Glock 20 SF kBoom an experience I hope never to repeat!

[Elkins45]

About a month ago I blew up my new Glock 20SF. Evidence suggests this was due to the unsupported portion of a case failing. The gas venting into the frame blew out the magazine and the ambi mag hole cover blew apart. I dropped the gun, but I'm not sure if that was from the force of the blast or if it was because my brain immediately wanted the gun out of the way to check and see if I still had a hand!

Because it was a vey cold morning I was fortunately wearing gloves while shooting and so it wasn't quite as painful as it otherwise would have been. Still, it's an experience I don't recommend anyone duplicate if they can avoid it. My hand stung for several hours afterward but was otherwise undamaged.

The cost to repair it was $48 for overnight FedEx back to Glock and $47 for a new frame. I asked the guy over the phone if I could just patch it up with JB Weld and some duct tape but he didn't think that was a very good idea LOL.

The new frame/old everything else was waiting for me what I came home yesterday evening. They replaced the frame (new SN) but returned the original slide and barrel. I would call this good customer service from Glock: the frame replacement cost is very reasonable IMO because the failure that wrecked their gun was caused by the ammo. It's not their fault I have to pay overnight shipping to them.

Pix of the damage and the offending case:

 

[Hunter125]

IMO Glock should have changed the design of their 10mm and .40 pistols as soon as people started to have KB's. I love .40, but I won't buy a Glock in .40 in part because of this issue.
I know there are aftermarket barrels like LWD that have supported chambers, but IMO I shouldn't have to buy aftermarket parts to make my gun feel safe to shoot. It also makes it more ridiculous that factory Glocks don't have this, since it definitely is possible.

 

[hAkron]

Glad you are ok. Glock designs their chambers to not fully support the case, I have heard because it makes the gun feed more reliably. You didn't say if you were firing reloads, but a factory Glock barrel is not ideal for reloaded high pressure brass. If that was a factory round then it might have been a fluke. If you intend on firing hot reloads, most guys seem to like after market barrels.

 

[rbernie]

Man, that sux. Was this factory ammo or handloads? If handloads - how warm were they?

I love .40, but I won't buy a Glock in .40 in part because of this issue.

I recently trading a bunch of stuff for a Gen4 G23 and a Gen4 G22, and the first thing that I checked was the chamber support. Imagine my surprise to see that the Gen4 barrels provide full case support, unlike my old Gen2 G22. I do not know when they changed the chamber/ramp profile, but I'm quite pleased with the change nevertheless.

Sadly, the Gen4 G21 still has The Worst Chamber Support In History and so I won't be trying one of them without first budgeting for an aftermarket barrel.

 

[hentown]

IF it was factory ammo, then the frame replacement shouldn't have cost anything. I couldn't help but notice it's Federal brass. I hate Federal brass. I've fired a bunch of my reloads through a bunch of Glocks, including a G20, with no such problems. I don't load nuclear.

 

[HKGuns]

*Perfection* -Glad no-one was injured.

 

[TAKtical]

Lol reloads. Look at that casing!

 

[autospike]

...

 

[tarosean]

They replaced the frame (new SN) but returned the original slide and barrel.

So the root of the problem is still the same. Least your okay

 

[hentown]

So the root of the problem is still the same. Least your okay

Yep, as long a the reloader is the same, then the root of the problem is the same...you got it!!

 

[SDGlock23]

I had a G20sf and sold it a few months back. I noticed rather quickly that even with mid-level handloads (using TiteGroup, Unique, Blue Dot, Power Pistol and Longshot), the brass looked awful. A good KKM barrel will solve this issue, but that's going to be $175 shipped to your door.

It's evident to me that if you're shooting a G20/29 bone stock, don't use full power loads. A full charge of Longshot gave me around 1260 fps and Power Pistol would do a tad over 1200, but brass looked bulged for sure. Seeing how I can get similar performance from my G35 .40 and brass costing nothing (with less bulge too, since .40 brass is a little stronger), I decided there was no point in keeping the 10mm around.

I've had two case-head separations in the past. One was in an XMm .40 using reloads and brass that was probably too old. The second was in my G20sf with KKM barrel, looked just like your brass above, but no damage at all...the mag just came flying out the bottom. Same deal, old Winchester brass. Needless to say, I learned my lesson...inspect the brass and if it looks old, don't use it, or at least don't load it warm.

For those concerned about .40 chamber support, it's much better than it used to be. Still not on par with a KKM barrel, but definitely better than older .40's and the 10mm.

 

[2wheels]

So the root of the problem is still the same. Least your okay

My thoughts exactly, I might be buying an aftermarket barrel if I were the OP...

 

[45_auto]

A good KKM barrel will solve this issue, but that's going to be $175 shipped to your door.

I've had two case-head separations in the past.

The second was in my G20sf with KKM barrel, looked just like your brass above

So what's the point of the aftermarket barrel if it has the same case support as the factory barrel? Doesn't sound like it solved anything.

 

[hardluk1]

It is sad that to be safe you have to buy a quality barrel for the 10mm and 40sw . How about the 357 sig. Could or should have same issues there two.

 

[3twelves]

Switched from Glock to M&P 5 years ago and never looked back. M&P's actually have supported saami chambers.




Fire in the hole!

 

[Dan-O]

^^^^^^Since when did Smith and Wesson make an M&P in 10mm?

Harluk1.

Glock 357 sig barrels have fully supported chambers.

 

[rbernie]

It issad that to be safe you have ato buy a quality barrel for the 10mm and 40sw

And in post #4 of this thread, I refute that (at least for Gen4 G22s).

 

[Inebriated]

Yep, as long a the reloader is the same, then the root of the problem is the same...you got it!!

This guy gets it.

 

[C0untZer0]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results

So exactly what are you going to change so that you don't repeat the rexperience of having a gun blow up in your hand?

 

[Oceanbob]

Correct that GLOCK .40 has more case support these days.

 

[hentown]

Aftermarket barrels generally have tighter chambers and more support @ 6 o'clock. Also varies amongst manufacturers.

 

[atblis]

Isn't the FC stamped Federal brass notorious for this?

 

[jr_watkins]

As TAKtical pointed out...look at that brass! Really!! How could you have any faith and confidence in a cartridge with brass that beat up? How could you not question the quality of the reload?

 

[hentown]

I've never loaded a piece of brass that looked that bad.

 

[xXxplosive]

Hmmmm.....no primer bulge just case rupture.....reload.