[swopejs]

What is your experience and/or opinion on Glaser Safety Slugs for the .4X calibers? Would they be effective against someone with a winter coat on? What would happen with them against a car window at point blank range?

[kcshooter]

I think these have been pretty well proven as ineffective. Against a heavy coat I wouldn't trust them. Against glass, I doubt they'd do anything beyond cracking it.

[bigfatdave]

right here on THR (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=237381)

similar ammo tested on TBoT (http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot23_2.htm)

[orionengnr]

Just say no to gimmick ammo...

[Sir Aardvark]

At one point in time these were something "special", but not anymore.

Recent advances in bullet design and materials have made these yesterday's news.

Manufacturers have put more focus on self-defense ammo in recent years, so now you have bullets in which the jacket is bonded to the core, and pre-scored hollowpoints that expand consistently and predictably - manufacturers have actually put some money into research and development to create effective ammunition for self-defense purposes that combine both controlled expansion and adequate penetration.

Back then about the only competition to Glasers were Winchester Silvertips and Federal Hydra-Shoks. Now, every major ammunition manufacturer (and some small-fry ones too) make a smorgasbord of ammo that is ideal for the self-defense role.

[bwavec]

I have fired Glaser Blue .45 acp rounds into an automobile door from 10 yards. A dent and a blue mark from each shot. No penetration. The Federal Hydra Shock .45s went through the door, expanded and some even penetrated the door on the other side (the others put some obvious dents in the other side). American Eagle .45 FMJ rounds went through both doors and kept going.

Almost any type of cover pretty much negates the usefulness of the Glasers. There may be some special situations where they are useful, but I wouldn't trust my life with them for general SD use.

I have heard of some people who have had good results using the rifle caliber Glasers against varmints.

[Ghost Walker]

Junk! :p

[MICHAEL T]

The ones I tested were inaccurate at 30' (Blue tip.) Most never hit paper That was several years ago . I won't buy any more
I am a Corbon fan. Just not that round.

[jjohnson]

Yep, what he said.

Today's top tier ammo and bullet manufacturers have designs that are much, much better than they were 20 years ago when the state police and FBI were wondering why FMJs out of their wondernines just ricocheted or left clean holes and angry (but wounded) bad guys.

I know, phone books and gelatin aren't the same as flesh, but you can get an idea when you shoot into media that, say, a .357 125gr HP can kick some tail. :eek: And it can do that after going though an overcoat or car door. Same with most other calibers, 9mm on up. Even the .30 Tok can be loaded with JHPs that I wouldn't want to stand in front of.

I think Glasers and the like DO have their place. Like... among Sky Marshals. No point in messing up a perfectly good pressurized hull at 40,000 feet. :what:

But, when I carry, I carry fairly mundane ammo like Gold Dot Hollow Points or similar. I don't worry about thugs wearing body armor, but it's good to know that your bullet can at least make it through a leather jacket and still do its work.:scrutiny:

[buzz_knox]

No point in messing up a perfectly good pressurized hull at 40,000 feet.

Air Marshalls use normal .357 Sig JHPs, as they know 1) that the existing holes in the fuselage (including the pressure relief holes) are far larger than anything a pistol round will do and 2) there is sufficient redundancy in controls that any firefight likely to take out the controls will have already seen the bird destroyed.

[Elvishead]

Here's were the real Internet expert's really shine!

Carry on, and feel free to back up you single word statements with intelligent fact's.:rolleyes:

The Glaser's have been around for years, I wonder why?

When I have people staying at my house in adjacent rooms, my .357 "had" them for home protection, although I never carry them.

Then, I replace my big .357 with a .38 snub and use GDHP.

I do have to say, I loaded the first four with Glasers in my .357mag, and the last four with Corbon DPX's.

I'm not a promoter of these but at point blank range, at 1600 fps, which is what it is used most of the time, who wants to volunteer to prove these are "Junk"!

Any takers?

Better yet, let get it on YouTube.

[auschip]

Any takers?

Better yet, let get it on YouTube.

I'm not interested in taking a hit from an acorn out of a wrist rocket, but it doesn't mean it would be effective at stopping someone in a defensive situation.

