G21 vs G21 SF (or gen 4 g21)

[aliasneo07]

I've had a Glock 21 for a little over a year now. Its been a good shooter, accurate, and dead nuts reliable. But I hate the grip size. It's just too big, even for a big guy like me (6ft and a lot of lbs lol.) It makes one handed shooting harder than it should be, its hard to reach the magazine release properly, and its just....well...big and uncomfortable.

So my questions are two fold:

#1. Do you notice any appreciable difference between the G21 and the slimmer models? (G21 SF or Gen 4 G21?) I haven't held a SF or Gen 4 G21 as I'm having trouble tracking one down, but I'd like your input.

#2. If you were going to get a slimmer model, and were only concerned about reliability between the two, would you get a G21 SF or Gen 4 G21? I have heard of failures with the G21 SF magazine release...but have also heard of issues with the Gen 4, but thought it was mainly with the 9mm models. I don't care about the Gen 4 addon features like backstraps, mag release, dual recoil spring, etc. Reliability is the deciding factor.

Thanks for the input!

 

[powder]

Multi Qs there, let's see.

I have xxl size 12 hands, and my gen. 3 G21 has been preferred to me- I actually have extra thick grip tape on it.

I had a SF G21 and the feel and balance were off, but that's just for my hands.

I will be snagging a Gen 4 G21 in the next year or so, and that is based on the new dual stage RSA feel. My G36 has the dual stage and is definitively the softest shooting and most reliable .45 I have.

 

[Fiv3r]

I have medium hands, but I have adapted to the 21 as a SF was not available at the price point I had to spend.

It IS thick in my dinky mitts, but I shoot it so well. Honestly, after handling an SF model (but not shooting it), I don't think I would see a noticeable difference in the handling of the gun. A double stack .45 is a double stack .45, after all.

I don't see an appreciable difference in handling (at the cost of magazine capacity) until I get into the double stacks. My 36 was VERY easy to control and conceal. I was just never jazzed about the 6+1 capacity and how it is easily the Red-headed Step Child of the Glock line up regarding accessories and mags.

I found the 30 to be too fat, so I just went the full montey with a 21. In an "there can be only one" situation, the 21 would be what I would grab...thick ol' gorilla grip and all.

 

[marano35]

I like the 21.

I bought a Glock 21 a couple of months ago. I held both of them because the gun shop had both. I could tell no difference really so I went with what I know. I had a 21 back in 1991 and sold it stupidly, so I just went with the 21. The one I bought was a blue label gen3. I have put 100 rounds thru it and it is just as accurate as the one I had in 91. I have big hands and I think it feels good in my hand. I have a G19 and a G27 and I have found the 21's to be the most accurate handguns I have ever had out of the box. They have both shot right where I aim them.

 

[Inebriated]

Well the 21 is a brick, so unless you've got larger hands, you will find it unpleasant to hold. The SF is ok, but the mag release is still small, so people with smaller hands (from the ones I've talked to) don't get very much more benefit. The Gen 4 has a smaller grip, and a larger mag release. To me, it's the best-feeling 21, which is why I went that route. While I like the regular 21, the Gen 4 just feels much better (more aggressive grip texture, larger mag release, smaller grip).

The Gen 4's had issues when they were first released, but I bought my Gen 4 21 in Feb., and have put 2500 rounds without a failure.

 

[45_auto]

I have medium sized (normal) hands. I currently have several G3 Glocks in 9mm, and G2's in .40. I've always wanted a .45 Glock, but couldn't get past the fact that they felt like I was holding a 2x4.

I handled a G4 G21 in a gunshop about 6 months ago and bought it immediatly. The standard grip feels very similar to the full-size G3's. I've shot it in 2 GSSF matches and won 2 Glock shovels with it (2nd place, 1st place is a new Glock). Both myself and my son shoot it better than the 9mm's.

It handles so well I'm going to pick up a G4 G20 10mm as soon as I find one.

 

[Fotno]

#1. Do you notice any appreciable difference between the G21 and the slimmer models? (G21 SF or Gen 4 G21?) I haven't held a SF or Gen 4 G21 as I'm having trouble tracking one down, but I'd like your input.

When I was shopping for a my G30, I handled a G21, a G21SF, a G30 and a G30SF (All GEN3 models BTW). The difference between the standard models and the SF models was obvious to me.

