»
S
I
D
E
B
A
R
«
GLOCK Pistols DO Have a Safety
December 8th, 2008 by Scott

Item Glock 19I frequently hear the uneducated (about Glocks, anyway) say that they have “no safety”. This is a completely inaccurate statement. And quite frankly, it aggravates me.

The Glock Safe Action Pistol, which I carry on and off duty has three very effective safety interlocks.

How safe? In the 10 years I have been carrying the Glock (Models 17 and 19), it has never ever fired without me pulling the trigger. The flip side to that is, it has ALWAYS fired when I did pull the trigger. From an officer safety viewpoint, that is the FOURTH safety.

From the website Glock Pistols – GLOCKMEISTER:

The Glock has no externally located safety devices which need to be activated manually. All of the safety devices function automatically. The devices are sequentially de-activated as the trigger is depressed (as the Glock is fired).

1. Trigger Safety:

This is incorporated into the trigger (26) in the form of a lever and in the untouched state it prevents the trigger from being moved rearward. If the weapon is dropped or if the trigger is subjected to an off center lateral pressure; the trigger will remain in the forward locked position. The trigger safety can only be released by pressure being applied directly to the lever on the trigger. This type of safety, in conjunction with the other two, offers a minimum fire ready time with a maximum level of safety for the user.

2. Firing pin safety:

In the secured position, the spring loaded firing pun safety plunger projects into the firing pin channel. This prevents the firing pin from moving forward, until the trigger is depressed.

3. Dropped gun Safety:

The firing pin pushes the trigger bar onto the safety ramp of the trigger mechanism housing under the power of the firing pinspring. This action places the left side extension of the trigger bar cruciform (the gun oriented with the muzzle down range) on the trigger mechanism housing ramp until the trigger is fully depressed. This safety prevents the trigger bar from releasing the firing pin without the trigger being depressed. If the trigger bar does not drop, the firing pin is not released.

GLOCK -Safe Action Pistols- 1228742324618

The fact that Plaxico Burress shot himself with a Glock accidentally tells me one thing. He accidentally pulled the trigger. Glocks are simple weapons. Pull the trigger they go bang. Don’t pull the trigger and they won’t. PERIOD.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks

12 Responses  
  • Michael Tefft writes:
    December 8th, 2008 at 08:26 am

    Thanks for the informative article. I am considering purchasing a handgun and my two considerations were the Glock 23 and the Sig Sauer P229, both in 40 S&W. I prefer the Glock for the reasons you mention as well as having fired one my brother owns and finding it very accurate.

           
  • Scott White writes:
    December 8th, 2008 at 08:30 am

    You are quite welcome. Either choice are fine SAFE firearms. I have a Sig I carry as a backup.

           
  • cargosquid writes:
    December 8th, 2008 at 11:32 am

    Glaxico NEGLIGENTLY pulled the trigger. It can't be considered an accident. He was 1) carrying illegally 2) carrying stupidly, ie no holster. If he had followed either the law or common sense, he would not be in trouble or injured.

    If one does not use the safety found in that hard case between the ears, no amount of safety EQUIPMENT will help.

    While I vehemently disagree with New York gun laws, responsible gun owners follow the local laws. Or take the consequences.

           
  • Scott White writes:
    December 8th, 2008 at 11:40 am

    Thus my word… accidentally emphasized. I refrained from calling him an idiot.

           
  • Andy Black writes:
    December 11th, 2008 at 16:25 pm

    Like we used tell ‘em in firearms classes, the best safety device on any weapon is the nut holding it…

           
  • Glenn Cahoon writes:
    December 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am

    I never keep one in the pipe for that very reason. If I was in law enforcement I would though.

           
  • PWConservative writes:
    December 17th, 2008 at 21:14 pm

    My Dad taught Me that a Trigger is the only real safety.

           
  • Jeremy Gable writes:
    December 20th, 2008 at 22:28 pm

    The military teaches keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire. That is the best way to keep an “accident” from happening.

           
  • Greg Camp writes:
    December 21st, 2008 at 18:40 pm

    Putting the parking brake release and the accelerator on the same pedal is not a design aimed at safety. Rapid getaway, perhaps, but not safety.

           
  • PBS writes:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 17:27 pm

    The Glock does not have a safety, merely a two-piece trigger. Its only a safety against being dropped. My Beretta has a safety and I can squeeze the trigger all day long and nothing happens. With a Glock, you squeeze, bang. Do any of you have little kids? Any doubt that if they found your Glock they would try to squeeze the trigger? Not so safe now, huh? Don’t bother arguing about putting the gun away safely, I do, but they’re called “accidents” for a reason. At least with a real safety there is a chance the little ones couldn’t figure it out.

           
  • PBS writes:
    January 2nd, 2009 at 18:02 pm

    The Washington Post reported in 1998 that District of Columbia officers, who use Glock 9mm handguns, unintentionally fired their weapons more than 120 times over 10 years. Thats one unintentional firing a month, usually when unloading.

    In 1988, the FBI issued a report on Glock handguns giving them low marks, citing a “high potential for unintentional shots,” according to the Post. The agency will not release the report.

           
  • JOJO writes:
    February 5th, 2009 at 01:14 am

    Cargosqiud says:
    “If one does not use the safety found in that hard case between the ears, no amount of safety EQUIPMENT will help. ”

    I agree completely. This is the most basic problem with us as humans. We think there should be someone around to prevent us from acting stupidly. A friend of mine once said that the harder we try to make the world idiot proof the greater the idiot we produce. From the time I was eight years old I was taught how to behave around firearms. The first thing I learned is this mantra, ” A safety is a mechanical device that sometimes fails.”

    I went hunting for the information on this pistol because a friend of mine was at a superbowl party with some of his neighbors who were also cops. One of the cops took out his glock and set it down. My friend picked up this weapon to “check it out” and negligently shot and killed the host. This tragedy should have been avoided in so many ways and not one of them have to do with the glock having an external safety. All I’m hearing at work is ,”Did you know that the gun didn’t have a safety!” I’ve tried to explain how it works but couldn’t find the words. Now I have them. Thanks Scott White. I will show them this article.

    To PBS:
    I can picture you “squeezing the trigger all day” I hope that mechanical device never fails for you while you are testing its operation and oh yeah, accidents do absolutely happen. That “real safety” as you call it gives you a 50/50 chance your children won’t get shot if they find your gun. Them may be good odds for you but not for me. You can get a decent safe for under $500 and a good one for under $1000. Think about it. Thanks

           


»  Substance: WordPress   »  Style: Ahren Ahimsa