Hype. It’s a word synonymous with 10mm Auto. Developed by Col. Jeff Cooper, carried by Sonny Crockett, known in the firearms fraternity as “the cartridge the FBI couldn’t handle,” 10mm Auto has achieved near mythological status. If everything on the interwebz is to be believed (tip: it’s not) the 10mm auto was so powerful it was putting petite FBI agents on disability. To separate fact from friction [sic], I contacted Glock to get a full-size G20, deep diving into the veiled world of 10mm auto aficionados. First things first . . .
The Glock 20 is a big gun. In its non-short frame (SF) configuration it’s a tenth of an inch wider than a G17 and three tenths of an inch longer. Believe me: you feel every tenth of those inches. At 27.68 ounces the G20 outweighs its somewhat comparable cousin by almost 6 oz. Even without considering the recoil issue, that’s some heavy firepower.
Gen3 Glocks have always felt big in my hands. The G20 is certainly no exception—and then some. That said, with a two-handed grip, the Glock 20 felt comfortable enough for a large framed gun. When I tried it with a one-handed grip I felt as uneasy as a Mormon at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.
At first I attributed my enervation to the Glock’s grip size. That wasn’t the whole problem. I’m an aggressive grip texture kind of guy; the Gen3′s somewhat smooth side panels made the big ass G20 feel a bit slippery in my palms. A bit of grip tape and the G20 was GTG (Good to Go).
I won’t bore you by describing the Glock’s design characteristics. By this point I think we can all agree that Gaston’s guns are black, they aren’t known for their looks and they have one of the best stock triggers found in striker fired pistols.
One nice touch to this particular G20: Glock sent it with night sights. I’ve never been a fan of the stock Glock dot-in-¾’s-of-a-box sights. These tritium filled 3-dots fit the bill perfectly; they’re easy to see in the day, easy to see at night and make target acquisition as simple as Forrest Gump.
For my first range trip with the G20 I headed-out to my local sports store and to buy whatever 10mm ammo they had hanging around. I ended up with Remington 180gr FMJ target loads. All my slow fire shots were touching, my rapid fire strings were beautiful and that Glock trigger was as crisp as an autumn morning in the Bridger Mountains.
Hang on. Where was all this battleship-level recoil I’d read about? Why did I feel like I was just shooting a huskier G22? Slightly disappointed, I dutifully shot up the remaining ammo and returned home to do a little research.
Turns out that when the FBI decided they couldn’t handle the full house 10mm loads, they dumbed them down to something called the 10mm lite or 10mm FBI load. Eventually Smith & Wesson realized that they could replicate the ballistics of that load in a smaller cartridge. Thus the .40 S&W revolution was born, effectively relegating the 10mm to historical obscurity.
With the new information in hand I set out looking for some serious 10mm rounds. Slightly more than a week later, my friendly UPS guy brought me a box full of goodies from Double Tap Ammunition. Wanting to get a full spectrum for testing, I procured some 200 gr hard cast and 135 gr JHP to test as defensive loads. I also ordered some 200 gr FMJ target load to compare to a similar offering from Blazer. The table below lists the rounds’ advertised velocity and energy.
| Type | DoubleTap 200 gr WFNGC Hardcast | DoubleTap 135 gr Nosler JHP | DoubleTap 200 gr FMJ | Blazer 200 gr FMJ |
| Velocity at Muzzle | 1300 fps | 1600 fps | 1275 fps | 1050 fps |
| Energy at Muzle | 750 ft/lbs | 767 ft/lbs | 722 ft/lbs | 490 ft/lbs |
For testing, I fired a five-shot rapid fire strings from 7 yards at a Birchwood Casey Shoot N’ C bullseye target. I went with the 200 gr hardcast and 135 gr hollow points first.
Needless to say, the G20 gun was bucking a bit more with the big boy rounds, evidenced by my throwing a round off target in my first string. The G20’s heavy slide and polymer frame soaked up enough of the recoil to make it comfortable—while retaining enough oomph to let me know I was shooting a very aggressive gun. I needed to work a little to keep the G20 on target, but that’s not what I call “work.”
Shooting the slightly less powerful target/practice ammo, I again managed to throw a round on each of the strings. A little disappointed in my shooting, I tested the viability of the G20 as a duty weapon. I ran the qualification course we use at the Sheriff’s Office utilizing the DoubleTap 200 gr FMJ.
In short, the course requires that a shooter fire 18 rounds and start from 25 yards moving towards the target, utilizing cover, performing two reloads and firing two one handed strings. The results of this test were more than satisfactory. I hit 18 out of 18 for a perfect score. Obviously this would be a very viable and powerful choice for LEOs who can handle such a large handgun.
In the end, I don’t think recoil is what turns people away from a gun like the G20. Contrary to internet lore, the recoil was pretty mild for a cartridge that’s putting up better ballistics than a .357 Magnum. The problem is size.
It takes a relatively large handgun to handle this round; that can be a serious turnoff. I’ve grown more comfortable with the gargantuan G20 as the weather has gotten cooler in the mountains and people have started donning their coats. But this is not the EDC you’re looking for.
As an open carry gun, the G20 has a loyal following among outdoorsmen as a good defensive weapon against all sorts of two and four-legged creatures. So much so that Denmark outfits their Sirius Patrols in Greenland with the G20 to defend against polar bears.
And that, my friends, is where the G20 has found its niche: as an uber-reliable gun that can take any abuse you throw at it while shooting a hard-hitting round that will incapacitate large angry targets in a hurry. The G20 in 10mm isn’t entirely suitable for urban conflict (unless it is), but it’s the perfect hiking companion.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Caliber: 10mm Auto
Barrel Length: 4.60”
Overall Length: 7.59”
Weight: 27.68 oz
Finish: Parkerized Tenifer
Capacity: 15+1
Price: $590 MSRP
RATINGS (out of five stars)
Style *
One star for anti-style style.
