Tactical Fanboy
Tactical Tailor
Home Categories TacticalFanboy Archives Email

Archive for December, 2023

Best Glock Barrels: Top 7 for Reliability & Accuracy

Thursday, December 28th, 2023

Ever felt the sting of disappointment when your Glock doesn’t deliver as expected? Often, the issue lies with an easily overlooked component: the barrel. Like many shooters, you might have experienced how a generic or ill-suited barrel can affect accuracy and consistency. This common problem doesn’t have to be a roadblock. What if you could turn that frustration into a sense of achievement? That’s where this collaborative effort comes into play.

Faxon and Refactor have joined forces to create this comprehensive guide, meticulously crafted with the shooter’s needs in mind. They’ve pooled expertise and conducted extensive research to present you with the best Glock barrels. Let’s delve into their guide and discover top-tier options that promise precision and a rekindled enthusiasm for shooting.

Faxon Glock Barrels

Why Upgrade To An Aftermarket Glock Barrel?

Even though the OEM Glock barrel with polygonal rifling is pretty damn good and will do the job for the average gun owner, there are two primary reasons to upgrade to an aftermarket Glock barrel. First and foremost is accuracy.

Most shooters will never practice out past 25 yards with their pistols. But if you want to stretch the effective range of your pistol to 50 yards and beyond, you’ll need a good match-grade barrel. A good-quality match-grade Glock barrel will consistently cut your groups in half at 50 yards.

The second reason is to have a threaded barrel for a suppressor or compensator. If you’re thinking at all about adding a suppressor or comp to your Glock down the road, do yourself a favor and get a threaded barrel. If you don’t want to buy and change barrels constantly, getting a threaded barrel is a good idea. They also increase the cool factor of your gun. Let’s get into the Glock barrels.

Top Picks for the 7 Best Glock Barrels

1. Faxon Firearms

Faxon Glock barrels are given a PVD or black Nitride coating to increase resistance to surface wear, lubricity, and barrel life. All barrels are conventionally rifled for various compatible ammunition, including cast lead.

They also drop into factory-spec slides with no gunsmithing required. Thanks to their better-than-factory tolerances, a more consistent, tighter lockup than OEM is guaranteed.

Faxon offers both threaded and non-threaded barrel options for your Glock handguns. Faxon Glock barrels are universally compatible with generations 1-5.

Faxon Flame Fluted Glock Barrel

2. Wilson Combat

Wilson Combat Glock barrels are fully machined from aircraft-grade stainless steel blanks and heat-treated to R/C 40 for maximum service life. Critical manufacturing tolerances are held to less than .0005″ (one-half thousandth of an inch!).

To guarantee better accuracy, extreme care has been taken to ensure that the chamber is glass-smooth and perfectly concentric with the bore. They’ve routinely obtained test groups of 1/2″ at 25 yards in their barrel tests.

Throughout the manufacturing process, each barrel undergoes multiple quality-control checks, with a detailed final inspection prior to receiving the Wilson name. These barrels are compatible with all Generations of Glock handguns.

Wilson Combat Match Grade Barrel

3. KKM Precision

KKM has been producing match-grade pistol barrels for 25 years and has a well-deserved reputation for excellence.  If you want to shoot tight groups through targets or bad guys, KKM can help accomplish that.

KKM Precision Glock barrels use certified 416R gun-barrel quality stainless steel bar stock. The barrels are then heat-treated and vacuum-tempered. Finally, the CNC machining produces superior dimensional tolerances over mass-produced factory barrels.

KKM’s Glock barrels come with fully supported SAAMI spec match chambers for shooting factory or reloaded ammunition.

KKM Precision Glock Barrel

4. Lone Wolf

The Lone Wolf Industries Alpha Wolf Glock barrel series is available in stock length, threaded, and conversion caliber flavors.

Machined from 416 stainless steel (certified, stress-relieved no less), Lone Wolf Glock barrels bring premium manufacturing and features at an affordable cost.

Additionally, they are salt bath nitrided, fluted for heat dissipation and debris clearance, and are compatible with all generations of Glock.

Lone Wolf Alpha Barrel

5. Grey Ghost Precision

The Grey Ghost Precision Glock barrel is an excellent upgrade for a Glock pistol. The barrel is machined to “match grade” tolerances and has an excellent fit and finish.

Made from 416R Gun Barrel Quality Stainless Steel, a proprietary twist rate, and an optional Black Nitride Finish for durability without hindering performance.

Grey Ghost Precision barrels are manufactured with a final dimension of +/- 0.003″ for consistent accuracy.

Grey Ghost Precision Threaded Match Grade Barrel

6. Zev Technologies

ZEV Technologies Match Grade drop-in barrels for Glock feature extremely tight tolerances. They are manufactured with pre-hardened chromium stainless steel (416R) that was originally designed for use in Match Grade rifle barrels.

This material provides high tensile strength and toughness to withstand typical chamber pressures while still being highly corrosion-resistant.

