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Glock safety

nationwide777nationwide777 Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
edited April 2002 in Ask the Experts
Is the safety on the Glock auto pistol safe? Is the firing pin always cocked and ready to go? what about dropping it? Is the only way to discharge the gun by pulling the trigger safety back with the trigger. Thank you for any info provided.
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Comments

  • nationwide777nationwide777 Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I do not like the safety on my Glock 23.....what can I buy that is comes close to the glock but is safer?
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  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    The pistol will not fire when dropped. You must pull trigger to disengage safety. If you are going to carry it cocked in a holster, make sure the holster covers the trigger and trigger guard.
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  • ref44ref44 Member Posts: 251 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When the gun cycles, the "hammer" (it has no hammer) is cocked, say, 90%. You provide the last 10% when you pull the trigger. Next time you are at the ange shooting a Glock, hold the trigger back after you fire a round. Then, slowly, let the trigger move forward. You will feel and hear the trigger reset, and you can fire the next round at that point without letting the trigger go all the way forward and then having the long takeup again. It becomes second nature when you get used to it.I am amused at those who will rap the Glock because "it has no manual safety". Neither do most Sigs, neither do single action revolvers, neither do double action revolvers, and neither do DAO semi-autos. Yet the Glock is somehow "bad" because it does not have a manual safety.
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Glock "Safe Action" is safe from accidental discharge. The striker is partially cocked when the pistol is charged, and pulling the trigger completes the cocking and releases the striker to fire the cartridge. In the slide is a safety plunger that is deactivated when the trigger is pulled, allowing the striker to move forward to strike the primer. When the trigger is not pulled, the safety plunger will not allow the striker to move forward to strike the primer, thus making it drop safe. While the Glock is safe from accidental discharge, it is not safe from intentional discharge. To me, that makes the Glock unsafe for carry and house use. There is no safety to deactivate before firing. Anyone who gets ahold of a Glock can fire it just by pulling the trigger. Even a child can fire a Glock just by pulling the trigger. Everyone knows you fire a gun by pulling the trigger, but not everyone knows how to deactivate a safety. To me, that makes Glocks dangerous to the officers who carry them. If they lose control of their gun, they might get shot before they can get to their backup, or get away. A safety to will take time for a non-gun person to deactivate, if they can even do it, this giving the officer time to take some action, or run away.
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  • TeamblueTeamblue Member Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ditto to ref44's second paragraph.
    1*
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  • will270winwill270win Member Posts: 4,845
    edited November -1
    There is one true safety in the whole world; the shooters finger. A gun cannot and will not go off without manipulating the trigger to the rear. If you observe the weapons safety rules, and you should, you got no worries. Oh, and keep 'em outta kids hands also.
    It has become my purpose in life to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
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  • Der GebirgsjagerDer Gebirgsjager Member Posts: 1,673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with, and respect, all of the opinions rendered above. Since at least two of them are at odds, how can that be? Having "been there and done that" I offer the following for your consideration. I put in a career as an officer for a major west coast law enforcement agency. This was in the days of the revolver, and officers were shot by suspects who managed to get control of their weapon. Revolvers have no manual safety, nor do Glocks. Anyone gaining control of the weapon can shoot you with it simply by pulling the trigger. Weapon retention is, of course, the defense; proper holsters and proper techniques. The Glock is a fine, reliable, durable weapon; and if one approaches its carry and use thinking of it as a revolver, and is competent in retention, then they are better armed than the L.E.O.s of my day because of increased ammunition capacity. Personally, although I own and occassionally shoot a Glock 21 in competition, it is not my choice for carry in my present part-time high risk job. I carry a Colt 1991-A1 cocked and locked. Should I lose it the bad guy is going to have to thumb off the safety and adequately squeeze the grip safety, and I may have a chance to obtain my back-up weapon. This has proven a sound philosophy in the past for others (thankfully not me!) and the value of a manual safety is pretty well recognized for officer safety. Just an oldtimer's viewpoint.
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  • TeleDetectiveTeleDetective Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I own Glock. I love Glock. Pull trigger, go bang. No pull trigger, no go bang. He, he. Love Glock.
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  • HiCapHiCap Member Posts: 77 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    As with most topics involving opinions, all of the above are correct. Only you can determine what is right for you and your situation. How experience of a shooter are you.....Who all has access to your weapon in your home......DO you have kids around......Is your spouse an experience shooter.....Is this weapon for home defense or carry.....ect. There recently was a LEO in New Jersey (I Think) that was killed by his kid because he came home from duty and laid his Glock on the kitchen table where the kid got it and shot him. Is this a Glock problem or a training issue for a household with any type of weapon in it?On the other hand, we had our local Police Commissioner shoot a hole into his butt by bumping an improperly holstered "cocked and locked" weapon as he got into his patrol car. Again, probably more of a training issue than a weapons problem.All in all, I would prefer the Glock with proper firearms training (Like FrontSight) for all shooters in the house along with common sense child proofing over a "cocked and locked" weapon. Just my two cents worth. Again, assess you needs, your experience and your environment and you will make the right decision.Good luck!
