Glock 27-Gen4

[woodsltc]

Bought a G27-Gen4 a little over 2 1/2 months ago and just yesterday had an opportunity to "wring-it-out" at the range. I was a little apprehensive that it would be too "snappy" to be comfortable, but was pleasantly surprised, it wasn't much different than my G26..even shooting 180 grn bullets.

I still need to shoot it a little more but I can already tell that this will be my main every-day-carry gun in short order......really like this gun and it complements my G23 that I use as a truck & home defense gun.

I bought this off GunBroker in mid-May and I've checked the auctions since then on NIB G27's and the prices have increased from $150 to $300 more than what I paid (which was a reasonable price at that time, before the Covid/Riot scare).....crazy times, hope it all ends soon.

Don

 

[Echo40]

The "snap" of the .40 S&W cartridge is extremely overrated and seemingly stems from a point in time when those ridiculous 135gr poor-man's .357 SIG loads were all the rage.

A common 165gr-180gr load is no more snappy than a 9mm Luger +P load out of a gun of roughly equal size/weight.

I still remember the first time I shot my SW40VE, I was expecting it to be really snappy, but then I shot my first magazine with mixed 165gr FMJ following by 180gr XTPs. Once I finished shooting I remember thinking; "That was it?" and feeling slightly disappointed because I actually enjoy shooting firearms with a bit of punch to them.
Granted that the SW40VE isn't the smallest or the lightest .40cal pistol around, but it's still a compact, relatively lightweight G23 size pistol which only weighs 23oz, and I had seen a lot of folks talking about how snappy the G23 was, so I expected at least some snap. Meanwhile, my LCP and even my PPK/S are more snappy, and they're both chambered in .380 ACP!

 

[stansdds]

My impression of the 40 S&W recoil is that it is different from that of the 9x19mm. I find 9x19, with 115 and 124 grain bullets, to be very quick and snappy, less so with 147 grain bullets. The 40 has a little different recoil impulse, at least that is my impression. It is less snappy and even more of a roll, especially with 180 grain loads where it starts to feel more like 45 ACP.

I have no experience with the 135 grain 40 S&W loads, but I briefly experimented with 135 grain JHP and 140 grain hard cast lead bullets in 10mm Auto. Screaming velocities and snappy, sharp recoil. It felt exactly like a 4 inch barrel 357 Magnum with 125 grain bullets.

 

[6518John]

I had not thought about it until this post but I bet this recent mess has gotten rid of the surplus of 40 S&W pistols flooding the market. They were nearly giving them away around here—I think I saw some as low as $250-350 on Glocks in the paper.

 

[Echo40]

Precisely, .40 S&W recoil has a unique sort of torque to it, in which it sort of rolls or twists in your grip.

135gr .40 S&W loads are basically the same as the 135gr 10mm you describe, (possibly even identical assuming the loads you are referring to were the average factory loaded 10mm Lite/FBI loads) very snappy due to high muzzle velocity. At one very brief point in time 135gr .40 S&W loads were popular in Law Enforcement because they seemed to penetrate barriers better, but assuming even that was correct, then that's all they did well because they don't penetrate well at all in ballistics gel and have a tendency to break apart after striking hard objects.

Like most lightweight loads, 135grs sounds great on paper, boasting higher velocity and significantly more energy compared to standard 165gr-180gr loads, but that's all that they offer, higher numerical values. They expand too quickly, tend to shed weight/mass inside of tissue, end up penetrating poorly, generate more noise/flash/recoil, and accelerate wear on the recoil spring/guide rod in the firearm.

 

[CH4]

I'am a 40 fan and slightly prefer it over the 9mm, but I went with a G26.5 so I could use the same 10 to 33 round mags in my 9mm AR. If you want snap, get yourself a G29 10mm. I appreciate it's utility of having the option of using 10 and 15 round magazines.

 

[AppStFan]

Congrats on your G27 Gen4. I have a G27 Gen3 that I carried on duty for several years on duty while working CID. The G27 is also very versatile in that with the proper conversion barrels and magazines it allows you to shoot .40 S&W, 9mm, and 357 Sig. Basically three guns in one.

 

[Farmer17]

I've always liked .40 and have more confidence in it than the 9m/m even though I carry a Sig 365. The short barrels of sub compact guns loose some velocity so if you can handle the more powerful .40 cartridge that's great, your probably reaching the power level of a long barreled 9m/m +P. I never really understood the "snappy" remarks about the .40 I always thought it was pretty controllable but I've been a weightlifter for decades. I do think some of the .40 S&W guns that first came out were simply reworked 9m/m guns and were not properly designed or balance out to handle the more powerful cartridge and they kicked more than necessary. I know the early Walther P99 .40s were terrible and when I shot one the muzzle would point at the sky after every shot.

 

[loknload]

My local gun shop guy back in the day convinced me to buy a Glock27. I didn't like the a Glock let alone and I never shot the .40 either.
Well I bought it and took it to the range and I liked it! I liked the Glock and I liked the .40 as well
My 27 is one of the best shooting handguns I own and I shot it well right out of the box. The .40 cal. ? I saw nothing different in shooting that compared to a 9? Not snappy to me?
I liked it and I have one other .40 in my collection and that's the Beretta Cougar 8040 which is a very fine shooting handgun and handles the .40 cal very well.
My 27 made a Glock believer out of me as well as the .40 round and I do use both my 27 and the Beretta as carry pieces.
Keep the 27 and overtime I'm sure you're going to be real pleased with it!

 

[kaaskop49]

I've always liked .40 and have more confidence in it than the 9m/m even though I carry a Sig 365. The short barrels of sub compact guns loose some velocity so if you can handle the more powerful .40 cartridge that's great, your probably reaching the power level of a long barreled 9m/m +P. I never really understood the "snappy" remarks about the .40 I always thought it was pretty controllable but I've been a weightlifter for decades. I do think some of the .40 S&W guns that first came out were simply reworked 9m/m guns and were not properly designed or balance out to handle the more powerful cartridge and they kicked more than necessary. I know the early Walther P99 .40s were terrible and when I shot one the muzzle would point at the sky after every shot.

Fine post and analysis. My 1st Glock was the 23 which I sold for feeding and ejection irregularities. (Of course, as a wheelgunner, I can make a brick malfunction. ) I believe the 9mm guns more useful should 'things' break down, simply on the basis of ammunition availability. Much more 9mm ball out there than .40 cal. YMMV

When you say 'weightlifter', is that as in the old time MLB and HOFer Jimmy (Double-X) Foxx? He was scouted on a farm literally tossing around bales of hay. Them's muscles, man! Good shooting and be safe!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[woodsltc]

I believe the 9mm guns more useful should 'things' break down, simply on the basis of ammunition availability. Much more 9mm ball out there than .40 cal.

I do agree that in normal times that 9mm is more available than .40 S&W, but my personal observations during the last couple of major ammo shortages (Sandy Hook & Covid 19/BLM Riots) that .40 S&W has been more available than 9mm......my guess is more folks shoot 9mm and therefore other calibers such as .40 S&W and .45ACP last longer in the distribution stock piles. JMO

Whatever the situation, it pays to be prepared before hand and have adequate ammo on hand before there is a shortage.


Don

 

[primersp]

hello
i have buy 27_4,no problem with recoil, i feel less than a ppk in 32acp,the worst, i have buy an complet reloadind stuff, because the ammo where a bit costy
the pistol is precise the same as my 45 glock 21
happy whit him
have a nice day
André