Glock 21 kaBOOM! Should I Buy One?

[LouisianaGunslinger]

I was considering a Glock 21 .45 ACP. While looking into it, I ran across people who had experienced "kaBOOM's" with them. As in, a catastrophic failure of the gun blowing up. After looking into that, it seems that the culprit may be the partially unsupported case mouth, although this is also up for debate. Supposedly, the Portland PD dropped the G21 because of these kB's.

To be fair, it seems that most of these kB's were with reloads or very overpressure ammo.

My question is, is this something to worry about? Would this be a gun I'd want to stake my life on?




Also, should I get a gen3 or gen4?

 

[Eric's Big Head]

My question is, is this something to worry about?

No

Would this be a gun I'd want to stake my life on?

Yes

Also, should I get a gen3 or gen4?

Either

 

[rferizano]

Do you listen to everything you hear? I heard the cow jumped over the moon too! Any generation will be just fine!

 

[Autolycus]

I would not worry about it. The Glock lineup of handguns is pretty stable and safe.

 

[beatledog7]

People driving Hondas have had crashes. Should I buy one?

 

[Loosedhorse]

I ran across people who had experienced "kaBOOM's" with them.

How many of those folks were missing their shooting hand? If none, sounds like a great gun to buy.

 

[HarcyPervin]

How many of those folks were missing their shooting hand? If none, sounds like a great gun to buy.

I could argue with that logic, but for the sake of keeping the thread on task, don't worry about it, unless you make a habit of double+ charging your reloads

 

[K-Rod]

Popping corn. LOL!!! You answered your own question. I don't know if you were being serious or not by this thread but you couldn't have expected to get serious answers.

I'm not a Glock "Junkie" like a lot of members here but, Glock or not, any firearm has the potential of going "Kaboom" if the operator is not paying attention.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I've heard of G22 and G23 kabooms, but not G21s. The .40 S&w round is a much higher pressure round than .45acp. That said, the kaboom problem was just a Glock issue, there were several designs that had partially unsupported chambers... and even then, the kaboom problem was more associated with bad handloads and bullet set back. If you use factory loaded ammunition and check it for set back, you most likely will never have a problem. (and the chamber support issue has been fixed)


long story short, don't worry about it.


And no, I'm not a Glock guy (CZ forever)

 

[Fiv3r]

Lots of very, very worn G21's out there that have never had any explosive issues. I would say you are probably in lightning strike territory if you use quality factory ammo or reload your own to reasonable specs.

I love my G21. I'd trust my life to it in a heartbeat.

 

[LouisianaGunslinger]

(and the chamber support issue has been fixed)

Do you have a source for this?

 

[jmr40]

This guy can't seem to find a way to break his G-21, and he has tried very hard for about 10 years now.

http://theprepared.com/content/view/90//administrator/

 

[LouisianaGunslinger]

http://theprepared.com/content/view/90//administrator/

I saw that article years ago. Doesn't really convince me as it is too anecdotal, and no way to really verify it

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Do you have a source for this?

Somewhere...

The long and short of it is that somewhere between 2005 and 2010 Glock changed the .40 barrels to provide more chamber support. Right about the same time they changed some other things. Coincidentally, you can tell if you have a barrel with the increase support by looking at the pentagon next to the Glock logo on the chamber. If it's got a dot in the middle of the pentagon, you have the improved barrel.

 

[hogshead]

The 21 is a 45 . I had one for years and shot ever kind of bullet I came across in it.Never had a jam or any kind of problem. Shot probably 2500 lead bullets through it too. Before I found out you are not supposed to. Great guns I would absolutely trust my life to one.

 

[VA27]

I've only seen one G21 kaboom. It was caused by the careless user loading a 40 cal round into the mag, with the expected results: Click! Tap, rack, KaBoom! Bulged the barrel and slide, no harm to the frame, magazine or shooter.

Get one...and pay attention to the rounds as you're loading them into the mag.

 

[trex1310]

Was the "kaboom" fact or fiction? I've heard of 1911's having a
kaboom.





Not really, I just made that up. See how easy it is?

 

[Ben86]

Don't worry about it. Glock used to have slightly less supported chambers than the norm. They have fixed that a long time ago.

Kabooms most often happen because of an overcharge, structural fault in the cartridge, or a gun firing out of battery. These things can happen to any brand.

Glocks are great guns. Take a look at the S&W M&P45, its a great .45 as well.

 

[LouisianaGunslinger]

The long and short of it is that somewhere between 2005 and 2010 Glock changed the .40 barrels to provide more chamber support. Right about the same time they changed some other things. Coincidentally, you can tell if you have a barrel with the increase support by looking at the pentagon next to the Glock logo on the chamber. If it's got a dot in the middle of the pentagon, you have the improved barrel.

Really? Dang. Learn something new every day!

 

[docrimepaythetime]

love my G30! nuf said.... EXCEPT, that i thought i would NEVER own a poly semi-loader. By no means am i Gjunkie tho. Shortly after i brought it home, i think it 99' i field strip, check it out and put it back together. SNAP! The plastic button at the front of the main guide rod/spring assy breaks! Ticked off and disenchanted with this five hundred piece of metal. And i really didnt like the sights all that much either. Why did i let my good shootin bud talk me into this i thought. Did some research! Went with a GLOCKMIESTER guiderod and AshleyExpress big Pro dot. I've never looked back since with any negativity about my G30 I've never felt the need to change out the trigger spring. Thought about gittin the bigger bro G21, No need! At the moment Keep yer powder dry fellas. We might need it edited for spelling and to also say, NUF SAID! lol

 

[jerkface11]

If glocks blowing up was a problem it would be the 10mm or .357's doing it.

 

[chris in va]

While looking into it, I ran across people who had experienced "kaBOOM's" with them.

Specifics?

The 21 is probably the least likely to 'kaboom' of the Glock lineup.

 

[dcarch]

I really wouldn't worry about it. If 65% of all LEOs trust it, there obviously can't be too many issues.

 

[Spammy_H]

Unless you plan on repeatedly re-chambering the same .40S&W round, I wouldn't worry about it.

Having said that, you shouldn't repeatedly re-chamber .40S&W in any gun due to the high-pressure nature of that particular round.

 

[Demitrios]

Glocks are tried and true, many law enforcement and military trust their lives in those side arms and generally they are well received firearms.

That being said, I've never owned nor shot a Glock.

See how I did that? I just regurgitated what I've read but have had no practical experience on. You still going to trust what I have to say on the subject, me a keyboard warrior?

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Go to glocktalk.com, they have a more focused set of information regarding what you're looking for and you're going to get a lot more people with practical experience on the matter.