.45 Caliber Handguns - Out of all the .45 Auto semi-automatic pistol options, the Glock certainly holds a respected position. Glock is known for reliable and simple designs - important factors for many shooters. Glock could mediate between those who wanted larger caliber ammunition in a pistol and those who were tired of carrying only 6 or 7 rounds in a magazine. This brings us to the firearm we are looking at for this review, the Glock 21.
Glock introduced the G21 SF (Short Frame) in 2007 to compete for a DOD contract. The contract did not land, but the firearm gained traction among law enforcement agencies and citizens due to its unique features. Based on the Generation 3 Glock 21, the company made only a few modifications for this variant. We fired and operated the Glock 21 SF for this Glock 21 review.
.45 Caliber Handguns
Of the modifications seen on the Glock 21 SF, the most prominent (as the name suggests) is a smaller frame circumference. Not to be confused with frame width, the short frame provides less frame depth than the Gen 3 version of the Glock 21. This shorter frame depth allows those with smaller hands to have a good grip and access features. In newer generations (Gen 4), the grip length of the Glock 21 is almost identical to the G21 SF.
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As previously mentioned, the Glock 21 SF is chambered in one of the "big boy" calibers - .45 ACP. Most shooters know the 45 ACP as a classic caliber, and many self-defense shooters still rely on the cartridge today.
Glock combines tradition with capacity in the Glock 21 SF. A capacity of 13 + 1 is offered in the Glock 21 SF - a seemingly reasonable number considering the frame size.
Another unique aspect of the Glock 21 SF is the inclusion of ambidextrous magazine release. While this feature is handy, I felt the functionality was lacking. I will get into this in more detail later in the review. A select few of the Glock 21 SF frames were built with a Picatinny-style rail for mounting accessories - not many still exist, and holster compatibility is a concern.
Many of the Glock 21 SF variants available today are from police departments that have rotated them out of service use. These trade-ins can be found in some places for as little as $350-400 - no doubt a lot.
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When I first got my hands on the G21, I quickly felt at home with it in my hands. I know not everyone prefers or likes the Glock "experience", but as someone who owns and shoots Glocks, it felt comfortable to me. Some might even argue that the Glock is an "acquired" taste - regardless of whether you like the Glock's ergonomics, the 21 SF will feel good.
Although built for use by those with different hand sizes, the frame still has a rather bottle-like feel. I shoot a Glock 17 quite often and this frame offers more grip than the 17. While I don't mind the frame feel or size, I still have some issues accessing the magazine release. I will touch on this more later when I address the functionality side.
My expectations of how this gun would handle recoil and run in general were wrong. Based on the caliber, I expected a little more effort on those follow-up shots. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This gun has handled very well in my experience. The rifle ran every ammo type I fed it without a problem. I was really impressed with the recoil handling.
While the frame was comfortable, I found myself wishing it had more textured surfaces. Especially after a while or with sweat involved, the G21 SF started to feel slippery. The slide on the 21 SF felt had no leading edges and seemed difficult to grip consistently. A bit of frame stippling and light taping would be a nice addition to the aftermarket.
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Shooting the G21 SF put great confidence in the hand – confidence that increased when I realized that fast and accurate follow-up shots were very possible. I ran several drills with a C-zone steel plate at about 15 yards while moving forward and sideways. The consistent hits and controllability I experienced with the Glock 21 made this pistol very comfortable to shoot.
Glocks aren't really known for fancy factory sights or triggers. They get the job done is usually nothing spectacular. My experience with the G21 SF fell right in line with every other Glock I've fired in this regard.
The stock white "U" shaped butt with standard post front can be found here on the G21 SF. I was able to get these sights well enough to feel pretty confident, but then again, I've used these sights before. If you buy one of these G21 SFs (usually a police trade-in), be prepared to swap out the sights for low light use. I know it comes down to preference, but the fiberglass front with blacked-out aftermarket rear options seems to work well for me.
My testing of the G21 SF trigger showed an average straight pull weight of 5.5 pounds using a Lyman trigger weight—fairly typical for a Glock trigger. I know a lot of people are really against these triggers. I've shot enough Glock handguns at this point to not be too bothered by it.
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This trigger felt notably smoother than a standard Glock trigger. It may well be due to the age and years of "breaking in". Anyway, I appreciate the smooth recording and the sharp break. No real complaints from me here.
For the most part, the gun is simple and straightforward. it is a Glock after all. I noticed a few more things about the functionality that turned out to be quite annoying - the ambidextrous magazine release being the first. I feel that Glock compromised on the functionality here to fit the requirements of the DOD contract.
The design of the magazine release created a much smaller footprint than your typical Glock magazine release. I ended up having to break the grip and rotate the bezel to access this release. My hands are on the average side of size. I was a little shocked that I struggled as much as I did to get the right angle to perform magazine changes.
The slide release also seemed a bit dull to me. While the design appeared to be on par with a regular Glock slide trigger, it didn't seem to function like one. It took extraordinary and precise pressure to move the slide release. I ended up holding the slide manually in most of my shots.
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It might not be a deal breaker (and I know aftermarket slide release options are out there), but I felt it was worth mentioning.
As part of my range testing with the Glock 21 SF, I used a Labrador doppler radar to get ballistics data. Use of Speer Gold Dot 230 Gr. ammo, I fired 5 rounds with the labradar running.
Average muzzle velocity for this test was 832 feet per second from the G21 SF. Speer advertises a muzzle velocity of 890 feet per second. Here's a closer look at the ammo I shot with the Glock 21.
The Glock 21 SF is clearly a tried and tested firearm that has been through many years of use. With readily available Glock and aftermarket support, it's hard to go wrong with a firearm like this. Considering the price tag and the potential to find many used variants in good condition, the value seems high.
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My experience with the G21SF exceeded my expectations in performance and I honestly want one myself now. It's not a perfect handgun, but it has strong potential to dial in with a few simple aftermarket modifications in my opinion. If you're looking for a well-built, reliable .45 Auto, the Glock 21 SF may be for you. There is a fairly well-known debate about the best caliber for self-defense, with many supporting the .45 ACP for that title. Now I won't go into this, but if you're looking for a .45 ACP that won't drain your bank account, you've come to the right place. We've tested every cheap .45 ACP handgun on the market to find the ones that don't suck and are actually worth the money.
I want to tell you about some of the best budget-friendly .45s that shoot well, and also won't cost you an arm and a leg.
I roughly go from least expensive to most expensive, but it varies a bit depending on where you shop.
First is the Ruger American Pistol which, while not for sale, usually costs well under $400. I got mine for $350.
World's Smallest .45 Caliber Pistol
Despite having the same barrel and overall length as the Ruger SR45, the Ruger American Pistol is slightly heavier, weighing in at just two pounds.
It has a one-piece stainless steel slide
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