The Glock 20: Big Bore and a Big Bite!
There’s something about a .45 ACP handgun that just feels right.
That big and slow-moving chunk of lead has been stopping fights and dropping bad intentions for well over a century.
And when you pair that kind of old-school stopping power with Glock’s ultra-modern, no-frills platform, you end up with something like the Glock 20.
This thing is a beast of a pistol that doesn’t care about trends or opinions.
It’s just there to work.
I’ll be straight with you: the Glock 20 isn’t for everyone. It’s a big gun. Chunky, thick, full-sized, and proud of it.
But if you’re the kind of person who wants a little more bark in your bite, and if you like your guns built with the same philosophy as cast iron skills (functional, reliable, and no nonsense), then the Glock 20 might just be your huckleberry.
A Quick Look at the G20’s Roots
Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Glock was taking the world by storm with its polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols.
The Glock 21 is a big pistol. That’s also why a lot of people like it.
The original Glock 17 kicked the doors open with 17 rounds of 9mm and a revolutionary design that turned the gun world upside down. Folks either loved it or hated it, but everyone paid attention.
Well, after proving the concept with the 9mm, Glock turned its sights toward the big leagues: 10mm Auto.
That’s where the G20 comes in.
It was Glock’s answer to folks who liked the company’s reliability and simple operation but wanted a little more thump out of each shot. The G20 took the new 10mm round and stuffed it into a high-capacity, low-maintenance, and no-nonsense pistol that just flat-out works.
Size and Feel: Not Built for Dainty Hands
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the Glock 20 is big. If you’ve got smaller hands, you’re gonna feel it.
The grip is thick, and it’s got a little more meat on the frame than your average 9mm Glock. If you’re coming from a single-stack 1911 or a compact pistol, the G20 might feel like holding a brick with a trigger.
But for those of us with medium to larger paws, the size isn’t just manageable;it’s comfortable. That full-sized grip gives you something solid to hang on to, which really helps when you’re firing full-power 10mm rounds. Recoil is more of a push than a snap, and that big frame soaks up a lot of the energy. It’s kind of like driving a heavy old pickup versus a lightweight sports car. You feel the road, but you’re not getting jostled around.
Capacity: The Round That Keeps On Giving
One of the biggest advantages of the G20 over other semi-automatic pistols in its caliber is magazine capacity. Most of your classic 10mms, like the 1911, give you 8 or 9 rounds.
The Glock 20 gives you 15+1.
Fifteen rounds of 10mm on tap is nothing to sneeze at. That’s a whole lot of fight-stopping power in one mag.
And let’s face it, in a defensive situation, capacity can be the difference between walking away and running dry.
Now, that big mag is part of why the grip’s so thick, but in my book, it’s a fair trade. You’re getting almost double the capacity of a traditional single-stack 1911 and you’re not giving up reliability or accuracy to get it.
Reliability: Typical Glock Toughness
We’ve all heard the jokes about Glocks being “ugly but reliable.” And sure, the G20 isn’t winning any beauty contests.
It’s boxy, plain, and kind of homely. But it’s also a workhorse that’s earned its reputation the hard way…by running under all kinds of conditions without complaining.
With 15+1 rounds of 10mm rounds, the Glock 20 makes no apologies when it comes to capacity!
Mine has eaten everything I’ve ever fed it, from steel-case range ammo to premium defensive hollow points. It doesn’t care. It just goes bang every time you pull the trigger.
There’s no manual safety to mess with, no external hammer to snag on anything, and very few moving parts to worry about. If you can field strip a Glock, you can clean a G20 in your sleep. It’s designed for folks who want a gun that works, not a science project.
And you don’t have to baby it. You can toss it in a bag, leave it in a truck, or carry it in the woods and it’ll be right there when you need it, ready to rock.
Trigger and Accuracy: Nothing Fancy, Just Consistent
Let’s talk about the trigger. It’s not a 1911 trigger. It’s not crisp, it’s not light, and it’s not breaking like a glass rod.
But it is consistent. That’s something I’ve come to appreciate more and more over the years.
The standard Glock trigger has a little take-up, a steady pull, and then a soft-ish wall with a decent break. It resets fast and clean, which makes follow-up shots easy once you get used to it.
And even though it’s not a target pistol, the G20 is accurate. More accurate than most folks can shoot, to be honest. At 7 to 15 yards (which is the kind of distance that you’d see in a real-world self-defense situation) it’s dead-on. Even out at 25 yards and beyond, it can hold a group just fine if you do your part.
It’s one of those guns where if your shots are off, you probably need more range time, not a new pistol.
Carrying the G20: A Whole Lotta Gun
Now let’s be real…carrying a Glock 20 concealed is not for the faint of heart. It’s a full-size pistol in every sense. Big slide, thick grip, long barrel.
If you’re trying to carry this thing IWB (inside the waistband), you’re gonna need a good holster and a solid belt, plus maybe a wardrobe update.
That said, folks do carry them. Especially big guys who can hide it under a flannel or a loose t-shirt. And if you’re carrying OWB (outside the waistband), maybe under a jacket or for open carry, it’s a whole lot more comfortable.
The weight’s not bad thanks to the polymer frame. Even loaded with 15+1 rounds of 10mm, it’s not as heavy as you’d think. But the bulk can be a challenge if you’re not used to carrying a full-size gun.
The Glock 20 is a surprisingly versatile weapon despite its larger size.
That’s why a lot of folks treat the G20 more like a duty pistol or a home defense weapon. It makes a great nightstand gun because it’s reliable and powerful, and it’s also ready to go if something goes bump in the night.
Use Cases: Where the G20 Really Shines
The Glock 20 is one of those “do-it-all” kind of guns…if you can manage the size, that is.
It’s perfect for home defense, truck gun duty, or as a hiking and camping companion when you want something with a little more punch for critters or creepers.
And if you’re a 10mm fan, it’s hard to beat the G20 in terms of capacity, durability, and shootability.
Variants and Gen Differences
The Glock 20 is always ready to go. For home defense, it’s rock solid. For truck duty, it’s built for it. For the range, it’s fun as hell. And while it might not be the first pick for concealed carry, it’ll do the job if you’re determined enough.
In other words, the G20 keeps things simple, loud, and powerful.
It doesn’t apologize for being big. It just works.
And for a lot of us, that’s all we really need.
