Used LEO Glock 22, failure to feed issues?

[happycamper374]

Hi,

I just got a Glock 22 from a reputable gun shop that was a police trade in. I took it out to the range with my friend and put 250 rounds though it. I disassembled it before hand, but did not clean or do anything to it. We experienced many, many failure to feeds using both Fiocchi and Remington ammo. The FTF occured both during the middle of a magazine and upon releasing the slide after putting in a new magazine.
So, help me troubleshoot a bit here. The gun was probably dirty and unlubed, though visually it didn't look that fouled up. I imagine the mag springs may be worn, since the LEO that owned it probably left the mags loaded all the time. It's going to get a good cleaning as soon as the local store has .40 cal bore brushes in stock. And I suppose I could try other ammunition.
What else should I do? Also, this is my first handgun, but I own several rifles and have shot and worked handguns many times. Thoughts on what the problem could be?

 

[The M]

I would suspect a dirty or sticking mag follower or weak spring. Do you have access to another one?

 

[rcmodel]

Replace the recoil spring assembly, and the mag springs.
And give it a good cleaning while you have it apart.

http://www.glockmeister.com/Recoil-Assembly-G1717L222424C343537/productinfo/G1533/

http://www.glockmeister.com/GLOCK-11-Coil-Magazine-Spring/productinfo/G2551/

rc

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Describe the FTF issue. You haven't told us enough.

 

[Bovice]

Since you don't know the round count on the gun, change the recoil spring. They're inexpensive and it doesn't take but a second to change them out.

Have you tried using only one of the magazines at a time, and try to reproduce your feed problem? It may be that you only have one bad magazine. Try taking the gun out again and shoot 50 rounds with one magazine. Then, shoot 50 with the other. If your problems only arise with one of the magazines, that's the problem.

Now, since you're shooting factory ammo, a troubleshooting test like the one above will cost you something close to $40-$45 in ammo I think. Considering the price of magazine springs and a recoil spring, you might just be better off putting all new springs. That's what I would do with a police trade-in pistol.

Also, how are you unable to find a .40 bore brush of some kind? The Raleigh/Durham area isn't exactly small-town. Any big-box store that has a sporting goods section should have a bore brush in such a common caliber.

 

[[email protected]]

Out of coursity what generation is it? If it a gen 2 then most likely the mag springs are weak. I would like to say that my fellow officers always maintain their weapon, but I know that it is not the case. When it fails to feed is the tip of the bullet catching at the base of the feed ramp? Does the bullet partially chamber, but then stops.

 

[happycamper374]

It's a Gen 3 glock.

The round goes partially up into the chamber and sticks. It does leave the magazine.

And I moved back to MI recently, just haven't changed my info yet since I haven't been active on the forum in a while.

My brother actually got one just like it and he's having the same issues.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If it's only going PARTIALLY up the ramp/into the chamber, it's not likely a mag problem, as the mag has probably done it's job.

Try a new recoil spring, first.

How easy is it to rack the slide? If it's pretty easy, that would be another indicator that the recoil spring is too weak.

 

[glenns]

How can I test for a weak recoil spring?
To check the recoil spring do the following:
1. Remove magazine
2. Clear the weapon
3. Pull the trigger and hold it back
4. While holding trigger back, tip up the gun so that the muzzle is pointing straight up
5. Keep holding the trigger back while you pull back the slide and ease it forward SLOWLY. When the gun is almost in battery release your grip on the slide and see if it will close by itself.

If the recoil spring is weak the slide will fail to lock closed while the muzzle is pointing up

 

[mgmorden]

In addition to the mag springs I'd highly suggest grabbing a new recoil spring too. Less than $5 and its good insurance. Recoil springs are a consumable on autoloaders anyways. Consider it about like changing the tires on your car. Eventually they just wear out and need to be replaced.