A Glock is simply one of the most balanced pistols out there.
You know exactly what you’re getting when you purchase one — a dependable weapon that’s easy to shoot with a familiar boxy, plastic feel.
Yes, Glocks attract almost as many haters as they do diehard followers. But they’re good guns…especially if you’re a noob looking to get comfortable shooting. Not to mention, Glocks are highly customizable thanks to a robust aftermarket.
One of the easiest upgrades to start with is the barrel.
So, today we’ll walk through why you might want to swap out your stock Glock barrel for something a little flashier and run through some of our favorite Glock barrels.
By the end, you’ll know what companies to head to if you want to add a little more pizazz to your Glock pistol.
Summary of Our Top Picks
Best Bang for Your BuckGrey Ghost Precision Glock Barrels
More affordable than other options, but great quality
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Why Get a Replacement Barrel?
Since Glocks are known for their unparalleled quality, the idea of spending money on an aftermarket barrel might seem strange.
More often than not, people interested in replacement barrels for their Glock want competition-grade barrels that can help increase accuracy when squeezing off rounds.
Many competitive shooters swear by these match-grade aftermarket Glock barrels when using premium ammunition.
Another reason why some people opt for an aftermarket barrel is barrel threading for compensators or suppressors.
With that said, let’s take a look at some popular aftermarket barrels…
Best Aftermarket Glock Barrels
1. Faxon
Faxon’s AR-15 barrels, handguards, and bolt carrier groups have been impressing us for a while.
And their Glock barrels are no exception.
Their accurate and offer multiple coatings so you can get the look you want.
In short, we highly recommend them.
See it in action here:
To read more on our experiences with Faxon’s Glock barrels, check out our full review.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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2. Grey Ghost Precision
Grey Ghost Precision is another company that is well-known for its awesome aftermarket goods.
We’ve tested out a few of their products, a Glock barrel included, and really liked what Grey Ghost offered.
Bottom line…the barrel we tried was awesome.
One of the best things about Grey Ghost is the number of options. Whether you want a threaded or non-threaded model or want to upgrade your slide as well…you can probably find what you’re looking for. Grey Ghost has options for both the Glock G19 and G17 too!
Make sure to dive further into their offerings in our full review of a GGP slide and barrel combo.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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What do you think of Grey Ghost Precision barrels? Rate them below.
3. Lone Wolf
Lone Wolf has earned the reputation of being one of the leading manufacturer of aftermarket Glock accessories in the industry.
You want to completely rebuild your Glock? Yeah, they can help with that.
While it should come as no surprise that Lone Wolf makes their own Glock barrels as well, you might be interested to know that they don’t just produce OEM replicas.
They also make completely unique barrels that stand out from their factory counterparts.
Lone Wolf’s line of Alpha Wolf barrels lets the shooter have more control over their gun’s operation.
One of the chief differences between Alpha Wolf and Glock OEM barrels is the option of barrel threading, which is something that Glock simply doesn’t do.
And if you’re planning on mounting a suppressor, you need a threaded barrel.
Lone Wolf’s barrels also ditch the hex/polygonal rifling for traditional rifling.
Lone Wolf also has a number of barrels that convert various Glock models from one caliber to another.
These make it easy to turn your Glock G35 from a .40 S&W chambering into a 9mm or .357 Sig.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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4. KKM Precision
KKM is one of the leading manufacturers of match-grade drop-in Glock barrels.
Designed for competition shooting, KKM’s barrels are a popular choice for Glock owners looking to gain a competitive edge with their accuracy.
Additionally, KKM barrels are also great for shooting non-jacketed bullets as well — perfect for anyone who has a surplus of lead ammo they’d like to get rid of.
You’ll find that a large portion of the Glock owners shooting with KKM barrels belong to 3-Gun crowds.
This is because KKM barrels are known to improve accuracy thanks to their button rifling which irons the rifling pattern into the barrel rather than cuts it.
That, and the fact that KKM barrels increase tightness in the chamber is said to give competitive shooters a slight advantage over OEM barrels.
While the KKM barrels might be overkill for a standard home defense setup, if you’re trying to improve your accuracy in a competitive setting using high-quality loads, KKM can do wonders for your grouping.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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5. Zev Technologies
If you know a thing or two about modding Glocks, chances are you’re already familiar with Zev.
This company makes some of the coolest slides and most responsive triggers for Glock models.
