Long slide and ‘Pro’ model self-loaders with elongated slides and barrels are popular. Used by tactical teams as well as serious shooters, the long-slide Glock pistols in 9mm and .40 are great competition handguns. If you have never handled one, well, you have missed something; they shoot like a dream. But Glock has not offered a long slide .45 until this year.
Debuting at the 2014 Shot Show, the Glock Model 41 has generated a lot of interest. Glock shooters have pushed for a long-slide Glock to run against the long-slide 1911 in competition. The long-slide 1911 is a dream and handles better than it seems it should. The extra inch of barrel and slide add to the balance and natural point. The long-slide 1911 is often quite accurate: The rub is they are heavy. A long-slide Glock isn’t nearly as heavy.
The new Glock isn’t as thick as the standard Model 21 .45. The slide is the same width as the Model 34 .40 caliber slide. However, the pistol is lighter than the standard Gen 4 Glock .45; a neat trick. There are a number of advantages including a longer sight radius that makes practical accuracy better. When you consider that the Glock 21 is already a soft recoiling .45, reducing muzzle flip by use of a long slide is another big plus.
To understand the Glock 41, lets look at the Generation 4. After all, despite the new slim slide, the pistol is a variant of the Gen 4 Glock Model 21. The Model 21 features four extra backstrap inserts, small, medium and large… and then one more! For those of you that did not like the RTF (rough texture finish) pistols, the new Glock has less abrasive dots. My hands are average to average small, and my complaint with the Glock 21 was the girth of the frame.
A double-column 13-round magazine requires space, and that space demanded a larger grip frame than I could comfortably handle. It is one thing to fire a pistol on the range, and another to control it in fast-paced combat drills. This is particularly true if your hands are cold or sweaty. The new grip design is more comfortable and fits my hand well with the small insert. With the medium insert, I can still use the pistol okay, but the smaller insert suits my hand size.
Once learned, the Glock trigger is manageable and, like many firearms, performs best for those who practice. It has been said that if you use a Glock, stick with the system and do not use another type of handgun—this is true of any firearm. The sights are standard Glock plastic, bold, easy to acquire quickly and give a measure of precision when properly lined up.
The Gen 4 pistol features a new recoil guide and spring design, which is similar to the various types of recoil reducers available for Glock pistols. This dual recoil spring design helps tame the recoil of compact pistols and should work well with the Glock Model 41. It did not give any problems and doesn’t add complications with the pistol. As I mentioned, the Glock 21 was already a soft kicking .45 ACP, and the Model 41 is produces even less felt recoil.
I am certain the Austrians are aghast that we fire lead bullets in their wonderful polygonal barrels—At least, we did before we knew better, including handloads! The polygonal barrel of the Glock features a form of rifling that is quite different from the lands and grooves we are used to. Polygonal rifling actually produces a better seal for propellant gas and may exhibit great accuracy. However, polygonal rifling is best suited to jacketed bullets. When using lead bullets, there is simply nowhere for the lead build up to go, which means the lead can build up in the barrel rather than in grooves.
Over time, this buildup may restrict the bore and create a dangerous condition. I have enjoyed excellent results in loading 9mm, 10mm and .45 ACP cartridges for the Glock, although you must take care. I stuck with jacketed bullets. Hornady bulk bullets—including the FMJs, various encapsulated bullets and the XTP—proved good performers.
DO NOT USE LEAD BULLETS IN THE GLOCK—unless you purchase a conventionally rifled aftermarket barrel.
I like big guns and carry the largest gun I can comfortably conceal. (Sure, I have to resort to the SIG P229 and CZ RAMI sometimes, and I prefer a .45 or .357) These include the SIG P220, Colt Commander and a four-inch barrel Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum. These are go-anywhere, handle-any-problem handguns. The Glock is longer, larger and lighter than any of these. On a combat course, the Glock 41 is a great shooter. Frankly, it makes shooting look easy even though it is not.
