Lead in Glock?

[pantannojack]

What is the problem with lead bullets in in Glock pistols? Someone even spoke that lead is bad in S&W revolvers. Is this part of the new green deal?

 

[Valmet]

Glock advises against shooting lead bullets in their barrels as a substantial amount of shooting can cause lead build up in their polygonal rifling. I have a KKM bbl I shoot .45 reloads thru in my Glock 21 but I’ve shot a fair amount of reloads thru the factory bbl with no issues (and I clean it thoroughly afterwards).

Some folks shoot lead thru their OEM bbls regularly.

 

[ContinentalOp]

IIRC, the polygonal rifling in the original Glock barrels would lead heavily, potentially resulting in excessive pressures if shot extensively with lead bullets. It was one of the reasons for the popularity of aftermarket barrels with conventional rifling.

Now, how much of an issue this is, I can't say. I've read about some people shooting a limited amount of lead bullets in their polygonally-rifled Glock barrels without issue, but I'd rather err on the side of caution and not take the risk. But that's just me.

I've not heard about the issue of lead bullets in S&W revolvers, but if I had to guess it might have something to do with the new EDM rifling they use. As far as I know, S&W has never given any warning about using lead bullets in their guns.

 

[glenwolde]

Glocks have polygonal rifling. The concern is that it's easier for lead to build up in what passes for the "groove" in polygonal rifling. If the lead buildup gets excessive you could experience an over-pressure event. If there is no lead buildup, your good to go. Just inspect for it.

This is mostly theory and in practice doesn't seem to be an issue. I think Glock's recommendation is legal-liability related, because maybe somebody did something stupid in Austria 30 years ago.

As for S&W revolvers, all I can say is the last 30,000 or so I've shot through my Model 66 don't seem to have caused any ill-effect. Similar copious amounts through other S&W revolvers over the decades produced identical results.

As with anything in life, if everything is setup as it should be there won't be a problem. Get something wrong and there will be.

 

[Fishinfool]

As noted above, poly rifling can be susceptible to leading, with a consequential buildup of pressures.

That said, I have ran thousands of lead bullet reloads thru my 1st. Gen Glock 19 without issue. The key is to use hard cast bullets that fit the bore tightly, along with a decent soft lube. The results is minimal leading, and good accuracy.

Larry

 

[BearBio]

In my Glocks, I only use lead in the 10mm ("Bear Loads") in a ported after market; Otherwise only jacketed.

 

[fmflorida]

In theory if you fire thousands upon thousands of lead rounds through your Glock it would cause over pressure issues.

I have not heard of an instance of this happening but I dont know everything.

However an easy way to remedy that is after you fire your lead rounds......fire a couple FMJ rounds.....a mag or 2 and it will blow whatever lead is built up out.

On the off chance that you decide to fire 10K+ rounds through your Glock in 1 day......maybe clean it half way through.


Personally I dont reload so all lead ammo isnt a big issue, I typically use FMJ......but if you use lead.....clean the gun and you should be good to go.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Like many people I just use aftermarket rifled barrels in my Glocks. That being said I have fired a modest amount of lead bullets thru the Glock factory barrels and not noticed any real issue.

 

[CH4]

Gen 5 barrels eliminates the aforementioned concerns.

 

[JJEH]

Another reason I love Tim Sundles (Buffalo Bore Ammo), he's always sharing his insights.

Dangers of Pure Lead 'Cowboy' Bullets

Differences Between 'Lead' & 'Hard Cast' Bullets

Hard Cast Bullets in Polygonal Barrels

I shoot his hard-cast aluminum ammo and it works flawlessly, burns clean and can make your 9mm a true outdoors-, trail- and/or woods gun.

"Stopping" bears with handgun or rifle cartridges

 

[Puller]

Another reason I love Tim Sundles (Buffalo Bore Ammo), he's always sharing his insights.

Dangers of Pure Lead 'Cowboy' Bullets

Differences Between 'Lead' & 'Hard Cast' Bullets

Hard Cast Bullets in Polygonal Barrels

I shoot his hard-cast aluminum ammo and it works flawlessly, burns clean and can make your 9mm a true outdoors-, trail- and/or woods gun.

"Stopping" bears with handgun or rifle cartridges

Thanks for the links, good info which refutes the myth.

 

[Andyd]

We have to bear in mind, that Glock also sternly warns in their manuals to not use reloads. Long before the internet has blessed us with gun forums, have I shot lead through my Glocks and noticed that the achievable accuracy with lead bullets in polygonal rifled barrels depends also on the twist rate and velocity ( as it does in other guns ). In .45 ACP chambered Glocks lead bullets did better than in 9mm but in no calibre had I found excessive leading that could have spiked pressures.

But remember, that was before the internet ...

 

[Collo Rosso]

I think about every manufacturer warns against reloads. I know Ruger used to.
Have shot thousands of cast bullets from Glocks in various calibers without problems, even the dreaded 40s&w. Have now shot thousands of hi-tek coated cast bullets from various caliber Glocks with the same results. I own Glocks with thousands of rounds through them and they have never seen a jacketed bullet.