Zev barrels don’t just come in pretty colors…they’re also made with match-grade steel that’s resilient and withstands excessive pressure from shooting with a suppressor.
Many also come with the option of threading as well, making it simple to mount a suppressor if you’ve got one.
The durability that comes with the pre-hardened stainless steel barrel offers improved resistance against friction and corrosion.
And as an added bonus, all of Zev’s barrels are drop-in barrels, so you don’t need any gunsmithing expertise when swapping out your OEM barrel.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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6. Killer Innovations
Looking for a precise barrel? Well, Killer Innovations looks to offer just that.
Killer Innovations claim to fame is their single point cutting system for their rifling which is more precise.
We ran in through a couple builds and also shot different types of ammo at 10-yards.
Its results were good for the compact G19 barrel and frame!
Check it out if you like a different pattern of the exposed barrel…and if you value accuracy above all.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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7. Tyrant Designs Glock Barrel
Tyrant makes a whole bunch of Glock accessories and recently added barrels to the lineup. Suitable for the G19, G19X, and G45, they come in black or gold and are for Gens 3-5.
These barrels feature symmetric fluting for heat dissipation as well as deep crowning for increased bullet stability. Threaded options come with a 1/2-28 thread pitch pattern to fit most suppressor options.
Tyrant included a 1 in 10 twist rate for the barrels as well. Forged from 416R stainless steel, they are then coated with gold TinNitride or a black DLC finish.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Final Thoughts
Glock markets itself as perfection straight out of the box. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t take an already decent design and tweak it to suit your sensibilities!
Switching out the barrel is just one of many things you can do to make your Glock truly one of a kind.
What’s your favorite Glock barrel? Let us know in the comments below. Pair up your new barrel with one of our favs in Best Glock Slides. Or if you want to swap out even more stuff…check out our Best Glock Upgrades.
50 Leave a Reply
May I ask why you didn’t test the F.J. Feddersen barrel? It is 1 of the only aftermarket barrels that has the same twist rate as the stock barrel.
We test what we can get our hands on, but we do update our articles as we get more products in hand. So, keep an eye out.
Ya know I’ve been shooting, and hunting my whole life not to mention 18 years in the Army and being an armorer for 17 of them years. I hardly hear anything about Wheaton Arms barrels. I’ve shot with a few different ones from different companies but I always come back to Wheaton Arms. The owner is a super cool guy and a Marine Veteran. Give Wheaton a review for yourself I’ve never had an issue or complaint.
God Bless America and Long Live the Republic
Chuck
USARMY (Ret)
Gunners Choice LLC
Show me an aftermarket barrel for a Glock or any firearm that has performed like my original M and P compact 2.0 barrel. I am currently up to 22,713 rounds through this gun with ZERO FAILURES of any kind. Yes I count every single round- that's over twenty two thousand seven hundred rounds without a single failure. (Ok I once had a failure of slide to lock back on empty when the gun was new and a couple of light strikes with crappy ammo that is known for this).
Oh and I clean my gun after every time I go to the range....
Gun manufacturers know what they are doing when they make the most important part of the gun- the barrel! Why would you go for 'aftermarket"?
I own several Glocks including a Glock 15 upgrades via Wilson Combat Vickers model and I installed a fluted barrel by Blacklist Industry and at about round 190 the barrel split down the entire side at the lowest point of one of the flutes and the gun locked up I was using Remington 124+P . I contacted Blacklist and they were going to send me a new barrel and so far nothing not even return the split barrel to check into any metallurgical issues and for $279 this is not good customer service I my humble opinion.
The barrel split wtf what a POS.
A bit of a late reply, but....
I have had nothing but failure to feed problems with every after market barrel for Glocks. I've had Storm Lake barrels, Lone Wolf barrels, and others, for my G35, G43, G23, and the only barrel that has given me zero problems is the Glock OEM. My opinion (simply an opinion) is that there is no need to replace the OEM barrel for any Glock....they are very accurate, and they function with any and all ammo, including reloads. My personal experience is that the whole idea of aftermarket barrels for Glocks is a marketing scam, pure and simple.
Hey Griffin, I think the only reason is to add a suppressor. That is why I am buying one
There are plenty of barrel manufacturers, what is the criteria used to base your high opinion on these? testing?
Good question I’d like to know that as well. So that I can do the same and form an opinion as well. Really good question!
