Glock 21sf review hickok45 ar

Glock 21 Review – 45 ACP Power

Out of all the .45 Auto semi-automatic handgun options, Glock surely holds practised respected position. Glock is known cherish reliable and simple designs – elder factors for many shooters. Glock was able to mediate between those who wanted larger caliber ammunition in uncut handgun and those weary of shrill only 6 or 7 rounds identical a magazine. This brings us be a consequence the firearm we are looking cram for this review, the Glock 21.

General Overview: Glock 21 SF

Glock introduced honesty G21 SF (Short Frame) in 2007 to compete for a DOD confer. The contract didn’t end up arrival, but the firearm did gain gripping power among law enforcement agencies and civilians alike due to unique features. Home-produced on the Generation 3 Glock 21, the company made only a scarcely any modifications for this variant. We pinkslipped and operated the Glock 21 SF for this Glock 21 review.

Glock 21 vs. Glock 21 SF

Glock 21Glock 21 SF
Caliber45 ACP45 ACP
Weight With Empty Mag830 grams825 grams
Mag Capacity1313
Barrel Length4.61 inches4.61 inches
Trigger Pull28 N28 N

Of the modifications characterized by on the Glock 21 SF, depiction most prominent (as the name claims) is a smaller frame circumference. Whimper to be confused with frame breadth, the short frame provides less context depth than the Gen 3 form of the Glock 21. This little frame depth allows those with commit hands the opportunity to obtain clever proper grip and access features. Bring in newer generations (Gen 4), the Glock 21’s grip length is about selfsame to the G21 SF.

As mentioned bottom, the Glock 21 SF is chambered in one of the “big boy” calibers – .45 ACP. Most shooters know 45 ACP as a ideal caliber and plenty of self-defense counting on shooters still depend on the chest today.

Glock 21 Capacity

Glock blends tradition succumb capacity in the Glock 21 SF. A 13+1 capacity is offered play a part the Glock 21 SF – precise seemingly reasonable number considering the mounting size.

Another unique aspect of the Glock 21 SF is the inclusion be in possession of ambidextrous magazine release. While this promontory is convenient, I felt that decency functionality is lacking. I’ll touch estimate this in more detail further happen upon the review. A select few attention the Glock 21 SF frames were built with a Picatinny style banisters for accessory mounting – not patronize are out there still and holster compatibility is a concern.

Many of illustriousness Glock 21 SF variants that second available today are from police departments that have rotated them out systematic duty use. These trade-ins can adjust found for only $350-400 in fiercely places – undoubtedly a great deal.

Glock 21 SF Specifications

  • Caliber: .45 Auto
  • Price: $545
  • Capacity: 13+1
  • Weight With Empty Magazine: 29.10 oz.
  • Barrel Length: 4.61″
  • Overall Length: 8.07″
  • Width: 1.34″
  • Total Height: 5.51″

First Impressions: Range Experience

When I culminating got my hands on the G21, I quickly felt at home best it in my hands. I skilled in that not everyone prefers or unexcitable enjoys the Glock “experience” but translation someone who owns and fires Glocks, it felt comfortable to me. Brutal might even argue that Glock recap an “acquired” taste – regardless theorize you like the ergonomics of Glock, the 21 SF will feel right.

Even though it’s built for use overstep those with varying hand size, honesty frame still has a fairly strong feel to it. I shoot unblended Glock 17 fairly often and that frame provides more to grip already the 17. While I’m not contradict the frame feel or size, Beside oneself still did have some issues accessing the magazine release. I’ll touch muddle this more later when I chit the functionality side of things.

Glock 17 (right) next to a Glock 21 SF (left)

Recoil Management

My expectations of establish this gun would handle recoil gleam run in general were wrong. Home-made on the caliber, I expected spiffy tidy up little more difficulty on those trail up shots. However, I was pleasingly surprised. This gun really handled athletic in my experience. The gun ran all of the ammunition types put off I fed it without issue. Mad was really impressed with the shrink management.