Ergonomics * * *
If you’ve got small hands you’ll think you’re in The Land of the Lost. But the G20′s comfortable to hold and fire.
Reliability * * * * *
It’s a Glock. It ate everything I fed it with unwavering reliability.
Customizable * * * * *
Like its lesser caliber brothers, accessories abound for anything and everything Glock.
Carry * * *
About as concealable at Peter North’s third leg. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more effective handgun for bear country. So that counts.
Overall Rating * * * *
An excellent defensive handgun suited for nightstand duty and woods carry.
“Ergonomics * * *
If you’ve got small hands you’ll think you’re in The Land of the Lost. ”
Is that not why they offer the SF?
Thanks for the review. The G20 is on my short list for a White-Tail deer hunting sidearm. Also already considering adding a longer aftermarket compensated barrel.
I have had the glock 20 10mm for 10 years, I love it. my 8 yr old son can handle it so what else needs to be said. also have the 27 ./40 cal, I prefer the 10mm all day long!!!!!!!!!!
Bought one yesterday,sweet pistol,accurate,lots of power-excellent!
Thanks for the fine review. Now I want one but we only have black bear around here to contend with on hikes. I do wonder though: will one of these really ward off a polar ( or grizzly ) bear?
Probably not. If you really want a to use a plastic gun as a last resort on a bear, convert a 45 ACP (Glock 21, FNP45, probably others) to 40 Super or 45-08, both have energy levels similar to 44 mag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.40_Super
http://www.armco-guns.com/bulletin_board.htm
Depends where you hit it.
On my one and only trip to the artic regions I noted that the Inuit and Athabascan women carried the Ruger sp101 in .357 magnum with a three inch barrel. I figure they knew what they were doing. If this gun outperforms the .357 revolver cartridge it should be adequate. My guide did say they carried the guns to “discourage” bear attacks, not to actually kill bears.jd
A.357 Magnum on a Grizzly or Polar Bear with ANY length barrel would not be effective against them. . . . I wouldn’t pack less than a .500 Smith & Wesson as a sidearm to a .375 H&H rifle. . . . . Even 30-06 rounds have been know to bounce off the foreheads of the big bears. . . A .357 Mag would have to be a direct hit in the eye to stop a big bear, and I’d hate to bet my life on even that.
This is just a bigger version of an already ugly gun.
I have one and it funtions perfectly and never fails to fire. All of my Glocks function flawlessly. It will also stop anything charging at me. When you grow a little, put on your big boy pants and get over yourself lurker.
I’ve been tossing around the idea of the G20 for ages. I found that only DoubleTap and BuffaloBore are offering full power 10mm loads and that they aren’t cheap. If it’s not as impractical for plinking as the lore would have you believe I may get one simply for the novelty but since I used to be on the .40 wonderbullet bandwagon (with a G23) I should probably get one to see what the fuss is really about anyway.
What’s your opinion of how it handled one-handed with the full power rounds?
The muzzle jumped a good bit more, but it wasn’t uncontrollable. I was able to get all rounds on target from about 12 yards when shooting three from my strong hand and then three from my weak hand during the qualification run.
Recoil? What recoil. It’s not a 45.
45 has much less recoil do to the cartridge having a slow moving projectile with much less energy than the 10mm
Forgotten how much I enjoy reading your writing. Excellent review. Thanks!
Thanks Tyler
Try the G29 sometime, it’s even more fun.
I have a G20 SF. I also have a G21 with standard frame. The G20SF fits me better, but my hands are not huge. I like it.
I do get slightly annoyed with the 10mm hype. No doubt it’s a powerful round, but I hear a lot of guys (who more often than not don’t even OWN a 10mm handgun) treat it like a magical death ray that kills anything it touches.
My biggest issue with 10mm is ammo price/availability. To me, it’s a caliber for the rich or the serious reloader. I’m perfectly happy with my .45ACP anyways.
Certified 10mm fanboy here
I agree on the recoil. To me, it feels like a slightly punchier .40 but I’m not really recoil sensitive.
And it’s really not all that huge. It works well under a coat or jacket like you said but mine also hides surpisingly well under a Charlie Sheen shirt.
Although it can out perform the revered .357 mag, I don’t get real carried away on the uber “stopping power” of the 10mm. I mostly picked it because it was everything I liked about the .40 (a very nice balance or overall energy, bullet diameter, jacket mushrooming, and penetration) only better.
“Believe me: you feel every tenth of those inches”
Giggity.
hehe
Get the Lone Wolf conversion barrel and shoot .40 SW all day. Save the 10mm for hunting. I’ve had both G20 and G20SF, and the SF is almost imperceptibly different.
I havn’t owned either but shot both. I have larger hand and had no problems with the 20. the 20sf asked me to put a bit more finger on the trigger than i like. I also have shot the 29 its little brother and enjoyed how the kick came back instead of up. or at least that’s how it felt. I’m buying the 20 as long as its around and if it isn’t the n i’ll go with the 29 and loose some of the ballistic performance
Why the conversion barrel? Just shoot .40 out of your 10mm barrel. YES, it works perfectly fine. Just clean the chamber a bit better than usual since there’s going to be a bit more soot and such in there than usual.
The 10mm round was really hampered by it’s history and by most of the guns that fired it. Its first gun, The Bren Ten, was an epic fraud (thanks, Col. Cooper) and it was followed by the underwhelming and gargantuan S&W 1006 and the overpriced Delta Elite and its initial durability problems.
The G20 is the best gun to ever chamber the 10mm, and there are plenty of shooters out there who just don’t like Glocks much. I was always hoping for a compact semi-automatic 10mm carbine, which could be dynamite for defense *and* big-game hunting.
But it never happened. The FBI abandoned it,and the 10mm’s thunder was stolen by the .40 S&W. The carbines and N-frame revolvers never materialized. It’s been left as a formidable but almost orphaned cartridge for handloaders and collectors.
