM »

I personally talked with a "GLOCK" rep a couple of years ago. My question to him was concerning shooting semi-wadcutters out of the polygonal barrels. He told me that it should not be done because the rifling was not designed to shoot lead bullets. He told me that after shooting so many rounds of lead that the pistol would not go into full battery after a certain amount of lead build-up and that an accident could happen. I wonder if this was what has been happening to the pistols blowing up. He did tell me that there are after market barrels available with standard rifling for shooting lead bullets, but that using them would void the warranty.
By the way I have owned a Glock 19 since before Slick Willy was in office. It has always performed flawlessly, chambers every round no matter what factory ammo is fed to it. I have never tried shooting lead bullets out of her because I was told to never do it when I bought it at a local gun shop.

ar-steve · « **Reply #21 on:** June 18, 2004, 08:46:30 PM »

I have friends that are portland cops, 1 pd & the other 2 are state, the state pd has used glock .40 s&w since 97. and the portland pd went to 9mm glocks from sigs, I cant find a cop here who says that any one has been given a 45 glock. I heard about the recall and I called glock, they said no such thing. I do not believe that glock would lie about a recall,because if there is one and they only tell "some" people that would not be very smart, or legal. these rumors go on because some people still dont like the "plastic gun" or they reload to hot and blow there gun up,and dont want to take the blame ...just my .02 ar-steve

bearblade · « **Reply #22 on:** July 20, 2004, 04:38:58 PM »

The only problem I've heard first-hand about the glocks is from my friend. He was firing reloaded ammo, and the guy who loaded it forgot the powder in one of the rounds. He ended up with a bullet stopped halfway through his barrel, and another ready to fire in the chamber.

Happy Rabbit · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2004, 07:49:05 AM »

As a newcomer to this site I am hesitant to jump into such a heated debate but I know (first hand, not by rumor or hearsay) of a Glock 45, model 30 that blew up in an instructors hand in Maryland. But the cause of the blow up was attributed to a reload, not to any defect in the Glock and within the same lot of ammo, several other rounds were discovered to also have a double powder charge. Now on to the "unsafe" opinion.

The instructor in question still has his hand and all his finger, flesh, etc. The gun was totally destroyed; barrel banana peeled, slide and magazine blown completely off and the receiver was folded open under the chamber, but it absorbed the violent explosion and the only injuries were superficial and temporary. A metal gun would probably have blow his hand off to the wrist!

So if the Glock is "unsafe", I'll take two.

Happy Rabbit

jimmyp50 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 20, 2004, 02:16:42 AM »

I have a Glock 30, I am sorry to report it has not blown up on me but I know it is just a matter of time... I only shoot 200 or so rounds a month in it, probably not enough to see the real problems. I do however feel that it is dangerous, so dangerous in fact I am going to buy a Glock 21. I think the 21 is even more dangerous than the 30, both are dangerous to what ever is being covered by the muzzle. I have had 6 1911 45 ACP guns, the only one that shot with 100% reliability was a WWII era Remington Rand that I sold like an idiot. I know that this was just my bad luck and everyone else has a 1911 pattern gun that has shot 2 billion rounds without cleaning and they have never had a feeding problem. I bet those Glock range guns that sit there dirty every day are just Single Shot Manually Operated Magazine Fed Repeaters (borrowed from Jouster) and on top of that are just accidents waiting to happen. I kind of also think that the HK's, Glocks, SIG220's, Rugers, CZ's are equally good, I just like Glocks because they are simple and light. If the HK was not $100.00 more expensive I would try one of them. I wish that any one who is scared to death of a Glock 45 explosion would sell me their gun (pre explosion of course), I am willing to give them $50.00 sight unseen. I guess you can just consider me the Evil Knevil of guns. jimmyp

Bubba w/a 45/70 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 29, 2004, 03:54:05 PM »

I have finally worked up the courage to make a counter offer of $51 for each and every unexploded Glock (in .45 cal) out there. Just reply to me here, and I will gladly forward the money upon receipt of gun. This is my small part to play in making sure that noone else is hurt by one of these horrible guns.

In doing this, I feel that I am taking the danger upon myself of the KABOOM!!!! that are definitely going to happen with these guns. Thank you all in advance for this service to humanity.

:-D

:-D

If you have a "lesser" caliber Glock, I am entertaining lesser amounts for these dangerous guns also.

iiibbb · « **Reply #26 on:** October 04, 2004, 06:05:10 AM »

With out a link to a reputable news source this is just hearsay.

Like Bubba, anyone who still feels queezy about shooting a glock, I will take them off their hands for $51 (I like the lesser caliber).

It's my understanding that ALL Glocks are capapble of firing out of battery, one of their few shortcomings. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

I am certain this statement is wrong. The trigger must be pulled back to tension the firing pin spring, as well as release the safety that allows the firing pin to strike the primer. When out of battery, I don't think the button that releases that safety can physically be actuated... in addition I don't think the trigger bar is in contact with the firing pin.

With Glocks, the danger is with firing lead and firing reloads.

Savage · « **Reply #27 on:** October 04, 2004, 11:33:42 AM »

If anyone wants to find out about the "Out of Battery" thing, all you have to do is, unload the gun, check again, check one more time to insure it's unloaded. Then with the striker cocked, grasp the top of the slide with the weak hand and push it back slightly. With the other hand pull the trigger. I have found that mine will fire with the slide back a 16th or so. It's not much, but it could be enough! Ever have a misfire, then hand cycle the action to eject the round, and then when you examine the round you find a light primer strike slightly off center? Well------if that round had a overly sensitive primer, it would have fired out of battery. This was not the case with the gun in question in this thread. The OOB thing has only occurred with an aftermarket barrel in my guns. Thank God it didn't fire with the light primer strike! Solution: I got rid of the aftermarket barrel!!
Savage

iiibbb · « **Reply #28 on:** October 04, 2004, 04:26:33 PM »

If your recoil spring is worn out it might wind up out of battery, which may cause the light primer strikes. They way I was told to check is to make sure the gun unloaded and the chamber is empty.

With your finger holding the trigger back, point the barrel straight up, and pull the slide back. Gently and slowly let the slide forward, allowing the recoil spring to do all the work. When you let go of the slide it may remain slightly out of battery... as you release the trigger it should go fully into battery on its own. If it fails to do this your recoil spring is shot and should be replaced.

iiibbb · « **Reply #29 on:** October 04, 2004, 04:29:27 PM »

PS: There's noting wrong with a stock Glock