TexasCHLforum.com

austinrealtor wrote:

Aggie_engr wrote:Gen 4 blocks? :skep

G.A. Heath wrote:Funny my Gen4 Model 19 exhibited the symptoms of "too light a load" when it came from the factory, Glock CS said if I didn't want to wait on a new spring I could continue to break it in or shoot the 124gr. or heavier ammo it was designed for...

Gen 4 Glocks are not "real" Glocks

But seriously, I don't own a Gen 4 Glock. And I don't own any early Gen 1 Glocks that also had problems. Only Glocks I've ever owned have been Gen 2 and Gen 3 guns and every one of them has been as close to perfection as you can reasonably expect from a firearm. My first Glock 23, which I still own, has had one FTE in it's entire 13-year life (no idea on round count, but easily over 10,000) and that was with Blazer aluminum ammo because the extractor shredded the flimsy aluminum case head (looked like a can opener wedged into a beer can). Only other problem it ever had was some failure to lock the slide back on last round because of user error (I was unknowingly resting my thumb on the slide lock lever. Most of those estimated 10,000-plus rounds were on all original parts/springs. Only replaced them about 2 years ago just because ... figured why wait to see how long they'd run without breaking.

Only other problem I've ever had with any other Glock is my Glock 27 popped a recoil spring guide rod (metal flange bent backward and spring popped loose). Talked to a few Glock armorers and none had even heard of this happening before. Put in a new guide rode and about 1,500 rounds later it's never missed a beat.

The Gen 4 Glocks seem like a rush job and a mistake in replacing the recoil spring system without complete testing. But even with that hiccup, most of the Gen 4 owners are now quite satisified with the new recoil springs that Glock sent out to rectify the problem.

Glocks still have subpar grips (even the new & improved Gen 4s) compared to better guns in that department. But in terms of reliability and durability, comparing a Glock to a Kimber is far from fair .... like comparing the probability of the sun rising to the probability of being struck by lightning

austinrealtor wrote:

Chemist45 wrote:

Kimber says the Solo was designed to run with 124 gr. or heavier bullets and that "some" weaker 115 gr. loads would not reliably cycle the slide properly. They recommended I test further with their recommended loads and if the FTE problem remained to contact them again for return instructions.

Seems pretty cut and dried to me:
- The gun was designed for 124gr or heavier loads.
- The gun "Works well" with 124gr or heavier loads.
- 124gr or heavier bullets are easy to find. (Look for Remington gold saber, speer gold dot, Winchester Ranger etc.)

So, are people upset because this gun doesn't function well with the cheap WWB they can buy at Walley World?
I confess I am confused by the attitude: "It doesn't function with ammo it wasn't designed for - so it must be junk."

Does it say 9mm or 9x19 or such on the slide & barrel? Or does it say "only 9mm ammo 124 grain or heavier from a specific set of manufacturers"?

This is my problem with all "finicky " guns. If the gun only runs well with particular loads in a given caliber, then it is not properly marked if it simply says "9 mm ". I understand all guns have preferred ammo - my Walther PPS (a direct competitor to this Kimber) doesn't shoot Federal HST as accurately as Gold Dot or Hornady CD. But the gun WILL RUN with HST, or WWB, or Monarch or any other 9x19 ammo I feed it. It's a matter of degree with a "good gun".

If a gun will not function with factory ammo in the designated caliber, that's a significant problem in my book for a self-defense sidearm. For a highly tuned competition race gun, being finicky enough to not function with certain loads is understandable. But not in a self defense gun. How do you know that wear, slight neglect, unseen accumulated dirt/grime in small, tight areas won't soon render this gun inoperable with other ammo? Maybe over time you'll start to get FTEs even with 124-grain JHP ammo too?

Point is a self-defense gun should at least FUNCTION with any ammo in it's designated caliber. If the tolerances are too tight for some ammo, then the gun is built more for ultimate accuracy than for ultimate reliability. I'll take a 2-inch grouping reliable gun over a 1/2-inch grouping unreliable gun EVERY time.

But I'm a lifelong Glock devotee, so anything less than Perfection in reliability doesn't cut it for me.