Glock 21- What percentage of them kaboom?

[DetroitStudent]

Hi friends,

I have a quick question. I shot a glock 21 over the weekend, and was very impressed. It fired limp wristed, etc. without a hiccup. I must say, that when looking online for information, I see a ton of "kaboom" stories.

What is the story here? I plan to shoot factory new ammo in my gun, no lead, etc. Do I have anything to worry about? What about +p ammo? Can glocks handle it? What percentage of G21s kaboom with factory ammo?

The glock 21 sf fits my hand perfectly, but I want to make sure that I won't lose a hand when/if a gun malfunctions.

 

[MattB000]

I would imagine it is so low that you wouldn't even use percentages. Shoot FMJ, quality, factory rounds and you'll be fine.

 

[Regolith]

From what I understand, it was only the first generation Glocks that really had this problem. They've since fixed the problem. Also, most of the kabooms were related to handloads.

 

[stormspotter]

Glock 21

Don't know about that many kabooms with a Glock 21. I believe the problems were with the Glock 40's.

Don't use +P's in mine. Just standard 230 gr. Winchester SXT's or the Taurus 185 gr. HEX (DPX bullet). The standard velocity Taurus load will expand to .85 inch in wet newspapers and can still be found for less than $13 for a box of 20.

 

[tydephan]

What is the story here?

Great gun. I don't know how much research you have done, but thought I would link you to the torture test done independently by a dude with a G21.

I plan to shoot factory new ammo in my gun, no lead, etc. Do I have anything to worry about?

No.

What about +p ammo? Can glocks handle it?

Not sure. Good question for GlockTalk. Most manuals have statements on whether +p is acceptable. If all else fails, call Glock: 1-770-432-1202

What percentage of G21s kaboom with factory ammo?

I don't think you'll find a finite percentage. But I read a lot. And I read a lot about polymer guns. And I don't often read about many kbs attributed to the G21 with factory ammo that can be attributed to the failure of the gun.

If you want it, get it. If you are planning on shooting factory ammo through it all the time, I doubt you will ever have an issue.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[mpmarty]

The 20 and 21 glocks are plenty strong. The 22 and 23s are the grenades because a 45acp works at around 17,000 pounds per square inch and the .40 runs over 35,000 and neither have fully supported chambers. Bad news and no, Glock hasn't "fixed" the later ones as to do so they would lose their "reliability" due to the unsupported, oversize chambers.

 

[fgr39]

I love my 21 and well I blew it up. It was not the guns fault, it was mine. I had squib and fired another round behind it (my reloads=my fault) What impressed me most was how well the gun handled it. The slide locked back and had to be smacked forward, once I got it apart the only damage was to the barrel, a ring bulge about 1/3 of the way down. I replaced the barrel with an aftermarket one and thats it. I have since put thousands of rounds through it with no problems. I was really suprised at how well it handeled it.

 

[Glockorama]

A 21 will handle +p loads just fine.

 

[Quiet]

Don't shoot lead (non-jacketed) rounds through factory Glock barrels.

 

[10-Ring]

I had a G21 once...until it kaboom'd. The blame went to some bad reloads -- painful lesson learned on my part and future disasters diverted. I was able to have the gun repaired through its warranty, but I have not shot a Glock larger than a 9mm since

 

[jaysouth]

I had a 2gen M-21. By counting primer sleeves, I reckon that I shot close to 10,000 of my home cast 200 gr. SWCs made from wheel weights over 5.6 grs. of 231. I also shot about 50 rounds of the old style Fed 230 Gr. Hyda-shoks.

I can't say that the barrel ever leaded. I did clean it with a bore snake about every 200-300 rounds. After getting the trigger down to about 2.5 pounds and putting a Dawson fiber optic front sight on it, it got boring knocking down steel plates and poppers.

Because of the size of the gun and its grip, I went back to shooting 1911s. I am getting tired of cleaning 1911s after shooting the Glock though. I may try to get a grip reduction and see if that improves the grip feel.

Good gun. Yours may not feed semi wad cutters though. Some do, some don't. the gun is still too big to carry IWB whatever the grip size. For concealed carry, I will stick to 1911s.

 

[JDGray]

My G19 Kabooms, each and every time I squeeze the trigger, 100% of the time. I work with the local PD, and have never heard of any KBs with any of their Glocks. They try thier darndest to blow them up, too, as I find these on the range.