#2. If you were going to get a slimmer model, and were only concerned about reliability between the two, would you get a G21 SF or Gen 4 G21? I have heard of failures with the G21 SF magazine release...but have also heard of issues with the Gen 4, but thought it was mainly with the 9mm models. I don't care about the Gen 4 addon features like backstraps, mag release, dual recoil spring, etc. Reliability is the deciding factor.

Thanks for the input!

I own a G26 Gen4 and a G19 Gen4 and they've both been absolutely reliable, never failing to fire or cycle through several thousand rounds each. If the choice was between a Gen3 or Gen4 G21SF I would be happy to take either home.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I have big hands but the G20/21 frames don't agree with me because of an old and badly healed fracture to my right thumb. Put a rubber grip sock on the frame and it's okay, but I've found that the 20SF frame doesn't present the same issue at all. Admittedly, my issue is very much peculiar to me, but it was enough that when I was in the market for a 10mm Glock, I went with the G20SF rather than the full sized.

 

[12131]

I had the G21 years ago. Big fat chunky grip. Sold it.

Then the 21SF came out with all the hype. Fondled it again and again. What a letdown. A little less chunky, but not by much. Did not buy one.

The 21SF RTF is much better, mainly due to its RTF. I love RTF. Makes it so much easier to handle. Have one.

The 21 Gen4, without the back strap on, is a little better than the 21SF, mainly due to it semi RTF, but not as good as the 21SF RTF mentioned above. Have one, and I actually did some home stippling on the front and back straps to give me more traction. Like it, but still, it's not as good as the 21SF RTF.

 

[1KPerDay]

This vid by Sturmgewehre may have some value for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eynv1q_Ttb0

 

[EBShooting]

I've had the 21 and currently have the 21SF. There really is not much difference at all. Truthfully, i have never been able to feel the difference. Too bad I can't the the Gen 4 here in California yet.

 

[sargents1]

I've had a Glock 21 for a little over a year now. Its been a good shooter, accurate, and dead nuts reliable. But I hate the grip size. It's just too big, even for a big guy like me (6ft and a lot of lbs lol.) It makes one handed shooting harder than it should be, its hard to reach the magazine release properly, and its just....well...big and uncomfortable.

So my questions are two fold:

#1. Do you notice any appreciable difference between the G21 and the slimmer models? (G21 SF or Gen 4 G21?) I haven't held a SF or Gen 4 G21 as I'm having trouble tracking one down, but I'd like your input.

#2. If you were going to get a slimmer model, and were only concerned about reliability between the two, would you get a G21 SF or Gen 4 G21? I have heard of failures with the G21 SF magazine release...but have also heard of issues with the Gen 4, but thought it was mainly with the 9mm models. I don't care about the Gen 4 addon features like backstraps, mag release, dual recoil spring, etc. Reliability is the deciding factor.

Thanks for the input!

1. Yes there is an appreciable difference between the standard G20/21 frame and the SF (short frame) G20/21 frame. Front to back it is about 1/8in [3mm]. If you have issues with the standard G21 the G21SF will be better. Whether or not it is enough to make you happy is hard to say. I have big hands and I find that both are comfortable, but I own the SF.

2. Reliability. I haven't heard of a lot of issues with any of the Glock .45s. I think the early G21SF with the ambi mag release gave some issues but I would not let that worry me. If it did become a problem I am sure someone has a fix. If it were me, I would have to handle the G21SF back to back with the Gen4 G21 in order to make the decision. I currently own the G20SF and I love it, but there is always room for improvement.

here is a back to back of the Glock 20 standard frame on the left and the Glock 20SF on the right.

 

[GLOOB]

I have heard of failures with the G21 SF magazine release

Only a tiny percentage of G21SF's were made with the questionable ambi release and/or the picatinny rail. Most of them have a standard mag release.

It seems like there is not a very big difference in the trigger reach between the guns (G21 3rd gen and G21SF), and this is the biggest dimension of the gun to me. I can just barely reach the trigger appropriately on either one, but the rest of the grip is pretty comfy for me on either model. For accuracy and recoil control, I feel like my G21SF has the best grip of any of my handguns. The only thing I'd wish for is a tiny bit less pretravel in the trigger. The difference in the SF is mostly in the hump, so it mostly affects how your bottom two fingers grip the gun. This also makes the effective grip angle of the G21SF a little flatter than most all other Glocks. If you have a trigger finger issue (and this sounds like the case, if you have no trouble shooting two-handed), I wonder if a trigger job that takes out some of the pretravel could improve the ergos for you.