I have a threaded Faxon barrel for my G43X. 20% to 30% failure to feeds. Had ramp polished out to a mirror. Still happens. Most disappointing $210 I have ever spent. Going back to stock barrel for carry. I won't even try to sell this piece of garbage to someone to recoup some loses, wouldn't be ethical.
I bought 3 Faxon barrels and they are all shit. My 10.5" AR barrel would unlock too soon and get weird pressure problems. My two Glock 19 barrels have chambers that are too tight and cause jams. Don't waste your money on Faxon, their barrels are shit.
What about “Agency Arms” barrels ? Reviewers like “Tactical Toolbox” and a lot of other reviewers swear by them and don’t trust anything else. Why wasn’t Agency Arms barrels on your list ?
I reviewed this site...and went straight back to Agency. Threaded mid-line match grade drop in for P80 G17 Gen3. Some of the best on the market. No idea why they left them out. Especially considering the fact that many of the barrels Included in the list are either unreliable, impossible to obtain due to stock issues and/or over priced.
RE: KKM and button rifling - I'm a fan of KKM but button rifling is neither more (inherently) accurate than cut rifling, nor is it a KKM exclusive. In fact, I'd love to know who is producing cut rifled barrels for Glocks, as most aftermarket manufacturers are button rifling.
You can produce an incredibly accurate barrel using either method, you can also produce an inaccurate barrel using either method. It's not the rifling method that determines an accurate barrel, but the manufacturer's total process. Manufacturing a button rifled barrel is faster and less complex than manufacturing a single-point cut-rifled barrel, that's it's main advantage. Cut rifling can produce a smoother finish (cutting versus tearing) which equates to less copper fouling (and less barrel break-in needed on precision rifles). Cut rifled barrels also tend to have a lower transition period from good to worn out, whereas button rifled barrels tend to degrade more abruptly when they start to open up.
And if anyone's interested, there are at least three other methods of rifling: Broached, Hammer Forged, and ECM.
Hello,
I am interested in aftermarket hammer forged and ECM barrels compatible with the Glock 19 gen 3,4. Do you know of any company who make them?
Hi there. My name is Patrick Rutherford. I’m looking for a lead Bullet barrel in the $100 price range. I have a Gen 1 glock 17. I don’t need irridescent colors. . Just a simple barrel
Do you have any knowledge of the Glock Store Double Diamond barrels? I am looking for a barrel for a glock 20.
My experience with Double Diamond Barrels is they dont fit some Slides out of the box.
I JUST SENT BACK A KILLER INNOVATIONS BARREL THE CHAMBER WASN'T POLISHED YOU COULD SEE RINGS FROM THE CUTTING TOOL PLUS THERE WAS A BLUE RING AT THE TOP OF THE CHAMBER FROM GETTING TOO HOT IN THE CUTTING PROCESS.THEY SAID THE RINGS WERE NORMAL AND BECAUSE THEY PLUG THE CHAMBER FOR THE COATING PROCESS WAS THE REASON FOR THE BLUE RING. IWHENRUNNING A THIN WIRE OVER THE RINGS IN THE CHAMBER COULD FEEL THE RIDGES THATS WHY I SENT IT BACK.
Capslock!
Why wasn't the double diamond barrel from the glock store mention in the review of after market barrels for the glock.
My experience with Double Diamond Barrels is they dont fit some Slides out of the box.
I got a Stainless 9mm for my G-17 and it wouldnt fit. I had to do some filing to get it right. A lot of filing and fitting. I was taking a risk because it voided the warranty I'm sure. I had waited the better part of a month so I had at it. Other Barrels have not had this problem at all.
I'm going to use a "killer" barrel with "R.I.P." ammunition. I'm sure no prosecutor would ever try to use it against me.
Who cares if they did. You would never get convicted! Don't be so dumb!
I’m looking for a threaded barrel from gen 4 10 mm glock
Okay,
1. I Shoot a Zev and Wheaton on my 17. A L2D on my 19. All 3 shoot great, don't jam Etc. I shoot a KKM on my 40 Cal Glock. Aftermarket barrels give me more consistency for some reason. 2. Moving to a 147 grain 9mm round tightened up my groups. " Winchester Train and Defend"
3. Corrected my "Left" & " Little Low" by sliding my grip clockwise. This lead to my trigger finger pulling straight back.
I bought a KKM barrel, put Coreboy in the front of it, and smoked crack out of it, and it still shot great!
