Glock 20 10mm Pros & Cons

[teddy12b]

Ok, so up until recently I'd never really heard of the 10mm.  Now it seems to be the wonder cartridge that can take deer, and do anything else any other pistol can do at the range.  I've never held one or fired one, so I really don't know how they handle.  How's the recoil in the 10mm?  I'm assuming somewhere between a 44mag & 45acp? 

I know glocks have the reputation of borderline legendary reliability that was mostly build on the glock 17.  Is the glock 20 something I know will work when the stuff hits the fan?  If I purchased one, I'd like to know that if the lights went off and the cars quit running I'd have a reliable game getting pistol that'll outlast me.

Ammo: I've read about people using hard cast & Jacketed ammo and problems with the factory barrels with some types of ammo.  Are the feeding problems only with the hard cast ammo?  I'd be looking to use JHP ammo almost exclusively.  What weight of bullet is better or normal?  For instance a 9mm is generally 115gr, or 124gr; a 44mag is generally 240gr and so on.  What's the better bullets for taking deer size game?

I know I'm asking a lot, but thanks for your help.

[SHOOTALL]

It kicks less to me than either 41 or 44 . Some claim it will equal the 41 mag. Truth is in the lower weight bullets it gets close but not exact. It is a good round , shoots flat . I feel it best to say it will do maybe a tad better than a good 357 mag. in the real world. The Glock is ok , I have seen one 10 mm Glock  come apart when a reload failed where the bbl is not supported . To be fair the reload may have been a double powder load. The gun survived , was put back togather and worked . The mag which also came apart did not because we could not find the spring i believe. I have seen 2 Glock mags split when left loaded for long periods of time in a truck. Something to consider if re supply is not going to happen. Have extra mags  or go with a 1911. I carry the 20 when hunting as it is lighter than a REDHAWK and holds more ammo. Mine also goes alot of places in my truck and sits by the bed . It has night sights . I don't care for the trigger at all but learned to shoot it and it always works . Its not a target gun but good enough. Also its plastic and water effects it less .You can get a spare bbl to shoot cast if you want .
Before you buy check out the CZ and Colt 10mm , the grip on the G20 is big !

[Keith L]

I agree with most of what Shootall says, but similar 357 Mag factory loads give about 20% more foot pounds of energy and defensive ranges.  I do agree that the 10MM has all it needs to get the job done, and unless you need to shoot through engine blocks you will have all you need.

I prefer my .45ACPs to the 10mm, but that is personal preference more than anything else.

[LocnLod]

10mm ammo is expensive and hard to come by.  If the lights go out and the cars quit running, you'd better have your ammo already stocked away. The G20 is a good choice for your circumstance though b/c it has a high capacity (self protection), adequate power for hunting deer at sane ranges and is still small enough to conceal under an untucked shirt or jacket.

That 'close to a 41mag' stuff usually is due to the Winchester Silvertip loading in the 10mm and 41mag.  It's loaded lighter than standard in the 41 mag  and chronoed with a 4" vented barrel as opposed to the 5.5" that they use for the 10mm.  The G20 has a 4.6" barrel and people are getting ~550ft-lbs with the Silvertip load not the 690ft-lbs Winchester says it does.

The 10mm is sort of an odd round when it comes to power.  There are really 3 energy levels that ammo manufacturers load to:  40S&W, .357 and full power 10mm.  You need to check the ballistics online to find out what's what b/c the boxes usually ain't marked.

For hunting deer, the 175gr Silvertip is the lightest I'd go (really more the light bullet construction than weight) and only take broadside lung shots.  Corbon, DoubleTap and Buffalo Bore all make more powerful hunting loads in the 180gr and up weights.

[HAMMERHEAD]

I had a Glock 20 years ago, liked it a lot. Just ordered another one. The grips are big, as big as any auto I can think of, like a Desert Eagle except not as heavy, but I still like it. That size distributes the recoil well.
For most factory ammo, the stock barrel is fine, but if you want to shoot lead or push the limits with handloads, you need a quality aftermarket barrel.
For my old one, I had a .40s&w conversion barrel, that was great, lower cost practice and reduced recoil. Even though I handload now, I'll still get another .40 barrel for versatility, a second caliber, the .40 uses small primers, and an aftermarket barrel can use lead bullets.

