Glock 21 Slide release tight

[Saber]

The slide release lever on my Glock 21 is real tough to use. I almost always just grab the slide and pull it back to charge it after a mag change, last week I cut my left had bad and that's hard to do. It's always been like that from the time I bought it just never gave it much thought. It's bone stock by the way, got it brand new, and has about 700 rounds through it Any way to take care of this?

[Asmodeus6]

1. It's not a slide release which is why it's tight. It's only meant to lock the slide back. That is the design. If you want to use it as a "slide" release, you have to break it in. IE; use it as it's not intended to be used until the slide rounds the corner of it slightly.

Then it will be easy. Use it enough and it will slowly start to hold the slide back less and less. Until finally slamming a mag into the gun will cause the slide to release.

This is the ninja Glock reloading technique.
Only true ninja Glock's are capable of such a feat.


It's a cheap part to replace if you wear it out. But you need to use it to drop the slide a few (many) times until it loosens up. You can also purchase an extended slide lock which has more purchase area for your thumb which will increase your leverage.

[SCBaldr]

This is the ninja Glock reloading technique.
Only true ninja Glock's are capable of such a feat.

All of the new model HKs: P30, P30L/S, P2000/SK, HK45 and the HK45C are all designed so that the slide will drop on a loaded magazine when it is slammed home. They don't need to be broken in to do it, they perform that ninja feat right out of the box.

[harold63]

Slide lock, slide release. If it is on a Glock, it is hard to use, either way. One of the biggest complaints I hear at the range about Glocks. I have seen a lot of females have trouble with this very feature. I don't have too much trouble with mine because I'm a tough MF, but if I was just an average person, it would be hard to use. Another Glock, could have been a little better, thing.

[Dave_n]

HK simply copied a Mauser trait that has been around since the M1910 if not earlier. My 1910, 1914 and two HScs all do that when a mag is loaded. Dave_n

[streaker69]

My Glock 26 which only has about 100 rounds through it is very tight. My Glock 19 which has about 3000 rounds through it is loose. Not Ninja loose, but loose enough that it's fairly easy to hit with my thumb.

I think you need to work with it more to wear it in/down.

[ar15jules]

I will second that releasing the slide is not its intended purpose. Its not a design flaw and is not in need of a fix.

[Norun6]

My Glock 19 (Gen 4) wasn't so bad out of the box with regards to the slide release - and after some moderate use at the range (~2 months), it'll release with a firmly inserted mag - no need to manually release it or pull back on the slide.

[IronButt]

On any of my semi-auto handguns I only use the "slide release" to lock the slide back. To release the slide to chamber a round, I grab the slide & let it fly forward. Slide releases vary in location & ease of use from gun to gun; but all semi-auto's, (That I know of), will return to battery using the slingshot method, so that's the way I train with all semi-auto's.

[harold63]

My Glock 19 (Gen 4) wasn't so bad out of the box with regards to the slide release - and after some moderate use at the range (~2 months), it'll release with a firmly inserted mag - no need to manually release it or pull back on the slide.

Do you want it to do this? You should reread post #2 by Asmodeus6.