Glock 21 Service Life/Longevity

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Para-Medic

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How long (in terms of rounds fired) will the major components of the Glock 21 last, and specifically the frame? I just bought one.


And should I worry about these "kaboom" stories you hear every once in a while with G21's?
 
How long (in terms of rounds fired) will the major components of the Glock 21 last, and specifically the frame? I just bought one.
No one can say exactly, but at ~$20 a box for ammunition, it is most likely your bank account will give out before the gun will. ;) This gun is actually designed for, and has a counterpart in, 10mm Auto, a much higher pressure and recoiling cartridge than the .45.

And should I worry about these "kaboom" stories you hear every once in a while with G21's?
With new factory ammunition, no more so than any other handgun. Faulty handloads cause virtually all the KBs you see.
 
Unless you are VERY rich or some ammo company or government agency is giving you all the ammo you want you will never wear it out.
 
I'd be really, really surprised if the average person could wear out a G21. Like the others have said, it's frame is designed to take the punishment of the 10mm and .45apc is a low pressure round.

Keep it oiled and clean, and you'll probably get tired of the gun before you wear it down to a nub.
 
I have put about 20,000 full power rounds through three G21s with no malfunctions.

I have heard stories about someone's sister's boyfriend's cousin once removed having a kaboom in a G21, but have never experienced it myself nor do I know personally anyone who has.

I just recently went through Firearms Instructor School and four of us had G21s. Out of approximately 2000 rounds shot in one day through four different G21s, there were no malfunctions.

I have never heard of anyone wearing out a G21.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Unless you are VERY rich or some ammo company or government agency is giving you all the ammo you want you will never wear it out.


I have never heard of anyone wearing out a G21.


If you have to ask about the service life of any Glock chambered in 9mm or .45, you will never wear it out.
 
Lots of companies make 21 barrels with ordinary land and groove rifling. If the bullets are hard enough, and not too fast, and you are diligent about cleaning before you shoot jacketed bullets again, people do use the stock barrels.

But for all the work, it's still easier and probably safer to just spend a hundred or so bucks on a new barrel.

Lone Wolf Distribution or Distributors sells their own in-house barrels and sells most of the other offerings as well. I've had very pleasant interactions with them, including one of their top guys calling me back and forth a couple of times to get a 27 40-9 barrel tuned up the way I wanted it.

Specifically it didn't like the Fiocchi Extrema 115 grain XTP load, the shoulder was full-caliber and it engaged the lands right away and wouldn't let the gun go fully into battery. Took a smack to the rear of the slide to get it shut, then shooting it out. Wrestling with the slide (which wasn't moving) of a chambered Glock seemed like a much worse idea than just shooting the cartridge out. I sent them the barrel with a couple of the cartridges in question and less than five days after I shipped it the thing was back on my doorstep (Maine-Missouri and back from Monday to Friday) in time for the weekend range trip.

Cannot beat that level of service from any company. I think the firearms industry spoils our expectations for companies, honestly. I called Aerobie and asked if could buy a small parts kit for their Skylighter, and the guy who answered sounded baffled that someone would ask for such a thing. Gunnies are a special breed.
 
I replaced the Glock OEM barrel with a Bar-Sto. The Bar-Sto is a semi-drop-in that required minimal/minor fitting.
 
One of the things you do not have to worry about in the lifetime of a mortal is wearing out a Glock 21.

Buy ammo, shoot, and repeat as I've heard often.....
 
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