Compensators and pistol wear

[david_m_curry]

If one is shooting a hot cartridge, like .40 Super in a Glock 21, would a compensator reduce pistol wear significantly or would it merely reduce muzzle-flip? If a compensator is a good thing as far as improving a pistol's service life, can one be installed on an after-market barrel that is 0.9" longer than the stock barrel (5.5" Jarvis barrel on Glock 21} without leaving a gap between it and the slide?

 

[Mike Spight]

david: To my knowledge, all a compensator will do for you is reduce muzzle climb and felt recoil. I've never heard or read any claims that they will reduce wear on a handgun. In the case of a semi-auto, shokbuffs or recoil reducing spring units may offer stress relief for your pistols

 

[Daniel Watters]

The extra mass of the compensator would certainly help keep the action shut longer as would the gas pressure against the baffle(s). Unfortunately, there are not many ready-made compensator bodies for the Glocks. KKM, Briley, and Rescomp jump to mind, but of those which I've seen specs for, only a barrel extension of .5" is required. In order to cover your entire .9", you'll need the help of a good machinist. Perhaps George Smith of EGW ( www.egw-guns.com ) would be willing to help you out on a custom-order basis.

 

[Ben]

Can you shoot the new 45 Super in a Glock 21? I don't know much about the .45 Super, but I would think that it would be the other way around... ie, shooting a .45 ACP in a .45 Super barrel. Like shooting a .38 Special in a .357 Mag, not vice-versa though.

Did I word all that correctly? I would have to guess that a barrel change would be in order. The Glock 21-C has a built in compensator.

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Ben

"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"