[Veritas1911]

For all you competitive Glock shooters, what do you all recommend as a replacement barrel for the G34 to primarily shoot lead cast?

I guess the popular choices these days are Bar-Sto, EFK, Stormlake, KKM.

[ede]

KKM is all i'll use. bar-sto is very good but all i've seen need fitted. if they were free i wouldn't use LW, EFK, or storm lake.

[Boxerglocker]

Originally Posted by ede

KKM is all i'll use. bar-sto is very good but all i've seen need fitted. if they were free i wouldn't use LW, EFK, or storm lake.

BOOOOO!!!!

I would use KKM too, they are very good indeed... but you pay through the nose and in my case the difference is marginal and not worth the expense.

I have a LWD bought it used for $65,outperforms my stock barrel in 5-7 shot groups at 15-25 yards, no problems with it at all, worked right off the bat with no fitting.

[jhayesvw]

i have thousands upon thousands of lead cast bullets (dardas mostly) through my Lone Wolf barrels.
not one issue.
i get about a 2.5" group at 20 yds. thats not too bad for a $100 barrel.
well, mine was $110 since i got it blindmarked.

would i use a KKM, sure, but not at 60% more. i dont think you would see 60% increase in anything with it but the price.

[dsmw5142]

I have a Lone Wolf barrel in 9mm for my G34 and a Lone Wolf barrel in .40 for my G35. Both work just fine and are a great value. Never had a KKM, but the LWD barrels shoot nearly as well as the factory barrels. The chamber is a bit tighter than factory. I bought an EGW 'U' Die in .40 and solved the "glock bulge" issue of sometimes not chambering or case gauging.

[MSgt Dotson]

I've got both two LWD conversion barrels, and both have been flawless...

Each is well worth the $100 or so!

[MarkTX]

Lone Wolf for all my gamer Glocks. The accuracy is no better or worse than the stock barrel, but the chambers are always tighter and the LWB always handles the lead.

Since I tend to shoot a bunch of reloaded ammo the LWB is a great "piece of mind" value and I've had no trouble with any of them. And I own 5 -all with the goofy logo, but I bought em to shoot not to look at so they are a great value IMO.

[buyobuyo]

I run a Storm Lake in my G17 and haven't had any problems with it. I've only shot FMJ through it so far, but I'm getting set up to start casting.

[Veritas1911]

The votes are in:

LWD - 5 recommends - $100
KKM - 1 recommend - $165
SL - 1 recommend - $160

Sounds like you can't beat the value of a Lone Wolf?

BTW, Lone Wolf is a distributor so I assume they don't actually manufacture their barrels like the others. So where are their barrels coming from?

[Singlestack Wonder]

Why change out the stock barrel for an inferior one?

Little known fact....Federal Ammunition uses only Glock barrels to test and prove their handgun ammunition.

As far as lead bullets goes....been shooting lead out of Glock barrels since 1987 with no issues. Don't buy into the urban legend created when someone fired enough super soft lead bullets thru their pistol without cleaning to line the barrel with 1/16" of lead and then blame the manufacturer when the barrel splits.

[MSgt Dotson]

Quality steel is quality steel.....don't ask

[Veritas1911]

Originally Posted by Singlestack Wonder

Why change out the stock barrel for an inferior one?

Little known fact....Federal Ammunition uses only Glock barrels to test and prove their handgun ammunition.

As far as lead bullets goes....been shooting lead out of Glock barrels since 1987 with no issues. Don't buy into the urban legend created when someone fired enough super soft lead bullets thru their pistol without cleaning to line the barrel with 1/16" of lead and then blame the manufacturer when the barrel splits.

LWD - 5 recommends - $100
KKM - 1 recommend - $165
SL - 1 recommend - $160
Stock - 1 recommend - $0

I like this latest option.

[Boxerglocker]

Originally Posted by Singlestack Wonder

As far as lead bullets goes....been shooting lead out of Glock barrels since 1987 with no issues. Don't buy into the urban legend created when someone fired enough super soft lead bullets thru their pistol without cleaning to line the barrel with 1/16" of lead and then blame the manufacturer when the barrel splits.

When manufacturer themselves recommended not using a lead bullets whether factory or self reloaded you ought to listen. There is a reason for it called: liability, cause they know there can be issues.

To each there own, great that you have had luck since 1987. I know of many other that have and tried myself. I've also witnessed firsthand at a IPSC match... a KB on the range with a G22 with a freshly cleaned barrel prior, user was shooting lead the instance happened at the 120ish round fired.

