Glock 21 and the .45 Super

[David Sinko]

Does anybody have the Ace Custom conversion or complete pistol? Any comments on how well this actually works?

I also notice that they claim the finished pistol MUST be ported (both barrel and slide) and that the pistol may be damaged if it is not ported. I also notice that some of their other conversions of pistols from other manufacturers do not require porting. I am not aware of any other instance in which a handgun MUST be ported to avoid damage. How can a pistol be damaged by NOT being ported?

Dave Sinko

 

[Maj Dad]

In the Glock's case, I suspect that the recoil would be damaging to the frame unless some of the gasses were bled off by porting/muzzle braking, just like shooting an unported/braked 50 BMG rifle would be damaging to you I am wondering if trimmed 30-06/7.62x51 brass would work in the round - I don't know how much new brass costs, but I have experimentally made 45 acp brass from 7.62 & 30-06. You have to inside ream the case because the brass is thicker and the web much stronger - interesting. I have a nice Glock 21 languishing in the safe...

 

[Maj Dad]

I found this on Ace Custom's website after getting interested:

The 5 port gas expansion type compensator, with 3 gas deflectors plates, plus utilizing the extra gas pressure available with our "45Super"® ammunition, effectively delays the unlocking process, which reduces slide recoil impulse energy and consequently muzzle flip and felt recoil! The results of this 5-port compensator system are dramatic!

 

[David Sinko]

I thought I checked every part of the Ace Custom website. Where did you find this info?

I still don't understand why the porting is actually necessary. I'm surprised to hear that porting is actually necessary to contribute to the proper function of a semiautomatic pistol. I expect that it reduces muzzle flip somewhat, but this is the first time I have heard that porting is necessary to ensure proper function. And I still don't understand how the gun can be damaged without it.

Dave Sinko

 

[David Sinko]

Oh, and Midway sells Starline .45 Super brass for just under 50 cents each. I'm a cheapskate, but I wouldn't go the trouble of cutting down rifle brass when the end product is so readily available in finished form.

I also have two Glock 21s but this does seem like an expensive proposition. If I were willing to spend the money on any conversion I'd take a hard look at the .50 GI.

Dave Sinko

 

[GLOOB]

I still don't understand why the porting is actually necessary.

Probably has to do with the lock time. When you up the power factor, the gun unlocks faster and pressures remain unsafe for a longer duration. If the porting pushes gases backwards, it will delay the unlocking of the pistol. You can't easily add mass to the slide, and there's only so far you can get by just increasing the recoil spring of a design before you start having malfunctions (failure to eject) and increased frame battering (from the slide closing too hard). If the breech unlocks a hair too soon, you start getting stuck cases and kb's.

Edit: just saw MajDad's post. That covers it. The damage would come from a kb blowing up the pistol!

The 1911 .460 Rowland conversion also requires a muzzle brake, IIRC.

 

[JROC]

If you want some hard hitting, fast moving .45 ACP then I recommend this stuff. The price of it sure has gone up in the last few months.
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_34&products_id=93

I bought a box and still have most of it left as I don't like firing it out of my 1911 as this stuff has some real power behind it, and it puts a beating on my Colt Combat Elite. I have a G20SF, but if I had a G21 I would throw a stiffer recoil assembly in it and shoot this stuff without worrying about putting premature wear on my gun. This stuff has ballistics not too far off of full power 10mm loads.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I am wondering if trimmed 30-06/7.62x51 brass would work in the round - I don't know how much new brass costs, but I have experimentally made 45 acp brass from 7.62 & 30-06. You have to inside ream the case because the brass is thicker and the web much stronger

That's basically all .45 Super cases are.

I run super in my stock 4506 and 4516-1, but they are rivaled by few (if any) production guns for brute strength.

 

[Drail]

.45 Super in a Glock. Reminds me of all these kids I work with that decided it would be "cool" to install a high performance small block V8 in their Jeep and then wonder why they keep tearing up the drivetrain. I'm pretty sure Gaston wasn't thinking about cartridges like the .45 Super when he designed his frame.

 

[GLOOB]

But the G21 frame WAS initially designed for the 10mm. And it IS regarded as one of the toughest 10mm platforms around. And it IS a Glock. Heck, Glock 9mm's can handle 40SW without any modifications, pretty well. Many other 9mm handguns models had to have the slide beefed up to work with 40SW (Browning HP and Beretta 92, for starters).

So what if it fails after 25,000 rounds, instead of 100,000. It'll still outlast alloy frame pistols.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Heck, Glock 9mm's can handle 40SW without any modifications, pretty well.

Oh, yeah, they never blow up........

It'll still outlast alloy frame pistols.

You do realize that all forms of steel are alloys, right?

 

[gofastman]

Oh, yeah, they never blow up........

correct, Glock frames never blow up.

 

[MachIVshooter]

correct, Glock frames never blow up

Nope, never......

I own a G20..........and I will continue to use my S&W 1006 for the really hot stuff, because I like my hands.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

It can be, and has been done with a G21.... http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,67171.0.html