If you own a Glock you have probably disassembled it to clean it, and no doubt you looked down into the lower portion (the receiver) and wondered what was going on in there. I for one, have always wondered what those three pins we see on the side of our guns do and what they hold in.
I was able to attend a Glock Armorers Course and now I know. I also gained a new respect for the Glock platform and the importance of having work done by a Certified Glock Armorer on a regular basis.
Almost anyone can take a Glock apart, but knowing how to put one together again is not enough to make one an armorer, and it may void the warranty at some point. The information taught in this class is designed for a law enforcement armor (the guys in charge of the guns for the department), Military Armorers, Gunsmiths and dealers who sell a lot of Glocks (and want to provide factory service for them). So the training is in depth and focuses on not only what the parts are and how they fit together, but also where to look for signs of wear or damage that might be happening and what parts are responsible for the issue.
Regular care and cleaning by the owner is suggested for any new Glock before shooting and after cleaning. In addition, an inspection by an armorer is suggested every 3,000 rounds. Parts that are designed to wear out to avoid breakage or failure should be replaced at regular intervals to keep these pistols running and reliable.
Our class was held at a Police station near Phoenix and was taught by Dennis Tueller, creator of the Tueller Drill', named for him. Have a friend stand 21 feet away from you and see how long it takes for him or her to run up to you and pretend to stab you. Then try it again, but this time turn and run as soon as your attacker starts moving toward you. His drill has changed Police Training methods and has had gained much credibility throughout the firearms training and CCW community. It was an honor to have such a knowledgeable and informed instructor. Glock has done well recruiting him to represent them and train their armorers (more below)
Our group left Tucson early to arrive at the 8am class in Chandler just south of Phoenix, Arizona. We didn't know what to expect, after all we knew how to disassemble and clean a Glock already how much more could be involved? We were all pleasantly surprised that we all underestimated how interesting the class would be. And our ride home was one long conversation about our Glocks and what parts we would need to stock up on
This Glock Armorers Course was held at the Chandler Police Department, They were great hosts and provided a completely modern and totally comfortable training room with everything students and the instructors needed.
We were given our Glock Armors Manuals, Glock Armorers Tools, and a few other items we would learn how to use later in the day
As with any professional instruction safety was first thing on everyone's mind. These classes are hands on and each student had a real glock 22 or 23 (because these are most common for law enforcement) to use during the class.For that reason, no ammo was allowed in the classroom
Training aids included the various Glock pistol types including the Glock 17P (in red for training) and the G17T (in blue for simunition)
Cut always training guns, a projector with various drawings and photos, instructor demos and hands on exercises all let the students learn even the most intricate tasks easily. Glock has been running these classes for many years, and the certification lasts just three years, so they have had lots of opportunity to receive feedback as well as include any known issues (and preventive measures) in the course curriculum.
Knowing what NOT to do can be as important as learning what to correctly. One of the things stressed are the typical mistakes a typical shooter might while cleaning a Glock, for example using too much oil and oiling areas that shouldn't be. This information can be valuable for retailers also so that they can inform their customers. If you notice the Official Glock Armorers sign at your local gun shop, ask them to show you where and how to oil your Glock. I'm sure they will be happy to show you
An armorers eye can catch things that the average person cannot such as wear on parts and symptoms that indicate improper use. Like any machine a Glock pistol can malfunction if used improperly. So knowing how to interpret wear and damage can allow a trained armorer to instruct the shooter to improve their technique
In no time the class took a break for lunch which was provided and of course safety was stressed and we made sure no ammo was in the classroom
Our class was made up of mostly law enforcement officers. In fact 11 different agencies and 3 or 4 retailers were represented in our class of about 30 students
We talked about each part, its history, development and operation. We also went over each operation the pistol uses to fire a round. We were then taught what can go wrong with each part and operation and how to repair or adjust to correct issues
Finally were given a written test to demonstrate our proficiency with the material. Our group all passed the test with flying colors and look forward to using our new skills
Lt. Dennis B. Tueller (Retired) Firearms Instructor, GLOCK Professional, Inc.
Police Lieutenant and Field Commander Dennis B. Tueller (Ret.) is a 25-year veteran of the Salt Lake City (Utah) Police Department. A former Practical Shooting Champion, Dennis has become an internationally recognized instructor in firearms, officer safety, winning mind-set, survival tactics, and related subjects. He is a member of the GSSF (GLOCK SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION), the LAW ENFORCEMENT ALLIANCE OF AMERICA, and is a Life Member of the NRA (NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION). He served on the Board of Directors of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS (1989-92), is still an active member, and frequently presents training as a guest instructor at their U.S. and International Training Conferences.
As an instructor and coach for THUNDER RANCH, the AMERICAN PISTOL INSTITUTE, DEFENSE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL, the AMERICAN SMALL ARMS ACADEMY, INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CONSULTANTS, the POLICE TRAINING DIVISION, and the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, Lt. Tueller has trained firearms instructors, police officers, security agents, S.W.A.T. teams, military personnel, and responsible civilians from throughout the free world.
Dennis is currently a Firearms Instructor for GLOCK Professional, Inc., and conducts Armorer Courses and Instructor Workshops for law enforcement agencies and firearms professionals throughout North America.
This timeless classic, credited with first establishing the importance of maintaining a “reactionary gap,” appeared in the March 1983 issue of SWAT magazine.
After class we had the opportunity to network a bit and thank the instructor and our hosts. It is a full eight hours of non stop instruction, and I can not recall a more enjoyable class. The information given was important and useful for anyone dealing with many pistols and the safety of the operators of those pistols. I already look forward to our next class in a few years
To sum it up:
When you see the official Glock Armorer sign at your local gun shop, have confidence that that Armorer will know your Glock and will be able to offer good advice on it's operation and care.
Glock's motto is the single word 'Perfection', and in my opinion that applies to their training as well.
CHECK OF SAFETY DEVICES(from Glock Manual)
The following safety checks are to be carried out at regular intervals, e.g. before each use or when cleaning the weapon after use:
a) Function testing the trigger safety:
– Remove the magazine from your pistol and reassure that there is no cartridge in the barrel. Then the trigger may be pulled back. – Bring back the trigger in its most forward position by cycling the slide. The trigger safety (lever integrated in trigger) should then be properly engaged. – When lateral pressure is applied on the trigger the safety should keep engaged, blocking the trigger movement. – Failure of the trigger safety to properly engage or block indicates that it is defective.
Do not reload or use your weapon again and contact GLOCK Ges.m.b.H. or an authorized GLOCK armorer immediately.
b) Function testing the firing pin safety:
– Dismantle the weapon into its main components as described previously and remove the recoil spring/recoil spring tube and barrel from the slide. – Hold the slide in a muzzle down position and depress the firing pin safety. The tip of the firing pin should move forward and be visible protruding from the firing pin hole. – Keep the firing pin safety depressed and shake the slide. The firing pin should be distinctly heard moving freely. – Draw back manually the firing pin about 0.2 in. – Hold the slide in a horizontal position and push forward the firing pin toward the muzzle, firing pin safety being engaged. The firing pin should not protrude from the firing pin hole. If it does, the firing pin and the firing pin safety should be replaced.
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