Handloading for the Glock 42 - Part III

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Artofgolf

Artofgolf

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Art trundled off to the range again with the mouse.

Before we get started - a quick disclaimer. The information in this post is for VihtaVuori powder in 380 Auto in a Glock 42. VV has not published load data in their recent manuals. USE WITH CAUTION!

Moving right along, I was able to get the proper slide cycling with all the selections. Only one FTE out of 40 rounds (from a new magazine).

From worst-to-best, here we go! :what:

Click-on image to expand ;)

HornadyHAP.jpg

Although a good performer from the previous session, this episode wound up as low-left-scattershot :confused: This over-powered load slightly bulged the nickel-plated brass; just a tad :fire: for my tastes.

HornadyXTP.jpg

The peppy, yet controlled XTP is good choice for the Wharf Rat. Good accuracy and feel from this recipe. A tweak on this may be in the works for future tests.

BerryFP.jpg

This Berry's FP - which cycled the Mighty-Mouse poorly last time - overcame it's bad showing. The load functioned well and felt really solid on the 7-yard rested trial run. You'll like this bullet, VooDoo!

BerryHBRN.jpg

Mr. HBRN continues as a perennial performer! If you want an accurate bullet for your mouse, please consider this Berry's round-nose :) Operational performance was superb. I like it!

I know that B-B will be rolling with his Dillon soon; not much published data for 380 Auto with VV. Please be careful :scrutiny:

Now, if we can get some of the folks with BE-86 {lucky dogs} to complete some work-up's, I'll be watching in the gallery :D
 
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Nice work!

But until I see some more N320 on the shelves, I am not touching my bottle of N320. :D

BTW, what was the distance to target?
 
Art, how's the recoil of those 115 gr. FN's in the G42? With the heavier bullets is the recoil starting to get pushy or does the Warf Rat still handle them with mild recoil?

Voodoo
 
VooDoo, the recoil was very mild to me. The Wharf Rat is my favorite pocket pistol, hands down :) Those FP Berry's are are going to work great - I'm waiting on a couple other powders to become available for testing :eek: I'm no expert with this cartridge; I do have a deft ability to figure out what works through rumination and exposure. I feel that BE-86 may have a place in the equation.
 
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Artofgolf said:
Now, if we can get some of the folks with BE-86 {lucky dogs} to complete some work-up's, I'll be watching in the gallery
Click to expand...
I got some BE-86 coming from Recob's. I can do a work up using 95 gr Montana Gold JHP and 100 gr plated RN.
... not much published data for 380 Auto with VV.
Click to expand...
I also have N320 so I can do a comparison work up perhaps around 2.8/3.0/3.2 gr?
 
My wife's Glock 42 is picky, it needs to have a pretty warm load to cycle consistently. Been using 3.2gr of Bullseye and 100gr bullets, that combo seems to work well.

Only issue so far has been light primer strike. About 1 round out of every 100 will fail to "go bang". Not sure what is causing this. Is it a common problem with the G42, or am I doing something wrong with my reloads I wonder?
 
G42 light primer strikes

I was also having light primer strikes on occasion with our G42. I am using Winchester small pistol primers, mixed headstamp range brass. I took it to Glock and they fixed it for free.
 
I've been using CCI primer for the G42, are CCI's primers harder than that of other manufacturers? I'm guessing is the gun and not the ammo if you've had similar problems using Winchester primers...
 
Only issue so far has been light primer strike
Click to expand...
CCI-500 SPP's work well with the G42 - put 800 rounds (all hand loads) thru a new Wharf Rat with no problems. Might want to get it checked out if you plan to use the pistol for SD.
 
Ditto for me...I use CCI primers and Unique running 100 gr. Flat nose Xtreme plated in mixed brass in our G42 and have yet to have a failure with the exception of some premature slide lock backs. I thought it was the bullets but it was the position of my fat thumb in thumbs forward grip.

I was tripping the slide lock. I make a conscious effort to curl my thumb down and it has not happened since. But no primer related failures...

