There are nearly endless modifications you can apply to your stock Glock pistol. A new paint job for better curb appeal and durability… improved sights for faster target acquisition… or potentially a new barrel for the added utility of a suppressor or additionally improved accuracy. In this TFB Review, we take a look at one of Blacklist Industries’ Drop-In Ultra-Match Glock barrels for a G17. The factory barrel that comes in all Glock pistols performs as well as most any shooter could hope, but if you are looking to penetrate a higher tier of accuracy, a barrel upgrade could be the component that tips the scale for you. Let’s dive in and see what the Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel is all about!

SPECIFICATIONS: Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel

With the Blacklist Industries Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel offering, you get your choice of a threaded (1/2″ x 28 TPI) or non-threaded version, and can pick from four different finishes: Stainless Steel (Silver), TiN – Titanium Nitride (Gold), Armor (Graphite Black), or Chameleon (Rainbow). The barrel that we reviewed and tested was a non-threaded version in their Armor (Graphite Black) finish. All of the specifications for that barrel can be read below as presented by Blacklist Industries:

• Compatible: Generations 1 – 4
• Material: 416R Stainless Steel
• Twist: 1/10″
• Drop in: Yes
• Non-Threaded: Factory/Regular Length
• Rifling: Pulled Broach
• Chamber: SAAMI Spec Fully Supported
• Minor Fitting Needed: No, ready to use/drop in

The features and benefits displayed above for the Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel from Blacklist Industries are what most people would expect. Good quality steel, factory length, no hand-fitting required, and in a very clean finish. Some of the other less obvious attributes for the Drop-In Ultra-Match barrel are stated by Blacklist Industries in this quote further addressing this barrel of theirs:

Blacklist Industries Ultra Match barrels are some of the most precise match grade barrels in the industry.  Precision Machined from certified 416R stainless steel bar stock for superior strength and durability. Critical manufacturing tolerances, multiple quality-control checks, and an advanced broach rifling process allows us to guarantee the exact same accuracy from each and every barrel while also achieving greater accuracy over a stock barrel.

Eight column flutes are added at safe depths which provide a custom look and finish to the barrels. Our barrels also feature a recessed crown at the muzzle. The recessed crown preserves the barrels accuracy by preventing the very edge of the rifling from being exposed or damaged in any way that can affect the dynamics of the bullet.

Our fully supported match chamber is compatible with all bullet materials and +P ammunition. This feature reduces the risk of dangerous pressure spikes that are common in most stock/factory barrels. This is a replacement/drop in barrel, no gunsmithing required!

Once again, this barrel is available in a threaded (1/2″ x 28 TPI) or non-threaded version and can pick from four different finishes: Stainless Steel (Silver), TiN – Titanium Nitride (Gold), Armor (Graphite Black), or Chameleon (Rainbow). Your choice of color does not alter the price, but whether you have an affinity towards silencers does. Any threaded barrels have an MSRP of $229.99 while a non-threaded barrel is $10 cheaper at $219.99 retail pricing.

UNBOXING: Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel

When it comes to unboxing a Glock barrel there should be no surprises, and they were none. People typically look to order a barrel upgrade because they know what they are getting (no hidden surprises), it will hopefully increase accuracy, and an ancillary benefit is potentially a more sexy aesthetic to your pistol.

With the Blacklist Industries Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel, you get your ordered barrel in a nice protective case, a morale patch, and of course, the intended barrel. The first thing I noticed is the clean and thorough finish of the barrel. I cannot understate the clean finish because I have seen less reputable companies than Blacklist Industries (because there are innumerable aftermarket Glock parts companies) who have had barrels that looked like it was rolled in clumpy paint without care. The Blacklist Industries barrel was clean and nothing like that.

