Glock 41 ... 1st impressions from a convert

Well, I owe Glock an apology. After years of being steadfastly anti-Glock, I reconsidered and purchased a Gen 4 Model 41, taking it to range this afternoon for its inaugural workout. My negative sentiments were formed long ago, after shooting Gen 1 bricks … I found Glocks to be ugly, ergonomically challenged, plasticky, and generally unimpressive and unappealing. Those feelings did not waver for ~ two decades, and I have been committed to S&W revolvers and SIG semis all that time. So what motivated my change of heart? The prepping mindset, in conjunction with recent outbreaks of urban incivility and domestic terrorism. I have been looking for a high capacity, long slide semi-auto .45 ACP that is reliable, affordable, and one that I can shoot comfortably. It will be my emergency handgun for the BOB/GB, vehicle, etc. The Model 41 is the offering that I decided to take a chance on, and am very pleased that I did.

As a Glock neophyte, my commentary will be old news to the fan boys and Glockmeisters, so bear with me. Out of the box, the 41 needed two minor things: a slight rear sight adjustment, and a brushing out of the some light debris from inside the slide (I assume this was residue from factory test firing). Once the 41 was cleaned and made ready for range practice, I was impressed. 75 rounds of factory 230g cycled perfectly, and my groups at 20 paces fit under my palm. Jerry Miculek has nothing to worry about, but for a new handgun (and unfamiliar handgun chassis) to shoot so well was more than I expected. The Gen 4 grip pebbling becomes rough in short time (similar to rubbing one’s open hand on concrete), but a generic weightlifting glove solved the problem asap. In an emergency scenario, this would not be an issue, but for basic comfort at the range, the glove is a plus. What I especially liked about the 41 was the small area that ejected brass fell within. I didn’t lose a single casing in the grass, unlike with my SIG 220 that sprays spent casings in all directions. Though the 41’s weight is modest, felt recoil was non-existent. As I am accustomed to steel handguns, it took a few rounds to get a feel for muzzle flip, but otherwise shooting was a pleasure. The stock sights that most folks abhor were perfectly serviceable, offering a clear and quick acquisition of the target. Night sights would be a nice upgrade, but honestly, the stock front and adjustable rear are fine. The Gen 4 41 has a slightly smaller grip profile (distance from backstrap to trigger) than other full size models, and the few millimeters difference made the 41 much easier for my average-sized hand to grip. The included pair of larger replacement backstraps are worthless to me, as there are too darn big and unwieldy. Again, stock configuration = GTG. The only negative I found is that PITA take down lever. The damn thing is too small, and I will either invest in the extended replacement part or one of those inexpensive clip tools that facilitates the take down process.

What I especially like is the 41 comes with some extras that experienced Glock owners might overlook or simply underappreciate. Three 13 round magazines, a mag loader, a sight adjustment tool, a cleaning rod and brush may not sound impressive, but each is a small attention to detail that I, as a first time Glock buyer, find value in. The whole package reminds me of an AK with supplied cleaning kit, oiler, and sling.

Obviously I will need considerably more time to familiarize myself with the 41 and really learn its nuances, but it has made me a believer from the outset. As my skill set increases with this particular handgun, it will serve in the exact role that I had planned for it. I look forward to the 41 growing on me even more.

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Glock 41 ... 1st impressions from a convert