best .45 cal gun - Gunivore https://gunivore.com Bringing You Honest, Reliable, and Engaging Firearm News and Reviews Tue, 03 Sep 2019 14:21:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.10 https://gunivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-Bullet-Icon-32x32.jpg best .45 cal gun - Gunivore https://gunivore.com 32 32 Glock 37 Gen 4 Review: .45 Auto, Glock-Style https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-37-gen-4-review/ https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-37-gen-4-review/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2016 10:11:08 +0000 https://gunivore.com/?p=2931 Glock has introduced a number of guns which are .45 Auto caliber, but they have their own .45 caliber - the .45 GAP - as well! Glock presents the 4th generation of their .45 GAP-using Glock 37 - read about it in our "Glock 37 Gen 4 Review: .45 Auto, Glock-Style" feature!

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Table of Contents

Although Glock’s lineup of handguns features mostly impressive firepower – enough to get the job done in so many instances – some law enforcement officials in the late 1990’s-early 2000’s found that Glock’s standard issue 9×19 pistols, such as the Glock 17, 19, 26, or 43, were not adequately taking down criminals. This led to a bit of a conundrum on the part of Glock, in that the company was faced with the decision to either concede that its existing handgun line wasn’t up to par for some officers and develop/adopt a new caliber, or ignore the pleas for a more powerful Glock. Glock settled on the former, and the result we ended up with is the Glock 37, a .45 G.A.P. (Glock Automatic Pistol) using cartridge developed to match the power of the .45 Auto guns while maintaining a compact form factor and high ease of use.

The .45 GAP, while offering the same power as the .45 ACP, is made shorter in order to fit a compact handgun. This is because Glock had no intention of drawing a contrast between the G37 and their other, more compact handguns, or invite comparisons to the .45 Auto Glock models – the 21, 30, and 36. The Glock 37 was a monumental achievement in that Glock continued to combine impressive stopping power and compact form, this time on an even greater level – it’s not tough to see why the New York State Police Department adopted the gun shortly after its introduction to the market. You’ll understand the greatness of the Glock 37 as well after reading this, our Glock 37 Gen 4 Review!

Glock 37 Specs

Caliber / System

  • .45 G.A.P.

Dimensions

  • Length: 204 mm / 8.03 in.
  • Height: 140 mm / 5.51 in.
  • Width: 30.00 mm / 1.18 in.
  • Barrel Height: 32 mm / 5.51 in.
  • Length Between Sights: 165 mm / 6.49 in.
  • Barrel Length: 114 mm / 4.48 in.

Weights

  • Unloaded: 820 g / 28.95 oz.
  • Loaded: 1005 g / 35.48 oz.

Trigger Pull / Travel

  • Trigger Pull: ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
  • Trigger Travel: ~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in.

Barrel Rifling / Length of Twist

  • Barrel Rifling: right hand, octagonal
  • Length of Twist: 400 mm / 15.75 in.

Magazine Capacity

  • Standard: 10

Glock 37 Build

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Glock 37 Backstraps

As previously stated, the thought behind the Glock 37 was to develop a firearm which could accommodate .45 ACP-like cartridges without compromising in form factor. In order to achieve this, Glock’s special .45 GAP cartridge is shorter than the traditional .45 ACP, but slightly shorter, and uses a small pistol primer. The G37 uses the same frame as the 9 x 19 Glock pistols, but uses a wider sight to accommodate the larger diameter of the .45 GAP, and the magazines are the same dimensions as those used in the 9 x 19 Glock’s. In typical Glock fashion, the G37 is composed mostly of the patented Glock polymer-blend, which makes for a tough, durable, resilient, and long-lasting gun. As we are reviewing the Gen 4 version of the Glock 37, we should note that all of the typical Gen 4 bells and whistles are included – the modular back straps, the enlarged and reversible magazine catch, dual recoil spring assembly, and the new and improved textured grip. Already known for their build quality, the dual recoil spring assembly in particular ensures an even longer-lasting Glock – for me personally, the G37 has held up over the course of two years nearly perfectly.

