Any here shooting reloads from stock Glock barrrels?

Not a single problem from my G21sf 45acp. Stock as can be and been shooting reloads from day one.

I have a gen4 Glock 22 with well over 2000 reloads through it with zero problems. (only been reloading for 2 years) Cases expand and a plain old Lee carbide sizing die takes care of it every time.

No problems with reloads in gen 4 and 5 9mm Glocks either. Or gen 4 g21 and g30.

I've shot reloads thru mine. Both cast bullets in 9mm & 45 ACP. Never had a problem.

I've heard tell of it being done and working very well : )

Been shooting reloads thru my G22 since it was issued in ‘96.
Figure 1,000+ a year. No problems.

I blew the magazine and ejector out of a G20 circa 1992 with some 170gr Norma factory loads. Gun wasn’t damaged but I did have a blood blister on my left hand.
It got sold... my S&W 1006 chewed up and spit out everything I ever fed it.
It was the unsupported case heads of the early Glocks (and others) that got the 10mm watered down.
I’ve never especially hot ridden the .40. It’s fine as is.
If you shoot cast or swaged lead bullets be sure to frequently brush out the bore. Significant lead build ups can cause elevated pressures and firing out-of-battery.

Meant slide stop... ejector was bent. Corrected with pliers. Pressure “expanded” (flexed) frame drawing pin from under slide release allowing it to be thrown from pivot point. Gumption was reassembled and test fired with MUCH less powerful ammo.

I have shot over 100k from them. It hasn’t been uncommon for the factory poly barrels to do better than aftermarket ones.

I have a Gen 3 model 23 and 2 Gen 3 model 22’s. All I shoot thru them is reloads. I have shot lead bullets, coated Bullets, and many plated and copper jacketed thru my stock barrels without any issues at all. I’ve shot at least 20K Rounds over the last 10 yrs. Just follow good loading practices and don’t hit rod then and you’ll be fine. My favorite powders are WSF, CFE Pistol, BE-86, and Silhouette. Use a medium speed powder for best results.

My buddy does, same loads for everything

I shoot reloads through my G27, G30 AND G20 with stock barrels and zero problems at all. more accurate than anything I can buy

I've shot about 1,000 rounds thru my Glock 30 with zero problems.

TTv2 said:

Most interested in hearing from those who shoot .40 ... Gen 3 or later Glock

Have any of you gotten bulges on your cases from the stock Glock barrel?

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I started shooting USPSA with Gene2 G17 then added Gen2 G22 and kept adding Glocks (Gen3 G21, G30, G19, G26, G22, G23, G27).

When I switched USPSA caliber from 9mm/45ACP to 40S&W, I bought 2 G22s and shot several hundred thousand rounds.

I never experienced "Glocked" brass nor "Guppy belly" brass from any of my Glocks. I do near max loads for 9mm and mid-to-high range loads for 40S&W mostly.

My Glock 40 Gen4 10mm with a stock barrel would do ok with any 180FMJ ammo I could find. The calipers would show a slight bulge on the cases but a regular RCBS die took care of it no problem.

Some Hot not Nuclear reloads would for sure bulge same as the Underwood Ammo I would shoot too.

A KKM barrel has now been installed and my brass doesn't show any bulge at all no matter what load I shoot.

Yes, I do. Why would there be an issue with a Gen 3 or greater??

I have had more guppy brass from my SW Shield 9mm "Gen 1"

TTv2 said:

Have any of you gotten bulges on your cases from the stock Glock barrel?

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'Bulge' is a nebulous term, spanning 'mild expansion' to 'guppy belly'. Without the all-telling before/after dimensions, a bit fuzzy.

CarJunkie lays it out well. Average retail 10mm ammo (emphasis on avg/40SW levels), no problem in a Glock bbl. And hotter - never a 'guppy' with my book, red-line loads. Expansion/bulge - yes.

I've installed KKM bbls (G20-4, G29-2.5) and appreciate the difference. I don't have access to the before/after dimensions - will try to locate/post. No surprise to also feel the difference in the Redding G-Rx Pass Through Die. All 'book loads'.

Anyone able to share other make/models causing 'guppy belly'?

GooseGestapo said:

I blew the magazine and ejector out of a G20 circa 1992 with some 170gr Norma factory loads. Gun wasn’t damaged but I did have a blood blister on my left hand.