The next thing that caught my eye is the crisp exterior fluting, definitive interior rifling, and precision crown capping the barrel. These are all things that not only produce a strong look of appeal, but more importantly, they manifest in results downrange; more accuracy. So all in all, this barrel before launching a single round had the makings of success.

range time: Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel

Once I headed to the range, the first order of business was to obviously install this new drop-in barrel. This was as simple as you could envision it to be. A simple field strip of my decked out Gen4 G17, remove the factory Glock barrel, and place in the new one. Voila! So easy this monkey completing the review could it so that means anybody can do it.

The barrel lock up with the slide was crisp and flush. The recoil spring assembly nestled itself into place properly without incident. When I put the complete slide assembly back on the lower it locked back into its resting place as a fully assembled Glock should. So far, this was looking like a really boring review because everything was working flawlessly (which is exactly what shooters and consumers want to happen).

With this barrel being chambered in the world’s favorite handgun cartridge and Chuck Norris’s personal favorite (completely made-up, do not tell Chuck) I grabbed a few random boxes of 9mm I had lying around which made for a good variety. That buffet of 9mm ammunition can be read below:

• CCI Blazer Brass 9mm 115 Grain FMJ
• Remington UMC 9mm 115 Grain MC
• Winchester 9mm NATO 124 Grain FMJ
• Winchester Service Grade 115 Grain FMJ

In order to eat my way through the 250 rounds I brought with to the range, I did a lot of simple drills. I fall into the category many shooters do where I wish I could shoot all the time, but the unfortunate reality is I do not. So I performed double-tap mag change drills, slow-fire bullseye shooting, and single round fires while drawing from a holstered position. No mud torture tests, tuck-n-roll parkour action, or John Wick they killed my dog incredible feats occurred. Simply a solid day of range practice while testing out a new barrel.

While going through my modest amount of ammunition I field stripped my Glock and took pictures of the barrel as wear and the accrual of grime occurred. The barrel’s finish held up really well (if you can look past the dirt and grime from my cheap ammunition). The only point of concern was the hood of the barrel. That specific area seemed to shed a little bit of finish off which is unfortunate.

The barrel still maintained solid lock up with the slide all the while, and the accuracy never diminished either. Speaking of which, for anyone who is looking to purchase this barrel to improve their accuracy, I can attest that it will definitely benefit you. I did not bust out a micrometer and measure groups because my personal failings as a shooter far outweigh any anomalies or imperfections that the barrel would have materialize on paper. I can tell you though that with most any Glock, including my own decked out Gen4 G17, I am a 3″ – 4″ shooter at 15 yards. Whether you perceive that as good or poor is neither here or there; that is simply my baseline. After shooting 250 rounds through the Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel my groupings from that distance easily dropped to 2″ – 3″ which is a great improvement.

Throughout my entire range session, I had zero failures of any kind with ammunition, the barrel maintained crisp functioning and lock-up with the rest of my Frankensteined Glock, and it improved my accuracy. The hood did wear off a bit of finish, but overall the barrel performed fantastic! As far as aftermarket barrels go for a Glock, I was impressed.

conclusion: Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel

To summarize my experience with the Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel, everything went swimmingly and I was honestly impressed a barrel could improve my accuracy so easily. As I stated previously, the lock-up with the slide and recoil assembly was perfect and never faltered over time. My improvement in accuracy held throughout the entire range day. The only downside I found is the finish began to wear on the hood of the barrel a small amount.

Another thing I would have liked to see, which is not a complaint so much as a personal preference of mine, but I like barrels that are flush to the front of the slide. A traditional Glock barrel extends beyond the front of the slide 1/8″ or possibly less, and I like the clean look of a barrel flush to the slide. If in the future Blacklist Industries made some flush-cut barrels I would be an even more happy camper with the product.

In closing, I want to say THANK YOU to Blacklist Industries for allowing TFB and myself the opportunity to try out their Blacklist Industries G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel! That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that this G17 Drop-In Ultra-Match Barrel is something worthy of you dropping into your Glock? Would you carry with it? Shoot a league with it? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.