The youngest recoil junky is looking to get a pistol for defence while hiking. He does a lot of meandering about in the woods in the summer and want to have something he can count on against bears (not griz) and mountain lions. (lions are now the biggest killer of people in the woods) We did a bunch of research on different semis today as he wants "firepower" in quantity.He's not afraid of my 44 RH by any means, just doesn't want to pack the weight because some of his jaunts can last for 2-3 days.

Our research came up with one logical answer, a Glock G20 in 10mm. We looked at balistics of the 45ACP,10mm and the 40 SW. I know the ACP has a energy advantage at 25 yards but it has fewer shots in the mag. Now my knowlage of semiauto pistols is very and I mean VERY limited. Knowing my son he'll practice (and reload) with this until he's pretty good and putting a clip in the ten ring at 25 yards plus we can set up scenarios for him to practice in.

Is the Glock G20 in 10mm the way to go or should we look at something else?

RJ

Has he actually had one in his hand? I was thinking of ordering one until I actually handled one. Glock makes some really nice guns but that had to be the most uncomfortable gun I ever laid hand on. It is kinda like grabbing a 2X4. Just my 2cents worth. BTW I thing 10mm would be a great caliber for what he is going to use it for.

RJ,
What about an EAA Witness in 10mm? It will be heavier as it is not polymer but steel frame. Capacity in 10mm is 15 +1. Any # of conversion units at $229 per caliber in 22LR, 38 super, 9mm, 45acp and 40.

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Greg

I had to read up too before my purchasing of modern handguns resumed. I was quite impressed with .40S&W as a caliber for self defense, it being the first of my purchases. I began checking out the history of .40 and its 10mm predecessor. I finally decided I wanted .40 cals "big brother" and am quite impressed! I don't know if there's much available brand new in one. I have Glock's 29 because it's compact. I would think there are still plenty of 90s guns around in good shape. I would like to see, maybe buy a Colt Delta Elite.
Great caliber choice----good luck finding the make and model you want.

I personally don't like Glocks, but I'm not buying it, if you are going to reload, get a different barrel for it with Ballard type rifling instead of the polygonal.

I picked up a G17 sometime back in the '80s. Couldn't stand the grip at the time so I figured a Glock would never be in my posession.

A few years ago I decided that my BH in 45 Colt could be inadequate should I encounter hostile smugglers while hunting/scouting/hiking along the Mexican border, and so the 10mm rose to the top after some research.

After deliberating for over a year, I decided to go with the G20. Upon purchasing the handgun, I cleaned it, made certain it was empty, and carried it around with me while at home. I frequently checked to make sure it was empty, aimed at an object in a safe direction, and squeezed the trigger. I constantly field stripped it (much, much easier to do than the 1911). I also slept with it at my side.

After several weeks of letting my body become familiar with the Glock's radically different grip, I find that I correctly grab the pistol with either hand. The corresponding eye automatically picks up the front sight. I've grown to love this pistol to the point that my BH and 1911 have lost their tans (they now live in the safe), and the G20 accompanies me in a left-handed SERPA holster at 11 o'clock felony.

After some research, I don't recommend the Glock barrel with cast bullets. I've had good results with Lone Wolf Distributing's barrel ($100). The chamber is much tighter than the Glock's. Full house loads (180gr hardcast, 9.5gr Longshot, 1250 fps) doesn't work the brass much at all.

I've also found that my G20 is very controllable in rapid fire. People say it's because the frame flexes. Maybe, maybe not. I suspect it's because I'm used to 45 ACP and hot 45 Colt.

It took some internal debating to switch from .452 to .401. Lighter bullets/larger capacity vs. heavier bullets/lower capacity. Looking at the numbers from Hodgdon's manual, compare the .452/185 against the .401/180. The 10mm wins by a large margin. And what it sacrifices to mass/inertia it somewhat recoups with smaller frontal area (and in the case of .452/185 vs. .401/180, better sectional density).

If I ran into a black bear while hiking through the Chiricahuas or Santa Rita mountains, I'd prefer to have my BH in hand. But I don't feel underarmed with the G20.

We've both shot Glocks in 9mm, 10mm and 45ACP and an asortment of 1911 clones in the same calibers. I'm not sure I'd go with a Glock over a 1911 clone like a Kimber but RJjr2 wants capacity and light weight over anything else. He's the one who will be packin' it so I'll let him decidde. I'll get him down to the store so he can feel of them :D

RJ

I hate to add this, cause it's hear say...but anyway.

I was looking to get a 10mm GLock for the same purpose. I love the 10mm and have a few handguns chambered in it, but my big EAA is a lot to pack on the trail.

Talked to a buddy of mine who's a cop and carries 2 GLock's on him at work. He said that the 10's had reliability problems. That the big round is too much for the small package. I trust his opinion on most things, and since he's become a GLock guy, I passed on the Glock 10mm.

SO, that's the hearsay...I'd recommend you check around to verify or debunk my cop buddies opinion.