ZEV Technologies barrels are some of the most precise in the industry. Every barrel is double-honed (rough and finish) until a minimum surface finish of 16 RA is reached. The barrels are held to a final dimension of +/- 0.0002″ for consistency and accuracy during this process.

Zev Tech Match Barrel

7. Agency Arms

The Agency Arms Syndicate Barrel offers great performance at an affordable price. This model designed for the GLOCK 19 features a smooth profile without fluting and a target-crowned muzzle.

The Glock 19 Syndicate Barrel is made to the same standards as the other models out of high-quality 416R stainless steel and extremely consistent broached rifling at a 1:10 twist rate.

Agency Arms Syndicate Barrel

Which Aftermarket Glock Barrel Do We Prefer?

Having thoroughly assessed various barrel manufacturers over the years, we confidently recommend Faxon Firearms as the top choice. Let’s take a closer look at some of their current offerings.

Glock 19 Barrel

Seeking the ultimate upgrade for your trusted Glock 19?

While Glock’s renowned reliability and ease of use remain unmatched, its immense popularity has paved the way for many aftermarket enhancements.

Upgrading the Glock 19 barrel is one of the easiest modifications. Faxon’s precision-engineered barrels are shielded with a PVD or black Nitride coating, increasing resistance to wear and ensuring longevity. Crafted with conventional rifling, they will eat almost all ammunition, including cast lead.

The best part? Seamless integration into your factory-spec slides without the need for a gunsmith. Experience a lockup that’s tighter and more consistent than OEM, thanks to their meticulous tolerances.

Whether you prefer threaded or non-threaded, know that every barrel is manufactured in-house (in the USA), ensuring the best possible performance for your Glock 19.

Glock 17 Barrel

The Glock 17 has reigned as one of the best full-size pistols for over four decades.

Despite a divided audience—equally adored and criticized—Glock’s reliability is undebatable.

The sheer amount of aftermarket parts and accessories amplifies its popularity, allowing owners to tailor their firearms. One of the most popular upgrades? Shifting from the OEM barrel to a match-grade barrel.

Faxon Firearms, long admired for its excellence in manufacturing AR-15 barrels and even complete firearms, extends its expertise to the Glock domain. Their Glock 17 barrels, in particular, are a testament to their unwavering commitment to quality.

Glock 43x Barrel

Looking to elevate your Glock’s precision to nail those long-distance shots? The key lies in the right barrel, quality ammo, and superior sights.

Faxon Firearms, a name synonymous with barrel excellence, presents its match-grade barrels tailored for the Glock 43X. These barrels, renowned for halving groups at 50 yards, ensure an immediate fit without any modifications.

Experience the difference with its enhanced lockup, sharper than OEMs, combined with a 1:10 conventional rifling and an 11-degree target crown.

The result? Unparalleled accuracy for your Glock 43X. Plus, with varied coating options, this barrel doesn’t just perform exceptionally—it looks the part, too. Because style, undoubtedly, matters.

Glock 48 Barrel

Want peak performance from your Glock G48?

Look no further than Faxon’s Match Series pistol barrels—a pinnacle in barrel craftsmanship.

Precision-molded from stress-relieved 416-R stainless steel, these barrels boast impeccable quality, shaped entirely in Faxon’s own facilities. With black Nitride or PVD coatings, they promise enhanced durability, extended lifespan, and resistance against wear.

Their conventional rifling is compatible with diverse ammunition types, including cast lead. And the best part? Slide them effortlessly into your factory-spec slides without needing a gunsmith’s touch.

Experience an unmatched lockup—more precise and consistent than typical OEM barrels, all credited to their superior tolerances.

OEM Glock vs. Aftermarket Glock Barrels

OEM Glock barrels are renowned for their reliability and performance straight out of the box. They are designed to meet the versatile needs of most shooters, offering a balance of accuracy, durability, and cost-effectiveness. However, aftermarket barrels present significant advantages for enthusiasts looking to push their Glock’s performance further, especially in precision shooting or customization.

Aftermarket Glock barrels often come with tighter manufacturing tolerances, which can translate to better accuracy, especially at longer ranges. They also offer a variety of features, like different coatings for increased barrel life, threaded options for suppressor or compensator attachments, and aesthetic customization to suit individual preferences. While OEM barrels provide a solid baseline, aftermarket options allow shooters to tailor their Glock to specific uses, be it competitive shooting, hunting, or personal defense.

In summary, while OEM barrels maintain Glock’s promise of ‘perfection,’ aftermarket barrels offer the opportunity to specialize and optimize your firearm according to your unique shooting needs and preferences.

Button Rifling vs. Polygonal Rifling

When upgrading your Glock, understanding the difference between button rifling and polygonal rifling is crucial.

OEM Glock barrels typically use polygonal rifling. This type of rifling is known for its smoother bore surface, offering a slight velocity boost and easier cleaning. However, it’s generally less suitable for shooting lead bullets, as it can lead to faster fouling.

