Most reliable heavy Glock 20 with standard barrel loads for bear?

kreane · February 18 2015 04:42:11 PM MST

I want to carry a Glock 20 in the standard configuration for mountain lion and black bear protection. What heavy rounds run most reliably in the 20? If you carry a 20 what's your defensive load? I'm looking at Underwood or Double tap. I want 100 percent feed reliability as well as no key holing.

tommac919 · February 18 2015 08:31:58 PM MST

Quote from: kreane on February 18 2015 04:42:11 PM MST
I want to carry a Glock 20 in the standard configuration for mountain lion and black bear protection. What heavy rounds run most reliably in the 20? If you carry a 20 what's your defensive load? I'm looking at Underwood or Double tap. I want 100 percent feed reliability as well as no key holing.

For the woods in my G20 ( has a 20lb spring ) , I like and carry the Underwood 200g Noslers. They will handle most of what you'll prob come across.

As for reliably, buy a few extra boxes and always run them thru the gun you use to make sure of no problems... don't want it to fail then (and every gun is a bit different)

The_Shadow · February 18 2015 09:29:13 PM MST

I would want the Hornady 200 gr XTP for accuracy, expansion and deep penetration. I load them to 1240fps.
You would have to watch for them to be available for commercial loadings.

cwall64 · February 18 2015 09:58:58 PM MST

I haven't had any issues with the Underwood 180gr XTPs or FMJ in stock G20 Gen4. I have run several hundred rounds of both through it, as others have said test and verify first! I did add a BrassStacker 22# RSA recently and the mechanism just feels tighter while shooting the heavy loads, it worked fine before, but the slide seemed "looser" with the full spec loads...

tommac919 · February 19 2015 07:31:07 AM MST

Quote from: The_Shadow on February 18 2015 09:29:13 PM MST
I would want the Hornady 200 gr XTP for accuracy, expansion and deep penetration. I load them to 1240fps.
snip..

I'm not really a hunter tho I have a few times... I carry the G20/Nosler 200gr for the black bears I've run into many time on/off the AT trail in VA. I see several each year.

Are the XTPs that much more accurate over the Nosler ? My knowledge ( limited ) was at the upper speeds, the XTP tended to loose fragments/petals and the while the Nosler didn't expand as much, it had a very similar penetration depth.

I went with Underwood as they were easy to obtain enough to test run a few boxes and still have enough for carry.

Set me straight please.

475/480 · February 19 2015 08:58:17 AM MST

Are the XTPs that much more accurate over the Nosler ? My knowledge ( limited ) was at the upper speeds, the XTP tended to loose fragments/petals and the while the Nosler didn't expand as much, it had a very similar penetration depth.

I went with Underwood as they were easy to obtain enough to test run a few boxes and still have enough for carry.

Set me straight please.

No , the Hornady's are not more accurate than Noslers BUT 10MM Hornady XTP's are a little better bullet for deeper penetration.The Nolser 180-200gr HP get the nod for expansion (expanded diameter =.550"+) and weight retention (90%+).
The 10MM -180gr -200gr XTP Hornady's I have tested consistently shed a little of the jacket and keep penetrating
The Nolser has better weight retention and will expand to a larger diameter in my testing (soaked news paper). Larger diameter expansions also means it will open up and not penetrate as deep as Hornady's
Search here I have posted pics of the tested bullets, Hornady and Nosler.

Sean

[/quote]

The_Shadow · February 19 2015 09:13:03 AM MST

Quote from: tommac919 on February 19 2015 07:31:07 AM MST
Quote from: The_Shadow on February 18 2015 09:29:13 PM MST
I would want the Hornady 200 gr XTP for accuracy, expansion and deep penetration. I load them to 1240fps.
snip..

I'm not really a hunter tho I have a few times... I carry the G20/Nosler 200gr for the black bears I've run into many time on/off the AT trail in VA. I see several each year.

Are the XTPs that much more accurate over the Nosler ? My knowledge ( limited ) was at the upper speeds, the XTP tended to loose fragments/petals and the while the Nosler didn't expand as much, it had a very similar penetration depth.

I went with Underwood as they were easy to obtain enough to test run a few boxes and still have enough for carry.
Set me straight please.

I have seen both bullets and I have to believe the Hornadry 200XTP is a tougher made bullet, so while it may not expand as much as the Nosler 200 JHP, it will provide deeper penetration to hit more vitals deep inside. But I hand load my own to get the performance I desire.
I do have some 200gr Cast bullets that I'd probably have on hunting excursions as well.

Stunnerable · February 19 2015 10:04:49 AM MST

I'm surprised you guys are carrying hollow points for woods carry. If you're not carrying hard cast then wouldn't it be wiser to carry fmj just for the sake of penetration? Especially with the possibility of having to use it against bears!!? I don't think I'd trust any hollow point this side of a 500 magnum to work on large game like that. I was always taught for woods carry its penetration penetration penetration.

Am I way off base here?

475/480 · February 19 2015 11:31:25 AM MST

Penetration is good but you also want tissue damage.
I am carrying 210gr WFNGC at 1250 fps in my STI 10MM or the 200gr Gold Dots at 1220 fps in a G20 SF.

Sean

tommac919 · February 19 2015 11:44:11 AM MST

Quote from: Stunnerable on February 19 2015 10:04:49 AM MST
I'm surprised you guys are carrying hollow points for woods carry. If you're not carrying hard cast then wouldn't it be wiser to carry fmj just for the sake of penetration? Especially with the possibility of having to use it against bears!!? snip...

No don't think your way off base... HP don't do as well on bone.

But in my case most of the black bears I've seen in VA tend to be on the smaller size. From very young @ 100 lb to a max of about 275. I know they can come bigger, its just I haven't seen any . ( think the males can peak @ 500 )

I have also run into a few packs of dogs... not the friendly tail waggers either . Add to that the strange, "very strange" hearing banjos person, I've run into one or twice where I would have rather met a bear.

I guess it's a way of saying its all a compromise... but the Underwood 200s are pretty darn hot and should work well.

Stunnerable · February 19 2015 11:55:42 AM MST

Haha!! I'd rather run into a bear too!

Dave84 · February 19 2015 07:55:47 PM MST

Quote from: 475/480 on February 19 2015 11:31:25 AM MST
Penetration is good but you also want tissue damage.
I am carrying 210gr WFNGC at 1250 fps in my STI 10MM or the 200gr HST at 1220 fps in a G20 SF.

Sean

They make a 200 grain HST? Heck, I'll carry some too. Whered you buy them?

wadcutter · February 20 2015 08:21:50 AM MST

For something as big and tough as a bear I'd go with a hardcast bullet of at least 180 grains and preferably 200 grains with a big fat meplat for deep penetration and tissue disruption. Good luck and stay safe.

475/480 · February 20 2015 11:16:43 AM MST

My mistake they are 200 gr Gold Dot, bought from rocky mountain reloading.

Sean

Quote from: Dave84 on February 19 2015 07:55:47 PM MST
Quote from: 475/480 on February 19 2015 11:31:25 AM MST
Penetration is good but you also want tissue damage.
I am carrying 210gr WFNGC at 1250 fps in my STI 10MM or the 200gr HST at 1220 fps in a G20 SF.

Sean
They make a 200 grain HST? Heck, I'll carry some too. Whered you buy them?

Ramjet · February 20 2015 07:59:27 PM MST

the 100 lbers are the worse young hungry and stupid.

I researched allot of testing in ballistic gel and really like the 180 grain xtp but my 220 grain WFN hard cast run well and go deep.

My suggestion with regards to defensive use is this use a bullet that has good track record and what you shoot very well in high stress drills.