Glock 37 Shooting

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Glock 37 In Action

The selling point of the Glock 37 is in the caliber and stopping power of the firearm, which means that this section of our review is the most pivotal. I can confidently state that after extensive G37 use, I can conclude that it is one of the most well-balanced handguns I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. Although the 37 is somewhat more difficult to handle than its siblings in the Glock family (as is to be expected, given the larger caliber), it is still plenty accessible for novices as well as experienced gun owners. Accuracy when shooting is as good as can be expected – I performed similarly with the .45 as I did with guns of different brands and lesser calibers, leaving two-inch groups at roughly 25 yards. The gun is comfortable to hold (and highly customizable for those who do not find the factory grips agreeable), and immediately launches itself to the head of the pack of the .45 Auto ‘family’ – this is most unsurprising, given that Glock seems to accomplish this feat in every gun market niche it enters.

Glock 37 Magazine

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Glock 37 Magazine

The standard capacity of the Glock 37 magazine is 10, with the option for a +1 magazine extension which protrudes from the mag well just a little, compromising on form factor slightly. Again, the Gen 4 version of the Glock 37 has a handy, enlarged magazine release and well which is also reversible. This makes for a hell of an easy experience in terms of loading and ejecting magazines, allowing users to switch the catch to the left or right side of the handgun. Not unlike other handguns, the 10-rounds of GAP will either be enough to satisfy your gun needs, or they won’t: I know some folks who couldn’t live without the capacity of 17 in the Glock 17’s, while I personally am just fine with 10. Figure out what it is that you need out of your handgun, and adjust accordingly. Just recognize that the laws of nature dictate that a higher caliber handgun either be larger in size or feature a (relatively) smaller magazine to accommodate the rounds.

Glock 37 Sights

Oh yes, it’s that time of the review again. Time to lament the shortcomings in the Glock factory sights before cheerfully reminding you that, being a Glock gun, the G37 sights can be swapped for a variety of different new and improved sights! Until Glock does something about their underwhelming sights, we will continue to accurately label them as one of the few shortcomings in an otherwise extremely pleasing gun formula. In the meantime, you can either buy a new set of sights, or make do with the front dot and rear “u” marked sights on the Glock 37 – they’re not great, but they’re not terrible either.

Glock 37 Conversion

I’ve seen a number of people in various places ask about conversion options shortly after purchasing the Glock 37. The problem that some people encounter here is that they purchase the Glock 37 thinking that it will accept .45 ACP ammunition without realizing that, as described, the .45 GAP is a specially-made cartridge and that the Glock 37 is not compatible with .45 ACP rounds. I’m just going to state this now to make it perfectly clear: The Glock 37 cannot be converted in any safe or official capacity, and the Glock 37 only accepts the ammunition that was made for the Glock 37. This is a sad reality to accept given the wealth of options that are available in ammunition in other Glock pistols, but it is a reality that people need to accept nonetheless. This is a result of Glock manufacturing a firearm that accepts its own unique cartridge. Therefore, if you’re perhaps interested in purchasing a Glock 37, I cannot recommend giving the gun a try before purchasing highly enough. Appreciating and enjoying the .45 GAP cartridge is imperative for would-be 37 owners – it is essentially a pre-requisite. Try the gun before purchasing it and you won’t have to worry about trying to convert the gun at some later point – you’ll know it’s not the gun for you.

Glock 37 Safety and Assembly

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Glock Safe-Action System

Given the fact that the Glock 37 was developed thanks in large part to safety concerns of law enforcement officials, it’s only fitting that the G37 itself have good safety features – which it does, in spades. Like the other Gen 4 Glock guns, the G37 takes advantage of Glock’s three-point “Safe Action System” – a three-part safety system designed to negate the most common risks associated with handguns. This includes, for starters, the Glock trigger safety – a level built into the trigger of the gun that needs to be engaged simultaneously with the trigger in order for the trigger to fire. The spring-loaded firing pin safety ensures that the firing pin is blocked from moving forward unless the trigger is being pulled. Finally, the drop safety of the gun ensures that no unwanted firing takes place in the event of an accidental drop. In addition to these features, the superior build of the G37 is an insurance policy in itself against any unsafe results from general handgun degeneration, wear, tear, and aging. You won’t find a safer.45 handgun than the G37.

Glock 37 Accessories

Unlike the unfortunate ammunition limitations which were described earlier, the Glock 37 has an overwhelming number of accessory and customization options for their owners. From grips, to slide back platers, to recoil springs, to holsters, to sights, there are a number of ways to improve and alter your Glock 37 in order to help make your G37 experience a more accessible one. Here are our Top-5 Glock 37 Accessories:

1. Talon Grips

37 aA single-piece wrap around adhesive grip, these Talon grips create a more easily grip-able surface of the gun which make a safe, comfortable firing experience even safer and more comfortable. Available in both rubber and granulated texture and just 0.5 mm thick, these grips manage to maintain the slip and easy to hold build of the gun while only enhancing grip-ability (all of the good, none of the bad). I used these grips for the Glock 17 and 19, as well as for the Glock 37, and I have to say that the increase in comfort when shooting made a tremendous amount of difference – the Glock 37 factory grips are quality, but the Talon’s are over-the-top great.

