Hi all I'm considering a glock 21 for an Idpa/ 3 gun pistol. I have shot a glock 30 and my groupings were better than my m&p9. I have used the m&p in all comps and have not had any issues but I really like how the glock feels. Ok now to my questions, do you guys that have 21's shoot lead? Is it good to shoot lead out of a 21? I reload for my 1911 and use a lot of lead so I'm just curious as to what you use? Are plated ok? Do I just invest in a aftermarket barrel and not worry about it? I'd prefer to keep it stock but I am curious as to what you guys are using for reloads in the 21, especially those of you who use it for a comp gun.
Glock 21
- Thread starter tonytor58
- Start date
- Status
45_auto
Member
The only thing my Gen4 Glock 21 has ever seen (a little over 5000 rounds) is 230 grain cast lead over 5.0 grains of Win 231.
Never had any problems with the stock barrel, never tried it with any other barrel or a comp.
Never had any problems with the stock barrel, never tried it with any other barrel or a comp.
Shooting lead from a factory barrel is generally discouraged. The lead builds up in the barrel and may lead to over pressure situations after a time. There are many who use unjacketed lead in Glock barrels. If you don't allow it to go too many rounds between thorough cleanings you may be OK. If I were planning to shoot lead a lot I'd probably invest in one of the aftermarket barrels made for lead.
Have a G21 BTW. Love the gun, but I don't shoot competition, nor do I use lead in it.
Have a G21 BTW. Love the gun, but I don't shoot competition, nor do I use lead in it.
I agree with the comments about lead bullets. I'd definitely look into aftermarket barrels. The other thing is I'd rent a 21 at a range and see how you handle it. The 21 is a big gun with a big grip. I shoot my regular sized Glocks great (21,36, 19 I've owned) but I've never been able to get good grip with the 21. The Gen4's and SF's have significantly smaller grips. I actually went with the M & P in full size 45 because of the ergonomics.
Dan-O
Member
I regularly use my Gen 2 G-21 for IDPA. One of my favorite loads is a 200 gr lswc over 5.0 gr of green dot. Cycles flawlessly from my G-21, but my G-30 won't eject em.
And I shoot from a stock gen 2 barrel. Don't see any leading from my gun using this load.
And I shoot from a stock gen 2 barrel. Don't see any leading from my gun using this load.
Glock Doctor
Member
Want the correct short answer?
It's perfectly OK to shoot either hard cast lead or swaged, (but hard) lead bullets out of ANYBODY's cold-rolled, mandrel-formed, polygonal-rifled pistol barrel. Whatever lead bullet you use needs to have a BHN (Brinell Hardness Number) of greater than 12 and less than 25. What does this mean in the, 'real world'? If you can easily scratch the lead bullet you're using with a knife blade, (or even your fingernail) then it's, probably, too soft to use in a polygonal barrel.
With a Glock it's always a good idea to slug the bore when you're determining what size lead bullet to use. Ideally, you don't want to be more than .001" over bore diameter; and you want to keep bullet velocity below 1,000 fps. A BHN of 24 is considered to be, 'universally acceptable'; but it might be, in fact, too hard for many Glock barrels. People who keep track of these things tell me that a BHN of 16 to 19 is often ideal.
Stay away from real soft, easily indented, lead bullets; carefully watch your polygonal barrel for excessive leading until AFTER you know how much a particular lead bullet is going to buildup; and you should be fine. I don't think I've ever gone more than, about, 150-175 fired rounds while using lead bullets before I stopped and scrubbed out the barrel. If I were using a new lead bullet I'd certainly check the bore every 25-50 rounds until after I know what it is doing.
I have shot many tens of thousands of Berry Manufacturing's plated (copper washed) swaged lead bullets through two of my 3rd generation G-21's. All without the slightest problem with leading. A large percentage of these bullets were, also, loaded in front of, 'healthy' powder charges. (I kept them well below 1,000 fps, though.)
It's perfectly OK to shoot either hard cast lead or swaged, (but hard) lead bullets out of ANYBODY's cold-rolled, mandrel-formed, polygonal-rifled pistol barrel. Whatever lead bullet you use needs to have a BHN (Brinell Hardness Number) of greater than 12 and less than 25. What does this mean in the, 'real world'? If you can easily scratch the lead bullet you're using with a knife blade, (or even your fingernail) then it's, probably, too soft to use in a polygonal barrel.
With a Glock it's always a good idea to slug the bore when you're determining what size lead bullet to use. Ideally, you don't want to be more than .001" over bore diameter; and you want to keep bullet velocity below 1,000 fps. A BHN of 24 is considered to be, 'universally acceptable'; but it might be, in fact, too hard for many Glock barrels. People who keep track of these things tell me that a BHN of 16 to 19 is often ideal.
Stay away from real soft, easily indented, lead bullets; carefully watch your polygonal barrel for excessive leading until AFTER you know how much a particular lead bullet is going to buildup; and you should be fine. I don't think I've ever gone more than, about, 150-175 fired rounds while using lead bullets before I stopped and scrubbed out the barrel. If I were using a new lead bullet I'd certainly check the bore every 25-50 rounds until after I know what it is doing.
