Glock 22 Complete Disassembly

Going Beyond Field Stripping

It likely won’t often be, but there may come a time when you want or need to do a complete disassembly of your Glock 22. In my case, I couldn’t have been happier with my Law Enrockment Trade-in M&P 9mm purchases, so I decided to see if the Glock LE Trade-ins were equally as good of a deal. Therefore, I will be stripping down my LE Trade-in Glock 22 because, like the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm makeover I did, I plan to do some makeover work on the Glock.

Reasons to Dissemble Your Glock 22

There are several reasons why you may need to fully disassemble your Glock 22, including:

• Cleaning: Over time, your Glock 22 may accumulate dirt, debris, and other contaminants that can negatively affect its performance. Disassembling the gun and cleaning each component thoroughly can help ensure your firearm is in optimal condition. For details on cleaning, please visit our “All about Cleaning your Handgun” post.
• Inspection: Regular inspections of your Glock 22 are necessary to identify any potential issues or worn-out parts that may need to be replaced. Fully disassembling the gun can provide a comprehensive view of its internal workings and enable you to identify any areas of concern.
• Maintenance: Like any mechanical device, your Glock 22 will require routine maintenance to maintain it properly. Disassembling the gun can allow you to lubricate the necessary components and replace worn-out parts.
• Customization: Some gun owners may choose to fully disassemble their Glock 22 to modify or customize certain parts, such as the trigger or sights. This can help improve accuracy or make the gun more comfortable.
• Repair: If your Glock 22 is experiencing malfunctions or other issues, completely disassembling your gun can help you identify the problem’s root cause and make any necessary repairs. However, it is essential to note that attempting to repair your gun without proper training and experience can be dangerous and should be done only by a qualified gunsmith.

Safety Check

Before cleaning your Glock 22, it is essential to conduct a safety check to ensure that the gun is unloaded and safe to handle. Before you start with anything, practice “muzzle control” by ensuring your firearm is always pointed in a safe direction. Here are the steps you can follow:

Remove the magazine: Press the magazine release button on the left side of the frame and remove the magazine from the gun.

Check the chamber: While keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction, pull the slide back slightly to visually inspect the chamber and ensure there is no round in the chamber. If there is a round in the chamber, carefully remove it and confirm the gun is unloaded.

Release the slide: Release the slide and allow it to move forward into its normal position.

Recheck the chamber: Inspect the chamber one more time to ensure there is no round in the chamber.

Conduct a touch check: With the gun still pointed in a safe direction, use your finger to check the chamber and ensure no round is present physically.

These steps you should practice every time you clean your guns.

Tools

To fully disassemble your Glock 22, you will need the following tools or sufficient alternatives:

• Punch tool and Glock disassembly tool: Use your punch to push out the pins that hold the trigger assembly, slide stop, and locking block in place.
• Flathead screwdriver: This tool can remove the magazine release button, which is necessary for disassembling the frame.
• Nylon or brass cleaning brush: Great for scrubbing and removing any buildup or debris from the gun’s internal components.

I recommended a clean and well-lit workspace and a clear understanding of the gun’s internal components and how they function.

Glock 22 Complete Disassembly Steps

Before you start the disassembly process, think of a strategy to stay organized. Staying organized while disassembling your Glock 22 is essential for a few reasons. Firstly, it can help you work more efficiently by allowing you to quickly locate and access the parts or tools you need to disassemble and reassemble your gun. This can save you time and effort and make the process smoother overall. Secondly, staying organized can help you avoid losing or damaging small parts. It is common for small parts to become lost or damaged during the disassembly process, which can result in costly repairs. By keeping parts organized and in a safe, designated area, you can minimize the risk of losing or damaging them.

Additionally, staying organized can help prevent mistakes during the reassembly process. Losing track of the order or location of specific parts can easily lead to errors that can compromise the safety and functionality of your gun. Staying organized and following a clear plan can minimize the risk of mistakes and ensure that your gun is reassembled correctly. Staying organized while disassembling your Glock 22 is essential for efficient, safe, cost-effective firearm maintenance.

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Slide Removal

Pull the slide back: With your dominant hand, grasp the rear of the slide and pull it back about 1/8 of an inch. Then, push down both sides of the takedown lever. While holding the slide back with one hand, use your other hand to push down on the takedown lever, which is located on the left side of the frame above the trigger.

Release the slide: Slowly release the slide, which should slide forward and off the frame. Pulling the trigger should release it if it appears to be hung up.

Guide the slide off the frame and move on to removing the recoil spring and barrel.

Remove the Recoil Spring and Barrel

Hold the slide, and then push down on the spring assembly (located on the front end of the slide) with your thumb. Lift the spring off the barrel.

While holding down the spring assembly, lift it out of the slide.

Tilt the barrel up and remove it from the slide.

