Glock 27 range report

Patrick Graham · August 14, 1999, 08:27 AM

First time firing this gun, a 40 S&W.
Firing a mix of Federal Hydra Shok, Federal American Eagle, 180gr JHP, 6.6 gr AA#5.

4 Mags, 1 with Pearce +1 extender.

Using the non-extender mags the gun felt short in my hand but shot just fine. With the +1 grip extender the gun feels almost perfect.

Accuracy was very good for such a small gun. Using a rest I was able to put 6 out of 9 rounds in a 4 inch circle at 25 yards.
I bought the adjustable sight version and I had to crank the rear sight 2 clicks to the right to make it dead on.

Standing and shooting is a different story.
This gun has a very short sight radius, there is only about 2 1/2 inches of barrel in front of the chamber. You need a VERY study hand to be good with this gun. However after a few rounds of practice I was able to put all 9 rounds of a magazine on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper at 25 yards standing with a weaver stance.

This was a 150 round session.. no jams no mis-fires with any of the mags.. a 100% reliable piece of personal defense. This is now my favorite gun and I'll be putting the +1 extender on all the mags.

The American Eagle ammo is hot stuff.
Here's the chrono results, again.

Federal Hydra Shok - 165 gr
923.3, 928.4, 938.3, 927.3, 917.9

Federal American Eagle - 180 gr FMJ
1058, 1082, 1051, 1088, 1065

6.6 gr AA #5, 180 gr JHP, Win primers
872.9, 902.3, 914.4, 877.3, 894.5

Kodiac · August 14, 1999, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the report.
Sounds like you have a good shooter. The G27 is the only Glock I would consider buying.
The short sight radius is part of a compact's nature... The only thing to overcome it is PRACTICE.
It being a snubby, you do lose some velocity... not much to be a concern - but some. I would go with lighter-faster loads to ensure expansion... Namely 135 grainers from CorBon or Triton - I know those are always my top choices anyway... but in a short tube - even more so.
The American Eagle ammo suprised me - I had some bad luck with them. Well, that was a couple years ago. Perhaps they are improved.

The +1 extenders may make the gun feel better in the hand... but be aware it effects the gun's profile. Before switching all your mags you want to check your self out and see how you "print" with and without. Have some one look you up and down looking for the gun. If you print with the extenders - you may want to keep a couple mags short for daily wear. At least in the summer.

------------------
"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

[This message has been edited by Kodiac (edited August 14, 1999).]

Patrick Graham · August 15, 1999, 07:53 AM

Kodiac
Yep.. you're right about the +1 and the the profile. One of the holsters I bought for it is a Galco pocket holster to use with my baggie fatboy dockers. With the extender there is a slight protrusion on an otherwise masked profile.

ckurts · August 16, 1999, 05:59 PM

I'm thinking about a G27 when my CCW comes in. I'm curious about recoil and blast. I have a S&W M60 .357 that I have shot some fairly heavy loads from (158 grain FMJ Aguila .357, 158 grain HSHP Federal Personal Defense .357). The hottest factory .357 I really want to shoot are Winchester "white box" 110 grainers. I've also shot 125 grain Golden Sabers, still a bit too warm. I don't have any sensitivity to any .38 +P's I've shot in it. I don't shoot +P's in my S&W M36 so I can't compare.
If you or anybody else has had experience with both the G27 and lightweight .357 snubs, I'd sure appreciate any comparisons you could make.

Arizona Eric · August 16, 1999, 08:40 PM

There is no comparison. A 357 snub is a handful of dynamite. Having put a box of Tritons through my G27, I can say the gun lets you know it is there, but it's nothing like the magnum blast out of a snubbie. Big G27 fan - don't leave home without it.

Good shooting.

Kodiac · August 17, 1999, 03:25 PM

When it comes to Muzzel Blast:
Bigger is not always BETTER.
Do a little Math... Check your Gun and Load on a Chrony - Mutiply Weight in Grains of the bullet with Velocity, then devide by 1000... This gives you Energy According to IPPC standards. Doesnt give you much more that a relative idea when you comparing 2 guns. And this isn't even that good of an idea - no debates - its just a fun exercise to do in your head when your wife starts talking QUILTING IDEAS!

------------------
"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

ckurts · August 17, 1999, 04:25 PM

Arghh! Can't believe what a dipstick I am. Not only what Kodiac mentioned about a little math, but I've also got a copy of J.S. Hatcher's "Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers" which gives all kinds of formulae for interior and exterior ballistics (it's a neat old book). I now remember seeing a formula for recoil impulse from muzzle energy and weight of the gun. May not be the same as firing each of two handguns but it's a start. This is what happens when you miss a week at the range and don't have any fun- you start forgetting things.

Kodiac, I also second your remark about muzzle blast.

George Hill · August 17, 1999, 07:16 PM

Hey, no problem - "a momentary lapse of reason" happens to all of us.

By the way - first post with my Real Name instead of my "screen name" Got's ta be respectable now!

------------------
"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
The Critic formerly known as Kodiac

August 14, 1999, 08:27 AM	#1
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	First time firing this gun, a 40 S&W. Firing a mix of Federal Hydra Shok, Federal American Eagle, 180gr JHP, 6.6 gr AA#5. 4 Mags, 1 with Pearce +1 extender. Using the non-extender mags the gun felt short in my hand but shot just fine. With the +1 grip extender the gun feels almost perfect. Accuracy was very good for such a small gun. Using a rest I was able to put 6 out of 9 rounds in a 4 inch circle at 25 yards. I bought the adjustable sight version and I had to crank the rear sight 2 clicks to the right to make it dead on. Standing and shooting is a different story. This gun has a very short sight radius, there is only about 2 1/2 inches of barrel in front of the chamber. You need a VERY study hand to be good with this gun. However after a few rounds of practice I was able to put all 9 rounds of a magazine on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper at 25 yards standing with a weaver stance. This was a 150 round session.. no jams no mis-fires with any of the mags.. a 100% reliable piece of personal defense. This is now my favorite gun and I'll be putting the +1 extender on all the mags. The American Eagle ammo is hot stuff. Here's the chrono results, again. Federal Hydra Shok - 165 gr 923.3, 928.4, 938.3, 927.3, 917.9 Federal American Eagle - 180 gr FMJ 1058, 1082, 1051, 1088, 1065 6.6 gr AA #5, 180 gr JHP, Win primers 872.9, 902.3, 914.4, 877.3, 894.5

August 14, 1999, 10:18 AM	#2
Kodiac Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Posts: 1,173	Thanks for the report. Sounds like you have a good shooter. The G27 is the only Glock I would consider buying. The short sight radius is part of a compact's nature... The only thing to overcome it is PRACTICE. It being a snubby, you do lose some velocity... not much to be a concern - but some. I would go with lighter-faster loads to ensure expansion... Namely 135 grainers from CorBon or Triton - I know those are always my top choices anyway... but in a short tube - even more so. The American Eagle ammo suprised me - I had some bad luck with them. Well, that was a couple years ago. Perhaps they are improved. The +1 extenders may make the gun feel better in the hand... but be aware it effects the gun's profile. Before switching all your mags you want to check your self out and see how you "print" with and without. Have some one look you up and down looking for the gun. If you print with the extenders - you may want to keep a couple mags short for daily wear. At least in the summer. ------------------ "But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here." RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE [This message has been edited by Kodiac (edited August 14, 1999).]

August 15, 1999, 07:53 AM	#3
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	Kodiac Yep.. you're right about the +1 and the the profile. One of the holsters I bought for it is a Galco pocket holster to use with my baggie fatboy dockers. With the extender there is a slight protrusion on an otherwise masked profile.

August 16, 1999, 05:59 PM	#4
ckurts Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 475	I'm thinking about a G27 when my CCW comes in. I'm curious about recoil and blast. I have a S&W M60 .357 that I have shot some fairly heavy loads from (158 grain FMJ Aguila .357, 158 grain HSHP Federal Personal Defense .357). The hottest factory .357 I really want to shoot are Winchester "white box" 110 grainers. I've also shot 125 grain Golden Sabers, still a bit too warm. I don't have any sensitivity to any .38 +P's I've shot in it. I don't shoot +P's in my S&W M36 so I can't compare. If you or anybody else has had experience with both the G27 and lightweight .357 snubs, I'd sure appreciate any comparisons you could make.

August 16, 1999, 08:40 PM	#5
Arizona Eric Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 1999 Posts: 125	There is no comparison. A 357 snub is a handful of dynamite. Having put a box of Tritons through my G27, I can say the gun lets you know it is there, but it's nothing like the magnum blast out of a snubbie. Big G27 fan - don't leave home without it. Good shooting.

August 17, 1999, 03:25 PM	#6
Kodiac Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 1999 Posts: 1,173	When it comes to Muzzel Blast: Bigger is not always BETTER. Do a little Math... Check your Gun and Load on a Chrony - Mutiply Weight in Grains of the bullet with Velocity, then devide by 1000... This gives you Energy According to IPPC standards. Doesnt give you much more that a relative idea when you comparing 2 guns. And this isn't even that good of an idea - no debates - its just a fun exercise to do in your head when your wife starts talking QUILTING IDEAS! ------------------ "But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here." RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

August 17, 1999, 04:25 PM	#7
ckurts Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 475	Arghh! Can't believe what a dipstick I am. Not only what Kodiac mentioned about a little math, but I've also got a copy of J.S. Hatcher's "Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers" which gives all kinds of formulae for interior and exterior ballistics (it's a neat old book). I now remember seeing a formula for recoil impulse from muzzle energy and weight of the gun. May not be the same as firing each of two handguns but it's a start. This is what happens when you miss a week at the range and don't have any fun- you start forgetting things. Kodiac, I also second your remark about muzzle blast.

August 17, 1999, 07:16 PM	#8
George Hill Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: North Carolina Posts: 11,546	Hey, no problem - "a momentary lapse of reason" happens to all of us. By the way - first post with my Real Name instead of my "screen name" Got's ta be respectable now! ------------------ "But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here." RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE The Critic formerly known as Kodiac