[Glock4life!]

I'm not finding anything in Google searches or YouTube video searches regarding the Gen 5 .40 cal Glocks and weapons mounted lights. I've done a lot of searching regarding the previous generation .40s and WML issues and came to the conclusion that newer/stiffer magazine springs help resolve some issues while other operators didn't have any failures while running a WML.

Is anyone able to confirm that the Gen 5 .40 cal Glocks run fine with a WML?

 

[pgg00]

Lets ask @nikerret. He has a Gen 5 and has done some comparison videos

 

[Chowser]

That was almost 20? years ago. I haven’t heard of any issues with gen4 .40 and wmls. A coworker is having no issues with his gen5 23 and tlr-7a. I never shot mine since my 32 barrel didn’t fit correctly and got rid of it. Wasted one of my two blue label purchases on it this year.

 

[nikerret]

Lets ask @nikerret. He has a Gen 5 and has done some comparison videos

I have not done any WML shooting, with my Gen5’s.

I could....OP, how many rounds do you think would be enough?
Would having a DPP mounted mess up your question?
I have a G23.5, but can put it on the G45.5 frame. Let me know what might help you out. I do need to zero and test the DPP, I’ve had it a few months and haven’t zero’d it, yet.

 

[Glock4life!]

Wow. @nikerret I'm not going to ask you to burn ammo for my own curiosity. I'm simply curious if the Gen 5 guns are plagued by the issues the previous generations were. I don't think having a DPP mounted would impact anything but I'm not a mechanical engineer. I assume the additional weight will slow the slide but by how much I'm just not sure. Deputy Dave got me thinking from another post about the Glock .40 lineup and issues with previous generations. I personally haven't had any issues with my pistols but I haven't shot a ton of ammo with my light attached either.

If the Gen 5 .40 lineup is 'Glock Perfection' then it might be enough to sway me to give a real hard look at them. So, if you want to zero your DPP with a light that would be sweet. What lights do you have and would you want me to send you a TLR 1 for some additional testing?

 

[Chowser]

We just threw one of our TLR-1HL lights on his gen5 23 and ran 3 mags through real quick. No issues.

It’s the city’s ammo, so no biggie.

 

[Hiih8r]

What are these issues with .40 cal Glocks with lights? First I’ve ever heard of it. I’ve run gen 3 and 4 guns with lights attached and no issues. I fail to see how the weight of a light on the front could cause a failure, if anything it would help with limp wristing effects since the weight will keep the muzzle flip down.

Lots of PD’s running 40 cals with lights for there to be any major issue too.

 

[nikerret]

I have a TLR-1s and a LAPG that is the same size and shape.

None of my firearms ever had issues (I have my old issued G22.3 and the more recent issued G22.4), but I think the G22’s were the ones with the most reported issues. If it gets dry enough (we had around 7 inches of rain, yesterday, on already saturated ground), I will try a light on my G23.5 and with the slide on the G45 frame. I do’t have a G22.5 to test. I can make a crappy YouTube video, so you can see the method I use.

 

[Chowser]

Our old gen3 22s serial range EPK had issues with WMLs. This was 2002. Glock sent us new mag springs.

It’s not an issue these days.

 

[G21H30]

I have a Gen 3 and a Gen 5 G22. I upgraded to 11 coil springs in the Gen 3 and the Gen 5 came with 11 coil springs. I have run a SF300U on both with no problems.

 

[pgg00]

What are these issues with .40 cal Glocks with lights? First I’ve ever heard of it. I’ve run gen 3 and 4 guns with lights attached and no issues. I fail to see how the weight of a light on the front could cause a failure, if anything it would help with limp wristing effects since the weight will keep the muzzle flip down.

Lots of PD’s running 40 cals with lights for there to be any major issue too.

