Which Glock 21 generation is for me? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 5/8/2026 11:23:40 AM EDT
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Oh no, a GD heathen has found his way to this sub forum! Question for you guys. I had a Gen 4 Glock 21 years ago and I want to get another Glock 21 to compliment my FNX45. I've got a late Gen 5 Glock 17 and really dig the ergonomics and front slide serrations. I wasn't the biggest fan of finger grooves on the Gen4 G21, but I'm inclined to dremel them off now. I also want to pick up a 10mm conversion barrel, and perhaps dabble in 460 Rowland at some point. Are there any conversion barrels for the Gen 5 or even Gen V Glock 21's? If it's between a Gen 3 or Gen 4, which would you recommend as the better conversion platform? Thanks! |
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Lots of G41 love here, and rightfully so. Glock will never make the best, which would be a Gen 5 G41 with no ambi slide stop. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By -OdieGreen-: Lots of G41 love here, and rightfully so. Glock will never make the best, which would be a Gen 5 G41 with no ambi slide stop. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61399/Photoroom_20260322_233117_jpeg-3759472.JPG The best is an XDm 45 5.25... |
Yeah, all the Glock 41 pics gave me a bit of a stiffy...  Im a sucker for long slides! G41 is on the listIm heading to my local LGS (Tombstone Tactical in Phoenix) to see what a trade of my FNX-45T for an HK USP45 Expert would look like. Having two go to war 45 Auto pistols would be ideal. 9mm covered with a Gen 5 G17, and my soon to get here G26 Gen 4 as my CC. |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: Yeah, all the Glock 41 pics gave me a bit of a stiffy... Im a sucker for long slides! G41 is on the listIm heading to my local LGS (Tombstone Tactical in Phoenix) to see what a trade of my FNX-45T for an HK USP45 Expert would look like. Having two go to war 45 Auto pistols would be ideal. 9mm covered with a Gen 5 G17, and my soon to get here G26 Gen 4 as my CC. I love my G41, but I bought a M&P trade in for $325 from GrabAGun that I actually like better. Which is weird because I like my 9mm Glocks more than my 9mm M&P. I can’t make sense of it. Not guaranteed being trade ins, but my example was new in the case/unissued with all mags and accessories. Attached File |
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Gen 5 sets up nice and the 21 shoots best for me… Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: Shoot one. https://imgur.com/a/YKDPnyd I’ve shot multiple XD’s, own a good variety of pistol platforms, have owned quite a few others, and have good round counts through even more. The XD mostly gets hate because of owner insistence of its superiority. While it’s an okay gun, especially at its new pricing, I don’t think it can hang with any of the big names. |
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Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: Shoot one. https://imgur.com/a/YKDPnyd |
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Attached File Attached File I have the exact same Gen 2 Glock 21. Had the slide Cerekoted Salient Arms Gray |
Mark it Zero!!
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Originally Posted By veeklog:https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111856/62CBA5D6-103D-4EF2-A06A-5935CD1E879A_jpe-3761030.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/111856/F0BC9F1B-CDF5-49EE-B7D8-8D91EB4A4A1A_jpe-3761032.JPG I have the exact same Gen 2 Glock 21. Had the slide Cerekoted Salient Arms Gray  I love the sleek look of the early gens. |
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I love my Gen 4. I’d like to get a Gen 5 but kinda want a factory threaded barrel option. Hopefully someday. |
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Well guys, I ended up buying a Gen 4 Glock 21 Police Trade in off of AIM surplus. I REALLLY was looking at the Glock 41. For the money and known absurdly reliable performance, the G21 Gen 4 just kept coming out on top. And I got exceptionally lucky with my recent G17 Gen 5 Police trade in from AIM thatalso influenced my decision. I could end up with a well patrolled example, but here's hoping. Side note, all my recent Glocks will have been Blue Label sourced used. Started off as duty guns, and they continue as defensive sidearms for my family. Thankfully, there are enough sellers out there parting out pistols that I can pick up a G41 slide in the future. For now, it's time to train. Thanks for all the feedback! |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: Well guys, I ended up buying a Gen 4 Glock 21 Police Trade in off of AIM surplus. I REALLLY was looking at the Glock 41. For the money and known absurdly reliable performance, the G21 Gen 4 just kept coming out on top. And I got exceptionally lucky with my recent G17 Gen 5 Police trade in from AIM thatalso influenced my decision. I could end up with a well patrolled example, but here's hoping. Side note, all my recent Glocks will have been Blue Label sourced used. Started off as duty guns, and they continue as defensive sidearms for my family. Thankfully, there are enough sellers out there parting out pistols that I can pick up a G41 slide in the future. For now, it's time to train. Thanks for all the feedback! Honestly, I prefer the G41 but not enough that I’d pay the premium for the slide if I had a 21. You’ll certainly have a lot better holster and parts options with the 21 slide over the 41. Post pics once received! I’m debating still getting one.
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: Well guys, I ended up buying a Gen 4 Glock 21 Police Trade in off of AIM surplus. I REALLLY was looking at the Glock 41. For the money and known absurdly reliable performance, the G21 Gen 4 just kept coming out on top. And I got exceptionally lucky with my recent G17 Gen 5 Police trade in from AIM thatalso influenced my decision. I could end up with a well patrolled example, but here's hoping. Side note, all my recent Glocks will have been Blue Label sourced used. Started off as duty guns, and they continue as defensive sidearms for my family. Thankfully, there are enough sellers out there parting out pistols that I can pick up a G41 slide in the future. For now, it's time to train. Thanks for all the feedback! That's where my 21.4 came from. It was definitely carried a lot but the internals were immaculate. Had the maritime spring cups already installed as well when I tore it down. Someone definitely loved it before it came to me. Shoots like a dream and is my primary HD pistol now. Attached File |
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The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my current or former employers.