N frames? What’s wrong with .41 Mag? Slightly better ballistics, especially with heavier bullets (250 grain Cor Bon hardcast at 1325 fps) and no moon clips.
H&K dallied with an MP-5/10 in 10mm. The ultimate subgun in my opinion.
Chris, two points to your comment.
1) N-frame revolvers never materialized?
I’m assuming you never heard of the S&W 610, which was the last gun of any sort in 10mm S&W made that went out of production.
2) The 1006 is “gargantuan” and “underwhelming?”
Now, I admit to being just a wee bit biased in saying so since I have one, but does anyone claim that the ubiquitous 1911A1 — which is of nearly identical dimensions and weight — is oversized or underwhelming?
Matter of fact, the 1006 is arguably the finest handgun, most able to handle the considerable energy levels of the full power 10mm load.
btw…I easily and quite comfortably conceal carry mine, even in the summer under nothing more than an ordinary t-shirt riding in the top shelf (inside waist band horsehide) Kramer IWB#2 holster.
It’s 100% reliable and quite powerful without being at all intimidating with full bore loads, contrary to all the mythology about ammo at those power levels.
I have the Glock 20SF picked up with case and spare mag barely used for a very good price,
I have shot handguns for 47 years and a lot of 45 ACP and Colt in that time as well as 357 and 44 Mags.
I find the Glock 10mm to have a recoil no worse than a 45ACP+P-a lot less punishing than a 45 Colt Georgia Arms “Deerstopper”out of a Blackhawk.
The drop in barrel convertible aspect is also good.I have a Lone Wolf conventional barrel for lead rounds and am thinking of getting the 357 SIG and 40 S&W barrels,but am slightlty concerned because the 10mm uses a large pistol primer and the other two a small pistol primer.If the firing pin is hitting anywhere but dead center,it could pose a problem.
Thousands of .40 SW through mine with no problems.
I fail to see what the 10mm does in a pistol that the .40 S&W does not. However, I also think full power 10mm is an excellent, if not ideal, sub-gun/PDW round.
50% more energy, and typically heavier bullets with a greater sectional density. The same reason why most people choose 9mm over 380 Auto.
The big thing that 10mm offers is muzzle energy. Against a human target the ballistic increase may not be needed or warranted as the extra velocity will aid richochet in an urban setting more often but this is what you’d like in the woods with you. Heavy bullets, high velocity and you can break through the heavy bones and skin of wild animals too dangerous to gamble with a 9mm or other EDC flavor that’s more common. The .40 is more suited for concealed carry and human target incapacitation. If you’re talking strictly the bullets themselves, they are identical usually. The powder charge is the only magic there is and only then if you’ve got the full power loads.
I am also very impressed with how I shoot 10mm, but the going price of ammo keeps me from adapting to it fully.
For those who do not like the Glock grip/Feel, do not dismiss the 10mm Sidearms offered by EAA. http://www.eaacorp.com/
I have a Full Size Polymer Witness, which feels very much like my Jerichos, and shoot very well in 10mm.
And, if you didn’t already know, .40 S&W stands for “Short & Weak”.
The FBI dropped the 10mm because women and men with smaller hands couldn’t easily handle weapons chambered in the round, from what I’ve read.
Gentlemen,
I owned a G20 and was shooting big-boy ammo and the kick was not unpleasant but my wife hated it. The G20″C” models comp is awesome. My petite wife can shoot it one-handed now. She LOVES it. The power when loaded with “real” ammo makes it an everyday carry for me. I use an IWB carry rig with pants deliberately bought 2″ bigger and it disappears under a decent shirt. I’m 5’10″ and 200 pounds, so not a huge guy. I’m not sure what “too much power” is, if the weapon is reliable and controllable. Try the comped one if you get a chance…I now own 3.
I have the S&W 625 in .45ACP and the 610 in 10mm and I think both are great, I got rid of the S&W .41 cal once I got the 10mm. Oddly enough the wife loves the 625, and I favor the 610. I probably like the 610 better because in seems to be a tad more accurate, plus when I go out to the range I like to shoot more rounds, the .45 isn’t what I’d call an endurance shooter. Yes the moon clips are a pain, but I have plenty of them and they are always full.
The 10mm is under rated IMO, and while the Glock sounds like quite a nice auto, I have more than enough guns as it is.
i have been shooting the 10 mm now since the 80s i have 3 G20, smith 1006,and a kimber target since recoil isnt a problem with me i load it full power i love it and i would carry it anywhere and anytime i can tell you when you turn one these rounds loose you know its a horse where can you let go a 200 gr bullet running well over a 1000 fps with 16 rounds thats 41 mag ballistics in a pistol
A G29, the compact version of the G20 is surprisingly shootable, if you are looking for something that conceals easily. A decent inside the waistband holster, and any sort of jacket or vest or over shirt, and most folks never know.
Also interesting is that if you have a G21 or a G30 in .45acp, acquiring 10mm barrels and mags for their 10mm cousins, at least with Gen3 guns, will allow you to convert from .45 ACP to 10mm in less than a minute. I have tried it, and it worked without a hitch. Your results may vary…..Pistols shot to the same point of aim at 7 meters–.45acp or 10mm. The 10mm has sharper recoil, but is very controllable.
After the sale of another pistol I’ve been looking long and hard at the EAA Witness full size steel in 10mm. Any experience with one? I’ve wanted a 10mm since the Brens came out and now have my chance. The G20 is a bit out of my price range but not impossible. The only fly in the ointment is I’m a reloader/caster and as I understand it I’d have to also purchase an aftermarket barrel to shoot my cast bullets as well as warmish reloads. It’ll take a few months to save the extra bread for the Glock and aftermarket barrel as opposed to buying the Witness straight away (with a heavier Wolff recoil spring). Any opinions between the two for a reloader of modest means?
