MAY 4, 2009
Frank's Review
Tactical Equipment
Evaluation
GTUL Glock Mag Tool / Cleaner
So... I’ve been a Glock armorer since the early ‘90s. Simple
guns that work right – reliably. They aren’t difficult to disassemble
or maintain with the exception of one thing: Sometimes the magazines can
be a pain in the backside to get apart, clean and reassembled. The toughest
part is squeezing the sides just the right way. I always wondered why someone
didn’t make a tool to help with that, and now they have. Enter the
GTUL (said “G-tool”). Currently made to fit the 9mm/.40S&W
size Glock magazines, this tool makes disassembly and cleaning much easier.
The GTUL cleaner kit includes two things:
First is the magazine disassembly tool. This is, in my opinion, the greatest
blessing of the kit. As I said, taking the magazines apart has always been
a challenge to me and I've seen more than a few officers cussing, gritting
their teeth and fuming as they struggle to get the base plate off the magazines.
Using the Glock Armorer's tool to push the lock plate up into the magazine
is easy. Squeezing the sides of the base of the magazines just right to
release the base plate is the challenge - and then holding everything just
right as you slide the base plate off.
In the picture above right the magazine disassembly tool is (obviously)
the red circular device. What you can't see so clearly is the nubs of plastic
that squeeze in the sides of the magazine in just the right place on either
side to release the base plate. To accomplish magazine disassembly, here's
what you do:
- Make sure the magazine is empty (duh)
- Insert the magazine into the GTUL device so that the front
of the magazine is point toward the small opening of the GTUL
- With the magazine fully inserted, use your punch (Glock Armorer
Tool) to push the locking plate out of place, up into the magazine
- Squeeze the GTUL so that the small opening is CLOSED together
- Hold it like that while you
- Use your inserted armorer tool (punch) to lever off the base
plate.
Pay attention because the locking plate and magazine spring are going to
come shooting out at you once the base plate is removed.
For those of you who have had your Glocks for years and have never disassembled
your magazines, you're in for a potentially rude surprise. The insides of
the magazine bodies will be filthy and the magazine springs will be nasty
as well. You might be surprised at how much yuck you find up under the magazines
follower (that thing the bullets sit on). Clean the locking plate, base
plate and follower as you would any other part of your Glock. You can use
a solvent (make sure no NITRO solvent is used) or simply dishsoap and hot
water. For the magazine spring and the magazine body use a quality solvent
and the brush provided in the GTUL cleaning kit. (The brush is the second
item included)
In the handle of the brush, in case you hadn't realized it, there's a punch
extension. That relieves you of having to dig out a separate armorer's tool
to perform the magazine disassembly. The stiff-bristled nylon brush is sized
to provide plenty of friction inside the magazine body. Wear eye protection
and pay attention to the angle you hold the magazine body as you run the
brush back and forth. Small droplets of solvent will fly as the bristles
clear the magazine body with each stroke back and forth.
In short order you'll have your magazines clean. Reassembly is fairly easy
and no tools are required.
On the GTUL
Products webpage you can purchase the GTUL (that red "C" looking part)
for $9.95 and the brush for $14.95 - or you can get them together for
$19.95. GTUL also sells Blitz silicone clothes for $5.95 and recommends
wiping out the magazine body, wiping the spring and follower prior to
reassembly.
Having just picked up six used 9mm magazines for my Glock 19, the GTUL
Cleaning Kit came in handy as they all needed to be stripped down and inspected.
Each of them needed to be cleaned (they were range magazines from the Clinton
ear and I don't think they'd ever been previously disassembled). The GTUL
Cleaning Kit made it an easier job and I think once you've tried it out
you'll appreciate it as well.
Stay Safe!
Borelli Consulting
