Even though the OEM Glock barrel with polygonal rifling is pretty damn good and will do the job for the average gun owner, there are two primary reasons to upgrade to an aftermarket Glock barrel.
First and foremost is accuracy.
Most shooters will never practice out past 25 yards with their pistols. But if you want to stretch the effective range of your pistol to 50 yards and beyond, you’ll need a good match-grade barrel.
The second reason is to have a threaded barrel for a suppressor or compensator.
If you’re thinking at all about adding a suppressor or comp to your Glock down the road, do yourself a favor and get a threaded barrel.
If you don’t want to constantly be buying and changing barrels, then getting a threaded barrel is a good idea. They also up the cool factor of your gun.
Let’s get into the Glock barrels that we’ve used over the years and recommend.
Our Top Picks for the 7 Best Glock Barrels
1. Faxon Firearms
Faxon Glock barrels are given a PVD or black Nitride coating to increase resistance to surface wear, lubricity, and barrel life. All barrels are conventionally rifled for a wider variety of compatible ammunition, including cast lead.
They also drop into factory-spec slides with no gunsmithing required. A more consistent, tighter lockup than OEM is guaranteed thanks to their better-than-factory tolerances.
Faxon offers both threaded and non-threaded barrel options for your Glock handguns. Faxon Glock barrels are universally compatible with generations 1-5.
Wilson Combat Glock barrels are fully machined from aircraft-grade stainless steel blanks and heat-treated to R/C 40 for maximum service life. Critical manufacturing tolerances are held to less than .0005" (one-half thousandth of an inch!).
To guarantee better accuracy, extreme care has been taken to assure that the chamber is glass smooth and perfectly concentric with the bore. In their barrel tests, they’ve routinely obtained test groups of 1/2" at 25 yards.
Throughout the manufacturing process, each barrel undergoes multiple quality-control checks, with a detailed final inspection prior to receiving the Wilson name. These barrels are compatible with all Generations of Glock handguns.
KKM has been producing match-grade pistol barrels for 25 years and has a well-deserved reputation for excellence. If you want to shoot tight groups through targets or bad guys, KKM can help accomplish that.
KKM Precision Glock barrels are made using certified 416R gun-barrel quality stainless steel bar stock. The barrels are then heat-treated and vacuum tempered. Finally, the CNC machining produces superior dimensional tolerances over mass-produced factory barrels.
KKM’s Glock barrels come with fully supported SAAMI spec match chambers for shooting factory or reloaded ammunition.
The Lone Wolf Industries Alpha Wolf Glock barrel series is available in stock length, threaded, and conversion caliber flavors.
Machined from 416 stainless steel (certified, stress-relieved no less), Lone Wolf Glock barrels bring premium manufacturing and features at an affordable cost.
Additionally, they are salt bath nitrided, fluted for heat dissipation and debris clearance, and are compatible with all generations of Glock.
The Grey Ghost Precision Glock barrel is an excellent upgrade for a Glock pistol. The barrel is machined to "match grade" tolerances and has an excellent fit and finish.
Made from 416R Gun Barrel Quality Stainless Steel, a proprietary twist rate, and an optional Black Nitride Finish for durability without hindering performance.
Grey Ghost Precision barrels are manufactured with a final dimension of +/- 0.003" for consistent accuracy.
ZEV Technologies Match Grade drop-in barrels for Glock feature extremely tight tolerances and are manufactured with pre-hardened chromium stainless steel (416R) that was originally designed for use in Match Grade rifle barrels.
This material provides high tensile strength and toughness to withstand typical chamber pressures while still being highly corrosion resistant.
ZEV Technologies barrels are some of the most precise in the industry. Every barrel is double-honed (rough and finish) until a minimum surface finish of 16 RA is reached. During this process, the barrels are held to a final dimension of +/- 0.0002" for consistency and accuracy.
The Agency Arms Syndicate Barrel offers great performance at an affordable price. This model designed for the GLOCK 19 features a smooth profile without fluting and a target-crowned muzzle.
The Glock 19 Syndicate Barrel is made to the same standards as the other models out of high-quality 416R stainless steel and extremely consistent broached rifling at a 1:10 twist rate.
Having thoroughly assessed various barrel manufacturers over the years, we confidently recommend Faxon Firearms as the top choice. Let’s take a closer look at some of their current offerings.
Glock 19 Barrel
Seeking the ultimate upgrade for your trusted Glock 19?
While Glock’s renowned reliability and ease of use remain unmatched, its immense popularity has paved the way for a plethora of aftermarket enhancements.
Upgrading the Glock 19 barrel is one of the easiest modifications. Faxon’s precision-engineered barrels are shielded with a PVD or black Nitride coating, increasing resistance to wear and ensuring longevity. Crafted with conventional rifling, they will eat almost all ammunition, including cast lead.
The best part? Seamless integration into your factory-spec slides without the need for a gunsmith. Experience a lockup that’s tighter and more consistent than OEM, thanks to their meticulous tolerances.
Whether you prefer threaded or non-threaded, know that every barrel is manufactured in-house (in the USA), ensuring the best possible performance for your Glock 19.
For over four decades, the Glock 17 has reigned as one of the best full-size pistols.
Despite a divided audience—equally adored and criticized—Glock’s reliability is undebatable.
Amplifying its popularity is the sheer amount of aftermarket parts and accessories, allowing owners to tailor their firearms. One of the most popular upgrades? Shifting from the OEM barrel to a match-grade barrel.