I just broke the slide all the way through on one side and 3/4 on the other side. They are going to send me a new slide. I ordered a 10 mm buffer for this gun from” Fire Dragon” @”R & B Treasures”, and went to a Gun Show in Bloomington, IL the next Day, and found a Thompson-Auto-Ordnance in 10 mm. It looks like a Colt 1911, and the only thing wrong with
and the rest of the story. The barrel bushing was cracked. It uses Colt Mags in 10mm. The one mag that came with it held 8 rounds and didn’t like hollow point with a full mag. With 7 rounds, OK. With ball ammo, Great.
I ordered a buffer for this gun also. I just love a dubble stack mag., and my Whitness has them. I’ going to try glock 20 or 29 next. I just love the 10 mm round.
The Whitness shot great and so did the Thompson. I picked up the Thompson for $400.00. I’m not apposed to Dan Wesson 10mm either.
The EAA Witness is sure a neat looking gun. . . . I want one ! . . The Gunsmiths at browning said other than the Glock 20/29 (because they flex) that the 10 mm Witness was one heck of a strong frame and would hold up to the 10mm full power loads like Double Tap better than most others. . . I lucked out and bought a Colt Delta Elite from one of the Browning gunsmiths that was his personal go to gun. . . It’s tricked out superbly and has honed trigger pull and all. . . I was warned however that a “buffer” must be used at all times or the slide would crack. . . I’m definitely a 10mm lover.. . All my .357 SIGs , .40 cals, and .45′s have definitely taken a backseat to my 10mm’s. . . . . I don’t have a Dan Wesson Semi Auto, but I have been collecting Dan Wesson .357 and .44Mag and .445 Supermags for many years. . . If the DW Auto’s are anything even close to the quality of DW Revolvers, they have to be great ! . . . CZ now owns Dan Wesson Arms, and supposedly they have maintained the quality that Dan Wesson himself insisted on.
I have the 10 mm. full size steel witness and love it. I have also owned a Glock 40. cal. which I really loved also. The witness has very manageable re-coil in my opinion and is a very comfortable gun. It fits the hand very nicely. I personally like “plastic guns” very much… this is an exception. I own an extra barrel and slide in 22. LR and plan on buying other calibers as well. The “caliber” conversion can be accomplished in a matter of seconds so that I can train with the same gun for less money. The 45. cal. fan club bemoans the higher cost of 10 mm. ammo, but when everybody was running scared a couple of years ago and hoarding ammo… I could still get 10 mm. and the 45. was scarce to non-existent. My local gun shop said this was because not many people shoot 10 mm. so advantage 10 mil.
Hope this helps, D.G.
Sounds like the tested model was not the SF variant. Any impressions of the SF variant as compared to the “normal” frame? I have a Gen3 G21SF and a G20 slide and barrel for uber-flexible large-frame work and find that it does feel a little larger than my Gen3 G17 but not dramatically larger.
Smith and Wesson makes a 10mm revolver that uses moon clips.
And you can shoot .40 S&W from it too, rather like the old .38 Special/.357 Magnum or the .44Special/.44Magnum combo.
About as concealable as a brass trumpet, but perfect for a Indiana Jones Flap Holster.
HAVING BOUGHT A G20, I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT WILL DO AND DO VERY EFFECTIVELY. FOOT LBS. RATINGS FROM 600-725.FLAT SHOOTING,ACCURATE,& I CAN BUY RELOADS FOR PRACTICE.FOR CARRY I USE CORBON 180 GRN HP. ALWAYS TO REMEMBER! SHOT PLACEMENT. I HAVE NOT HUNTED SINCE RETURNING FROM THE MILITARY IN 1980.OTHER FOLKS CAN AND NO COMPLAINTS. IT IS NOT THE SAME AS WHEN I WAS A KID AND IF THERE WAS A SEASON, THERE I WAS. NOW THE TWO LEGGED ANIMAL IS WHAT I PRACTICE FOR. DONOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE NOTICED, BUT THE TWO LEGGED SEEMS TO START TO BE FAVORING CERTAIN LONG GUNS. COURSE THEY DONOT FOLLOW OR OBEY THE LAWS THE REST OF US ARE OBLIGED TO FOLLOW. IT BEING A LITTLE HARD TO CONCEAL A RIFLE ON YOUR PERSON, AT LEAST A LEGAL RIFLE ON YOUR PERSON. SO I CARRY THE G20, AND THE CORBONS FOR THE TWO LEGGED ANIMAL AND WHAT HE MAY HAVE IN HIS HAND. I CARRY 4, 15 ROUND MAGS, AND THE 15 ROUND MAG IN THE GUN AND ONE IN THE PIPE. YEP 76 ROUNDS.HIS LONG GUN MAY HAVE A 30 ROUND MAG. WHEN HE HEARS IT GO OFF HE WILL KNOW THAT IT IS NOT A 9 OR 38.AS A SIDE NOTE THAT MY 20 YEARS IN AS A PRISON GUARD TAUGHT ME. GANG BANGERS ARE NOT AFRAID TO DIE.THEY KNOW PEOPLE WILL WALK BY AND RESPECT THEM FOR WHAT THEY DONE AND GIRLS CRYING OVER THEM AND KISSING THEM. SO FOR ME IF THEY TRY TO ROB ME OR DO A HOME INVASION, I WILL SHOOT FOR THE FACE. CLOSED CASKET!!!THAT IS WHY I THINK THAT AN EXECUTION SHOULD BE A 10 RIFLE CADRE, WITH FIVE OF THE GUNS FIRING HEAVY POWDER BLANKS AND FIVE REAL ROUNDS SO THAT THEY DONOT KNOW WHO HAD A REAL ROUND, AND HAVE ALL TEN RIFLES POINTED AT THE FACE OF THE INTENDED.THE PERSON THEY KILLED HAD NO CHOICE OF DYING, SO THEY SHOULD NOT EITHER. WHO KNOWS, THE MURDER RATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY MAY GO DOWN WITH ENOUGH CLOSED CASKETS. BUT I HAVE TO LAUGH. CAN YOU SEE SOME OF THESE LIBERAL STATES DOING THIS? MAYBE THEY CAN CONTRACT IT OUT TO OTHER STATES???? IF YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY A LONG TIME BACK, YOU WOULD REMEMBER THE D.I.’S JOGGING TUNE, YELLOW BIRD!!!
