Handloading for the Glock 42 - Part IV

[mstreddy]

With his gracious permission, I'm continuing the thread series that ArtOfGolf started on reloading for the Glock 42 and in my case, a bevy of other 380 ACP pistols. AOG's information and very detailed report has helped me in my forays into the G42.
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data tested in my guns chambered for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.


I picked up one of the Glock 42 Wharf Rats, as Art calls them, about a month ago. This is now my 4th 380 pistol. I started with a Ruger LCP a couple of years ago. I developed loads for the LCP using Win231 and settled on 2.9 grains under a Berry's 100gr RN. Shooting this gun with the reloads was actually pleasant with none of the snappiness that 380s are known for. It was actually fun to shoot, so it set me looking for a "range" 380. I knew that Glock 42s were out and it was on my short list but I wanted something along the lines of the Beretta 84 as well.
I switched powder to Promo recently and tested some loads in the LCP, 2.7 and 2.9 grs under the Berry's 100gr. They were fine, but a little snappy for my taste, so I loaded up at 2.6gr and was happy.
I was able to shoot 3 different G42s at the range at various times and liked them. I shot some factory ammo and some of my Win231 loads in those borrowed Glocks with no issues in two of them. One of them was having all sorts of issues with extraction/ejection on various types of ammo, commercial and my reloads.
I picked up the Beretta 84 from a buddy and he offered a Sig P238 as well. I brought those out and they worked fine with the Promo 2.6gr loads. The Sig impressed me with the accuracy or maybe it was the sights. I have a very hard time picking up/aligning the sights on the Beretta.
Now, on to the Glock. I brought it out and shot my Promo 2.6gr loads. Out of 70-75 rounds I had 2 or 3 stove pipes and/or failure to eject.
Based on Art's and others comments that the Glock likes it hot, I bumped up the Promo to 2.7gr. Another range trip, another 70-75 rounds and had a couple of stove pipes/FTEject. It was when I was shooting a little faster and maybe didn't have the correct grip.
So, now I've bumped up to 2.8gr Promo and here are the results.

All of these were shot at 7 yards (21 feet), standing, unsupported. Unfortunately I did not stop and measure each group. So what you see here is 20 rounds from 4 groups of 5 into an 3 1/2" area.

I will have to retest and shoot for individual groups next time.
But the results are pretty good for me. No stove pipes, no failures, all together around 50 rounds through the G42 this outing.

These are not G42 related, but they are 380s. The Sig had a respectable outing with 1 group at 1", another at 2 1/16" and one 10 shot (2 strings) at 1 1/2".


The LCP put 10 rounds (2 strings) into a 2 1/4" area.


The Beretta 84 had a 1 1/2" and a 1 3/4" groups.

And lastly my buddy's Bodyguard had a 1 3/4" group.


Lessons learned -- use a different target, sight picture was rough to say the least, shoot individual groups, segregate, and have fun.
This load is working well. It's fairly accurate out of these pocket pistols and it's not too snappy. I think I have a keeper.

MstrEddy

 

[Artofgolf]

With his gracious permission, I'm continuing the thread series that ArtOfGolf started on reloading for the Glock 42

MstrEddy, glad to see you picked up this thread & ran with it. Couldn't see the pix. The Wharf Rat is a lot of fun!

 

[mstreddy]

Pics are up

Art,
try it now. I had to upload the pics and link them. Thank you for the inspiration on testing, and posting. And, of course, if my wife asks I'll blame you for picking up that Wharf Rat. Yep -- all YOUR FAULT. I would have never picked up another Glock -- really scout's honor.
I just don't like them -- very much...


Just kidding, but, it was good to see your tests and it just nudged me a little. I've had one on my mental pick up list for a bit, but was waiting for some other events to pick it up. Last month at my Reserve Drill weekend one of my troops mentioned he had it on order and was waiting to hear on when they were coming in. Later that week he contacted me and told me they were in. I was working not far from the store and decided to go in. Picked it up and now it's part of the stable.
I am really happy with it.
Next outing I will correct my process errors in the shooting test and see just how they individually group.
I will probably bring the load down to 2.7 later and re-test. But for now, the 2.8 is good-to-go. I still have a couple of hundred of the Win231 loads and will test those as well.
Oh, and another thanks to BDS for his excellent and thorough work with Promo.

