Aftermarket barrels for Glocks

[velocette]

Folks, I'm looking for information on accuracy and reliability of
aftermarket barrels for Glock pistols, particularly a Glock 26.
Are they more accurate? Was any reliability lost with an aftermarket
barrel? What has been your experience and would you buy the barrel again?

Roger

 

[glockman19]

I have extra barrels for my Glocks, I prefer Storm Lake Barrels. The difference is the OEM barrel has a Right hand twist and the Storm Lake are a Left hand twist.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Glock & Roll....

I'm impressed with the EFK Firedragon Glock barrels. They retail for approx $150.00 USD.
The KKM Glock barrels are good too.
Lenny Magill's www.Glockstore.com has a lot of barrel choices & styles.

 

[wally]

I've been happy with Storm Lake and Lone Wolf threaded barrels. If you don't need threaded the only "advantages" would be standard rifling vs. polygonal which would only be important if you plan to shoot a lot of lead bullets (non-jacketed) and possibly better chamber support in some calibers.

I don't see how the direction of twist matters at all for handguns.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

KKM makes an unbelievably precise barrel for a real good price

I use a KKM to convert my Glock 35 to a 9mm and plan to get a KKM threaded barrel for a Glock 22 shortly

Matt S.

 

[1KPerDay]

My storm lake has been 100% in my G23. FWIW.

 

[AK103K]

Ive had three Lone Wolf barrels for my Glocks, including one for one of my 26's.

Never had an issue with any of them. All dropped right in, were accurate, and reliable.

 

[Hangingrock]

I've used Bar-Sto barrels in my opinion a semi-drop-in that requires minor fitting and KKM which are true drop in barrels. As for Lone-Wolf from my limited experience I'm not a proponent of that brand.

 

[RustyShackelford]

LoneWolf....

The after market LoneWolf Dist Glock barrels seem fine for the casual shooter or Glock owner who may go target shooting 1/2 times a month.
Id feel safe with a LoneWolf Dist conversion Glock barrel for a semi auto like a Glock 23 or model 27 but if I wanted a "high end" brand, Id choose a KKM or FireDragon.
Bar-Sto barrels are great too but at approx $200.00 or so, I wouldn't say that's in my budget.

 

[SDGlock23]

My aftermarket Glock barrel of choice is KKM. I've never had an issue out of them and they're very accurate. With that said, are they much more accurate than the stock barrels? I don't think they are, but that's not a slam on KKM, it's more that stock Glock barrels are capable of very good accuracy.

My point is this, if you're not shooting your Glock that well, it's 99.9999% sure that a new KKM, Barsto, Jarvis, etc. (LoneWolf too but I consider them bottom of the heap) barrel isn't going to make it shoot good. As the old saying goes, it's the brave, not the arrow.

I've shot very tight nearly one hole groups with my KKM barrels and stock Glock barrels alike. To me, any added accuracy is perfectly fine but I get KKM barrels because they give better case support (maybe not such a big deal for 9mm though) and they clean up easier when shooting lead compared to stock Glock barrels.

4 shot group at 15yds, no rest using hand lapped KKM comped barrel in my Gen4 G21 using 230gr handloads:



Stock G35 barrel, two four shot groups also from 15yds , no rest using handloads (yes 1 flyer)

 

[jhb]

The after market LoneWolf Dist Glock barrels seem fine for the casual shooter or Glock owner who may go target shooting 1/2 times a month.
Id feel safe with a LoneWolf Dist conversion Glock barrel for a semi auto like a Glock 23 or model 27 but if I wanted a "high end" brand, Id choose a KKM or FireDragon.
Bar-Sto barrels are great too but at approx $200.00 or so, I wouldn't say that's in my budget.

Why would the lone wolf only be good for very casual shooters? They seem to be close in specs with the others brands. Obviously not exact but still. Is it the foreign made where mystery or the are the specs true mystery or just first hand experience that says this?

Not picking on you as this seems to be a popular opinion held by many..rather I'm asking ya cause you stated this opinion well and it was easy to ask ya. Course I'm here to learn so I'd appreciate anyone willing to educate me. Thanks in advance.

 

[OldMac]

2 lone wolf barrels for my g27. Accuracy better than stock for the 9mm and much better than stock for 357sig. Price was right for my purposes.

 

[chuckpro]

The only reason i would go aftermarket is for a caliber change or for more chamber support. I wouldn't worry about chamber support unless you reload in 40 cal or 10mm, or shoot full power 10mm loads. The brass from a full power Underwood load in the factory barrel scares me, even a Lone Wolf barrel has more support and is visible in the spent brass. I don't think my after market barrels are any more accurate.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Response to #11....

