G36 Slide Disengage

[steve409]

Hi All,
I have a factory G36, never fired yet. Cleaned twice and dry-fired about 100 times. No more than basic takedown.

I noticed that if I let the slide go into battery with full spring force(no mag in place)....sometimes the slide lock(part 21, page 18 of manual)will have lowered slightly(still under tension). It will move back up and lock with the slightest rearward touch of slide. Continued full rearward slide pull and full power slide release....the slide disengages from the frame......sometimes.

Same can be put into battery with slight hand drag/ riding everytime with no problem.

Is this normal seeing there is no loaded mag in place with a chambering round causing a slight "buffering" to the action?

I have other Glocks and everything looks and "feels" normal.....but have not tried this "Power Racking" with no mag in place before.

What got me to this position in the first place was an attempt to simulate an actual firing sequence to help break it in. Could there be more "battering" being done like I was doing than by actually firing the pistol with a new round chambering each time and maybe "buffering" the system in the process?

[fastvfr]

You should never do that to an automatic pistol!

Letting the slide fly forward is a major sin on my ranch--you'll not get the chance to do it twice to my pistol!!

Not only does this cause premature wear and parts breakage (notably to the extractor) but it can cause cracking of the breechface and peening of the end of the barrel, changing critical tolerances.

You don't even want to drop a cartridge into the chamber and drop the slide on it--all shells should be loaded from the magazine.

Since your G36 is not designed to be treated this way, and it works 100% when cycled properly (i.e. with a loaded mag inserted) it would seem that you are fine.

BTW, try pushing the slides of your other Glocks forward when in battery...I'd guess at least one of them will exhibit the same phenomenon.

[Bren]

Are you sure about the "factory new" part and that you've never disassembled it beyond basic field stripping? Sounds a lot like a gun that was taken apart and put back together wrong, if I'm understanding you right.

[steve409]

Thanks guys,

I know that some pistols are not meant to be dry-fired but did not realize that "dry-racking" was potentially so harmful. I kinda figured that a few times would simulate actual firing "pounding" and loosen things up a bit.

No, I'm positive (famous last words) that it was factory, out of the box and was never dropped or taken apart other than field level cleaning.

Looking at the parts and how they matchup I'm trying to visualize what actually is happening to allow that "latch" which has spring pressure on it to lower.....or is forced......down to allow the slide to physically come off.

If everything is functioning correctly it should not be that easy for the slide to be able to come off....any time in the firing sequence that the slide is moving rearward any slight down pressure on the slide lock, either externally or internally will cause the slide to fly forward off the frame if stays low enough when the slide is coming back forward.

Thanks again for your help! I will be more careful.

[T. Harless]

Originally posted by fastvfr
You should never do that to an automatic pistol!.......


While probably a good rule to live by, I wouldn't worry about it so much with a Glock. Other guns you could wreck right away.

Sounds to me like a Slide lock spring issue. Broken or out of spec. It's a cheap part. I'd do that first.

[steve409]

Ordering one(actually 5...spares for each Glock owned) as we "speak".....it would be a terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach to see your slide fly of the frame at a "critical moment"........anybody ever hear of it happening?

thanks!

[fastvfr]

It won't come off while you are shooting but a broken latch spring allows the slide spring's weight to bear solely on the striker...

Not real good for functioning!

[T. Harless]

Originally posted by fastvfr
It won't come off while you are shooting but a broken latch spring allows the slide spring's weight to bear solely on the striker...

Not real good for functioning!

What's a latch spring?

[Glock4Life]

I don't share the concern for releasing a Glock slide on an empty chamber but that's JMO. I'd want to detail strip the frame and visually inspect the slide lock and spring for obvious issues. If none, I'd replace the spring anyway as was already mentioned, then retest for function.