I just ordered a Glock 20 to carry while in bear country.

Any need to upgrade the spring or any other parts to handle the 220gr Buffalo Bore rounds?

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Originally posted by Rich-:
I just ordered a Glock 20 to carry while in bear country.

Any need to upgrade the spring or any other parts to handle the 220gr Buffalo Bore rounds?

Not if they are jacketed. If hard cast you need an aftermarket barrel.

Why do you need an after market barrel to shoot heavy cast bullets?

Cast lead bullets i.e. non-jacketed lead bullets don't mix with Glock's polygonal rifling. If the bullets are *very* hard lead you can get away with it for a short time. Lead will smear and pressures will go up if you keep it up though.

Google Glock barrels and lead bullets for a ton more information on the subject.

As far as hot, hot loads in a G20, I would look at an aftermarket barrel for closer chamber fit (and standard land/groove rifling). Glock chambers in general are tight in front and loose behind so they feed and shoot decently. Just measure a fired case diameter above the base from a G20 factory barrel compared to any other 10mm auto or revolver.

If your Glock 20 is not a Gen 4, I would also look at a different recoil spring assembly or plan on replacing them from time to time. Wolff Gunsprings sells them.

also, order some real sights and replace those plastic things that resemble sights. I think they are just there to fill the holes until you get steel sights. The front sight will be the first to go BTW.

For my money, Heinie sights are real nice; either with or without decaying isotopes.

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Cast lead bullets i.e. non-jacketed lead bullets don't mix with Glock's polygonal rifling. If the bullets are *very* hard lead you can get away with it for a short time. Lead will smear and pressures will go up if you keep it up though.

That is why you clean your Glock barrels regularly when shooting hard cast. I have shot thousands if not 10's of thousands of cast bullets in 9 and 40. Just use common sense and clean your barrels.

If you are going to be sloppy and lazy shooting cast in a Glock is not for you.

You can go with a after market barrel if you want.

Agreed on cleaning out lead from Glock barrels and being able to use cast bullets. I didn't want to give a blanket "it's fine, just make sure to clean out the lead" and call it good.

I figure that when people have to ask about cast lead and Glock barrels they might not appreciate they really need to stay on top of leading.

Aftermarket barrels are more appropriate for some people's shooting habits. Also those DoubleTap rounds are loaded very hot so a tight chamber isn't a bad idea. Cheap insurance.

Thanks for the info. I was unaware there was a problem with the polygonal rifling. Good to know.

There is Not , necessasirally a problem with Glock ovalish polygonal rifles barrels and cast Boolits.. Some lead like crazy, some go many hundreds of rounds and are still clean as a whistle. I bought into the Glock barrels can't shoot cast lead when I first got my G20.
It's fine. I got a LW SS button rifled barrel . 22 lb recoil spring and SS guide rod. I don't regret any of it. I did shoot some of the Buffalo Bore factory ammo 220 gr in the oem barrel . It shot ok. So, if your gonna shoot Lots of cast , then maybe , but, if you clean your barrel then , well ?? The tighter chamber of the aftermarket barrel is nice for reloading , . Both barrels fed 100% with everything I've put thru my gun except some handloads that I didn't have just right. I fixed that issue and now my handloads are 100%. I don't find anything wrong with the factory sights on Glocks.
My next mods will be a LW gilled muzzle break and a lighter trigger. Maybe a ghost ring rear peep sight.

This is Lloyd's take on it. http://castboolits.gunloads.co...p?336898-Glocks-lead

I guess Glocks are like all other firearms. Some lead their barrels, some don't. Another urban legend put to rest. Thanks for the info.

I would not go as far to say it is an urban legend. Those warnings are there for a reason.

I would say make sure the bullets are:

1) Sized correctly. Undersized bullets will lead more than bore size or slightly larger (+0.001, -0.0). Undersized bullets can also tumble.

2) Actually *hard* cast lead with a BHN of >=16. Obviously soft lead or a questionable mix is going to leave more lead in the barrel. A swaged bullet at >30k psi is gonna leave some skid marks.

3) Gas checked if you are shooting very hot loads. Those loaded rounds you can buy that have 200 and 220 cast bullets usually have gas checks for a reason.

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I would not go as far to say it is an urban legend. Those warnings are there for a reason.

There is not a firearms manufacture out there that says it is ok to shot hand loads I think all the newer owners manuals say don't use hand loads.

The reason is liability

The urban legend was that Glocks would not shoot cast lead bullets. I think proper loading procedure as webfeet pointed out is the proper way to go, with any firearm. Pds is correct, check the manual of most, if not all, firearms manufactures, do not cover the use of handloads or remanufactured ammo.

I dont think the 220 gr Rim Rock bullet Buffalo Bore uses is gas checked. Gas checks can cause clambering problems in auto loaders.