Glock Full Auto Malfunction? The 86 New Answer

The crime and the investigation

In 2002, confidential intelligence sources alerted ATF agents to an Argentine suspect who was brazenly selling machine guns, silencers and conversion kits over the Internet. These firearms were illegally imported into the United States and other countries. ATF agents quickly emailed the suspect and ordered machine guns and silencers, which were shipped disguised as machine parts.

Through innovative investigative techniques, ATF was able to positively identify the suspect and secure search warrants on postal records, electronic financial records and internet service providers. The investigation found the suspect had been in business since 1999 and had sent or received over 6,500 email messages in a 30-day period. The US Customs Service supported this investigation.

Image of ordered machine guns and silencers shipped disguised as machine parts

Glock switch

A relatively simple, albeit illegal, device that allows a conventional Glock semi-automatic pistol to function as a fully automatic firearm. The switch is classified as a machine gun under federal law.

Image of a simple, albeit illegal, device that allows a conventional Glock semi-automatic pistol to be used as a fully automatic firearm

arrest and judgment

ATF analysts estimate the suspect shipped hundreds of illegal guns to the United States. In 2003, a nationwide raid resulted in dozens of arrests and the confiscation of 24 machine guns, 16 silencers, six pipe bombs, seven converted Glock handguns, nine Glock converter switches, three short-barreled rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

The suspect was charged with various violations of federal law, and the United States Attorney’s Office was preparing an extradition request. The Argentine government denied that request, as Argentine authorities had arrested the suspect using the ATF’s investigative report and jailed him for violating the country’s own gun laws.

Posted by Ghost Inc on August 21, 2020

If you are a handgun enthusiast in the United States, you are familiar with the Glock name and the popularity of Glock handguns. Two of the models you are probably very familiar with are the Glock 17 and the Glock 19; However, you may be wondering if there is a Glock 18? Yes, the pistol is illegal in the United States and there is a reason for it.

The Glock 18 is illegal in the US

The Glock 18 is a full-size automatic pistol. It fires 9mm; However, it can fire 1200 rounds per minute. This rate of fire is the primary reason the Glock 18 is illegal in the United States.

The Glock 18 is similar to the Glock 17; however, it has to switch between the semi-automatic version and the fully automatic version. The biggest difference is a simple mechanical operation. There is a raised additional tab that sits on top of the trigger cross. This tab connects the trigger to a piece of metal that is lowered to put the pistol in a fully automatic mode.

As a result, the Glock 18’s sear stays activated. This allows the user to keep firing repeatedly with the same trigger pull. This makes the Glock 18 a fully automatic weapon and incredibly easy to control. It’s easy to see why the Glock 18 is an effective sidearm. It’s also easy to see how the Glock 18 can cause tremendous damage with a single pull of the trigger, prompting the United States to declare it illegal.

A history of the Glock 18

The Glock 18 was first introduced as a 9mm sidearm for both military and law enforcement purposes. It was launched in 1986 and was intended to be a weapon that could fight terrorism in Austria. The biggest difference between the Glock 18 and its predecessor is that it is a control switch that acts as a lever. There are indented dots indicating fire mode. If there is a single dot above the switch, the gun is in semi-auto mode. If there is a point pair, it is in automatic mode.

The Glock 18 has a compensator cut into the forward position of the slide. This cut makes it easier to control the weapon and prevents climbing. The slits get bigger as they move from back to front. They serve to release the gas from the Glock 18.

Finally, the Glock 18 also features a locking mechanism. If the chamber pressure is high, it is dangerous to fire the weapon. To correct this situation, the barrel moves backwards on recoil. It locks with the slider to reduce the pressure. After the pressure has been released, the barrel and slide unlock. This is called a camming action. It stops the movement of the barrel while the breech slides back and ejects the used cartridge case.

Can you buy a Glock 18?

The Glock 18 is illegal in the United States, making it difficult to find. There are several laws that limit the methods by which someone can obtain a Glock 18. Note that these laws also apply to all machine guns. Yes, the Glock 18 is a machine gun. Remember that it fires 1200 rounds per minute.

