9MM LEAD

tlay

tlay

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Has anyone tried hard cast lead bullets in your Glock? If so what powder and weight? I have a Glock 34 with the stock barrel.
 
As you probably know it's not recommended you use a lead bullet in the factory Glock barrel although there are those who do so successfully. I high;y suggest you replace the factory barrel with a Lone wolf barrel which will handle lead bullets just fine. One will cost you right around $100.
 
This is the one good reason why.....

This is the one good reason why I can forget buying Glocks. Since the shortage I've gone to using more cast bullets, and the polygonal rifling used in Glocks is known not to like lead bullets.
 
I load and shoot lead in my Glock 30 (.45ACP) with both the factory barrel and a Lone Wolf aftermarket. I have seen NO leading in either barrel shooting 18BHN 200gr RN-FP and 230gr RN. While I understand the arguments against using lean in the factory barrel, I have not personally witnessed any ill effects. YMMV-SDFD

And according to Glock, shooting any reloads in your pistol voids the warranty. Breaks my heart...
 
I shoot almost nothing but lead in my Glock 30 OEM barrel, in fact in all my handguns. I bought an aftermarket barrel for the lead but it has feeding issues. None of my guns have anything beyond mild leading if any at all. That's in 9mm Mak, 9mm, and .45s. Keep the velocities down to range levels.

Shooting any reloads in a Glock technically voids the warranty. If an aftermarket barrels makes you feel better about shooting lead, invest in one.
 
Several people in the club shoot lead in their Glock, and they clean the barrel throughly and regularly.
A relative that was "borrowing" my lead .45 ACP loads to shoot in a stock Glock that seldom got cleaned had the accuracy fall apart in a club match; the barrel was choked with heavy leading. Well, at least it didn't blow up.
 
rwsmith said:
This is the one good reason why I can forget buying Glocks. Since the shortage I've gone to using more cast bullets, and the polygonal rifling used in Glocks is known not to like lead bullets.
Click to expand...

I'm shooting lead in a polygonal barrel without leading. The barrel is on a 625 JM. May be different than a glock, don't know, but I try to keep vel arond 800 fps.
 
Have added lone Wolfe 9m conversion barrel to Glock 22c. Initial lead loads shot great. Have not tried factory barrel with lead loads.
 
Many years ago, when I first got my Glock 23 and 19L in the early 1990's, I entered the MD State Glock Match, the first one in MD. I won the civilian division with the 19L and when the armorer was cleaning my gun after the match, he asked, "what are you shooting, LEAD? I told him that I was, they were my handloads and very accurate. He used a Lewis Pb remover and GLOPS of LEAD came out of the barrel. He explained that the lead build-up can create excessive pressure, enough that the barrel could bulge or the gun come apart. The polygonal rifling is every efficient at grabbing lead, since it is so soft.
I tell you without doubt....DO NOT USE LEAD IN THE STOCK BARREL. I do not care who says they do not see the lead, put a lead removal screen through and see what comes out...It is there. The Lone Wolf barrel is a cheap investment, and in fact, with lead reloads in my 9mm (122gr conical point ahead of 5gr VVN330) it is more accurate than the stock barrel with jacketed bullets. Function is perfect. You can order a barrel that is threaded and suppress it....
My S&W Tactical gun shoots lead just fine..
 
Thanks for the replies. I will look to see if Wolf sells barrels for my 34. Not sure if they do.
 
I don't own a Glock, but Kahr uses the same polygonal rifling. And mine doesn't show any signs of leading. While it might be an issue in some polygonal rifled barrels, I would venture to say its just like any other barrel.

A properly sized bullet for the bore along with appropriate hardness wont lead.....
 
tommy F said:
Have added lone Wolfe 9m conversion barrel to Glock 22c. Initial lead loads shot great. Have not tried factory barrel with lead loads.
Click to expand...
Similar experience here...my 40-9 conversion barrel works fine for lead and jacketed bullets.
 
Fit is King!. If you are trying to shoot undersized bullets for whichever type of barrel you are using, you will get leading. I don't have a Glock w/polygonal rifling but know of several shooters that do shoot lead in poly bbls., and bullet to barrel fit is extremely important...
 
Ordered a model 34 barrel yesterday from Wolf. Will let you know how it works. Thanks for the help.
 
Ordered a model 34 barrel yesterday from Wolf. Will let you know how it works.
Click to expand...

One thing to be aware of with Lone Wolf barrels is the chambers are much tighter than Glock chambers. Given that Glock chambers are pretty sloppy loose, it makes the Lone Wolf seem that much tighter. What that means to you is your loads need to be properly sized. They aren't tolerant to any lumps, bulges, or stuff hanging outside the case. Some folks wind up having to send their barrels back to Lone Wolf to have the chamber reamed. This is covered here.

I haven't had any issues with my Lone Wolf barrels (9mm and 40 S&W) but I am very demanding on my loading. Just a heads up for you.

On the positive side, you will find the brass you fire in the Lone Wolf barrel will come out much smaller than from your Glock barrel. Visibly different. I use Lone Wolf barrels as much for the tighter chamber as the cut rifling.
 
If you attempt to use lead bullets in ANY pistol with polygonal rifling, you must get a replacement barrel with traditional lands and grooves. Failure to do so can run pressures up and you may have a catastrophic failure.
 
tjpopkin said:
Many years ago, when I first got my Glock 23 and 19L in the early 1990's, I entered the MD State Glock Match, the first one in MD. I won the civilian division with the 19L and when the armorer was cleaning my gun after the match, he asked, "what are you shooting, LEAD? I told him that I was, they were my handloads and very accurate. He used a Lewis Pb remover and GLOPS of LEAD came out of the barrel. He explained that the lead build-up can create excessive pressure, enough that the barrel could bulge or the gun come apart. The polygonal rifling is every efficient at grabbing lead, since it is so soft.
I tell you without doubt....DO NOT USE LEAD IN THE STOCK BARREL. I do not care who says they do not see the lead, put a lead removal screen through and see what comes out...It is there. The Lone Wolf barrel is a cheap investment, and in fact, with lead reloads in my 9mm (122gr conical point ahead of 5gr VVN330) it is more accurate than the stock barrel with jacketed bullets. Function is perfect. You can order a barrel that is threaded and suppress it....
My S&W Tactical gun shoots lead just fine..
Click to expand...

What is so soft?
 
Here is why you should NEVER shoot lead bullets from a stock Glock barrel!!!!!
 
I reload and use the Lee factory crimp die. That should help on my Glock 34.
 
I've used Missouri bullets driven to 850 fps or so and have had no issues with excessive leading in two factory barrels. I do clean them after every range session (100 rnds or so).
 
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