G20/G40 and heavy loads

[ExAgoradzo]

I am wanting a fishing/bow hunting companion for bear county.

What is your experience with either Glock 10mm model listed above with heavy loads (think Corbon 200gr or Buffalo Bore etc).

Thanks
Greg

 

[BreechFace]

I have both and carry Federal 200gr Bonded SP. They are running an advertised 1200fps, 640ft/lbs. at the muzzle. Haven't tried any Corbon or Buffalo Bore as the aforementioned cartridge is more than enough for what I need and runs well in both the G20 and G40. I have aftermarket barrels in each of the Glocks for a more supported chamber (not necessary if you are not a reloader, but I don't want to have to swage my smilee away on the brass); as always it's good to make sure your SD ammo runs well in your gun BEFORE you need it; so buy enough ammo to ensure satisfaction with it's reliability.

It wouldn't hurt if your going to run a steady diet of those heavies and pushed that fast to get a slightly stiffer recoil spring assembly (RSA), so as not to batter/abuse the gun; these are cheap $35. I would recommend buying a 20lb. and 22lb. RSA to try out with the SD/Hunting loads. This will increase the strength needed to rack the slide, but will buffer the shooter and the gun from being battered by 200gr going 1200fps.

If it were me I would get the G20 if between the two. It is the one that I carry the most when in the woods hunting/backpacking/fishing/etc. The G40 would be nice as a hunting firearm though; for pistol only hunts.

 

[ExAgoradzo]

I have both and carry Federal 200gr Bonded SP. They are running an advertised 1200fps, 640ft/lbs. at the muzzle. Haven't tried any Corbon or Buffalo Bore as the aforementioned cartridge is more than enough for what I need and runs well in both the G20 and G40. I have aftermarket barrels in each of the Glocks for a more supported chamber (not necessary if you are not a reloader, but I don't want to have to swage my smilee away on the brass); as always it's good to make sure your SD ammo runs well in your gun BEFORE you need it; so buy enough ammo to ensure satisfaction with it's reliability.

It wouldn't hurt if your going to run a steady diet of those heavies and pushed that fast to get a slightly stiffer recoil spring assembly (RSA), so as not to batter/abuse the gun; these are cheap $35. I would recommend buying a 20lb. and 22lb. RSA to try out with the SD/Hunting loads. This will increase the strength needed to rack the slide, but will buffer the shooter and the gun from being battered by 200gr going 1200fps.

If it were me I would get the G20 if between the two. It is the one that I carry the most when in the woods hunting/backpacking/fishing/etc. The G40 would be nice as a hunting firearm though; for pistol only hunts.

Exactly the kind of info I wanted
Thanks
Greg

 

[Lennyjoe]

Both my G20 and G40 shoot Underwood 220 gr Hardcast just fine. That’s what I carry in them.

 

[jmr40]

I've owned both a G20 and G29. I used Double Tap 200 gr hardcast loads in both of them with no issues at all. They advertise 1300 fps from a G20; 1250 from the G29. I never shot any over a chronograph with the G29 but got 1315 fps from the G20.

I've used the heavy hardcast Buffalo Bore loads in 45 ACP and 9mm. Never had any issues with it in 9mm in any gun. I did have a Smith M&P that wouldn't handle the 255 gr load in 45 ACP. It has worked perfectly in several other 45's though including another M&P. I haven't tried anything other than the heavy Double Tap loads in 10mm.

FWIW I sold both Glocks and replaced them with a Smith M&P Compact in 10mm. It works perfectly with the Double Tap loads as well. I liked the Glocks quite well, but for what I wanted to do I really liked that the Smith had a 1911 style safety. I could never get comfortable with a Glock in my sleeping bag with a loaded chamber. Other than that, I think it is a toss-up between Glock and S&W.

 

[JTQ]

I followed a guy on another forum, who spends half his year in Alaska, and private pilots his way into many remote areas, in his search for a heavy hitting wilderness pistol. He settled on the HK USP 45 and was using it to shoot .45 Super.

He is a Glock fan, and probably has every Glock model produced (in some cases many versions of them), but he didn't have much luck with the G20/G21 family with heavy bullets he'd want for dangerous critters. While he still likes the HK USP 45, he admits it is not as easy for him to shoot as his Glock's, but super durable and reliable, he did find the Underwood Extreme Hunter/Penetrator type bullets worked better in his Glock's than the heavier bullets typically used for those applications.

10mm Auto 150gr. Xtreme Hunter Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Lehigh Defense™ Supersonic Lead Free Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now 10mm Auto Copper ammo with Solid Monolithic.

underwoodammo.com

10mm Auto 140gr. Xtreme Penetrator® Solid Monolithic Hunting & Self Defense Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Lehigh Defense™ Supersonic Lead Free Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now 10mm Auto Copper ammo with Solid Monolithic.

underwoodammo.com

Edit to add: I think he's even chosen the G22/G23 size over the G20/G21 guns as his USP 45 alternative because he is so fond of Underwood offerings. The G22/G23 are handier and offer more accessory options.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Ditto everything Breechface mentioned, especially the recoil spring. After market barrel is a good idea if you reload or you shoot a lot of cast bullets. Glock's helix rifling is prone to fouling if firing a lot of cast bullets. I've got the KKM in my G20.