Hears NOT hearsay. I have owned a G20 for almost two years now.

When compaired to a 1911 they are quite big. Not only that, but the grip diameter is rather large. But IMO not too large for someone with even medium sized hands. When compared to a 1911 they feel blocky. Howerer you will get used to it.

Weight>>> pretty much the same as a Red Hawk,Super BlackHawk,and the bigger revo's. Reason(and this is good),FIREPOWER,the G20 holds 15+1.

Ammo>>>>>you gotta take a look at Double Tap ! It's impressive. My dedicated hunting load is their 200gr hardcast. I would much rather have 16rds of that, than 5 or 6 shots of .44mag. Especially for woods walking,against 4 legged animals, as mentioned. I have put this load(outta my OEM 6" hunting bbl) thru both shoulders of a 200+ pound hog.

If you want to sacrafice a little firepower and save a little weight you could opt for the G29. Only 10+1 though, unless you decided to use a G20 mag,but then the weight would be back up. Also remember that the G29 grip diameter is the same as the G20. Both feel fat.

The G20 or the G29 are both very reliable yet simple weapons. They were designed from the ground up to handle the power(full power) of the 10mm rd. And they do it just fine.

I do not own a G29 but have put a couple hundred rds thru a buddies. I much prefer the feel,controlability,and firepower of the G20.

To me the Glocks(i own two) are dang near as " bullet proof" as a revo. With tons of add ons to make the weapon "yours". -----pruhdlr

Here's a pitch for the G29.

My G29 is my constant companion..........walking in the woods, driving a tractor, running chainsaw, shopping in WalMart, eating in a restaurant.........it goes where I do and has for 7 years. It's a danged awesome little piece of equipment with a nasty bite for whatever it gets pointed at. Sure, the "Glock feel" takes some getting used to. But the gun's superbly accurate, weather-proof, microwaveable (O.K. so it's not) and if I can't adjust any sort of aggressor's attitude with 11 rounds of 10MM.... I'll drop, jam and go another 10 rounds with him (I always carry a 2nd mag in my back pocket). Where the G20 gives 5 extra rounds before mag change, the G29 is a much more "out of the way" gun and easier to tote when you're being active. It's also invisible under a T-shirt in an ITP holster for the perfect CC gun. I've never thought of it as "hard to control". My Mrs. and two of her girlfriends have all run the gun well with no complaints of recoil. I would recommend an aftermarket barrel if you want to run lead cast. IMHO..the G29 is the best of all worlds.

magnumitis
Nice to know I bought a winner---love my 29 too!
Mike

Ive never shot a 10mm but have shot/owned several 40. cals and love them. After owning Some Rugers and Sigs (the best gun Ive ever owned) I just bought a G22 40. cal. The gun does feel very bulkey and I even considered trading it plus some cash in on the G23, but found its the same size gun (except the G23 is maybe 1/2 an inch smaller) so I guess I'll be getting used to my new G22!!

If you have large hands the G20 or G29 is the way to go.I have the G20 and load it with 155 or 180 xtp's.
Lots of guys have been shooting bears with the 180s with good results.When I pack mine hiking around in the outdoors I do not feel under-gunned with 15+1 and 2 extra mags ready.Also the light rail can come in handy if your out after dark.I feel better packin my glock 20 10mm than I do my redhawk 44,
more rounds in between reloads.

you can have the grip reduced and reshaped to more like a 1911 grip angle
the DT hardcast loads are good stuff

I like the G20. I looked at it for quite a while before purchasing it because I wasn't sure I liked the way it felt. Now that I have it, my son and I shoot it a lot. It is probably the gun that he pulls out of the safe to bring along shooting. Even when we are shooting others, he grabs the G20 a lot. So you do get used to the large grip. The only gun that he might grab as often when we go out to "play" is the G19 and the 33 round magazines.

I absolutely love my G20. If you hadload it is a blast. you can down load it to loads equivilant to that of 40 plinking loads then bump it up to hot 40 loads then allthe way up to real 10mm loads. It can be use for hunting with in reason. I cary mine as a back up in the woods. So far i have harvested two pigs with it one was about 150lb and the other was just under 300. Both taken with 200g XTP at 1200-1250fps. Both shot in the neck at very close distance under 15 yards. If you plan on using realy hot loads or realy light loads I would recomend getting a noncapured guide rod and geting a spring kit with a few different spring weights. I found when loading it down it has a tendancy to not cycle properly with the factory spring. When loading it realy hot i get erratic and extreme velocity spread. The heavier spring corrects this problem. It is very common when using loads that are nuke level (Buffalo Bore, Double Tap ect.) with glocks the breach opens too soon and the pressure drops quickly the heavier spring prevents this.

you can have the grip reduced and reshaped to more like a 1911 grip angle
the DT hardcast loads are good stuff

I like the pistol, but the grip is too big for my small hands.
How do you do that grip reduction? I wouldn't want to go at it w/ a dremel tool and a tube of epoxy.