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Gun wasn't damaged? If it was the ejector, you'd have to replace the trigger mechanism housing. Extractor, maybe? Regardless, glad only a blood blister. Any details on how/why it went wrong?

I reloaded 4gn 231 for Glock 26--daughter wanted lite load for gun.
slide would not eject cartridge.
went to 4.3--231--cartridge out !

TTv2 said:

Have any of you gotten bulges on your cases from the stock Glock barrel?

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G43(9), G19(9), G30S(45) ... no bulged cases.

A couple myths still running aound about Glocks. The Glock Smile (guppy bulge, pregnant beass. et.al, are just terms tossed around and everyone that reads them understands) was only in a 40 S&W and from what I've read, has been corrected by Glock. Shootin cast lead in a poly barrel, especially Glock, has been argued for many years and the myth that "you'll blow your gun up" still can be seen. I don't know of any gun manufacturer that won't revoke a warrenty if handloads are used in their guns. Cast in Glock info; https://duckduckgo.com/?q=castloads.com+cast+bullets+in+glock+barrels&atb=v275-1&ia=web

Loaded for two 21s. No problems with standard SAAMI pressure loads, but higher pressures can bulge cases. So it's standard pressure loads in my 21.

loaded lot's for my G23 / G22 and in 9mm G19 / G17 never an issue
these are Gen 3 and 4 models

I shoot a gen 4 20 with a stock barrel. No bulges and I load it hot at around 1300 fps for a 180gn.

Herman B said:

'Bulge' is a nebulous term, spanning 'mild expansion' to 'guppy belly'. Without the all-telling before/after dimensions, a bit fuzzy.

CarJunkie lays it out well. Average retail 10mm ammo (emphasis on avg/40SW levels), no problem in a Glock bbl. And hotter - never a 'guppy' with my book, red-line loads. Expansion/bulge - yes.


I've installed KKM bbls (G20-4, G29-2.5) and appreciate the difference. I don't have access to the before/after dimensions - will try to locate/post. No surprise to also feel the difference in the Redding G-Rx Pass Through Die. All 'book loads'.

Anyone able to share other make/models causing 'guppy belly'?


Gun wasn't damaged? If it was the ejector, you'd have to replace the trigger mechanism housing. Extractor, maybe? Regardless, glad only a blood blister. Any details on how/why it went wrong?

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Easy! Case head blew out at unsupported feed ramp of barrel.
Glock “perfected” the design with either the 3rd or 4th Generation design. I’m not a fan boy so I don’t keep track of the iterations of the generations.
The original Norma ammo was loaded about 10,000psi “hotter” than current 10mm SAAMI standard.

All the time - cast lead and they do perfectly.

mdi said:

A couple myths still running aound about Glocks. The Glock Smile (guppy bulge, pregnant beass. et.al, are just terms tossed around and everyone that reads them understands) was only in a 40 S&W and from what I've read, has been corrected by Glock. Shootin cast lead in a poly barrel, especially Glock, has been argued for many years and the myth that "you'll blow your gun up" still can be seen. I don't know of any gun manufacturer that won't revoke a warrenty if handloads are used in their guns. Cast in Glock info; https://duckduckgo.com/?q=castloads.com+cast+bullets+in+glock+barrels&atb=v275-1&ia=web

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Not a “MYTH” !
Late 1996 the Georgia PSTC went “cheap” on their training budget and purchased Master Cartridge”remanufactured” .40 S&W ammo loaded with swaged lead bullets. These were quite soft and had the same black dry lube coating that they were notorious for on their badly leading.38spl ammo. It BADLY leaded Glock barrels.! A young officer I was assigned as his TO was attending the basic academy and doing firearms training. He had an “incident”. I wasn’t there, so can’t elaborate, but results were the contract was voided, Glock blamed ammo, Ammo manufacturer blamed Glock for faulty design.
Statewide specs for ammo were changed and only ammo from specified vendors on contract were allowed to be purchased. When I retired, GT Distributers had contract and ammo was Federal 180gr FMJ for training and Winchester 180gr Ranger SXT for duty.
Glock replaced the destroyed pistol... But didn’t acknowledge “Perfect” firearm didn’t have a minor flaw...

We weren’t the only agency or incident. I know of numerous others.
Glock obviously took it serious and corrected issue.

Glock 31 357 SIG ... around 4000 reloads through it ...zero problems.... 90% full 357 SIG loads ...
Have a 9mm conversion barrel ....probably 500 reloads through it ... Zero problems...