One way to get a Glock 18 is through a transferable weapon. In this case, the Glock 18 must be registered before May 19, 1986. Since the gun was made in 1986, this is nearly impossible. If there’s a real Glock 18 registered before that date, it’s likely to have a value on par with many luxury cars.

Some dealers may have Glock 18s that were labeled as pre-samples. These are guns imported between January 1, 1986 and May 19, 1986. Dealers were allowed to keep their models after surrendering their licenses. This version of the Glock 18 will also be hard to find.

The only other way to get a Glock 18 is to have a Class III dealer letter from a police department to try one on. That would mean giving up the license but saving a lot of money.

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The Glock 18 is a mythical Glock with a tremendous rate of fire. This is the main reason why it is illegal. If you’re looking for accessories for your Glock, visit Ghost, Inc. today!

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The DC Police is increasingly concerned about an illegal device called the giggle switch that can turn a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machine gun.

In recent weeks, officers have found up to five of them on the backs of pistols in two northeastern neighborhoods.

“It’s a big problem; It’s a huge problem,” said the D.C. Police Department Cmdr. said Ramey Kyle. “You know, guns are inherently dangerous, and these switches magnify that 10, 20 times.”

Earlier this month, police seized a Glock fitted with a giggle switch from an apartment on K Street NE.

Stay abreast of local D.C. news and weather. Up to date. Get the NBC4 Washington app for iOS or Android and choose your notifications.

Last weekend, during a traffic stop at a petrol station on Bladensburg Road, they found a cache of weapons.

“We know they’re made abroad and then they’re made here in the US, too,” Kyle said. “They are made by private individuals with 3D printers.”

The switch is easy to install and there are videos on YouTube showing how to do it.

“It’s scary; it’s absolutely scary,” Kyle said. “It’s scary for our officers who are out there recovering these firearms. It’s scary for the citizens, you know, these switches, these handguns going in used by their community.”

In a statement to News4’s sister station in Los Angeles, pistol manufacturer Glock said, “Glock has worked closely with authorities and the ATF to provide support.”

DC Police said video evidence shows at least one murder in the city was committed with a pistol equipped with the giggle switch.

By Dennis Porter

On May 13, CBS4 News reported that the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department had experienced a series of misfires with their Glock semi-automatic handguns, as well as some of their 9mm pistols. The reported incidents occurred only during training sessions and not when the guns were fired in the field.

As part of the article, the news outlet revealed a confidential sheriff’s department document that outlined a number of incidents in which problems with the Glock firing pin had caused the gun to stop functioning and not fire. According to the article, when the gunsmith for the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) department ripped off the misfired pistols, he found that the firing pins were cracked or chipped in every case where there was a misfire.

This discovery has raised some questions about the reliability of the Glock semi-automatic handguns used by agency deputies as well as law enforcement officers across the country. It is estimated that approximately 7,500 law enforcement agencies nationwide use Glock pistols as service weapons. Glock prides itself on producing a dependable, rugged pistol. When misfires occurred, Glock responded immediately to identify the problem and find a solution.

The cause of the problem

While there was speculation that the firing pin metal was not of the quality it should be, the problem turned out to be with the ammunition. The department used “non-toxic” ammunition as practice ammunition. Since many police stations are indoors, the remnants of ammunition fired could potentially affect a person’s health, so the department (like many agencies) used non-toxic ammunition, distinct from service ammunition.

Since the firing pin incident occurred while the non-toxic ammunition was being used, it turned out that the misfires had nothing to do with the quality of the metal of the firing pin, but rather were caused by the non-toxic ammunition. This practice ammunition has a harder primer than the service ammunition.

I spoke to a friend of mine at the PBSO and he told me that after a small modification to the Glocks the problem was quickly resolved. He also confirmed that none of the incidents ever happened outside of training.

According to the news report, the LAPD faced a similar problem in 2005. According to my Glock source, it was also related to the non-toxic ammo and the fact that the primers were harder than the service ammo. This issue was also resolved and the LAPD re-authorized its members to carry Glocks on and off duty.

If I retire from my agency, I can carry any handgun I choose under HR 218. I am planning on buying a Glock, but as a precaution I plan to have a Glock gunsmith or qualified Glock gunsmith check the firing pin from time to time.

