G21SF and G37?

[G22C]

As most of you have already heard within the last day or so, the slim frame (actually designated as the "short" frame) G21SF .45ACP has officially been unveiled by Glock at Shot Show 2007... which incorporates a slimmed backstrap, ambidextrous mag release, and retaining its 13-round capacity as the original G21.

I was wondering though... what will this new pistol do to the G37 .45GAP? Some say the GAP round was created as a way to fit a "shortened" .45 cartridge into a smaller-framed Glock (G37) for those who were fans of the .45ACP, yet, had smaller hands than the full-sized G21 would comfortably allow;.... while others say the GAP was simply created as a "new caliber" altogether for the market.

Whatever the case, do any of you see the sales of G37's plummeting from here on? How about the .45GAP cartridge itself? There are several other firearms manufacturers who have indeed released GAP pistols, but, none of them have been "hot sellers" in the mainstream line of other typical calibers (9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP, etc.).

Though I'm sure the G37 and the .45GAP cartridge has its place amongst other pistols/cailbers, I can't help but feel Glock, Inc. has dug its own grave on it with the release of the new G21SF?

[thurn55]

Well, I bought my G37 in 2005 (my 21st birthday!). After months of research, I decided on Glock. Then it was Glock v. Springfield's XD. I liked the idea of the smaller frame (I have big hands so really didn't matter too much). Bought the G37 because I felt that a Glock was superior to XDs (this was before Springfield had their own .45ACP XD), so I bought the G37. I love my G37. Really, I do. BUT............ ammo... Where the **** is all the ammo? I shoot at least once every two weeks... I'm going through ammo quickly. GAP variety sucks. I like shooting 9mm Black Hills, but there are no GAP choices... Turns out +P is ballistically better than GAP (no surprise). Standard GAP barely meets standard ACP numbers. I was thinking it was even:sad:.

So, I heard that they are coming out with this new grip design on a G21. I've handled G21s before. I really think the grip is comfortable. I have big Hogue grips on my AR. Big pistol grip on my shotgun. My Beretta 92s grip is huge. I, at one time, had the Hogue slip on my G37. That added some 'girth' too. Well, I actually shot a buddy of mines G21 at the range the other day, and said... THAT'S IT, G37s GETTING TRADED! I already have a Springfield 1911 (felt I needed to buy something Springfield since I didn't buy the XD when I was shopping for my 21st birthday gun), so I'm buying ACP ammo in bulk. I love the variety of rounds, I get my Black Hills .45 ammo!, etc. Well, since hearing about the 21SF, I thought... Well, I want a G21 NOW. I don't really want to wait. So, I went to my gunshop today to see what kind of a deal I could make on a NIB G21 with a G37 trade... turns out they were closed for a gun show at the fair grounds. Have to wait till after MLK Day... GAP was fun, but ACP is more economical (and I can get it at Wal-Mart!). As far as the G21SF... I have big hands, left-handed but use my left middle finger to do mag changes (no need for ambi), and I can get a G21 quicker...

[thurn55]

Actually, after writing all that, I can sum it up even quicker...

WWB 230gr FMJ ACP (100rd Value Pack) from Wal-Mart: $22 +tax

WWB 230gr FMJ GAP (50rd box) from local gunshop: $18 +tax (I need two boxes to equal 100rds) = $36 +tax

Difference of... $14!!!!!!:shocked:. At my local gunshop, I can buy a box 20rd box Speer Gold Dots for 13.99! It's a big difference to me. I could even use that $13.99 on gas...

[gary newport]

Originally posted by G22C
As most of you have already heard within the last day or so, the slim frame (actually designated as the "short" frame) G21SF .45ACP has officially been unveiled by Glock at Shot Show 2007... which incorporates a slimmed backstrap, ambidextrous mag release, and retaining its 13-round capacity as the original G21.

I was wondering though... what will this new pistol do to the G37 .45GAP? Some say the GAP round was created as a way to fit a "shortened" .45 cartridge into a smaller-framed Glock (G37) for those who were fans of the .45ACP, yet, had smaller hands than the full-sized G21 would comfortably allow;.... while others say the GAP was simply created as a "new caliber" altogether for the market.