I have shot many tens of thousands of Berry Manufacturing's plated (copper washed) swaged lead bullets through two of my 3rd generation G-21's. All without the slightest problem with leading. A large percentage of these bullets were, also, loaded in front of, 'healthy' powder charges. (I kept them well below 1,000 fps, though.)
Now I dearly love my S&W 627 wheelgun and my SW1911, I have always liked the older 3913 and 5906 S&W semis, and the S&W 952 and 945 are 2 of the most accurate handguns in their respective calibers. That being said, the full size M&P 45 that I shot a box of ammo through had a truly awful, gritty trigger! Yours may be an exception, but I was disappointed when I test-fired the M&P 45.
SharpsDressedMan
member
I'm amazed there are still people shooting lead bullets from a stock Glock barrel. Best of luck. I've seen too many blown up Glocks and will not do it myself. From an aftermarket barrel? No problem. Jacketed only? No problem. I love my Glocks.
Hangingrock
Member
My example of the G21-Gen3 is Bar-Sto barreled which required a slight amount of fitting. Dependent on hand size the SF or Gen 4 would be best for most individuals. Accuracy is acceptable no complaints. I replaced the OEM sights with XS-Big-Dot opted after extensive use for a set of Warren sights. That's the long and the short of it for my usage to date.
I had to clean out some fouling, once, but that was BEFORE I even started reloading. Somehow, I got copper and lead fouling from shooting factory UMC and Blazer Brass.
That was the only time I ever had to deal with fouling, and these days I shoot mostly MBC cast bullets in my G21. I have no problems with accuracy, either. Beer bottles are in mortal danger out to 75 yards.
That was the only time I ever had to deal with fouling, and these days I shoot mostly MBC cast bullets in my G21. I have no problems with accuracy, either. Beer bottles are in mortal danger out to 75 yards.
45_auto
Member
sharpsdressedman said:
I'm amazed that there are still people who think that you CAN'T shoot lead through a stock Glock barrel. Why wouldn't you if you know what you're doing and it's not causing any leading?
I've personally seen 2 blown up Sig 9mm's (same guy), one blown up Colt 1911 38 Super, and a blown up Remington 700 in 270. Never seen a blown up Glock.
No leading in any of their barrels, so leading of the barrel obviously had nothing to do with the kabooms. Only thing they had in common was that they were all using reloads.
I had an earlier M&P and I agree 100% on the trigger. This latter one I put in Layaway was much better. And it had the safety (which I wanted). I really tried to get with the 21, but my hands are just too small. I love my other Glocks and still think the Glock is a superior platform. I may have to go Apex before I'm done, but it fits me far better out of the box.
Henny
Member
Dan-O,
My G30 doesn't like SWCs either. I noticed that with my G30 the rear rails are set lower in the frame than my 21. I believe what was happening is when the expended case is being extracted / ejected, the rim of the expended case catches on the driving band of the SWC causing a failure to eject, failure to feed. I switched over to cast truncated cone bullets and the ejection problem went away.
OP, if your getting into competition, have you thought about using a G17? The bullets for 9mm are generally cheaper to buy or use less lead to cast. I carry one of my G21s everywhere I go, but I shoot 3 gun with a G17 just for the economy of it!
My G30 doesn't like SWCs either. I noticed that with my G30 the rear rails are set lower in the frame than my 21. I believe what was happening is when the expended case is being extracted / ejected, the rim of the expended case catches on the driving band of the SWC causing a failure to eject, failure to feed. I switched over to cast truncated cone bullets and the ejection problem went away.
OP, if your getting into competition, have you thought about using a G17? The bullets for 9mm are generally cheaper to buy or use less lead to cast. I carry one of my G21s everywhere I go, but I shoot 3 gun with a G17 just for the economy of it!
Dan-O
Member
Henry,
Yeah I shoot a 200 gr lead rn flat point that Mo Bullet Co offers from my G-30.
Yeah I shoot a 200 gr lead rn flat point that Mo Bullet Co offers from my G-30.
Henny, I have an m&p9 that I use for 3 gun, I'm in the process of putting in an apex kit in a couple weeks. Hope that helps out a lot, cause I have a low and left issue with the m&p. granted I'm not an experienced shooter picked up my first firearm 2 years ago but I shoot my 1911 well, and my buddy has a 30 that I shoot a lot better than the m&p. so if I put the apex kit in and still not shooting it well I may sell it and get a 17 or a 34. I really like 45 and I reload so I can shoot 45 for cheaper than factory. I know recoil is a little more than a 9 but with my hand size the 21 might be a better fit for me. But if I get the apex kit for the m&p and it improves the trigger and helps my mechanics a little I mY stay with the m&p for 3gun and get a 21 for Idpa, or just cause I like it 
.
.
BSA1
member
I'm amazed there are still people shooting lead bullets from a stock Glock barrel. Best of luck. I've seen too many blown up Glocks and will not do it myself.
Without documentation this is a Internet myth.
Without documentation this is a Internet myth.
- Status