Have you heard of similar incidents? Was there a different result or a different solution?

‘People will lose their lives’ 13 investigates explosion in illegal ‘Glock switches’

13 Investigates how Glock switches can turn a legal handgun into an illegal weapon capable of firing 30 bullets in 2.3 seconds.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A suspect fleeing police on Thursday crashed into a curb, opened his driver’s door and began firing multiple rounds at officers before their squad cars could even pull up at the 2100 block of McGowen Street .

In eight seconds, the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Roland Caballero, fired so many shots that the front of an officer’s SUV began smoking.

It’s hard to count how many rounds Caballero allegedly shot in real time. He allegedly used an automatic weapon, likely a pistol illegally modified with a Glock switch or similar device.

“Officials described it as a fully automatic weapon,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said after the shooting. “That’s something else that we need to address in our community and we will.”

The switch, which is about the size of a penny, can turn a gun from an ordinary handgun that fires a single round each time the trigger is pulled, into an automatic weapon that fires dozens of bullets with one pull of the trigger can spit out.

SEE ALSO: ABC13’s exclusive video shows a suspect crashing near downtown, injuring 3 officers in a shooting

Illegal Glock switches attached to firearms are about the size of a dime.

13 The investigation began examining the devices after an HPD officer was killed in September by a suspect who allegedly also possessed a gun fitted with a Glock switch.

We have found that not only are the devices dangerous and deadly when used by criminals, but police are increasingly finding the illegal devices in Houston and across the United States.

During a visit to the Houston Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, an agent shot the modified gun and determined how fast a Glock could fire bullets with a switch. It only took 2.23 seconds to fire 30 bullets.

They said the gun’s speed makes it harder to aim and control, and puts bystanders at even greater risk if a criminal is using one.

“Just imagine you’re in a mall and someone is spray-painting this whole clip in a mall. How many people could be hit? It’s scary,” said Houston Police Officers Union Doug Griffith. “When you’re in front of it, there’s absolutely no way you can react fast enough to avoid being showered with bullets. It’s really less than two and a half seconds for a 30-round magazine.”

Fred Milanowski, the special agent in charge of ATF’s Houston Field Division, said there were 11 investigations involving Glock switches or modifiers in 2020. Cases tripled in 2021.

Milanowski said in 2020, ATF confiscated about 33 of the Glock switches. That increased dramatically last year when they confiscated 145.

The Switch is an illegal aftermarket add-on for the popular Glock pistol.

“The average person would have no idea what that was if they saw that on the back of a gun,” said Steve King of Saddle River Range in Conroe. “Some law enforcement might not even know what that is if they saw it on the back of someone’s gun.”

Although commonly referred to as Glock switches, they are not manufactured or sold by the GLOCK, Inc. company.

“There’s no really perfect name for them because they’re not a legitimate device,” Milanowski said.

“Waste Ammo”

Possession of a Glock switch, even if not attached to a gun, is illegal under federal law as it qualifies as a machine gun. But under Texas law, they are only considered illegal if installed on a gun.

Legitimate switches are rare and always have a serial number. They can only be owned by properly licensed firearms dealers, or rarely by those holding a machine gun license under federal law.

Saddle River Range is a licensed gun dealer who can rent a legal version of the counter locally – a rarity even among gun dealers. King, who works at the shooting range, showed 13 Investigates’ Ted Oberg how to use the device.

“You have to work on keeping the gun on target and shooting where you want it, and for an inexperienced person, they won’t do that effectively,” King said.

First, Oberg fired a Glock with no switch and pulled the trigger three times to fire three bullets at a target within range.

Then, once the switch was attached to the gun, Oberg fired over a dozen bullets in two seconds with one pull of the trigger.

“Wow,” said Oberg, “I don’t think I hit anyone I was aiming for. He’s completely out of control.”

King said whenever something is illegal, criminals will want to get involved. He said he was concerned the switches were being manufactured illegally.

“Anyone who really knows anything about firearms knows that it serves no real purpose,” King said. “It’s something to have fun and brag about, ‘Hey, I’ve done that before,’ but it serves no real purpose. You are wasting ammunition.”