Whatever the case, do any of you see the sales of G37's plummeting from here on? How about the .45GAP cartridge itself? There are several other firearms manufacturers who have indeed released GAP pistols, but, none of them have been "hot sellers" in the mainstream line of other typical calibers (9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP, etc.).

Though I'm sure the G37 and the .45GAP cartridge has its place amongst other pistols/cailbers, I can't help but feel Glock, Inc. has dug its own grave on it with the release of the new G21SF?

Note that the new G21SF shortens the grip a bit front-to-back (according to pictures and posts by folks who are at SHOT). If so, the grip will still be pretty thick in order to accomodate the 13-round mag. Dr. Ken Lunde (whose excellent G21SF pictures may be seen in a couple of threads in GG) describes the grip difference between the G21 and the 21SF as "subtle." I suspect some folks will continue to prefer a G17-sized grip.

Note also that the G37 is not the only GAP Glock. The G38 has the same grip and overall size (except for a slightly thicker slide) than almost everybody's favorite carry Glocks: the G19 and 23. The G38 is a most excellent choice! (It is entirely possible that Glock could introduce an "SF" version of the G30 at some point.)

Note further that the G21SF won't be offered in at least one large market (California) and folks in a few other states will only be able to get it with Clintonized (10-round) magazines--if at all--so the smaller-but-still-big grip won't confer an advantage in those places. The G37 uses (unClintonized) 10-round mags and has a smaller grip.

[epsylum]

Originally posted by thurn55
Well, I bought my G37 in 2005 (my 21st birthday!). After months of research, I decided on Glock. Then it was Glock v. Springfield's XD. I liked the idea of the smaller frame (I have big hands so really didn't matter too much). Bought the G37 because I felt that a Glock was superior to XDs (this was before Springfield had their own .45ACP XD), so I bought the G37. I love my G37. Really, I do. BUT............ ammo... Where the **** is all the ammo? I shoot at least once every two weeks... I'm going through ammo quickly. GAP variety sucks. I like shooting 9mm Black Hills, but there are no GAP choices... Turns out +P is ballistically better than GAP (no surprise). Standard GAP barely meets standard ACP numbers. I was thinking it was even:sad:.

So, I heard that they are coming out with this new grip design on a G21. I've handled G21s before. I really think the grip is comfortable. I have big Hogue grips on my AR. Big pistol grip on my shotgun. My Beretta 92s grip is huge. I, at one time, had the Hogue slip on my G37. That added some 'girth' too. Well, I actually shot a buddy of mines G21 at the range the other day, and said... THAT'S IT, G37s GETTING TRADED! I already have a Springfield 1911 (felt I needed to buy something Springfield since I didn't buy the XD when I was shopping for my 21st birthday gun), so I'm buying ACP ammo in bulk. I love the variety of rounds, I get my Black Hills .45 ammo!, etc. Well, since hearing about the 21SF, I thought... Well, I want a G21 NOW. I don't really want to wait. So, I went to my gunshop today to see what kind of a deal I could make on a NIB G21 with a G37 trade... turns out they were closed for a gun show at the fair grounds. Have to wait till after MLK Day... GAP was fun, but ACP is more economical (and I can get it at Wal-Mart!). As far as the G21SF... I have big hands, left-handed but use my left middle finger to do mag changes (no need for ambi), and I can get a G21 quicker...

I went through the same thing when buying my first gun (well, the first one I picked out and bought myself), G37 or G21. Well I rented a G21 and that was all I needed and went the G21 route. I have zero regrets and have added a G30 to my collection and want yet another G21 as I want my old one to be a dedicated G21L (which it more or less is already). Even with the 21SF, I will still buy a regular 21 as I have come to like the big ole grip, not to mention the fact that the 21SF requires the newer mag design, which none of my 21 mags are.

37 has its market (although not a very big one), but I am not one of their targeted customers (people with small hands who HAVE to have a double stack .45 and are willing to pay for it).

[Ljunatic]

The G21SF at the SHOT show

http://lundestudio.com/2007SHOTShow/Day1/g21sf-3.jpg