There were many documented problems when weapon lights first became popular. Enough that glock sent techs out to one large agency over it. Another large one returned all their .40s and went to 9mm. The issue ended up being that with screw tightening / clamp on lights were stiffening the frame when tightened down. This created less frame flex during recoil and allowed the slide to move faster. As a result the magazine couldn't push rounds up fast enough to feed. Glock ended up coming up with an 11 coil magazine spring to push rounds up faster. This is also one of the reasons for the double springs in the gen 4s. The gen 5s have the double spring plus they made the slides wider (think GAP width) to make them heavier and slow them down.

 

[boilergonzo]

What are these issues with .40 cal Glocks with lights? First I’ve ever heard of it. I’ve run gen 3 and 4 guns with lights attached and no issues. I fail to see how the weight of a light on the front could cause a failure, if anything it would help with limp wristing effects since the weight will keep the muzzle flip down.

Lots of PD’s running 40 cals with lights for there to be any major issue too.

Old news, but a real problem from years ago. As pgg00 noted, some had issues, but it was not all guns. The Indiana State Police had problems with their old G22's. Glock wasn't responsive to the issue at first (skeptical gun was source of error), then couldn't figure out what the issue was once they put serious eyes on it. The ISP was transitioned back down to 9mm (G17's) to sidestep the problem as a temporary fix, as Glock finally narrowed it down to WML issues. It was a slow mystery to unravel, but did eventually result in resolution, it just took a while to acknowledge, isolate, and remedy.

I wouldn't worry about any newer Glock's in .40S&W today with newer magazines. I have a Gen3 G22 RTF with gills that I have wondered about, but since I have no intention of mounting a light on that particular gun I haven't dug into the spring count or date ranges. If I had a G22 gun made fifteen years ago, I would look into the magazines prior to mounting a WML, but it needs to be kept in mind that it didn't impact all guns (tension on the rail may matter), and it was tough to isolate for the simple fact that it WASN'T a widespread or recurring issue, it was somewhat sporadic. It was common enough to be noted, but rare enough to be tough find.

Sort've like that mystery noise your engine makes in your driveway that it won't replicate at the service bay until after the warranty expires...

Based upon this old WML experience, it is probably wise to run your gun with a WML on it just to ensure it is still reliable with the weight, tension, and change to flex it may cause on polymer firearms. But that would be true for any gun, not just a Glock, and not just .40S&W in my view.

 

[Deputydave]

That was almost 20? years ago.

No, it is more recent than that. Streamlight still has a warning on their website in regards to mounting their product on Glocks in 40 caliber.

I haven’t heard of any issues with gen4 .40 and wmls.

We have been having an in-depth discussion about the WML issues for Glock 40's in the thread Night stand pistol: G22 or 19X. To include multiple failures of multiple G22's in a high profile police-action shooting. It became such an issue that at least a couple of agencies entirely changed to a new model. In short, I would never mount a WML on my G22.4. Some Glocks choke right out of the box. Some run fine and then choke down the road. Some do fine after a spring change and then choke later. It's a crap shoot with Glocks in 40S&W. Some may never have a problem, some the problem could develop suddenly. Part of the problem, imo, is the Gen 2-4 were basically 9mm pistols converted over to 40S&W rather than being designed for the 40S&W like Sig, S&W and HK pistols.

Will the Gen 5's have the same issue? Jury is still out. Will they run fine forever? Will they run fine then suddenly choke. We just don't know yet. Based on the performance of the other Glock gens in 40S&W I would not be willing to be a beta-tester.

 

[JBP55]

Some had issues when they overtightened the WML on G22 pistols 20 years ago. Local PD has run Gen 3 G22 and G35 with zero issues and they are still in service.

 

[Chowser]

Guess we got lucky. When we switched the the gen3 31, we had no issues. We're in gen4 31s now. Probably switching to Glock 45 MOS guns in 2028 when we're due for another change. Unless something better comes out by then.

 

[Kamatz]

nvm

 

[pgg00]

so, why don't people have the exact same problem when they shoot their Gen2/Gen3 G22's with a worn out recoil spring?

It had to do with the light being over tightened on the frame. It stiffened it so it does not flex like it would normally do under recoil which is what allowed the slide to travel faster. Without the light and a worn out spring that frame is still flexing.