Hot Underwood ammo through stock Gen 3 G20 barrel or go KKM fully supported?

[cwlongshot]

About 16mo ago I bought a 9mm/40 LWD conversion barrel for my G23.... Took over 6mo for me to see it!!!   NOT GOOD!!!

This LWD came off ebay and was received in 6-7 days...  The KKM was about a three week wait. BUT I was told it would be a month!

The difference is KKM makes there own barrels.. SL and LWD are waiting for a third party offshore source for there products...

CW

[REDLINE]

About 16mo ago I bought a 9mm/40 LWD conversion barrel for my G23.... Took over 6mo for me to see it!!!   NOT GOOD!!!

This LWD came off ebay and was received in 6-7 days...  The KKM was about a three week wait. BUT I was told it would be a month!

The difference is KKM makes there own barrels.. SL and LWD are waiting for a third party offshore source for there products...

CW

Where did you get your information from regarding Storm Lake using a 3rd party offshore source for there barrels?

I just spoke with April at Storm Lake and she assured me that not only are all their barrels manufactured in-house in Tennessee where their facility is, but that they get their 416R barrel steel from a USA source.  So either I just got lied to, or your information is incorrect.

I also asked her about some people waiting 6 months or more for a barrel compared to the one and a half months they claim for my barrel.  She said it is absolutely possible you could wait up to and over 6 months for a barrel.  She said their production schedule is set for many months out.  She said the barrel that I ordered just happens to be able to fit in perfectly with a production run coming up in 3 weeks from now, hence the estimated ship date of 8-13-12.

So evidently, when you order a barrel direct through Storm Lake, yours will be produced when the next production run for that barrel is scheduled, having nothing to do with any offshore-source nonsense.

LWD I didn't inquire about.  They may very well depend on offshore sources.  I have no idea.

[cwlongshot]

About 16mo ago I bought a 9mm/40 LWD conversion barrel for my G23.... Took over 6mo for me to see it!!!   NOT GOOD!!!

This LWD came off ebay and was received in 6-7 days...  The KKM was about a three week wait. BUT I was told it would be a month!

The difference is KKM makes there own barrels.. SL and LWD are waiting for a third party offshore source for there products...

CW

Where did you get your information from regarding Storm Lake using a 3rd party offshore source for there barrels?

I just spoke with April at Storm Lake and she assured me that not only are all their barrels manufactured in-house in Tennessee where their facility is, but that they get their 416R barrel steel from a USA source.  So either I just got lied to, or your information is incorrect.

I also asked her about some people waiting 6 months or more for a barrel compared to the one and a half months they claim for my barrel.  She said it is absolutely possible you could wait up to and over 6 months for a barrel.  She said their production schedule is set for many months out.  She said the barrel that I ordered just happens to be able to fit in perfectly with a production run coming up in 3 weeks from now, hence the estimated ship date of 8-13-12.

So evidently, when you order a barrel direct through Storm Lake, yours will be produced when the next production run for that barrel is scheduled, having nothing to do with any offshore-source nonsense.

LWD I didn't inquire about.  They may very well depend on offshore sources.  I have no idea.

Back when I was researching buying aft mkt barrels, I ran across a couple threads on various sites claiming this. I admit no first hand knoledge off it. IIRC GT has a big thread on these barrels... I'll see if I can find it and PM you the link.

SL seemed to run hot and cold, meaning people liked it or hated it. Too many bad stories so I went with LWD... then I read of them using "china" barrels... When I got my G20 I looked at some of the big name barrels and then decided on KKM. Truth be told, both my LWD barrels have been just fine, I like the KKM better. Maybe its just because its a USA made barrel and that alone makes it better in my head...

As I said, If I can find the thread I'll PM you.

CW

[REDLINE]

That's okay.  Just wanted to set the record straight with Storm Lake.

[hillbillyhans]

They never told me anything! I bought it, and expected it a week later at the most! I'm very disappointed with their customer service, and wouldn't buy shit from them if they were the last place on earth!

[REDLINE]

They never told me anything! I bought it, and expected it a week later at the most! I'm very disappointed with their customer service, and wouldn't buy shit from them if they were the last place on earth!

Anytime you click PURCHASE on the Storm Lake website it immediately tells you the following;

STOCK STATUS:

StormLake is a manufacturer, and we rely on our distributor/dealer network to maintain stock that is available for immediate purchase. We encourage customers to purchase through an authorized dealer, but we will be happy to accept an order if the item cannot be found in dealer stock. Our online inventory database is designed such that an item cannot be placed in the shopping cart unless it is either in stock or at some stage of production, but the shopping cart logic does not provide real time finished part stock status. Once you place your order, the order processor checks finished stock availability and if out of stock schedules the item into production with the goal of minimum possible customer wait time. You will receive an email after the order processor has scheduled your order, where you can then log in to check on the estimated ship date. In stock items are typically shipped within 4 business days of order. Standard lead time for items out of stock but scheduled into production is currently 45 days or less. Orders for parts with black Isonite QPQ finish may require up to an additional 30 days. Special order item lead times are quoted on a per order basis. Order status can be checked at any time by logging in to your account.


