Do Glocks Have a Safety? (And 5 Other Glock Questions)
People love Glocks because they are some of the most dependable firearms on the market, but you may be wondering if they come with a safety. In this article we will look at all the safety features that Glock offers on their firearms, as well as other questions people commonly ask us about Glocks.
Do Glocks Have a Safety?
Glocks have three types of safeties…a trigger safety, firing pin safety, and a drop safety. All three of these mechanisms work together to ensure the handgun is not fired if the gun is dropped, or if the trigger is not pulled. However, Glocks do not have a manual thumb safety.
Let’s take a closer look at the three safeties Glocks do have, called Glocks Safe Action System, and how they work. Then we can consider some other safety options that should alleviate some concerns.
Trigger Safety
The trigger safety is a lever included in the trigger design. It rests in the forward position, which prevents the trigger from moving. To fire the gun, the trigger and trigger safety must be decompressed at the same time. You can not decompress one without the other.
This safety is designed to make sure that the gun does not fire if it is dropped, or a foreign object makes its way into the trigger guard. Personally, the trigger safety on a Glock is nearly unnoticeable while shooting and is extremely easy to use.
Firing Pin Safety
The firing pin safety is likely the best of these three mechanisms. This is a physical block that prevents the firing pin from striking the cartridge. This block is lifted once the trigger is pulled and only then is the gun allowed to fire.
This safety is designed to prevent the gun from firing when the trigger is not pulled. The firing pin safety is only engaged when the trigger is pulled back, which causes the trigger bar to push this safety up and out of the way, which then allows the firing pin to go forward and strike the cartridge.
Drop Safety
The drop safety sounds self explanatory, but it is a little complicated. All safeties prevent a firearm from firing when it is dropped, but that is not what the name is referring to. The term drop safety refers to the tabs on the trigger bar that prevent the firing pin safety from “dropping” when it is not supposed to.
These ramps/tabs are responsible for raising and dropping the firing pin safety. To make sure the firing pin safety does not move, and therefore allow the firing pin to strike, the drop safety keeps it in place and only disengages the firing pin safety when the trigger is fully compressed.
Other Safety Options
While all of these safeties work together to keep your Glock from accidentally firing, there are other steps that you can take to keep your gun safe. Let’s start with my number one way of keeping a Glock in a safe way, using a good holster.
Holsters
Since your Glock does not have a manual safety, it is important to keep it in a holster that will cover the trigger guard. For me, the holster is the safety for my Glock. Plus you should not have it out of the holster unless you plan on using it or doing some work on it.
The holster coupled with Glocks Safe Action System will keep your handgun from going off. Glocks Safe Action system keeps it from going off when the trigger is not pulled, and the holster prevents anything from touching the trigger. This means it is completely safe, and I am very comfortable carrying my Glock with one in the chamber while it is in a holster.
Check out the holsters we recommend to learn more about what to look for, as well as great options for a Glock.
Personal Training
Having a gun without properly knowing how to use it is probably more dangerous than not having a gun at all. Every firearm owner, especially new ones, will benefit from a few hours of personal protection training. If you go to a concealed carry or firearm training class, you will learn all the basics of how your firearm functions, and how to properly handle it.
Reflecting on my own experience, when I first got my concealed carry permit it felt odd to carry around a pistol all day. Although after shooting hundreds of rounds through it and going to those basic classes, I felt a hundred times more confident and knew exactly how to use my firearm.
Knowing how to handle your firearm and practicing with it is extremely important. I would say that there is nothing that will keep you more safe than the knowledge you gain from practicing and attending a training class or two.
Get Training
Knowing how to handle your firearm and practicing with it is extremely important. I would say that there is nothing that will keep you more safe than the knowledge you gain from practicing and attending a training class or two. A great resource for finding quality firearms training is USCCA.
External Saftey Options
Lastly, you can use a gun lock or safe to keep your Glock from being fired. If this is your concealed carry or home defense firearm I would strongly advise against any sort of lock on your gun, but it should always be kept in a safe place when not in use. This is exponentially true if you have kids. Find somewhere they can not get to, or be stern and teach them not to mess with firearms as my father did.
Frequently Asked Questions About Glocks
Do Glocks Jam?
While Glock’s are very high-quality pistols, every firearm can jam. You typically see lesser quality firearms jam fairly often, but you get what you pay for with a Glock. If your Glock does jam it is likely an issue with the ammo you are using, or you may have a defective magazine. The problem is rarely the Glock itself.
Where are Glocks Made?
Most Glock pistols are made in Austria, but there are a few made in the USA. The Glock 42 is exclusively made in the USA. USA Glocks are made in Smyrna, Georgia and will have a Georgia outline on the slide.
Do Glocks Have Threaded Barrels?
Glock does sell models with threaded barrels, but a standard Glock does not have a threaded barrel. Aftermarket threaded barrels can also be purchased at a variety of price ranges.
Can Glocks be Dry Fired?
Yes, Glocks can be dry fired. Although it is not good to dry fire them a lot. If you plan on dry firing your Glock repeatedly, it is recommended to get a snap cap, or dummy round to protect your firing pin.
Are Glocks Waterproof?
Yes, Glocks are waterproof and can even be fired underwater. It is recommended that you dry your Glock if it does get wet, and clean it if it is exposed to saltwater. Otherwise, the water will cause rust and could eventually hinder performance.
Conclusion
To wrap it all up, a Glock does not have a manual safety, but they do have three other safeties and are still very safe firearms. Glocks Safe Action system keeps your Glock from firing when it is dropped or if the trigger is not pulled.
That system coupled with a holster specifically made for your Glock will keep it totally safe. It is also recommended that you attend a firearms safety training. Training courses will provide you with the necessary knowledge on how to use your firearm safely and effectively.
It you are looking for a pistol that does have a safety, be sure to check out our Best Concealed Carry Guns article to learn more.
