Help Talk Me Into/Out of the KKM Barrel

[redbaron007]

Ok......Here is my quandary...should I go ahead and spring for the KKM Barrel for my new G20G4 or stick it out with the factory barrel?

My purpose for the gun is hunting deer/hog etc. Most shots will be under 75 yards. I will be shooting some of the hotter loads, i.e. UW/DT & Hardcast while hunting, but will shoot some softer for target. Plus, my next venture is the reloading process. I have already been recovering my brass from my target loads and will be ordering some exotic loads to shoot, too. The reloading process will start to become more active as the year moves on; buying a piece here and there.

So, What are the thoughts? With what I have said, is an aftermarket barrel (KKM) really needed? And I use the word 'needed' loosely.

Thanks!

Appreciate the input folks!!

[Intercooler]

I won't talk you out of it... but have you looked at a Barsto? Kevin Underwood loves that barrel in his Glock test platform.

[Yondering]

I personally think the stock barrel is fine, and actually better quality than most aftermarket barrels. Any issues with lead are resolved by shooting lead bullets that are large enough and hard enough. Don't use loads that are stupid hot, and you should have great results.

That said, if you want an aftermarket drop-in barrel, KKM is the way to go.

[Dave84]

I wouldn't really steer you into needing one. If you want one bad enough might I recommend a nice 6 inch barrel for added velocity in hunting. You'd have your nice stock 4.6 inch barrel and a nice kkm 6inch. I would never go out of my way to buy another 4.6 inch. Extra money for the same thing. My two cents.

[redbaron007]

Intercooler: I have looked at the Bar-Sto barrels. I really really like them; however, and this is anecdotal, but I have not met one owner (I know four) around here who has not had some work on the barrels, beyond a polish here or there, done in order to make them operable. And, most of those folks around here don't do the best job and it looks cruddy. Plus, Bar-Sto is heavily back-logged. Last I checked, they were out over 3 months out.

Yondering: I think the stock barrel is fine, too. However, there are a few areas that I will  hunt with a pistol that do reach out to 75 yrds; this is where I think the 6" KKM barrel would be a little helpful in accuracy. I have a buddy who uses the stock Glock 6" barrel and loves it; but he does zero reloading for the 10mm. He gets some hot loads from a few reloaders, UW and others; almost all the brass ends ups with smilies on them; making them pretty much worthless for reloading. Even his target brass seems highly distressed when shot; making them suspect for reloading. I'm trying to get him to give some of his target loads to see how they shoot in my G4, he has the G3.

Dave84: I agree, the 6" would be the one I would order. Unless match shooting, I don't see the need to replace the stock with an aftermarket of the same size.

So where am I heading? 

[Yondering]

Gotcha. If you want a 6", you won't regret buying a KKM. You might regret a Storm Lake or Lone Wolf, or may have to wait a while for Bar-Sto. That's the way I see it.

[10mm-Admirer]

I have two KKM barrels for my G20SFs.  One is a 4.6" the other is a 5".  Both work and look great.  Easy on brass and lock up is tight.  Can't recommend them more highly.

[Midwest Shooter]

I also have a Glock 20 Gen 4 and I replaced my barrel with a 6" KKM. It shoots great and I wanted the tighter tolerances since I reload. The KKM is easier on the brass.

[Harleycolt]

You could always get the 9" barrel, just saying  i think someone on here has one already but can't remember who it is.

[redbaron007]

You could always get the 9" barrel, just saying  i think someone on here has one already but can't remember who it is.

Funny you mention the 9"....a buddy of mine this weekend mentioned the same thing. He wants to roll me some 10's before I do. I think he is a little interested in the good old 10mm. He's been a wheel guy for years, but is really intrigued by the 10.

I think the 9" would be a little much for me.   

[redbaron007]

Well, last Monday I received three boxes of UW ammo in the mail, 180 xtp and 155 nolser; plus some 124 xtp 357sig.

Then on Friday, I received the 6" KKM barrel. Ordered Monday, received on Friday.

On Saturday, I took the G20 and the G32 out for a lil exercise. I shot about 10 rounds through the stock Glock 20 barrel; cycled great and had not issues. However, looking at brass I found 3 out of 20 having a smilie issue. Replaced the stock barrel with the KKM 6" and shot about 25 rounds of the UW.....had no issues and notice a little bit better grouping, no problems with the brass. Then fired about 100 target rounds through the KKM barrel, was not disappointed in the least. For my last little test, I commingled 180 target, 180 UW and 155 (5 ea) in the last mag....cycled and shot great! I was a happy camper!!

The G32 ate the UW with no issues either; although, the UW, compared to the Federal HSTs I had loaded, were night and day in felt performance.

Another successful weekend!! 

[Dave84]

Well, last Monday I received three boxes of UW ammo in the mail, 180 xtp and 155 nolser; plus some 124 xtp 357sig.

Then on Friday, I received the 6" KKM barrel. Ordered Monday, received on Friday.

On Saturday, I took the G20 and the G32 out for a lil exercise. I shot about 10 rounds through the stock Glock 20 barrel; cycled great and had not issues. However, looking at brass I found 3 out of 20 having a smilie issue. Replaced the stock barrel with the KKM 6" and shot about 25 rounds of the UW.....had no issues and notice a little bit better grouping, no problems with the brass. Then fired about 100 target rounds through the KKM barrel, was not disappointed in the least. For my last little test, I commingled 180 target, 180 UW and 155 (5 ea) in the last mag....cycled and shot great! I was a happy camper!!

The G32 ate the UW with no issues either; although, the UW, compared to the Federal HSTs I had loaded, were night and day in felt performance.

Another successful weekend!! 

Makes you wish the HST bullet itself was available. Would love to have UW loaded HST's.

[Species]

I have a new Gen 4 I purchased 2 months ago.  The stock barrel is great, but with near max or max loads the Glock smiles are very prominent.  Shooting with he stock barrel ruined at least 50% of my brass (which is not easy to find these days).  The other 50% of the brass was noticeably "bulged" at the feed ramp location but was in good enough condition to load with light target loads.  Personally I didn't feel comfortable loading another hot load in the brass that went through my stock barrel.  Seeing what it did to the brass just made me nervous.  The stock barrel is every bit as accurate as my KKM.  If you are looking for accuracy you won't notice a difference between KKM and Stock Glock.  I actually think I shoot more accurately with the stock barrel, but it may just be my imagination.

I purchased a KKM barrel and the brass comes out with no Glock smile.  I really didn't want to buy the barrel, but  I figure I will get enough life out of my brass that it will pay for the barrel in a couple years......that is if I can find the brass after it get hurled into the next county 

I would highly recommend the KKM barrel if you plan to reload in any sizable quantity.  If you are just shooting and only occasionally reloading it might not be worth it.  But you can plan on destroying a large percentage of your brass with the stock barrel.  That is just my experience, a buddy of mine loves his stock barrel and is OK with losing some brass to Glock smiles.

[NCTURBOS]

My Gen.4 G20 with the KKM barrel installed... Georgia Arms 180gr. FMJ on the left & Underwood Ammo. on the right.

K.

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[The_Shadow]

NCTURBOS, Sweet looking...How does she run?  Are you running the stock RSA?