Feed issues

[Scrambler68]

I made the mistake of posting this under the General Discussion section but the only response I got was short, ignorant and it told me to stay stock. I am hoping there are some competition oriented people that can give be some better insight...

About 4 years ago I purchased a Glock 35 that I used for USPSA competition while I lived in south Mississippi. It came with 10 round magazines that I used to run limited 10 class with.

Over time, I upgraded things such as adding a mag well, high capacity mags with extended bases and Wolff springs, fiber optic front sight, extended mag release, tungsten guide rod (captive) and I picked up a 13lb and a 15lb recoil spring. After the upgrades I moved to limited class.

After Hurricane Katrina, I moved from Mississippi to Tennessee. I did not know of any local clubs so my Glock sat in my safe for about 2.5 years (unloaded). I recently pulled it out to take a carry permit class and I cleaned it before I went.

During the class, I used my high cap mags but we were only loading 6 rounds at a time. I had several failures to feed (slide stayed locked open) and to top things off, my fiber optic front sight broke during the class. Needless to say, I was quite embarrassed (but I still out shot everyone else in the class :cool: ).

After that episode, I replaced the front sight and went back to the range and ran through about 500 rounds. I tried my high cap mags and my 10 round mags but I continued to have failures to feed constantly. I would have to pull the slide back from the locked open position on nearly every round as the mags got closer to empty. I even reinstalled the factory guide rod and recoil spring but that didn't help.

So, my questions are these?
1. Do you think my feed problems are caused by worn mag springs?
2. If so, what springs would you recommend as replacements (I have Wolff)?
3. What recoil springs would you recommend to reduce felt recoil (I shoot factory Winchester loads)?
4. I would like to upgrade the trigger, which do you recommend?

Again, sorry for the long thread and noob questions. It seems that there are some folks that know what they are talking about on this forum and I would love to hear your opinions.
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[9x45]

I once assembled my G21 in the wrong pin order and the slide stayed locked open after every round. Small pin is first on 2 pin guns so the slide stop is pushing against the first pin. Try posting at BrianEnos.com under the Glock section also, pretty much only competitors hang out there.

[WellArmedSheep]

Make sure you're not accidently thumbing the slide release.

[Yar]

check to make sure the wire nubbin from the slide release is under the locking block pin. Correct assembly order is inset locking block pin, insert slide release so nubbin goes under locking block pin. Push trigger pin in to hold everything together.

For 40 s&W I like the 15 lbs ismi recoil spring. For mag springs I like the ismi but the wolf +10% are fine too. Most likely the issure is with the slide release nubbin.

[Hozer]

Ditch the extended slide stop. You might be hitting it during recoil. I was doing exactly that on my 17 and 34, the problems drove my more nuts...

[9x45]

Scrambler, what did you find out about your issue?

[Scrambler68]

My magazine springs are weak but the cause of my problem was my support hand pushing my strong hand thumb into the slide release. (Dooh!) :whistling:

[ecmills]

You know we shoot USPSA and IDPA at the MSSA range here in Memphis, right? (www.memphis-ssa.com) It's an extremely nice facility. There's one or the other nearly every weekend.

There's also an indoor IDPA match at RangeUSA every Tuesday 6PM-9PM, an "IDPA style" match on Friday nights at the same time, and an IDPA match down in DeSoto, MS on the 1st Saturday of each month.

:)

[Scrambler68]

Thanks for the invite!

I need to do a little more practice before shooting a match. I have gotten a little rusty over the last 2.5 years.

I look forward to seeing you out there.:cool:

[ecmills]

I don't shoot IPSC all that much. (As in, probably a couple of matches in my life).

If you shoot IDPA out there at all, I'll be there unless I have to work. Still working on my M card there before I jump ship to IPSC and work on that. Whenever you get the urge to shoot a match, PM me a week or two ahead of time, and I'll give you a list of the upcoming local ones.

If you want to get some practice time in before you go back to IPSC, come shoot one of our little indoor weekly IDPA matches at RangeUSA on Tuesday some time. IPDA may seem like the tee-ball of competitive shooting to some IPSC guys (stir, stir, stir) but it'll help get you warmed up. :)

[Bren]

If your slide is locking back on loaded mags, especially multiple ones, it's not the mags. It is most likely either (1) your grip or (2) the slide stop. If it's the slide stop, the most common problem is that the gun has been disassembled and put back together with the slide stop spring tail on top of the locking block pin, instead of under it.

