Anybody reloading or shooting reloads in a Glock 40S&W ??

[krod47nw]

I was told that reloading for a glock 40 caliber is problematic.  Has anyone had issues with rounds failing to chamber correctly?  I understand it is when using once fired brass that was fired in a different gun.  I was just considering buying dies and reloading some.

Kevin

[TwoSeventy]

I reload 40 S&W for a Glock. I would estimate that I am loading about 500 rounds an month at this point, and have yet to have a round that would not chamber in the gun. I will admit that I am quite anal about reloading, and my final step is to test every round in a barrel before they are packaged. Set the dies up correctly and get the crimper set correctly and everyting should be fine.

Some of the early 40 S&W barrels apparently did not have a full supported chamber and would result in bulged cases. Don't think that is an issue with the newer guns. I have picked up thousands of pieces of range brass, and I have never found a case with an obvious bulge.

[krod47nw]

I reload 40 S&W for a Glock. I would estimate that I am loading about 500 rounds an month at this point, and have yet to have a round that would not chamber in the gun. I will admit that I am quite anal about reloading, and my final step is to test every round in a barrel before they are packaged. Set the dies up correctly and get the crimper set correctly and everyting should be fine.

Some of the early 40 S&W barrels apparently did not have a full supported chamber and would result in bulged cases. Don't think that is an issue with the newer guns. I have picked up thousands of pieces of range brass, and I have never found a case with an obvious bulge.

My model 23 is not that old, but how do I tell if it is an earlier one?  What you describe on earlier models sounds very much like what he said.

thanks,
Kevin

[SHOOTALL]

i have heard of the 10 mm having problems with either very hot or over loaded reloads but not 40 S&W . Saw one let go from a double load . Knocked the slide off , set off first 2 rounds in mag. knocked mag out and it blew apart . Put gun back togather added new mag and it worked like new .

[Savage]

My model 23 is not that old, but how do I tell if it is an earlier one?  What you describe on earlier models sounds very much like what he said.

thanks,
Kevin
If your 23 has finger grooves and a light rail, it's 3rd gen and should be fine.  I load in a little higher volume than TwoSeventy, and much of it is for my Glock 40s. My loads are used in action pistol games, so they are loaded to make about a 170 PF. That's a 170 grain LSWC at just over 1000fps. Nice moderate load, well below maximum. I get numerous loadings from my brass. I don't keep up with how many loadings I get from my brass, I lose it long before it fails. I think it's safe to say I could get at least a dozen loadings per case. Maybe I'll run a test someday! Just be sure to adjust your sizing die to size the full length of the case. Taper crimp it properly, and be sure to chamber check each round to make sure your dies are properly adjusted. I don't load the .40 any differently than any other of the pistol cartridges I load for. Just be sure to use safe and sane loading practices, and all is well.
Savage

[krod47nw]

My model 23 is not that old, but how do I tell if it is an earlier one?  What you describe on earlier models sounds very much like what he said.

thanks,
Kevin
If your 23 has finger grooves and a light rail, it's 3rd gen and should be fine.  I load in a little higher volume than TwoSeventy, and much of it is for my Glock 40s. My loads are used in action pistol games, so they are loaded to make about a 170 PF. That's a 170 grain LSWC at just over 1000fps. Nice moderate load, well below maximum. I get numerous loadings from my brass. I don't keep up with how many loadings I get from my brass, I lose it long before it fails. I think it's safe to say I could get at least a dozen loadings per case. Maybe I'll run a test someday! Just be sure to adjust your sizing die to size the full length of the case. Taper crimp it properly, and be sure to chamber check each round to make sure your dies are properly adjusted. I don't load the .40 any differently than any other of the pistol cartridges I load for. Just be sure to use safe and sane loading practices, and all is well.
Savage

Savage,
Do you use lead bullets in an original Glock barrel?

