Whether you’re a seasoned firearm enthusiast or a complete gun novice, understanding the basic safety principles and mechanics of handling a handgun is crucial. Today, we’ll be focusing on the Glock 45, a semi-automatic pistol that’s a popular choice among law enforcement, military, and civilians alike.

 

The Glock 45’s selling points are its reliability, durability, and simplicity of its design. It’s relatively easy to handle, making it a good choice for beginners. Learn to handle any firearm with the utmost respect, caution, and understanding of basic safety principles. 

How a Glock 45 Works In a Nutshell

The Glock 45, like most semi-automatic pistols, works through a series of mechanical steps each time you pull the trigger. Here’s a simplified rundown of how it works:

  • Loading the Gun: First, you load bullets into a magazine (a small box that holds the shells). Then, insert the magazine into the grip of the gun.
  • Ready to Fire: After the magazine is in place, you pull back and release the slide on top of the gun. This action strips a bullet from the magazine and loads it into the chamber, which is the part of the gun where it sits before firing.
  • Pulling the Trigger: When you pull the trigger, the firing pin is released. It strikes the back of the bullet (specifically, the primer on the back of the shell), causing an explosion. This explosion pushes the bullet out of the gun and down the barrel toward the target at a high velocity.
  • Automatic Ejection and Reloading: Upon firing, the slide on the gun moves backward due to the force of the explosion. This motion ejects the spent casing and then moves forward again, loading a new bullet into the chamber from the magazine. This process repeats when you pull the trigger until the magazine is empty.
  • Safety Features: The Glock 45 has built-in safety features to help prevent accidental firing. Glock uses a “Safe Action” system which includes three independent safeties: the trigger safety, the firing pin safety, and the drop safety, all of which are disengaged when the trigger is pulled and re-engaged when the trigger is released.

Beginner Reminders For Proper Glock 45 Handling

It can take a while to get thoroughly acquainted with the weapon. But since you’re still in the getting-to-know stage, here are some important reminders. 

Always Treat the Gun as Loaded

This rule applies not just to the Glock 45 but to any firearm. Always treat it as if it’s loaded, even if you’re sure it isn’t. Never point it at anything you’re not willing to destroy. This fundamental principle can prevent many potential accidents.