The range i normally shoot at is usually picked clean of brass. However , of late, there always is .40 brass all over the place that nobody wants. Is it worthwhile to reload this caliber or are factory rounds just more economical ? Any problems with it? Just curious. Reload for a couple of different calibers and can never find brass where i shoot, so was wondering why the surplus .40 laying all over the place. With the cost of our components always going up/scarce at times, one would think the .40 would be desired as much as the others.
.40 brass
- Thread starter beefyz
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bigfinger76
Member
Grab it! Definitely economical.
beatledog7
Member
Some people believe the Internet rumors and other such myths about Glocked .40 brass, so they are nervous about using the brass again. Some may even have have a good reason for believing them.
Ergo, there's a ready supply of brass for the rest of us.
Ergo, there's a ready supply of brass for the rest of us.
40 S&W is definitly worth reloading. Economics are no different than other similar cartridges.
40 S&W may have a bit of a bad wrap stemming from some handguns with unsupported chambers. There will be a small bulge at the base of the case that makes resizing difficult with standard resizing dies.
At least Redding and maybe Lee make a pass through die the irons out the bulge.
So the brass,if nothing else it is good for scrap value and will get yoy a few extra nickels for your reloading habit. But it should have reloading value.
40 S&W may have a bit of a bad wrap stemming from some handguns with unsupported chambers. There will be a small bulge at the base of the case that makes resizing difficult with standard resizing dies.
At least Redding and maybe Lee make a pass through die the irons out the bulge.
So the brass,if nothing else it is good for scrap value and will get yoy a few extra nickels for your reloading habit. But it should have reloading value.
Waywatcher
Member
I reload .40 for my Glock 23 and enjoy it. I do use the Redding G-Rx die to iron out the bulge before resizing.
Personally, with this caliber, I don't use range brass at all. I also have a good stash of once-fired brass from my own gun that I'm using. Despite what others may say, I've had very good luck using R-P brass in .40 S&W.
Personally, with this caliber, I don't use range brass at all. I also have a good stash of once-fired brass from my own gun that I'm using. Despite what others may say, I've had very good luck using R-P brass in .40 S&W.
Grab it. It will be worth it to at least sell here on the forum or at your local scrap yard. If you then choose to reload it, You will have free brass to load up as much as you want.
Father reloads for a Glock 22. No problems with the " Glocked Brass " yet. And I am using Lee Carbide dies and have had no chambering issues so far. I also used the same brass in a Taurus PT-940 and still no issues there. And no, I do not use a Bulge Buster kit.
Father reloads for a Glock 22. No problems with the " Glocked Brass " yet. And I am using Lee Carbide dies and have had no chambering issues so far. I also used the same brass in a Taurus PT-940 and still no issues there. And no, I do not use a Bulge Buster kit.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I cast as well, so I'm loading .40s for less than $7 per 100 rounds. That's pretty worthwhile in my book. 
Pick that stuff up. If you don't load it, you can always sell the brass or trade for components you do need.
Pick that stuff up. If you don't load it, you can always sell the brass or trade for components you do need.
THe Dove
BOOMER SOONER!!!
Nope amigo, I got one too......... I have reloaded and shot thousands of 40 caliber rounds through my Glock 22 with not one problem......
The Dove
medalguy
Member
I don't even OWN a gun in .40 but I never step over a piece of .40 brass if I can help it. I just trade it to friends who do load that caliber, for brass I can use.
dwhite
Member
<quote>I must have owned the only three GLOCKS in existence that have never bulged brass. I've been shooting .40 out of GLOCKS for decades and never had a minute's problem with the brass. </quote>
Greenlion, I have one also, G22 RTF2. I've run what I consider are some hot loads and never had a guppy belly. Always wondered what loads other people where running to cause this effect.
All the Best,
D. White
Greenlion, I have one also, G22 RTF2. I've run what I consider are some hot loads and never had a guppy belly. Always wondered what loads other people where running to cause this effect.
All the Best,
D. White
J_McLeod
Member
Never owned a Glock, but I've picked up hundred of brass at the range and only found 2-3 with a bulge.
I've slightly overcharged to the point where my G27 couldn't even extract the brass. I still haven't "glocked" a 40 case. Poor chamber support might have been an issue with the Gen 2's. Sticking with suitable powders and charge weights, I'm sure you could reload even for those older guns without any issues.
Maybe the surplus of 40 cases has something to do with its popularity with LEOs (and now Coast Guard, too) who shoot ammo paid for by taxpayers.
Now, if I ever found old a big ole bunch of mismatched guppy bellies that had obviously been reloaded, I'd let 'em lay. Reloaders who bulge their brass repeatedly and didn't pick up their cases probably had a reason.
Maybe the surplus of 40 cases has something to do with its popularity with LEOs (and now Coast Guard, too) who shoot ammo paid for by taxpayers.
Most of the guppy bellies I've seen have all been in matching headstamps that looked new. So basically factory ammo, esp Speer. After ironing them out, even the thin Speer cases have been working fine out of my Glock with no further care.
Now, if I ever found old a big ole bunch of mismatched guppy bellies that had obviously been reloaded, I'd let 'em lay. Reloaders who bulge their brass repeatedly and didn't pick up their cases probably had a reason.
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LiveLife
Member
Here are some once-fired factory new Blazer cases showing the "bulge" 2/3 way down the case (I do not get bulged cases like this with my reloads when using mid-to-high range load data with powders like W231/HP-38 and Gen3 Glocks).GLOOB said:
These bulged cases can be resized flat like this (for me about 99% of bulged cases can be resized). If they don't fully resize on the first attempt, I rotate the case 90 degrees and resize a second time. If they won't fully resize on the second attempt, they get recycled. BTW, I used Lee carbide resizing die with #19 shell holder/plate.
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