The HRED from White Sound Defense is a direct replacement for the Glock extractor depressor assembly that is designed to provide more reliable extraction. This functionality has become especially relevant as Generation 4 and later Generation 3 Glocks have been experiencing reliability issues that seem to stem from inconsistent extraction.
The HRED (bottom) is a complete redesign of the standard extractor depressor assembly.
How It’s Different
The HRED differs in several ways from the Glock OEM extractor depressor. It isn’t different just for the sake of being different. Each difference represents a purposeful redesign to enhance reliability.
The HRED comes with White Sound Defense’s heavy duty extractor spring. This heavier spring provides more tension than the stock spring. It is ground flat on the ends to ensure that they do not bind or misalign. This spring is available separately for use with the factory extractor depressor unit.
The most obvious difference between the OEM parts and the HRED is that the OEM parts insert with the short end toward the rear of the Glock and the HRED inserts with the short toward the extractor. This is done to shift the mass of the unit so that the movement of the slide assists the plunger rather than working against it.
The entire HRED unit is made from stainless steel. It has a larger diameter than the stock part so that it resists movement and binding in the extractor depressor channel.
Every material, dimension, and function was scrutinized and tweaked for reliability during the creation of the HRED.
Does it Work?
I installed the HRED in my Glock 17 Generation 3 RTF2. This particular G17 was produced sometime in early to mid 2010 as far as I can tell. It has experienced no stoppages through just over 600 rounds but it did exhibit some very inconsistent extraction. It would kick one piece of brass way over my shoulder like it should and then the next would dribble out of the ejection port and flop onto my forearms. This seemed to happen with several different types of ammo. The weak extraction seemed to happen about 1 in 5 times.
After the installation of the HRED, I have seen consistent extraction. In fact, I haven’t had a piece of brass hit my forearms since the installation. I have just over 400 rounds on the G17 since I installed the HRED without any stoppages. Stoppages seems much less likely now that the G17 is ejecting consistently.
Does it work? It has worked for me so far. For what it’s worth, several users are reporting online that the HRED alone has cured the reliability issues that they were having with their Gen4 9mm Glocks.
Installation is simple using the included diagram and easy to follow instructions.
Conclusion
Is the HRED the cure for your Glock reliability woes? It might just be. It is certainly a well designed and well executed unit that could even help improve the reliability and durability of Glocks that aren’t having issues. I am impressed with the results that I have witnessed from the HRED. As with any new part, only time and testing in your particular firearm will tell the whole story.
You can read a far more technical and detailed description of how the HRED works at White Sound Defense’s website.
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[…] If you had no problems and then you started having problems the first thing I would look at is the extractor and see if it’s chipped or cracked. Do you close the slide on a chambered round? This will crack the extractor. this might help Review: White Sound Defense H.R.E.D. – Jerking the Trigger […]