Glock 23 gen 3 / berrys flatpoint

[gunguy59]

hi all!..

So after loading about 30 round with my starting charge I apparently wasn't thinking and loaded berrys bullets (115gr flatpoint) come to find out they are lead...noticed that when I didn't flare the case enough on some testing blanks and it sheared off the side of the bullet..was thinking wow..those are soft ;-)

Anyone have opinions on shooting lead through the stock glock barrel?

Heard some say they do it some say no way...

I could always buy a wolf barrel or just dump the bullets and go with FMJ..kind of think the wolf barrel might be the way to go anyway. I do clean my gun each and every time I shoot with a sonic cleaner so I don't know if I would get the lead build up like they say causes the "kaboom effect".

Just wondering what others throughts are

Thanks!!

So an update to this..I have been doing some reading and it turns out that berrys are lead but they are also coated with copper to cut down on the lead fouling...I still pose the same question...ok to shoot though the stock barrel or pass on it and dump the bullet / get a wolf barrel...

 

[rg1]

Plated lead bullets are fine in polygonal Glock barrels. The plating protects the lead core. I wouldn't shoot bare lead bullets in a Glock. You will need to flare enough to prevent shearing off the plating on them. Probably a little more than normal belling. Plus go light on the taper crimp or you'll crack the plating. Taper crimp just enough to remove the belling. I don't shoot enough volume to try to save money on plated bullets and prefer jacketed 155 or 165 gr. bullets in my G23.

 

[gunguy59]

I've always had a hard time with crimps..I use the rcbs die set and as far as I can tell I am doing the crimps. I just lower the die until it touches the case mouth, then back it off a bit, set the bullet depth, back that off, then lower the die until it just touches the case again and then give it a slight turn or a few 1/8's turns, then lower the bullet seating rod back down.

But I can honestly tell you, I never can tell the difference between a crimped case for a pistol.

Wish I could master that part...

 

[1KPerDay]

You found out they were lead? What did you think bullets were made of?

 

[JO JO]

I shoot plated in my G23 all the time with no issues normally 155 gr fp, you said your loading 115 gr flat point for your G23 ? I dont think berrys sells a 115GR plated 40 S&W bullet ?
If you dont mind me asking where are you finding a 40 sw plated 115 GR flat point berrys reloading bullet ?

 

[gunguy59]

I shoot plated in my G23 all the time with no issues normally 155 gr fp, you said your loading 115 gr flat point for your G23 ? I dont think berrys sells a 115GR plated 40 S&W bullet ?
If you dont mind me asking where are you finding a 40 sw plated 115 GR flat point berrys reloading bullet ?

..sorry about that..type-o. They are 155gr

 

[gunguy59]

You found out they were lead? What did you think bullets were made of?

Sorry. I'll have to rephrase then.

Normally I shoot FMJ which have a thicker plating over the LEAD bullet. Berrys LEAD bullet has a thinner copper plating sprayed on. It's a softer metal component and it is not bonded the same was to the LEAD bullet as the FMJ.

SORRY

 

[LiveLife]

I shoot FMJ which have a thicker plating over the LEAD bullet. Berrys LEAD bullet has a thinner copper plating sprayed on. It's a softer metal component and it is not bonded the same was to the LEAD bullet as the FMJ.

Good morning gunguy. Let's clear some things first.

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) bullets do not have "plating" rather metal "jacket" that is .015" to .030" in thickness - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...e-of-jacketed-vs-plated.815642/#post-10447229

Plated bullets usually have around .004" thick copper plating and thicker plated bullets can have .008" to .020" thick copper plating - https://advancedplatingtech.com/ammunition-defense/copper-plating-of-bullets-and-projectiles/

FMJ/JHP bullets usually have soft lead core. Most plated bullets use soft lead core which can easily deform during bullet seating/taper crimp process but some plated bullets like RMR Hardcore Match bullets have harder alloy core with 11-12 BHN hardness that resist deformation during bullet seating/taper crimp process to maintain neck tension - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...ore-match-round-nose-plated-2/?v=7516fd43adaa

Bullets evolved from soft lead which were alloyed harder to withstand higher velocities. As alloyed lead bullets got pushed faster, gas check was used to cover the base of the bullet to prevent gas cutting and leading of the barrel.

Think of jacketed hollow/soft point bullets as lead bullet with extended gas check that covers most of bullet while plated bullet as lead bullet with extended gas check that covers the entire bullet.

Regular Berry's plated bullets have around .004" thickness copper plating and rated to around 1200 fps. Thicker plated bullets (Berry's HBRN-TP, RMR Hardcore Match, Speer TMJ, Gold Dot HP) have around .008"-.010", .012"-.014", .015", .018" thickness copper plating and are rated to 1300-1500 fps.

glock ... I could always buy a wolf barrel or just dump the bullets and go with FMJ..kind of think the wolf barrel might be the way to go anyway.

Glock barrel with rounded and smooth start of rifling

Glock barrels have rounded rifling that are compatible with plated bullets. I use Glocks with KKM and Lone Wolf aftermarket barrels and with jacketed/plated bullets, get comparable groups. I would suggest aftermarket barrels with conventional square cut land/groove rifling if you were shooting lead bullets.

Lone Wolf/Sig 1911 barrels with square cut land/groove rifling and sharper start of rifling