 

[redneckrepairs]

Honestly i dont feel that the Glock design gives enough case head support for high intensity rounds like the .40 . However if you stick to jacketed factory ammo ( not factory reloaded ammo , even if they brag they only use once fired brass ect.. ) you should never have a problem . I am not a glock fan myself and no longer own any , but i get as sick of the glock bashing as i do the glock perfection bs . They are a heck of a gun for the price if you like them and are willing to learn and deal with thier quirks .

 

[gudel]

mine didn't explode. I guess the percentage is 0%

 

[GunTech]

You can find examples of kB for every handgun made. Search the web and see sig kB, 1911kBs, etc. Glock is one of the most popular handguns made, hence even if it has the same percentage of kB as other firearms, there wouls statistically be more. Don;t worry about it.

 

[glockman19]

Glock 21- What percentage of them kaboom?

100%

 

[Harley Quinn]

I just recently borrowed a 21 and shot it, only put about 20 rounds through it. Heavy gun, needs to be.
Shot like most Glocks. Good, accurate etc..
It is the same one they have for the 10 mm. Size of it will put many off.

I believe the round that is out there now (357 Sig) is where I'll be at for sometime.
I have most of the various guns that shoot all the various rounds.
But this is the one for me now.

I like the penetration of the 357 and 9's. 45 is fine if that is what you want/need.
But most folks are not good enough with it for accuracy like the 9s are.

Hitting the target is the important thing.

So many stories so little time.

The barrel bulging is not a blow up, but could have been, that is for sure.
The situation why Glock does not want you shooting reloads.

HQ

 

[Wolfgang]

taking a different path a bit

but, you might take a look at a G 30, said by some to be the most accurate Glock made. Still a 45, but such a dream to shoot.

But if you have your heart set on a 21, then that too, is a great choice.

 

[jaysouth]

Wolfgang,

For someone who is younger and more agile in mindset, the Glock 30 might be the ideal carry gun.

For someone who shot 1911s for 30 years before glocks were invented, I just can't stomach the width of them. A friend has a M-30 that I have shot a lot. It could rival the G-21 in terms of accuracy and reliability, but its just too fat for someone who cut their teeth on a Colt or GI 1911A1.

 

[Jim Watson]

With factory loads, the risk is too low to worry about. You are probably more likely to wreck your car going to the range with it.

I have seen one case wall rupture "kaBoom" with a G21 ever, and that with reloads on worn out brass. Strangely, a G22 let go on the same IDPA stage about five minutes later.

 

[GunNut]

It's the internet, everything bad will be repeated a million times over.

There are a ton of Glock's on the market and the percentage of KB's is minimal to the amount of weapons. Like others have said, ALL guns will KB if the stars align correctly.

Get a Glock 21, you will love it.

Steve

 

[Wolfgang]

sorry, I thought this was for DetroitStudent and a G21 fit his hand perfectly.

 

[eltorrente]

47%

 

[W.E.G.]

With a properly maintained gun, and ammo as recommended by the manufacturer, probably about the same as any other gun.

There was a spate of people blowing up .40 caliber glocks with "reloads."

There are still some idiots who persist in ignoring the safety warnings. But, from my own observation, the kaboom thing with Glocks seems to have trailed off.

Part of the problem with this Kaboom thing is that people who blow up handguns frequently fall into two categories which do not lend themselves to good research into the incidients.
1. The bozo who is "not sure" what ammo he was shooting, or is "not sure" about the condition of the gun just prior to the mishap; or
2. The zealot who insists with gritted-teeth that he did nothing wrong, but who also becomes either silent or angry upon close questioning about the incident.

If you want to keep up with what's new in the world of Glock KB's, may I refer you to Dean Speir's site.
http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/glock-kb-faq.html

 

[whatbrick]

My G19 Kabooms, each and every time I squeeze the trigger, 100% of the time.

Curses! Beaten to the obvious.

I grew up shooting a 1911...still own and shoot them, but I conceal-carry a Glock 21. I bought one after shooting my brother's G21 that he still uses as his duty weapon, and have had the same awesome experience with mine as I did with his. Neither of us have had a firearm failure yet and as long as we do our part, I doubt that we will.

Have confidence in your choice, because it's a good one.