Glock trigger take up felt like sandpaper, problem solved

TRDFurgesson

New member
I purchased a Glock 23 gen4 in mid July of this year. I quickly put 500 rounds through it in an order to break it in (2000 to date). I shot many range guns of various types and manufactures before deciding on the 23 Gen4. I noticed that my trigger was HORRIBLE from day one. Felt like it was binding on take up. I put 1500 rounds through it before I went back to a range rental 23 Gen3 for comparison. The rental was butter smooth. My brand new Gen4 was CRAP. I though the problem might be generational. I have a FANTASTIC iPad application called Gun Dissasembly II. This free app has free guns and ones for sale. The Glock 19 gen3 is a free gun and I learned how to detail stip my 23 in minuites. Turns out that the safety plunger was obstructed by debris. If you cannot push your plunger in easily detail strip your slide and clean it throughly. I was oiling parts of the slide that are NOT to be oiled and the plunger collected much brass and debris. I also installed the plunger spring incorrectly once and it gave me the same scratchy trigger (inadvertently 90 degrees to the orientation it needs to be in, fit the spring to the plunger tightly first before re-installation to avoid this). For those of you with less that acceptable trigger feel in your glocks, I hope this helps!!

Here is a link to gun disassembly: http://noble-empire.com/proj_gd2.php
 

TunnelRat

New member
So correct me if I'm wrong but your sandpaper trigger was entirely a result of user error in terms of cleaning and disassembling yes?
 

TRDFurgesson

New member
I'm not entirely sure since it was like that fron the first day I purchased it. I'm positive that my incorrect lubrication didn't help in any way. The safety plunger was pretty fouled and needed to be cleaned. After cleaning and reassembly the trigger take up was butter smooth.
 

Mrgunsngear

New member
If you're still feeling grit, I highly recommend the $0.25 trigger job. Since you already know how to detail strip your gun it shouldn't take long at all and is well worth it IMO.
 

fastbolt

New member
I've trained as an armorer for Glock and several other makes of firearms used in LE work.

As an armorer I've had to resolve more functioning problems caused by improper cleaning & lubrication practices by users/owners than those caused by just about anything else.

More often than not it's been the improper introduction of solvents, CLP's, oils, etc to parts of the firearms where liquids should not be present, let alone remain, during normal operation.

The introduction of liquids (or other contaminants) ... even solvents, cleaners, CLP's and oils, especially in excessive amounts which run off into places they shouldn't remain, and can't easily drain from ... can result in the accumulation of fouling, debris, grit, metal shavings and "stuff" which can interfere with the normal operation and functioning of the firearm.

While it's certainly been an occasional problem in hammer-fired pistols and DA revolvers, the openings often found in (under) the slides of many striker-fired pistols can often more easily allow the unintentional introduction of liquids into the striker/firing pin channel, as well as the striker/firing pin blocks. (Even presuming the safety plunger & spring have been properly installed, but probably worse if having been improperly installed by someone unfamiliar with the proper method.)

Too many people I watch at cleaning stations seem to think (by their actions) that they should spray and saturate guns for cleaning the same way they clean the wheels of their cars & trucks, letting amazingly excessive amounts of liquids run all over the surfaces ... and into places where they can't as easily drain from and run out of again. A little bit of solvent/CLP/cleaner can go a long way, especially when it's judiciously and properly applied to patches (and small, narrow brushes covered with a damp - not saturated & dripping - patch).

Sure, it does depend on what gun and part thereof we're discussing, but I'm speaking in generalities based upon what I've seen as an instructor & armorer over the course of my career. I've simply seen more problems caused by over-zealous and improper cleaning & lubrication practices than I ever expected to see when I first became a firearms instructor, and later as an armorer.

The only part of a semiauto pistol I don't hesitate to liberally cover in cleaning agent, if necessary, is the barrel (removed from the slide, of course).

Lots of folks also seem to think that if a little lubricant is good, then more is better. :eek:

While armorers can be told that the specific recommendations for lubrication practices and cleaning regimens for their folks may need to be based on the operating environments and conditions in which the firearms are going to be deployed and used, there are always some standard manufacturer recommendations for 'average' conditions and circumstances offered in armorer manuals, as well as many owner safety manuals.

Read them. Carefully consider following them. There's nothing inherently 'genetic' in knowing how to clean and maintain a firearm, especially one used as a dedicated defensive weapon.

Also, sometimes there can be some different recommendations found among various manufacturers, so an owner/user might find him/herself using slightly different practices when cleaning, lubricating & maintaining firearms made by different companies.

For example, in Glock armorer classes the armorers are instructed to use a small amount of lubricant, some drops in various places ... while in the Sig armorer class the students are frequently reminded that Sigs are essentially "wet" guns, and the presence of lubricants should be such that it can be verified visually & by touch. Even so, it shouldn't be present in amounts that would allow it to run off under gravity or in excessive amounts. ;)

I've always been interested, and sometimes surprised, regarding the lubrication recommendations when reading through various armorer manuals and taking the classes. What works for one manufacturer may not be something considered recommended, or at least not optimal, by another manufacturer.

Also, just having access to an armorer manual (or online instructions) may not work as well for many folks as they might wish.

I can't think of an armorer class I've yet attended (and I'm well into double digits in classes/recerts) where someone - or a few people - didn't make mistakes of one sort or another which they didn't realize and catch themselves, but which had to be corrected by an instructor or another experienced student. And that's with the people listening and watching a demonstration of the skills in the course presentation (meaning instructor demonstration, often accompanied by video support), having an armorer manual and notes available to them, and with all the proper and necessary tools at their disposal.