When you who pay attention to detail and practice, you will be rewarded with good results with the Glock 41. You can carry this handgun all week and then run the IDPA course on the weekend and make a good showing. It is also a great piece for taking care of pests and predators around the back 40. With a combat light mounted, you also have an efficient home defense piece.
As for the firing test, the pistol kicks little for the weight and is at least as comfortable to fire as any other full-size polymer frame .45. I used a quantity of Remington UMC 230-grain FMJ in this Shooters Log test. The pistol is controllable and in firing off-hand, it demonstrated good accuracy. The front sight simply hangs on the target as you press the trigger and get a good hit. Recoil and muzzle flip were modest. Moving to the hot Remington Golden Saber 185-grain +P, the greater push was there although nothing difficult to control. This is an enjoyable shooter.
There is a lot more to come on the Glock M41 and I am just getting the hang of it. Believe me, it is worth the wait and the Glock long slide .45 is going to make a splash.
During the test and evaluation, I used a Tagua belt holster slide-molded for the Glock 21—a perfect fit, good security and excellent finish. The Tagua holster is well finished, features double stitching in the right places and is affordable. It may be a while before the makers are up and running on holsters; meanwhile, the belt slide will suffice. I have to admit, among the pistols I have tested in the previous year, the Glock 41 is a standout and perhaps the one I will use the most.
How do you like the Glock M41? Share your thoughts about the Glock M41 in the comment section.
[bob]
I carry a G21 gen 4 everyday, but I really want a G41 gen 4 as well. Can’t have too many Glocks.
I like the G 41. It shoots well, easy to take down, clean and put back together.
My BIGGEST gripe is that I cannot find a decent leather holster for daily civilian carry. I can find all sorts of “tacticool” plastic holsters, police duty holsters, etc. but not a leather holster that has all the features, heck, not even a few of the features I want.
What *I* want, is a lined leather holster, thumbreak or auto lock retention (ala the SHERPA holsters), full length coverage and a ridged top opening to make resholstering easier without having to use two hands. These are the MANDATORY features.
The problem with a glock is two fold. One it doesn’t have a decocker, 2/. it bis a proprietory,SP?, weapon as one cannot buy add ons that fit anything except a Glock. If I’m going to spend the bucks for a new pistol, I’ll wait until FN drops their price on their .45 that has a decocker as well as a rail. Until that time my RIA 1911 A2 hi-cap is just fine.
I really like my new Glock41 I got for Christmas, but need a low hanging holster for open carry. Michigan is a concealed or open state and my
Glock is just too big to hide
I posted earlier (October 28) that I used a fox brand kydex IWB holster that was made for a model 21. I Got my model numbers mixed up! The Holster is for a model 22 that fits my model 41. I’ve got to many Glocks on my mind to keep the numbers straight! Lol
Purchased a Model 41 and put in the Pyramid Trigger System. The pistol shoots extremely well but would give anything to find a longer barrel in the plus 6″ range that will allow me to shoot lead bullets through it. Anyone know where I can buy such a barrel, please contact me. Lone Wolf won’t have any for awhile.
I Purchased a gen4 model 41 and absolutely love it I also use a fox kydex iwb holster for a model 21 that I had. This gun handles great and is very accurate! im definitely sold on Glock
I really want a mod. 41. My wife and I have loved and shot Glocks in competition since their inception. I am a certified armorer, and we were both range officers. Presently I am trying to sell mt tricked out gen. 3, 21 to have cash for a 41, but hearing a couple of bad things. First, Bill, like you and Sara, mentioned- the magazine falling out; wow, what’s with that? Second, I have read that hot or + P loads can give a FTF every several rounds, possibly due to the slide being lighter for the length, moving rearward to fast. I know Glock does not have recalls, only up – grades; this would need to be addressed first.
Is anyone else having a problem with the magazine falling out when they shoot the 41?
Yes. I have heard it happening with the Gen4 21 as well. No known official cause or resolutions that I’ve heard of.
