Glock 41 review (part 1)

[1KPerDay]

http://youtu.be/CJAXTwfR45I

Short summary: I like it. I paid $700 at Cabela's, which is about what I expected from them (they have higher prices than hardcore budget dealers). Pistol comes with 3 magazines.

2.3 oz lighter than Gen 4 G21 and G21SF (according to Glock), 2.83 oz lighter than Gen 3 G21. Recoil is not unpleasant and feels pretty soft by .45 standards. Slide is longer (obviously) and about a tenth of an inch thinner than the G21, which makes a difference in feel and handling. Grip is 2.5(ish)mm/.1 inch shorter reach to the trigger than standard G21 at the web, and 4mm(ish).15 inch shorter front-to-back at the "hump" at the bottom of the grip. This doesn't sound like a lot but makes a BIG difference in feel. Comes with 4 backstraps, medium and large in beavertail version, and medium and large in non-beavertail version. I don't plan on installing any of them because the grip as is is about as large as I can stand.

Trigger is similar to the G34/G35 competition versions, and the label says 4.5 pounds (I assume that refers to the connector weight or something). I measured 3 trigger pulls with a Lyman digital gauge and the G41 measured about 6 lbs 8 oz, while the Gen 3 G21 measured about 7 lbs 8 oz. The G41 feels noticeably better.


Full shooting comparison will come in part 2, but initial 130 rounds through the G41 were pleasant and fun. I was able to hit the steel relatively easy and quickly, though I did miss a few as you will note in the video. I'm not a fan of OEM Glock sights in any case (though I got the adjustable rear sight variant G41), and I imagine I'll put in an order with Dawson Precision pretty soon for good ones. I had one FTF on round 80, with crappy Tula ammo. 2nd round of Tula through the gun (the previous 6 magazines were brass-cased FMJ from WWB, Magtech, and PMC). Stuck on the feed ramp, and a light tug on the slide sent it home. The rest of that mag full of Tula and the following mag full of Tula fired without incident.

Part 2 will also include accuracy comparison with G21 if I can pull it off with any success, and shooting impression/comparison between G21/G41/1911/P220. And summary of first 500 rounds.

 

[Inebriated]

I've found that Tula cases don't like to slide against each other or the slide, and that, mixed with the dirty magazine, makes is prone to feeding issues. The rounds are sluggish to feed upwards in the magazine and off the top, and the slide is slowed a bit. My G21 has had thousands of handloads and brass factory ammo through it without a failure, but Tula and a mag with an extension or a weaker spring can get failures to feed/return to battery. I just use it as an opportunity to practice failure drills. But the gun itself has never had a failure that wasn't related to steel-cased ammo, and I expect your G41 will be the same. I'm looking forward to the video and accuracy comparison between the four, hint hint.

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks. Hopefully by early next week. I want to get 500 rounds through it.

 

[1KPerDay]

I shot it back to back today with a Gen3 G21 for a few mags and both shoot well. The G41 kicks a little more because it's 2.8ish ounces lighter than the Gen3 G21. I like the 41 better, though. Balances better, trigger is better.

A buddy of mine shot them back to back 2 mags each and likes the 41 better, says it actually feels like less recoil to him and it comes back to center faster. Likes the trigger better also.

 

[rbernie]

Does it point lower or higher than a G21?

 

[1KPerDay]

Points about the same for me. At least with no backstrap installed.

 

[1KPerDay]

Part 2 is up:

http://youtu.be/HCDebz2v6hM

Summary:

500 rounds fired, including Magtech ball, WWB ball, Tula ball, Remington/UMC ball, PMC ball, Remington Golden Saber 185 +P, custom match ammo built with 185 Speer Gold Dots, and one magazine of LRN at the end. I had to use bronze and then steel wool to get all the lead out... won't be doing that again.

One FTF with Tula, on the second round out of the 7th magazine through the pistol. No further malfunctions with Tula or any other ammo.

I and a friend evaluated shooting/handling characteristics compared to a Gen 3 Glock 21, and we both preferred the Glock 41. My friend felt it recoiled a bit less and returned to center faster and preferred the 41's trigger. I felt the lighter gun (the 41) recoiled slightly more, but still preferred it.

I shot 4 groups from an impromptu rest at 16 yards (about as far as I could safely get in that range) and the G21 printed better groups than the G41, at least with me behind it. It's not really a valid sample and I'd have to shoot a bunch more groups, ideally from a ransom rest, but I really don't enjoy shooting paper from a bench so this is as good as it's going to get. Measurements for each group edge to edge are in the video; but IIRC approximately 2.25" groups for G21, and maybe 3"-3.25" groups for the G41. I'll post up the actual numbers later if I remember.

I also compared subjective recoil and muzzle flip compared to a Para-Ordnance P14-45 limited, a Dan Wesson Heritage full size 1911, a stainless Colt Combat Commander, and a German SIG P220. The P220 felt quite similar in recoil to the G41, while the others had slightly less recoil but not as great a difference as you might think (or I expected). The G41 really handles the big .45 rounds well.

Overall, very impressive out of the box reliability, accuracy, and "fun to shoot" factor. I think it's a keeper.

 

[PabloJ]

Conclusion if one owns G21 they don't need G41.

 

[1KPerDay]

Probably an accurate assessment.

 

[Rule3]

Great review, thanks for taking the time to put it all together. Like that range set up also!

 

[Inebriated]

Good review. I got to shoot a G41 yesterday. Fun gun, for sure! I felt more accurate with my 21, but that could have been sights.

 

[1KPerDay]

A good point, which I should have addressed. The G21 I was shooting had Trijicon 3-dot night sights. So the sights may have had something to do with the difference in groups. Though I was shooting with a 6-o'clock hold below the "bull" (a black sticky dot on a white background) so I would hope that would help negate the difference in sights.

I would claim fatigue influencing groups but I shot the G41 first.

 

[1KPerDay]

Posting initial accuracy results for those who don't want to find it in the video: 5-shot groups from 16 yards, seated, gun rested on ammo box. Ammo was match ammo built with 185 grain Speer Gold Dots. Caveat: I'm NOT good at shooting paper from the bench. But IMO the groups were consistent enough to demonstrate an initial advantage in accuracy in favor of the Gen 3 G21. With this ammo, with me behind it, on this range, on this day.

G41 groups measured edge to edge
1. 2 ¾”
2. 3 ¼”
3. 3 3/8”
4. 3”

G21 groups measured edge to edge
1. 2 7/8”
2. 2 ¼”
3. 2 1/8”
4. 2”