Maybe they didn't have that up there when you purchased?

[hillbillyhans]

Yeah, I never got that. Wonder what happened? Should've gone Barsto. Oh well, lesson learned.

[REDLINE]

That is a bit odd.  Then again, I've never clicked PURCHASE on their sight before until putting in my current order almost 30 days ago now.  For all I know they just put that up there 31 days ago.

[Rick1987]

I should be picking up the same gun on Friday, would anyone recommend replacing the recoil spring/ guide rod? Is there any other mods anyone recommends?

[Yondering]

  I've heard the hype about LWD barrels being less refined, and it's bunk.  I've heard the same of KKM, and it's bunk.  The LWD chamber is a bit tighter than KKM, but it's not too tight, IMO.  ... The LWD tight chamber is paired with the most supported chamber I've seen, short of a custom Bar-Sto (only better if you spec it to be so). 

Your experiences with LW barrels are quite different than mine. I've owned 3 - a G23 barrel from 7-8 years ago, and two G20 long barrels of recent production. All had fairly rough bores that needed some polishing to be good for cast bullets. Both of the G20 barrels had chambers that were too tight for cast bullets. They worked when clean, but not when dirty, so I lapped the chamber on the one I kept. Also, chamber support is pretty similar to a stock G20 barrel. This seems to be the case with their newer barrels. Yours is probably older, but you're giving advice to someone considering buying a new barrel. The lathe turned finish on the outside of my G20 barrels was pretty rough too; not jagged edges but it was obviously finished with a pretty coarse cut on the lathe, and not ground to final diameter or finished in any other way. I smoothed that out on my barrel to avoid excessive slide wear.

Long story short, LW makes an economy barrel, that is good for the price, but nowhere near the quality of the stock Glock barrel or a better aftermarket barrel.

I recommend looking at EFK Firedragon barrels; the samples I've seen have a very smooth and consistent bore and seem to be good quality.

[EdMc]

Yondering,
I believe in another post you mentioned having a LW G20 Longslide....just curious as to your opinion on the long slide product. I'd be interested in one if they ever become an 'in stock' item. Thanks.

[Yondering]

I like mine, and haven't had any issues with it. Mine has the black oxide finish, which isn't very good, but otherwise has been great. It's heavy, but it reduces recoil quite a bit, is pretty accurate, and still functions fine even with weak 40 S&W ammo. It's definitely a whole different gun compared to a stock G20. Mine is the solid top version.

The one thing I'd do differently, just because I'm an experimenter by nature, is that I'd get the G21 solid top longslide instead of the 20; so I could run both the 10mm and 45 barrels in it, and play with 45 Super. As a side benefit, the G21L slides seem to be in stock most of the time.

[EdMc]

This being my first Glock I'll admit to little knowledge of the differences and options for models. I know the 20 and 21 share the same frame size and the 10mm & 45 barrels are supposedly the same OD but that's about it. So, I could buy a 21 long slide and use the ~ 6 inch 10mm threaded barrel with compensator? Anything different in the parts for the slide between the models? I'd rather have a complete slide to change for an easy swap back to OEM. Excuse my ignorance but even in my dotage I still try to learn.

[Yondering]

Nothing wrong with asking questions here, fire away!

You're pretty much right on about the common parts between the 20 and 21. The extractor and safety plunger are different between the 10mm and 45 slides, and the 45 slide has a wider breech face. The only external difference between the 10mm and 45 barrels is the width of the barrel hood, which is supposed to locate the barrel side to side in the slide. With the 10mm barrel in a 45 slide, there is a gap on either side of the barrel hood, but the barrel is still located by the inner walls of the slide, so it works fine. The 45 extractor (in a 45 slide) works fine with 10mm, as long as it is the LCI (loaded chamber indicator) version. Extraction of the 10mm from the 45 slide is "different", in that it doesn't throw them all in the same direction, but it seems to be reliable, and I haven't had a problem with it.

I use my 10mm barrel in my RMR'ed G21 slide, or in my G20LS longslide. It shoots accurately and reliably either way. One caution note though - if using full power 10mm in a stock G21 slide, I strongly recommend using a muzzle brake. The 21 slide is lighter, and slide speed can be too high without a muzzle brake. The 21 longslide should be fine though, as it is still heavier than a stock 20 slide. I would get the solid top version if going with the 21 longslide, for the extra weight.

Here's mine, same frame and barrel as above, but in the 45 slide.


And a picture of the 10mm barrel hood in the 45 slide:

[REDLINE]

Lots of great info here!