My G19 isn't chambering.

[patriot1776]

Before I start, I just ask that you bear with me; my mastery of firearms terminology isn't very good.

I shot my new G19 for the first time today and I ran into a strange surprise. The pistol has some serious trouble chambering rounds. When the slide is locked back and I insert a new magazine, the pistol won't chamber a round when I release the slide catch. The action moves forward slightly, and then becomes caught up on the rear of the pistol. In effect, the bullet becomes a new slide catch. If I rack the slide a few times, the bullet finally goes in.

I thought this was a magazine problem at first, but I tried the other mag and the same thing happened. I tried different ammo, and the same thing happened. I'm bummed. I was really looking forward to finally having enough money to buy one of these. Any idea what on earth is wrong?

 

[Navy joe]

One, Don't use the slide catch, rack and release when the slide is locked back to chamber a round. Don't baby it forward, let it go. Second, some Glocks like to do this when they are new and the magazines are stiff. Shoot it a bunch and it will never do it again. My G34 did that on the second round and never repeated for the next 6,000+. Download the mags by one or two for now when shooting, leave them fully loaded for a few days to settle the springs and then shoot about 200 rounds and reassess. Problem should be gone.

 

[Tecolote]

Assuming that you're using postban mags, the mags are probably the cause. The tenth round is tight. It sounds like it's so tight that it's not letting the slide move forward. Follow Navy Joe's suggestion to manually release the slide. Pulling it back as opposed to using the slide lock will give the slide more force. Don't ride the slide forward, pull and release.

If the problem continues give Glock a call. Glock also makes lemons just like any other company. But if there's a problem they'll make it right.

 

[JohnKSa]

If these are 10 round mags:

1. Load them to only 9 rounds at the range until they get broken in.
2. Leave them loaded to 10 rounds in storage to help them get broken in.

The 10 round mags are over engineered to make it completely impossible to load an 11th round. Selling a mag made after the ban that allowed the buyer to squeeze in an 11th round would be a felony. Unfortunately, in order to ensure that there is no possible way to load that 11th round, a lot of 10 round mag are very hard to load to the top. The compression of that spring puts a lot of upward pressure on the top round which, in turn, presses hard against the bottom of the magazine lips. That force can make it hard for the slide to strip that first round out of a full mag.

 

[10-Ring]

I had a similar problem w/ some ammo.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

It is likely to be the follower on the mags. Look at the follower. What number is on it?

I had the same problem with a Glock 19. The problem is worse with hollowpoints, but seldom occurs with FMJs. It is also worse when there are just a few rounds left in the mag.

If the number on your follower is 2183, then this is your problem. That follower is a hunk of crap and has been discontinued now by Glock.

If your followers are stamped 9mm3 or 9mm4, then your followers are probably not the problem.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Never had that problem with mine, but agree with what everyone else is saying. But, I download all my mags by one, cause I can't get the last bullet in. And as Navy Joe says, don't baby releasing that slide, let it go hard.

Ten round mags are the bane of reliability if you load them full, because the manufacture is so paranoid about making sure only ten rounds can be loaded that the tolerances are often too tight. I have some AR15 Bushmaster ten round factory mags that are impossible to use when fully loaded, in fact they only work well when downloaded by two rounds.

Just a shame because it is such a stupid law. Maybe it will lapse next year, but I doubt it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

"Use the force."

What Navy Joe says. If that's the only time the gun jams, then it's not the ammo but the lack of impetus of the slide. Rack it!

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Patriot,

everyone is giving good general advice, but let me know what follower is in your mags. As I stated before, the 2183 follower is a specific problem, and has been replaced by Glock.

 

[patriot1776]

The followers on both magazines are indeed 2138 models. After reading all the advice, I went shooting again and tried loading the magazine to different capacities and with different rounds. The only bullets that had any trouble were hollow points (115gr GoldDot) and flat-nosed rounds (115gr UMC leadless). And all of the malfunctions occurred on the last 2 rounds in the magazine, mostly the last one. With round-nosed bullets, the magazines had no trouble feeding at all. I'll be giving Glock a call tomorrow, hopefully they'll be able to ship some replacement followers out. I might just have to pick up a couple full capacity magazines as well - you know, for reliability's sake.

Thank you for all the help, it is much appreciated. I wouldn't have figured this out on my own, and I'm glad to have my confidence in the Glock restored. Again, thank you.

 

[Remander]

I have had a similar experience with a G19. Lone Gunman speaks the truth on all points.