Slide End Plate Removal

The Glock 22 slide end plate is a small metal plate located at the rear of the slide. It is an integral part of the gun, as it helps hold the internal components of the slide in place. To remove the slide end plate on your Glock 22, you will need a small, thin tool, such as a punch or a Glock Armorer tool.

Insert your tool into the small slot on the end plate and carefully pry it off. Keep a firm grip on the end plate to prevent it from flying off and getting lost. Once the end plate is removed, you can access the internal components of the slide, such as the striker assembly and firing pin.

Remove Striker, Firing Pin, Extractor Depressor

Push the firing pin safety up with the end cap off and remove the spring cups and spring from the slide. Next, pull the firing pin assembly out of the back of the slide.

Pictured to the left, you can see this assembly comes out easily and is captured as one piece,

Next, to remove the extractor, push the firing pin safety down and then use a small punch or tool to press down the extractor depressor plunger on the slide. While pressing down on the plunger, slide the extractor out of the slide.

Your slide is disassembled at this point, and we can move on to the frame.

Disassembly of the Glock 22 Frame

Removing Pins

The Glock 22 frame has three pins that are important for the functioning of the pistol. Below, the pins are listed in the best order to remove them.

Locking Block Pin: The locking block pin is near the frame’s front, above the trigger guard. This pin holds the locking block in place, a critical component in locking and unlocking the barrel during firing. In addition, the locking block pin ensures that the locking block remains in place during firing, which is essential for the safe and reliable operation of the pistol.

Trigger Housing Pin: The trigger housing pin is located above the trigger in the center of the frame. This pin holds the trigger housing in place, which contains the trigger spring and connector. The trigger housing pin also keeps the magazine catch and helps maintain the slide stop in position.

Trigger Pin: The trigger pin is located at the frame’s rear and holds the trigger assembly. This pin connects the trigger mechanism to the rest of the firing system, allowing the trigger to move smoothly and reliably.

Overall, these three pins are essential for the safe and reliable operation of the Glock 22. If any of these pins become damaged or worn, they should be replaced by a trained professional to ensure that the pistol continues to function correctly.

Remove Slide Stop Lever

With the trigger pin housing out, the slide stop lever comes out easily by simply lifting it.

Remove Ejector with Trigger Assembly

With pins removed, the trigger assembly should now be free to be removed from the frame. To remove the ejector and trigger assembly, carefully lift it up and out of the frame, and you can lift and push the trigger back if the assembly gets caught up.

Remove Recoil Bearing Block

The recoil bearing block likely came out with your trigger assembly, but if not, it will easily lift off the frame.

Remove Disassembly Bar

The disassembly lever is relatively easy to remove. Put downward pressure on the spring using a punch while pushing the lever out one side of the frame. It typically comes out fairly easy with spring pressure relieved.

Remove the Slide Lock Lever

Once the lower locking block pin is removed, the slide stop lifts up and off the Glock 22 frame.

Remove the Mag Release Button

The magazine release can be the most difficult to remove. You will push the mag release button in with your finger to make sure it moves freely.

Using a 3/32″ punch or Glock tool, push the magazine release spring toward the right of the magazine well until it pops out of its channel..

Once the spring is out of its channel, you can take a pair of needle noise and remove it. At this point, the mag release button is easily removed from the frame.

Helpful Glock 22 Disassembly Video

Glock 22 Reassemble

The reassembly process is pretty straightforward after the complete disassembly of your Glock 22. You have some flexibility in the reassembly order, but below is the order that works for me. If you have any questions or would like us to do a step-by-step reassembly, please reply in the comments or email us.

• Mag Release Button
• Replace the Recoil Bearing Block
• Disassembly Bar back in
  • cut out goes towards spring, depress spring
• Replace Trigger Assembly and Ejector
  • go in at an angle and guide it in
• Rear Trigger Pin
• Slide Stop
• Trigger Housing Pin
  • pin goes through slide stop hole goes, Push in lightly with your hand
• Striker Block and Striker
• Extractor Spring and Rod
• End Cap
• Barrel
• Recoil Spring
• Replace Slide

Glock 22 Function Checks

Make sure your Glock 22 is unloaded. Remove the magazine and visually inspect the chamber to ensure no round in the barrel.

Point the firearm in a safe direction.

With the trigger finger off the trigger, pull the slide back and release it.

Press the trigger to test the trigger pull. The trigger should have a smooth pull with a clean break. Also, make sure the trigger resets properly after releasing it.

Rack the slide to the rear, then press the slide stop lever to release the slide forward. Repeat this process multiple times to test the slide lock and release mechanisms.

With the slide closed, press the magazine release button to eject the magazine.

Before storing your firearm, wipe it down with a cyclone gun cloth.

If you encounter any issues or problems during the function check, discontinue using the firearm and consult a professional gunsmith for further inspection and repair.

FAQ for Complete Glock 22 Disassembly: