My Glock 21 bites me!

J

JDBerg

New member
I took the Gen4 G-21 out to the range on Sat., put about 230 rounds through it and the serrations on the bottom inside edge of the slide tore up the base of my right thumb something awful, I have about a 1/4" slice wound on the base of my thumb.

I don't like beavertails on Glocks, and I have the large backstrap on it which causes me to grip it even higher, which is a good thing, so I'm thinking about getting the back edge of the slide melted so it doesn't bite me so bad!

Anybody else have the "Glock Bite" problem, and what did you do about it?
 
Only a matter of time before your thumb interferes with the operation of the slide.

I'd change my grip if that was the case with my 21.

None of my Glocks "bite" me. They may bite - but not the hand that feeds them.
 
Does this happen when shooting it one handed or two?
If it's when two handed, you might have too much right hand grip and not enough left hand.
 
Two Handed Grip, I always love shooting this gun, it hits the targets nicely. I only have this problem with this particular gun because of the wider slide, the Gen3 17 doesn't bite me at all. I usually carry bandages in my bag, but not this time, the R.O. didn't have any.

I may just put the large BT backstrap on it and get used it, NBD.
 
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I've heard people describe this before with Glocks, but I never understood how it was physically possible. Then again I have medium to small hands.
 
I've heard people describe this before with Glocks, but I never understood how it was physically possible. Then again I have medium to small hands.
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It's not always that easy to change your grip for one gun, I have big hands, the 21 is a large gun to begin with, and I have this grip set up with a large backstrap to boot. Everybody I let try this gun hates it, but I shoot it better set up this way. So I'll try the BT backstrap & see what happens.
 
I've witness the Glock bite in others, my advice is to use the thumb over thumb grip or have a professional Glock Stippler modify the beaver tail by extending it.
 
It sounds like the OP is using a "thumbs forward" grip.

http://www.christiangunowner.com/images/shootingthstraight.jpg

The "thumbs forward" grip usually has the thumbs lightly touching the frame. In this case it sounds like he is lightly touching the slide a little as well and the serrations are cutting in. I applaud the OP for certainly having a high grip on the gun.

Not much you can do besides alter your grip. Some guns plus some people's fingers don't like a "thumbs forward" grip.
 
The most common form of "Glock bite" that I'm familiar with is on the webbing of your strong hand from riding too high on the beaver tail.

I carry a Gen2 Glock 21 for work and I can't see how one would slice their thumb. I shoot right handed and my thumb rests just behind the slide release. My skin does not make contact with the slide as this is prohibitive in reliable cycling of the firearm, and I don't want to slice my thumb either. My other thumb rides in front just over the take down pin. I extend the last joint of my thumbs upwards and away from the slide. This maintains a high, but firm grip that allows good control of the firearm for me. Your hands are probably different than mine.

Is this your primary carry weapon? If so I would modify your grip and practice. Doing dry drills may help as well, even if it's just to examine and modify your grip so you don't get slide bite. If it's not your primary carry weapon and you don't want to defeat your normal grip I suggest NOT attempting to modify your grip and if you can't achieve harmony with the Glock 21 you may not want to fire it at all.

When training with a weapon for defensive combat it doesn't behoove you to modify your grip much if at all for different weapons of a similar design. If the 21 is conflicting with your training with a primary defensive handgun you may consider getting rid of it and replacing it with something that doesn't interfere with your primary defensive grip.
 
not every gun is for every person. if a person thinks they can use the same grip on any gun they choose they will disappointed.

if you will not adjust yourself, find a gun that sits in your hand the way you want to hold it. now, stick with that gun.
 
I like the beavertail on the M&Ps, it does nothing for me on the Glock. On the Gen 4s I run the Medium non-beavertail insert. Basically I make it like a Gen 3. I've always played around with grip panels and backstraps but I typically end up going with what the original setup was.

Let us know how the beavertail works for you when shooting.
 
I like the beavertail on the M&Ps, it does nothing for me on the Glock. On the Gen 4s I run the Medium non-beavertail insert. Basically I make it like a Gen 3. I've always played around with grip panels and backstraps but I typically end up going with what the original setup was.

Let us know how the beavertail works for you when shooting.
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You know, I tried a Grip Force BT adapter on my Gen3 G-17 and I never liked it on that gun, and that's sitting in my spare parts box. So that's where my mindset came from when I said I don't like beavertailed Glocks. But I think this will work on the 21, and I might get out yet this week to practice with it.
 
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I can't have a Glock that isn't Gen 4 anymore. I love beaver tails on guns. The 19 has one, the 41 did... I love them. My SIG's do. 1911's do.

The Gen 3 Glocks have the "Grip Force Adapter" available, but they feel walmarty.
 
You guys want to talk about the need for a beaver tail??? How about the original Sig P210? I am very conscious about how I hold the gun and it still manages to pinch the webbing of my hand. They sell an add on beaver tail for it, but I haven't done so yet. I just bought the new version instead with the big old beaver tail and the "proper" mag release! ;):D
 
650rnds through my 21 and i've never had that issue. Maybe it's because i have tiny hands? Is seems like a more drastic tang would help rather than a beaver tail. If it's biting you on your actual thumb.
 
I would always hear about the hammer bite from a Browning Hi-Power, and folks would either get the beavertail welded onto the back of the frame or replace the spur hammer with a commander or ring style hammer. My own BHP is stock with the spur hammer, and I've never been bitten once with that one.
 
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