Wilson Combat Match Barrel

[Morrey]

Wilson Combat makes a Match Grade barrel for a Glock Model 17 Gen 4 9mm pistol. On Wilson's site, they state that some fitting may be required.

Can anyone who has bought a Wilson barrel for a Glock shed some light on what this fitment may involve? They also state that many folks can do this themselves at home. It must be minor if they say that folks can do this at home?

Thanks for feedback.

 

[Drail]

The barrel comes with detailed instructions on where to file ( at least they used to) - it usually takes a very small amount. Blacken the lug with a magic marker and trial fit it - wherever the magic marker is worn off - that's where you need to file. Only take off a tiny amount and keep trying the fit.

 

[Morrey]

The barrel comes with detailed instructions on where to file ( at least they used to) - it usually takes a very small amount. Blacken the lug with a magic marker and trial fit it - wherever the magic marker is worn off - that's where you need to file. Only take of a tiny amount and keep trying the fit.

Excellent help Drail! Thank you!!

Can I accomplish this with a very light touch with a Dremel tool?

 

[tarosean]

Can I accomplish this with a very light touch with a Dremel tool?

NO NO and NO... Keep the power tools away.
Buying a few files is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a new barrel.

 

[Drail]

ABSOLUTELY NO DREMEL!!! This is file and stone work. Get yourself to the hardware store and buy some quality smooth cut mill files in different sizes and a small fine stone and a small clamp on vise. Take only a very small amount off (like two light strokes) and check the fit. Practice on scrap metal until you learn how to control the file so it cuts straight and flat. This should be about a ten minute job if you do it right. If you have questions call Wilson Combat. Get on Brownells mailing list and they will drown you in catalogs. Keep one next to the toilet.

 

[Morrey]

Understood. I have heard the term "stoning" in regard to smoothing out trigger components to make them glide.

Would a store like Lowes Home Improvement have a set of files? Is the stone we are talking about similar to a honing stone used to sharpen a hunting knife?

Sorry for the rookie questions, thanks for the patience!

 

[Drail]

Yes, a fine white Arkansas stone used for sharpening knives will work just fine if it is small enough to get in where you need it and it has nice square sharp corners. Place a drop or two of light oil on the stone. The files you want will be called smooth bastard files - you only need like a 4 inch and maybe a 6 in. file. A file will remove a lot of metal pretty fast - a stone is much slower and leaves a smoother finish. Use light pressure and let the teeth do the work. When stoning trigger and hammer engagement surfaces all you are trying to do is knock down any high spots - you don't need to try to polish the surface - cycling the action will take care of that. One thing on files - if the edges have cutting surfaces (most do) be very careful going into corners with it because you will cut two surfaces at one time. Smiths use files with what are called "safe" edges that have the teeth ground off. If you have a belt sander you can safe a regular file so the edges will not cut. Just go slow and don't let the file get hot - dip it in some water every few seconds. This is probably more than you wanted to know - but keep asking questions. There are no dumb questions.

 

[Zerodefect]

You can often do this with just the stones. Get a fine and a course stone.

 

[Morrey]

Excellent feedback! Your comments, suggestion and guidelines are confidence builders. Slow and steady! Thanks!!

 

[jr_watkins]

Glock 22 Wilson Combat

I bought a Wilson Combat aftermarket barrel for my Glock 22 about 5 years ago. When I first installed it the action would not cycle. I used my knife sharpening stone and slowly took off material from the barrel until the action would close. It was obvious where the bind was taking place. Kind of annoying as the barrel was black and looked awesome new, but had to take down material in several places leaving some bare metal.

Anyway, once the action would cycle it was very tight. You'll notice the dimensions inside the barrel are tighter as well. It shot incredibly accurate in this condition, literally shrunk my typical groups in half if not more. The issue was the reliability wasn't there. I had to take off more material on the outside of the barrel to compensate for the heating up (I think) and had to work the feed ramp also. I used a dremmel, but I was careful and slow. The more I shot the better it got in the reliability standpoint, but the accuracy did deteriorate somewhat as it loosened up.

By the time I got the reliability back to where it was with the factory barrel, the accuracy was basically what the factory barrel was, maybe slightly better.
Point being, you don't get something for nothing in my opinion.

Glad I did the exercise just the same, I learned quite a bit and got to practice clearing jams along the way. Good luck.

 

[Morrey]

The Wilson Combat barrel's accuracy must certainly be a result of the tighter tolerances you described. Once those tolerances were modified or wore in, Glock factory accuracy returned. So......for $189 plus shipping, the issues you faced with jams and the like, I may be scratching my head wondering if this is actually an upgrade after all. My question would be, if you had it to do all over again, would you still purchase the Wilson Combat match barrel? Or are there other options out there that increase accuracy w/o fitment issues?

I did note they changed the rate of twist to 1:16 if that has an impact on anything above.