[Thebear_78]

Glock makes a short fram model 20 that has a slightly smaller grip.  Really makes a difference for those with smaller hands.   I have two glock 20 one a short frame and one standard.  The short fram or 20SF tends to point much better to me.   I carry my glock 20 with a 6" lone wolf barrel for bear protection.   With the lone wolf barrel I can easily get 200gr JFP out to 1350fps in nice sane loads and get 220gr hard cast up to 1150, but that is really pushing it.   The glock is extremely reliable and handle sthe weather conditions very well.  I carry it in a chest holster so its pretty much always out in the open.  rain, dust, brush everything gets on it but it always works.  I can't think of a better brush busting pistol to carry.  above the waders, out of the way of the pack frame and won't beat you up while riding  a snowmachine or 4 wheeler. 

ammo can be a little tough to find depending on where you are but buffalo bore is readily available and there are a couple fo companies that load bulk reload type ammo.  Double tap is another that is very good for loaded ammo.    Even the blazer ammo is good stuff.  It is a 200gr FMJ that clocks at right around 1200fps out of most pistols.  My buddy put two of the blazer loads thru a 6' bear neck to but, full penetration. 

[LocnLod]

Also, remember that the new G20SF is out.  The grip is a little smaller on that, and my medium sized hands don't have a problem gripping the pistol.  It's smaller than a desert eagle and just a little bigger than a G17.

[myronman3]

the 10mm rocks.  i shoot hardcast 180gr flat points out of mine and penetration is REALLY good.  i have not run them over the chronograph.    i used loads that were not top level, not lower level, but a nice comfortable in between load that burns clean and performs well.   i can tell you the recoil of my load is more than factory.   i am not concerned with that because factory loads in 10mm are obviously loaded down quite a bit.   if you get a 10mm, you better be a handloader, or rich.  i am not rich so i handload.  i love my 10mm.

[WL44]

The 10mm is a great cartridge - shot one, but don't have one.

Recoil is obviously more than lesser cartridges, but by no means unbearable.

You can get a 40 S&W barrel for a G20, which is great if you shoot the action shooting sports and will allow you cheaper practice with cheaper components if you reload. Also the 40 will be easier on the gun (although you can run the 10mm at less that max).

All in all a good package if the larger size and reduced concealability don't bother you. Also a cartridge that you could hunt with where legal and that you could use to take deer. I have a 40 S&W and I'd consder that borderline for hunting deer unless you were really close.

[teddy12b]

Just curious, there's a guy wanting to sell a used like new Glock 20 SF.  It's mint and has only had 50 rounds through it.  What would you all say is a fair price?  To me it seems like they go for around $530 new in my area, and if I can't save close to $100 I'd rather buy new.  I'm thinking $450 - $475 is fair and reasonable for a used Glock 20 SF in 10mm.  Any thoughts on that?

[myronman3]

sure, if you can convince him....

[Camp Cook]

I have 3 10mm handguns a Colt Delta Elite, G20 & G29 of the 3 the Colt is my favorite but only because it is my first ever 10mm that I bought back in 1988.

My G20 is a gen 3 standard grip I find that due to the grip shape that it naturally points up I have to conscientiously twist my wrist down a bit for the sights to line up on target properly.

The G29 is in my opinion the most versatile with the short stock grip/mag with a finger extension it is a very small handgun to conceal slip a Peirce or Scherer mag sleeve onto a G20 mag and you have a G29SF grip which give me the best of both worlds.

I have 4.25" after market 10mm & 40S&W barrels for both of my Glocks.

If I could only have one handgun to do everything without any hesitation it would be the G29...   

[Oldshooter]

I prefer my .45ACPs to the 10mm, but that is personal preference more than anything else.

+1

I doubt i'd hunt with my semi auto, and I like the heritage/ history the 45 has and dependability. It is a common round and may be easy to put your hands on in a pinch. I dont shoot enough hand gun any more to reload. I should but I dont.

[diego]

With that 20 you should be able to buy the aftermarket conversion barrels for the 40, 357sig and 9mm and get some different springs. I believe you should be able to shoot cast bullets out of it.

[zeke08]

Then 10mm is a great round for defense and is flat shooting I have carried a 29 as a back up weapon for almost 5 years now and I have shot numerous deer with it (180gr rounds) I like the 29 because of being able to conceal it easily. I agree that it is  personal preference and you should be comfortable with what u shoot. Whatever you buy make sure you train with it and become very intimate with it should the lights go out and shtf. If you check around you can find some excellent rounds for it they are not cheap but whats your life worth. I have some rounds that are little over 2000 fps and over 2100 foot lbs energy. they will go clean through a ballistic vest. A used Glock in this area goes for 350-400 and that's if its not been shot up hill! lol   

[HAMMERHEAD]

2000 fps in a Glock 29???
Doubletap lists a 135 JHP at 1600 fps from a Glock 20.
The hottest round I've seen from a Glock 10mm is from a 6" 9X25 Dillon conversion, a .355" JHP at 1995 fps.
Could you tell us about your 2000 fps round?