In contrast, many aftermarket barrels feature button rifling. This traditional form of rifling, characterized by its distinct lands and grooves, provides a better grip on the bullet per se and potentially improves accuracy. Button-rifled barrels are also more versatile, accommodating a wider range of ammunition, including lead bullets, without the risk of excessive fouling.

Faxon Full Pistol

Glock markets itself as perfection out of the box. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take an already-proven design and modify it to suit your style and needs. Swapping out the stock barrel for one of these aftermarket barrels is just one of many things you can do to elevate the performance of your Glock pistol.

Next-Gen Ammo: Exploring the Benefits of Polymer Rounds

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

Polymer Ammunition represents a significant development in the world of firearms, and HOP Munitions is a notable player in this field. They offer a unique approach to firearms training for pistols and rifles, emphasizing the potential benefits of poly ammo.

Man firing poly ammo from HOP Munitions.

This type of ammunition is gaining attention for its performance, environmental considerations, and versatility in various shooting scenarios. HOP Munitions has leveraged advancements in material science and manufacturing techniques to produce a distinctive product. This ammunition differs from traditional options, suggesting a new direction in the industry.

The development of this poly ammo reflects an effort to combine innovation with environmental responsibility. HOP Munitions has aimed to address contemporary needs in the shooting world, offering a product that they believe stands out in terms of quality and sustainability.

The Emergence of Polymer Ammunition

Polymer ammunition is becoming increasingly significant in the evolving shooting and hunting world. Polymer ammo represents a notable innovation in the field, with a 30% reduction in weight on average compared to traditional bullets. The growing popularity of polymer ammunition reflects the efforts of companies like HOP Munitions, which are dedicated to advancing ammunition technology.

Beyond its performance benefits, polymer ammunition is also gaining recognition as a more environmentally friendly option than traditional ammunition.

HOP Munitions and the Polymer Ammo Market

HOP Munitions is contributing to the evolving market of polymer ammunition. Their product, known as Polymer Bullets, is designed to offer different characteristics compared to traditional metal bullets, including potentially improved performance and durability.

These bullets are uniquely constructed with a lead core surrounded by a high-temperature polymer due to their injection molding process. This design approach distinguishes them from conventional metallic ammunition.

HOP Munitions’ focus on developing these polymer bullets reflects their role in the industry’s broader trend toward innovative ammunition solutions.

About HOP Munitions - Polymer Coated Ammo

 

Advantages of HOP Munitions’ Polymer Ammunition

  • Realistic Training Experience: Similar to JHP duty rounds, officers can train under conditions that closely replicate actual operations.
  • Weight and Cost Efficiency: Poly ammo is lighter and more affordable, allowing for more extensive and less physically demanding training sessions.
  • Durability: The polymer casings are robust and resistant to environmental factors, ensuring reliability.
  • Reduced Firearm Wear: The softer polymer material lessens the wear on firearms, extending their usability.
  • Environmental Friendliness: These rounds are more sustainable, thanks to the ease of recycling polymer casings.

HOP Munitions is contributing to advancements in ammunition technology with their 124-grain 9mm polymer ammo, designed to emulate the performance of standard 124-grain JHP duty ammunition. 

This development is particularly relevant for law enforcement training, as it allows officers to practice with ammunition that closely mirrors real-world scenarios, enhancing the realism and effectiveness of their training. Increasingly, law enforcement agencies recognize this approach’s practicality and incorporate polymer ammunition into their training programs. The trend towards using ammunition that aligns more closely with duty rounds in performance reflects a broader interest in realistic, operationally relevant training methods.

Their poly-coated bullets, which feature a lead core wrapped in high-temperature polymer, aim to enhance shooting performance. These rounds offer several advantages, including reduced barrel wear, minimized fouling, improved accuracy, and affordability. They are especially beneficial for indoor shooting, as they emit fewer toxic gases. The bullets are also designed for smoother feeding from magazine to chamber, decreasing the chance of feed failures, and their reduced fouling in the barrel contributes to better accuracy and longer barrel life. The polymer coating primarily serves to lessen friction, facilitating a smoother and safer shooting experience.

Law enforcement carrying firearms with polymer ammo.

With the introduction of poly bullets, HOP Munitions is responding to a growing demand for cost-effective, high-performance ammunition. These rounds have gained popularity among competition shooters and firearms trainers due to their balance of affordability and quality. This development marks a notable shift in the ammunition industry, with HOP Munitions playing a key role in driving the evolution of shooting experiences through innovative and quality-focused products.

So Why HOP Munitions? Why Poly?

For those interested in improving their training regimen or searching for more efficient and effective ammunition, HOP Munitions provides various poly ammo options, including their 124-grain 9mm polymer rounds. These rounds are tailored to enhance training and operational performance, suitable for law enforcement professionals and individual users.

To understand how these rounds might benefit your shooting skills and preparedness, consider visiting HOP Munitions’ website. You can find information on how their ammunition could upgrade your shooting experience there. HOP Munitions aims to cater to various needs for professional training or personal development. For those curious about the latest in ammunition technology and its applications for both practice and real-world use, HOP Munitions offers resources and products worth exploring.