Testing and compiling load data with sub-standard barrels - I don't get it. ??

[Kimber-45]

I am seeing so much load data out there and in here referencing Lone Wolf barrels.
There are other barrels available with a substantial edge on quality such as KKM for one.
And the fact that G20 owners are swapping out a top quality factory barrel with these "dog branded" cheapie barrels then bragging of results.
The only thing Lone Wolf barrels are doing is making the distributor rich along with the rest of his junk products.
Lone wolf barrels are not the benchmark for ballistic testing.



Your opinions are welcome. I hope to hear from you guys.

[tommac919]

The only thing Lone Wolf barrels are doing is making the distributor rich

Not really...many of those I know ( that use a LW barrel ) are doing it for the main fact that they re-load....

The stock barrels are loose as a goose ( for reliability ) but make the brass work more expanding and then you work harder putting it back to proper dimensions.

[Benchrst]

Well, that's not inflammatory

I chose LW for it's case support, not match-grade accuracy (can the G20 be made to have match-grade accuracy?).

I'd love to see Ransom Rest results of KKM, LW, etc. I suspect the differences at 20 yards are minor.

[Buff7mm]

Both my 20 and 29 barrels were both replaced with a Lone Wolf and Storm Lake respectively before I even fired a shot thru either one of them. Both aftermarket barrels seem pretty accurite for what I'm doing with them and as others have already mentioned  the brass factor was near the top in priority as both factory barrels seem to be pretty loose almost to the point that it sounded like a Salvation Army bell ringing at Christmas time when you picked the barrel up with a round in it.
I like casting my own bullets too and that's for another thread I'm sure. 

[sqlbullet]

I don't have an aftermarket barrel for either of my Glocks, so I can't speak to Lone Wolf or KKM.

But, I do have some contributions to make.

First, as has been mentioned, the Glock factory barrels have loose chambers.  Case head expansion measures .432"-.433" from my Glock 20 or Glock 29.  By contrast it measures .427"-.429" from my EAA Witness with the same loads.  Measuring case heads is just part of my ritual with handloads, so I have the data.  I have no reason to doubt that aftermarket Glock barrels are tighter than factory barrels.

Second, I have seen plenty of targets posted up by guys shooting Lone Wolf barrels to know that they are just fine for pistol work.  I am NOT saying they are the best, just that they shoot better than most people shoot.  I too would love to see a head to head LW vs KKM vs Glock Factory in a well controlled environment.  Instead what we have is this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56H6BBkZgEQ

The good news with this video is there is good velocity data.  It shows, at least in these three barrels in 9X19, that the differences in extreme spread of velocity between Glock Factory, Lone Wolf and KKM are very, very small.  The Lone Wolf did perform the "worst", but all of them had a velocity variation less than 1%, with factory ammo, not handloads.  The bad news is while the video attempts to make accuracy claims, it really just shows that the barrels are all far more accurate than this shooter.  If someone knows of a good report using a quality rest, please post it up.

Third, cheap isn't always bad.  If you want a cheap barrel to try out 9X25 or some other caliber, or a barrel to plink with lead reloads, Lone Wolf is a good option.  Minute of soda bottle accurate is really all you need for some fun on the range with the kids.

Are there better barrels?  Probably.  But Lone Wolf is just fine for what it claims IMHO.

[triggerman10]

Can't shoot lead through the factory barrel.(At least you're not supposed to) That's why I bought the extended LW.

[The_Shadow]

Can't shoot lead through the factory barrel.(At least you're not supposed to) That's why I bought the extended LW.

Well, I do shoot a lot of my cast bullets (lead alloy is old wheel weight) through my factory Glock barrels...Why can I do that?  My bullets are sized to 0.4015" and I use a quality lube which is rated to 2700 fps.  Why?  The bullets tend to seal the bore better than the smaller 0.4000" or 0.4010" and the lube properties provide a barrier of protection to leading.  These are harder than pure lead, yet they can obdurate to help seal under pressure without smearing as they take to the hexagonal style rifling.

The Factory barrel will let brass expand to 0.4335" 0.4340" at the feed ramp area before any smiles start to occur, anything over 0.4340" will start to show a SMILE line...  So that is my baseline for pressure and brass with a particular loading.  The bore of a Factory barrel have been measured 0.4015" to 0.4020"  Not substandard but is a COMBAT reliability clearances.

I do have some STORM LAKE barrels which have much tighter chambers 0.4280" and they have the benefit of less case expansion and standard rifling which is 0.4000".  Even standard rifling can exhibit leading if lead bullets are too small and of poor quality.  The tighter bores can show higher pressures at the initial peak of the pressure curve.

A newer trend is to use poly powdered paints that are heat cured and exhibit a tough finish with slick properties and prevent lead contact with the bore and strong enough to seal and take to the rifling of any barrel.

This is also why no two guns are the same, even from the same maker.  Therefore I work loads that will be useable in all of my guns chambered for that cartridge...Sometimes the fastest velocity ammo is only a bragging rights but may not exhibit the best accuracy especially for follow up recovery.

[ss30378]

What makes you believe they are substandard?  Bad experience, low price or just what you've read?  I have 6 lw barrels in various calibers and have had no complaints.  They've outshot my factory glock barrels and I can shoot my lead bullets at full steam.  Plus lw makes barrels in calibers that no one else does.  What's not to like about that?

[my_old_glock]

I use LW barrels because Glock doesn't make 357SIG or 9x23 barrels for the Glock 20.


.

[Benchrst]

Lousy LW barrel

http://10mm-reloaded.com/targets/140-Bayou-5.0-GM3-041616.pdf

[ss30378]

Nice shooting benchrst!

[gandog56]

I am seeing so much load data out there and in here referencing Lone Wolf barrels.
There are other barrels available with a substantial edge on quality such as KKM for one.
And the fact that G20 owners are swapping out a top quality factory barrel with these "dog branded" cheapie barrels then bragging of results.
The only thing Lone Wolf barrels are doing is making the distributor rich along with the rest of his junk products.
Lone wolf barrels are not the benchmark for ballistic testing.



Your opinions are welcome. I hope to hear from you guys.

Maybe because Lone Wolf barrels are substantially cheaper than s KKM? Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

[Pablo]

I am seeing so much load data out there and in here referencing Lone Wolf barrels.
There are other barrels available with a substantial edge on quality such as KKM for one.
And the fact that G20 owners are swapping out a top quality factory barrel with these "dog branded" cheapie barrels then bragging of results.
The only thing Lone Wolf barrels are doing is making the distributor rich along with the rest of his junk products.
Lone wolf barrels are not the benchmark for ballistic testing.



Your opinions are welcome. I hope to hear from you guys.

You mad brah?

You urinating into a stiff wind, with no data whatsoever - so now you are surprised you smell of urine?

Other than chambers being overly tight (my DD 5.56 barrel had a tight chamber too!)........every LW barrel I have owned has been fine.

If you have a gripe, post it. Specifically.