Glock 20 soaks up recoil, with some groups

[Cump]

I recently got my first Glock 20 (Gen 4), and I was surprised by the absence of felt recoil.

I shot steel with some American Eagle 180 grain, which seemed to be 10mm light. But then a box each of Hornady 180 gr HST, 175 gr Critical Duty, and 200 gr Underwood hardcast polymer coated. All performed well (though I will have to trust published velocities).

With the last rounds I had allocated, I shot groups at 7 yards. 3 shots with the Underwood and Critical Duty. 4 shots with the HST for some reason. The Critical Duty included an ugly trigger pull, and I think it should have looked more like the HST group. The Underwood was 3 shots 1 hole.

I didnt shoot it side-by-side with another full-size, but the only thing surprising was that lack of felt recoil and muzzle rise. As easy to shoot as any other Glock.

I will take this one backpacking this summer.

 

[bannockburn]

As you say, all three loads grouped very nicely! So which one gets the nod then? They all look pretty good!

 

[jmr40]

Lots of people complain about the Glock grip angle. But that is the secret to less muzzle flip and reduced recoil. I've had Glocks in most of the common cartridges and they all have less recoil than other comparable guns.

I've had a G20 and/or G29 for years and even with the hottest loads have always felt they recoiled less than my 1911's in 45 ACP shooting standard 230 gr ball ammo. About a month ago I bought one of the new Smith M&P 10mm pistols. While it isn't a deal breaker the Smith does recoil more.

I haven't decided if I'm going to sell my G29 or not. I like that my Smith has a safety vs none on the Glock. And the 4 lb trigger on the Smith makes it more accurate than the 6 lb trigger on the Glock. I don't use 10mm for everyday carry. It is my hiking, camping pistol. In a holster I don't much care whether it has a safety or not. But I like having a loaded chamber and an attached light lying beside my sleeping bag while camping is hard to do with a holster. I like having a safety for that.

But right now I have 7-8 magazines for the Glock. Spares for the Smith aren't available yet. I just have the 2 that came with the gun for now and spares will be $40+ when available.

I don't think shooting at 7 yards tells you much about accuracy. I don't ever shoot at ranges closer than 15 yards. Back off a bit before you decide on which load you like.

 

[Cump]

Lots of people complain about the Glock grip angle. But that is the secret to less muzzle flip and reduced recoil. I've had Glocks in most of the common cartridges and they all have less recoil than other comparable guns.

...

I don't think shooting at 7 yards tells you much about accuracy. I don't ever shoot at ranges closer than 15 yards. Back off a bit before you decide on which load you like.

That's a good explanation. The groups were kind of an afterthought after shooting steel. Certainly won't hurt to get some more groups at 15 or 25 yards though.

That said, if I went in the backcountry tomorrow (I'm not unfortunately), I would feel pretty comfortable carrying it after 160 costly rounds and hitting the plates consistently farther out. Of course, ideally I will put a few more boxes through to test function with my chosen ammo.

I've never had a new factory ammo failure in a Glock. Remanufactured and reloads just a few. I don't shoot steel cased. I can't think of any failure with Hornady or Underwood.

 

[Cump]

As you say, all three loads grouped very nicely! So which one gets the nod then? They all look pretty good!

Since I intend it for backcountry, the Underwood. Probably the Critical Duty if I ever kept it in the bedside safe.

 

[Gordon]

The Underwood 200 Hard Cast will take deer and black bear to 50 yards. Have three friends in Alaska who have done just that !

 

[WrongHanded]

I don't think shooting at 7 yards tells you much about accuracy. I don't ever shoot at ranges closer than 15 yards. Back off a bit before you decide on which load you like.

Exactly. If you want if for backcountry defense, you need to know what it's doing offhand at 25 yards.

 

[Cump]

Exactly. If you want if for backcountry defense, you need to know what it's doing offhand at 25 yards.

As I said, I was shooting steel at farther distances. I only had a 25 ft tape with me. Thus an easy and exact 7 yards, with my last 10 rounds, for the official group.

I have encountered both continental bears (including mothers with cubs) and mountain lion. Sometimes within 25 yards. I'm not sure how I feel about 25 as a justified distance to shoot. I know they cover distance fast, but they bluff and halt and respond to other interventions. If I ever shoot a bear, I will probably be mauled.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I was also surprised at how little difference there was shooting my G20 vs my G19. Other than the weight and length, really not much difference. I was shooting 180 gr fmj's and 200gr hps.

