More often then not,I shoot a modified police course at ranges 10,15 and 20 yds. At present my load for this shooting includes Penn RNFTBB 200gr cast bullets and Win 231 powder 4.7 grs. I went to the RNFTBB bullet as it is easier to load my S&W 625 45acp revolver with this type bullet and they also function in my assortment of Colt,Ballester Riguad and Sig autos. The RNFPBB bullet doesnt make a real nice hole like the SWC bullets,but it is good enough for me. Any comments suggestions?
Penn Cast Bullets
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I tried SWCs in my Glock and it refused to feed them reliably. Switched to LRNs and all issues went away. In the end, I decided making nice clean holes in the paper wasn't worth the hassle of continuing to work with the SWCs. I may give them a try in my 4566 if I get some issues with it worked out.
I ordered Penn's 230 LRNs, and when they arrived, the quality was not what I expected. The dies were obviously misaligned and many had casting swirls/ lube smeared all over. I emailed them and they made it good and sent a second batch, which was better. All in all, they were not as good as Meister's, which only cost $1-2 more.
I'd suggest switching to HP-38 powder. It's exactly the same as 231 (both made by Hodgdons, both have identical data), and everywhere I look it's a bit cheaper.
I ordered Penn's 230 LRNs, and when they arrived, the quality was not what I expected. The dies were obviously misaligned and many had casting swirls/ lube smeared all over. I emailed them and they made it good and sent a second batch, which was better. All in all, they were not as good as Meister's, which only cost $1-2 more.
I'd suggest switching to HP-38 powder. It's exactly the same as 231 (both made by Hodgdons, both have identical data), and everywhere I look it's a bit cheaper.
SMSgt: Thanks for the tip on Hodgdon powder. I just ordered Penn bullets and we will see how the quality is. Can you shoot reloads in a Glock with an unsupported chamber? I remember reading something about this some time ago.
TippyRacer
Member
I really like the Penn 200 and 230 grain truncated cones (TC), but what is an FT?
RN is obviously round nose, and BB bevel base, but I don't know what you mean by FT.
RN is obviously round nose, and BB bevel base, but I don't know what you mean by FT.
mkk41
US Veteran
The old stand-by 200gr H&G (Hensley & Gibbs) style SWC bullet cuts nice clean holes in targets. Most casters offer it or something similar.
I now get most of my .38 & .45 bullets from Rogers Better Bullets. Outstanding quality and fair prices. Fair S&H too.
I used to deal with Penn , but lax delivery and diminishing quality caused me to look elsewhere. Years ago , Penn would bring their bullets to the Valley Forge show. One time I brought back about 50 out of a 500/box that either didn't fill out or had no lube. The guy just gave me another 500rd box for my trouble. That was outstanding.
But now , if they do come to a show , they just take yer order and ya get 'em , whenever.
Rogers is close to the show (and me) and if they don't have what ya need , it's only a few miles away.
http://www.betterbullets.com/documents/KSS_Pricing.pdf
I now get most of my .38 & .45 bullets from Rogers Better Bullets. Outstanding quality and fair prices. Fair S&H too.
I used to deal with Penn , but lax delivery and diminishing quality caused me to look elsewhere. Years ago , Penn would bring their bullets to the Valley Forge show. One time I brought back about 50 out of a 500/box that either didn't fill out or had no lube. The guy just gave me another 500rd box for my trouble. That was outstanding.
But now , if they do come to a show , they just take yer order and ya get 'em , whenever.
Rogers is close to the show (and me) and if they don't have what ya need , it's only a few miles away.
http://www.betterbullets.com/documents/KSS_Pricing.pdf
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When NBC fell in the rathole(remember when they made great bullets?) I looked for another cast bullet supplier and found Penn. Have used nothing else for four or five years now. I shoot more of their TC's than anything else and in their premium alloy. This bullet and alloy alloy me to shoot 357 Mags at 1388fps from my long 686 with only standard cleaning proceedure(NO lead scraping!). Group size runs 3/4 to one inch for 18 shots at 25 yards. Since I can't see or hold the gun any better that's plenty good enough accuracy for me. Now fast on delivery they ain't but Bob explains that if you go through the website and I make sure I order enough and early enough that I don't run out. I know there are other great cast bullets out there but as long as Penn is making bullets at the quality level I've received I'll buy from them.