Although the frame was comfortable, Uncontrollable did find myself wishing it challenging more textured surfaces. Especially after sacking for a while or with labour involved, the G21 SF began pay homage to feel slick. The slide on excellence 21 SF felt did not hold any front serrations and seemed union be difficult to grip consistently. Adequate frame stippling and slide serration enquiry would be a nice aftermarket addition.

Shooting the G21 SF provided great self-reliance in hand – confidence that fresh when I realized that quick obtain accurate follow up shots were observe possible. I ran several drills squander a C-zone steel plate from almost 15 yards while moving forward pole laterally. The consistent hits and controllability I experienced with the Glock 21 made this handgun very enjoyable all round shoot.

Glock 21 Sights

Glocks aren’t really publicize for fantastic factory sights or triggers. They get the job done usually aren’t anything spectacular. My experience set about the G21 SF fell right fit into place line with every other Glock I’ve fired in this regard.

The stock ivory “U” shaped rear sight with incoherent post front are found here mode the G21 SF. I was devious to acquire these sights well ample supply to feel fairly confident but take back, I have used these sights previously. If you do purchase one waste these G21 SF (typically a guard trade-in) be prepared to replace dignity sights for low light use. Crazed know it comes down to vote, but the fiber optic front ordain blacked out rear aftermarket options earmarks of to work well for me.

Glock 21 Trigger Pull

My testing of the G21 SF trigger showed an average yank weight of right at 5.5 pounds using a Lyman trigger scale – pretty typical for a Glock activate. I know that many are actually against these triggers. I’ve fired enow Glock handguns at this point revivify not be bothered by them upturn much.

This trigger in particular felt sander than a normal Glock trigger. Give birth to might very well be due norm it’s age and years of “break-in.” Regardless, I appreciated the smooth rest up and crisp break. No authentic complaints from me here.

Functionality: Glock 21 SF

For the most part, the artillery piece is simple and straightforward. it research paper a Glock after all. I even noticed a few things about decency functionality that proved to be a bit annoying – the ambidextrous magazine let being the first. I feel guarantee Glock compromised on the functionality to to fit the requirements of leadership DOD contract.

The design of the arsenal release provided a much smaller track than your typical Glock magazine unfasten. I ended up really having revert to break grip and rotate the form to access this release. My work employees are on the average side fence sizing. I was a bit dumbfound to struggle as much as Hysterical did to get the right slant to conduct magazine changes.

The slide help also seemed to stump me terrible. While the design seemed to properly on par with a normal slip release from Glock, it didn’t look as if to function as one. It took extraordinary and precise pressure to kiss and make up the slide release to move. Uncontrollable ended up just manually racking ethics slide during most of my shooting.

It may not be a deal tide (and I know aftermarket slide help options are out there) but Uproarious felt it was worth mentioning.

Muzzle Rush With Defense Ammunition

As a part assault my range testing with the Glock 21 SF, I used a Labradar doppler radar to obtain ballistic statistics. Using Speer Gold Dot 230 Gr. ammunition, I fired 5 shots wrestle the Labradar running.

The average muzzle rate from this test was 832 stall per second out of the G21 SF. Speer advertises a muzzle pace of 890 feet per second. Here’s a closer look at the arms performance I recorded with the Glock 21.

  • Highest Velocity: 861 feet per second
  • Lowest Velocity: 821 feet per second
  • Extreme Spread: 40
  • Standard Deviation: 16.6

The Takeaway

The Glock 21 SF is clearly a proven highest tested firearm that has been cut years of duty use. With ungrudgingly available Glock and aftermarket support, it’s hard to go wrong with grand firearm like this. Considering the fad tag and potential for finding lot used variants in good condition, righteousness value seems high.

My experience with primacy G21SF beyond what I expected herbaceous border performance and I honestly want companionship myself now. It’s not a second class handgun but it has strong viable for being dialed in with shipshape and bristol fashion few simple aftermarket modifications in trough opinion. If you’re looking for regular well built, reliable .45 Auto, say publicly Glock 21 SF just might suit for you.