[Camp Cook]

Fastest 10mm load I have ever developed was with Nosler 135gr HP's, IMR800X powder, CCI 350 Primers, new Win brass, crimped with Lee factory crimp die shot from my 6" Barsto barreled Colt Delta Elite = 1850fps...

There is no way that a shorter barrel will surpass this velocity I know this becasue I also shot these same loads in my 5" KKM barreled G20 & 4.24" Lone Wolf barreled G29...

[zeke08]

RBCD Performance Plus check their website 10mm 77gr 2420 fps I love their ammo it works very well. In my Glock 29 over my chrony 2035 fps in a custom 10mm 4.5" barrel 2180 fps look at their ballistic gelatin shots/wound channel very impressive and I mix my own gelatin an have reproduced the wound channels. I have no reason to stretch the truth. Put it to the test

[SHOOTALL]

2100 foot lbs energy ? therir site says 1015 

[zeke08]

Shootall yes you are correct that was a typo on my part I apologize, what happens when you are in a hurry it was suppose to say over a 1000 ft lbs my typo and not afraid to say I made a mistake. Still an awesome round

[SHOOTALL]

If it does what it says it will do it is. I wonder about breeching cover though. What will it do aginst metal,woodor brick ? I have no idea just asking. But it is an option on light critters .

[zeke08]

The rounds we tested at my Sheriff's Dept went through windshields an when they hit flesh type material they stopped. Best round I watched was their 200gr 50BMG round shot from 80yards into 5gal bucket of water went in 1 side dispersed ALL the water an the round was laying in bottom of the bucket. Their website gives it @ 5900fps we got 5380 out of my personal Barrett 99-1 Ive seen pics of real life wounds from their .380 ammo absolutely UGLY made me rethink "lil guns" lol

[SHOOTALL]

that's interesting , thanks .

[myronman3]

The rounds we tested at my Sheriff's Dept went through windshields an when they hit flesh type material they stopped. Best round I watched was their 200gr 50BMG round shot from 80yards into 5gal bucket of water went in 1 side dispersed ALL the water an the round was laying in bottom of the bucket. Their website gives it @ 5900fps we got 5380 out of my personal Barrett 99-1 Ive seen pics of real life wounds from their .380 ammo absolutely UGLY made me rethink "lil guns" lol

  sorry, but if i am shooting a 50bmg, i want it to penetrate more than a 5 gallon bucket.  and, explain to me why a person would even want to shoot a 200 gr. 50bmg @ 80 yards.  there is no point.    would a 308 not be absolutely lethal at that range for a whole lot less $$$?? ??     if this is your own personal toys, fine.  but if it is a police force paid for by the public, i think someone should be investigated for wasting public money.   
   i saw this company's stuff quite a while ago.   different yes, gotta have....no.     now i can see playing with it to see what it will do, but if it is my life on the line, i will go with a more traditional, proven loading.   to each their own. 

[zeke08]

My dept did not have a long range sniper pad, at the time of testing 80 yards was farthest they had and the Dept was testing the ammo to see about changing over to it so there would be NO investigation and further more my dept doesn't own a 50BMG and since I do they asked if I would go and get it to test shoot that round since the COMPANY was supplying the test rounds at NO COST TO DEPT. And the round transferred all of its energy after entering the bucket which by displacing the water and not exiting is a visual aide as to what the round is capable of. Maybe you missed the first line of the other post the round went through windshields. Yes our snipers shoot 308 and are extremely lethal way out past 80 yards. And how is those rounds not proven I am confused about that statement? I agree to each their own but my dept was trying and proving the ammo for themselves hence the test shots. I was not trying to offend anyone merely passing along my experience with a very good round. When the 10mm round I listed goes through a level II ballistic vest to me that's proven but that's just me.

[Keith L]

As interesting as this is, let's remember that this is a Glock forum, so let's keep it to Glocks and loads for them.

Thanks,

Keith L

[teddy12b]

As interesting as this is, let's remember that this is a Glock forum, so let's keep it to Glocks and loads for them.

Thanks,

Keith L

+1

[SHOOTALL]

well alrighty then can anyone tell us how these super fast rounds work in a glock 10 mm? 

[HAMMERHEAD]

RBCD Performance Plus check their website 10mm 77gr 2420 fps I love their ammo it works very well. In my Glock 29 over my chrony 2035 fps in a custom 10mm 4.5" barrel 2180 fps look at their ballistic gelatin shots/wound channel very impressive and I mix my own gelatin an have reproduced the wound channels. I have no reason to stretch the truth. Put it to the test

77 grains, that explains it. Forgot about the exotics.

[myronman3]

i guess that explains alot.   notice i said "if" and left open the possibilities that this wasnt public funded experimentation of 10mm, and other, combinations.   

  i think we both agree on liking the 10mm.