If you couldn't get used to the G21 grip, it's unlikely that you will love either the G21SF or the Gen4 G21. But it might become just barely manageable.

 

[Undrpsi]

Glock 21 Gen 4 owner...

I purchased the Glock 21 Gen 4 when it was (re)released earlier this year. I went to a local gun store and fondled both the 21SF (gen 3) and the new 21 (gen 4). I really couldn't feel a difference and the salesman said the gen 4 was basically the size of a 21SF. Make no mistake though...these are LARGE guns no matter which version you buy. This is the kind of pistol that if you can't hit them with bullets you can beat them to death with it.

Havind said that...I have very small hands...but I shoot the 21 fine. Mostly because I have shot 45 acp for so long the recoil holds no surprises.

I compare it VERY FAVORABLY to the full size Sig P250 (which I also own)...Where I have worked very hard and invested in better sights and some machine work JUST to get the Sig acceptable...the Glock just worked out of the box. Neither is a tack driver...but I find the Glock a better deal, and, out of the box, a very good weapon. YMMV!!!

Jay

 

[aliasneo07]

The *only* reason i'm thinking about Gen 4 vs Gen 3 SF is because with such a thick gun I think the more aggressive grip texture might help... and I don't like the idea of grip tape/stuff on my gun.

Reliability with the two guns...any info? Gen 4 seems okay in the .45 platform?

Also, do the current Gen 3 G21 SFs have ambi mag releases/pic rail or is that done with?

 

[CZ57]

I considered the 21 when I decided I wanted a polymer frame .45 but I bypassed the Glock because of issues like Glocked brass (ejection port is not relieved) and the polygonal bore Considered the XD but waited for the XDm and its interchangeable backstraps. Plus, the XDm has a barrel length that is almost identical to the G21 and it is conventionally rifled and is a match grade barrel. Mine is very accurate. Powder river precision makes a trigger kit (that I have in my XDm) that makes the XDms trigger oustanding at around 4 pounds with no overtravel. Just a thought, but with the smallest backstrap installed you may find the XDm more to your hand's liking. My barrel measures 4.58 vs the 4.60 of the G21.

 

[GLOOB]

issues like Glocked brass (ejection port is not relieved) and the polygonal bore

Never knew the ejection port was an issue on a G21. I get a little ding on some of my 9mm brass, but it sizes right out. I never noticed any dings on my 45 brass.

The polygonal barrel is great! More velocity, and it loves cast bullets!

[XDm]... is a match grade barrel

... is a marketing label. Can't believe people bother citing this as a feature.

 

[Inebriated]

The *only* reason i'm thinking about Gen 4 vs Gen 3 SF is because with such a thick gun I think the more aggressive grip texture might help... and I don't like the idea of grip tape/stuff on my gun.

Reliability with the two guns...any info? Gen 4 seems okay in the .45 platform?

Also, do the current Gen 3 G21 SFs have ambi mag releases/pic rail or is that done with?

All current Gen 4's are as reliable as Gen 3's. Those issues stopped over a year ago.

And the pic rail/ambi release was a massive failure, so no, that's not around.

 

[chris in va]

The grip on my 21sf was too slick and I had to add skate tape. Never got used to the grip angle though.

 

[GLOOB]

And the pic rail/ambi release was a massive failure, so no, that's not around.

I think they made it as a limited edition, initially designed for a military trial that didn't happen. The pic rail looks kinda neat. The only thing I don't like about it is finding a holster.

The ambi release hasn't proved popular, and it appears they dropped it. Kinda seems silly that they will have to put an extra cutout on all their future magazines, just for the few ambi release guns that are out there. Even though I have an ambi G21, it still seems silly to me.

FWIW, the ambi release doesn't feel as good to me, but I like the design and function. It is almost impossible to accidentally drop a full mag. Problem is that people force it, anyway, and the mag release eventually can break. I just push up on the bottom of a full mag before hitting the button.