Buying extractor and ejector for my new Glock 26 gen3

[Alan0354]

Hi

I just bought a new Glock 26 gen3 today, I will have it in 10 days. I was to experiment changing some parts, here are my questions.

1) Is the stock MIM extractor really bad that it won't last? Or is it just Apex trashing the MIM Glock extractor to sell their expensive extractor?

2) I want to change the ejector to gen4 as I read and watch on line that gen 4 is better. I went on the Glock Store, looked like the gen4 ejector(30274) can just fit into the gen3 trigger block. I plan to buy a new gen3 trigger block and a gen4 trigger block( to take the ejector out). I am going to play it safe and put away the origin trigger block with the ejector untouched so if all else gone wrong, I just put back the original assembly. I just put the gen4 ejector into the new gen3 trigger block I buy and put into the gun.

Also, I don't know where to buy the extractor spring load bearing. I want to buy one that is slightly longer to put a little more pressure if needed. I want to order all these before the waiting period of the gun.

Thanks

[LOKNLOD]

You don't have the gun yet. Other than adding good quality sights in the form you most prefer, you really should hold off considering swapping any parts at all.

Apex is a great company but their parts exist to fix problems that you very likely do not have. Your Gen3 G26 will probably run like a scalded ape with no help from the aftermarket. Save your money for the very very expensive ammo you'll be hunting for.

[Mark D]

I've had a bunch of Gen 3 glocks, including G26's, and they all ran fine with the original extractor and ejector. As mentioned above, maybe try shooting your new G26 a bunch, and if you get problems (brass to face, etc) then consider changing things.

[JAH 3rd]

I would shoot it first. Use a variety of ammo. See what happens with function of the firearm. You will have plenty of opportunity to buy aftermarket parts. We’ve probably read the same articles and seen the same videos on various Glock problems and fixes. Just see how she shoots before swapping out parts.

[fatdog]

Gen 3 9mm Glocks generally had no widespread common problems. Most the complaints I have heard about the extraction and btf are from the gen 4 9mm owners. As cited, shoot the gun, it likely needs absolutely nothing except maybe a new recoil spring depending on the round count.

[fixer]

You don't have the gun yet. Other than adding good quality sights in the form you most prefer, you really should hold off considering swapping any parts at all.

Apex is a great company but their parts exist to fix problems that you very likely do not have. Your Gen3 G26 will probably run like a scalded ape with no help from the aftermarket. Save your money for the very very expensive ammo you'll be hunting for.

This.

I've had so many Glock pistols in the past its shameful. In 10's of thousands of rounds I've never had a reason to swap extractors or ejectors other than due to normal wear and tear.

[Beat Trash]

Once you get the gun in hand, clean it really well. Then lube it, load it and shoot it.

IF, and only IF there is a pattern of the same issue developing, look into troubleshooting that particular issue.

I owned a Gen 3 G26 for about 20 years. It was one of, if not the most reliable pistol I have ever owned. And I’ve been through a few guns.

[JonInWA]

Early in the Gen4 production, Glock did switch from cast to MIM extractors simultaneously in Gen 3 Glocks. Whle the ones in the Gen4s were more noticably problematic, the issues were resolved literally years ago-like about 8-10 years ago. The liklihood of you having a problematic one today is slim.

As everyone has suggested, clean and properly lubricate the G26 (especially the triggerbar/connector interfacing surfaces). Then run it for 500 rounds (that is, if it's financially feasible for you to get 500 rounds in these days...and that's assuming you can find available stocks); any problems will likely crop up during that initial period.

Stop worrying about hardware substitutions until you can quantifiably and empirically demonstrate a need to do so on your specific Glock is my suggestion. And fiddling with the EDP spring rate is probably a recipie for problems in and of itself...

Best, Jon

[L-2]

Buy whatever extra/spare parts you want. Fiddle with the Glock until it's broken, if you want. You won't be the first to do so.

A new G26gen3 may work perfectly fine with zero s'ubstitutions of parts.
A 30274 (gen4) ejector may or may not change anything. If reading prior folks posts of what they did to cure a potential ejection problem, sometimes the existing 336 ejector worked fine. These posts were likely prior to the latest Gen5 47021 ejector being developed, btw.

Note, Apex Tactical doesn't recommend any of its Glock extractors for the G26 models. As I recall, it had something to do with a G26's barrel angle as the slide retracts. The caveat against using an Apex extractor is in the fine print on the Apex Tactical website.

Any specific other parts such as a spring loaded bearing will need to be shopped for on the various internet parts suppliers.

[Dcowboyscr]

Last month I bought a recent production G26 Gen-3. It was accurate and reliable but ejection was all over the place. My solution? Sold it and bought a 26.5 with the breechface cut. Ejection is now perfect. This was my 15th Glock. I no longer have the patience to deal with crazy ejection and try to fix a problem that shouldn’t be occurring in the first place.