I’ve been having problems with the mag ejecting prematurely, for no obvious reason on my G41. A couple different mags, and no clear answer, I’d like to know if someone knows of a fix.
Where can I buy Glock 41? Which are the best 3 websites to purchase the Glock 41 online?
I’d love to see a .30 carbine Glock. =) My AMT Automag 3 is very fun to shoot, but I’d love the better reliability that i can always count on with a Glock.
I notice no cut out on the top of the slide like the 34/35. The .45 must not have a balance issue requiring to machine this. Still a fan of the 3rd gens, but this looks like a justification in owning another .45 Glock! Thanks Glock!
Got my new G41 in 3 days ago. Just waiting for safariland to come out with duty holsters for it. Then once I qual I’ll retire my 16 year old G21.
to bob cambell. so, bob, what is your take??? give it to me straight….is it the glock mod 34 long slide 9mm, or the glock 42 45???? which one would you buy and why???? afterall, you got way more experience than i do. although, i just bought a mod 41 .380 from glock. serial number is less than a thousand. i wonder how long it will be before the 45 long slide is in the stores??? as for shooting lead or jackets???? i dont care what it is or who made it. just let it work and let it be accurate!!! i have not found a brand of ammo that any of my glocks will not shoot!!! and yes, i brush after every shoot!!!
OH, LORDY!! Getting sooooo close to my fantasy G45!! GLOCK keeps adding new model numbers in the “40’s” Yep, imagine .45 Auto in Gen4 frame, thin slide from the G30S, G19/23 style grip with G26/27 style mag well, same height and length as the G30S. That’s the formula for a G45. If only I could enclose a picture! Go “USA000”! ps- my offer still stands!! }:o)
I have a Gen 1 17L (9mm) and absolutely love it, as do my wife and all of my friends who have shot it. After enjoying my 17L so much, I’ve always wanted a Glock long-barrel in .45. So happy to know it’s finally being produced!
Good article I’m putting in an order for a 41. However, regarding polygonal rifling, it is my personal experience that there is much less build up of lead in polygonal rifling than with other types of rifling. Having shot in excess of fifty thousand rounds of lead through my polygonal rifled Glock 17, and thousands through a variety of polygonal rifled Victorian era rifles, and some modern rifles and pistols as well, I wonder why so many people continue to wrongly think, and repeat that shooting lead through polygonal rifling is any more dangerous than jacketed bullets. Polygonaly has been around since rifling has been around and was originally designed for shooting lead… the Whitworth “sniper” rifle being one example. And while Glock may caution against shooting lead in their polygonal rifling, it is my opinion that this is really a “politically correct” statement to prevent potential lawsuits in the litigious society in which we live. It should also be noted that several other manufacturers of high end polygonal rifiled firearms do not issue the same cautions.
My first Glock is a Mod. 20 , The second one is a Mod 23 , and the one I gave away for xmas is a 21 SF , It was very hard to get a holster for this model, however he has 2. I, really did not like them, when they first came out in lets say 1985 or so, and that was a .9mm Glock 17. Years Later: I ordered , a Glock 20 for a friend of mine , after shooting at the range I , Went home & ordered a Glock Mod 20 .10mm , and now I’ve had them all, well almost all of them. The only ones that I still own are the 20 & 23. Now all of the ones that I still have are of the first Gen. They are one of the finest pistols I’ve had the pleasure of shooting, and what little effort is needed for cleaning them, but alas, I’m really thinking about the Glock 42, .380 acp. I’ve been waiting a longtime for that one, but I , think they will make a .9mm in the same package, and for a backup gun, hey u can’t go wrong,.. HELL You can’t go wrong with any Glock, I’ve kept my personnel favorites, Keep on a Glockin…G.W.O.
Why oh why did GLOCK do this to me ? ? ? I am the PROUD owner of a GLOCK 34 and I LOVE IT ! ! but,it sure looks like a 41 is going to be in my future ……
BOY DO I HOPE MY WIFE NEVER READS THIS ! ! ! ! ! !