Great reply and comment. I totally agree on all counts.
Hey 3PERCENTER ^ , . . . . . Try those Double Tap 10mm’s. . . . You’ll love them. . . They have some at 767 ft. lbs. . . . I love the Cor Bon’s too, but DT has some varied ones with 2 bullets, kinda like buckshot, and some very nasty HP’s up to 230 grainers and they’re all match quality stuff. . . No, I’m not a salesman for DT. . . . I just want 10mm guys to know about it because if you already love the power, a little more is a good thing !
Just bought a G20sf. Took it to the range with my G17. World of difference. Much tighter cluster from the 20 on the same target type at the same distance. I’d heard all these stories about recoil. Didn’t notice it. It’s now my favorite handgun.
I have a Remington 1911 R1 that I just got a good price for as a trade on a G20. He says it’s Fourth Generation, no night sights, fixed, but $559, and $400 for my Remington. I’m looking for a little better accuracy, and a more modern weapon, and round. I think it’s 10rd magazine, vs 15 on Gen 3.
I got my Glock the other day, and had a chance to fire it yesterday. Got some Remington 180 gr target rounds, and some Hornady 155 gr XTP hollow points. Shot twenty eight of the Remington’s, and was so happy, will save the Hornady’s for another time. Want to also try the Winchester silver tips, but my dealer doesn’t carry them. Have to ask if they can be special ordered. Was able to put ten of eighteen rounds on the target at 25 yds, most in the center of the target, and six of ten on the target at fifty yds, three touching in a string near the bullseye, standing, two hand hold, no support. It’s Gen 3, I think the dealer thought it would be 4, but I’m ok with it. I really like it, it’s also easier to disassemble, clean, and reassemble than the R1. Glad I made the switch.
Shot Winchester 175gr Silver Tip JHP’s the other day, and some Hornadys. Boy, those Horandy’s sure mean business! The Winchesters were more managable, and I liked the smell of the gun powder, but the Hornady’s were impressive. Like to get some Double Tap, just to see what a full load is like. The recoil spring is stiff, soaks up some of the recoil, but you need to really grab the slide to chamber the first round, it’s that stiff. I like it. Very accurate at 25 yards, and fifty yards.
I’m a recent convert to the G20 SF. Like it very much for field carry with the DoubleTap loads, the 200 gr gas-checked HL. The G20 SF is exactly the same in dimensions as my Gen 4 G21. All this from an old 1911 type…. I like the lightness and recoil-absorption of the G’s.
I had a G20 and have owned, at different stages of collecting firearms, every 10mm save for the Bren 10. No, you cannot fire the .40S&W out of a 10mm; the case is shorter than the 10mm and this will create issues in chambering! My Gen 4 G20 had an OD green lower and black slide. Other than failure to fire due to light striker hits with certain ammo; the G20 was a looker but not my taste in firearms. I am old school. I like steel and safety’s. Of all then tens I have owned, I kept my compact Tanfoglio (or the EAA Witness) with the CZ 75 inside the rail system and safety/decocker; the S&W 1066, a tank that will digest any ammo; and finally the Star Megastar, a rare beast of a weapon that is often mistaken for a Desert Eagle that will handle hot loads that have been clocked an astounding 1765fps with no case mutilation and negligible recoil. Of all the 10mm’s I have owned one of the best is one that has been abused by gun writers is the Wyoming Arms 10mm. It is in the style of AMT’s from the diagonal ribbed black plastic grips to the stainless steel and flat, sparse frame. The Wyoming Arms gave me the least problems and I am convinced that had it been offerred in a compact version it would have done much better on the market. The absolute worst 10mm is the Auto-Ordnance (aka Thompson). Only 500 were made and AO made them cheaply. Only 500 were made. The frame and slide were cast; not milled from a steel billet. This method is the same as their current .45 ACP’s.
Customer Service and pride in their product was non-existent. When, after approximately 300 rounds were fired, the first cracks manifested in the frame slide rail and slide rail slots. There were signs that catastrphic failure was imminent due to violent recoil due to the fact that these pistols were only .45ACP pistols with minimal steps taken for conversion to 10mm. The only steps AO took to compensate for the power of the 10mm round were recoil springs. In fact, springs were so strong it took almost Herculean strength to rack a round into the chamber! And…forget about simple take down…the AO pistols were near to impossible to reassemble. Even with pics to reinforce the complaints AO responded that they were now a different company and they were not responsible for their 10mm’s. With no satisfaction from the company I boycotted their products and warned all that I knew about this dangerous pistol. Who knows how many lawsuits were filed with quiet settlements concluding the complaints? This 10mm is bad news! I warn all I know about this company and I get satisfaction when I hear that their rendition of the M1 carbine is tanking.
The Colt 10mm’s are ok but they are priced beyond their worth. The best buy category must go to Tanfoglio, which is milled steel and has a large magazine capacity. My Tanfoglio compact is about $150 less than the G20 and has a smaller feel than the compact Glock 10mm. The only sign that the Tanfoglio is a lesser price than Glock is that the pistol uses roll pins extensively, as does the AR-15. BTW, roll pins have more tensile strength than high carbon pins that must be driven in by (the best way) leather clad vise grips that slowly, effortlessly squeezing the roll pin with no fear of scratching the finish or bending the pin. When building an AR-15 from scratch, mastering the art of installing roll pins is a must. When seeing a friend buying an AR-15 I always advise them to check the receiver upper and lower, especially with a small flashlight around the roll pins, as amateur builders will cover up their (mistakes)
with black magic marker or black refinishing make-up. I have also seen T6 aluminum receiver protrusions (think of the trigger guard “wings”) super glued back to the receiver and the upper and lower receiver painted to hide the mistake. I had a buyer of my G20 agonize over the price of 10mm ammunition
until I showed him the selling price on some of the online auctions. Popular ammo can be bought as cheaply as $5 and up for a box of 50. I usually go for any good deal on ammo as with many things has gone up dramatically. Well, I think I got too wordy and seeing that this isn’t a rerun of “Oprah,” I gotta go!