Kevin

[Savage]

Kevin,
While I know several shooters that use lead bullets in original Glock barrels, I am currently using "Lone Wolf" barrels in my Glocks. Just to be on the safe side, I'd recommend the aftermarket barrels for lead. The LW barrels are good quality, and can be had for your 23 at about $100.
Savage

[krod47nw]

Kevin,
While I know several shooters that use lead bullets in original Glock barrels, I am currently using "Lone Wolf" barrels in my Glocks. Just to be on the safe side, I'd recommend the aftermarket barrels for lead. The LW barrels are good quality, and can be had for your 23 at about $100.
Savage

that sounds like the way to go. 

Kevin

[Savage]

Kevin,
Have you taken the plunge yet?
Savage

[Tonk]

Kevin I can tell you that I have not had any problems loading our Glock ammo here at the house ok. Now I have been loading ammo since the early 1960's and NEVER get a big hurry. I always pay special attention to ALL cases before and after being cleaned etc. I do NOT shoot "hot loads" out of my Glock pistols, which I own 6 and the wife owns 2.
My Glock models are the 20 & 29 (10mm cal), Glock models 22 & 27 (.40 cal), Glock model 21-SF (.45acp cal) and Glock model 20, which is now a 9 X 25 Dillion. My CCW weapons are the Glock 29 and Glock 21-SF. My reloading presss is a Dillion XL-650 with auto-case feeder. We can load around 850 rds an hour give or take 50 one way or another. We usually don't spend more than an 90 minutes at a time reloading ammo.

[krod47nw]

Kevin,
Have you taken the plunge yet?
Savage

Nope, I haven't started reloading for it yet.  I'm still collecting information and opinions. 


Most of you say no hot loads.  Are you loading to near factory performance?  Are they middle of the line in the manuals, or what level are they?

Kevin

[Graybeard]

I have a bunch loaded up just haven't made it out to my range with them yet. I want to make sure they function OK and hit to POA before I load up more. I have a couple thousand or more jacketed bullets here to load up for it so eventually I'm sure I will be shooting lots of reloads. My "round tuits" are just hard to come by these days.

[Savage]

Kevin,
Made a powder change since I last chronographed my primary load. I need to get 1000-1020fps with my hardcast 170gr LSWC to make power factor with a little breathing room. Not a max load, but stepping right along. If I were loading for plinking only, I'd probably back off to 900-950 fps. That load kills paper just fine.
Savage

[Ahab]

I've been using my jacketed reloads which are close to factory if not the same for about 6 years now. Never had a problem.

[jeffreybehr]

I've been reloading for my early-generation 23 and current-generation 35, both PD and target loads.  I use Lee 3-set dies with the carbide resizer and don't even wipe my cases before reloading them.  My favorite PD load uses the Hornady XTP with Hodgdon Universal powder*; it produces c. 1160FPS at 10 feet from the 23's 4" barrel and c. 1200FPS from the 35's 5.3"er.

I'm very happy with my Glocks and reloads.

* which produces apparently NO muzzle flash; see http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_190_31/ai_n27380935/ .

[Beans]

I have a G23, G19, G35 and a G22. I have replace all the barrels with aftermarket barrels to allow me to shoot lead reloads without any worries.

I had a problem with my reloads not chambering when I first started reloading the .40 S&W. ( I had been reloading for over 40 years)

I wasn't belling my case mouth enough and was getting a lead ring. barely discernable around the case mouth. It was enough to keep the loaded rounds from seating fully.  It took me a while to figure this out as I never had this problem with any other Semi Auto rounds ( 9mm, .380, 45 ACP, .38 Super)  I had loaded.

I run all my 9MM and .40 S&W through a EGW die on a single stage press. This die also removes the "Glock Bulge" in cases shot in the earlier Generation of Glocks.
http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=40&zenid=95692408df0448eddb3cbed0ab9f1be5.

Since I use range pickup brass this allows me to check each piece oif brass for splits, Rocks, 9mm cases in.40 S&W cases Dirt Etc before dumping them in my Dillon 650.  It takes some time but less thime then trying to unjam my Dillon because of a case with a rock in it.