VooDoo
 
Art,
I finally picked up my very own Rat.
I've spent the last 4 weeks (3 range outings) working on shooting my 380s to see which load will work ALL of them without the typical 380 factory ammo snap. Ruger LCP, Beretta 84, Sig 238 and the latest - G42 added 2 weeks ago.
I started out with the LCP and was loading Win231 at 2.9grs under a Berry's 100gr RN. This was a mild load with no snap and it worked the LCP, a Bersa, and a couple of others just fine. I switched to Promo and was using 2.6grs with the same bullets. Again, no snap and cycled the guns well. I also tested this load in somebody's G42 at the range with no issues.
I picked up my own G42 and I had a few stove pipes and FTEjects in my first outing. Brand new gun, oiled it a little and it helped. I bumped up to 2.7gr of Promo and it ran a bit better. Still had a couple of stove pipes and FTEjects. I may bump up to 2.8 and try it there to see how it cycles the Glock and how it feels in the others. I understand that the G42 will handle hotter ammo fine, but I prefer the softer shooters out of the other pistols.
I haven't shot any factory ammo in the Sig, Beretta or Glock.
The Sig ended up being the most accurate, may be the sights, may be the trigger, or the ghost of JMB, but it put 12 rounds in a ~1" ragged hole at 7 yards with 3 additional rounds about a half inch below.
 
mstreddy

Glad to hear you've got your own Wharf Rat ( a great large-pocket firearm, IMHO):)
You'll find out you have to goose the mouse with :fire: loads for proper functioning. Other than that, have fun with it :cool: & good shooting!
 
Art,
I am very happy with my Wharf Rat (we gotta design a logo for it). It's a Glock, it's pocketable, it's single stack, it's a great price point - Mil/LE pricing $360 out the door, sights and manual of arms are common for me -- I shoot several other Glocks.
I put around 70-75 rounds the first time (Promo 2.6), and another 70-75 at 2.7 the second time, and I will bump up the charge a little and see, but I don't want to be stuck making "Glock Only" loads, as I'm also enjoying that little Sig - A LOT! I think if I can figure out a sight upgrade for the Beretta, or my eyes, I will enjoy that at the range as well.
Based on the other G42s that I had shot before buying my own, I think that it will improve as it "breaks in".
I'll have to plan a shoot, data, and photo session like yours to gather a comparative point of reference for them all.
 
Sent mine in also to have the firing pin adjusted. I have probably a thousand rnds. threw it. Its gets better w/time! Mine did fine after about a hundred rnds! Cant wait to see how you do w/them M.G.s!
 
I took it to Glock and they fixed it for free.
Click to expand...

What was the turn around time for that?

This is my wife's primary carry gun right now and we'd feel alot better if we could solve this primer strike issue. Aside from that it's the PERFECT gun for her, she loves it. I like it too, and am considering getting a second one for myself at some point.

I also have to say I like the grip extension (got one for each of our G42 mags):

http://www.amazon.com/Pearce-Grips-...1412265549&sr=8-1&keywords=g42+grip+extension
 
Also, back on the subject of handloads for the G42, does anybody have a good load using Red Dot that will cycle? I use Red Dot for most my pistol loads and if I can I'd like to switch from using Bullseye to Red Dot for the G42...
 
David4516 said:
..... handloads for the G42, does anybody have a good load using Red Dot that will cycle? I use Red Dot for most my pistol loads and if I can I'd like to switch from using Bullseye to Red Dot for the G42...
Click to expand...
David4516, bds is starting a work-up for 380 Auto soon and has a lot of powders, although he will be focusing on the new BE-86 offering. You might consider sending him a PM and ask if he would include Red Dot in the mix for his test. He always does a thorough analysis for his work-ups :D
 
David,
Promo uses Red Dot data by weight. I started @ 2.6gr under a Berry's 100 RN, and now a 100 Xtreme FN. I am now up to 2.7 grs and note my experience above. It hasn't been 100% yet, but working on it. Next week I'll bump it up to 2.8gr and try it there. I can post my OAL once I get home.
 
Think it was about a week and a half! The grouping on the target that was sent back blows my mind I think it was 8yds. W/Blazer ammo one ontop of the other.
 
Going to post my Titegroup data tests here, and I'll get the N320 tests going. Thank you again for the excellent reports!

-BB
 
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