[Elvishead]

I'm not interested in taking a hit from an acorn out of a wrist rocket, but it doesn't mean it would be effective at stopping someone in a defensive situation.

Are you saying being shot with a .357 with Glasers wouldn't stop somebody? Can you explain that, and save the acorn theory for the kindergartners.

[351 WINCHESTER]

We tested a .38 +P rated at 1700 fps. We shot it from a 4" s & w and it only got to 1100 fps. Very dismal and poor quality control. In a .38 you'd be much better off with a hardcast wadcutter.

[highlander 5]

Back about 25 years ago a Boston jeweler shot a hold up artist with a Glaser,380,as I recall, Cops arrived and wanted the shotgun the jeweler used.

[Tully M. Pick]

The Glaser's have been around for years, I wonder why?

I think David Hannum had a quote about it.

[kcshooter]

At 12 bucks per half dozen ($2/rd), I couldn't afford to prove these as reliable in my guns anyway. I'll stick to HST at 50cents each and unquestioned performance. Even SD frangible ammo is about 50 cents a round, if that's your concern.

[auschip]

Are you saying being shot with a .357 with Glasers wouldn't stop somebody? Can you explain that, and save the acorn theory for the kindergartners.

Based on accepted ballistic information, the Glaser rounds don't provide the recommended amount of penetration or retention of mass. If I had to stop someone, I would prefer a round that provides the best expansion, retention of mass, and total penetration.

[xx7grant7x]

well that settles it I'm switching to Extreme Shock ammo It's the worlds most advanced ammo anyway

http://www.extremeshockusa.com/gfx_splash/top_2.jpg

[HB]

Why, that stuff only works on terrorists anyway?

HB

[Elvishead]

For over 30 years, Glaser Safety Slug has been the perfect choice for use in populated, urban areas. Glaser's composite design uses a special thin-wall jacket, and precision compressed lead shot core with a soft polymer tip. This construction provides optimum balance between penetration and fragmentation. These round nose profile guarantees feeding reliability. Stopping power is maximized by the complete dispersal of the bullet energy into the intended target with immediate shock and trauma.
This rapid fragmentation delivers the energy to a large area. Reduced recoil allows a fast recovery for follow up shots if necessary. This makes Glaser the best choice for defensive situations.
Glaser Blue penetrates five to seven inches in International Ballistic Wound Association protocol testing, while silver penetrates eight to ten inches in the IWBA testing protocol.

Blue is suggested for warmer climates where apparel is lighter making penetration easier.


Based on accepted ballistic information, the Glaser rounds don't provide the recommended amount of penetration or retention of mass. If I had to stop someone, I would prefer a round that provides the best expansion, retention of mass, and total penetration.

WHO?!

Although that's a little better than acorns, I think a lot of little holes the prefraged Glaser bullet could put somebody in shock, and in that manner stop them.

So I'm going to chalk it up as "Who really knows?", just speculation

[C-grunt]

There was a thread like this a couple years ago I believe, where someone who was a doctor showed Xrays of a person shot with a Glaser. It went through the persons bicep and then barely peirced the skin of the torso. NOT something I would want in my defensive gun. Im gonna try and find it.

[bigfatdave]

I'm not interested in taking a hit from an acorn out of a wrist rocket...
How about a marshmallow?

[brickeyee]

For over 30 years, Glaser Safety Slug has been the perfect choice for use in populated, urban areas.

According to who?

It is NOT up to others to show something new is ineffective, it is up to proponents to prove the product is effective.

Handguns tend to be under powered from the start, and need every advantage they can get.
Repeated penetration tests with Glaser and similar rounds has shown a lack of adequate penetration.

While shallow wounds may appear nasty and bloody, they are considered a reliable way of stopping an adversary.

[harmonic]

For over 30 years, Glaser Safety Slug has been the perfect choice for use in populated......................

You sound like a Glaser stockholder. (Or, did you cut 'n paste off their website?) But I haven't seen anything in your posts re practical experiments. You just sound like you bought into their advertising.

The fact is that the empirical evidence suggests that Glaser is only nominally adequate for self-defense purposes. Maybe it will work. Maybe it won't work.

