Reloading for Glock 23 replacement barrel

[rfwobbly]

This is really a 2 part question.

I'm buying a replacement barrel for my LEO nephew. In his old position he carried a Glock 23, in the new job it will be a G19. He wants a drop-in 9mm barrel for his G23 so he can practice with 9mm now. This because it's going to be several weeks before he gets ID for the Blue Label Program and/or a 9mm duty weapon.

Now, the duty ammo he needs to replicate is 147gr. Knowing that 147 can seat to longer OALs in a 9mm cartridge, what replacement barrel can you recommend that has ample freebore to successfully load RMR 147gr Match Winners ?

Thanks in advance for any help in this area.

 

[1KPerDay]

LiveLife will be in shortly with everything you need to know.

 

[rfwobbly]

I'm not feeling the love yet.

 

[1KPerDay]

You might try searching his recent posts or sending a PM. He really is a font of knowledge on the subject.

 

[Woolecox]

I don't get it. Why not just practice with the 40? With tons of agencies going to the 9mm, ammo and components are getting expensive and scarce. The pandemic scare has not helped either.

And why would you seat a 147 grain bullet any differently than that listed in the manuals? My 9mm's, carbine and pistols, function best at max published OAL. YMMV.

I don't know of any agencies that allow their LEO's to use handholds anyway. I have read some forums that say guys have had good luck with 40 to 9mm conversions, others say it is problematic. By the time you spend money on a decent barrel, springs, mags, etc. to make the conversion work, you might be better off buying a new or used Glock 19.

As far as barrels go, you could get anything from an OEM Glock, Wolf, Barstow, etc.

Best of luck! Keep us posted.

 

[km5]

went with a 9mm Wolf barrel for my Glock 23 ,did not have to change any other parts...shooting max 124 grhp

 

[fxvr5]

And why would you seat a 147 grain bullet any differently than that listed in the manuals? My 9mm's, carbine and pistols, function best at max published OAL. YMMV.

RMR 147 Match Winners have a short nose that limits how long they can be loaded, sometimes requiring them to be loaded deeper than what is in some loading manuals. Not all 9mm barrels have the same throat dimensions. The quest is to find a barrel with a long throat that can accommodate this bullet so it can be loaded to 'normal' 9mm length.

 

[rskent]

I don't get it. Why not just practice with the 40?

Me ether. I’m new to the 40, but my 23 and 19’s handle and shoot pretty much the same. Same point of aim. The only difference is that I shoot the 19’s faster and more accurately than the 23. So, to me, good practice with a 23 is good practice with a 19. YMMV

 

[LiveLife]

new job it will be a G19. He wants a drop-in 9mm barrel for his G23 so he can practice with 9mm now

... duty ammo he needs to replicate is 147gr. Knowing that 147 can seat to longer OALs in a 9mm cartridge, what replacement barrel can you recommend that has ample freebore to successfully load RMR 147gr Match Winners?

I would recommend Bear Creek Arsenal 40-9 conversion barrel for $44 - https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/bc...l-stainless-steel-finish-threaded-unbranded-1

I got two BCA 40-9 conversion barrels for my Glock 22 and barrels came reamed from BCA (Like my G22 40-9 barrel from Lone Wolf) allowing longer than 1.169" OAL with RMR 147 gr FP Match Winner bullets - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...col-for-reference.848462/page-2#post-11465109

• Glock 22, Bear Creek Arsenal 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 147 FP MW: 1.169"
• Glock 22, KKM 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 147 gr FP MW: 1.135"
• Glock 22, Tactical Kinetics 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 147 gr FP MW: 1.075"
• Glock 23, Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel - RMR 147 gr FP MW: 1.065"

I loaded RMR 147 gr FP MW to 1.169", 1.145" and 1.125" OAL and fed them from 9mm magazine and no issues with G22.

If you want greater accuracy, hard to beat KKM but you will be paying more at $165 - https://kkmprecision.com/product/23-match-9mm-2/

 

[AJC1]

Deleted.

 

[rfwobbly]

Thank you, sir. I highly appreciate the time and effort it too to compile this information.

 

[LiveLife]

Thank you, sir. I highly appreciate the time and effort it too to compile this information.

You are very welcome.

I see that BCA is out of stock.

Another option is ordering Lone Wolf barrel reamed from the factory (They have G23 40-9 conversion barrel in stock for $99 with free shipping). I have 40S&W and 40-9 conversion Lone Wolf barrels for my Glock 22/23/27 as I used them for USPSA matches and range practice. But over the years, leade length has gotten shorter to the point where my newest G23 40-9 conversion has very short leade (Like Tactical Kinetics and my Sig 1911 barrel). While this is good for improving accuracy, it will require shorter OAL to work with certain bullet profiles.

When I spoke to Lone Wolf in years past, they offered reaming of barrels in stock or your LW barrels sent in with sample dummy rounds.

Knowing that 147 can seat to longer OALs in a 9mm cartridge

BTW, here's 147 gr bullet loaded longer to 1.155"-1.160" OAL tested in Glock 22 with KKM and Lone Wolf (reamed) conversion barrels - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/9mm-147-gr-lead-bullet-powder-comparison.748940/


KKM G22 40-9 conversion barrel showing longer leade/freebore before start of rifling (Will even accommodate 9mm Major rounds loaded longer and one of reasons why I got this barrel) - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...g-oal-col-for-reference.848462/#post-11068318

Newest Lone Wolf G23 40-9 conversion barrel with very short leade (Like my Sig 1911 barrel below)

Older Lone Wolf barrel showing longer leade (see white arrow)

Sig 1911 barrel showing very short leade

Gen3 Glock 17 barrel showing longer leade for comparison - - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...glock-handgun-see-below.847392/#post-11047664

 

[LiveLife]

I'm buying a replacement barrel for my LEO nephew.

He wants a drop-in 9mm barrel for his G23 so he can practice with 9mm

I found this article comparing Bar-Sto, KKM, Lone Wolf and Storm Lake 40-9 Glock conversion barrels (Article primarily compares material, construction and barrel twist rate) - https://www.guns.com/news/review/dueling-barrels-the-best-glock-conversion-barrels

While utmost accuracy is probably not a concern for your nephew, I found slower barrel twist rates of KKM and Lone Wolf to produce greater accuracy with wider range of bullet types and weights compared to factory Glock 17 barrel:

• KKM 1:20 - Produced slightly smaller groups with certain bullet types, particularly with lead/coated lead bullets (Can order other barrel twist rates)

• Lone Wolf 1:16 - Most aftermarket/match grade barrels run 1:16 barrel twist rate and I have gotten very good accuracy (on par with KKM) with most jacketed/plated bullets. Produced smaller groups with lead/coated lead bullets compared to factory Gen3 Glock barrels.

• Bar-Sto/Bear Creek Arsenal/Briley/Double Diamond/Storm Lake 1:16

• Wilson Combat 1:16 - Several years ago, changed from faster 1:10 twist rate

• Tactical Kinetics 1:10 - According to another THR member who bought a Brownells G22 40-9 conversion barrel, I do believe they are the same barrel due to unique rifling (wider lands with center channel). While testing was not comprehensive (I only tested jacketed and plated bullets), accuracy produced was not as good as KKM/Lone Wolf with 1:16 barrel twist rate.

• Factory Glock 1:9.84

 

[rfwobbly]

I'm not feeling the love yet.

Now I'm feeling the love ! Thank you again. Your response has been way over the top, better than ever envisioned.