2. Trijicon HD Night Sights

37 bAfter covering the less-than-stellar sights included on the Glock 37, you didn’t think we’d let you finish the review without recommending an excellent replacement pair, did you? Trijicon knows sights as well as anyone, and night sights in particular – night sights like the Trijicon HD Night Sight Set for Glock Pistols. Featuring a highly visible colored front sight post with glow-in-the-dark paint, these Trijicon sights are excellent for target acquisition in home defense situation in particular. Easy to install, the subdued, u-notch rear sight and front post can totally enhance the Glock 37 experience – make these your go-to Glock sights!

3. Black Rear Cover Slade Back Plate

37 cFor those who find Glock guns to be a little stale or stiff in terms of their look or aesthetic, there are always swappable back plates. An easy and simple way to personalize your Glock 37, back plates are easily installed, affordable, and varied enough to find the perfect fit for you (you could even design your own with an online tutorial). NDZ Performance in particular makes a good set.

4. Stainless Steel Competition Recoil Spring

37 9Looking for different weights in your gun than a Glock 37 provides? You’re in luck. You can actually tune the spring to your specific shooting level, skill, and needs by using drop-in, stainless steel guide rods made by Glock. Available in 5 different weights, these are a great option for gun owners who are not feeling that the G37 is optimal for their shooting profile.

5. BlueFire 2-in-1 Flashlight and Laser Sight

37 eThe Glock 37 is a great option for home defense and self-defense purposes, but that doesn’t mean that the G37 defense experience can’t be made even better. Night sights will help with target acquisition at night and in low-light situations, but when targets and areas need to be better illuminated, lights and laser sights are a great option. BlueFire makes an excellent 2-in-1 combo that gets the job done for anyone who wants to be extra cautious with the defense firearm.

Glock 37 Holsters

37 7Glock guns are some of the most popular guns for open and concealed carrying in the world, and it’s no surprise as to why – the compact form of Glock guns make them easy and downright comfortable to carry. For the sake of safety, and increased comfort, though, carrying your Glock in a holster is the way to go. There are a number of great holster options for the Glock 37, and I personally recommend the Fobus Roto Holster or the Blackhawk 410513CT-R, which are two proven crowd pleasers. It’s always best, however, to find the Glock 37 holster that you find most comfortable and safe.

Conclusion

The Glock 37 is a revolutionary weapon that took the stopping power of the .45 ACP, put it in a compact handgun, and managed to keep the firing and controllability to a reasonable level. Is the Glock 37 a perfect handgun, without limitations? Definitely not. For those of you who want .45 ACP-level shooting in a compact handgun, however, and in the world-class build of a Glock, the G37 is as good of a choice as you’re going to get. Try the Glock 37 out at your local range today to see if it works for you!

Thanks for reading our Glock 37 review – check back for more on Glock guns here at Gunivore!

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]]> https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-37-gen-4-review/feed/ 4 Glock 21 Gen 4 Review https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-21-gen-4-review/ https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-21-gen-4-review/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:20:34 +0000 https://gunivore.com/?p=2718 Glock has made such an incredible impact on the gun industry, and particularly when it comes to handguns. Perhaps best known for their compact and subcompact guns, Glock has also made impressive larger-sized entries into the handgun category - like the Glock 21 Gen 4. Check out our Glock 21 Gen 4 Review for our full rundown of this amazing Glock gun!

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Table of Contents

Is there anything Glock produces quite as well as it does 9×19 pistols? Here at Gunivore, we’ve covered Glock’s 9×19 pistol line extensively in the past – from the standard G17, to the compact G19 (also see our updated G19 feature), to the subcompact G26, to the subcompact slimline G43 – Glock has produced an incredible line of 9×19 handguns which make for excellent open or concealed carry options for gun owners.

However, as has been noted repeatedly in our previous features, the truth is that no two gun owners are exactly alike. This means that different gun owners are going to have different needs and expectations from their handguns. No matter how excellent the 9×19 line of Glock’s are, some people are going to want a little more stopping power out of their pistol, or more than a Glock 9×19 can provide. That’s where the .45 caliber guns come into play – and in particular the .45 caliber Glock 21 Gen 4, which we will thoroughly cover here in our Glock 21 Gen 4 Review!

