How durable are the Glock Slide Rails?

[mrbladedude]

They seem small and thin compared to the solid steel slide rails of the SIG. Just wondering how strong/durable they actually are? Looks like they can bend easily. Am i worrying for nothing?

[Chasbo00]

They seem small and thin compared to the solid steel slide rails of the SIG. Just wondering how strong/durable they actually are? Looks like they can bend easily. Am i worrying for nothing?

I think so. Competition shooters using Glocks shoot thousands of rounds per year in their guns without issues. The military and police users are also often hard on their pistols. I don't recall slide rail problems ever being an issue with any outfit.

[gunderwood]

The rails are smaller than pre-polymer designs, but now that plastic guns are all the rage, it is fairly common. The rails (in theory) don't take much loading and are just suppose to guide the slide and keep things aligned. In theory the longer the rails are the more precise you should be able to keep things aligned, but for a combat/LE/SD gun it just doesn't matter. I actually think the thin rails are part of what makes Glocks and the copies so reliable. There isn't much surface area and the fit isn't particularly tight so drag (friction) during cycling is minimal. Sure "target" accuracy probably suffers, but like an AK, they will just keep running...unless it is DKs.

I forget what Glock is recommending these days, but isn't it around 25k rounds for the .357SIG, 50k rounds for 9mm and with 40/45 falling in between? Most polymer guns seem to beat themselves to death long before the rails become an issue. Although I doubt most people fire enough rounds to ever notice.

[ProShooter]

Yes, they bend easily. That's what the gun is meant to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ToCK4C7ig