Opinions on Glock20

[Gump]

I'm thinking about buying a glock 20 10mm. I've had 21's, 22's, currently own two 19's one of which is for daily carry. THe other 19 is my wife's. I don't really have a need for the 10mm, but I don't own any magnum handgun anymore and I've read that the 10mm, with full power loads approaches 41mag performance. If you own one how do you like it?

[lunde]

I cannot explain why, but among my many Glocks, the one that shoot the best is the Glock 20.

[ST911]

I'm thinking about buying a glock 20 10mm. I've had 21's, 22's, currently own two 19's one of which is for daily carry. THe other 19 is my wife's. I don't really have a need for the 10mm, but I don't own any magnum handgun anymore and I've read that the 10mm, with full power loads approaches 41mag performance. If you own one how do you like it?

Excellent deerslayer and back-country gun.

The 6" barrel is useful.

The G20SF will be welcome.

[Kilroy]

A large western Sheriff's Department bought the Glock 20 when first introduced in the late 80s. As of a year ago, they were still shooting/issuing the same pistols from that initial purchase.

They are just about unanimous, that no other pistol will do for them.

[Low Drag]

Need smeed.......

I've had a Glock 20 since forever, if it fits your hand you're in business. I'm sure you know the 10mm is expensive to feed, reloading is the way to go for practice ammo.

I shot IPSC for years with a stock G20. Loads that make "major" from a 10mm get a yawn from the Glock. No beating the hell out of the gun since it's built for much higher pressures.

It's the most versatile auto cartridge out there.

I wish Glock would come out with a 10mm carbine......

[Marcus L.]

......I've read that the 10mm, with full power loads approaches 41mag performance.

The 10mm isn't in the same ballpark as the .41magnum. When it comes to overall power capabilities, the 10mm is right in between the .40S&W and .41magnum.

Buffalo Bore Ammuntion:

.40S&W 180gr+P JHP: 1100fps/484ft-lbs

10mm 180gr JHP: 1350fps/782ft-lbs
10mm 200gr JHP: 1200fps/639ft-lbs

.41mag 170gr JHP: 1650fps/1028ft-lbs
.41mag 230gr JHP: 1450fps/1074ft-lbs

That being said, it makes for a good "hybrid" between service calibers and magnum hunting calibers. A little better for protection from large dangerous game than service calibers......but not as powerful as magnum calibers. A little better for protection from 2-legged varmits than magnum calibers.......but usually not as user friendly as the common service calibers.

I'm not a big fan of the G20/G21. I find the grip to be too large when I wear gloves and with a woods gun with dangerous game, cold weather will often be present. My single stack Kimber 10mm is much better in this regard. I shot a black bear several years ago in Montana at about -15 degrees and the gloves did not inhibit my shooting performance. I suppose if you are comfortable shooting your G21 with gloves on, shooting singled handed strong/weak hand, and don't have trouble with wet/cold hands with the fat grip in a timed course of fire.....then it is a good choice for a "hybrid" pistol. Remember, if the G20 10mm compromises your accuracy or followup shot speed to much then you are putting yourself at an incremental disadvantage in a confrontation with another armed human. The real question to ask youself is, do you regularly venture into the woods where you have a high probability of encountering dangerous game? If not, then in my personal opinion you are better off sticking with your G22 against 2-legged varmits.

[Race]

I've considered a G20 off and on over the years to carry while trout fishing. I like the idea of something corrosion resistant and relatively lightweight, but always end up deciding to go with a .44 magnum.

Marcus - as for the Kimber 10mm, I suppose a standard .45 could be converted to 10mm? I have an old Kimber SS Custom Carry - it never occured to me to convert it to 10mm. I suppose heavy Buffalo Bore loads would be hard on that pistol?

Maybe I'll just stick with a SS .44 mag revolver...

(I didn't mean to drift the thread.)

Thanks.

[sjc3081]

Those 41 mag velocities are surely not from a 4.5" barrel.

[Marcus L.]

Those 41 mag velocities are surely not from a 4.5" barrel.

5" revolver which loses a considerable amount of gas in cylinder/barrel gap. Out of a 5" Thompson Contender, the .41magnum gains approximately 100fps over a 5" revolver. If the .41magnum were used in an auto pistol it would be on par with the Thompson. The much larger case capacity of the .41magnum gives it a significant edge over the 10mm.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the 10mm Auto compared to the .41magnum, but here is the 10mm Auto compared to the 10mm Magnum. The .41mag has a .01-.02 longer overall length than the 10mm Magnum making the 10mm Auto closer to the .40S&W in capacity:

[Marcus L.]

Marcus - as for the Kimber 10mm, I suppose a standard .45 could be converted to 10mm? I have an old Kimber SS Custom Carry - it never occured to me to convert it to 10mm. I suppose heavy Buffalo Bore loads would be hard on that pistol?

Most modern 10mms are catered around the higher power 10mm loads of today. I'm not sure if you can convert your Kimber .45 to 10mm, but email them and maybe they can help.