Are Glocks Safe?

[DHORNE]

I've owned and carried Glocks for about 20 years and have never had a problem with them. I have also owned many others and IMO have found them to be more reliable and durable than a lot of others. Just my opinion.

[artabr]

Originally Posted by BobMcG

Without a doubt a statement based on fact.

I just kindly have one small bone to pick with it. While yes indeed the trigger was in fact pulled in every instance, well... makes them all negligent discharges in my book. IMO referring the events as being accidental is letting those careless folks off rather light.

Amen.



Art

[al45lc]

[QUOTE=ponycar17;642784]A local school resource officer was showing high school kids his Glock when upon reholstering it fired, scattering debris towards students. This incident was in the local news but wasn't captured by any video. I don't know what poor practice he used but the moral of the story is that a proper manual safety would likely have prevented the accident.



I'm not flaming you, I just don't agree.
You don't know the poor handling praactices? Showing a LOADED gun to others?
To start with, He violated two of the basic three cardinal rules for gun handling. He either had an improper holster for that weapon,( I've never seen one that would really 'snag' the trigger, btw) or he had his finger on the trigger. To rely on a manual safty is a major mistake too, I've seen several ADs with manual safty guns, again the basic rules were violated. A manual safty is simply one more thing to forget.

ANY gun will discharge if in good working order, loaded, and the trigger pulled. This guy shouldn't be handling a gun until he goes through another safety course, if he had one at all.

[Slabsides]

Originally Posted by BobMcG

Without a doubt a statement based on fact.

I just kindly have one small bone to pick with it. While yes indeed the trigger was in fact pulled in every instance, well... makes them all negligent discharges in my book. IMO referring the events as being accidental is letting those careless folks off rather light.

Agreed. Negligence which resulted in an accident.

[Cavik]

Originally Posted by hogger129

I mean are Glocks really a good pistol? I mean I know with the proper training and practice, a Glock is just as safe as any. But aren't people a bit skeptical about buying a gun with no other safety than on the trigger? And even at that, I hear their trigger is a really light double-action only.

Even with proper training and practice, accidents always happen. Maybe not to you, but to someone... Which you can see on YouTube. A manual safety can protect against accidents like that. I wanted a manual safety and that's one of the reasons I didn't get a Glock.

[johnlives4christ]

in my opinion. if you want a manual safety then there is no fault in getting one. thats why there are so many different types of guns....for so many different types of shooters.

[jacksonco]

I am certain that the horse died a long time ago on this topic. To keep beating it will only devalue its hide.

[woolleyworm]

Originally Posted by jacksonco

I am certain that the horse died a long time ago on this topic. To keep beating it will only devalue its hide.

Better to beat a dead one than to kill a good live one !

[Mosin_Nagant_Fan]

My last 2 or 3 handguns, prior to my new XD9, had no manual safety. Namely the Nagant 1895, the S&W 10-5 and the Sig P6. If the one in your head doesn't work, no amount of engineered safety will do you any good.

[oscarmayer]

as rude as this may sound, if you consider a glock unsafe you'll have to include all double action revolvers. perhaps a gun safety course is in order. as stated here the best safety is the one between your ears. if you consider a glock unsafe maybe you should think about something other than a firearm . keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire and it's as safe as a loaf of bread .

[lawdawg]

One advantage of the Glock and their ilk is during a shooting situation, when the adrenaline is pumping, the pupils narrow into tunnel vision, the hands are numb and shaky, and the mind is in fight or flight syndrome and is not thinking thoroughly; the less you have to manipulate your weapon to fire the better. In such case, it is advanteous to have a handgun you simply pull and shoot than one that you have to press this button, flip this switch, lock this back, and trip this lever just to shoot. To paraphrase a quote: in a stressful situation, you will not rise to the level of your knowledge, but be reduced to the level of your training (or something like that), so the LACK of safeties may actually save your life. The Glock is not without it's drawbacks (like any product), but is a reliable, and for the most part safe, weapon.

[ponycar17]

Originally Posted by al45lc

I'm not flaming you, I just don't agree.
You don't know the poor handling praactices? Showing a LOADED gun to others?
To start with, He violated two of the basic three cardinal rules for gun handling. He either had an improper holster for that weapon,( I've never seen one that would really 'snag' the trigger, btw) or he had his finger on the trigger. To rely on a manual safty is a major mistake too, I've seen several ADs with manual safty guns, again the basic rules were violated. A manual safty is simply one more thing to forget.

ANY gun will discharge if in good working order, loaded, and the trigger pulled. This guy shouldn't be handling a gun until he goes through another safety course, if he had one at all.

I'm not going to disagree with you for the most part, however we don't use any equipment 100% correctly all the time. If so we wouldn't need seat belts and air bags in cars. Lapses of judgement and accidents occur. If you screw up in your car you have your seat belt and air bags to help protect you. If you screw up with a gun you have your manual safety to protect you.

I stand by the assertion that a manual safety is fundamentally "safer" because it adds one more protection against discharge if a gun is handled improperly.

If a Glock and a 1911 are handled properly then both are equally safe. If a human is handling either one of them, then guarantee that the grip safety and manual safety of the 1911 makes everyone safer.

Would I own a handgun without a manual safety? Yep, I own 4 without manual safeties.

Are they more unsafe? Yep, inherently...

