Glock 20 Gen4 Impressions

[alostfrontier]

Hello all! I got a G20 a couple months ago and have had the chance to put a couple hundred rounds through it. I made a few upgrades right off the bat, including a KKM barrel (4.6") and a 20lb IMSI spring with SS guide rod from Lone Wolf. The intent of these upgrades were to improve chamber support (for reloading eventually) and lessen slide battering with full power loads.

In 10mm, I started with my P220 Legion, which is a dream to shoot. Unfortunately mine seems to have a heavier DA trigger and it's not as smooth as I'd hope, with some stickiness. I may call Sig about it because the mag release is EXTREMELY stiff as well, so I feel like some QC was just missed with my gun in general. That being said, it is still a wonderful gun, and it shoots 10mm like butter, even with hot ammo. Whether it's some cheap 180gr FMJ or some premo UW HC or JHPs, it cycles perfectly with zero complaints.

The G20 on the other hand is a bit of a mixed bag. You see, my hands are on the smaller side. I have large palms compared to my finger length, so while I'm not going to be a professional piano player, I can get a decently good grip on most things. Unfortunately I just don't think the large frame Glocks are one of those things. The finger grooves of the Gen3/4 are actually helpful for me, but there's no getting around the fact that the G20 is a big pistol. I can get my hands around it, but there is still maybe a good half inch of unused grip when I hold it. This obviously means that I probably can't control the gun as well as someone who can get a full grip can.

Now what gets me with the G20 are 2 things, the bite into my index finger from the trigger, and the sting in my hand from the recoil of the round. I have to say I've never liked Glock's protruding trigger safety tab and would love it to be flush with the trigger when depressed, but it hasn't caused me anywhere near as much grief on their 380/9mm pistols as it does with the G20. Given the recoil of the G20 and the sharpness of this particular safety tab, my index finger gets chewed up while shooting. It's not a nice feeling. The trigger feel in terms of take-up and break weight is actually not that bad IMO as far as Glocks go, and it has an extremely positive reset, but while shooting it I can't help but feel like the trigger hurts to use. I know I sound like a wuss here, but a trigger should be comfortable to use so you can put the intended amount of pressure on it without discomfort changing how you position your finger.

That brings me to the second thing, the recoil. Now, I seem to be able to shoot 9mm without much issue, from subcompacts to full size, with fairly quick follow-ups. I'm far from competition-worthy, but I find myself bringing the gun back on target relatively quickly (my new MantisX showed me at 1.25 to 1.6 second splits when trying for moderate accuracy). Looking at 10mm however, there is a lot more muzzle flip to deal with, and I suppose my wrist just isn't strong enough yet to keep the gun tame. My MantisX also told me I'm pulling both the G20 and P220 down a fair bit before the shot, which I do notice, likely due to anticipation of recoil and the muzzle heaviness of the P220. The P220 feels rock solid when I shoot, blasting the slug out of its 5" barrel with nary a care in the world. Yes it bucks, but it really feels like the recoil just travels backwards through the gun. The G20 with the same round almost feels as if it is radiating with recoil, not only snapping up but vibrating rapidly with recoil. This kind of makes sense, as people say the polymer frame flexes and actually should help with recoil as a result (I assume less muzzle flip since the recoil is distributed more into the frame). This causes a stinging sensation in my hands and has made my G20 one of my most uncomfortable guns to shoot as a result. I am able to bring the gun back on target for follow-ups, but the knife in my trigger finger and buzzing hands make it tough to shoot comfortably and accurately.

I will say that apart from a couple dozen rounds with the stock spring, everything has been shot with the 20lb IMSI spring. I am wondering if there might be a problem with my spring because it is almost too easy to rack the slide (but everything chambers and cycles just fine). I will try the stock spring the next time I go out (wondering if I should try the stock barrel too) just in case there is some issue with my aftermarket setup.

Overall I like the G20 even though it doesn't fit my hand great, and even though it is not very fun to shoot. It is a "beater" woods gun for me, that I feel like you have to own if you are a 10mm fan. Even though I only own two 10mm firearms, the G20 being one of them, I must say I am a 10mm fan. It is not without its drawbacks, but holy smokes is it a powerful round! I don't think I will sell my G20 as it is a well known platform for aftermarket, and so far it has proven reliable, but I think my search for a high capacity woods gun (8+1 in the P220 is just a smidge low) will continue. Maybe the new M&P will help there, otherwise I think I am stuck waiting for Sig to release a P320 AXG 10mm with 10-12 rounds. Now that would be sweet.

[challer61]

Well I have both P220/10 and a G40. I agree with everything you're saying. I have big hands but still feel it. Practice and you'll get used to it. Wear shooting gloves. I use my tens to hunt with full load Lehigh penetrators. That's a big step up from range ammo but you get used to it.

My other hunting handgun is a 7.5 FK BRNO. You and the pig both know when you've fired that thing!

[alostfrontier]

Well that's both comforting and disappointing to hear. The stinging recoil just doesn't feel right. My other Glocks (in admittedly significantly weaker calibers, .380 and 9mm) don't exhibit it, and I didn't feel it from a friend's G23 either. I've put the stock recoil spring in there and will see how it shoots with that, and also with the stock barrel.

I am still looking for some decent shooting gloves, both for indoor and outdoor cold weather use. I suppose I should speed up the search!

That BRNO PSD caught my attention when Aaron Cowan did a review of it. What a sweet gun. If it had a steel/alloy frame I think I'd consider buying. I'd also love to see the 7.5 FK round in a PCC or long pistol. I bet with an 8" barrel and folding brace it would make for a potent PDW.

[challer61]

Everyone wants the 7.5FK in a PCC but who knows.

The 7.5FK was inspired by the 7.62 Tokarov.

The next project for the 40 is a 9x25 Dillon (ordered from Barsto). Attempting to get something close to the 7.5FK.

I may be getting a better impulse because the 40 has more mass.