Reloading for a Glock?

Big Daddy Don

Sort of a follow-up question to my first one ...

A master gunsmith told me that Glocks shorten the life of brass due to stretching them more than other guns when the rounds are fired. He said Glock specs call for a larger chamber to facilitate feeding, loading and extracting the rounds, so they expand quite a bit more than in other guns when fired. This, in turn, results in more resizing (and case trimming, I would imagine?) needing to be done, which shortens the case life.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

dcs shooters

What calibers?
I've never found that to be so with my 9mm's.

Tailgunner1954

Master gunsmith sounds like he has a personal issue with Glocks.
45ACP brass lasts just as long in a Glock as it does in a Colt IE: you'll lose it in the weeds before you wear it out.

The majority of the major Glock problems have been caused by the ammo, either defective factory ammo or "atomic" handloads.

mrs102

I own Glocks and was a Glock Armorer. The owners manual from the factory was very specific that use of reloaded ammunition would void the factory warranty. Not all "reloaders" stick to the suggested loads in the printed manuals and not all firearms withstand the same pressures as others.

The only substantiated Glock failures I've seen lately, with factory ammuntion, involved the 45 GAP Winchester Ranger. You'll find pictures on this discussion forum if you do a "smart search". Split barrels, even with hotttt! reloads seems a bit far fetched. Shell case head separations at the unsupported portion of the chamber possible; which can cause collateral damage to the pistol, magazine and maybe hand and fingers. (See those photos that were posted).

sig232

I had also been told that the rifling in the Glock barrel was not friendly to lead bullets, expecially reloads. Barrels tend to lead up and then bullets don't seat, then the rounds fire off with the slide open just a tad, which can cause some serious issues.

My cure was to put in a lone wolf match SS barrel. Now I can shoot anything I want, plus the pistol is a bit more accurate.

BHAVIN

I have loaded 9mm and 45 acp brass for my Glocks 8-10 times can't ask for much more than that. I use plated bullets and have shot thousands of them through Glocks with no issues.

bpost

Don, I have a Glock 21. I replaced the barrel so I can shoot lead bullets. I have heard enough Glock horror stories that I am going to sell the plastic hunk of engineering and get a good old reliable 1911 again.

Wehrmacht_45

I have seen many 1911 guns go Kaboom, and they were doing it for years before the Glocks. Its really a bunch of hogwash. The flexing capability of the Glock frame keeps it from shrapneling on people. As for plain lead, avoid it. The Polygonal rifling will not take it, and its a well known fact. However the rifling has perks over traditional groove and land rifling. As for reloading, stock Glocks do not have a fully supported chamber which can cause accelerated brass fatigue. A new after market barrel will fix that as well as the lead bullet issue. Plus you pick up accuracy.

Glock makes a fine gun. If you are really concerned look at another gun like the HK USP series, Springfield XD, or S&W M&P. Or you could go with the Edwardian era equivalent in the 1911. Personally I carry a Steyr M9, but if I was going into severe combat conditions, it would be hard for me to refuse a Glock.