Understanding Glock Switches: The Rising Concern of Automatic Conversion Devices – Site Title. In recent years, the phenomenon of “Glock switches” has emerged as a significant concern among law enforcement agencies and firearm regulators. A glock switch, also known as an auto sear, is a small device that can be attached to a semi-automatic Glock pistol, converting it into a fully automatic weapon. This transformation allows the firearm to discharge multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger, effectively making it an illegal machine gun under United States federal law. The Mechanics Behind Glock Switches To understand the implications of Glock switches, it’s essential to grasp their basic mechanics.
A standard Glock pistol is designed to fire one round per trigger pull. The Glock switch overrides this mechanism by altering the firearm’s internal components, specifically the trigger and firing pin assembly. When installed, the switch manipulates the sear, causing the firearm to continue firing as long as the trigger is held down, resulting in rapid, successive shots.