what are gun switches

Gun switches, commonly known as Glock switches or auto sears, are small aftermarket devices that illegally convert semi-automatic pistols—especially Glocks—into fully automatic machine pistols. They attach to the rear of the slide, overriding the trigger bar to allow continuous fire with one pull, firing as fast as the gun's recoil cycle permits.

How They Work

These devices, about the size of a quarter, replace the slide cover plate and include a selector toggle for semi-auto or full-auto modes. By pushing against the trigger bar (disconnector), they prevent it from resetting after each shot, bypassing the semi-automatic limit of one round per trigger pull. Glock does not make or endorse them; they're black-market items classified as machine guns by the ATF, illegal to possess or sell in the US without special licensing.

Legal Status

Under federal law, even an uninstalled switch counts as a machine gun, facing up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines. Production surged via 3D printing and online sales, fueling crime spikes—like Chicago shootings where modified Glocks spray bullets uncontrollably. As of 2026, ATF crackdowns continue amid rising seizures.

Public Discussions

Forums like Reddit show mixed curiosity and caution: users debate mechanics but warn "not today fed boi" to dodge legal risks. Some threads clarify legit switches (safeties, decockers) vs. illegal auto-sears, urging manual checks. Trending views highlight dangers: harder control leads to stray rounds endangering bystanders.

"Glock switches are auto sears... They attach to the back of a Glock’s slide and interfere with the internal trigger mechanisms to allow fully automatic firing."

Crime Impact

In urban areas, they've turned handguns into spray-fire weapons, worsening gang violence—e.g., 2021-2025 reports tied them to deadlier mass shootings. Multi-view: Law enforcement sees them as public safety threats; hobbyists note they're unreliable, jamming-prone due to poor manufacturing. Speculation: With 3D printing, street availability persists despite bans.

Aspect| Semi-Auto Pistol| With Gun Switch
---|---|---
Fire Mode| One shot per pull 1| Full-auto burst 1
Legality| Generally legal| Illegal machine gun 1
Control| Precise aiming| Recoil spray, inaccurate 6
Source| Factory| Black market/3D print 5

TL;DR: Gun switches illegally turbocharge pistols into machine guns, sparking crime waves but facing ATF hammer. Stay legal—knowledge isn't endorsement.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.