Posted: 6/9/2016 1:12:34 PM EDT
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I really wonder about "match barrels" for glocks, never thought about it until this weekend.
So I got my G34 out, belt, mags, and an ammo can to do some practice for an upcoming USPSA match. after clearing the pistol I set it out while i got my other gear and the pistol fell to the floor knocking my rear sight off. well crap, I grabbed my sight pusher and caliper and centered the rear sight and off to shooting I went. After about 100 rounds doing holster drills I decided to shoot a 5 shot group from roughly 15 yards onto the steel to make sure my sights were aligned. the sights were perfect. then I noticed the group I shot. I said to myself "well damn" 5 shots fit in a group maybe a hair smaller than a 50 cent piece. Just for fun at the end of the day I backed up to 53 yards (used my range finder) and started smoking a 6x6 steel plate. with the factory barrel. which made me really wonder what all the fuss is about with "match" barrels in glocks maybe easier to clean? that about all I can come up with. Thoughts? ETA: I was shooting my handloads too but not with a "match" grade bullet. 115gr pulls. |
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When I bought my Gen 4 Glock 17, i found it to be the most accurate Glock I had ever owned. I have owned numerous examples of every Generation of Glock in a variety of calibers. They may be a few shooters who can shoot the difference in a match barrel and the factory barrel. I cant. And I have owned 17's with gunsmith fitted Bar-sto barrels for use with a suppressor.
My 17L can ring steel at 100 yards. If you can shoot the difference, more power to you. |
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Quoted: I have a KKM in my 17 that I use for USPSA so I don't have to worry about lead build up. I shoot coated bullets but once in a while some get shaved. That would be the only reason, aside from a threaded barrel, for me to get an aftermarket barrel. Polygonal rifling and lead bullets don't mix well. |
| I shot a poor Ft Benning 3 Gun match in 2010 (pistol) and when I returned home did some serious ammo checking... I put a Briley stainless in my G34 and compared it to the factory barrel... at 35yd I got about a 2" smaller group with the Briley.... biggest improvement was to switch to 147 grain bullets...the bulk pack 115s I shot at the match would barely hold 6" at 35yd for a 5 shot group |
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Quoted:
Kyle Defoor says a match barrel cuts your groups in half at 50 yards. Dude tends to know what he's talking about so I tend to believe him. He absolutely does know what he's talking about. But his skill set is so far beyond mine, that I will never notice a difference and, therefore, would be wasting my moneys. I'm just not there yet. |
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Quoted:
He absolutely does know what he's talking about. But his skill set is so far beyond mine, that I will never notice a difference and, therefore, would be wasting my moneys. I'm just not there yet. Quoted:
Quoted:
Kyle Defoor says a match barrel cuts your groups in half at 50 yards. Dude tends to know what he's talking about so I tend to believe him. He absolutely does know what he's talking about. But his skill set is so far beyond mine, that I will never notice a difference and, therefore, would be wasting my moneys. I'm just not there yet. I think that about sums it up for me as well but, consider myself a decent shot. I did however recently buy a Deus Ex Machina barrel for my G34 just for shits and giggles. There wasn't anything wrong with my G34 barrel and I could reliably hit an IPSC steel target out to 50 yards with the factory barrel but, I've been shooting it exclusively in matches and classes for the past 5 years and have a good amount of rounds through it. I wanted to change it up so, it was more of an impulse buy on my part to see if pistol match barrels do make a difference. I own a few 1911's as well and my Wilson Combat does shoot tighter groups than my MC Operator and that's one of the reasons I wanted to give a match barrel a try for the Glock. I haven't shot my new barrel for groups yet and only ran a mag through it for function check. Hopefully I'll get some time soon to hit the range to see what the new barrel is capable of. |
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I'm sure some aftermarket "match grade" barrels do increase mechanical accuracy of Glock pistols. I guess it depends on each individual's cost/benefit scale as to whether it's worth it. I've never needed more accuracy than stock for the type of shooting I do, mostly USPSA. If I can make a fist-sized hole with a 10-shot group at 25y then I'm happy. I'm sure my Glocks shoot much better than that but I don't have a Ransom Rest. I'm not much of a groups shooter. Someone shooting Bullseye or plinking steel at 100y may have more stringent accuracy needs. |
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Quoted:
He absolutely does know what he's talking about. But his skill set is so far beyond mine, that I will never notice a difference and, therefore, would be wasting my moneys. I'm just not there yet. Quoted:
Quoted:
Kyle Defoor says a match barrel cuts your groups in half at 50 yards. Dude tends to know what he's talking about so I tend to believe him. He absolutely does know what he's talking about. But his skill set is so far beyond mine, that I will never notice a difference and, therefore, would be wasting my moneys. I'm just not there yet. I hate this excuse. Accuracy helps anyone. You are limiting your margin of error. If a gun shoots 3" and you shoot 3" then you could be getting 6" groups. If you shoot 3" and the gun shoots 1" then you are going to shrink your groups. If you are shitty, good accuracy will make you less shitty and eliminate variables. |
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For an everyday run of the mill shooter, keep it stock. If you want a slight edge competition wise it might make sense. Some people will play the reload and chamber support card... tons of shooters have ran lead with a decent cleaning regimen and had no issues. Coated lead, plated, and fmj alleviate the issue completely.
