Glock 21 (more problem prone?)

[Blueduck]

I've had 4 Glocks (17/19/22/23) and like the system so it's not a "Is Glock a good gun" or "What do you think of Glocks in general" thing.

I'm just kind of eyeing a Glock 21, but occasionally have heard of some problems with it. Another board did a thousand round test of Glocks versus 1911's and the 45 Glcoks were the only ones that had failures. Also seem to recall reading the G-21 and 30 failing some state police agencies reliability test a few years back.

So, is the 21 considered more prone to problems than the smaller frame models???

 

[tlhelmer]

I have not had any problems out of the two G-21's I have owned. Thats more anecdotal than scientific.

 

[A. Partisan]

I have a 2nd Gen. G21. If I don't clean the lube off of my cast lead reloads or clean the pistol enough it will have problems ejecting the brass. (yes, I shoot lead from a factory barrel and no, I don't clean my pistol very often). My fault, not the pistols.

 

[Edward429451]

The only problem I've had with my (1st generation?) G21 is that it doesn't always want to set off primers in my reloads. It has never failed to go bang with any factory load I've fed it. Feeding & ejection has never been a problem.

FWIW.

 

[craigz]

I've had six different Glocks and the only one I ever had feeding problems with was the 21.

 

[curt]

I've had mine for about 4 years and i can't remember ever having a malfunction with it.

1000 rounds test huh? Big deal, youre still in the infant mortality region of reliability testing there. Any gun can have a problem or two in the first 1000 rounds, ANY gun.

 

[Blueduck]

Curt, these weren't new guns, just a bunch of folks loading up thier personal weapons for an observed no cleaning 1,000 round test.
FWIW even though the .45's were the only problem Glocks, IIRC they did about as well as the 1911's brought.

Anybody recall which forum this test was documented on???

 

[Drifting Fate]

The very first G21's had some pretty bad feed problems. But, that was years ago, and I wouldn't hesitate to trust a new one. I am especially fond of the new frame design on the G21.

As for comparing to a 1911? Well, I don't want to start that debate again, but I've had extensive experience down the 1911 road and let's just say I'd put my money on the plastic gun every time.

 

[KC]

I've had no reliability problems with mine. I have shot Winchester White Box, Wolf, S&B, and some really old milsurp from the 1960's with no issues but the cleaning.

The only big beef I have with the gun is the grip (angle, maybe?) is somehow 'wrong' for my hand and is very uncomfortable to shoot for long periods.

 

[curt]

I haven't let mine go for a 1000 rounds without cleaning but i have let it go for several hundred rounds, well past were my PO P14-45 LDA started choking. I finally cleaned it each time just cause i have MY limits to what i'll do to a gun.

KC have you looked into getting a "grip reduction" done? I had Dane Burns do mine and the feel is much better.

 

[KC]

Curt:
It isn't so much the *size* of the grip (although that may be a part of the problem), but the *angle* of the grip to the frame/barrel.

A grip position that is good with other autos leaves me pointing high and right. I've tried to figure out how to correct this, but havent had sucess so far. (Nor have I spent money on training classes.) Part of my problems with the Glock21 my be due to double jointed wrists and fingers, but not all of it.