Looking for Glock 19 upgrades that will improve performance and expandability? One of the best of them has to be a Glock 19 threaded barrel – specifically one with a nitride finish, like black nitride or titanium nitride.
Here’s what to know about the stock barrel as well as about nitrided, threaded upgrades.
About the Stock Glock 19 Barrel
First off, this isn’t a knock against the stock Glock 19 barrel. The stock barrel (Gen 5, at least) features an nDLC finish.
If you’re not familiar, this stands for “diamond like carbon.” The process of applying it is quite complex and won’t be covered here, but here’s what you need to know: a DLC coating basically uses deposition techniques to apply an extremely hard finish to a surface (usually steel) that is only a few micrometers thick.
Even though the finish is very thin, it is extremely hard (like diamond, hence the name) and offers a very low coefficient of friction, even when dry. This is called dry lubricity.
It is by every metric an excellent finish and Glock produces quality barrels. But if you’re thinking of upgrading to a Glock 19 threaded barrel, a model with a nitride finish is definitely a good bet.
Why a Nitride Finish?
Well, for one, nitrided finishes are usually more affordable than DLC coatings. But this is about performance and not about cost, so we’ll stick to that.
It’s also important to note that there is more than one type of nitride. A common one is called “black nitride” which utilizes a process called ferritic nitrocarburization.
In a nutshell, the steel is heated and exposed to a nitrogen rich environment (commonly a salt bath). During the process, the nitrogen atoms diffuse into the surface of the steel, resulting in an extremely hard finish with an attractive luster. Nitrided finishes are also extremely corrosion resistant and offer amazing permanent dry lubricity (they don’t require liquid lubrication to be “slick”).
There are also titanium nitride finishes, sometimes referred to as TiN or tinite. These are applied via PVD, or physical vapor deposition, and are technically a type of ceramic coating.
TiN produces a very attractive gold-tone finish, and offers the same benefits as black nitride. Many people prefer the flashy look of TiN, and like black nitride, it is very hard, very corrosion resistant, and also offers excellent permanent dry lubricity.
All of this is to say, if you’re looking for a Glock 19 barrel upgrade, black nitride and titanium nitride are both excellent (and cost effective) alternatives to DLC. Getting one that’s threaded only adds a use case.
Why a Threaded Barrel?
In a word, because a threaded barrel allows you to expand the Glock with muzzle devices. Whether you want to run a suppressor or a compensator, the easiest way to do that without a trip to the gunsmith is to get a threaded barrel.
The argument for a suppressor or compensator should be self-evident. The former will reduce muzzle pop, while both of them will reduce felt recoil. Truthfully, the case for a Glock 19 threaded barrel really makes itself.
Where Can You Get a Glock 19 Threaded Barrel?
Thinking a nitrided Glock 19 threaded barrel might be a suitable upgrade for your gun? Have your eye on a suppressor or a compensator and just need to make the move to upgrade the barrel?
Get it online at NineX19. They carry Glock and Sig upgrades, including barrels, slides, triggers, magwells, and even some muzzle devices. You can find more detailed info on their website or get in touch with them directly if you have questions about compatibility, finishes, or specifications.
