ept000
12-30-2008, 02:04 AM
We have had several threads about changing out Glock barrels in order to shoot lead so I thought I would let every one know my results with a Storm Lake Barrel.
Santa was nice enough to bring me the barrel for my G19. First opinion is it looks nice, but the outside of the barrel itself (just the round section) seems a little rough. Nothing too bad, but you can feel it with your finger nail, compared to the stock Glock barrel that is like glass.
It dropped right into the slide and the recoil spring went in just like stock. Putting the slide back on felt a little tight like something was binding. After much staring I figured out that the beveled ramp that pushes down the slide release bar was dragging, so if I pull down slightly on the two slide release tabs it goes right on. Hand cyclys and dry fires like normal.
Off to the range. The very first rounds were 115 grain FMJ reloads that I have been shooting for a long time, and the pattern was larger than the stock barrel, but with every batch it got better and better. After 60 or 70 rounds I switched to the 124 grain lead boolits I made the day before. By the third batch of ten rounds I was liking what I was seeing. From ten yards, standing without a rest, the first five shots of the third batch made a single hole. Good enough to draw the attention of a few other shooters. Made me feel good too! Shot the rest of the third batch, and the fourth batch without any surprises.
Finally had time tonight to take a look at, and clean up the barrel. It was a little sooty, but no lead. I pushed a mop of bore cleaner through it, rinsed it out, a patch with oil, then a few dry patches. Good as new. It all went back together like before, with just a little pressure on the slide release tabs.
Impressions: The only things I don't like is the surface finish and having to push the slide release for reassembly. For big picture thinking, pushing the slide release down in no big deal. I'm sure it will become a habbit. I did find out that if the slide has a faster and harder running start, it will go right on, but I feel better just taking the tension off the release and having the slide drop right on. As for the surface finish, I have a feeling that the slide is harder than the barrel, so I doubt the slide will suffer any damage, and in fact the finish may help the surface of the barrel hold some lubricant. I will keep an eye on it. I will say that the barrel does exactly what I needed it to do, which is shoot lead. It functioned every time, even with some loads that were light enough that I planned on them not cycling the slide, but they did. After the first few rounds accuracy was very good, and from what I have seen I only expect it to get better.
On of the things I was worried about with the Storm Lake barrel was having the same problem I have heard others have with the Lone Wolf, being too tight, especially since they are in the same price bracket. It seams my fears have been put to rest. My reloads fit fine. I don't have an actual measurement, but I can tell you that while the chamber is tighter than the stock Glock, it is still SLIGHTLY looser than my Dillon case gage. For under a hundred bucks I think it's a good value, and I plan on buying a second one for Norine's G19 soon.
That is all.
Santa was nice enough to bring me the barrel for my G19. First opinion is it looks nice, but the outside of the barrel itself (just the round section) seems a little rough. Nothing too bad, but you can feel it with your finger nail, compared to the stock Glock barrel that is like glass.
It dropped right into the slide and the recoil spring went in just like stock. Putting the slide back on felt a little tight like something was binding. After much staring I figured out that the beveled ramp that pushes down the slide release bar was dragging, so if I pull down slightly on the two slide release tabs it goes right on. Hand cyclys and dry fires like normal.
Off to the range. The very first rounds were 115 grain FMJ reloads that I have been shooting for a long time, and the pattern was larger than the stock barrel, but with every batch it got better and better. After 60 or 70 rounds I switched to the 124 grain lead boolits I made the day before. By the third batch of ten rounds I was liking what I was seeing. From ten yards, standing without a rest, the first five shots of the third batch made a single hole. Good enough to draw the attention of a few other shooters. Made me feel good too! Shot the rest of the third batch, and the fourth batch without any surprises.
Finally had time tonight to take a look at, and clean up the barrel. It was a little sooty, but no lead. I pushed a mop of bore cleaner through it, rinsed it out, a patch with oil, then a few dry patches. Good as new. It all went back together like before, with just a little pressure on the slide release tabs.
Impressions: The only things I don't like is the surface finish and having to push the slide release for reassembly. For big picture thinking, pushing the slide release down in no big deal. I'm sure it will become a habbit. I did find out that if the slide has a faster and harder running start, it will go right on, but I feel better just taking the tension off the release and having the slide drop right on. As for the surface finish, I have a feeling that the slide is harder than the barrel, so I doubt the slide will suffer any damage, and in fact the finish may help the surface of the barrel hold some lubricant. I will keep an eye on it. I will say that the barrel does exactly what I needed it to do, which is shoot lead. It functioned every time, even with some loads that were light enough that I planned on them not cycling the slide, but they did. After the first few rounds accuracy was very good, and from what I have seen I only expect it to get better.
On of the things I was worried about with the Storm Lake barrel was having the same problem I have heard others have with the Lone Wolf, being too tight, especially since they are in the same price bracket. It seams my fears have been put to rest. My reloads fit fine. I don't have an actual measurement, but I can tell you that while the chamber is tighter than the stock Glock, it is still SLIGHTLY looser than my Dillon case gage. For under a hundred bucks I think it's a good value, and I plan on buying a second one for Norine's G19 soon.
That is all.