Wow, what a great detailed report on the 10mm guns. Thanks
To all 10mm owners and prospective owners.Right now ammo can be had from UnderWood ammo.com.They produce the real Norma spec loads and more at a great price.Ck em out.Also one might want to bump up the recoil spring to around 22 lbs on the G20 with the heavy loads.UnderWood uses the G20 to test their rounds.
“About as concealable at Peter North’s third leg. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more effective handgun for bear country. So that counts.”
This is only true if you wear dorky, tight pants. 5.11 makes plenty of great pants that allow a person to EASILY carry the full size G20. Their pants have double, reenforced pockets that include magazine slots, and are perfect for CC of virtually any handgun….even large ones like the G20.
Anyway, I love this gun because it is more than suitable for four and two legged creatures. I don’t have to carry a special gun while hiking in the backwoods, and it fits in my pocket for normal carry. It is my idea of a perfect handgun….a modern day dragoon.
I bow hunt in grizzly infested western MT. Last fall I had a sow and 2 cubs within 30 tense yards. She was jaw popping but never charged. I typically carry a 51/2″ SBH but the dang thing gets really heavy hanging off my belt. This year I am switching to a G20 in a drop thigh holster.
I bow hunt in grizzly infested western MT. Last fall I had a sow and 2 cubs within 30 tense yards. She was jaw popping but never charged. I typically carry a 51/2″ SBH but the thing gets really heavy hanging off my belt. This year I am switching to a G20 in a drop thigh holster.
Geez, I can’t believe how many people have an issue with a gun that has a large grip or a bit of recoil. Mountain ?…meet Molehill…. ( the lineup for 22 Colts is forming to the right, girls. ) Sorry if I seem a bit sarcastic but really, ladies… join the FBI or something. I have a Gen 4 G21 and it fits my hand well and I don’t even notice the recoil. ( I’m 5’8″ and 160lbs of ‘fang ‘n claw’ ) The only reason I bought it over the 20 is because of ammo cost and availability….that’s it. If I had to have a duty gun or needed it for the bush, I would get the 20….no question.
You should probably test fire the other weapons chambered in 10mm. The colt delta and the older SW models are the ones with more recoil. The G20 is relatively light on recoil due to the glock design. The Colt kicks a hell of a lot harder than the glock.
Also, you put a lot of emphasis on the shape and bulk of the weapon, but never mentioned that people with big hands don’t have a single problem with the size of it, and if you have girl hands, you should get a sw40 or a SF model of the 20.
The 10mm is useless if you don’t use the real loads. The boxed ammo from people like remmington is basically the same as a +p .40. It makes no sense to carry the 20 loaded with weak practice ammo. The gun should only be carried with the fully loaded rounds, otherwise it is just a +p .40.
The “hype” is quite real, if you consider there are no other auto pistols that carry this amount of fire and “knock down” power. The 20 has the ability to carry 16 rounds, and if you carry a few extra mags, you have more than enough to lay down enough fire in any given situation you are in. The 10mm is not a revolver round, and should not be compared to the 357 or 44 mag. If you want the power of a 44, then carry a 44 revolver. The 10mm is not for you. The 10mm is for people who need an auto pistol, but also need longer range and more power from the muzzle than the other auto pistol rounds.
If there is one undisputed area where the 10mm actually lives up to the “hype,” it is the increased range of the round. The 10mm can reach out past 100 yards, and carries more energy at that distance than a 45acp does from point blank range. It’s flatter trajectory as a result of it’s shape and velocity ensures that it can travel a longer distance than any other auto pistol round.
I believe you had bias prior to conducting this review, and suggest you try again in your assessment, and try to test fire more than just the g20 to realize how well the glock actually operated with the 10mm round.
Is it in fact as easy to convert a 21 Glock .45 to 10mm by swapping barrels and mags? What about the recoil springs? Thanks Dun
My research on that subject over the internet is that the question has been asked many many times before. Lone Wolf used to sell Glock 20 Barrels, but I don’t think they do anymore for that reason. People with G21′s like me would simply buy a conversion barrel and mags and just convert. While it could work in theory, the extractor on the G21 is not the same as the beefier extractor on the G20; thus, while you could do it, you would most likely not have the reliability from that. Actually, if you check Glocks website, the dimensions of the full size G20 and the full size G21 are exactly the same except the G20 weighs about 1 oz. more, and is a little more reinforced from what i have heard. I would not do a conversion, but i would buy a G20 and make sure that if I was using very hot ammo, I would probably get a better spring and guide rod depending on how good the G20 one was.
One thing you could do is buy a .40 S&W barrel from Lone Wolf, change to the .40 mags, and shoot .40 out of your 10mm all day and save some money over your expensive 10mm loads.
Just sayin.
my friend’s 5’4″ girlfriend loves shooting my g20sf,she placed 15 rounds in center of mass on the target from 40ft away,and says any man that cant handle it needs to get a sandwich and check his package lol!best handgun ive ever owned and absolutely no thoughts of selling it.
I was always a 1911 man.I hated Glocks.Then, I bought a G-19.That was followed by more Glocks.Now, I`m a Glock man, and I hate 1911`s. Thats life…
Awwwww….crap.
I hoped I would read a review that would conclude, “Nah, don’t bother, this really is just a gimmick”
But…
Well, thanks a lot bro, my order has been placed for one.
