For awhile my gen 4 caused me issues then they seemed to go away one I started shooting Underwood 165 TMJ as my practice round, now it seems to drop the magazines while shooting, when I fire a lower powered round it does not seem to happen. It happens to other people shooting the gun also. Is it flexing to much? My recoil spring about done? I bought the gun slightly used from Cabelas a few months ago, it's reliability I am unsure of now. I also have a g29 gen 4 and love it. Zero probs. It eats weak .40 target loads and change barrels and fires all the full power Underwood I give it. Ideas please.
I don't know Glocks that well but I had the same problem with a 1911 and it was my mag release was worn. I replaced it and it has been fine since.
Concur on the mag release. Probably just not holding the mags tight.
It is an overlooked part, but it is usually among the first things I replace on a used pistol of unknown round count.
G20g4, Some thoughts on issues you are having. The higher impulse ammo can increase slide velocities, this can send the slide slamming back into the rear of the frame even against the resistance of the RSA. You are not alone in the issues with the gen4, as many have had the same.
You mention you purchased this gun used. It is quite possible the previous owner had issues as well and sold or traded it.
If it didn't come from Glock to Cabelas as a used gun, The previous owner could have made changes to the RSA, magazine latch, etc. If it went to Glock they would have put it back stock, I would hope. Did the previous owner have the magazine blown out as a result of a case blowout, that could have damaged things?
Is the magazine latch an oversize button that you could be applying pressure to while shooting, causing the magazine to drop out? Is there debris which may not be allowing it to fully latch on? Does the magazine look damaged where it engages the mag catch? You may require a new magazine latch and spring.
There are not many "NEW" RSA to chose and try for the 4th gen G-20, so trying to swap like others may prove a "NO-G0"!
I have written Glock trying to explain how many and what troubles people are having with their new gun, trying to get them to look into these issues. It must have fallen on deaf ears! ???
Good luck getting things sorted out.
I was thinking of having the mag release changed. Glockmeister checked it and said it looks fine. However they didn't have a replacement if I wanted one. I ordered some 165 gr HPR TMJ which is published at 1290 fps so a little slower than the Underwood. See if that is the problem. It is the stock recoil spring. Glockstore has stainless steel and tungsten gen 4 replacements with stock 17lb as the only weight option. Think that would improve anything?
You can run gen 3 set up with an adapter, that way you can upgrade your factory spring to 22lbs one.
Since it is a Gen 4, wonder if the mag release being reversible might somehow someway have something to do with it? In order to narrow things down, you might reverse the release and see if that eliminates the problem. Just a thought...
It is very interesting you say this. When I cleaned mine (in an ultrasonic no less), I took it to range next time expecting my occasional FTF issue to go away...not only did they increase, but, I also had the full mag drop out. The first time, I was embarrassed, thinking Man it's been so long since I shot, I really screwed up and hit the mag release. So I was paranoid about not doing that again. Two to three mags later, it happened again - this was shooting PBR Velocity Supreme 165gr. It has not done it since, so I don't know what to make of it.
Just very strange that I'd never done that before, then it happens two times, right after a cleaning no less.
Perhaps the recoil of full power ammo is causing you guys to hit your mag releases? The Gen 4 releases are oversized, so this could be an issue.
It could be. I'm certainly not infallible. But I was paying so much attention to not having it happen a second time, I was shocked when it happened again. Out of the 300 or so rounds I've shot since, or the 1200 or so I've shot before that, never ever had that happen. Just seems odd that right after I clean it, it happens...twice. Who knows, maybe that day I screwed up twice, could very well be. Just wanted to add my feedback to the OP.
Well, at least you will be conscious of it next time you shoot. If not the case you could eliminate it as a factor.
Oh yeah, very conscious of it now when I shoot. The mag falling out and clunking into the range floor provides an embarrassment level high enough to not forget the next time... :)
Ouch! Well, at least you aren't breaking mag floor plates like we were doing with our Sigs.
I have let quite a few veteran shooter's shoot my G20, I know it isn't me. It has happened to everyone. At first I thought as what every one is saying. Maybe I was hitting the mag release. I assure you that is not the case. I also have a G29 gen 4 and that has never happened. Very reliable little gun. Fires everything I run through it. I keep that as my carry piece and home defense as I know it is going to work.
Fair enough. Sounds like a call to Glock is in order!
If it were me I would replace the mag spring first. Glock will tell you to send it in on your dime and if you can fix it for just the cost of the mag spring you will be ahead of he game.
I got the 20 back from Glock it turned out the magazine release was worn. Have fired some Underwood and HPR through it with no FTF or mag drops. Seems to work like it should now. However I will do a lot more shooting of it before I trust it again. I am perfectly happy with my 29 gen 4. It fires everything flawlessly. Besides its a whole lot easier to conceal. The 29 has become my favorite pistol.
Hopefully that's all it was, with my RIA I was back to trusting it in 300rds or so.