Glock 20 Gen 3SF or Gen 4?

4949shooter · February 25 2015 01:58:42 PM MST

Chucky, did you try a 24 pound RSA in the gun with the hot ammo?

My Gen 4 works with this setup.

chucky2 · February 25 2015 04:56:27 PM MST

Nope have not. I have two late stage cancer parents I live with, plus I'm in lovely IL, on the southside no less, so there are really not many places to shoot here and I have little spare time to go do it. If they're doing well this summer, I'll probably get a few different weight RSA now that they have them for Gen4 G20 and be able to give them a go our by our lakeplace. Thing is, I don't have much Underwood left, and I have only like 50 rounds of the PBR Velocity Supreme left, so I don't have much left that causes FTF. If I buy more, then, I'm now stuck with a lot of ammo that causes FTF you know? I really wish Glock would have fixed my pistol or just admitted they can't fix it and offered me a Gen3SF. We'll see - I don't like the idea that I have to modify the gun because the manufacturer has issues and doesn't want to own up to them. I could see that from Bob's Gunsmithing but not a major like Glock, especially since their punchline is Glock Perfection (and their rep honestly is on guns that just work). It's not Glock Perfection if I go to pull the trigger with in SAAMI spec ammo and it doesn't go bang because it FTF.

halfglocked · February 26 2015 09:57:12 PM MST

Well I had the same dilemma Iam not going to preach one is better than the other,I actually could have bought a Gen 4 under the green tag program, but opted for the gen 3 because I wanted to do different mods to it to personal it and there are more aftermarket parts for the older genration of Glocks at this time if you don't want to do any mods,I don't see how you could go wrong with either one.

4949shooter · February 27 2015 03:00:11 AM MST

Chucky....sorry for your problems.

On a side note, you should be able to tell the difference with a box or two from Underwood. I noticed the difference with one box fired. I use the 24 pound RSA from Glockmeister.

Good luck, and I hope your parents are doing better.

chucky2 · February 27 2015 08:46:56 AM MST

Quote from: 4949shooter on February 27 2015 03:00:11 AM MST
Chucky....sorry for your problems.

On a side note, you should be able to tell the difference with a box or two from Underwood. I noticed the difference with one box fired. I use the 24 pound RSA from Glockmeister.

Good luck, and I hope your parents are doing better.

Thx, they're normally do very well for what they have...had some unlucky news lately but I think with a surgery they'll be back to good (at least that's what we're hoping).

I haven't priced the RSA's for Gen4 G20 but if they're not a lot I'm just going to get a 20, 22, and 24. I've read that the stock Gen4 G20 might have a higher cumulative rate spring than the pre-Gen4 (based on brass thrown distance someone was theorizing that, not sure if any official measurements have even been done). Will see if that makes a difference. Probably will get Wolff +10% springs as well. Thing is, others who have had this issue in their Gen4 G20's have also tried stuff like this, and I don't think anyone has actually solved their FTF issues - you might actually be the first, although, you didn't shoot with the stock RSA so you don't know if you have the FTF issue in the first place, right?

Chuck

4949shooter · February 27 2015 02:39:15 PM MST

Quote from: chucky2 on February 27 2015 08:46:56 AM MST
Quote from: 4949shooter on February 27 2015 03:00:11 AM MST
Chucky....sorry for your problems.

On a side note, you should be able to tell the difference with a box or two from Underwood. I noticed the difference with one box fired. I use the 24 pound RSA from Glockmeister.

Good luck, and I hope your parents are doing better.

Thx, they're normally do very well for what they have...had some unlucky news lately but I think with a surgery they'll be back to good (at least that's what we're hoping).

I haven't priced the RSA's for Gen4 G20 but if they're not a lot I'm just going to get a 20, 22, and 24. I've read that the stock Gen4 G20 might have a higher cumulative rate spring than the pre-Gen4 (based on brass thrown distance someone was theorizing that, not sure if any official measurements have even been done). Will see if that makes a difference. Probably will get Wolff +10% springs as well. Thing is, others who have had this issue in their Gen4 G20's have also tried stuff like this, and I don't think anyone has actually solved their FTF issues - you might actually be the first, although, you didn't shoot with the stock RSA so you don't know if you have the FTF issue in the first place, right?

