How To Handle A Glock – A Beginner’s Safety Guide

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

Thinking of getting a Glock? Have one and want to know more…? Glocks have become one of the most popular firearms in the US and other parts of the world. It definitely has a cult following and any gun enthusiast should pick one up. These are very common, and you probably know someone who owns one in their home. Since their development in 1982, Glock guns have been praised for their stability and sturdiness. They are also known to be reliable and safe, making them great for those who are just starting to learn the use of guns. Glocks are also lightweight and have easy triggers; another reason why they are increasingly becoming more popular. Therefore, I wanted to give a breakdown on how to use a Glock. So, here is a beginner’s guide about safety and how to handle Glocks.

There are three different safeties built into Glocks that prevent any accidental discharge when a shooter did not pull the trigger. So, these guns are very difficult to cause any firing on their own even when dropped or take any external turbulence.

This three-step firing system Glock calls the “Safe Action” operating system. This is where a trigger releases a firing pin lug, which gives way for a striker to hit the primer sending off a reaction that sends bullets through the barrel.

Trigger
It is known that Glocks have “light” triggers, so keep this in mind. Don’t have your finger on the trigger until you’re prepared to fire. It is good practice to keep your finger next to the trigger then place your forefinger on when aiming.

The trigger safety is on the outside. For the majority of Glocks it’s located above your thumb when shooting right handed. This is a simple switch and is marked by an “S” (safety) and a “F” (fire) mode. Whenever putting your gun in a holster or putting it down out of your reach in any form, keep the safety on. The primary function of the safety trigger is to prevent the gun from firing in case it drops, but again you also have some safety built into Glocks with your Safe Action OS.
Guns have been reported to fire when they drop if the trigger safety is not put in place. The best way to ensure that those around you, including your loved ones, remain safe is to guarantee that their protection is in place whenever you’re not using the gun.

Firing pin lug
There is a firing pin safety in every gun with the primary function of preventing the gun from getting to a ready to fire position. When you pull the trigger backward, the firing pin safety pushes upwards, leading to the firing pin channel freed. In case you don’t fire the gun, the safety locks again automatically.

TIPS:
It is never a good idea to point the gun at someone else even when the gun is not loaded. You must also learn how to point the firearm correctly before you attempt to use it.

Always point the gun down angled toward the ground until you’re ready to use it to fire. If you’re in a shooting range always keep the barrel pointed down range. If you need to maneuver the gun even without ammunition keep the barrel down the range or pointed upward. It’s pretty obvious to not point it to the side but when you’re concerned about timing things right in the gun range people can forget fundamental safeties.

When using guns that hack a cocker on the top that pushes back to absorb shock keep a note of where you hand is on the gun handle. After a few shots your hand could tend to hike up the grip and your purlicue or the base of your thumb could get in the direct path of the cocker when pushed back from a fire. I have seen this happen and the shot is so forceful it will easily cut up your hand. This also counts for Glocks.

The manual in the gun can be of great assistance. Read the manual more than once to ensure you understand all the instructions. The menu should be your first guide on using your Glock. It’s also important to check the surrounding area before using the pin. Always double-check and confirm that no one is in the vicinity before you attempt to fire your gun.

Checking the gun
You should also learn how to load a magazine properly before using the gun. In addition to these, always inspect the firearm before firing. Start by removing the magazine, then check the chamber. Run your finger inside the chamber and remove any debris inside. Make sure the trigger can release without restrictions by pointing the gun towards the ground and pulling it multiple times.

Parts of the gun
Learning about the different parts of the gun and their functions is also essential. That information will allow you to operate the firearm accurately, thus increasing your safety.

Slide
It is the part that holds the firing pin and moves when the gun fires. It works with a slide stop that also helps in controlling the firing of the gun.
Many people replace the slide of their Glock, one of the most expensive modifications one can make. The common Glock slide modifications include recoil, weight reduction, and caliber change. Some people want to improve serration patterns and locations for better slide manipulation. When you’re ready to modify and replace your Glock slide, check out these G19 slide kits.

Clean the dirt or debris from the slide rail cuts with a clean patch of a toothbrush-type cleaning tool. Don’t remove the copper-colored lubricant of a brand-new slide because it provides lubrication.

Magazine
A gun has a magazine that stores the ammunition that hasn’t been fired. It’s spring-powered ammunition storage that’s removable. A magazine is also called a clip, wherein pushing the external magazine into the firearm pertains to loading a gun.

Magazines don’t need disassembly for each Glock pistol cleaning. You only disassemble and clean the magazine of your Glock every three to four months unless exposed to dirt or inspection is necessary.

As a safety precaution, remember that proper control of the magazine spring, inner floorplate, and follower is crucial because they’re under spring tension or compression. Maintain downward pressure with your thumb on the spring during disassembly. Improper control can cause eye or other physical injuries. So, wear eye protection, like safety glasses, to prevent eye injury.

Conclusion
With these, you should be able to understand your Glock better and use it safely.