The Glock semiautomatic handgun is well known for reliability and being a smooth weapon. That doesn’t mean there aren’t problems with the platform, or your gun could be hard to charge or have a sticky slide. So how do you fix a stuck slide or hard-to-rack Glock?
A common reason the slide gets stuck or hard to rack on a Glock is that the guide rod is jumping up or not seating correctly. A lot of times replacing a stainless steel guide rod with something more flexible like a polymer guide rod can help fix the issue.
When working with firearms and intricate parts like the trigger bar and trigger mechanism, you could cause damage that a gunsmith might have to sort out. Don’t let that intimidate you! Read on and learn how to fix a sticky slide or hard-to-rack Glock.
Malfunctions That Can Cause a Stuck Slide on a Glock
The firing process can expose weaknesses in the weapon. For instance, if you are firing upwards of 100 rounds, you could have a few misfeeds or jams that show you negative things about the cleanliness of your weapon to the grip you take on the gun.
Malfunctions are normal, but a few could force the slide to stick in the back.
I use either Brownells, Palmetto State Armory, or Optics Planet to buy parts, that way I always know what I’m getting and that it will actually show up.
Extraction Failure
The cycle that allows semiautomatic weapons to fire is called the feed/extract/eject cycle. It involves several parts of the gun, but the extraction phase will keep the slide in the rear position. Extraction occurs when the round is not ejected from the chamber after it is fired.
A few causes of a failure to extract malfunction with your Glock are as follows:
- Short recoil cycle – If you are firing your weapon and the recoil cycle is shortened, you can expect a failure to extract malfunction. Recoil cycles can be shortened by inhibiting the weapon’s movement or pulling the trigger too quickly.
- Dirty chamber – Another thing to look for is a dirty chamber. If the area is covered in carbon dusting, there is a good chance that it will not extract correctly, and you could see a misfire or double feed.
- Weak extractor spring – If you have a weak or broken extractor spring, there will be an extraction malfunction. The tiny spring works against the extractor and rotates toward the breech’s opening. As a result, rounds will not have the force to be ejected from the chamber.
- Damaged extractor – It should be no surprise that a damaged extractor will cause a malfunction that keeps the slide to the back. The extractor could be dirty, and you can get back to pumping out rounds by cleaning it.
Extraction failures are common; they can easily be fixed by removing the magazine and the round from the chamber. If a spring or interior part malfunctions, you should disassemble the slide and take all actions needed to get it back into working order.
Here’s a video showing how to remedy a stuck slide on a Glock:
Failure to Eject
Partial obstructions of the chamber are often called stovepipe malfunctions. A stovepipe could hold the slide back and prevent you from firing any rounds. Failure to eject malfunctions are some of the most dangerous because there are times when a round will not ignite when fired, and clearing it could lead to discharges.
A few failure-to-eject malfunctions that could lock the slide to the rear are:
- Stovepipe – The most common FTE malfunction is the stovepipe. It happens when a casing gets lodged in the opening created when the Glock goes through the extraction process.
- Double feed – One of the most dangerous malfunctions is the double feed. If your live round cycles into the chamber on top of one another, you get a double feed. Make sure you practice muzzle awareness and proceed with caution when removing them.
Failure to eject is often a simple fix. However, to protect against FTE malfunctions, you must buy good ammo and ensure your gun is clean and lubed. Remember that keeping yourself and those around you safe is the highest priority when you have a double feed.
Neglecting Cleaning Your Weapon
Above all else, you must know that cleaning your gun can often prevent these issues and more from arising.
If you neglect your weapon, a trove of malfunctions can impair the functionality and keep the slide to the rear.
How Often Should You Lubricate a Glock?
One of the best things about Glock is that all the information you need about your model and type of firearm is on their webpage. The Downloadable Materials (source: us.glock.com) section will allow you to find your gun and get the lubrication info in the manual.
A few times you should lubricate your Glock are:
- When it is New – When the weapon is purchased, you should remove it from the box and give it good servicing and lubrication. Your specific gun might have left the factory a long time ago, and the factory oil could be dried.
- Every 100 Rounds – Another time you should clean the firearm is after you have fired 100 rounds or more out of it. Firing in large amounts can teach you many things about your grip and how your gun works. So make sure you clean and lube it after shooting 100 rounds.
- When it Needs It – If it has been a while since you cleaned it, you should scrub it and oil it down. If it has been on the shelf for a time, you could experience sluggish action or shortened recoil cycles. Both of these actions lead to slides that are locked back.
- Post Shooting – If you go out to the range and shoot 25 targets, you should still lube and clean the weapon after. The carbon could go unchecked and cause several different kinds of malfunction.
Lubing the Glock is a simple process, but all the steps must be followed. If you skip any steps, crucial parts could fail when you need them most. So always take your Glock maintenance seriously, and you will be fine.
I use either Brownells, Palmetto State Armory, or Optics Planet to buy parts, that way I always know what I’m getting and that it will actually show up.
Conclusion
The stuck slide malfunctions are easily fixed by keeping your gun clean and lubed. If your slide has trouble sticking or is hard to rack, you could have a malfunction. Always remember to use both hands to rack the gun forcefully. A hard-to-rack could be your hands at a disadvantage.
The most common time a slide is to the rear is when there is an ejection malfunction. If there is a problem in the cycle, you will not have a casing eject, and the slide will remain lodged open until you remove the casing.