Warning For Glock Owners

[venomballistics]

As I recall the history of this issue, it was a 40 S&W issue.
Unsupported case head coupled to the higher operating pressure of the cartridge teamed up to make work hardened brass after a few loading cycles.
At least, that was the verdict many years ago.
Funny thing here is that despite ample opportunity within society to ignore warnings as they always seem to do, and keep the engines of chaos running hot loose and clean, This is the first resurgence of this warning I've seen in over a quarter century.
does it have legs?
I'll say the theory makes some sense from an engineering perspective. So, yes, It has legs. After this many years of silence of the issue, those legs are quite short.

 

[Miracle Man]

Police academy instructor for 18 years right at the start of the Glock revolution, mid eighties. Mostly Glocks on the range. Thousands of recruits in that time. 1,500 rounds per, minimum. In fifty years I've seen two guns "blow up". Neither were Glocks, both using reloads. Coincidence?

I'm a revolver and Sig fan, don't really like the Glocks. But I don't believe the problem here is the gun. Retired, I now work as an RSO on a club range. There are plenty of times I hear bang, bang, BOOM. Ah, another reloader on lane 4.

Just like some people shouldn't own guns, some people shouldn't own a press. Sorry to say, some of those own both. YMMV.

I'm no Glock fan either and I can't really say much about them, however.

I fully agree about some people having no business reloading. And I'd guess that's a big part of the problem. I would never get onboard with a "bulge buster" die. A compromised case fixer has red flag written all over it to me.

 

[venomballistics]

I'm no Glock fan either and I can't really say much about them, however.

I fully agree about some people having no business reloading. And I'd guess that's a big part of the problem. I would never get onboard with a "bulge buster" die. A compromised case fixer has red flag written all over it to me.

Thats my thought as well.
the bulge may be reformed, but only at the expense of work hardening. Each repetition takes it another cycle closer to cracking instead of just bulging.

 

[Valmet]

Wasn't this problem mostly with the .40 S&W caliber guns?

Yes. Particularly with the E-prefix Gen3 .40s (1999-2000ish). As far as I know it was resolved around 2001.

 

[SMSgt]

I know it's a Smith and Wesson Forum but I feel the need to bring it up.
All the Glocks that have blown up when using reloads have one thing in common,The Chamber is not fully supported. Inspect a case after you fire a few rounds and you will see a small bulge on one side by the base. Regular reloading dies will not remove it and that is what damages the Firearm if you reload it without first running the case through a bulge buster die. Also there are companies that make after market barrels for Glocks that have fully supported chambers, I replaced my Glock barrel and have had no issues at all.

I have shot a Glock 30 for years and never experienced "the bulge." I've collected countless .40 cases, many if not most fired in Glocks. I've never found one with a bulge. Likewise with 9mm cases. Nary a one. Early model Glocks did have a problem, but I don't see it.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

And I was knee deep in early Glocks and didn't see it. But police academy rules are factory loads. Again, coincidence?

 

[S&WIowegan]

The 40 caliber bulge

The bulge in 40 brass is not unique to Glocks. I have a 40 S&W ParaOrdance pistol built for me by Bruce Gray about 30yrs ago. The barrel has an unsupported chamber. New 40 brass can survive at least one firing, but if you resize that brass the next time it runs in unsupported barrel it MAY blow. I bought a 5 gallon bucket of once-fired 40 brass and had it all roll-sized. I shoot it once and leave it at the range. We can re-size bulged brass but that does not re-strengthen that brass(can't be done). I've seen a 40S&W race gun blow up during a USPSA match. Shooter unhurt, gun very hurt!

 

[Miracle Man]

And I was knee deep in early Glocks and didn't see it. But police academy rules are factory loads. Again, coincidence?

And let me just clarify before I ruffle any feathers.

I think Glocks are fine firearms. I just can't hit nuffin with them, lol.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This thread is way off topic now. It should have been put in the pistol forum.

We are done here...