Hi everyone. I’ve been looking to get a relatively cheap full size .45 ACP for a while and ended up bidding on and winning an auction for a Glock 21 gen 2 on gunbroker. The listing didn’t specify, but I’m guessing that it was a police trade-in. It has some decent wear marks on the slide. Any thoughts on this gun from those who have owned it? Being that this is an older gun, should I go through and replace any of the internals? I’m thinking of swapping out the recoil spring assembly at a minimum, and maybe the extractor
Firstborn Seraph
Most police trade in handguns have minimal rounds through them. Typically on the low side 50-100 rounds a year for carrying qualifications. It is double that I would be shocked. So they where made in 1988-1997 so maybe 2k rounds through it. That is still pretty new. Replace whatever makes you feel comfortable but personally I would take it to the range run a couple hundred rounds through to test it out before making any decisions.
I was forced to carry one for 9 years….only issue I had was w that tiny little second spring near the firing pin…it does something other than get lost but I dont know what🤔
I would do what the other poster suggested and shoot it first. I bet it doesn't need a thing done to it. If it makes you feel better order a new recoil spring set up. IIRC you can buy a kit that has all the springs for the gun in the kit. I would check The Glock Store and see what they offer. There are a ton of upgrades like longer mag release and a plug for behind the magazine and other stuff that not in any way needed. You can go down the same rabbit hole with a Glock as you can with an AR-15 and Ruger 10/22. But you don't have to.
For example:
www.glockstore.com
And this just the edge of the Rabbit hole.
For example:
Parts Kits for Glocks
www.glockstore.com
And this just the edge of the Rabbit hole.
Two quotes from the Glocktalk forum.
"For pre-Gen5 Glocks, the most common parts to break are the slide lock spring and the trigger spring. Those changed with Gen5 and it remains to be seen what the problem parts will be now. I think the strut inside the trigger spring is one of those parts. RSAs are the most common part to wear out".
"After about 22yrs Glocking, I too thought I needed to stock a bunch of parts for repair.
The only parts I have ever needed to replace were mag springs and a connector in an early production G43.
Honestly I just keep a spare gun for Just-in-case. After adding up the cost of my spare parts, I realized I had spent enough on parts to buy a entire spare gun. I don't have to worry about the newest revision part number or what it fits that way. I have tossed more outdated items in the trash than I have repaired a gun with.
I probably shoot about 1,000 -1,500rds a year though, odds of me wearing out a Glock part are minimal".
RSA= Recoil Spring Assembly. Probably the only part you are likely to ever need. But maybe add a trigger spring and extractor to the list.
"For pre-Gen5 Glocks, the most common parts to break are the slide lock spring and the trigger spring. Those changed with Gen5 and it remains to be seen what the problem parts will be now. I think the strut inside the trigger spring is one of those parts. RSAs are the most common part to wear out".
"After about 22yrs Glocking, I too thought I needed to stock a bunch of parts for repair.
The only parts I have ever needed to replace were mag springs and a connector in an early production G43.
Honestly I just keep a spare gun for Just-in-case. After adding up the cost of my spare parts, I realized I had spent enough on parts to buy a entire spare gun. I don't have to worry about the newest revision part number or what it fits that way. I have tossed more outdated items in the trash than I have repaired a gun with.
I probably shoot about 1,000 -1,500rds a year though, odds of me wearing out a Glock part are minimal".
RSA= Recoil Spring Assembly. Probably the only part you are likely to ever need. But maybe add a trigger spring and extractor to the list.
Just picked up my G19 Gen 5 from upgrades from the shop today. Picked it up used on GunBroker for $375.
I got rid of the Glock plastic sights and had Trijicon installed. I like Ghost Inc parts, got their extended slide release, 3.5# connector, new firing pin, trigger spring for it. Bought a stainless guide rod and recoil spring as well.
My other G19 a Gen 3 has all that, except it has Truglo suppressor height sights and a threaded barrel.
I got rid of the Glock plastic sights and had Trijicon installed. I like Ghost Inc parts, got their extended slide release, 3.5# connector, new firing pin, trigger spring for it. Bought a stainless guide rod and recoil spring as well.
My other G19 a Gen 3 has all that, except it has Truglo suppressor height sights and a threaded barrel.
The one thing you will need most for your Glock is ammo. A couple of cases of ammo would be nice. And it will cost more than your pistol cost. But without ammo you just have a paper weight. My bud bought a Glock 17 gen1 when Glocks first came out around 1985. I don't know how many rounds he has fired through that gun but its been shot a lot. And he has never had to make a single repair or replace any parts. We are both 68 and that gun will outlast both of us.
My gen3 21 probably has 1000 rounds through it. Not even broke in yet.
Strip it down, make sure nothing is obviously broke. Make sure the plunger safety works.
Clean it, add the requisite 5 dots of lube. Then enjoy!
Strip it down, make sure nothing is obviously broke. Make sure the plunger safety works.
Clean it, add the requisite 5 dots of lube. Then enjoy!
I've got approximately 16,000rds through a Gen3 police trade in Glock 17 with no issues without needing to change anything though I may change the RSA soon. I had 70rds through a brand new Gen3 Glock 30S before I needed to buy a replacement locking block pin as the OEM one broke. Everything is luck of the draw. You'll never know what's going to go bad. As everyone else has stated, take it apart, look for obvious signs of damage and then shoot it. Replacement parts for pistols generally aren't worth the shipping/handling beyond getting new barrels and RSAs.
Thank you all for the replies. I went and picked the gun up yesterday. It appears to have very old steel night sights that no longer glow, but that’s OK. The gun was absolutely filthy, and I spent probably an hour detailing it, took the back plate off and cleaned off the striker and extractor spring assemblies. inspected the extractor, looks OK. I did send an email to Glock to see if they will send me a recoil spring assembly or direct me to where I can purchase one. I’d previously requested a recoil spring assembly for my 43X, and they sent one no questions asked, so I figured it was worth a shot
Had the same gun as a duty weapon for few years. RSA spring defintely replace. Cheap part. Also my mag springs went funky every year or so, so new mags, or at least springs and clean. Some aftermarket magazines are fine, carry OEM on your self defense mag . Shoot it up, loved mine but large compared to Glock19.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Used police guns are a crap shoot
Maybe one in thirty was issued to a
“Dept Gun Nut”
The rest will be barely broke in.
My old dept still has Winchester 1300
Riot Guns in storage
The current sheriff thinks they are between
25 and 35 years old. He said they MIGHT
have 500 rounds thru them, but he doubts it
Maybe one in thirty was issued to a
“Dept Gun Nut”
The rest will be barely broke in.
My old dept still has Winchester 1300
Riot Guns in storage
The current sheriff thinks they are between
25 and 35 years old. He said they MIGHT
have 500 rounds thru them, but he doubts it
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