I'm not an air marshall and I don't work in a nuclear testing lab, so I don't have to worry about igniting some doomsday device during a shootout. Glasers serve no purpose otherwise.

Plus, I don't have the $$$$$$$ it would take, at $12/6 rounds, to do any experimenting. And anybody who has not extensively practiced with, whatever round he carries for self-defense, is foolish.

[buzz_knox]

I'm not an air marshall and I don't work in a nuclear testing lab,

Glasers aren't used by air marshalls or those at nuclear facilities. Whether or not they ever were is another question (and is open to signficant doubt).

[harmonic]

Glasers aren't used by air marshalls or those at nuclear facilities. Whether or not they ever were is another question (and is open to signficant doubt).

That was a tongue in cheek comment. I guess I should have used the winking smilie.

Be that as it may, Glasers have never shown themselves to be any more beneficial that any other ammo. Certainly not enough to warrant the huge expenditure in $$$$$ for adequate practice.

[The Bushmaster]

Glaser Safety Bullets or any of the other fragmentable bullets. A waste of time, your safety and money.

Anotherwords...About as useful as tits on a boar...:D

[kingpin008]

The Glaser's have been around for years, I wonder why?

Because there's a sucker born every minute?

[Elvishead]

For over 30 years, Glaser Safety Slug has been the perfect choice for use in populated, urban areas.

I did cut and paste that from the Dakotaammo.net.

I'm not trying to promote Glasers, but I have loaded my .357 with them before, when or if I have guest's in adjoining rooms, my main concern was not to shoot the BG and have the bullets continue through him and the house. If I knew, or know of a bullet that can do that, I guess I would use those.

Now that my house is empty, I keep a snub .38spl with GDHP 135g +Ps. But if my house fills up with guest's staying over, I'm sure I would reload the 8 shooter .357 with some Glaser's again.

Sorry guy's, "because I said so" just doesn't cut it for me.

[buzz_knox]

Be careful about relying on the Glasers not to overpenetrate. In some circumstances, they've been known to act like lightweight ball ammo. They penetrate but don't fragment.

[harmonic]

Sorry guy's, "because I said so" just doesn't cut it for me.

It's stupid to rely upon any ammo you have not extensively shot. Several hundred rounds, at least. Otherwise you don't even know if it will work at all times in your gun.

And at $12 per 6 rounds, I doubt you have extensively practiced with the glaser round.

[spwenger]

For over 30 years, Glaser Safety Slug has been the perfect choice for use in populated, urban areas.
According to the folks who have tested them and discussed the results over at Evan Marshall's Stopping Power Forums (http://www.stoppingpower.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15707), they are only reliable out to about five feet. Thus, they would best be regarded as a specialty (rather than a general-use) round for those who must function in a people-rich environment in a relatively confined space. Advertising aside, if I had to purchase any new ones for such a limited application, I'd go with the "silver" ones. Purchase new ones? I've got a .50-caliber ammo can nearly full of first-generation flat-tip Glasers in various calibers. They form part of the section of my stored ammo that I regard as "collector grade."

[Elvishead]

buzz_knox

Be careful about relying on the Glasers not to overpenetrate. In some circumstances, they've been known to act like lightweight ball ammo. They penetrate but don't fragment.

That could be good too.

spwenger Quote:
For over 30 years, Glaser Safety Slug has been the perfect choice for use in populated, urban areas.

According to the folks who have tested them and discussed the results over at Evan Marshall's Stopping Power Forums, they are only reliable out to about five feet. Thus, they would best be regarded as a specialty (rather than a general-use) round for those who must function in a people-rich environment in a relatively confined space. Advertising aside, if I had to purchase any new ones for such a limited application, I'd go with the "silver" ones. Purchase new ones? I've got a .50-caliber ammo can nearly full of first-generation flat-tip Glasers in various calibers. They form part of the section of my stored ammo that I regard as "collector grade."


Good point, just because I don't discourage Glasers, doesn't mean I leave my house loaded with them in my gun. As I stated before, I would keep them loaded only if I had patrons in my house. TBS, The first 4 in my .357 would be Glaser's, after that the next 4 would be DPX, or some other HP.