Glock 21 Gen 4 Intro

Many gun owners, and particularly law enforcement officials or those engaged in active military service, prioritize owning a higher caliber and getting greater stopping power out of their handguns. While the ‘average joe’ gun enthusiast might have a smaller size, ease of use, and efficiency on their mind, which would steer them in the direction of Glock’s more compact handguns, a great number of folks have been looking for Glock to provide a higher caliber handgun.

Glock has provided an excellent option for these gun owners in the Glock 21. While many gun manufacturers have compromised on a number of features in the making of their own .45 caliber handguns, Glock has managed to produce a .45 caliber handgun that offers the power of a larger handgun along with the ease and practicality of a smaller handgun. This is particularly apparent in the build, grip, and ergonomics of the weapon, and especially in the Gen 4 model which features the new Glock dual recoil spring assembly for reduced kick and wear.

Glock 21 Gen 4 Specs

Caliber/System:

  • .45 Auto / Safe Action

Dimensions:

  • Length – 204 mm / 8.03 in.
  • Height – 139 mm / 5.47 in.
  • Width – 32.50 mm / 1.27 in.
  • Barrel Height – 32 mm / 1.26 in.
  • Length Between Sights – 172 mm / 6.77 in.
  • Barrel Length – 117 mm / 4.60 in.

Weights:

  • Unloaded – 830 g / 29.30 oz.
  • Loaded – 1085 g / 38.30 oz.

Trigger Pull / Travel:

  • Trigger Pull – ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
  • Trigger Travel – ~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in.

Barrel Rifling / Length of Twist:

  • Barrel Rifling – Right Hand, Octagonal.
  • Length of Twist – 400 mm / 15.75 in.

Magazine Capacity:

  • Standard – 13
  • Optional – 10

Build

The size of the Glock 21 makes it an active-duty pistol, but the classic polymer frame of the gun helps it weigh in at a surprisingly light 29.30 ounces. The ergonomics of the gun are unsurprisingly excellent – this is a Glock we’re talking about, after all. The gun is well-built, aesthetically pleasing, and the texturing of the grip feels just right – while some of these factors are subjective, the G21 build is a proven crowd pleaser. The .45 caliber G21 is of a relatively larger size, which means that your mileage may vary as far as comfort and feel depending on your hand size. However, the modular design of the Glock 21 Gen 4 is seen in the interchangeable back straps of the gun, of which five are included. This allows owners to swap out backstraps to their heart’s content, and the number of options available makes it hard to imagine a gun owner who couldn’t find an option that works for his or her hands. This is an immensely helpful feature and is part of what makes the G21 yet another user-friendly and accessible Glock gun.

Also newly featured in the Gen 4 model of the G21 is a reversible magazine catch, as well as the previously mentioned dual recoil spring assembly. In addition to the shooting improvement offered by the new spring system, which we will cover more extensively in our shooting section of the review, the spring assembly helps the gun achieve a longer spring lifespan. Overall, the Glock 21 is a well-built gun, and the Gen 4 model is even more high-quality offering from a company that knows more about handgun quality than any other.

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Glock 21 Gen 4 Shooting

There’s usually one primary reason a gun owner would prefer a pistol of a larger size and caliber, and that is for the superior stopping power that a heavier-duty gun like a .45 caliber can provide. One drawback to a .45 caliber handgun can be excessive kick and recoil, which can make for an inaccurate, difficult shooting experience. The Glock 21, however, does not suffer from this shortcoming – essentially, you’re getting the best of both worlds when you fire a G21 in having both increased stopping power and an easy handle. The superior build quality of the G21 Gen 4 is a large part of what brings the kick and recoil to a manageable level, and it should be noted that this is particularly impressive given the light weight polymer frame of the gun.

Also helping handle the load is the dual recoil spring assembly, which diminishes the already controllable kick felt in earlier generations of the Glock 21 and brings it down to a world-class level in the Gen 4 model of the gun. The key when it comes to the Glock 21 and its appeal, however, is in the deadly accuracy of the gun. While the G21 is remarkably soft shooting, it is also remarkably accurate – again, this is a monumental achievement for Glock to have crafted a firearm that fires with the softness of a smaller handgun, the stopping power of a .45 caliber, and the accuracy of a Glock. Overall, the Glock 21 Gen 4 is truly a pleasure to fire – give it a test drive before purchasing down at your local range to see for yourself.

