Glock 20

[Radamanthus]

Just a couple of quick questions. I found a range that has a Glock 20 to rent. I am quite comfortable with the M21, and found that, for me, it was the most accurate handgun I have ever fired. Before I go rent one (and possibly buy one) I just wanted to know: what is the felt recoil like? Is it significantly different, or does the flexing polymer frame of the Glock help a lot? Also, does the M20 need different recoil springs to fire the wide variety of 10mm loads? The review of the gun on the remtek site says that with the heavier slide, the 10mm has been tamed. Is it true, or would I need to keep multiple sets of recoil springs?

 

[agtman]

The G20 has a low bore-grip axis (which places you hand up under the slide), and the polymer frame flexes during recoil. Also, the G20 is a large-frame design, and the width of the grip spreads the recoil across a greater area of your hand rather than narrowly, as with a 1911's grip.

All these factors help the G20 minimize shot-to-shot "felt-recoil" even with hot 10mm loads.

As to the G20's stock recoil spring, it's probably fine for low to mid-range 10mm loads. If all you're going to shoot are are hot, high-performance loads from Texas Ammo, Double Tap, etc., you can get captured and noncaptured springs of different weight from aftermarket outfits (like Wolff). I've used a captured 20lb spring in mine.

HTH.

 

[michiganfan]

Th recoil is minimal. I think it is less than my G23. I bought a 357 Sig barrel for my 20 and there is basically no recoil with that.

 

[Rockstar]

You might consider getting the G21; then you'd be able to drop in a KKM 10mm conversion barrel for around $165 and have one pistol that can shoot .45ACP; .45 Super; .400 Cor-Bon; .40 Super and 10mm. With the 10mm barrel, you'll need to use the .45ACP LCI extractor and G20 mags. Probably need to go to a 22-24# recoil spring. If you get the KKM four-port compensated barrel, you'll find that 10mm feeling about like a +p 9mm.

 

[Radamanthus]

Rockstar, where is that on the KKM website? I couldn't find it when I just looked. That seems like a good idea, and would be a lot cheaper than finding guns in all those calibers.

 

[agtman]

Well, don't forget that the G20 itself is a 4-in-1 gun.

Buying extra aftermarket barrels (from Bar-Sto, KKM, Jarvis or Federal Arms) in .40S&W, .357Sig and 9x25 Dillon gets you this 4-in-1 set up. All the barrels together cost less than a separate pistol (and mags) in .40 or .357Sig.

Plus, only the extra barrels are needed. The G20's stock 10mm mags and recoil assembly work just fine with the other cartridges, as all are case-derivatives from the parent 10mm.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I already answered this question on The Firing Line.

I believe the slide of the Glock 20 is heavier than the slide of the Glock 21 to account for the added pressure of the 10mm Auto, but I think if you already have a G21 slide and barrel, you could shoot .45 ACP, .45 Super, and with an aftermarket barrel so chambered, .400 Cor-Bon as well as .357 SIG, .40 Smith and Wesson, 9x25, and 10mm Auto from the same frame. The latter 4, as mentioned would merely require a barrel swap while the first 3 would require a simple change of slide, barrel, and magazines (to Glock 21 mags) as well as more than likely a heavier weight recoil spring. Still, you have to admire the versitility.

 

[triggertime]

"Before I go rent one (and possibly buy one) I just wanted to know: what is the felt recoil like?"

Depends on what ammo you're shooting. Most 10mm factory ammo is the emasculated mid-range FBI weenie stuff that approximates the ballistics and recoil impulse of the .40S&W.

To experience what 10mm is really like, you have to try Mike McNett's Double Tap ammo line, or anything from Buffalo Bore or Georgia-Arms Shear Power Plus.

The best '10mm almost...' factory stuff is anything from Hornady and Corbon.

Remington's green/white box 180gr. load in the nickel cases is mostly hot...mostly. CCI's Blazer 200gr. TMJ FP load is moderately hot. Winchester's 175gr. Silvertips are moderately hot. PMC's 180gr. Starfire is weak. Federal's 180gr. Hi-Shok is weak. Federal's 180gr. Hydrashok is weak. You get the idea...

 

[MachIVshooter]

To experience what 10mm is really like, you have to try Mike McNett's Double Tap ammo line, or anything from Buffalo Bore or Georgia-Arms Shear Power Plus.

Even these guys have not exploited the true potential. It can best 800 ft/lbs from a 5" tube.

Remington's green/white box 180gr. load in the nickel cases is mostly hot...mostly. CCI's Blazer 200gr. TMJ FP load is moderately hot. Winchester's 175gr. Silvertips are moderately hot. PMC's 180gr. Starfire is weak. Federal's 180gr. Hi-Shok is weak. Federal's 180gr. Hydrashok is weak. You get the idea...

I fully agree on the Silvertips, hydra-shoks and starfire:
The UMC and Blazer are just a notch above .45 ACP. I chronoed the UMC 180's at 1132 and the CCI 200's at 1026, averaged from my Stainless Target II and my 1006. The UMC stuff does give good flameage, though And it's not too expensive. I love the nickel brass for reloading too.