Did I mention I have an 8 shot .357?:D

But like I stated before, I normaly keep a .38 snub with GDHP ready at the helm.:rolleyes:

[spwenger]

Good point, just because I don't discourage Glasers, doesn't mean I leave my house loaded with them in my gun. As I stated before, I would keep them loaded only if I had patrons in my house. TBS, The first 4 in my .357 would be Glaser's, after that the next 4 would be DPX, or some other HP.
...who can predict in advance which load you're going to need in which order are a lot smarter than I am. I only have a doctoral degree and a one-year residency so I just pick what I think is the best general-purpose round for the most likely scenarios I would encounter and load it in all five chambers. Further, I also load the same round in the remaining ten chambers of the other two revolvers I carry.

As my former teaching partner used to say, "It's your gunfight."

[Shawn Dodson]

Are you saying being shot with a .357 with Glasers wouldn't stop somebody? I've seen .44 Magnum Glaser Blue fail to completely penetrate a water filled cardboard milk carton, at a distance of about 10 feet.

A Glaser that hits an arm and fragments is unlikely to compel a determined bad guy to stop. Glaser Blue pellets are unlikely to exit the arm; most Glaser Silver pellets will probably exit the arm and penetrate up to 4 inches into the torso - of those pellets that do penetrate the torso the wound trauma produced will be minor.

There are some X-ray photos on the internet showing Glaser wounds (one example: Glaser Safety Slug Wound (http://www.firearmsid.com/Feature%20Articles/102000/JohannesburgTraumaUnit.htm))

Glasers are designed to expand and fragment in flesh, not drywall, and as a previous poster noted, Glaser penetrates drywall like an FMJ bullet and does not expand/fragment.

If you're looking for a bullet specifically designed to fragment in sheetrock, and limit penetration, I suggest you checkout the MagSafe SWAT load (see http://www.magsafeonline.com)

A .410 shotgun is a much better choice than Glaser or MagSafe. A 12 gauge is better still.

Cheers!

[Elvishead]

If you're looking for a bullet specifically designed to fragment in sheetrock, and limit penetration, I suggest you checkout the MagSafe SWAT load (see http://www.magsafeonline.com)

I have a card of Magsafe too. I never loaded the revolver with them. If I ever get people staying over, maybe I should load those. Aren't those kind of the same concept as Glasers?

A guy selling ammo at a gun show told me his distributor doesn't carry Magsafe because the insurance companies would not cover those do to lack of proof they are effective. But he did have Glaser's for sale.:uhoh:

[19-3Ben]

If I ever get people staying over, maybe I should load those.

Only after testing them in your particular gun... right?

Sorry guy's, "because I said so" just doesn't cut it for me.

I don't mean to sound argumentative, but aren't you arguing that it's effective based on the reasoning that because you said so?

I mean, the guys who are saying it's ineffective have linked to cases where it didn't work, and cite the Box o' Truth tests which show less than adequate penetration.
But when asking to support it, your reply is that nobody here is volunteering to get shot with it.
So basically, it's effective because YOU say so? based on what evidence........?
(and no, manufacturer's and sales websites don't count. What are they gonna say, "buy our ammo. It could possibly work!!!!")

Like I said, i don't intend to sound argumentative, or as if i am disregarding your point. Quite the contrary, I would love to hear more of what you have to say . Living in an appt complex, I'd LOVE to find sources to say that Glasers work. If you actually have evidence to show that it works, please let us benefit from your knowledge. If you don't, what makes you feel that it's worth trusting your life to this ammo? the fact that you trust your life to it certainly seems like an endorsement. So what warrants this endorsement?

Personally, all my defense guns are loaded with Speer Gold Dots of various calibers. Why? Becuase I've run every one of them, and I know they are reliable, accurate, and based on numerous tests I've seen, they seem to expand reliably, and penetrate deeply.

[buzz_knox]

A guy selling ammo at a gun show told me his distributor doesn't carry Magsafe because the insurance companies would not cover those do to lack of proof they are effective. But he did have Glaser's for sale.

I seriously doubt that insurance compaines are interested at all in the effectiveness of rounds. I absolutely believe that a vendor who doesn't have a particular product will lie through his or her teeth as to why that products is not available/shouldn't be bought, and why the product on his table is superior.