Reloading for Glock

[Jekemi]

I've read that there may be some issues trying to use hand loaded ammunition in the Glock. Has anyone experienced any difficulties with reloading for Glock semi-automatic pistols? I've seen pictures of KB's with various Glock models, allegedly due to reloaded ammunition. Not a pretty sight.

[Bean Counter]

I wont do it. Ammo is expensive, but not as much as a new hand. If you want to save money, reload your longarm ammo. or switch to a .38/.357.

[carpsniperg2]

I do not and will not have a glock, just personal choice. But I have heard the same thing you are talking about.

[FC]

It's supposedly caused by weakened brass, Glocks bulge their cases due to the lack of support in their chambers, resizing the brass weakens it and over time you can get a case rupture aka kaboom from it. Some guys recommend an aftermarket barrel with tighter tolerances for reloading in a Glock, you could of course just buy an XD to begin with. 

[carpsniperg2]

Great info FC. Learned something today and x2 on buying the xd, but add a m to it

[BlackRidge]

Sounds like he may already have a glock though...

This topic has me kinda freaked, because I just began reloading for mine..  I guess the most important thing to take away from it though is that the cases have less of a lifespan than they would in another model/brand pistol...

That and maybe load using lower charges   

[FC]

Sounds like he may already have a glock though...

This topic has me kinda freaked, because I just began reloading for mine..  I guess the most important thing to take away from it though is that the cases have less of a lifespan than they would in another model/brand pistol...

That and maybe load using lower charges   

I think where most people get into trouble is when they start using whatever cases are on the floor at the range (no history and poor inspection) that they sweep up and claim and/or they over-charge a weakened case.

If you are reloading for your Glock using your head and paying attention I highly doubt you will ever have a problem as thousands successfully do it. If you are the kind of guy who reloads like a 10 year old sorts socks than you might want to stick with factory stuff. Guys that like to shoot "hot" loads and reload the same brass a lot tend to have this kind of disaster the most from what I have seen.

[300rum]

I have personally shot thousands and thousands and thousands of reloads through Glocks through the original barrel and have reloaded even more than that.  I have shot Lead, Moly, and CMJ/FMJ.  9mm, .40 and .45.  Currently I reload 125gr Moly Coated Bear Creek Truncated Cone bullets and I order them by the thousands.  I have had no problem shooting reloads through a Glock OEM barrel, obviously.  If you are concerned, you can buy a new barrel from Wolf or someone else and can probably get a few bucks out of your old barrel.  Last time I looked Wolf barrels ran right around $100 dollars.

As far as a KB goes you can search any pistol and find KB's.  There is a lot of "noise" on the issue and a lot of "I read", "heard" or "a friend told me" stuff, know-it-alls that really don't have any first hand experience.  My opinion is that KB's happen from double charges or squibs or setting the bullet back too deap which, of course, is a preassure problem.  If you are new or newer to reloading you need to know what those are and what to look/feel for, more than anything.  

Don't worry about your Glock it will be just fine as long as you know what you are doing.

In the name of full disclosure I should say that I no longer shoot the Glocks, my wife does, I am her full-time reloader for her G34 and she is a full time shooter.    I personally hate the mushy trigger even with a vanek installed.  If you think that a box Glock has a bad trigger you should try an XD, you might as well squeeze a rotten apple.  A 1911 is the only way to go, my friend.  

[Gutpile]

The biggest issue is with Hot 40's and 10mm's from what I understand. With the oversized chamber the brass bulges and weakens over time. This can cause a "kaboom" that the Glock boys like to talk about. 

Buy an aftermarket barrel that has more support in the chamber. I just bought a G20 about a month ago and after reading all of the horror stories i bought a Lone Wolf barrel for it. Cant say i've tried it yet but after all of the reasearch I've done I don't have any concerns at all anymore.

Can't say I was real happy about hearing these stories because to me the G20 is as good as it gets for a woods gun but with the weak chamber I was scared to run hot loads which was the whole purpose of the pistol. I feel pretty good about it now though with the aftermarket barrel.