My reply is that the QC of the LoneWolf Dist may or may not be on par with the after-market barrels costing $50.00 to $100.00 more.
Not all shooters shoot the same amount or the same way.
If you own a Glock LoneWolf Dist barrel & it works great then more power to ya!
I think the engineering & design of EFK Firedragon or KKM might be better.

As I posted, if I purchased a gen 04 Glock 27 sub-compact & picked up a new LoneWolf Dist conversion 9x19mm for it, www.glockstore.com then Id use it.

I agree too with the remarks that training & proper methods(marksmanship) are paramount with Glocks. Not after market up-grades.

 

[velocette]

Gentle folks;
I asked about accuracy and reliability with aftermarket barrels for a Glock 26 because I was not satisfied with the accuracy my Glock 26 was giving me. & heard comments about proper training and marksmanship being needed. Gentlemen, I do know a little bit about handgun accuracy and marksmanship. I am currently an NRA Smallbore Prone Master with a rifle, that means 99.5% 10 ring or better in competition. I was (well, I use-ta could) an NRA master in bullseye pistol competition. With an S&W snubby, I can ring the 50 yard popper at my club 4 out of 5 rounds.
My Glock 26 was not anywhere near the accuracy of what I was used to getting, and still do with other firearms. I wanted the Glock because of its legendary reliability and light weight. I still do but I want better accuracy and asked for input about accuracy and reliability of aftermarket barrels. My sights and trigger are already significantly improved, the barrel may be my next step or it may not. I simply want feedback about reliability and accuracy with aftermarket barrels.

Thanks to all that offered good advice and personal observations.

Roger

 

[chuckpro]

I don't think you are going to see any improved accuracy from aftermarket drop in barrel. At least mine are not more accurate.

 

[jhb]

If ya got a barsto, for example, and had it custom fitted.......to be a pure match grade.....I can't see why you wouldn't get what you are looking for...in it being more accurate than a factory barrel. a drop in barrel..... I can't see it being any better. Course i am thinking out loud and that can be dangerous.

Thanks to all for responses to my previous questions. Apologies to the op for side tracking the thread.

 

[danez71]

I don't see how the direction of twist matters at all for handguns.

Well, if you plan to use it south of the equator, the left hand twist would make perfect sense.

 

[Tinker]

I've got one LW 40-9 conversion barrel for my G27 40cal and have not noticed any difference in accuracy. Probably have about 1500 rounds through that LW barrel. 400 through the stock barrel.

I just purchased a used Ptarmigan .357SIG barrel for the same G27, but have not had a chance to ring it out yet. Hope to fix that this weekend.

 

[Girodin]

If you are really seeking to improve accuracy I wouldn't go with a drop in barrel. Rather i would look at a fitted barrel. Fitted barrels from what I have seen can be expected to give a notable improvement in mechanical accuracy. A drop in barrel may or may not improve accuracy. I would only get a drop in for a 10 mm for chamber support, to have a theaded barrel, or perhaps to shoot a lot of lead.

 

[velocette]

I'm thinking now of a semi drop in from Bar-Sto.
I have Bar-Sto barrels in my match pistols and one of my
favorite pistols (Hi Power) and have been happy with them.
I just didn't know about how well any replacement barrel would
work in a Glock as they are of a different design.
I thank all the folks for advice and personal experiences

Roger

 

[tarosean]

If you are really seeking to improve accuracy I wouldn't go with a drop in barrel. Rather i would look at a fitted barrel. Fitted barrels from what I have seen can be expected to give a notable improvement in mechanical accuracy

+10

Cheaping out when trying to improve is definitely the wrong direction.

 

[rskent]

I simply want feedback about reliability and accuracy with aftermarket barrels.

OK, I put a lone wolf in one of my Glocks. I wanted to try some lead loads. There was no noticeable difference in accuracy or reliability with it. I put the stock barrel back in.

 

[OilyPablo]

The chamber of Lone Wolf barrels are definitely tight - on purpose or factory tool wear?? One could argue my 6.1" threaded 10mm barrel is/was a bit too tight and caused misfeeding and stoppages. In particular after shooting for awhile. After just the smallest clean up, all is well. Glock stock barrel chambers are rather loose from the factory for a reason.

 

[tarosean]

The chamber of Lone Wolf barrels are definitely tight - on purpose or factory tool wear??

There is a video on Youtube (Sorry dont have the link) where a guy plunk tests 50 Lone Wolf barrels because he had a blow-out. ALL were different in some degree...