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  • will270winwill270win Member Posts: 4,845
    edited November -1
    I don't think he asked about carrying as a LEO, did he? Nope.
    It has become my purpose in life to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~
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  • HiCapHiCap Member Posts: 77 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey will270win;Don't see where anybody was giving him advice on carrying as an LEO. LEO experience in everyday carry is extremely valuable.....they carry a lot more often than I do. My advice (as everyone elses, I'm sure) on carry was to make him define the primary use for his weapon. Don't have to be an LEO to carry (at least not yet!).
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  • TeleDetectiveTeleDetective Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION: Yes, the Glock safety is safe, it prevents the gun from discharging unless the trigger has been depressed. Now to the other stuff written for your consideration: The Glock is not safe from INTENTIONAL DISCHARGE?!?! What the heck are y'all talking 'bout?! NO GUN IS SAFE FROM AN INTENTIONAL DISCHARGE!!! Who are these guys talking about intentional discharges and thumb safeties. If yer gun gets took you got a lot worse to worry about than intentional discharges and whether or not said perp knows how to thumb a safety or not. He's got yer gun and was bad enough to take yer gun! As one wise old gun instructor once told me- if you survive yer gun getting took, go find the biggest guy you can and pay him $20.00 ta just kick yer @$$, you deserve it. RELYING ON THUMB SAFETIES TO SAVE YER LIFE IF YER GUN GETS TOOK??? What are the odds the you already thumbed the safety before the perp took yer piece. What are the odds the guy (or girl) doesn't know about safeties. Let's excercise some gray cells. As for that much vaunted safety- I know of officers getting shot while pulling the trigger on a 1911 or S&W having forgotten to thumb it. That's how they earned the nick-name "suicide switches." No problem with that with a Glock. Thank God, they lived. OK, now that I've vented I appologize for hurting anyone's feelings.[This message has been edited by TeleDetective (edited 04-04-2002).][This message has been edited by TeleDetective (edited 04-04-2002).]
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  • niklasalniklasal Member Posts: 776 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I agree Teledetective.The basic rules for firearms safety should apply all around. Whether or not the gun has a manual safety or not, it should be handled by a properly trained shooter, and also away from curious fingers.
    NIKLASAL@hotmail.com
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  • dakotashooter2dakotashooter2 Member Posts: 6,186
    edited November -1
    I like to compare Glock type safetys to lockable and lockless doors in a house.If you push on either door it will not open because the latch holds it shut. The lockless knob keeps the door secure until it is turned by normal function. The lockable knob can only open the door when it is lock is manipulated and the knob is turned. So which knob are you going to use to secure your house?
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  • TeleDetectiveTeleDetective Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The above anology is interesting, and wrong. The Glock safety is like the lockless knob, according to the author, because it keeps the door from opening unless the doorknob is turned, like the Glock safety keeps the gun from being fired unless the trigger is pulled. The author then asks which door knob you trust to protect your home? Neither, you trust the dead-bolt. Does the author trust his children's life or prevent unuathorized use of his firearm to the safety on the gun? No, of course not. No responsible gun owner leaves his 1911 where children or unauthorized persons can get it, trusting the grip and thumb safety to prevent it's unauthorized use. He trusts the gun safe, locked doors, or his immediate control over the gun to prevent unauthorized use. Your firearm is not the main line of defense of your home, property, or life, it's the last. The firearm is like the door to your bedroom, in the auhtor's anology, not your front door. Control of the weapon is the main line of defense against unauthorized access, like the deadbolted front door. The safety is like the bedroom door versus an open doorway. It requires an affirmative action to enter or use; turn the knob or pull the trigger. I truly believe their is no real analogy for the safety- it is what it is, it does what it does. Understand it for what it is. It keeps the gun from firing if it is dropped, nothing more. Does that mean anyone can fire the gun if he gets possession of it- sure, as long as they can pull the trigger. Is that a liability? Maybe, maybe not. It means the the gun goes bang if you pull the trigger. It also means you don't die, possibly, if under stress you forget to thumb the safety off when you need to shoot. If someone gets yer gun, they can shoot it simply by pulling the trigger. Thats "Duality." Lets not forget that even before the Glock, officers were killed with their own weapons. So it's not the safety you should trust, it's control over your weapon.
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  • TeleDetectiveTeleDetective Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Another attempt to answer your question: I have never heard of the safety failing. I have never heard of the gun firing when dropped and I have never heard of the gun failing to fire when the trigger was pulled, meaning the safeties failed to disengage.
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