It's not an urban legend there is plenty of documented testing regarding the sudden pressure increases that can happen when shooting lead in polygon rifled barrels and not just Glocks. One that comes to mind is the "KB" chapter in Robin Taylors "The Glock in competiton".

The safest route is to go aftermarket period.

[Poppa Bear]

The problem with Glock barrels are much the same for any polygonal barrel, they lead up differently than standard land and groove barrels.

I shoot black bullets out of my G35. After the first 10 I checked the barrel for leading, looked good. Shot another 100 or so and checked again, still looked good. Now after I shoot a match I give it a quick check just to make sure it has no unusual build up.
My bullets are not loaded hot so I do not expect to have any issues with “Leading”. It is true for any lead bullet, keep the loads on the slow side and you should not develop enough velocity to “Melt” the bullet.

[W4CNG]

I have and use Storm Lake Barrels in my G35. No issues.

[ept000]

I have two different G19's both with Sorm Lake barrels. They work perfect and as soon as I get a G17 I'll get a SL for that as well.

[jhayesvw]

my buddy does have a storm lake in his M&P9. works great too.
another friend of mine only runs KKM barrels. i guess its a matter of preference.

[coal]

Originally Posted by Boxerglocker

BOOOOO!!!!

I would use KKM too, they are very good indeed... but you pay through the nose and in my case the difference is marginal and not worth the expense.

I have a LWD bought it used for $65,outperforms my stock barrel in 5-7 shot groups at 15-25 yards, no problems with it at all, worked right off the bat with no fitting.

Agreed. For the same price, KKM. Real prices, LWD. I've owned both (LWD x4 and KKM x2), and have run a KKM and LWD in a G19 in IDPA. Also, owned Storm Lake (x2). The KKM is the better barrel, but not at almost twice the price. The LWD is by FAR the better value.

[shotgunred]

I have owned 2 LW and 1 Olympic.

Like a lot of things Olympic makes this barrel is pure garbage!
Odds are pretty good I am getting another LW this year. this time I am getting it black and blind cut.

[nraman]

I had nothing but bad luck with aftermarket barrels. It started with a "drop in" Jarvis converting the G20 to 40S&W. I had to do a lot of fitting. A KKM Beretta barrel wouldn't even fit in the frame till I did some fitting, after that it worked great. 2 LW 9mm threaded barrels were refusing to group at all, one of them would lock a little low on the slide and when I pulled the trigger it would move up in the fully locked position. I returned those.
I don't need these problems, I stick with factory now and don't have any problems at all. For some reason, the factory barrels always fit and work as they should.

[Colorado4Wheel]

Originally Posted by Veritas1911

The votes are in:

LWD - 5 recommends - $100
KKM - 1 recommend - $165
SL - 1 recommend - $160

Sounds like you can't beat the value of a Lone Wolf?

BTW, Lone Wolf is a distributor so I assume they don't actually manufacture their barrels like the others. So where are their barrels coming from?

My LW barrel was poorly made. I just got a KKM but haven't shot enough with it to know how good it is. KKM barrels are made very different then all the others listed. Do some research about how the rifling is made and cut.

[kamikaze1a]

I usually change to an aftermarket barrel right off the bat. Not necessarily because I shoot lead (I shoot lead) or because it's more accurate or because it's more functionally reliable (because it's not). I change out because the aftermarket barrel's chamber is better supported and tighter. In other words, less case bulge, especially with the 40. I want to get the most reloads out of my brass. The tighter chamber takes away from feeding reliability but...targets don't shoot back. My home gun is factory original, except for better sights...

[nraman]

Originally Posted by kamikaze1a

I change out because the aftermarket barrel's chamber is better supported and tighter.

I can see how that can be a problem with straight wall cartridges such as .40, 10mm, 45. Cartridges such as 9x19 or 357Sig don't need sloppy chambers and in my experience the Glock 9x19 is tight, tighter than a Beretta.
I just bought a KKM 40 barrel that is very well made but not 100% reliable with some 180Gr Mexican ammo. In all fairness I have seen other aftermarket 40 barrels fail with this ammo, only Glock barrels eat it without problems.
Whatever is right for you.

[ron59]

Lone Wolf, +1. I use one for most of my practice, then my Glock when competing (GSSF requires stock barrel).

I'm shooting 2000 rounds per month or so, and don't want to prematurely "age" my matching-serial-#-stock barrel. So I'll do most of my shooting with the cheapy $100 LW barrel, which I've had NO issues with, and shoot my Glock barrel in competitions.

[aptrpl6]

+1 for Storm Lake. I have a 6" model for my g22 that I shoot DT 200gr hard cast rounds with. No problems and very accurate.