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My Gen 4 21 came in and I finally had a chance to get it a few days ago. It was definitely carried as a duty pistol. Plenty of holster wear on the slide and on the lower frame it appears to have had contact with the police car's center console. But, after field stripping and detail stripping the slide, this 21 was damn near like new inside! Probably only ever shot for annual qualification and then cleaned. Rifling looks pristine. The serial numbers all match so it's all original. My only "complaint" is that I didn't get the matching case, but not every department sees the case as mandatory to keep while the pistol is in inventory. Pics of the working girl: Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: My Gen 4 21 came in and I finally had a chance to get it a few days ago. It was definitely carried as a duty pistol. Plenty of holster wear on the slide and on the lower frame it appears to have had contact with the police car's center console. But, after field stripping and detail stripping the slide, this 21 was damn near like new inside! Probably only ever shot for annual qualification and then cleaned. Rifling looks pristine. The serial numbers all match so it's all original. My only "complaint" is that I didn't get the matching case, but not every department sees the case as mandatory to keep while the pistol is in inventory. Pics of the working girl: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/305010/PXL_20260523_170933954_jpg-3767394.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/305010/PXL_20260523_171237464_jpg-3767395.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/305010/PXL_20260523_171215450_jpg-3767396.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/305010/PXL_20260523_171941487_jpg-3767398.JPG Magwell and some Talon Grips will cover that damage right up. I’d certainly be happy with that. |
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Originally Posted By -OdieGreen-: Magwell and some Talon Grips will cover that damage right up. I’d certainly be happy with that. Honestly, the scratches are growing on me. This pistol was someone's sidearm, the primary defensive armament that protected a police officer or State Trooper while enforcing the law. Someone trusted their lives with it and these scars are proof it was there ready to go. It's going to have a much easier life with me and my family haha. But it's a piece that continues to serve. I was hoping that I'd get a pistol with the LE agency lazer engraved or a badge on the slide or something but alas, it was from a normal department it seems. I can't remember if I had grip tape on my former G21. A few range sessions should settle it. |
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I just ordered a Gen V G21 MOS and a Gen 5 G22 MOS. I wanted a straight up Gen 5 G21 MOS but all I could find were over priced used ones on GunBroker. So I went with the Gen V G21 MOS with Ameriglow Night Sights. I don't think I'll mind the Gen V... they are getting good reviews. I already have a G21C Gen 3, a Gen 4 G21, and Gen 4 G21 MOS. The Gen V G21 MOS should feel the same as my Gen 5 G20 MOS. |
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I have a Gen 3 G21SF (standard rail) and my Gen 4 G21 (my old duty gun that I bought when we went to the G45 w/ Acro P2.) I can't justify the expense, especially when I find myself moving away from .45ACP, but Gen 5 would be for me. I've been tempted to have the finger grooves removed/grip reduced/trigger guard undecut. Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By JThompson: The G21 doesn't get enough credit. Excluding 1911s, its one of the better .45s out there. The bane of my firearms instructor existence at a one-size-sorta-fits-most department that issued them to everyone, but a good gun. |
"Whisky for the gentlemen that like it. And for the gentlemen that don't like it - Whisky!" -Alec Guinness as MAJ (acting Colonel) Jock Sinclair, D.S.O., M.M. "Tunes of Glory"
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Originally Posted By -OdieGreen-: Lots of G41 love here, and rightfully so. Glock will never make the best, which would be a Gen 5 G41 with no ambi slide stop. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/61399/Photoroom_20260322_233117_jpeg-3759472.JPG Attached File |
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Song dynasty poet
| I bought a Gen 3 G21SF eight years ago and I love it. Then again, I'm the odd one in the bunch that prefers Gen 3 Glocks. I have seven Glocks and they're all Gen 3. Late last year I did buy a police trade-in Gen 4 G17 from AIM for my son. Damn thing looked like it was new right outta the box. |
| I may be the oddest as I didn’t mind the finger grooves. Longest time was spent carrying my G21 sf rtf. I didn’t mind the gen 4 for a back up. I did get a gen 5 mos before retiring to be red dot equipped. Finding a duty holster was difficult but US Duty Gear came through… |
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In my collection, i only have three 45's and two of them are Glocks. Here are my 21 and 41 (pictured with a 19) Attached File |
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| Of the large bore/large frame Glocks, I have experience with the Gen 3 G21, G30S, and Gen 4 G20. The Gen 3 G21 grip was a little ungainly for my medium sized hands but was a very soft shooter. The G30S and it's SF frame feels slightly better (like a husky G19) and handles the recoil of 230gr Gold Dot and HST on par with my full-size M&P45 2.0. The grip of the Gen 4 G20 isn't bad, so I was about to settle on a Police trade-in Gen 4 G21 but lucked into a Blue Label Gen 5 G21 MOS several days ago. More expensive than a trade-in, but it's NIB, no finger grooves, better trigger, and optics ready. The grip of this pistol doesn't feel too much different than the Gen 5 G17/45/47. Haven't shot it yet, because I'm waiting on an optic, but I'm sure it'll be great! |