I've gotten RNBB .45s and TCBB .38s from them. Both excellent, but a bit slow on one of the diliveries.
I'm waiting for some .380s and .45-70s, but haven't heard a thing for a while from them. I'll get better used to their delivery schedule as time goes by I guess. Then my ordering will smooth out.
I'm waiting for some .380s and .45-70s, but haven't heard a thing for a while from them. I'll get better used to their delivery schedule as time goes by I guess. Then my ordering will smooth out.
Two things with the Glocks and original barrels.
First the unsupported chamber in the 40 SW and 45 ACP, the 9mm is supported so no problem there as long as you shoot fmj or copper plated
They all have polygonal rifling which tends to foul up quickly using lead. Some folks say they shoot lead in the original barrels, well more power to them. I think is destroys accuracy and perhaps cause worse problems.
So if you want to shoot Lead Handloads in a Glock perhaps get an aftermarket barrel such as Lone Wolf for $100.
A lot of internet myths and stories on this subject, much of which has been told and retold for years giving it "near-legend" reputation. Keep in mind that everything on the internet is there forever, and even if any past issues with any gun (or anything else, for that matter) are cleared up, these old "issues" will still pop up as if it happened yesterday.
To begin with, the 2009 "Glock Annual" magazine describes the barrels as "hexagonal." And yes, Glock says no reloads--as does almost every other gun maker. Many people fire thousands of reloads in Glocks, with or without aftermarket barrels, and never have an issue.
I bought a Storm Lake barrel for my G30 specifically for shooting reloads (erring on the safety side of the issue). In comparing it with the factory barrel, the only difference I can see is that the factory barrel might have slightly more support at the feed ramp area, neither of which would I call insufficient or unsupported. The rifling appears identical. The Glock chamber is slightly looser, but that's a given with Glocks and helps ensure its reliable feeding. I've never seen a case with the infamous "Glock bulge" and I pick up a lot of range brass, much of which has been fired through Glocks. One thing I do inspect closely for is nicks on the case mouth. Nicks becoome stress points. Small ones can be chamfered out, but deep ones will lead to premature cracks, so those cases generally get tossed into the scrap bucket.
The majority of the problems with reloads have been in the .40s, and most "accidents" have been attributed to reloads or other faulty ammo. I visually inspect each tray of powder-filled cases for proper level, a step not possible with many progressive loaders. Nor do I load hot loads, low to mid-range only, so pressures are not extreme.
It's not just "reloads" it's Lead.
I shoot reloads in my Glock 9mm all the time but they are FMJ or Plated.
I had a 40 SW Glock and did indeed see the bulge
I shoot reloads in my Glock 9mm all the time but they are FMJ or Plated.
I had a 40 SW Glock and did indeed see the bulge
cmort666
Member
I shoot almost nothing but LSWCs in all of my centerfire handguns, with the exception of the .38s and .357s, in which I often use 148gr. LHBWCs and LBBWCs.
I've never had problem with SWCs in Glocks.
I've bought a lot of bullets from Penn over the years and have overwhelmingly been satisfied with the quality. Delivery time has slowed down substantially over the years. I used to pick them up in person at the Ohio Gun Collectors Association Show in Cleveland.
When I can't get Penns in a timely fashion, I use Lasercast.
I've never had problem with SWCs in Glocks.
I've bought a lot of bullets from Penn over the years and have overwhelmingly been satisfied with the quality. Delivery time has slowed down substantially over the years. I used to pick them up in person at the Ohio Gun Collectors Association Show in Cleveland.
When I can't get Penns in a timely fashion, I use Lasercast.
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