If you read my earlier post, you will see that after a several year break from the .40 S&W I decided to give it another shot. I just like the .40 . . . at least the look and idea of it. After this decision was made I started looking for a pistol and well what better than the iconic Glock that helped pioneer the explosion in popularity of this cartridge. I decided that I would replace my long since sold G22 with a newer Gen3. My original pistol was an early Gen 2 with the 90 degree extractor. After I purchased, through a generous layaway program at my lgs, I started thinking that the .40 may replace my faithful LC9 as a carry piece, but the G22 was just too big to replace that little guy. So next to the G22 was a nice little G27. For those that don't know the Glock family tree, the G22 is the full size, G23 is the mid and the G27 is the "baby" Glock. Let's just say this baby has a loud voice.
This review is going to be focused on the G27 since this is the gun I am now carrying. I picked up the pistol yesterday from Gander Mountain after searching for a Gen3 with a smooth finish. I say a smooth finish because there are two. One is very textured and rough, while the other is a smooth dark grey. I will say I am not a fan of GM pricing but they match anyone, so just find a price you like and pick up your gun.
First impressions are very good. I think a Glock is a nice looking gun . . . others don't, but its opinion. Slide to frame fit is nice and tight, but not too tight. This pistol is well build and well finished, as are all Glocks. I did not clean this gun, because new Glocks don't really need it. The factory ships the pistol nice and neat with their trademark copper grease/anti-seize compound they use. However, I did disassemble the little guy to check it out. Everything about the insides is similar the its big brother minus the two piece recoil spring which is very similar to what all Gen4 Glocks now come with. While apart I really wanted to check chamber support because there is a subculture dedicated to the demise of the Glock stating they are unsafe and will randomly explode if touched. Perhaps it's these killer crazy Glocks running amuck in the streets giving the liberals their anti-gun fuel. Seriously though I wanted an idea of how much support was seen in the barrel and I was surprised. Using a Federal 155gr round, I dropped it in the chamber and what do you know . . . full support. Just as my G21 has. So why do Glocks blow, who knows . . . maybe a full power 180gr round chambered 12 times before actually being shot and as a result the pressure triples because the bullet is shoved back to the point of compacting the powder . . . just a theory.
The ergonomics of this pistol is far from a Ruger. Rugers feel sexy, they fit your hand and make you just want to sit around and play with them. Glocks well . . . they have the standard Glockernomics. It works, but that's it. My biggest gripe right now is the grip is really just too short. It needs a ¼ added or it needs to come with a factory grip extension base plate. You can purchase the Pearson, but I was unable to find one local. You can hold it but the two finger grip is never been my cup of tea. My LC9 was only comfortable with the finger grip base plate on the mag. There are other options besides the Pearson and I will get to that. I also have an issue with the space between the top finger bump and the trigger guard. It really causes the trigger guard to dig into my finger.
So after I put it back together I headed to the range with a box of 155gr federal, 180gr Tula and 155 Winchester Silvertips. I also gathered two G22 mags with the Xgrip sleeves on them. I easily loaded 15 into the G22 mags and 9 into the stock mags, without the loader or any real issue. Only issue was trying to seat a new fully loaded mag with the slide closed. It was tight, very tight. I opened fire first with a 15rd mag with the sleeve on it. With this you could shoot all day . . . as you should, it's a full size grip, but you can't carry it very well with the 15 rd mag. So then I decided to try the 9rd standard mag. Let's just say with 155gr bullets, and the short grip . . . hold on. I would not shoot 200 rds at a time in this configuration. It's too abusive, especially on my top finger. Before you tell me to stop whining, let me explain. It's very controllable, but I would only practice as needed with the small mag. So after a few rounds I adjusted my mentality and hand a bit and realized this isn't that bad. Especially after I saw how this pistol groups at the standard 10 yrds I shoot at. Wow, the LC9 I carry can't even hold a candle. It took a good bit of time to learn the LC trigger, but love them or hate them, Glocks have a good striker fired trigger. I won't spend any real time on the trigger because, well its identical to every other Glock I have owned. It was then time to switch to the 180gr tula. I hate this Russian steel case crap, but its $12 a box at Walmart . . . what can I say. Not a single hiccup. Then to my Winchester 155gr Silvertips. This will be my carry ammo. Recoil is about the same as the federal fmj, maybe a little more snap. I see why people prefer the 180gr rounds . . . much smoother. Interestingly though there was no issues even during rapid fire, keeping all the shots in a 6" area. This is why the Glock is so famous. It doesn't do anything great, but does it all extremely well and that's a combat pistol.
My only concern with this Glock is the extreme amount of case bulge. Despite having an amazing amount of case support the bulge is way more than other firearms. This really makes me wonder what is going on. Granted Rugers have a generous chamber spec, but I am wondering if this Glock is really that oversized or if the headspacing is wrong and the support I see by headspacing on the case mouth is not what it actually has when in battery. I have not yet checked, but I will. It's accurate and I don't really plan to reload .40 so the chamber is not of a real concern yet. I would like to see an aftermarket barrel and compare.