[Scrambler68]

Well, I got some new springs in yesterday and discovered my poor G35 was tired!:faint:

When I went to replace the magazine springs, I noticed that the old ones were at least 2" shorter than the new ones even though they were the same make and model.

Next I noticed that when I would dry fire the gun, the slide would move back about 1/8" as I pulled the trigger. When I pulled the recoil spring off my captive tungsten guide rod, it barely moved past the end of the rod. My replacement spring was twice as long at rest.

Anyway, I got her freshend up and I am off to the range to shoot the IDPA match tonight! :dancingbanana:

[Scrambler68]

Well, I shot my first IDPA match last night and boy do I need some more practice! I have gotten really rusty over that past 2.5 years.

I did not know that IDPA rules were so different from USPSA but I will adjust. It was interesting to find out that my rig was not legal for this type of competition. Next time, I will have to remove the magwell and use 10 round magazines or maybe I'll try shooting my G27.

Turnout was good and everyone was very friendly. My G35 ran fine with the new magazine springs. However, on the last course of fire, I pulled the trigger and nothing happened, no bang, no click, nothing. I pulled again and the gun fired but my time was all screwed up (along with my head). When I got home, I noticed that I had the same issue as before, when I pulled the trigger, the slide moved back about 1/8". Prior to the match, I had replaced the recoil spring with an old but relatively unused 13# spring that I had. Apparently, that 13# spring was not strong enough. I will be placing an order today to for a heavier recoil spring. Hopefully, that will fix the problem.

Thanks for the invite Mills. I had a great time.

[GMAN40]

Ditch the extended slide stop. You might be hitting it during recoil. I was doing exactly that on my 17 and 34, the problems drove my more nuts...


Except for leftys we don't usually have this problem.:whistling:

[ecmills]

I did not know that IDPA rules were so different from USPSA but I will adjust. It was interesting to find out that my rig was not legal for this type of competition. Next time, I will have to remove the magwell and use 10 round magazines or maybe I'll try shooting my G27.
Read the rulebook section on ESP (Enhanced Service Pistol) - it's ony a couple of pages of the book - at idpa.com .... Make your gun legal for that division.

Honestly, you'll be just fine shooting at RangeUSA with what you already have. No one's really much of an equipment facist over there. If you're informed on the rules, and make it clear that you're just brushing up before jumping back into IPSC, no one's going to ask you to leave or anything. ;)

Turnout was good and everyone was very friendly. My G35 ran fine with the new magazine springs. However, on the last course of fire, I pulled the trigger and nothing happened, no bang, no click, nothing. I pulled again and the gun fired but my time was all screwed up (along with my head). When I got home, I noticed that I had the same issue as before, when I pulled the trigger, the slide moved back about 1/8". Prior to the match, I had replaced the recoil spring with an old but relatively unused 13# spring that I had. Apparently, that 13# spring was not strong enough. I will be placing an order today to for a heavier recoil spring. Hopefully, that will fix the problem.

Thanks for the invite Mills. I had a great time.
A 13-pounder is usually fine, if you're using a reduced-power striker spring. The heavy stock one can be iffy - the gun has a hard time staying in battery when only a 13-pound recoil spring is opposing it. I've got a couple of Wolff 4 pound striker springs around, if you want one. I run the super-light Glockworx one (and I've got 4 of those on hand) .. so if you want a couple of Wolff ones, I'll bring them Tuesday.

[Scrambler68]

Thanks for the offer. I made an order on Wednesday for a couple of different recoil springs (15# and 17#) and two firing pin springs (stock and Wolff). They should be here in a couple of days and I will be able to play around with the various combinations to find out what works best.

Unfortunately, I have a Tuesday/Thursday night class starting next week. I will be in school from June 9 - July 10. I will not be able to make the Tuesday night matches during that time. I am contemplating going to some of the Friday night matches at Rangemasters though.

I just got my MTAC holster in yesterday for my G27. After class is out, I may bring it to the Tuesday night match just for fun.

Thanks again for your hospitality.