[Duelist]

I bought a used G26.3 several years ago, my first Glock. I cleaned it, lubed it, put an SCD on it, and started shooting it. At ~325 rounds, I put a set of Trijicon HDs on it and kept shooting it.

The *only* issues I’ve ever had with it were several Russian steel case rounds that didn’t want to pop, one aluminum case from an Independence round (noticeably weak ejection - I stopped and checked the barrel for an obstruction) that flipped over and landed in the ejection port, and after about 2500 rounds, a chunk of the RSA nose cap disappeared. One $18 new RSA later, and it was back online.

It is one of my favorite guns of all time. I plan to get a gen 5 at some point, but really I’m not in a hurry. This gun has killed every critter I’ve shot it at, hit every target, runs and runs like anything using quality ammo, and acceptably well on the cheapest crap imaginable.

What more could I possibly want from a gun?


Sometimes, I confess wanting a longer grip. That’s when I get out the 19x.

I would probably not replace any internal parts unless the gun doesn’t run. The odds of it running right out of the box are definitely in your favor.

[willie]

In general, after market parts cause problems in Glocks. If your pistol does develop problems, let Glock fix it. I urge you to avoid after market magazines. I suggest that you begin shopping for 10 rd mags for your pistol. When you do clean it, keep oil out of the firing pin channel. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Glocks are ugly handguns that work.

[JAH 3rd]

In general, after market parts cause problems in Glocks. If your pistol does develop problems, let Glock fix it. I urge you to avoid after market magazines. I suggest that you begin shopping for 10 rd mags for your pistol. When you do clean it, keep oil out of the firing pin channel. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Glocks are ugly handguns that work.

When I buy a new striker pistol, I take out the striker assembly to clean out the striker channel. I just spray a bit of synthetic approved cleaner in the channel and let it dry. Wipe down the striker assembly with a clean cloth, then reassemble. At least I know there is no oil in the channel and the last time I cleaned it.

[Coyotesfan97]

I’ve had a G26-3 for 21 years. I had to do the math because I remember who I sold my Kahr to and used the money to buy the 26. I’ve had zero issues with it. It’s an ankle gun and it’s always run even when dirty. Trijicon HDs and a Gadget are the only aftermarket parts on it.

[UNM1136]

My experience with buying spare parts for guns to "keep on hand, just in case" is that they go into other people's guns FAR, FAR, FAR more often than they actually replace broken parts in my guns. I have had strikers, trigger bars, iron sights, trigger housings, locking blocks, pins, and extractors break, and I have fixed them in minutes. I am responsible for the inspection, approval, and repair of the primary, backup, and shoulder weapons of 40+ cops. For the last two decades. One of the guns was a two pin Gen 2 Glock 19, that had never been gone over by an armorer. Only twice did I have the same problem, almost 20 years apart, and the second time it wasn't on one of my guns, and it wasn't a part (in Glocks) that many people would check, let alone have on hand for repair.

You are far better served with a duplicate gun for training and shooting, and a separate one for carry, than trying to figure out what parts you should keep spares of. Shoot one, carry the other. Replace parts as necessary, while carrying a functioning gun.

I am late to the party on nearly every cool widget, gadget, and doohickey. I started my career as a cop at $11.00/hr, and have a wife I put through college, and three kids in private school. I recently switched to an RMR'd glock and am saving my pennies for a duplicate. I also have an M&P9 issued to me if there is a problem with that Glock, which is a testbed for the agency. I am running and aftermarket slide assembly, and the original, assembled, OEM slide assembly is in a plastic container, to "keep on hand, just in case."

Seriously, save your money for spare parts until something actually breaks. A dupicate gun is a much, much better investment. Don't fix it if it ain't broke, because you just might fix it enough that it becomes broke. I did that, with a Glock 21 in the mid 90s. And the parts I damaged from incessant detail stripping and reassembly caused reliability issues that every Glock armorer I took it to scratched his head and said "huh, I really don't know". In my 3rd armorer's course the problem was widespread enough that finally I got some closure and a resolution. A decade later when one of my cops had the same problem I was able to identify and repair it. Detail stripping a gun with plastic and steel parts too much causes tolerences to change, leading to problems as steel parts mar, then shave, then wiggle in plastic holes, enlarging them and changing the fit.

The 2000 round test should tell you if there are any defective parts or assembly problems.

And welcome to P-F!

pat

[Nephrology]

I have two Gen 3 Glock 26s with several thousand rounds through the pair. Both run very well and have no issues with extraction. I wouldn't buy any parts unless the gun has issues.

