I feel uneasy about Glock's safety

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Nick_90

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I have just bought a brand new Glock 19. I do not carry a gun on a daily basis for, in Switzerland, CCW is rather difficult to obtain and being an attorney I am all day long having to enter Government building where it would be highly inadvisable to bring a firearm.
I really only carry a gun when in the Army (SIG 220).
However, in a SHTF situation, you never know what may be needed...
Coming back to my main question, I feel rather uneasy with the idea of carrying a DAO (I know, a Glock isn't really a DAO but let's keep things simple) with a chambered bullet although I never have this feeling with my SA/DA SIG. It just feels to me that, notwithstanding the "split" trigger, the said trigger could somehow get pulled by mistake.
Do any THR members who carry Glocks, either LEO or CCW, feel the same?
Respectively, am I just imaginig things?
 
I had a G26 for about a week. I could never get over the short length of pull for that first shot. I traded it in on a Smith&Wesson P99 Compact (same as walther P99 Compact) and have been very happy with my decision. No glocks for me.
 
I also had reservations about the Glock safety.

The Glock comes with a 5 pound trigger, which is a matter of concern to some of us.

I had the Glock New York trigger installed, which increases the pull requirement to 8 pounds. The standard trigger spring is simply replaced by the NY trigger spring. Many US police departments have this modification.

I'm very pleased with the new trigger. It is quite common.

Here are the some simple rules to follow.

Always point the pistol in a safe direction.
Always keep the finger off the trigger, until actually firing.
Keep the pistol in a good holster, so the trigger is protected.

It is absolutely and positively safe to have a round in the chamber, if the above precautions are taken.

I avoid "playing" with the pistol, out of the holster, when a round is chambered.

You will be very safe. Hope you enjoy the Glock.
 
Oh, if you want something the same size as the G19, just trade it in on a Walther P99, non-compact version.
 
One wonders why an attorney, in Switzerland of all places, would be worried about a SHTF situation though. Do you Swiss know something you aren't telling us about? :D
 
Use a good holster that covers the trigger guard
Click to expand...
Worthy of note & repeating.
Should you ever accidently drop it (while loaded) let it fall to the ground rather than attempt to "catch" it, perhaps inadvertantly allowing finger to enter triggerguard w/ resultant BOOM
Holster should probably NOT HAVE a retention snap/strap which COULD interfere with replacement of Glock in holster... said strap inadvertantly entering triggerguard w/ resultant BOOM

Having said all that, the G19 is a fine 9MM and worthy of "Perfection" :rolleyes: (snicker)
Simple to operate, Accurate, sized right, goes BANG (or BOOM) when you pull trigger every time (at least mine does)
 
"Should you ever accidently drop it (while loaded) let it fall to the ground rather than attempt to "catch" it, perhaps inadvertantly allowing finger to enter triggerguard w/ resultant BOOM"

That is an interesting point! And it could easily happen at the range... I am not sure however that an automatic reflex would not make you attempt to catch as you usually do when you drop an object...
 
Well, it's pretty simple. Keep fingers and other things out of the trigger guard, and the gun doesn't go bang. I replaced the factory 5 lb trigger on my G21 with a 3.5 lb trigger, and I'm very happy with it. No worries.
 
Frankly, I have some qualms, too. Gaston designed this to be a MILITARY sidearm, to be carried condition three (unchambered), in a military flap holster. In the event the soldier's main weapon is disabled or he runs out of ammo, he then withdraws his Glock sidearm, chambers a round, and fires it over his shoulder while beating a tactical withdrawl. Only a little of that is tongue in cheek!

Since the advent of widespread LE use in America, the Glock has been responsible for far too many NDs.

For virtually all home use, a Glock should be unchambered. It takes the briefest moment to chamber a round.
 
You shouldnt be concerned about the gun's safety - safety is your responsibility alone.

The Glock is no more safe or less safe than any other gun. They are perfectly safe with a round in the chamber. Just dont touch the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made a deliberate decision to fire. I would contend that if you cannot commit to that principle, you are the problem and should carry any gun. ( note that the "you" is editorial)
 
I have no qualms whatsoever about the safety of my G17 with a round chambered. The first and most important safety is the one in your skull. The holster for it covers the trigger completely, and the retention strap is very pliable, even though I ALWAYS hold it away from the weapon when re-holstering.

Since the advent of widespread LE use in America, the Glock has been responsible for far too many NDs.
Click to expand...
No, the individual is responsible for the ND, not the weapon. Whats that we keep saying about not blaming the tool?
 
Those NDs by LE officers (who are at least as proficient as any average citizen) would in most cases have not occurred if said weapon was most any other d/a design. See my post about the military sidearm origins of the G17. Then dispute that those NDs would have happened if the officer were holstering a S&W or a Beretta or a Sig.

Hey, I carry a condition 1 Colt Commander at my workplace gun store. I've never had a ND in my 51 years of life. I understand where you are coming from, defending the Glock operating system. I don't feel it the best system for general use. JMHO
 
I bought a glock 22 recently and was very cognicent of the trigger being the only mechanical safety.

On the second magazine I loaded, chambered a round aimed down range.

When I put my finger in the trigger guard, BANG. Accidental discharge.

I have large fingers which brushed the trigger too roughly.

I had to change the technique inwhich I insert my finger into firing position.

I'm really not blaming glocks, it just takes a little added discipline to use one safely.
 
I couldn't agree more. Carrying a Glock is like carrying a 1911 cocked and unlocked.

Same argument can be made that an 80's series with the safety off won't fire if you don't pull the trigger, but how many would carry that way?

