Old Glocks - 2nd generation Glock 19 with original Novak replacement rear sights intended for use with stock fronts. Thankfully, we've come a long way.
A week ago, I asked my good friend and 1911 color guy, Dan Caputo, if he would be interested in shooting a Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) match with me over the weekend. I try to make it a habit to invite my friends to shooting events because it's another excuse to turn it into a social endeavor as well as a training opportunity. To my surprise, Dean said, "Yes!" I was even more shocked to find out that the man who owns countless 1911s and turns his nose up at plastic guns owns a Glock 19 or two. So I told him the details of the game and planned to meet on Saturday.
Old Glocks
Dan brought a Glock 19 from his Narcotics Task Force days. Hilton and I joked that we were in pre-school at the time, and the drug of choice was a mix of dinosaur horn powder and dodo eggs. So when he came into the game, I had to see what he brought.
Show Us Your Old, Worn Out Glocks!!!
What I saw was a 2nd generation Glock 19 with only a two letter prefix S/N. Most of the things I use have three letter prefixes, and most modern American guns have four letters. The aftermarket sight was an original Novak designed to work with the factory front sight. Strange that the market at the time chose to replace the rear end without addressing the hideous plastic abortion that goes through the front sight. Ken Hackathorne is absolutely right when he says that he sees the locations of the plastic factories as only temporary placeholders to get to the real locations.
One of the advantages of GSSF games is the presence of a fully equipped factory armorer who will service any Glock and restore it to factory specifications at no cost. And you don't even have to be a competitor. Carry your Glock pistol in a bag and it will check it.
After the match, Dean brings Armorer his pistol and points out that his pistol is possibly bigger than Armorer's. (Second generation clocks were introduced around 1988.) The Dean pistol was completely overhauled and only the slide, frame and barrel remained. All other parts were upgraded! Not a bad deal.
We had a great time at the game and it was a fun trip with Dan to hear about Glock's glory days. By John Moses Browning. Glock has taken a fresh look at this cartridge, combining a relatively modern design with a 115 year old round. Does Glock have a viable platform for the 45 auto, or are the old ways really better. Let's take a closer look in our review of the Glock 21.
Glock 19 Gen 5 9mm Pistol Gold Slide & Lower
Accuracy is almost always a weapon's greatest strength, and the Glock 21 is a straight shooter. Hits always felt tight and landed where I aimed with little or no deflection. Glock is known for its unique yet sturdy construction. They are reliable and will work as advertised (we don't need to talk about the Glock .22). This build quality shows when shooting for accuracy.
I always shoot my pistol between 7 and 30 yards. From seven yards to about 15 yards is where I can line up my shots, more than where I can hit the target, but not as well as I would like. At my maximum distance, the group hovered between ½ inch and 1 inch difference in an unstable shooting position. Shots that were 1 inch off were almost always shooter error. When I was pulled against something, my groups receded to a cool ¾ inch. I think it speaks for itself.
The Glock 21 holds its own when it comes to consistently clearing the target and pinging the steel.
Personally, I have never had a Glock jam on me, and the Glock 21 has continued that streak forever. The Glock's claim to fame is its boxy design, lightweight polymer construction, and the fact that it still shoots.
Any Love For A 30 Year Old Glock?
I have put over 10,000 rounds through all my Glocks and about 1,000 rounds through a brand new 21. He had no problem in the hot Georgia sun, and he didn't when I took him north with me in the fall. It works, all day, every day, all the time.
Not everyone loves the feel of running a Glock, but I do, and the 21 feels great with beefy rounds like the 45 ACP.
If you've owned or used a Glock, you know exactly what you're doing. It's a bit wider than some other models, but it still feels natural in the hands and is certainly familiar enough to operate easily. There is a rear set of slide serrations for easy handling during reloading or, lord forbid, malfunction. In addition, it has a classic dotted texture hand grip. In the box, there are also a few different backstraps to adjust the size of the grip.
To put it bluntly, I hate stock Glock triggers. They have always felt relatively soft and not particularly smooth. 21 also does little to remedy this. After about 650 rounds with the stock trigger, I dropped a new third party trigger to ease my grip on the stock 5.5 lb Glock trigger, I would recommend that anyone buying a 21 do the same.
Range Report: Glock 45 9mm Pistol
This may seem like a small thing, but the mag capacity and classic Glock mag feel has taken my good opinion of the 21 to a new level.
Instead of your classic 7+1 in a 1911, the Glock 21 holds 13 rounds plus one in the chamber. Now not only do you have the ability to compete with 9mm mags, but you also have 13 rounds.
The magazine itself is nothing new, and neither is reloading. The mechanism feels satisfying and just like any other Glock. Also, Glock mags are cheap as dirt.
The magazine and reloading mechanism are exceptional and did not detract from or add to the shooting experience.
Glock 19 Pistol Cerakoted Using Graphite Black
Unloaded, this gun weighs just 29 ounces, just shy of two pounds. Overall length is 8 inches so this is a clear full size gun. I really wanted it to be compact, but that's the trade-off when you want a monster hunting bullet. I tried concealed carry, but found myself losing my Glock 19.
The old round shines, even more so, when it is cast in a modern body with a modern design. The combined heavy weight of the Glock 21 and the slow velocity of the 45 make it easy to shoot. To elaborate on that, more firearm weight almost always means less recoil because the weight is not thrown as easily by the energy of the cartridge. Second, the 45 is a slower moving bullet with less energy out of the gate. These two factors combine to create a kick that is more reminiscent of a push than a quick reaction. No one should have a problem recovering this weapon. He shot flat with 45! What's not to like?
The Glock 21 currently travels on a large 547, which has been the case with other models for years.
I'd say if you like Glocks, sure. If you like 45 auto, then yes. If you like both, of course!
What Is A Glock Switch? How A Small Device Turns Handguns Into Machine Guns
They say the 45 is God's caliber, and the Glock 21 is my favorite way to present it.
Richard Douglas is a longtime shooter, outdoorsman and technologist. is founder and editor
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