Are they safe if handled properly? Absolutely...

A mountain road is safe as long as the driver is careful and nothing out of his control occurs. If a boulder falls into his path of travel and he swerves to avoid it, the road would be safer with a guard rail to prevent his tumbling to death below.

[Crpdeth]

Originally Posted by ponycar17

This incident was in the local news but wasn't captured by any video.

Sounds like this guy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ain2by4Fums

Crpdeth

[old semperfi]

i own and have owned several glocks,i normally replace factory trigger group with custom with lighter trigger pull.a glock is as safe as any revolver out there,it is the same principal(steady determined trigger pull to get it to go bang) have not heard of anyone asking for a safety on a revolver.i was in my fortys when i bought my first glock and was skeptable but not now. old semperfi

[fcs25]

As with "all" pistols keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire the weapon.Obey this basic safety rule on all weapons and the question is moot.

[lucky-gunner]

Originally Posted by graehaven

Manual safeties are dangerous. You may disagree. That's fine. You've been wrong before.

There is something about a manual safety that can lead inexperience shooters to miss handle a loaded firearm. I had a lot of Boot Marines that thought that as long as the safety was on the weapon was safe.

As to your question, a Glock should be handled just like a DA revolver. If it's loaded and you pull the trigger it will go bang.

Steven@LG

[Big Shrek]

Originally Posted by lucky-gunner

There is something about a manual safety that can lead inexperience shooters to miss handle a loaded firearm. I had a lot of Boot Marines that thought that as long as the safety was on the weapon was safe.

As to your question, a Glock should be handled just like a DA revolver. If it's loaded and you pull the trigger it will go bang.

Steven@LG

I'll second that.

Besides, there are quite a few cases of accidental discharge of Glocks being due to the dang fool owner disabling the safeties...including the case in Pensacola, FL where the guy had his Glock modifyed as a "Race Gun" & had the trigger safety taken out for speed...and shot himself in the stomach when he dropped it at the range...needless to say the local gunsmith who performed the safety removals also lost his Florida Gunsmith Permit after the investigation was complete.

The "Trigger Nut" is the most important part of any firearms equation...
if the man behind the gun is an idiot, expect bad things to happen.

[MagnumFan]

I own 3 Glocks and they are all great performers.
They are just as safe as my revolvers.

[whip]

As an EMT I responded to a new police officer that shot himself in the leg with his Glock. Left his finger on the trigger as he was practicing at the range when he reholstered. He healed and learned. He told me he messed up bad and I agreed.

I carry a Glock and they are a great reliable weapon. If you pull the trigger they go bang. Most modern autos are also reliable but piror to the Glock I had an old Smith 39 and it wasn't nearly as reliable.

[jacksonco]

I have 3 Glocks, a G32C, G21 and G19. They all have been reliable and I have never had any thing close to an unexpected discharge. As has been said many times in this thread KEEP YER FINGER OFF OF THEE TRIGGER!

[Bruce FLinch]

They are as safe as the user.
Pics of a Glock that had a .40 double powder charge in it. Newby reloader gave some ammo to his friend to shoot in a match. Bad reloads make for a whole different discussion. The shooter lucked out w/ small cuts & bruises.

[dogspit]

Glocks are NOT SAFE!
You should sell me yours for $50.00 each and I will dispose of them properly!

[rsereday]

If our safeties are between our ears and in our fingers them why not carry 1911s cocked and UNlocked?

Glock started the whole trigger safety frenzy and now there are more guns without manual safety than with them. Kind of scary for me, but I have only been shooting and handling guns for 40 years. I have owned about one hundred guns and a glock or two, over the years and for the range, I did not have a problem with it, but carrying one with a chambered round even in a holster makes me kind of nervous. I value my balls, legs and feet to much I guess. If you have never tripped over a crack in the side walk, never dropped one thing in your life, never had the slightest finder bender,..... and always done everything perfectly in your life, I guess a glock with no real safety would be ok. Good luck with carrying that 1911 cocked and unlocked, just let me know where you are going to be so I am sure not to be there.

[johnlives4christ]

i have gotten pissed off and threw my glock on a couple occasions. fully loaded. several of the times i through it against a hardwood floor. hasnt went off yet so i trust it.

i wouldnt carry a 1911 cocked and unlocked because the sear hammer mechanism isnt designed to be stabled under shock without the safety engaged. where as a glock is designed not to let the firing pin travel unless the trigger bar disengages the striker block

having handled guns for 40 years doesnt make you an expert. it makes you experienced at handling guns, not at designing them or understanding how they work. i am not an expert either but i understand how both a glock and a 1911 work inside and why they are designed the way they are.

i wouldnt carry a colt single action with a round chambered under the hammer. but i would a ruger new model blackhawk because i understand the differences in how they are designed and what makes one unsafe and the other safe.

[rentalguy1]

Originally Posted by 007bondjamesbond007

A trigger safety? Don't think so.
Beretta 92FS Decocker engaged pull the trigger nothing.

If you pull the trigger on a "decocked" 92, you better believe it will go bang! The decocker is just that, not a safety. I puts the gun into double action mode, and will most certainly still fire if the double action trigger is pulled.

If the OP is worried about safety mechanisms, then IMHO you don't need to me CC'ing. Your safety is your index finger and your brain. You have to get your mind around that first.

Oh yeah, and Glocks suck...