At the end of the day, do what you want but there's nothing wrong with the factory barrel. |
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There is a difference in mechanical and practical accuracy.
The VAST majority of shooters (myself included) have a difficult time shooting to the mechanical accuracy limit of the weapon as it is. Yes, a match barrel can make the weapon more mechanically accurate...but the practical side (human element) is the most limiting factor on most handguns. Match ammo is an issue as well...almost nobody shoots true match grade ammo from a pistol. It is an issue if you want max mechanical accuracy. All that said, KKM barrels do make the system more accurate overall. |
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Quoted:
There is a difference in mechanical and practical accuracy. The VAST majority of shooters (myself included) have a difficult time shooting to the mechanical accuracy limit of the weapon as it is. Yes, a match barrel can make the weapon more mechanically accurate...but the practical side (human element) is the most limiting factor on most handguns. Match ammo is an issue as well...almost nobody shoots true match grade ammo from a pistol. It is an issue if you want max mechanical accuracy. All that said, KKM barrels do make the system more accurate overall. Wouldn't you agree that limiting mechanical variability will make even a shitty shooter, shoot better? It's a compound effect. I absolutely don't understand the line of logic that you're outlining above. Increasing the accuracy of the gun can only make the practical accuracy increase also, as "total accuracy" isn't just reliant on the shooter - or the gun. |
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Quoted:
I get sub four inch 25 yard groups out of my stock glock. If I need more accuracy than that swapping platforms makes more sense than trying to soup up a glock. I even shoot lead in my glock - just run a bore brush through every couple hundred rounds Yeah, see, I'm way too lazy to do that. More like every 1000 rounds. |
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No matter how inaccurate the gun is, unless the shooter can outshoot the stock barrel, there's no point getting a match barrel. Even if it's got great mechanical accuracy, that won't help at all with a shooter that can barely manage 12 inches at 10 yards.
Me? I can keep pace with a Novak Hi-Power on a good day, less than an inch at 25. My Glock will hold 3 inches any day, and I can shoot that faster. Most days, I'm happy enough to be hitting whatever I'm aiming at, regardless of the grouping or distance. |
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FYI, Kyle Defoor runs a stock G19G4. He did run a G19 with match barrel but has since changed. It's all over his blog and social media. I believe honest match barrels can improve a Glocks accuracy. My question is, out of the companies that claim match grade etc...are they actually selling you a better barrel? The only way to really know is to meassure the match grade barrel against your oem barrel. Within 15 yards I don't think most will notice any difference. Past 25 yards, I see this being the range where match grade barrels can improve accuracy. Lastly, is it worth the cost for admission? $160-300 is what I see various barrels going for. Is this a value improvement? |
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The only reason I'd consider it is for reduced leading with lead bullets or increased chamber support for ultra powerful loads. Unless you are extremely skilled and playing with it at 50+ yards, you'll never notice the difference. This is also the reason why I went with a G17 for a carry/competition gun instead of a G34. My gen 4 G17 is my favorite pistol. It hits where I point it. Only mods were a stiff trigger spring to lighten pull a bit, a competition extended mag release and warren tactical fiber optic sights. As soon as I am able, I intend to buy another one and equip it identically as a dedicated competition pistol. |
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Quoted:
FYI, Kyle Defoor runs a stock G19G4. He did run a G19 with match barrel but has since changed. It's all over his blog and social media. I believe honest match barrels can improve a Glocks accuracy. My question is, out of the companies that claim match grade etc...are they actually selling you a better barrel? The only way to really know is to meassure the match grade barrel against your oem barrel. Within 15 yards I don't think most will notice any difference. Past 25 yards, I see this being the range where match grade barrels can improve accuracy. Lastly, is it worth the cost for admission? $160-300 is what I see various barrels going for. Is this a value improvement? What's the link to his blog? I follow his Instagram and have noticed the stock gen 4 but the gen 3s have kkms. I'm a nut hugger of that dude lol. His sights are awesome. The eidolon is awesome. |