It goes completely against my nature to say so, but your thinks fits exactly with mine. My Glock 20c is not my every day carry gun, not by a long shot. I’m an old guy who prefers a small revolver or my Springfield XD45 for that purpose. The Glock 20c is what I bring along when I want a really powerful automatic. I take it along as a car gun on road trips (on the theory that the 10mm can buck an obstacle or two), and sometimes as a trail gun. It is particularly attractive because it is so durable, and at the same time (to quote you) it will adequately handle any two or four legged creature I encounter.
Oh, and the 15 round capacity is reassuring.
Thank you for giving me the chance to say, “I agree,” for a change.
I have several 10mm handguns, my first being a Springfield Omega with a 6” ported barrel and slide, then a first Generation G20, and finally, the dreaded AMT Javelina with a 5” barrel.
I will confess that I am a wussy and I am recoil sensitive and, of course, have small hands. All purportedly problems with “large” guns.
The Springfield is essentially a 1911 frame with a 6” linkless barrel and slide. It’s fun to shoot and handles Double Tap ammo just fine. The flames emanating from the ports is very nice and really gets everyone’s attention at the range.
The G20 was my second 10mm and I shot it for a couple of years in IDPA using a KKM 10mm to .40 conversion barrel. It ran flawlessly using stock 10mm mags. I was forced to shoot in the ESP (Enhanced Service Pistol) class because the “FrankenGlock” is a .40 conversion and the largest frame Glock (G20 and G21) was not offered in .40. I have small hands but am able to handle the gun just fine. I practice using the .40 conversion for familiarity with the gun and controls, then move to 10mm for some drills. It saves on the price of ammo. It is very large gun, but not really any bigger than my 1911s or Beretta 96.
My most recent 10mm acquisition was the AMT Javelina. I have several other AMT 1911s and had been wanting a Javelina. It’s an odd barrel length (to me, at least) for a Javelina. I understood that they were made in the 7” Longslide and that’s what I was looking for when this became available. It’s essentially a stock 5” 1911. It shoots well and is quite manageable.
I will say that there is, as observed by others here, a world of difference between 10mm gun shop “shelf ammo (Remington, etc.) and those like Double Tap that offer Target (quite stout) and full house ammo. The shelf ammo is like a semi-hot .40 while the DT will show you what a 10mm is all about.
I like the ballistics that 10mm makes available in a semi-auto.
Matt G
You are a pussy if you honestly believe a .45 has more punch than a 10mm. You have all let me down as men. With 15 rounds per magazine and stats better the .357 mag and just below a .44mag, you cannot beat this pistol. I concarry everyday with this beast. Man up! Just got some pinky extenders and grip sleeve if yall want to try my wifes Taurus TCP in .380 if you can handle the “recoil”
Ok…but what about the “pressure” capacity of the G20? Shelf bought 10mm is fine, but the hotter loads create much higher pressure. Does anybody have the info on how much a G20 can handle without going through customized changes? I don’t want to swap barrels/etc, and I don’t want to ask a G20 to fire a cartridge with the higher pressure created…if it’s more than the manufacturer recommends.
You could try performing a wall of huge squares in
alternating colors, use vertical panels of color,
add horizontal lines in a contrasting shade, or go all out and paint a mural by using an entire wall.
Cause them to become not just comfortable but ergonomically useful.
I love my Glock 20 but the cost of ammo is driving me back to 9mm. This is not the gun to have for EDC or if you like to just put rounds down range. The cheapest plinkers I can find are $25 per/50 box. Mid-power JHP run $35/50 box. That is just ridiculous, considering when I bought the gun 3 years ago, a box ran me $15. Love the gun, just can’t afford it anymore.
I’m a Mormon, and I’ve been to a First Baptist Church and I’m a Texan. Your metaphor is just silly, I’ve visited many churches including Catholic, Church of Christ, Living Stone, and a Synagogue.
You’re probably unfamiliar with our faith, because we often visit other churches with friends and have them visit ours.
I bought the Glock 20sf for my 50th birthday. My first 25 yard two hand offhand groups averaged 2 1/2 inches. I was using CCI Blazer ammo, it was all the range had on hand. I have shot Buffalo Bore, RBCD, Hornady and many others through the gun. They all run flawlessly. As my home defense gun, I have it loaded with RBCD. It has about 1000 ft lb of energy at the muzzle, and is of disintegrating bullet design. Great stuff. As far a recoil goes, I dont see it much more than a 45 acp, but I am not recoil shy either. It is a great outdoors gun. I live in Washington state, so it’s use would be for black bear. For that I load Buffalo Bore. I think the Glock 20sf is a great gun, and the 10mm cartridge a great round. Ammo availability is sometimes sketchy, and more expensive than 9 or 45, but if you reload, it’s not much more than a 40S&W.
Really, it was a gun article with a less than an accurate analogy in an attempt to be humorous. I’m doubting anyone was reading to gauge the tolerance of Mormons to other faiths. Grow some thick skin.
I used to own a Glock 20. I loved it right up until I visited the ammo counter. Other than that, I wish I still had it.
i have a g-20 and the remark about accessories abound for all things glock, is an understatement for this particular glock and the g-21( g-20 and g-21 are the same frames) for those that don’t know.. you can launch 10 different calibers from this one platform. with the 10mm slide/magazine you can have the 10mm-9×25 dillon-.40s&w-357 sig. all barrels from wolf. can get the .45 slide/bbl/magazine for the g-20 and from that you get 45acp-400 corbon- 45 super. you can also get a 460 rowland conversion for the g-20/21(from rowland) as well as a .50 cal. slide/bbl/magazine conversion from guncrafter industries. and last but not least..advantage arms offers a .22cal conversion unit. so the old adage that i didn’t buy a 10mm cause i can’t find ammo when i want to shoot.. is a comment lost in history. if you can only afford one gun make it a glock 20/21. why the g-20 is so big beats me cause i have a 10mm 1911 dan wesson c-bob. and kimber makes a 1911 10mm as does colt.. sure is nice though to be able to wake up in the morning and figure out what i’m going to do and slip a barrel on to suit my needs. and you have no idea what peace of mind it is to slip that .50cal on before you turn out the lights at night. now i have to buy a safe for all this ammo.