The Glock is an easy pistol to shoot well, and it holds lots of bullets, so they're popular, but IMHO the most likely to AD or UD, whatever you choose to call it.
 
As you can see...

Glocks are not for everyone. If you are not comfortable with it, then it is not the right sidearm for you. There are many alternatives.

That said, thousands or maybe hundreds of thousands of people have been using/carrying Glocks for many years and ND's reflect more on the carrier than the object being carried.

-PB
 
I might get flamed here, but I have been carrying a Glock 27 for the past 5 years Mexican Carry. That is right, in my waistband without a holster. I have never had a problem. That finger is always off the trigger. It would be very difficult for it to get stuck on something that would make it discharge.

The only thing I worry about with a Glock is the fact that the trigger mechanism is activated by that little plate moving down. I start to wonder what would happen if it just failed one day and suddenly the thing came down and the striker does its job and bang. My Glock has rarely been unloaded in its 6 years of existence. Never had a problem. Basically it just sits there, silent and unmenacing. It never acts up, it just sits there.

If you are uncomfortable with the Glock design, you probably should have bought a different gun. If you feel stuck with the Glock, don't chamber a round. Other than that, a Glock is what it is. There are too many gun designs out there for you to get something you don't feel comfortable with, especially with the salary of a lawyer (big assumption on my behalf, but I feel safe making it).
 
I have no problems carrying my Glock with a round chambered. I treat it like any other gun I carry, none of which have extra "safeties". I want all my guns to behave like revolvers, that is , if I pull the trigger it fires. No extra operations to perform. None of these guns fires itself, so ND's or UD's, etc. are purely coincident with poor or careless handling IMHO. I have never even come close to discharging any of my guns unintentionally. I practice alot and maintain my habits even under pressure. The point about retention straps on holsters is interesting, too. I never reholster my guns blindly, so with care they go into their holsters safely every time. It's just not that hard to develop and practice safe gun handling, so I don't care to hear the excuses, especially from those who carry professionally. Take the time to learn and practice your handling skills and the payoff will be well worth the effort.
Josh
 
http://www.brownells.com

Brownells carries a trigger safety device for Glock pistols.
It is from Concept Devices and it is a plastic safety device that fits behind the cocked trigger to prevent it from being accidently pulled while being holstered or carried.

Item number 100-000-941 for right handed shooters and item number 100-000-942 for left handed shooters. $14.95 each in U.S. dollars.

The device is tension adjustable and will pop right out with very light pressure also makes it impossible to fire the gun unless the device is popped out by the shooter.

I use these devices when I carry in an unauthorized fashion, in example, no holster waistband carry or loose in a jacket pocket, these things work and I will endorse them.

If you are worried about potential safety issues with your Glock but otherwise like the gun, these devices provide the additional safety and peace of mind to allow you to concentrate on other things.
 
I might get flamed here, but I have been carrying a Glock 27 for the past 5 years Mexican Carry.
Click to expand...

I'm all for personal choices, but have you considered an Uncle Mile's IWB? It works very well and you don't have to be a lawyer to afford one. Even a pocket holster with a good belt would give you a margin of added safety.

I carry an XD-40 which I believe is similar (I don't know much about Glock's) but has a grip safety. I think this makes it a safer gun to handle, but still has the same re-holstering problem since I depress the grip safety when putting the gun back in the holster.

Like most people on this thread, I think it's more a matter of knowing your tool and handling it safely at all times.
 
Try a Steyr M or S series,same(or similar)trigger system,but with a manual safety.Same country of origin,too,and I prefer the trapezoid sights over all my other pistols for fast target acquisition and precise aiming...For the curious,my other CCWs are Para Ordnance Para Carry,Makarov,Taurus PT745,and Kahr K40... ;)
 
The question was asked how many NG would have happeded if other gun then Glock....
I figure most of the people who can't keep finger off trigger would forget the safety on their 1911 one time and BANG. OR they forget to lower hammer drop/holster/touch trigger and BANG.
The fact is most Officers went from revolvers with LONG heavy trigger pull to (in comparisson) a short/light pull. The only Glocks I have unloaded are locked in gun safe.
Anyone take a look at S&W Sigma? I have one it is 85% a Glock. (got it for the .380/small option) Same dang thing. Finger OFF trigger till sights on target.
As far as Mex. carry. I have used soft Uncle Mick's IWB with no problems myself. Just make sure you keep finger out of trigger when drawing.
 
I carry an XD-40 which I believe is similar (I don't know much about Glock's) but has a grip safety. I think this makes it a safer gun to handle, but still has the same re-holstering problem since I depress the grip safety when putting the gun back in the holster.
Click to expand...
If I may... you should re-think depressing the grip safety while holstering.

Place your thumb at the back of slide when holstering... that should help keep your palm off the back of the grip and still let you press down. It also gives you a few bonuses, I think:

If your holster is a bit tight you'll know if the gun slips out of battery while holstering, and you'll be able to push it back into battery. Probably pretty minor.

Second, if you ever carry a DA pistol with an external hammer you'll feel when the hammer comes back if something snags the trigger. Our own GeekWithA45 made a post on his blog some time ago about how doing that saved him from an ND while holstering in a car. Sorta reminded me why I always keep my thumb there when holstering.

Perhaps there's room for an after-market mod of the Glocks to actually place a pressure switch on the back of the slide that when pressed down would act as a manual safety, but disengage via spring when pressure is released? Yes, its another device that could fail and keep the pistol in a permanent "safe" mode at dangerous times, but some folks might like it.
 
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