The GLOCK 20 Gen4, in 10mm, provides nothing short of massive firepower. The use of GLOCK hi-tech polymer considerably reduces felt recoil. With muzzle energy of 550 ft/lbs and a magazine capacity of 15 rounds, this 10mm is your reliable companion on every hunt. The Gen4 edition now incorporates a wider selection of grip dimensions to make customizing your grip even more precise. Glock 20 Gen 4 Specs at a glance – Caliber: 10mm Barrel: 4.61 inches Overall Length: 8.07 inches Weight: 30.69 ounces (empty) Grips: Polymer, modular backstrap Sights: White-dot Action: Semi-auto Finish: Polymer frame/Tenifer slide Capacity: 15+1

The wheelgun seems to be the most common recommendation for this purpose; many “experts” insist on 44 caliber or bigger. It’s hard to argue handgun power when it comes to very large bears, but you still have to get hits, and not everyone can with a revolver. We’re also at a point where at least one generation (working on two) has never seen, let alone used, a revolver. Most people carry semi-autos, and carrying what you’re familiar with might be your best course of action. Thankfully, Glock happens to offer what may be the perfect tool for the job. The Glock 20 chambered in 10mm is increasingly common in the proving ground of large predators—Alaska.

Glock 20 Gen 4 Details

Professional guides and backwoodsman are increasingly carrying the G20 and for good reason. Loaded properly, the 10mm can deliver incredible energy and deep penetration with its 15-round magazine capacity. Even as a full-sized pistol, it weighs less and carries more easily than most big-bore revolvers.

Glock’s proven reliability in the most difficult conditions, climates and situations makes this manufacturer a solid choice. It also offers unparalleled versatility with drop-in barrels in .38 Super, 9×25 Dillon, .357 SIG and a few I probably missed. You can easily carry the same pistol with the same sights using the same grip and feel on the streets or in the backcountry. Chambered in anything from soft-shooting 125-grain screamers with controlled expansion to 200-grain hard cast with penetration measured in yards, it will do anything required of a carry pistol.

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In most cases, a factory Glock 20 will get the job done, but a few changes can really make things better. Factory barrels are polygonal, which isn’t really conducive to lead loads, and big predators are best dealt with using hard-cast lead. Adding a fully supported barrel with conventional rifling allows you to practice with lead and use the stoutest hard-cast loads for protection. Sights that are visible in any environment at both day and night are also a great option. If you’re careful, even a trigger change is possible; just don’t compromise reliability. Lastly, a simple grip reduction can be a huge help especially with hotter loads.

Making Some Modifications

Starting with a Glock 20 Gen 4, I sent the frame off to Lew Gosnell at Glock Grip Reduction. Lew has been doing grips for a couple decades and is a true expert. He provided useful texturing, a grip-angle change and a larger beavertail. Now, this G20 fits my hand and points more like a 1911. The texture also proved excellent in the snow, rain and mud, gloves or not. If you’re skipping this part, you may consider a G20 SF (Short Frame) since it fits smaller hands better, but you cannot go wrong with either.

Brownells was kind enough to provide the rest of my modifications, starting with the trigger. I wanted a better feel while maintaining factory internals, and SSVI had just the solution. Its Tyr trigger changes the leverage on the trigger using the factory bar. The result is less pull weight (4 pounds), take-up and overtravel with no adverse effect on the internal operation. Installation is simple with great video support.

 

here’s What You Need to Know: What the Glock 20 sacrifices in size, it makes up for with raw performance. The Glock 20 combines the impressive stopping power of the 10mm caliber with a 15-round capacity magazine that’s capable of accommodating a wide range of ammunition, all within the reliable and ergonomically friendly frame that is a trademark of the Glock brand.

In a catalog saturated with popular 9mm offerings, the 10mm Glock 20 Gen4 stands apart as the Austrian gun manufacturer’s most powerful semi-automatic pistol. The Glock 20 is also the oldest 10mm in continuous production, successfully blending Glock’s legendary reliability with a newfound focus on stopping power.

Glock made its initial splash in the U.S. handgun market with the Glock 17, which fast became a bestseller in the early 1980’s for its lightweight, modular, and ergonomically friendly design. Market trends sharply changed, however, with the infamous Miami shootout 1986. It took eight FBI agents armed with 9mm guns a total of 18 gunshot wounds to incapacitate only two suspects, armed with a 12-gauge pump shotgun and semi-automatic rifle respectively; two agents were killed, and five more wounded in the protracted firefight. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies concluded that .38 special and 9mm guns lack the penetration necessary to reliably incapacitate targets. 10mm cartridge-based weapons quickly emerged as a leading alternative; traveling at supersonic speeds and hitting with a muzzle energy of up to 750 pounds, the 10mm round destroys soft tissue and disrupts the nervous system far more efficiently than its 9mm counterpart.

Seeking to maintain their foothold in the U.S. market, Glock rushed to release the Glock 20 in 1991 shortly after the FBI’s official adoption of the 10mm caliber. The FBI quickly went on to reverse their decision over recoil concerns, opting instead for a halfway compromise between power and handling in the form of the new .40 Smith and Wesson caliber; still, the Glock 20 has not only endured but thrived as a leading consumer 10mm pistol.

Built with Glock’s Gen4 guidelines, the Glock 20 is easily distinguished from its 9mm counterparts by its prodigious size. At an overall length of 8.07 inches, there is no way around the fact that the Glock 20 is a large handgun that cannot be comfortably concealed. Those looking for a high-powered everyday carry (EDC) solution would be more tempted by the Glock 20’s more compact Glock 29 cousin.

But what the Glock 20 sacrifices in size, it makes up for with raw performance. The Glock 20 combines the impressive stopping power of the 10mm caliber with a 15-round capacity magazine that’s capable of accommodating a wide range of ammunition, all within the reliable and ergonomically friendly frame that is a trademark of the Glock brand.

Excessive recoil has always been the Achilles’ heel of 10mm handguns, and the Glock 20 is not entirely an exception. There is, however, some good news: a customizable backstrap system and new Rough Textured Frame (RTF) can help to mitigate the intense recoil generated from firing high-caliber ammunition. More importantly, subsequent Glock 20 testing has demonstrated that the gun’s recoil heavily depends on the specific type of 10mm round that is being used. With some practice and the correct choice of ammunition, the Glock 20 shouldn’t generate an unbearable degree of recoil as compared with similarly-situated .40 caliber weapons.

Where does all this leave the Glock 20 today, just under 30 years after its introduction? While not an ideal solution in tactical and urban scenarios, the Glock 20 has earned a sizable following as a reliable hunting and survival handgun; notably, Denmark’s Sirius Sled Patrol continues to use the Glock 20 as a defensive weapon against polar bears. For everyone else, the Glock 20 is a well-rounded 10mm handgun that offers serious firepower at little compromise.