Chuck

I shot one box of Underwood with the stock RSA and had one FTF. Switched over to the 24 pound and it has been smooth sailing ever since.

I wouldn't guarantee it will work for your gun, but for the $30 cost of the RSA it might be worth a try.

chucky2 · February 27 2015 03:30:42 PM MST

Cool, will shoot you a PM when we get closer to spring. Thx for the info!

4949shooter · February 27 2015 03:47:09 PM MST

Anytime!

dakota1911 · March 09 2015 06:15:22 PM MDT

Interesting. I had a G20 years ago and was looking at a local gun store thinking about getting another one and they emphasized all they had was a Gen 4.

DAVIDF · March 10 2015 09:49:39 AM MDT

The RSA recall at that time had nothing to do with Gen4 G20's. They were not released until 2013. Look back at Shot Show videos on youtube at that time and you will see Glock demonstrating the Gen4 G20 which has malfunctions as the Glock rep was shooting the gun. I bought one of the early Gen4 G20's. It would not function properly with any ammo. I detailed my issues on this website and got a lot of help from a number of members here particularly Intercooler who exchanged over 800 rounds of ammo with me so I could see what power it was failing with. Turned out everything.

Glock replaced it with a Gen3. As far as limp wristing goes, I can't make my Gen3 fail no matter the ammo as long as I use the stock RSA. Grip simply doesn't matter. So, if Gen4's are still particular with grip, I wouldn't go there. My Gen3 is the most reliable pistol I've ever owned or used.

Go with a Gen3.

brio · March 10 2015 01:18:50 PM MDT

First post to this fine forum.
I am new to the 10mm game. I have other Glocks, gen4's, so I recently ordered a gen4 Glock 20, as I like the smaller grip and the texture. While waiting for my gun to come in, I found this forum. I was now getting a little worried about my ordered glock 20 gen4, after reading about the problems some are having. Being from Jersey, it's a real PITA getting permits to purchase handguns. If there is a problem with the gun, it's not that simple to return or exchange one for another. To make a long story short, I ended up with a glock 20sf purely by accident. My dealer had difficulty getting the gen4 and told me he had a 20sf in stock. I took that as a sign and took the sf. Fired it yesterday for the first time, only 100 rounds, 50 PPU and 50 Underwoood 180gr FMJ. The gun functioned flawlessly. I bought a spare RSA kit with 20,22 & 24 lb springs just in case. I don't think I'll be needing it though as the gun was great with the stock spring. Thanks to all who have provided great information. I'm glad I found this place.

Travis · March 12 2015 10:07:05 PM MDT

I believe the Gen 3 SF has the same "grip length" as the gen 4 with the smallest insert.
Please correct me if this is wrong.

4949shooter · March 13 2015 03:55:59 AM MDT

Quote from: Travis on March 12 2015 10:07:05 PM MDT
I believe the Gen 3 SF has the same "grip length" as the gen 4 with the smallest insert.
Please correct me if this is wrong.

Some "experts" will tell you the Gen 4 grip is slightly smaller than the Gen 3 SF, but they feel exactly the same to me, and I own both.

redbaron007 · March 13 2015 09:07:00 AM MDT

Quote from: 4949shooter on March 13 2015 03:55:59 AM MDT
Quote from: Travis on March 12 2015 10:07:05 PM MDT
I believe the Gen 3 SF has the same "grip length" as the gen 4 with the smallest insert.
Please correct me if this is wrong.

Some "experts" will tell you the Gen 4 grip is slightly smaller than the Gen 3 SF, but they feel exactly the same to me, and I own both.

I agree with you.....I've shot both and can not tell the difference. I do like the dovetail, though. ${$default_grin_smiley}$

Unimakpass · September 01 2016 07:44:20 AM MDT

Hello, first time poster and bumping a old thread. I was wondering if there is any update on the issues discussed here. I have a glock gen 3 that I picked up mainly for hiking and hunting as a side arm in Alaska. Some friends and family are looking into the pistol also but I'm wondering if I should recommend the gen 3 as reliability is the top priority for type of use.
Also as far as upgrades go should I just leave everything stock with reliability priority? Would like to upgrade the trigger (3.5-4lb). Also want to use a 6" barrel. Stick with glock barrels?
Thanks for any help. Live in Homer but in Kodiak right now hauling freight with a landing craft so will be in and out of phone/internet range.