How Does a Glock Pistol Operate?

Loading

• Glock pistols are fed ammunition through a magazine, which is a spring-loaded device that supplies bullets to the chamber. The magazine is loaded by inserting bullets, back-end first, into the top of the magazine. When the magazine is loaded, it is inserted into the magazine well at the bottom of the pistol. You must then pull the slide all the way back and release. The action of the slide moving forward will chamber a bullet.

Aiming

• Glock pistols incorporate an open three-dot sight system. Aim by lining up the single dot of the front side between the two dots of the rear sight and center the sight picture on your target.

Firing

• Hold the Glock pistol in your shooting hand, place your trigger finger on the trigger and squeeze. As you squeeze the trigger, you are disengaging the pistol's safeties. Continue to squeeze until the weapon fires. As the weapon fires, the slide will move fully back and forth, reloading the weapon. Keep your hands clear of the slide because contact could cause injury.

Reloading

• When the magazine runs out of ammunition, the slide will lock into the rear position. Press the magazine release on the left hand side of the pistol (just behind the trigger guard) and remove the empty magazine. Insert a loaded magazine, pull back slightly on the slide and release. The slide will move forward, reloading the pistol. The slide can also be released by pressing the slide release switch on the left side of the pistol just above the trigger.

Unloading

• To unload your Glock pistol, press the magazine release and remove the magazine. Then pull the slide fully to the rear. This action will eject the bullet from the chamber.