Glock Model 20 SF Short Frame Gen 3 PF2050702 10mm Auto

GUN TESTS GRADE: B+

$546

The 1986 firefight between the FBI and bank robbers Platt and Matix has become one of the most studied police/criminal interactions in history. With a total of two dead and five injured Special Agents, many questions were asked, and many changes were made. One of the primary conclusions was that the handguns the agents used (38 Special and 9mm) did not have sufficient stopping power. Recommendations intended to remedy that situation resulted in, amongst other things, the creation of the 10mm pistol cartridge. Initially hailed by lawmen and sportsmen alike, Glock introduced a large-frame 10mm semi-automatic pistol in 1991. Because Glock numbers its models sequentially (beginning with the famous Model 17), the 10mm version, being the fourth pistol introduced to the public, became the G20, or Glock Model 20.

Earlier models, such as the G17 (full-size), G18 (select fire, full-size), and the G19 (mid-size) were all chambered in 9mm. With the 10mm cartridge being at least 0.100 inch longer than the 9mm, a different-sized frame and magazine were required. The first G20 was scaled up accordingly and was an excellent fit for those with hands sufficiently large. Recognizing that not all of us were born with bearpaw-sized hands, Glock introduced the SF or Short Frame version in 2009. Several dimensions were reduced in the grip area, but this is still a full-sized pistol. Because the G20SF is actually a Gen 3 model, we compared it to a Gen 3 G19 we have. Measurements for the G20SF were generally about 0.100 inch greater than for the G19. For example, mag length on the G19 is 1.300 inch, and we measured the length on the G20SF at 1.432 inch. The frame width on the G19 was about 1.182 inch versus 1.285 inch on the G20SF and so on. Be aware that 0.1 inch here and 0.1 inch there adds up to enough difference to change the feel of the pistol. Not wrong — just different enough to notice.

With Glocks now in their fifth generation of perfection, why would Glock still be marketing a Gen 3 pistol? Look no farther than California. The most populous state in the country has a “roster” of approved handguns that the state government will allow to be sold within their borders. All new firearms must be approved before they can be sold, and almost none are. Even changing something as minor as the material used for a spring creates a totally new firearm under their rules. The Gen 3 pistols have long been approved. That makes it easier and very prudent for Glock to just maintain production of the Gen 3 pistols, thereby keeping officials in California happy. The Bruen decision from the U.S. Supreme Court may negate that roster. We shall see.

Our test G20SF is everything we have come to expect from Glock. The boxy slide is made of stainless steel and treated with a Tenifer process. This is a carbo-nitrate formula that infuses the steel with oxygen, making it very corrosion resistant and very hard. Seven slots are milled vertically near the rear of the slide as grasping grooves. The sights are simple but effective. The rear sight slides into a dovetail allowing it to be moved left or right as windage adjustments. We have seen sights in the past that were plastic stiffened with a metal bar. These Glock Night Sights are steel with a good, wide sighting groove. The muzzle side of the rear sight is tall and flat enough to be used for one-handed, emergency manipulation if needed. The front sight, held in place on earlier models with a plastic wedge, is now secured by a screw fastening through the top of the slide into the bottom of the sight blade. Both sights show white dots that contain tritium vials in the center, thus making them glow a faint green in the dark.

The frame is a nylon-based polymer invented by Glock called Polymer 2. Here we find most of the features common to their Gen 3 pistols. The backstrap has raised projections to help with grip security. The front strap also has the projections, along with finger grooves. Later versions dropped the grooves and went to a more aggressive stippling on the grip panels. The pattern on our Glock is a bit too smooth and was the primary reason we normally used grip tape or skateboard tape on Gen 3 pistols in competition. As with Gen 3 pistols, the magazine release is narrower than those on the Gen 5 Glocks shipped to most places now. Glock established the pattern on their safeties long ago, and this pistol was no exception. Present, as expected, are the trigger-blade safety, firing-pin safety and the passive drop safety.

Everything arrived in the ubiquitous Glock black- plastic case, along with assorted paperwork, a lock and two extra 15-round magazines. After inspecting, cleaning, and re-lubricating the pistol, we headed for the range. The G20SF did what we have absolutely come to expect from Glocks — it went bang, and it hit what we pointed it at. No malfunctions, no hiccups, no problems. Five-shot groups fired at 15 yards averaged 2.10 inches and showed the Magtech 180 JHP as its slight favorite. The best group was 1.21 inches, launched using the Sellier & Bellot 180 FMJs. We realize that the subjective rating of recoil impulse is difficult to quantify, but we thought the G20SF was a bit softer to shoot than the XDM-E pistols. We know that the distance the empty cases were ejected from the pistols (sometimes an indicator of things like slide velocity) was less for the Glock than the Springfields. The Glock trigger was measured at 6.2 pounds of required compression versus 4.7 pounds for both Springfields.

Our Team Said: We felt the slightly heavier trigger and slower slide reset for the Glock slowed it down just a bit versus the Springfields, resulting in the XDM-E Black and Green guns winning the speed drills by 0.2 to 0.3 seconds on average.

10MM Auto Range Data