Faxon Firearms, long admired for its excellence in manufacturing AR-15 barrels and even complete firearms, extends its expertise to the Glock domain. Their Glock 17 barrels, in particular, stand as a testament to their unwavering commitment to quality.
Looking to elevate your Glock’s precision to nail those long-distance shots? The key lies in the right barrel, quality ammo, and superior sights.
Faxon Firearms, a name synonymous with barrel excellence, presents its match-grade barrels tailored for the Glock 43X. These barrels, renowned for halving groups at 50 yards, ensure an immediate fit without any modifications.
Experience the difference with its enhanced lockup, sharper than OEMs, combined with a 1:10 conventional rifling and an 11-degree target crown.
The result? Unparalleled accuracy for your Glock 43X. Plus, with varied coating options, this barrel doesn’t just perform exceptionally—it looks the part too. Because style, undoubtedly, matters.
Precision-molded from stress-relieved 416-R stainless steel, these barrels boast impeccable quality, shaped entirely in Faxon’s own facilities. With coatings of either black Nitride or PVD, they promise enhanced durability, extended lifespan, and resistance against wear.
Their conventional rifling stands out, compatible with diverse ammunition types, including cast lead. And the best part? Slide them effortlessly into your factory-spec slides without needing a gunsmith’s touch.
Experience an unmatched lockup—more precise and consistent than typical OEM barrels, all credited to their superior tolerances.
OEM Glock barrels are renowned for their reliability and performance straight out of the box. They are designed to meet the versatile needs of most shooters, offering a balance of accuracy, durability, and cost-effectiveness. However, for enthusiasts looking to push their Glock’s performance further, especially in precision shooting or customization, aftermarket barrels present significant advantages.
Aftermarket Glock barrels often come with tighter manufacturing tolerances, which can translate to better accuracy, especially at longer ranges. They also offer a variety of features, like different coatings for increased barrel life, threaded options for suppressor or compensator attachments, and aesthetic customization to suit individual preferences. While OEM barrels provide a solid baseline, aftermarket options allow shooters to tailor their Glock to specific uses, be it competitive shooting, hunting, or personal defense.
In summary, while OEM barrels maintain Glock’s promise of ‘perfection,’ aftermarket barrels offer the opportunity to specialize and optimize your firearm according to your unique shooting needs and preferences.
Button Rifling vs. Polygonal Rifling
When upgrading your Glock, understanding the difference between button rifling and polygonal rifling is crucial.
OEM Glock barrels typically use polygonal rifling. This type of rifling is known for its smoother bore surface, which can offer a slight velocity boost and easier cleaning. However, it’s generally less suitable for shooting lead bullets, as it can lead to faster fouling.
In contrast, many aftermarket barrels feature button rifling. This traditional form of rifling, characterized by its distinct lands and grooves, provides a better grip on the bullet per se and potentially improves accuracy.
Button-rifled barrels are also more versatile, accommodating a wider range of ammunition, including lead bullets, without the risk of excessive fouling.
What Buying the Best Glock Barrel WON’T Do For You
Buying the best Glock barrel is NOT going to improve your shooting or make up for poor fundamentals.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, upgrading to a match barrel will certainly cut your groups nearly in half at 25 and 50 yards as well as make it appear that you have Jedi shooting skills to your buddies.
I witnessed this dynamic firsthand at a 2-day pistol course I attended. Here is how it went down.
It was a hot and humid July morning when I stepped onto the range, the sun casting a golden hue over the shooting lanes and target stands. I had signed up for a 2-day pistol course, eagerly anticipating the knowledge and experience Kyle Defoor would impart.
As the attendees were shooting the shit prior to starting, Kyle started the session with an intriguing claim: by the end of these two days, we would grasp the clear distinction between a stock barrel and a quality match-grade pistol barrel in terms of pistol marksmanship. Kyle was always an advocate of a high-quality match barrel.
Several times throughout the course, Kyle demonstrated the accuracy of both types of barrels, the targets revealing the differences in precision and consistency. The match-grade barrel’s grouping was remarkably tighter at 25 yards. But just as we all began to see the advantages and consider immediate upgrades, Kyle spoke up in a stern voice.
“Before you rush out to swap barrels," he began, looking each of us in the eye, “remember this: a barrel only amplifies what’s already there." He stressed that mastering the basics—grip, stance, sight alignment, and trigger control—was paramount. Until we could shoot with consistency using an OEM barrel, a match-grade barrel would merely magnify our errors.
Over the two days, Kyle’s underlying message was clear: it’s the shooter, not the equipment, that makes the most significant difference. Upgrades are beneficial, but foundational skills are indispensable. As we left the course, many of us felt a renewed determination—not to rush to the nearest store, but to the practice range, refining our skills shot by shot.
Glock markets itself as perfection out of the box. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t take an already-proven design and modify it to suit your style and needs.
Swapping out the stock barrel for one of these aftermarket barrels is just one of many things you can do to elevate the performance of your Glock pistol.
Table of Contents
Best Glock Barrels at a Glance
Why Upgrade To An Aftermarket Glock Barrel?
Our Top Picks for the 7 Best Glock Barrels
1. Faxon Firearms
2. Wilson Combat
3. KKM Precision
4. Lone Wolf
5. Grey Ghost Precision
6. Zev Technologies
7. Agency Arms
Which Aftermarket Glock Barrel Do We Prefer?
Glock 19 Barrel
Glock 17 Barrel
Glock 43x Barrel
Glock 48 Barrel
OEM Glock vs. Aftermarket Glock Barrels
Button Rifling vs. Polygonal Rifling
What Buying the Best Glock Barrel WON’T Do For You
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