Milanowski said Glock switches are found more often by officers and crime scene technicians. He’s concerned about rising homicides and the number of non-fatal shootings, but said ATF is committed to working with local law enforcement to prosecute cases where someone is found using an illegal switch.

“Houston is no different, although it’s a little bigger, but Chicago faces a big challenge. Washington, D.C. is facing a big challenge, other places across the country are facing this challenge for the same reason,” said Milanowski. “It’s a mindset of criminals, especially gang members, who want to use this latest, greatest gadget to show just how intimidating their neighborhood can be.”

Two of the three officers injured in Thursday’s shooting have already been discharged from the hospital. Caballero, the suspect, was shot in the neck during the incident. He has multiple prior convictions in Harris County, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Suspect accused of shooting dead 3 officers now in custody after hours-long standoff, HPD says

Finner emphasized that it is only a small number of Houstonians who are “wreaking havoc,” but that city and county leaders must come together and do what they can to combat and reduce violent crime.

“No more excuses,” Finner said. “Everyone is taking an active role and doing whatever they can to help stop gun violence in our city. Point. It’s not really a difficult thing. Bad, dangerous people, there is a place for them and that is in prison.”

“No legitimate purpose for this”

With more of these illegal devices on the streets of Houston, Griffith said, officers never know what they might face when they encounter criminals who need greater accountability for their actions.

“You need to look at every traffic stop now because you may be faced with an automatic weapon,” Griffith said. “We’ve already recovered many of these here in Houston, and it’s surprising how many we’ve found who have already turned on these switches.”

Milanowski said that since there are more Texas law enforcement agencies — such as state troopers, county sheriffs and constable offices, and local police departments — and fewer federal officers, it would help state and federal law if both considered possession of the device illegal.

“There’s no legitimate purpose for it. It’s not like they’re diverting from legal sales to illegal sales,” Milanowski said. “It’s illegal to make, illegal to own, illegal to sell.”

He said that through their investigations, they have targeted manufacturers, sellers and people who own them for use.

Milanowski said many of the illegal devices are manufactured abroad and illegally shipped to the United States under the guise of “toys” or “accessories.”

“We’ve sent cease and desist letters to several social media sites, but it seems like every time you close one, they don’t have to go very far to find another,” Milanowski said. “We know these are for sale online and we’re investigating every one that comes to our attention, so our investigations have tripled since 2020-2021.”

As more switches are found at crime scenes, attempts have been made to educate law enforcement about what the metal pieces look like and how dangerous they can be when attached to a gun.

Thursday’s shooting, which injured three officers, is not the first time a modified handgun has been used in a police shooting.

In September, William “Bill” Jeffrey, a senior Houston Police Department officer, died and another officer was seriously injured by a suspect who possessed an illegally modified gun with a Glock switch.

RELATED: Video released of shooting that killed senior officer, gunman using illegally modified weapon, HPD says

“These violent individuals, I’m sick of it and we have to stand up as a community and do whatever we have to do. If this is supposed to have more jail capacity, let’s get it done. No more excuses.” Finner said on Thursday.

In recent months, Milanowski said, ATF has been conducting training sessions with local law enforcement officials to educate them about switches. Almost every training session has officers who say something like, “Oh, we met them and we didn’t know what that was.”

He said when the device isn’t attached to a weapon, it’s easy for officers to miss it, especially if they don’t know how to look for it.

“We continue to educate local law enforcement because, in reality, they are the eyes and ears. They end up stopping traffic and searching vehicles or search warrants or narcotics warrants, and if they know what they’re up against, if they know what they are, they can be impounded and taken off the streets,” Milanowski said.

Last year, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said, “Deputies responded to a neighborhood where they found a vehicle riddled with bullet holes.”

Speaking about the incident during a press conference in October, Gonzales said that someone who was picking up pizza was shot while returning to his driveway in one scene. He said neighbors described it as sounding like a machine gun and they spotted 30 rounds fired from a switch-equipped gun.

He said MPs also found a counter after stopping a criminal for reckless driving in March.

“We will get through these times”

Milanowski said Glock switches have been around for years. He’s not sure why they’re seeing cases spike, but said they’ve been seized from people who shouldn’t have guns at all, like convicted felons.