[Alan0354]

I cannot buy parts anyway, all out. So it has to be as is.

[Smitty]

I bought a gen3 26 a few months ago. I was lucky enough to put another couple boxes through it this weekend. This thing is a piece of s**t. It fired every time I pulled the trigger and the brass fell about 2' to my right. I think I will try and pawn it off and buy a nice sig 320.

[Alan0354]

I bought a gen3 26 a few months ago. I was lucky enough to put another couple boxes through it this weekend. This thing is a piece of s**t. It fired every time I pulled the trigger and the brass fell about 2' to my right. I think I will try and pawn it off and buy a nice sig 320.

What's wrong if the shell fell 2' away? Did it ever jam?

What make you think Sig 320 is better, read a lot of negative stuffs on 320.

[GearFondler]

What's wrong if the shell fell 2' away? Did it ever jam?I believe that was sarcasm.

[Smitty]

Sorry I couldn't help it. It was sarcasm. I did put on some new CAP sights to make it even better.

[Alan0354]

I can't wait for my 26 to arrive. Problem is I don't have spare ammo to test the gun. So it's going to be a toy gun for a while.

[Alan0354]

I am not criticizing Glock at all, I am a true believer of polymer guns. That's the reason I buy the 26.

I am into gunsmithing, I like to play with gunsmithing just as much if not more than shooting. So, regardless what, I am going to experiment with it. I already planned out, I am NOT going to tough any of the original parts, I am going to put the trigger housing away safely, just buy completely new parts to modify. So if anything goes wrong, I can put back all the original parts and it'll be like new.

That's the good thing about Glock, it's modular, you can change out thing and reverse right back to the original. Anyway, I cannot get the spare parts, so I am not going to do anything right now.

[Smitty]

Alan I hear you about the ammo situation. I hope you enjoy the 26 as much as I do. Good luck with it.

[Alan0354]

Alan I hear you about the ammo situation. I hope you enjoy the 26 as much as I do. Good luck with it.

Don't worry, I have so much faith with Glock and polymer. I honest will NOT buy anything that is not all steel if it is not polymer. I believe in Polymer. I just keep joking about "plastic". But I believe in Glock and the other polymer guns.

[Catshooter]

A good way to break most anybody's extractor is to drop a round into the chamber and then slam the slide home.

Those guys telling you not to worry about stocking parts aren't paying attention to life. Tried to buy parts lately? Do you really think it's going to get better in the next 6 years? I used to get ridiculed for suggesting keeping parts on hand. :)


Cat

[Alan0354]

A good way to break most anybody's extractor is to drop a round into the chamber and then slam the slide home.

Those guys telling you not to worry about stocking parts aren't paying attention to life. Tried to buy parts lately? Do you really think it's going to get better in the next 6 years? I used to get ridiculed for suggesting keeping parts on hand. :)


Cat

If the extractor is made of good steel, it shouldn't matter you slam close, but I don't know about the MIM part. That's the thing I worry about. I am writing to Lonewolf about their stainless steel extractor. Apex won't fit, so Lonewolf is the only one left.

[willie]

If the extractor is made of good steel, it shouldn't matter you slam close, but I don't know about the MIM part. That's the thing I worry about. I am writing to Lonewolf about their stainless steel extractor. Apex won't fit, so Lonewolf is the only one left.

You are wrong about a good steel extractor not breaking if slammed onto an already chambered round. The probability is that if you do this, you are taking this risk. Said another way, people who practice this slamming break more extractors than those who do not. Please do not be offended when I repeat that you are misinformed on this point.

Some Mim parts are better than some forged steel parts. Small parts are made in batches of great numbers. There is variation within batches of forged parts and between batches of same. Same is true for Mim items. This fact drives manufacturers nuts(or should)because the variation is one source of their problems.

I'm an old burned out school teacher and have a gut feeling that you will screw up a good handgun. Work on your lawn mower.

[HCM]

A good way to break most anybody's extractor is to drop a round into the chamber and then slam the slide home.

Those guys telling you not to worry about stocking parts aren't paying attention to life. Tried to buy parts lately? Do you really think it's going to get better in the next 6 years? I used to get ridiculed for suggesting keeping parts on hand. :)


Cat

With regard to extractors, that depends on the design. If you’re not sure it’s best avoided but there are several modern service pistols whose manufacturers state it is not harmful to their particular guns.

With regard to spare parts, the OP was not asking about preventive maintenance or emergency repairs. Rather the OP posted that he was going to buy aftermarket parts to install in a brand new gun without even firing it.

There are two problems with this: you are trying to fix a problem that most likely does not exist; and the number one source of Glock function issues is aftermarket parts and home gunsmithing. Conversely the most common fix for Glocks is to pull out the aftermarket or home modified parts and return it to stock condition.

