Posted: 4/9/2012 10:05:52 AM EDT
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I am looking at getting a G21 Gen 2.
Are there and differences between the Gen 2 and Gen 3 other than the rail and finger groves? All the Gen 2s I have seen have 3 pins. Are all the G2 and G3 parts interchangeable? Is there anything I should look for when buying a Gen 2? What is the going rate on the Gen 2? Thank you for your help. |
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Quoted:
Are there and differences between the Gen 2 and Gen 3 other than the rail and finger groves? Other than what Fragalistic mentioned, they would likely have a different trigger bar and ejector unless those two parts have been upgraded. The trigger bar would likely be the 4256 trigger bar, and you may experience some light primer strikes with some types of ammo. You can upgrade to the 4256-1 trigger bar which has a longer sear tab to pull the firing pin back further and ensure reliable primer detonation. The ejector may be the 4340 or 8196 version, I'd upgrade it to the 8196-2 that's in the currently sold Gen3 .45 trigger housings.(Gen2 and Gen3 use the same trigger housing, so you can just swap the whole trigger housing) All the Gen 2s I have seen have 3 pins. Are all the G2 and G3 parts interchangeable?
No. The Gen2 and early Gen3's should have a locking block like this: http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/products/l_100002729_1.jpg And the late Gen3's along with Gen4's use a locking block like this: http://www.tacticalresponsegear.com/catalog/images/GLSP01447_1.jpeg Both of those locking blocks are still made, so if you want a spare part you can order one for whichever version your gun has. The 90 degree extractors are no longer made, only the 15 degree extractors are still made, so if the slide is 90 degree and you need to replace the extractor, it'd be best to send it to Glock and they should cut the slide to 15 degrees and refinish it. Then they'd replace the extractor with the current 15 degree version. If the slide has the 15 degree cut, it uses 15 degree extractors. Early 15 degree extractors didn't have a Loaded Chamber Indicator(LCI) and they require use of a non-LCI spring loaded bearing. If you replace the extractor with an LCI version, you must also replace the spring loaded bearing with an LCI version for .45ACP. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Are there and differences between the Gen 2 and Gen 3 other than the rail and finger groves? Other than what Fragalistic mentioned, they would likely have a different trigger bar and ejector unless those two parts have been upgraded. The trigger bar would likely be the 4256 trigger bar, and you may experience some light primer strikes with some types of ammo. You can upgrade to the 4256-1 trigger bar which has a longer sear tab to pull the firing pin back further and ensure reliable primer detonation. The ejector may be the 4340 or 8196 version, I'd upgrade it to the 8196-2 that's in the currently sold Gen3 .45 trigger housings.(Gen2 and Gen3 use the same trigger housing, so you can just swap the whole trigger housing) All the Gen 2s I have seen have 3 pins. Are all the G2 and G3 parts interchangeable?
No. The Gen2 and early Gen3's should have a locking block like this: http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/products/l_100002729_1.jpg And the late Gen3's along with Gen4's use a locking block like this: http://www.tacticalresponsegear.com/catalog/images/GLSP01447_1.jpeg Both of those locking blocks are still made, so if you want a spare part you can order one for whichever version your gun has. The 90 degree extractors are no longer made, only the 15 degree extractors are still made, so if the slide is 90 degree and you need to replace the extractor, it'd be best to send it to Glock and they should cut the slide to 15 degrees and refinish it. Then they'd replace the extractor with the current 15 degree version. If the slide has the 15 degree cut, it uses 15 degree extractors. Early 15 degree extractors didn't have a Loaded Chamber Indicator(LCI) and they require use of a non-LCI spring loaded bearing. If you replace the extractor with an LCI version, you must also replace the spring loaded bearing with an LCI version for .45ACP. How can it be cheaper to cut slides than to make extractors... Why would Glock or somebody else not make replacement extractors??? |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Are there and differences between the Gen 2 and Gen 3 other than the rail and finger groves? Other than what Fragalistic mentioned, they would likely have a different trigger bar and ejector unless those two parts have been upgraded. The trigger bar would likely be the 4256 trigger bar, and you may experience some light primer strikes with some types of ammo. You can upgrade to the 4256-1 trigger bar which has a longer sear tab to pull the firing pin back further and ensure reliable primer detonation. The ejector may be the 4340 or 8196 version, I'd upgrade it to the 8196-2 that's in the currently sold Gen3 .45 trigger housings.(Gen2 and Gen3 use the same trigger housing, so you can just swap the whole trigger housing) All the Gen 2s I have seen have 3 pins. Are all the G2 and G3 parts interchangeable?
No. The Gen2 and early Gen3's should have a locking block like this: http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/products/l_100002729_1.jpg And the late Gen3's along with Gen4's use a locking block like this: http://www.tacticalresponsegear.com/catalog/images/GLSP01447_1.jpeg Both of those locking blocks are still made, so if you want a spare part you can order one for whichever version your gun has. The 90 degree extractors are no longer made, only the 15 degree extractors are still made, so if the slide is 90 degree and you need to replace the extractor, it'd be best to send it to Glock and they should cut the slide to 15 degrees and refinish it. Then they'd replace the extractor with the current 15 degree version. If the slide has the 15 degree cut, it uses 15 degree extractors. Early 15 degree extractors didn't have a Loaded Chamber Indicator(LCI) and they require use of a non-LCI spring loaded bearing. If you replace the extractor with an LCI version, you must also replace the spring loaded bearing with an LCI version for .45ACP. Thats good info... I have an early model 30 and am going to look it over based on the above.... |
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Fragalistic and Voyager just about covered it. When Glock mills the slides to 15 degrees for the extractor, they also slightly lower the ejection port (mostly on the inside of the ejection port) and slightly alter the pick up rail on the bottom of the slide. If you're unsure if it's been upgraded, call Glock and they'll tell you. Other than what they posted, just check and make sure that any gun you are looking at hasn't been obviously abused and it should be good to go.
As an aside, if you can find one in decent shape, they are GREAT GUNS!!!!! Here's mine. Photos aren't the best, taken with my CrackBerry, but you'll get the idea. 
It's an early G21, serial number AEV***US, produced late 1993. I bought it in the winter of 1993/1994 at the Canton Gun Show, qualified with it for my PD job that spring and have carried it ever since. It has almost 45,000 rds through it, NO malfs except some of my reloads that I didn't size properly early on. As you can see from the closeup pics above, although I've been carrying it for 18 years, it has little holster wear. It's been used, but not abused. It's just like the friggin' Energizer Bunny- it just keeps going, and going, and going! If it fits your hand (they are BIG guns- I'm just a fraction of an inch away from being able to palm a basketball and it's almost too big for me), I can wholeheartedly recommend it! Bub75 |