 

[WrongHanded]

As I said, I was shooting steel at farther distances. I only had a 25 ft tape with me. Thus an easy and exact 7 yards, with my last 10 rounds, for the official group.

I have encountered both continental bears (including mothers with cubs) and mountain lion. Sometimes within 25 yards. I'm not sure how I feel about 25 as a justified distance to shoot. I know they cover distance fast, but they bluff and halt and respond to other interventions. If I ever shoot a bear, I will probably be mauled.

My 25 yards reference is because when out in the big wide wilderness, 25 yards isn't that far. But it's far enough that shot dispersion and a difference between point of aim and point of impact really become noticeable.

So I use 25 yards as my personal metric because it gives me a really good idea of how a particular cartridge will work for me in my particular gun, at the edge of a range where I start to see wildlife as a threat. I start to see them as a threat at that distance, because they move so much faster than people do.

 

[Cump]

I agree one should know where he is hitting at 25 yards. After spending summer months with bears for 35 years, I just don't think one knows they are going to attack at that distance. Honestly, probably not until contact is likely, though you may have gotten shots off.

I would draw on a bear that hadn't turned tail at 25 and even 50 yards. Shouts and shots in the dirt might follow (another reason to know where you are hitting). But my mindset is not to shoot a bear, unless I am convinced it will complete the charge. Because it most likely won't.

 

[WrongHanded]

I agree one should know where he is hitting at 25 yards. After spending summer months with bears for 35 years, I just don't think one knows they are going to attack at that distance. Honestly, probably not until contact is likely, though you may have gotten shots off.

I would draw on a bear that hadn't turned tail at 25 and even 50 yards. Shouts and shots in the dirt might follow (another reason to know where you are hitting). But my mindset is not to shoot a bear, unless I am convinced it will complete the charge. Because it most likely won't.

I totally agree. I have no inclination to shooting a bear or any other animal at 25 yards in self defense. Although there's always the possibility the animal may be attacking someone else, as unlikely a situation as that may be.

 

[Buckeye63]

One of my favorite pistols

 

[Lennyjoe]

If you don’t reload and want full power 10MM loads look at Underwood Ammunition. The 220 gr hard cast would be great for bear country.

 

[Cump]

If you don’t reload and want full power 10MM loads look at Underwood Ammunition. The 220 gr hard cast would be great for bear country.

I probably will try those too and see which it likes best. Maybe they are now in stock. Have you had any feeding issues with the 220?

 

[Lennyjoe]

No they feed fine in my KKM barrel. I reload and have some really stout loads with 800X and 180 gr XTP’s so I use a fully supported aftermarket barrel and a heavier recoil spring. The Underwood 220’s feed and cycle just fine.

 

[BreechFace]

I keep telling myself I don’t need a G20, but my G40 has desires for a kid brother.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I keep telling myself I don’t need a G20, but my G40 has desires for a kid brother.

I’m the opposite. My G20 needs a big brother so I’ve been keeping an eye out for a G40. They’re not readily available under the Blue Label program.

 

[Cump]

How about g29, g20 and g40? And a 10mm carbine that takes glock mags ...

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I really don't want a Glock 20 but I sure would like to buy one. There's not a wide array of 10mm pistols out there, unfortunately. I've moved away from SAA guns so no 1911 in 10mm for me. Maybe an XD but I'm not crazy about the grip safety and they're surprisingly hard to find. I generally don't like Glocks and find them unpleasant to shoot (to me the Glock 22 has surprisingly stout recoil compared to my P30) but I do want a 10mm for backpacking and camping. It's not a ton hotter than the .40 with Underwood but a bit, maybe enough stouter to be the difference against big bears. I live 60-ish miles from the Park and they're pretty thick here.

 

[Lennyjoe]

How about g29, g20 and g40? And a 10mm carbine that takes glock mags ...

G40 and 10MM SBR are on my short list

 

[Choctaw]

I’m the opposite. My G20 needs a big brother so I’ve been keeping an eye out for a G40. They’re not readily available under the Blue Label program.

I purchased my last Glock 20 Gen 4 on the Blue Label program. It is a great deal and I really appreciate Glock making it available to us.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I purchased my last Glock 20 Gen 4 on the Blue Label program. It is a great deal and I really appreciate Glock making it available to us.

As did I with my G20, 19,17,43x. I buy 2 a year under that program.

My local Glock dealer said it’s been a long time since he’s seen a G40 available under that program.