G21 Slide Rattle

[LeMat]

First off, this may be a totally stupid question, but I'm curious about something.

I noticed that if I hold my 21 (in a normal firing grip) and sort of "wobble" it back and forth (left to right), there is a noticeable rattle at the rear of the slide.

Reason I'm curious is that I've tried it with my G23, SA Mil-Spec, EAA Witness, Walther P99, Beretta M-9, etc., and they do not do this. What I'm thinking is that the 21 does it simply because of the increased mass (and weight) of the slide.

I just want to make sure that this is normal and nothing to worry about.


Thanks guys!

LeMat

[FABGLOCK]

What you are probably hearing is the striker rattling around in the channel. This is normal in a Glock.

[WalterGA]

If your G23's striker doesn't rattle when the tension's released, you need to clean out the striker channel.

[j_ratliffe]

all of my glocks are a little sloppy in the slide. if you grab the slide in the back, move it left and right, up and down, they do move a little. thats just the way they are. the tolerences aren't as tight as other guns for a reason, reliability. don't worry it won't fly apart and it doesn't hurt the accuracy one bit. the barrel to slide fit is tight as a drum. thats what matters anyway.

[Backfire]

LeMat, just curious, but how is the accuracy with that 21? I agree that if the accuracy is fine, then there is nothing to worry about. Generally, truly excessive looseness shows up as miserable accuracy in a semi-auto.

[WalterGA]

For those of you who can't read, please note that he's talking about a normal rattle(the striker), not frame-to-slide fit.

[LeMat]

Originally posted by j_ratliffe
all of my glocks are a little sloppy in the slide. if you grab the slide in the back, move it left and right, up and down, they do move a little. thats just the way they are. the tolerences aren't as tight as other guns for a reason, reliability. don't worry it won't fly apart and it doesn't hurt the accuracy one bit. the barrel to slide fit is tight as a drum. thats what matters anyway.
The slide does indeed have some movement when "wiggling" it up/down/left/right. I just felt it strange that it seems looser than my 23.

Originally posted by Backfire LeMat, just curious, but how is the accuracy with that 21? I agree that if the accuracy is fine, then there is nothing to worry about. Generally, truly excessive looseness shows up as miserable accuracy in a semi-auto.
Accuracy is superb. I should have realized that with fine accuracy, there was most likely nothing out of the ordinary. I have only put about 200 rounds through it so far, so perhaps that is why I was a little concerned.

Originally posted by WalterGA For those of you who can't read, please note that he's talking about a normal rattle(the striker), not frame-to-slide fit.
After checking the 23 again, I realized that there is a slight rattle to the striker, but no "slide" rattle. The 21 has the same striker rattle, but is coupled with a much more distinct slide rattle as well. I should have made that distinction in my original post. Sorry about that.

Thanks all for the replies!

[j_ratliffe]

Originally posted by WalterGA
For those of you who can't read, please note that he's talking about a normal rattle(the striker), not frame-to-slide fit.
i thought he ment shaking it left and right, side to side, not back and forth. i only hear my striker rattle when i shake my gun back and forth not side to side. i guess i can't read, but then neither can you.;B

[rumblin4x4]

Originally posted by j_ratliffe
all of my glocks are a little sloppy in the slide. if you grab the slide in the back, move it left and right, up and down, they do move a little. thats just the way they are. the tolerences aren't as tight as other guns for a reason, reliability. don't worry it won't fly apart and it doesn't hurt the accuracy one bit. the barrel to slide fit is tight as a drum. thats what matters anyway.

Are the slides supossed to be sloppy in the front as well thanks

[ColoradoGlocker]

.

[noway]

My G21 has a noticeable movement with the slide but no rattle. It also is one of my most accurate gun.

IMHO: The slide to rail fit is less important in accuracy than the barrel to slide fit.

[rumblin4x4]

So do yall think that it is the 45's that have this extra noticable movemnet cause my g36 has this noticable movement brand new but goes away with a full magazine and comes back gradually as you empty the magazine

[Backfire]

My G-21 has some side-to-side play when the magazine is taken out and just a little side-to-side play with the magazine inserted. My two Colt 1911's have less play than the G-21, with or without the magazines in place. My S&W 469 (2nd generation 9mm) has more play with or without the magazine in place than the G-21.

The G-21 is noticeably more accurate than any of the other guns I mentioned, even the very first time I fired my G-21 (and I was used to only 1911's for shooting .45 caliber).

My vote goes for barrel/slide lock up and overall barrel quality as being important for accuracy. That side-to-side play doesn't seem to be a significant factor with regard to accuracy, at least in the case of Glocks.

[rumblin4x4]

On mine there is up and down play as well as side to side play anyone else have this to