New Lonewolf Barrel chamber support

[Danimal]

Just got my Lonewolf 6" barrel for my G20LS project.  I'm not sure I am happy with the chamber support compared to an old Lonewolf barrel I have that is the 4.6" variety.  The new one is the on the left in all the pictures.

[Yondering]

Yep, that's the "new and improved" LW feed ramp. Honestly though, if you're not pushing nuclear loads through it, it will work fine.

I'd be more concerned about the internal chamber and throat dimensions; they've been a bit tight in my LW barrels.

[sqlbullet]

Yeah...That is still far better than factory support on many barrels.

[REDLINE]

That new an improved design is a bit over improved IMO.  That said, as has been said, it is still better supported than the stock barrels and should still work well for you.  It's a little hard to tell overall in your pics, but it does appear to have a pretty nice fit/finish, as far as cosmetics go.

[Danimal]

if you're not pushing nuclear loads through it, it will work fine.

If I wasn't going to be pushing nuclear loads through it, I wouldn't be shooting a 10mm.

I think this barrel is going back to Lone Wolf.  I load my own, and I prefer as much support as possible so that I can extend the life of my brass.

Anyone know if Storm Lake still has as tight tolerances as they used to?  I guess my next best bet would be to just get a KKM.

[REDLINE]

Anyone know if Storm Lake still has as tight tolerances as they used to?  I guess my next best bet would be to just get a KKM.

I don't know how they maybe used to be, but I just posted a comparison pic of chamber support including my new Storm Lake barrel here -
http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/chamber-support-comparison-pic-g29-g20-and-storm-lake/new/#new

This is the pic -


Stock G29 barrel on left, stock G20 barrel in center, and G20 6.02" Storm Lake barrel on the right.

[cwlongshot]

Here is my three 10MM barrels. For comparison. The LWD and KKM are about 6mo old. I know the KKM was just made before my purchase. I have no idea when the LWD was made. The Glock is a second gen gun. (First gen for the 10MM)

LtoR, a stock Glock, a 5.5" LWD vented and a 6" KKM.

In that order, here is three pics, all the same just for comparison. (One may be better focus for your eye.)  All with same hand load 180G in brand new starline brass.





CW

[REDLINE]

It looks to me like my new Storm Lake barrel has noticeably more case support than either Danimal's new Lone Wolf barrel or cwlongshot's KKM barrel.

I'm finding it hard to discern a difference between my new Storm Lake barrel and either of Danimal's and cwlongshot's older design Lone Wolf barrels.

It looks like cwlongshot's KKM barrel and Danimal's new Lone Wolf barrel have very similar case support.

[Danimal]

Cool. Thanks for the info guys. I already dropped the Lone Wolf barrel in the mail. I also went ahead and ordered the Storm Lake from Midway...but it's back ordered till 11/7.

[GoldBead]

I think that is a factory defect. That much variance in a critical area like that is just poor workmanship or a factory mistake. Differences should not be discernible  to the naked eye, let alone VERY obvious! And for you to spend the big bucks and get an aftermarket barrel specifically designed for max load hunting and then have to say, "Well I guess I just won't shoot hot stuff in it." NO WAY! Send it back!

[Yondering]

I think that is a factory defect. That much variance in a critical area like that is just poor workmanship or a factory mistake. Differences should not be discernible  to the naked eye, let alone VERY obvious! And for you to spend the big bucks and get an aftermarket barrel specifically designed for max load hunting and then have to say, "Well I guess I just won't shoot hot stuff in it." NO WAY! Send it back!

That's not a defect; they are making them that way on purpose now. I'm not saying it's right, but that's what they're doing.

You can still shoot hot loads, up to book maximum stuff at least. It's the "nuclear" dangerous loads above book loads that may give you trouble in a barrel like that.

[Danimal]

I think that is a factory defect. That much variance in a critical area like that is just poor workmanship or a factory mistake. Differences should not be discernible  to the naked eye, let alone VERY obvious! And for you to spend the big bucks and get an aftermarket barrel specifically designed for max load hunting and then have to say, "Well I guess I just won't shoot hot stuff in it." NO WAY! Send it back!

That's not a defect; they are making them that way on purpose now. I'm not saying it's right, but that's what they're doing.

You can still shoot hot loads, up to book maximum stuff at least. It's the "nuclear" dangerous loads above book loads that may give you trouble in a barrel like that.

Yeah, after doing my due diligence after the fact, I realized that this is the new norm on Lone Wolf 10mm barrels.  I guess they had too many people send their barrels back as they wouldn't chamber some loads with cast pills/longer heavier loads.

[REDLINE]

It's too bad.  It would be nice is they offered both versions of support instead of one or the other.  Then everyone could choose what they wanted for themselves.

[DM1906]

It's too bad.  It would be nice is they offered both versions of support instead of one or the other.  Then everyone could choose what they wanted for themselves.

IGB does.  Choose between "OEM" or "match" chambers, at the time of your order.

As the old saying goes, you can't please everyone.  I have a LWD 10mm, 5.2" barrel about 2 years old (as well as other newer/older, other calibers/conversions).  The chamber is far and away tighter than the OEM.  I don't know, and don't really care, if it's a "maximum" support type.  It's similar to the most supported that I've seen.  I had a bad experience with some bad brass, equal to about a 60K PSI load with good brass.  Although it was actually a very modest load, the brass failed.  It was fully contained, and the only metallurgic flowing was at the head and very low in the web.  The case wall didn't blow out.  This was new, never fired brass, which was recalled nearly a year before I ordered it (DT "McNett" headstamp brass from Midway).  DT took care of it, and replaced the entire lot, plus some (all documented on GT, I'll dig up the link if anyone's interested).  Anyway, I don't think any of the common aftermarket barrels, and even the OEM Glock barrels, will suffer a safety issue with up to maximum ANSI/SAAMI pressure rounds.  If you exceed maximum published loads, all bets are off, in any case.  The barrel and its support isn't the only point of failure in a handgun (and the reason for limits in the first place).  I prefer the LWD barrels over the OEM, due to brass condition, but wouldn't hesitate firing any of my heaviest loads in the OEM barrel, if need be.  The trade-off is brass that can't be reused, or greatly reduced reloading life.  If you don't handload, and don't have another need for an aftermarket barrel (length, rifling type, etc.), you can't buy commercially available rounds that will not fire safely in a stock 10mm Glock.  I would trade a little chamber support, in favor of reliability, any day.  I haven't had an issue with reliability, compared to OEM (99% handloads).  If I did, I'd fix whatever the cause.  When the trigger is squeezed, it better go bang, or it's broken.

Also, I am, in no way, saying LWD barrels are better than others.  I've used them for a few years, and was initially attracted by the price and available reviews.  Had I started with SL, KKM or Bar-Sto (which I have, but are more $$ for no more quality on a Glock platform, that I've found), I'd likely be talking the same story about them.  I have what I have, and it works.  It works well.  End.

[REDLINE]

My issue with IGB is that they don't offer stainless steel.