Glock G20 Gen 5: Pulling Double Duty for CCW and Hunting

I have shot many hunting handguns, but mainly bolt-action pistols like the now-defunct XP-100 and the equally defunct T/C Contender. And, I have taken more big game with handguns than with a rifle. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of hunting with a handgun, whether it’s small game or big game. So, it only made sense to give a 10mm Glock a try and decided on the G20 Gen 5.

The Duality of the Glock G20 Gen 5

Although I’ve owned and shot many handguns, I recently found myself without one. Not just for personal protection but for hunting as well. I looked for many months, weighing every detail, each pro and con I could conceive. Finally, I decided on a Glock Model 20 Generation 5, which is chambered in 10mm Auto.

I’ve been a fan of Glock since 1992 when I took my first Glock Armorer course. I have never owned one and decided it was high time.

Glock 20 CCW

I plan on using the Glock for my hunting as well as a CCW. The Model 20 is a bit larger than other Glocks I’ve handled. However, I have a long torso, and concealing it under a loose-fitting shirt or jacket should be easy, especially with an inside-the-waistband holster.

The author had no issues concealing the large-framed pistol with the Versacarry IWB holster.

While researching holsters, the VersaCarry stood out as a comfortable and durable option. I ordered a Delta Carry IWB (inside the waistband) and was pleasantly surprised at the weight and the combination of leather and soft foam. Immediately, I put on the holster and tried it out. It rode very comfortably, and no one was any the wiser I was carrying.

The Versacarry Delta Carry IWB offers comfortable IWB concealed carry. — (Photo by Versacarry)

The Glock Model 20 came with three 15-round magazines, which decimates a full box of cartridges once fully loaded. However, my home state of Missouri limits the number of rounds that can be used to hunt deer to 10 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. This isn’t a problem for me, as 10-round magazines are commonplace by Glock or other manufacturers.

Feeding the G20 Gen 5 10mm

The decision of ammo is one I am still wrestling with when setting up a CCW/hunting handgun. I am always looking for the ultimate load. I mulled over ballistic chart after ballistic chart and talked with a few other 10mm aficionados. One I spoke with just returned from hiking into grizzly bear territory in Montana.

After much deliberation, I chose Grizzly Cartridge’s 200-grain Swift A-frame bonded loads. This load leaves the barrel at 1150 fps, delivering 588 ft-lbs. of energy at the muzzle.

After much deliberation, the author chose Grizzly Cartridge’s 200-grain Swift A-frame bonded loads.

Grizzly also loads a 180-grain JHP that delivers 728 ft-lbs of energy. However, I decided on the 200-grain bullets based solely on the performance of the Swift A-Frame bullets. My plan is to hand load for the 10mm.

I have hand-loaded Swift A-Frames and Hornady XTPs with amazing results. The Grizzly Cartridge ammo didn’t disappoint, and it is a stout load—much more than the Sellier & Bellot I purchased when I brought the Glock home.

Optics or No Optics

In the past, all the handguns I’ve used to hunt with wore an optic sight. However, I considered those to be medium-range handguns capable of taking deer out to 100 yards or more. But the verdict is not in with my semi-auto CCW /hunting pistol.

Previously, I had a few bad experiences with red dots, so I’m not in a hurry to mount one yet. I have many fellow shooting enthusiasts who keep recommending red dots, and I admit I am intrigued by the idea.

I am too old-fashioned about firearms, I guess, or maybe just too thick-headed. But for me, a CCW pistol should be plain and simple and not dependent on a battery. I am curious, though, how much more accuracy I will be able to squeeze from the handgun on the hunting side.

A Hunting Pistol

On the subject of hunting, I like to wring the most from any firearm I shoot. The Glock is no exception. I am of the Col. Townsend Whelen school of thought: “Only accurate rifles are interesting.” But I’m sure Whelen would have found accurate handguns interesting as well.

Glock’s accuracy with the factory barrel is more than adequate. However, I am a fan of button-rifled barrels, and KKM Precision, known for its competition-winning barrels, offers a barrel for the Model 20 Gen 5. So, with minimal arm twisting, I decided to take the plunge.

The added length of the KKM Precision barrel produces an extra 90.9 feet per second over the stock barrel of the Glock G20 Gen 5.

It gives me an accuracy edge, and although it sticks out beyond the slide a little, the added length produces an extra 90.9 feet per second over the stock barrel. I suspect I will get similar results when I chronograph the Grizzly ammo as well.

Muzzle velocity of the Glock G20 Gen 5 with the KKM Precision barrel.

If you don’t like the look of a plain barrel extending beyond the slide, KKM Precision offers a four-port compensator that blends with the slide.

I am under no illusion of using the Glock like I did other hunting handguns—especially without an optic. My plan is to limit my shots to 35 yards or less. Missouri offers many opportunities for handgunners, including a late-season hunt scheduled after Christmas. It’s also legal to hunt deer during the rifle season with the 10mm.

Missouri is blessed with a healthy deer population. It has been very seldom that I have sat in a treestand and not had several deer under my stand—well within range of a handgun. I believe the 10mm is capable of being lethal at longer ranges. However, I must recognize my limitations, the limitations of an open-sighted pistol, and the limitations of the cartridge.

For more info, please visit US.Glock.com, KKMPrecision.com, and GrizzlyCartridge.com.