In conclusion, this pistol gets a very big thumbs up from me. In fact I am carrying it right now. I think the fullsize mags are best at the range or in a double mag carrier on the left side. I am however thinking that the small Xgrip and a G23 mag will be carried in the gun. This gives approx. the same extra grip area as the factory 10 rd mag, but adds 3 additional rounds.
This review is going to be focused on the G27 since this is the gun I am now carrying. I picked up the pistol yesterday from Gander Mountain after searching for a Gen3 with a smooth finish. I say a smooth finish because there are two. One is very textured and rough, while the other is a smooth dark grey. I will say I am not a fan of GM pricing but they match anyone, so just find a price you like and pick up your gun.
First impressions are very good. I think a Glock is a nice looking gun . . . others don't, but its opinion. Slide to frame fit is nice and tight, but not too tight. This pistol is well build and well finished, as are all Glocks. I did not clean this gun, because new Glocks don't really need it. The factory ships the pistol nice and neat with their trademark copper grease/anti-seize compound they use. However, I did disassemble the little guy to check it out. Everything about the insides is similar the its big brother minus the two piece recoil spring which is very similar to what all Gen4 Glocks now come with. While apart I really wanted to check chamber support because there is a subculture dedicated to the demise of the Glock stating they are unsafe and will randomly explode if touched. Perhaps it's these killer crazy Glocks running amuck in the streets giving the liberals their anti-gun fuel. Seriously though I wanted an idea of how much support was seen in the barrel and I was surprised. Using a Federal 155gr round, I dropped it in the chamber and what do you know . . . full support. Just as my G21 has. So why do Glocks blow, who knows . . . maybe a full power 180gr round chambered 12 times before actually being shot and as a result the pressure triples because the bullet is shoved back to the point of compacting the powder . . . just a theory.
The ergonomics of this pistol is far from a Ruger. Rugers feel sexy, they fit your hand and make you just want to sit around and play with them. Glocks well . . . they have the standard Glockernomics. It works, but that's it. My biggest gripe right now is the grip is really just too short. It needs a ¼ added or it needs to come with a factory grip extension base plate. You can purchase the Pearson, but I was unable to find one local. You can hold it but the two finger grip is never been my cup of tea. My LC9 was only comfortable with the finger grip base plate on the mag. There are other options besides the Pearson and I will get to that. I also have an issue with the space between the top finger bump and the trigger guard. It really causes the trigger guard to dig into my finger.
So after I put it back together I headed to the range with a box of 155gr federal, 180gr Tula and 155 Winchester Silvertips. I also gathered two G22 mags with the Xgrip sleeves on them. I easily loaded 15 into the G22 mags and 9 into the stock mags, without the loader or any real issue. Only issue was trying to seat a new fully loaded mag with the slide closed. It was tight, very tight. I opened fire first with a 15rd mag with the sleeve on it. With this you could shoot all day . . . as you should, it's a full size grip, but you can't carry it very well with the 15 rd mag. So then I decided to try the 9rd standard mag. Let's just say with 155gr bullets, and the short grip . . . hold on. I would not shoot 200 rds at a time in this configuration. It's too abusive, especially on my top finger. Before you tell me to stop whining, let me explain. It's very controllable, but I would only practice as needed with the small mag. So after a few rounds I adjusted my mentality and hand a bit and realized this isn't that bad. Especially after I saw how this pistol groups at the standard 10 yrds I shoot at. Wow, the LC9 I carry can't even hold a candle. It took a good bit of time to learn the LC trigger, but love them or hate them, Glocks have a good striker fired trigger. I won't spend any real time on the trigger because, well its identical to every other Glock I have owned. It was then time to switch to the 180gr tula. I hate this Russian steel case crap, but its $12 a box at Walmart . . . what can I say. Not a single hiccup. Then to my Winchester 155gr Silvertips. This will be my carry ammo. Recoil is about the same as the federal fmj, maybe a little more snap. I see why people prefer the 180gr rounds . . . much smoother. Interestingly though there was no issues even during rapid fire, keeping all the shots in a 6" area. This is why the Glock is so famous. It doesn't do anything great, but does it all extremely well and that's a combat pistol.
My only concern with this Glock is the extreme amount of case bulge. Despite having an amazing amount of case support the bulge is way more than other firearms. This really makes me wonder what is going on. Granted Rugers have a generous chamber spec, but I am wondering if this Glock is really that oversized or if the headspacing is wrong and the support I see by headspacing on the case mouth is not what it actually has when in battery. I have not yet checked, but I will. It's accurate and I don't really plan to reload .40 so the chamber is not of a real concern yet. I would like to see an aftermarket barrel and compare.
In conclusion, this pistol gets a very big thumbs up from me. In fact I am carrying it right now. I think the fullsize mags are best at the range or in a double mag carrier on the left side. I am however thinking that the small Xgrip and a G23 mag will be carried in the gun. This gives approx. the same extra grip area as the factory 10 rd mag, but adds 3 additional rounds.