Theres a LOT of very good reading on this subject over at Glock Talk.

[SCRUBS]

I have personally shot thousands and thousands and thousands of reloads through Glocks through the original barrel and have reloaded even more than that.  I have shot Lead, Moly, and CMJ/FMJ.  9mm, .40 and .45.  Currently I reload 125gr Moly Coated Bear Creek Truncated Cone bullets and I order them by the thousands.  I have had no problem shooting reloads through a Glock OEM barrel, obviously.  If you are concerned, you can buy a new barrel from Wolf or someone else and can probably get a few bucks out of your old barrel.  Last time I looked Wolf barrels ran right around $100 dollars.

As far as a KB goes you can search any pistol and find KB's.  There is a lot of "noise" on the issue and a lot of "I read", "heard" or "a friend told me" stuff, know-it-alls that really don't have any first hand experience.  My opinion is that KB's happen from double charges or squibs or setting the bullet back too deap which, of course, is a preassure problem.  If you are new or newer to reloading you need to know what those are and what to look/feel for, more than anything.  

Don't worry about your Glock it will be just fine as long as you know what you are doing.

In the name of full disclosure I should say that I no longer shoot the Glocks, my wife does, I am her full-time reloader for her G34 and she is a full time shooter.    I personally hate the mushy trigger even with a vanek installed.  If you think that a box Glock has a bad trigger you should try an XD, you might as well squeeze a rotten apple.  A 1911 is the only way to go, my friend.  

What the heck are "squibs"?

[carpsniperg2]

Loads that don't get a full does of powder, are called squib loads.

[SCRUBS]

Thanks Carp

[carpsniperg2]

No Prob.

[jaymark6655]

I always heard KB happened because of the type of rifleing and reloading with lead.  The glock barrels foul and there is no real groove to the lead to build up in so it results in a reducing barrel diameter, which causes a raise in pressure until boom.  One site I read this on showed a pic of the Wolf barrel and it had less support than the glock does, but it has regular rifleing.  So don't shoot lead, hot loads and make sure you clean the bore and it should be safe.

[BlackRidge]

I have personally shot thousands and thousands and thousands of reloads through Glocks through the original barrel and have reloaded even more than that.  I have shot Lead, Moly, and CMJ/FMJ.  9mm, .40 and .45.  Currently I reload 125gr Moly Coated Bear Creek Truncated Cone bullets and I order them by the thousands.  I have had no problem shooting reloads through a Glock OEM barrel, obviously.  If you are concerned, you can buy a new barrel from Wolf or someone else and can probably get a few bucks out of your old barrel.  Last time I looked Wolf barrels ran right around $100 dollars.

As far as a KB goes you can search any pistol and find KB's.  There is a lot of "noise" on the issue and a lot of "I read", "heard" or "a friend told me" stuff, know-it-alls that really don't have any first hand experience.  My opinion is that KB's happen from double charges or squibs or setting the bullet back too deap which, of course, is a preassure problem.  If you are new or newer to reloading you need to know what those are and what to look/feel for, more than anything.  

Don't worry about your Glock it will be just fine as long as you know what you are doing.

In the name of full disclosure I should say that I no longer shoot the Glocks, my wife does, I am her full-time reloader for her G34 and she is a full time shooter.    I personally hate the mushy trigger even with a vanek installed.  If you think that a box Glock has a bad trigger you should try an XD, you might as well squeeze a rotten apple.  A 1911 is the only way to go, my friend.  

Thanks FC & 300,

I'm definitely feeling better about throwing some 9mm rounds together again...  The general tone of the thread from the start just had me kicking myself for buying all the dies/powder/etc the week before. Figured I'd just throw the money out before even getting started haha

The thing that worries me the most, not necessarily about just pistol cartridges, is that there is so much differeing/conflicting load data out there... So many variables that can play into the equation that even if you know what you're doing, it's pretty easy to overlook something or assume your numbers are right.

An example being plates bullets vs. FMJ.. Without proper research, if someone loaded some (plated) rounds up using the numbers for FMJ, especially towards the higher end, you could start having some big problems.