“Many criminals think they want the newest, biggest, coolest and most dangerous. It encourages them to believe that they are stronger,” Milanowski said. “If you drive past a house or car, you can put 30 rounds into that car in 2.5 seconds (but) you can’t pull the trigger fast enough as you drive past to do that, so (using the Glock switch) is intimidating.”

Officers in Thursday’s incident were shot in the foot, leg and arm and are believed to be recovering. Caballero kidnapped a woman and fled the scene to a home on the 1800 block of Lockwood, where he barricaded himself for hours, finally surrendering with his hands raised at 7:45 p.m.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said there were too many guns on the streets.

Turner and HPD chief Finner said they will come up with a comprehensive plan next week with additional steps to address high rates of violent crime and make the city safer.

“I’m going to ask the people of this city to work with the police, work with crime fighters and others, and get involved in making this a safer city, and if we work together, we’re going to do that, we’re going to get through these times.” ‘ Turner said. “I know a lot of people are right to be scared at the moment, but we will get through these times.”

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On Monday, the Oakland County Sheriff announced that a Pontiac man had been arrested for illegally purchasing and importing Glock Switches from Russia, turning the legal stock handgun into a much deadlier weapon.

A 9mm Glock is the most popular handgun in the United States and is relatively simple: a single shot is fired each time you pull the trigger. But a Glock Switch changes all that.

What is a Glock switch?

Randall Mullins is the manager of Top Gun in Taylor and explains that the little device just snaps into place.

“As a switch, it would just snap onto the back of the gun and toggle it from semi-auto to full-auto,” Randall Mullins, Top Gun manager.

Mullins explained that a Glock is not meant to fire at such a rate as he showed us how the Glock is made.

“It has a standard backplate…and a sear on the inside of the gun that prevents the gun from firing more than one round at a time when the trigger is pulled,” Mullins said.

By placing the small device on top of the weapon and opening the mechanism, it turns the weapon into a machine gun.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard announced Monday that Immanuel Gates was recently arrested for illegally purchasing and importing the switches. According to Bouchard, Gates faces a federal charge of illegally importing a firearm, which means a serious prison sentence.

“That’s something criminals are aware of — the dark web and different places where they buy different things,” Bouchard said. How a Glock is supposed to work

How weapon switches are imported

According to court documents, Gates, who belongs to a gang, bought the switches from a Russian website and had them shipped in a package labeled “lawnmower spares.”

However, a gun owner must have a federal gun license to own and operate a gun conversion switch.

“This is illegal, no additional legislation is needed,” Mullins said. “It’s already an illegal item to have on your gun.”

Federal agents seized a package said to be on its way to Gates with 20 such devices inside.

Law enforcement authorities tracked Gates from July 2020 to October 2021 and say he placed multiple orders through the Russian website.

Gates is currently awaiting trial on federal firearms charges and could face 10 years in prison.

The DC Police is increasingly concerned about an illegal device called the giggle switch that can turn a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machine gun.

In recent weeks, officers have found up to five of them on the backs of pistols in two northeastern neighborhoods.

“It’s a big problem; It’s a huge problem,” said the D.C. Police Department Cmdr. said Ramey Kyle. “You know, guns are inherently dangerous, and these switches magnify that 10, 20 times.”

Earlier this month, police seized a Glock fitted with a giggle switch from an apartment on K Street NE.

Stay abreast of local D.C. news and weather. Up to date. Get the NBC4 Washington app for iOS or Android and choose your notifications.

Last weekend, during a traffic stop at a petrol station on Bladensburg Road, they found a cache of weapons.

“We know they’re made abroad and then they’re made here in the US, too,” Kyle said. “They are made by private individuals with 3D printers.”

The switch is easy to install and there are videos on YouTube showing how to do it.

“It’s scary; it’s absolutely scary,” Kyle said. “It’s scary for our officers who are out there recovering these firearms. It’s scary for the citizens, you know, these switches, these handguns going in used by their community.”

In a statement to News4’s sister station in Los Angeles, pistol manufacturer Glock said, “Glock has worked closely with authorities and the ATF to provide support.”

DC Police said video evidence shows at least one murder in the city was committed with a pistol equipped with the giggle switch.