Glocks Chambered In 45 Acp - Of all the semi-automatic .45 Auto pistol options, the Glock certainly has a respectable position. Glock is known for its simple and reliable designs, an important factor for many shooters. Glock was able to mediate between those who wanted a larger caliber of ammunition in a pistol and those who were tired of only carrying 6 or 7 bullets in a magazine. This brings us to the weapon we are looking at for this review, the Glock 21.
Glock introduced the G21 SF (Short Frame) in 2007 to compete for a DOD contract. The contract didn't reach much, but the weapon gained traction with law enforcement and civilians because of its unique features. Based on the Generation 3 Glock 21, the company made only a few changes for this variant. We shot and operated the Glock 21 SF for this Glock 21 review.
Glocks Chambered In 45 Acp
Of the changes seen in the Glock 21 SF, the most prominent (as the name suggests) is a smaller frame circumference. Not to be confused with frame width, the short frame provides less frame depth than the Gen 3 version of the Glock 21. This shorter frame depth allows those with smaller hands the opportunity to gain an accurate grip and access functions. In newer generations (Gen 4), the Glock 21's grip length is almost identical to the G21 SF's.
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As mentioned above, the Glock 21 SF is chambered in one of the "big" calibers: .45 ACP. Most shooters know the 45 ACP as a classic caliber and many self-defense shooters still rely on the cartridge today.
Glock combines tradition with capability in the Glock 21 SF. A capacity of 13 + 1 is offered by the Glock 21 SF, a seemingly reasonable number considering the size of the frame.
Another unique aspect of the Glock 21 SF is the inclusion of an ambidextrous magazine release. While this feature is convenient, I feel like functionality is missing. I will discuss this in more detail later in the review. Some select Glock 21 SF frames are manufactured with a Picatinny-style rail for accessory mounting; Not much yet and case compatibility is a concern.
Many of the Glock 21 SF variants available today come from police departments that rotate them out of commission. These swaps can be found for as little as $350-400 in some places, definitely a great deal.
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When I first got my hands on the G21, I quickly felt it in my hands. I know not everyone likes or enjoys the Glock "experience", but as someone who owns and shoots a Glock, I feel comfortable. Some might argue that the Glock is an "acquired" taste, although if you like the ergonomics of the Glock, the 21 SF feels right.
Although it is designed to be used by people of different hand sizes, the frame still has a solid feel. I often shoot a Glock 17 and this frame provides more grip than the 17. While I don't mind the feel or size of the frame, I still have trouble accessing the magazine release. I'll cover this later when I get to the part of making things work.
My expectations of how this gun would handle recoil and overall performance were wrong. Based on the caliber, I expected a little difficulty with those follow-up shots. However, I was surprised. This gun works very well in my experience. The gun ran through all the types of ammo I gave it without a problem. I was really impressed with the handling of the recovery.
Although the frame is comfortable, I find myself wishing it had more textured surfaces. Especially after shooting for a while or with sweat involved, the G21 SF starts to feel slippery. The slide of the 21 SF felt without grooves in the front and seemed difficult to hold on a consistent basis. Some frame dotting work and slip sprockets are a nice aftermarket addition.
You Gotta Love 45acp
Shooting with the G21 SF gave me a lot of confidence in my hand, a confidence that grew when I realized that fast and accurate tracking shots were very possible. I did several drills with a C-zone steel plate from about 15 yards while moving forward and backward. The consistent hits and control I experienced with the Glock 21 made this pistol a lot of fun to shoot.
Glocks are not so well known for their fancy factory sights or triggers. They do a job that is usually not exceptional. My experience with the G21 SF matches every other Glock I've shot in this regard.
The standard white "U" shaped rear sight with the standard front post can be seen here on the G21 SF. I've gotten enough of these ranges to feel confident, but again, I've used these ranges before. If you buy one of these G21 SFs (usually a police swap), be prepared to change the sights for low light use. I know it's wishful thinking, but the fiber optic front with the aftermarket black rear options seems fine to me.
My testing of the G21 SF trigger showed an average trigger weight of 5.5 pounds using the Lyman trigger scale, pretty average for a Glock trigger. I know many are against these reasons. I've shot enough Glock pistols at this point that they don't bother me too much.
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This particular trigger feels smoother than a regular Glock trigger. It is possible that this is due to his age and years of "stealing". Regardless, I appreciate the smooth capture and sharp separation. No real complaints from me here.
For the most part, the weapon is simple and straightforward. it is a Glock after all. I still noticed a few things about the functionality that turned out to be very annoying: the ambidextrous magazine release was a first. I feel Glock has compromised functionality here to meet DOD contract requirements.
The magazine release design provides a smaller footprint than a typical Glock magazine release. I actually had to dismantle the grip and twist the frame to access this build. My hands are on the average side of size. I was a bit surprised that I struggled so much to get the right angle to make the magazine changes.
The slide release also seems a little off to me. While the design seems similar to a normal release Glock slide, it doesn't seem to work like one. It takes incredible, precise pressure to activate the slider release. I ended up manually setting the slide for most of my shooting.
Glock Model 21
This may not be a deal breaker (and I know there are aftermarket slide release options out there), but I feel it's worth mentioning.
As part of my range testing of the Glock 21 SF, I used a Labrador doppler radar to obtain ballistic data. Using Speer Gold Dot 230 Gr. ammo, I fired 5 shots at the running Labrador.
The average muzzle velocity for this test was 832 feet per second from the G21 SF. Speer advertised a muzzle velocity of 890 feet per second. Here is a closer look at the ammo performance I recorded in the Glock 21.
The Glock 21 SF is clearly a tried and tested firearm that has seen years of mandatory use. With Glock availability and aftermarket support, it's hard to go wrong with a firearm like this. Considering the price and the potential to find many used variants in good condition, the value seems high.
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My experience with the G21SF exceeded my expectations performance wise and I honestly want one now. It's not a perfect pistol in my opinion, but it has great potential to be adapted with some simple aftermarket mods. If you are looking for a reliable, well-built .45 Auto, the Glock 21 SF may be for you. It is the customer's responsibility to comply with all federal, state and local laws. All firearms MUST be picked up by the BUYER (ACTUAL BUYER) at a selected Sportsman's Warehouse or selected Independent Firearms Dealer (“FFL”). A valid identification document issued by the US or state government, or a combination of government-issued documents, showing the buyer's current residential address, must be presented at the designated location of store before completing any procedures related to firearms and starting a background check. . The actual purchaser must be 18 years of age or older to purchase rifles and/or shotguns. The actual purchaser must be 21 years of age or older to purchase pistols and/or receivers, frames, silencers, or firearms. Some states have stricter laws regarding the age of a firearms purchaser, and Sportsman's Warehouse complies with those requirements.
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Glock G21SF 45 Auto (ACP) 4.61in Black
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