I have also heard of x25 Tok and .224 Boz being custom chambered in the 20. 10mm is cool as it gets till you’re talking going .50 GI to 9×25 Dillon in seconds, best of both worlds. The plastic LAR Grizzly, no doubt. 9×25 would be kicking in a longslide with RMR and Kriss mag extension, a waistband M1 Carbine. Barring a 1911 or revolver, what other sidearm could make better hits 100 yd. out? Certainly beats a trunk gun left in a trunk.
What exactly are the worthwhile benefits of the .50 G.I. or the 9×25 Dillon over the 10mm?
I guess it depends on your philosophy of what works or preference but both are extreme performers.Significantly different too, compared to differences of 9×19/40/357/45ACP.
x25 shoots so flat that you hold on the same spot @ a hundered as you do seven yards. Plus you get jaw dropping velocity and energy figures (and wide variety of bullets).
Fifty GI, ultimate in the world of low pressure, slow and heavy for momentum. Those one inch copper mushrooms (or fan blades?) look so damn good too. Drawback there is capacity. Would be a good carbine and derringer round I’d think.
The 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev rounds are really neat and very zippy, but not even close to a full blown 10 MM. . . . I have some CZ-52′s and one TT that fires the little Tokarev rounds and I love them. . . . The military surplus Tokarev rounds have all but dried up now and mostly only “new mfg.” ones are available. . . The military surplus ones used to be about 6 cents a piece, and now they are more like $.50 each and up. . . . . . Also hollow points in the 7.62 x 25 Tokarev are virtually impossible to find. . . Sportsman’s Paradise sells a little jig for about $25 to make your own hollow points as “SHOOT THRU’S” are a problem with the super zippy “hard ball” full metal jacket. . . . . ALSO, beware of the military surplus SUPER HOT machine gun rounds. . . . The CZ-52 is the only pistol that will handle them safely and not crack a slide. . . . . The TT’s and TT-33′s won’t hold up long with the machine gun stuff. . . . and they look the same as the normal rounds !
Contrary to what is noted above, G20 will fire 40 S&W ammo in stock condition and is reliable. I have found the cheap 40 stuff at Walmart works fine and is about 1/2 the price of 10mm lite ammo that Remington puts out.
I also support Underwood ammo – their 10mm stuff is reasonably priced and hot stuff.
Stupid idea. Look up what “head space” means.
I love it whenever people get together and share views.
Great site, keep it up!
I owned a g17, hated it. Couldn’t shoot it accurately if my life depended on it. Sold it, bought a Kimber 1911 and haven’t given a glock another glance, until I shot my dad’s new G20, first 5 shots were more accurate than I ever shot with the g17 (500 rounds). I NEED ONE!
If you put a $109 Lone Wolf Match barrel on your G20 or G29 with the threaded end for a little more length, you will be amazed at how a Glock can shoot. . . I have some high dollar fancy schmancies and the Glock 20 and 29 I have will shoot with any of them. . . . Be sure to buy a Wilson buffer as a safety precaution against cracking a slide with the HOT loads like Double Tap Ammo. . . . . The 135 grain ones are as fast and more accurate than any other I;ve seen, but the 230 Grain Double Taps are super good too.
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P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
i have no problem shooting a 10mm all day i wear a size 24 ring and a 45acp 1911 i need a grip extension i prefer a large gun you all need to grow some hands
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i trained on a 45 in boot and had been looking at buying one eventually, but their accuracy in the service weapons as well as barrel recoil reminded me of some of the other big calipers. When the 10mm came out it was touted to send the 45 into extinction (didn’t happen) I have been looking into the 20 with a compensated barrel. Granted because of my disability im not thinking of shooting anything near the max power loads. As my dad would say i dont need to shoot the deer behind the truck and the house and the tree, cause if i can’t see it, then i can’t shoot it. How good really is the compensated barrel ?? half kick? 3/4 kick? please let me know.
thanks
Chris, check out this video if you want to see a side by side comparison between the much heavier S&W 1066 with the ported Glock 20C – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BZU61yw3ME
As you can clearly see, the ported Glock has a clear advantage with recoil control, albeit at the price of much greater muzzle flash and blast.
Thanks for all of the reviews and comments. Do folks have recommended holsters, preferably with level one security, IWB?
About to pick up my Glock 20SF after the paperwork clears. Handled it for the first time yesterday. My hands are medium sized (5’8″, 180lbs) and my fingers felt like they were just on top of the ridges. With the web of my hand on the backstap just below the “beavertail”, my middle finger rubbed fairly aggressively into the triggerguard. The grip did feel kinda big. May try the hogue slip on, see if that helps the finger ridge problem. May also have the triggerguard and possibly some of the backstrap shaved.
The .40 cal WAS obtained from shortening the 10 MM case length and somewhat lightening the bullet weight, but the .40 has nowhere even near the ballistics of the original 10 MM FULL LOADS. . . Double Tap Ammo still makes the full load 10 MM’s and they are in the range of a .41 magnum. . . . . The watered down versions of the 10 MM even pack more punch than the .40 cal. +P+ loads, so to compare the two as remotely equal is lunacy. . . . Add the 6″ hunting barrel to your Glock 20 or 29 and you have a h3lluva hunting handgun. . . . Also the 20 SF is quite manageable with my smaller hands. . . . I have a Colt Delta Elite also, but I’ll take the Glocks with the Lone Wolf Match Grade barrels over it any day. . . . They are tack drivers and very comfortable to shoot with even the full load 10 MM Double Tap Ammo. . . . Best to use a buffer in any 10 MM though, so you don’t crack a slide.
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Does anyone have any experience with the LAR Grizzly 10mm conversion?