Also, attending a single armorer class, while well & good, can often give a student just enough info and limited hands-on experience to let them become over-confident and able to make mistakes with more speed and alacrity. :eek: I found it really helped to return from my first several classes and have a much more experienced armorer available to me to watch my efforts and help me. Sort of an apprenticeship, as it were. (I later felt obligated to do this for other new and lesser experienced armorers, and still do so, as I've kept my hand in as an armorer even after my retirement.)

As a Glock armorer, I'd suggest the OP consider taking their Glock to a local Glock armorer for inspection, just to make sure everything is as it should be in the gun, and perhaps ask for some suggestions when it comes to Glock maintenance, inspection, recommended scheduled replacement of the RSA, etc.

I'd also never recommend someone do a "25 cent trigger job", either.

The G23 ought to provide many years of satisfactory service if properly maintained, serviced and used with good quality .40 S&W ammunition. ;)

Enjoy. :)

Just my thoughts. I'm not anybody's expert on this stuff, either. :cool:
 
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C0untZer0

Moderator
I detail strip my Glock after every range trip, I have to have it totally clean. I can't stand for it to be dirty.
 

TRDFurgesson

New member
I detail strip/clean mine after 5 sessions. I field strip/clean after every session. This 23 is my EDC so it stays cleaned for obvious reasons. Even if I didn't carry it every day I would still clean it regularly.

Bobby
 

RC20

New member
fastbolt:

Thank you for sharing. I found it the most insightful discourse I have read on the subject. I would say that your post belongs above everyone shooting bench.

I too have puzzled at what are so close to identical functions and complete different lubricants recommended in guns.

Frankly I do not think there is any science to that part. I think someone has a particular bent when they made the gun (Glock for example with an all new product) or institutional bias for someone like Sig of many years.

It seems that multiple lubricants work. Ironic that my Sig came with grease when it would seem the Glock should have the grease and the Sig should have a wet lubricant!
 

Mrgunsngear

New member
To the OP---the 25 cent trigger job is where you polish all the parts of the gun that rub when the trigger is being pulled. It makes a pretty big difference, especially in a relatively new gun. If you fire a few thousand rounds through it the same effect will happen but who wants to wait for that!?:confused:

Just google it and about 100 youtube videos will show up (I don't think the forum rules allow for pasting a link so I won't...). Pick one that seems like it was done by someone who's not a moron and get to polishing!:D
 

Mrgunsngear

New member
I don't think he needs to mess with the trigger, but it will help. I was a military armorer for a few years and know it doesn't take an armorer to polish a trigger. We're not talking sear modification or anything like that, just polishing. Absolutely not needed, but it will help.
 

Sport45

New member
Bobby said:
I detail strip/clean mine after 5 sessions. I field strip/clean after every session. This 23 is my EDC so it stays cleaned for obvious reasons. Even if I didn't carry it every day I would still clean it regularly.


There is NO way I'd carry ANY gun that had just been detail stripped. Mine have to prove themselves at the range before I trust them fully. A field strip and clean? Maybe. But never a detail strip.
 

Brian Pfleuger

Moderator Emeritus
The "25 cent trigger job" is super easy and dramatically improves trigger feel.

There's nothing hard about it and you can't cause any damage if you have the slightest inkling what you're doing. All you're doing is polishing the trigger contact surfaces. You're not changing any angles or reducing and engagement surfaces. Polishing away roughness is all.

Well worth doing and, actually, doesn't cost even 25 cents if you already have something like Flitz polish, a small bore mop and a cordless drill. Some people use a Dremel with polishing wheels, which is a bit easier to thoroughly reach some spots. Doesn't matter much. It all gets the job done.
 

AndyWest

New member
Great post and insights, fastbolt. I clean my G21 after every session and follow the instructions to the letter. Glocks require very little oil overall and the manual stresses that over-oiling can cause all sorts of gunk build-up like the OP describes.

That said, I did pay around $90 for my smith to do a trigger replacement and polishing and I really like the results. Very smooth and crisp.
 

fastbolt

New member
You're welcome RC20 & AndyWest.

Please excuse my tendency to wordiness, but sometimes I talk (or write) as if still explaining things in a class or during a range session.

I've made enough of my own mistakes as a younger & enthusiastic owner, and then later even as a junior armorer, to have ruined some parts. :confused:

The "P" word (polishing) is something that can create potential problems where none really existed in the first place. It can become an example of "fixing something until it's broken". It's generally best left to folks who have the knowledge & experience to do it correctly so the safe functioning of a firearm isn't compromised. (Who also know the difference between polishing for appearance, versus just enough to result in a functional benefit.)

If "polishing" is needed, it's often better to first apply it to the owner/user in the way of polishing a skillset, as well as correcting or improving a technique.

Then again, I tend to look at things like this from the perspective of an armorer who maintains guns which are going to be used as dedicated defensive weapons. Not target, sporting, competition or hunting firearms.

Sure, it would be cool if all firearms were carefully assembled, fitted, deburred and essentially smoothed out and well broken in by the time we remove them from the box. The cost would be prohibitive, though. :eek: Some trigger time can often go quite a ways toward making for smoother actions.

I've often thought buying a dremel-type tool ought to come with a waiting period. :p

Hey, just my thoughts, though ...and as I mentioned, I'm not anybody's idea of an 'expert'. Not by a long shot. I'm just an armorer. Not a licensed gunsmith, factory tech or engineer. ;)

Best regards.
 
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