This is compounded by the fact that the maker of the aftermarket part in question specifically says not to use it in the Glock model the OP wants to put it in.

[Alan0354]

You are wrong about a good steel extractor not breaking if slammed onto an already chambered round. The probability is that if you do this, you are taking this risk. Said another way, people who practice this slamming break more extractors than those who do not. Please do not be offended when I repeat that you are misinformed on this point.

Some Mim parts are better than some forged steel parts. Small parts are made in batches of great numbers. There is variation within batches of forged parts and between batches of same. Same is true for Mim items. This fact drives manufacturers nuts(or should)because the variation is one source of their problems.

I'm an old burned out school teacher and have a gut feeling that you will screw up a good handgun. Work on your lawn mower.

Of cause you can have one out of 100 MIM part better than the 1 out of 100 bad forged part, but probability is if you get a forged part, it's going to last longer than MIM part. As an engineer like me, that's how we choose the parts. There's no guaranty, but just probability.

Nobody say changing to a forged part and you can keep slamming the slide onto a loaded chamber... Even though LoneWolf said they tested just that for many times on their forged extractors.

[willie]

You will enjoy your Glock. Consensus is they run best with Glock parts. Be aware that original Glock parts are almost unobtainable. Therefore, losing one, even a small spring, has become a big deal.

[pangloss]

I went through a relatively short phase where I fiddled with my Glocks. I'm completely over it now. I think hearing someone articulate the difference between "gun guys" and "shooters" helped speed me along. I own plenty of guns, but I hope I'm more of a shooter than a gun guy. I'd much rather spend time dry firing than detail stripping my pistol. The last part I swapped out was the factory guide rod for a new factory guide rod in my 19.5 practice pistol after I'd put 5,000 rounds through the gun. I think the only non-factory parts in any of my Glocks now are SCDs and sights.

[willie]

I shoot my G26 better than I do my Glock 19. I really like this model. The op made a wise choice. I admit to having tinkered with and messed up a few nice guns along the way. I fixed too many that were not broke. Now I use my Dremel tool to trim my toenails.

[Alan0354]

Anyone experience stock extractor breakage?

[Lester Polfus]

Anyone experience stock extractor breakage?

After about 40k rounds, I found a little chip in the extractor one of my Gen 3 Glock 19s. I could just barely see it in the right light and fell it with my finger nail. It is entirely possible it was there from day one. The gun ran fine.

The only thing I have ever done to Glocks is apply skateboard tape and night sights. If you really feel a need to stock spare parts, stock a spare recoil spring assembly. Although at today’s prices you will go broke before you need it.

[HeavyDuty]

Another voice in the “leave it alone” camp.

I probably modify my Glocks more than most here - I add a SCD to every gun, an extended slide stop to compensate for an old thumb injury (Glock OEM for everything but the slimlines, and a Vickers for those,) better sights (usually Ameriglo Hackathorns,) a Glock OEM extended mag release or, in the case of the slimlines, a Vickers part (same thumb issue as above) and now in a few cases a Vickers flat faced trigger. I do *not* use other than OEM internals.

Unless you’re trying to respond to a functional problem, I personally feel swapping internals is not a great idea. And, even then, I would probably dump the gun if any problems couldn’t be fixed with new OEM parts.

[WobblyPossum]

Buying replacement parts, especially parts as critical to the function of the gun like the extractor, for a gun that hasn’t had issues is silly. You’re much more likely to cause problems with a Lone Wolf extractor than you are to solve them. There seems to be this misconception about MIM that it’s always bad or always worse than forged parts. Some parts are designed and engineered to be MIM from the get-go and that MIM part will last you a very reasonable life cycle. Any problems you’ve heard about regarding Gen3 and Gen4 Glock extractors were solved almost a decade ago. Just buy the gun and shoot it. You’ll be fine.

[Alan0354]

Got my Glock 26.
67520

[UNM1136]

Got my Glock 26.
67520

Enjoy. I wish you all the best!

pat

[Jason M]

Good grab! Add some skateboard tape, ensure the present sights work for you and are regulated then leave the rest alone. Buy ammo. Do a realistic assessment to determine YOUR needs. Find a belt/holster/mag pouch combo that works for YOUR needs. Get training that is relevant to YOUR needs and that REALISTICALLY PRESSURE TESTS your gear choices. Be ready to make changes to that gear. Participate in regular training that SUSTAINS the skills that you honed in the initial training. Do regular PM to maintain and CHECK FOR WEAR. Replace parts if NEEDED. The gun will last you a life time.

[Smitty]

Alan, I wish you the best with the new 26. Mine has been a great. Hopefully you can find the ammo to try it out.