Glock, What happens when the Guide Rod breaks?

[ByblosHex]

What happens when the guide rod breaks in a Glock in the middle of use?

Let's say you're at the range or in a self defense sitation, you let off 2 rounds and then the guide rod shatters... is the gun inoperable? What happens?

[Neko456]

In the torture test the Gun just keeps on shooting from what I've seen. Most upgrade to metal gp if you have any doubts. But most of these T test are 1ks to 5ks rounds at one shooting of alternating 10-20 shooters wearing out the humans before the machine breaks. Regular use you should never have to worry about this.

The Glocks a Tank, well better said its a Glock.

[Andrew17019]

Not sure why the guide rod would "shatter" if there's ever a break it would be small and shouldn't work itself much larger unless you let it go for a long time with shooting before checking it. I've never had a problem personally with using the stock polymer guide rods, although there are a multitude of after-market guide rods available. If it's going to happen it shouldn't be catastrophic, it would be something that you notice when you check your gun after you shoot.

I have yet to hear about a full guide rod malfunction unless it was installed incorrectly or installed on the wrong gun. With a small break it shouldn't affect your firing at all. A full "shatter" would probably not be good and end your shooting that day...but the odds of this are slim and I've never heard of it happening. There are people who claim they melted their guide rod, but the stock Glock guide rod is almost identical to the polymer guide rod used in the G18 full auto, and there doesn't seem to be much trouble with that guide rod melting, so I can't imagine in your self-defense scenario your guide rod would be in danger of melting. Personally I've fired hundreds of rounds in one trip to the range and have never had the guide rod melt, and have never developed even the smallest crack in either of my Glock's guide rods (G19 and G34). I definitely trust the Glock and their polymer guide rods with my life.

[gold cup abuser]

While rare this can happen.

Net result is a jammed weapon that will not keep shooting.

Best defense is to keep a stock guide rod in your spare parts bin. Also, add an extractor and firing pin and spring set

Also, practice with your pistol, and practice some more. If something is going to go wrong, better to have it happen on a practice range than on the street.

One member here got a used G27 and the guide rod on theirs broke.

Its mechanical and like anything mechanical things can go wrong.....

[JoeyBones]

When I used to carry a G27 (subcompact, with the dual-captive factory recoil spring/guide rod setup), I had the outer spring's retaining collar break on me @ the range.

The slide would no longer return to battery, nor remain in battery if forced manually. I was done shooting for the day.

However, I would think that a single, non-captive spring setup, like found on the G19 and G17 size models (compact and full size) would still function OK with a broken (or melted!) guide rod...

Regards,

Bones

[Azzy]

I would hazard a guess that those who have melted them have done so by using cleaners that attacked the plastic. Ive seen this on other gun, not a glock though.

[gold cup abuser]

When I used to carry a G27 (subcompact, with the dual-captive factory recoil spring/guide rod setup), I had the outer spring's retaining collar break on me @ the range.

The slide would no longer return to battery, nor remain in battery if forced manually. I was done shooting for the day.

However, I would think that a single, non-captive spring setup, like found on the G19 and G17 size models (compact and full size) would still function OK with a broken (or melted!) guide rod...

Regards,

Bones

Fully broken guide rod will make it inoperable....


I had the 'pleasure' of meeting a personal injury lawyer years ago when the Philly PD changed over to the Glock G17. Officer he represented had a G17 guide rod break on him in the middle of a gunfight. The officer was not killed but he had to leave the department on disabiltiy.

He sued glock and won over the broken guide rod..........

[JoeyBones]

Fully broken guide rod will make it inoperable....


I had the 'pleasure' of meeting a personal injury lawyer years ago when the Philly PD changed over to the Glock G17. Officer he represented had a G17 guide rod break on him in the middle of a gunfight. The officer was not killed but he had to leave the department on disabiltiy.

He sued glock and won over the broken guide rod..........

Huh!

I was assuming based on the video I watched of those guys who ran 1k rds. rapid-fire through a G19 and had the guide rod melt, and the two pieces fall out upon field stripping it.

They had some FTE's throughout that test, but according to them, of course, it was b/c of that "crappy" S&B ammo (which I actually think is decent 9mm plinking ammo).... But the gun continued to function.

Interesting! Good stuff, Gold Cup Abuser...

In any event, to the OP, if you are concerned about it, I guess you could always buy an aftermarket SS guide rod from any number of manufacturers (as mentioned previously by someone else).

If I still carried a Glock, I wouldn't lose any sleep over the 1-piece polymer guide rod. But that's just me.

Regards,

Bones

[gold cup abuser]

I did forget to mention one thing eariler......

When you clean your weapon do a careful INSPECTION of all the parts

Look at the guide rod

Check the trigger area

Locking block

Extractor

look for signs of wear and fatigue, don't just lube and wipe and go

this is for any firearm that you are playing the game 'You Bet Your Azz'

ps: I'm not a Glock hater or a Glock lover, since I have 2 of them

[JoeyBones]

I did forget to mention one thing eariler......

When you clean your weapon do a careful INSPECTION of all the parts

Look at the guide rod

Check the trigger area

Locking block

Extractor

look for signs of wear and fatigue, don't just lube and wipe and go

this is for any firearm that you are playing the game 'You Bet Your Azz'

ps: I'm not a Glock hater or a Glock lover, since I have 2 of them

Tried to rep 'ya... Gotta spread it around.

Agree 100%.

Regards,

Bones