 

[jr_watkins]

Yes, I would do again and the Wilson Combat barrel is still in my glock 22 today.
I didn't mean to sound too negative, just wanted to express that accuracy improvements can have a reliability cost.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Might I suggest you buy the files from Brownells instead of the hardware store. They have what you need and they sell the correct stones too.

 

[Drail]

+1 Be aware though that placing an order from Brownells is just like that first hit on the crack pipe...........

 

[Morrey]

+1 Be aware though that placing an order from Brownells is just like that first hit on the crack pipe...........

LOL. I ordered some glass bedding material and release from them after which they sent me a huge catalog. Amazing array of products.

I mentioned my project to my wife who quickly said I have all these tools you need at my store. New one to me! She owns a jewelry store and often does repairs on jewelry for customers. I may have just gotten lucky.

On Wilson Combat's site lots of customer reviews state the barrel drops right in to their Glock w/o mods at all. A few noted minor fitment was needed, but the vast majority said dropped right in. I may get lucky as the G17 Gen 4 is new and their barrel may be milled to work as a drop in. Fingers crossed as it will arrive tomorrow.

 

[Drail]

Once you buy something and get on their mailing list the catalogs just keep coming. This has been the case even before the Internet happened. When I started smithing back in the 1980s their telephone number was on speed dial on my shop phone and all of the girls at Brownells knew me.

 

[LiveLife]

The Wilson Combat barrel's accuracy must certainly be a result of the tighter tolerances you described. Once those tolerances were modified or wore in, Glock factory accuracy returned. So......for $189 plus shipping, the issues you faced with jams and the like, I may be scratching my head wondering if this is actually an upgrade after all. My question would be, if you had it to do all over again, would you still purchase the Wilson Combat match barrel? Or are there other options out there that increase accuracy w/o fitment issues?

I did note they changed the rate of twist to 1:16 if that has an impact on anything above.

Glock - 1:9.84

Bar-Sto - 1:16
Briley - 1:16
KKM - 1:20
Lone Wolf - 1:16
Storm Lake - 1:16
Wilson Combat - 1:16 (used to be 1:10)

Based on my experience, yes. If you don't feel comfortable fitting the barrel yourself, I would suggest KKM "drop in" barrel.

Glock factory barrel twist rate is faster around 1:10 and most aftermarket twist rate is slower at 1:16 (with KKM even slower at 1:20). Glock uses smooth rounded hexagonal rifling (octagonal for 45) while aftermarket barrels use square cut land/groove rifling - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9979745#post9979745

Comparison between Glock and Lone Wolf rifling - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=619064

I have done quite a bit of accuracy testing with KKM and Lone Wolf 40S&W/40-9 conversion barrels in my Glock 22/23/27 and both have been true "drop in" with no fitting required. I found KKM/LW barrels to produce slightly greater accuracy over Glock barrels with KKM edging LW on accuracy.

These 2"-3" 25 yard groups were shot with KKM/LW barrels using Berry's regular plated bullets. With Glock 17, shot groups would average 3"-4"+ - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=745656

These sub 2" 25 yard groups were shot with KKM barrel using RMR HM thick plated bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9655361#post9655361

 

[Morrey]

I think I'll see if the Wilson barrel simply drops in when it arrives. If it cycles ok racking the slide manually, I think we are good to go. Things may change when the barrel heats up some, but at least we pass the first test.

Wilson emailed me and is very flexible with their refunds. The rep said if I am not happy with the fit when I get the barrel, call for an RMA code and they will refund the barrel price.

We shall see.

 

[Morrey]

Once you buy something and get on their mailing list the catalogs just keep coming. This has been the case even before the Internet happened. When I started smithing back in the 1980s their telephone number was on speed dial on my shop phone and all of the girls at Brownells knew me.

I think the Internet provided a way for a company to contact you darn near daily so it keeps your mind on their product line. I ordered a scope from Natchez and I think I have gotten at least one email daily from them since. Catalogues are expensive to produce and mail, internet deliveries are pennies in cost comparison. HOWEVER, there are probably old school thinkers like me who would rather have a slick glossy catalogue to thumb through and enjoy.

 

[LiveLife]

On Wilson Combat's site lots of customer reviews state the barrel drops right in to their Glock w/o mods at all. A few noted minor fitment was needed, but the vast majority said dropped right in. I may get lucky as the G17 Gen 4 is new and their barrel may be milled to work as a drop in. Fingers crossed as it will arrive tomorrow.

Congrats on the Wilson Combat barrel.

If the new barrel drops in snug, before you do any filing, I would suggest you fire some rounds to see if the barrel surfaces break-in to work reliably.

If you find the dimensions tight for reliable operation even after a warm up, you can then do some filing for reliability.

You can always remove metal but cannot put them back.

When I shot matches with Norinco 1911 heavily fortified with Wilson Combat parts, I was happy with the quality and performance of their products.

 

[Drail]

I still like slick glossy catalogues......

 

[LiveLife]

So any update on the Wilson barrel?