Glock 21 Gen 4 Magazines

The Glock 21 comes equipped with a standard-issue 13-capacity magazine – an impressive number of bullets for a .45 caliber weapon. There are first- and third-party extended magazine options available for those who are interested, but 13-rounds is really more than satisfactory for a handgun of this size. Additionally, the magazine well of the Glock 21 Gen 4 (newly redesigned for the Gen 4 – this description does not apply to earlier iterations of the gun) is, to put it simply, world-class.

The magazine catch is easily reversible and far more intuitive than any other handgun of this caliber can offer – magazine release and loading is seamless and requires virtually no grip change or invasive maneuvering. The well accepts magazines smoothly, and the catch is solid and reliable enough to eliminate any kind of fear of accidental release or malfunction. All in all, there isn’t much to find fault with when it comes to Glock 21 Gen 4 mags.

Glock 21 Gen 4 Sights

One of the only areas of fault that people have somewhat consistently found with Glock handguns has been in the sights of the weapons. The problem has not necessarily been that the Glock sights have been poor, but rather underwhelming, and not up to par with the standard-setting quality of the rest of the makeup of Glock handguns. This is something that the Glock 21 Gen 4 has sought to improve on, and it most certainly has. Coming equipped with standard Glock MH3 steel three-dot night sights, the G21 sights are well-built, precise, practical (thanks to their nighttime friendliness), and good-to-go right out of the box.

Sight rating can sometimes come down to personal preference, however, which is why you’re always best off with a Glock when it comes to sight-selection – Glock handguns offer more options for accessorizing and customization than any other handgun company in the world. Boasting an absolute wealth of options for gun owners looking to swap out and try different kinds of sights, if the Glock 21 Gen 4 factory sights aren’t the right ones for you, you’ll be sure to find the ones that are.

Safety and Assembly

The mantra of every gun owner should be ‘safety first’, as it is with Glock, and as is evident in the manufacturing of Glock handguns. As is the case with all Glock pistols, the Glock 21 Gen 4 is equipped with the revolutionary and patented Glock ‘Safe Action System’ – a three-part, fully automatic safety system designed to ensure that the Glock pistol experience is as safe as can be. The three-part system breaks down as follows: First up is the Trigger Safety, which is incorporated into the trigger and when engaged, blocks the trigger from moving backward (the trigger safety and trigger must be engaged together in order to successfully fire). Secondly, the firing pin safety is a spring-loaded blocker of the firing pin.

When the trigger is engaged, the firing pin channel is cleared, and during the slide cycling process, the firing pin safety re-engages. Lastly, we have the drop safety, a trigger bar which prevents unwanted firing from occurring in the event of drops or other accidental mishaps. Overall, the Glock ‘Safe Action System’ featured in the G21 Gen 4 is about as safe as a pistol safety system as a gun owner could hope to have – all Glock 21 owners can rest easy knowing they’re using about as safe of a pistol as possible.

Glock 21 Gen 4 Accessories and Customization

When you’re talking Glock, you’re talking about a gun manufacturer and a brand whose overwhelming popularity has led to more accessory, modification and customizable options that can be found with any other gun company in the world. The Glock 21 Gen 4 is no exception – enjoy an excessive number of accessories for the Glock 21 that are produced and sold by third-party companies as well as Glock itself.

The polymer frame of the G21 features a Picatinny compatible accessory rail that is molded into the gun and accepts any number of accessories. From sights to grips, to holsters, to extended mags, to lasers and lights, you could spend a long time tweaking and perfecting your G21 experience until it is perfectly and ideally customized for your own personal needs.

In Conclusion

Looking for a .45 caliber handgun that provides all of the power you’d expect from a .45 cal but with none of the compromises or shortcomings that you might expect? Look no further than the Glock 21 Gen 4. Featuring all of the good and none of the bad, the Glock 21 Gen 4 is a high-quality offering right out of the box, and one that can be easily fine-tuned and altered to suit your exact needs. With the Glock 21 Gen 4, the Glock has done it again and re-affirmed its standing as the world’s leading handgun manufacturer.

Thanks for reading our Glock 21 Gen 4 Review – be sure to check back for more on Glock here at Gunivore! While you’re here, give our Benelli Super Vinci and M2 reviews a look!

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