There are very few real “experts” floating around, at least in comparison to the numbers on the gun boards :shock: . I’m just a student who’s had the professional opportunity to serve in positions that permitted development of some experience and it seems like that is what you are asking for. Besides, like many here, I’m a first class gun nut and make no bones about it :mrgreen: .
Some very valid points made here already, here’s my 2345ll …
All guns require proper maintenance, better designs just allow you to get away with a bit less scrubbing and buffing...if unusual circumstances require. Guns are first and foremost tools, treat your tools well and they will perform as designed. Just because you've got the finest engineered vehicle out there, doesn't mean you don't bother to change the oil periodically, as the manufacturer suggests. Just because you've got the hardest, sharpest cutter in your lathe doesn't mean you don't bother with cutting oil or run it at a speed it wasn't intended to work at. Pretty simple really but unfortunately it is all too true that an awful lot of folks, some of whom should know better, just don't get it :shock: ...
Rant off...
As to the Glock...
Nothing, in my experience, is perfect...well except for my performance with the ladies

lsk705 But the Glock design, especially in its original 9mmP chambering, has proven over and over that it works, even with unimaginable abuse, and more so, again in my experience, than competing designs. Are there anomalies, sure, Glock is not immune to the occasional stinker, but the stinkers are the ones that get press, all out of proportion their actual numbers .That is especially true on gun boards, where gossip becomes fact. At the same time, unfortunately, some Glock owners are their own worst enemy as well. They'll put their Glock thru abuse instead of use, and claim to everyone they meet that Glocks are such "Perfection" that they don't need to maintain them, and then be shocked and bitter, or lie about it to save face, when the gun fails to live up to their expectations.
Before anyone gets their panties in a wad, remember, the question was about the reliability of Glocks...as in a general assessment of the breed, not the horror stories, first hand or gossip, of an individual example. There are, unfortunately, individual horror stories of every mechanical thing made by man, don't feel special if you've experienced one.
Spare me the Kool Aide comments, unless you've run or been intimately involved in the running of hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of rounds thru an armory full of Glocks you are professionally responsible for...and have similar experience with the competing designs to make a valid comparison. Others with similar experience are certainly entitled to throw all the rocks they wish if based upon said experience they disagree. Not trying to stifle anyone else’s comments either, this is, after all a forum. Just attempting to "cut off at the pass" some of the ignorant personal comments that so frequently destroy a perfectly good thread.
BTW, that is not to say I don't understand the disappointment of an individual whose exposure to a design consists of their personal blaster going from hero to zero in a heartbeat, regardless of whether it was a design/manufacturing flaw, ammunition glitch or as is too frequently the case, nothing but operator error.
Don't get me wrong, I've got my own prejudices like the next guy, but having experienced all the others over more years than I'd like to admit, I've developed a respect for the Glocks. So much so, that is what I've chosen as my every day carry gun. And I'm now free to carry anything I want...
Apologies for the arrogant way that might sound to some, it certainly is not meant to be. It is not a dare to start an argument and my intention in not to insult anyone. It's just an attempt to blunt, in advance, the usual flood of Kool Aide comments I've noticed folks get bombarded with upon posting anything approaching a positive report of a particular design when that design is not the forum darling. It is especially true of Glocks...whether its grip angle, mechanical safety, plastic frame, trigger, whatever...some folks just love to hate ‘em.
One more time, just so there is no misunderstanding, modern competing designs especially those from the big names like Beretta, Sig and H&K are extremely reliable, especially more now than in the past. I've been issued/shot/owned/carried all of 'em and feel well protected when doing so. Glocks, in my experience, just seem to have the edge in real world, high round count reliability. They are not perfect, nothing made by man is.
Since this thread was specific as to reliability, as it applies to Glock "Perfection", I'll leave it at that...
Shooting/handling/carrying yada, yada, yada comparisons are for another post, this one is too long as it is :mrgreen:...
Waaay too long

:roll: ...
Flame away if you must nvonjvila ...