Glock G27 Gen4
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 87 mm
- Weight, empty
- 605 g
- Introduced
- 2010
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Glock G27 Gen4 is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in .40 S&W, produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H. since 2010. This Austrian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 9-round magazine capacity, this pistol offers compact firepower for concealed carry applications. The striker-fired action provides a consistent trigger pull for every shot, simplifying training and reducing the manual of arms - a design philosophy that has become the dominant paradigm in modern defensive handguns. With a 3.4-inch barrel, this firearm prioritizes concealability for everyday carry while still delivering adequate ballistic performance at defensive distances. Weighing 605g (21.3 oz) empty, this firearm strikes a practical balance between manageable carry weight and sufficient mass to moderate felt recoil during shooting. The polymer frame construction reduces weight while providing a textured, ergonomic grip surface designed for secure handling in all conditions. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The G27 Gen4 was the workhorse backup gun for thousands of police officers during the peak of .40 S&W law enforcement adoption. Departments that issued the G22 or G23 as duty weapons naturally gravitated toward the G27 as the backup, ensuring magazine compatibility and manual-of-arms consistency. The Gen4's dual recoil spring was widely credited with making the subcompact .40 significantly more manageable, turning what was once considered an expert-level concealed carry choice into a more accessible platform.
The G27 Gen4 was introduced as part of the broader Gen4 rollout beginning in 2010. Weight without magazine is 550g (19.40 oz). The Gen4's dual recoil spring was especially beneficial for the G27, as the .40 S&W's sharp recoil impulse was the most common complaint about earlier generations of the subcompact. The modular backstrap system helped shooters with smaller hands better manage the .40 S&W recoil. The Gen4 was the last generation to feature finger grooves. Compatible with G22 15-round and G23 13-round magazines with grip extensions. The Gen4 was discontinued in favor of the Gen5 variant in 2023.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Glock Ges.m.b.H.
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- Austria
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 2010 to 2023
- Variant of
- Generation
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 87 mm
- Overall length
- 163 mm
- Height
- 106 mm
- Width
- 32 mm
- Sight radius
- 137 mm
- Weight, empty
- 605 g
- Weight, loaded
- 750 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Short recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Safe action
- Trigger pull
- 28.0 N
- Capacity
- 9
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Finish
- Tenifer
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 308 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 546 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
- Maximum range
- 1500 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Subcompact frame
Interchangeable backstraps
Dual recoil spring
Reversible mag release
Rough textured frame
Hexagonal rifling
Accepts glock 22 23 magazines
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 75 .40 S&W pistols | 605 g | 734 g | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 75 .40 S&W pistols | 163 mm | 185 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 75 .40 S&W pistols | 87 mm | 102 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 75 .40 S&W pistols | 9 | 11 | Holds fewer rounds than about 80% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Glock G27 Gen4
How much does the Glock G27 Gen4 weigh?
The Glock G27 Gen4 weighs 605 g (1.33 lb) empty and 750 g (1.65 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Glock G27 Gen4?
The Glock G27 Gen4 is chambered in .40 S&W.
How many rounds does the Glock G27 Gen4 hold?
The Glock G27 Gen4 holds 9 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Glock G27 Gen4?
The Glock G27 Gen4 is 163 mm (6.42 in) long overall, with a 87 mm (3.43 in) barrel.
Who makes the Glock G27 Gen4?
The Glock G27 Gen4 is made by Glock Ges.m.b.H. (Austria). It was designed by Gaston Glock.
When was the Glock G27 Gen4 introduced?
The Glock G27 Gen4 was introduced in 2010 and discontinued in 2023.
How does the Glock G27 Gen4 operate?
The Glock G27 Gen4 uses a short recoil action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- U.S. Law Enforcement (Various Departments)
- United States
- U.S. Civilian Concealed Carry
- United States
Provenance
Confidence in this record
90%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/glock-g27-gen4' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "glock-g27-gen4", "name": "Glock G27 Gen4", "manufacturer": { "id": "glock", "name": "Glock Ges.m.b.H.", "countryCode": "AT", "foundedYear": 1963, "website": "https://www.glock.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:49", "version": "3082b5f3edc3e54ca4f0993c68dba8c456b4f86e8759e3310ef604da566477d6" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "AT", "year_introduced": 2010, "barrel_length_mm": 87, "weight_empty_g": 605, "action_type": "short_recoil"}