Cast and Glocks

[flyrobb]

While researching a starting load for 9mm, 115 gr LRN and looking up data in the Lyman Cast 4th Edition I ran across this statement.

Pistols barrels with rifling that feature rounded edges rather than traditional square cut grooves may give poor results with cast bullets. Glock is the most commonly encountered pistol with this style of rifling.

Has anyone found this to be true? Why would that make a difference in accuracy?

My G19 was one of the guns I was going to load for with the (coated) cast bullets, the 3913 being the other. I'm assuming the 3913 would have the traditional square cut grooves.

I guess it would be an interesting test between the two.

 

[robertrwalsh]

They tend to lead up much more heavily than do traditional rifled barrels. With a 9mm there isn't a lot of safety issue there, though there is some. With a .40 cal it can be significant. Basically the lead can coat the inside of the barrel until it restricts it enough that the pressure can go up significantly with any amount of shooting. Shoot coated or plated or jacketed bullets or buy a cut rifled barrel for it. That's what I did with my model 19. .

 

[Tim357]

castboolits.gunloads.com

 

[flyrobb]

I see. I wasn't thinking of the "poor results" related to a leading issue but the fact that lead, coated or not did, not shoot as well in barrels with rounded rifling.

Which barrel did you get?

 

[Calliope]

Coated cast shot real well in my polygonal HK, no leading at all. They work well in 357 too.
I don't think you'll see any drop off in accuracy with a stock G-19 barrel with coated bullets compared to jacketed. Before you spend money on a barrel, try these, you won't be disappointed.
9mm/38 Super (.355)

 

[Doubless]

I thought Glocks had some sort of polymer coating in the barrel that cast projectiles tore off in chunks, causing problems. I won't own plastic handguns, so I don't have any, but somewhere in my distant memory this came popping back up.

Am I nuts?

 

[flyrobb]

Coated cast shot real well in my polygonal HK, no leading at all. They work well in 357 too.
I don't think you'll see any drop off in accuracy with a stock G-19 barrel with coated bullets compared to jacketed. Before you spend money on a barrel, try these, you won't be disappointed.
9mm/38 Super (.355)

Good to hear. Since I have 100 Bayou's already I'll load them and give them a run in my Glock. The Blue Bullets look good as well.

 

[flyrobb]

I thought Glocks had some sort of polymer coating in the barrel that cast projectiles tore off in chunks, causing problems. I won't own plastic handguns, so I don't have any, but somewhere in my distant memory this came popping back up.

Am I nuts?

Hmmmm...

 

[robertrwalsh]

I got Lone Wolf barrels for my 19 and 20. Both work great. Also as noted above I have had good luck with the coated bullets in the standard Glock factory barrels. The coated bullets are slightly more expensive than cast but significantly less than plated and way less than FMJ.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I've shot thousands of cast bullets from many models of Glocks and have never had a accuracy or leading problem.

 

[Arik]

I know of people who use lead in OEM barrels. One particular guy shoots a lot. He says it's cheapest for him to reload lead and he doesn't care if it builds up pressure or not. His theory is that he's been doing this for some time with no problems so he'll continue to do it.

Personally I probably wouldn't just to be on the safe side but I don't reload

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[Arik]

I thought Glocks had some sort of polymer coating in the barrel that cast projectiles tore off in chunks, causing problems. I won't own plastic handguns, so I don't have any, but somewhere in my distant memory this came popping back up.

Am I nuts?

They have polygonal rifling not polymer coating.

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[JBnTx]

I've shot thousands of cast bullets from many models of Glocks and have never had a accuracy or leading problem.

^^^^^^^^^^This.

All I shoot are Hi Tek coated cast bullets from Missouri Bullet Company. No leading, and accuracy is great.

 

[flyrobb]

Collo Rosso; I've shot thousands of cast bullets from many models of Glocks and have never had a accuracy or leading problem.

^^^^^^^^^^This.

All I shoot are Hi Tek coated cast bullets from Missouri Bullet Company. No leading, and accuracy is great.

That's what I was hoping to hear. I'll load up and head to the range!

 

[fredj338]

They tend to lead up much more heavily than do traditional rifled barrels. With a 9mm there isn't a lot of safety issue there, though there is some. With a .40 cal it can be significant. Basically the lead can coat the inside of the barrel until it restricts it enough that the pressure can go up significantly with any amount of shooting. Shoot coated or plated or jacketed bullets or buy a cut rifled barrel for it. That's what I did with my model 19. .

This would be the same result in any caliber polygon bbl. the high pressure rds like 9 & 40 would see pressure issues before the low pressure 45. Shoot lead in a glock, just clean it more often. With coated lead, no need to do anything but load & shoot like jacketed.

 

[fredj338]

I thought Glocks had some sort of polymer coating in the barrel that cast projectiles tore off in chunks, causing problems. I won't own plastic handguns, so I don't have any, but somewhere in my distant memory this came popping back up.

Am I nuts?

The part of most composite or plastic guns is the frame. You are missing out on some great guns passing on plastics.

 

[SMSgt]

I shoot primarily MBC cast bullets in my G30 and have yet to have any lead buildup in it.

 

[Bullet Bob]

My Glock manual says not to use cast lead, and I'm one of those naive people who think that the engineers who designed and built the gun know something about it.

Plenty of people seem to do it, but few who have problems aren't honest when they return the gun to the manufacturer for a kaboom.

 

[Arub]

I have run hard cast bullets thru the stock barrel on a Glock 23 with no issues. I have not been able to get bullets cast from wheel weights to run without leading and tumbling. Therefore I use the hard cast from a couple of suppliers.

 

[JBnTx]

My Glock manual says not to use cast lead, and I'm one of those naive people who think that the engineers who designed and built the gun know something about it.

Plenty of people seem to do it, but few who have problems aren't honest when they return the gun to the manufacturer for a kaboom.

It would take Glock two pages in the User Manual to explain the real reason they say "No cast bullets or reloads".

And most shooters still wouldn't understand it.

So, they protect themselves legally and just say "no cast bullets or reloads".