Good to know. I plan on using my Glock to shotgun [see: the movie Platoon] every substance I can find. These are the reviews that matter. Than you for doing the Lord's work.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that enjoys the finer things in life. Hopefully I'll be drinking Claws through my Glock within a week.
Another good Glock or Polymer 80 barrel is from Heavy Armor Division. They'll even engrave your bbl for FREE! No relationship with them other than as a satisfied customer.
Any feed back on Bear Creak Arsenal? $50 barrels. I saw some videos that it provides OEM accuracy. A threaded barrel for $50 is a great price if it lasts and provides good accuracy.
After my experience with a .458 Socom BCA complete upper, I'd steer clear of them. They seem to have a lot of QC issues. Thankfully they were easy to work with on the return and refund.
I'BE HAD 2 KKM BARRELS ON A GLOCK 26 , and both shot high . After that I put the factory barrel back in , and was hitting point of aim . Could you please tell me what was going on there ?
That would be something you'd have to talk to KKM about, sorry.
You forgot to mention Bar-sto barrels
As I have been looking a caliber conversations, no one comes right out and admits that the bolt face on the slide has to match the case? I'm sure a ,357 sig. will work in a 40 S&W slide, but there isn't any way to use 9 mm in say a Glock 22 or 23? Am I correct or not?
You can buy a 9mm conversion barrel for a Glock 22 or 23. You can go down in caliber but not up.
@Revolverdude : "You can buy a 9mm conversion barrel for a Glock 22 or 23. You can go down in caliber but not up."
Not necessarily. The only conversion Glock recommends is .357 SIG and .40 S&W. As for the G22/23 conversion of G17/G19... The G22 was originally built on the G17 frame, and with the higher pressures of the .40, they were taking a battering, which lead to some pre-mature wear issues. With the Gen4, the G17 was built on the G22 frame, so stepping down from a .40 to a 9mm would be safe (though not recommended), HOWEVER, you could see some reliability issues if you try to do this with a pre-Gen4 gun. The extractor on a pre-Gen4 G22 isn't long enough to reliably grab the case of the 9mm. The Gen4 extractor is overbuilt, so it grabs the .40 case more aggressively, which means it will still reliably (more or less) grade a 9mm case. (NOTE: As of the date on this post, Glock goes not have a .40 Gen5, and most likely won't, so it's not applicable to Gen5).
A glock desenvolveu sim a g22 gen 5 para a polícia militar de sao paulo/brazil
The article about KKM barrels being less reliable than the OEM barrel is total BS. I put a KKM barrel in a new unfired G20 for using Buffalo Bore hard cast ammo for hiking. I bought a 500 round case of Remington range ammo to break the pistol in before carrying it. 500 rounds without a single failure to feed, fire or extract.
“Failure to feed, fire, or extract.”
None of which are barrel related. Cool story.
Failure to feed with a bad ramp certainly is affected by Barrel. Had to send back a KKM to have the ramp remilled.
Not my experience. My KKM barrel would not feed BB 70% of the time. Sent it back and now it does fine.
I have a Barsto .40- 9mm drop in conversion for my G23C. Since I primarily shoot crap reloads I don't notice much difference BUT they are the only company that offers a barrel with porting in the factory location, For my G27 I have KKM .40-9mm drop in and don't notice much there either.
I like a lot of what ZEV is putting out....but they do not put out anything for the Glock 23.
Good evening. As of right now. I bought a black list barrel for my g23. Because I will be carrying a buffalo bore 40+p for self defense. cannot do it with oem barrels. alpha wolf g23 barrels are hit and miss. My friends alpha wolf needs the feed ramp polished. It cannot feed hp and had ftf.
That’s the problem their barrels are top notch and they make nothing for the .40 this just blows my mind !
Good, solid information regarding a trusted "go-to" pistol. I note that you don't have space to address every aftermarket barrel available, but Storm Lake didn't make the shortlist. Any opinions? I placed one of SL's barrels 5.30" w/ ports in a G-21 just the other day. I found it to be as close to "airtight" as a drop-in could be without smithing my gun. Good looks, good price. Haven't shot it as of yet, but it seems to be a good choice. Will I be wishing I went with KMM or Zev?
I also put money into the SL 5.3 w/porting on my Glock 21. Even though Iv trusted Zev with many parts for several firearms, I'm very happy with the results found in Storm Lake. All fit, function and looks pleased me so much it gave me the desire to continue improving on this 21 and Ill say that I'm again enjoying shooting it once again.