 

[Artofgolf]

I remember the "weekend Warrior" days - seems so long ago

Tell your wife that you blame it on me - I'll take the

Nice pics ~ lookin' forward to the next installment!

 

[lauderdale]

The more I see results from the LCP I want one for lighter loads! Wow what a collection of "GLOCKS"! NICE! Nice to see your input on the 42 thank you!

 

[mstreddy]

Lauderdale, It was the light loads in the LCP that made me want to shoot more 380s. It was downright pleasant and fairly accurate with the Win231 and the lower Promo loads.
Thanks for the compliments. I will have to redo the picture to include the G42.

 

[mstreddy]

Win 231 loads in the G42

And the testing continues.
This time I pulled out a box of Win 231 loads that I had worked up for the LCP some months ago and tried them in the G42. They are a little light for the Glock and I did have a few more FTEjects and some stove pipes.
The load is 2.9gr of Win 231 under a Berry's 100 gr RN seated at .977" OAL.
This is a load tested in my guns, as always, work up accordingly.
They shoot great out of the LCP with no snap and they work great in other 380s. The Glock sure likes snappier loads.
All groups were 5 shots at 7 yards, standing unsupported.

Here is the overall target. Best group was #3 at 1 1/2". Groups measured edge to edge on farthest points.


Here is Group 1 - 1 5/8"


Here is Group 2 - 2"


Here is Group 3 - 1 1/2"


Here is Group 4 - 2"


Here is Group 5 - 2 1/2" but if I ignore the flyer 1 3/4"


Here is Group 6 - was really horrible -- 3 1/4" Had 3 stove pipes and FTEj.

 

[Artofgolf]

Looks like you were having some at the range this weekend Thx for posting the pix.

 

[wlkjr]

After running a few hundred rounds of 100 grain bullets and 3.0 Titegroup and 3.1g Bullseye through my 42, I decided to try some of the other loads initially under development specifically for the 42.
At 3.9g of Power Pistol the slide would not quite come rearward enough, causing stovepipes. But it was a very soft shooting load. I'm thinking of bumping it up to 4.0 gr. I have one source that lists up to 4.6 gr but I wouldn't go that high.
Does 4.0 sound too high?

 

[mstreddy]

wlkjr,
I haven't used Power Pistol, but according to Alliant 2004 data, max for a 100gr FMJ is 4.6gr. The starting would be 10% under that. So the 4.0 should be just fine if not low still.
The Glock does seem to like the loads hotter as ArtOfGolf and I have found.

The 2014 Alliant data does not have a 100gr bullet for the 380. The heaviest they have is a 90-gr Speer GDHP with Power Pistol at 4.8gr (compressed charge).
Are you using lead, plated or fmj bullets?
I have the 2004 Alliant data book in PDF file if you want it.

 

[wlkjr]

I'm using 100g plated but have some 95g coated Bayous coming tomorrow. Would appreciate the file.

 

[mstreddy]

wlkjr you have a pm.

 

[wlkjr]

Just the info I've been looking for. Will report on the new development later.
Thanks again.

 

[mstreddy]

As Art says -- we want pics!

 

[Artofgolf]

As Art says -- we want pics!

Yes, some pix would be nice. I put my targets on a scanner w/ load label to create an upload file to post

 

[CatManDo]

Anyone using 115gr JHP? I have some .355" Montana Gold I'd like to try in my Glock 42, but load data is kinda sketchy.

 

[mstreddy]

Cat,
Art worked up some 115s for his G42 -- reported in the the third installment.

 

[lauderdale]

Thank you MSTREDDY for your help! And THR.

 

[CatManDo]

Thanks for the info MSTREDDY.

 

[wlkjr]

I shot the new loads today but it was getting late and I didn't make pics---sorry.
Power Pistol at 4.0 grains with either a 100gr Berry RNHB or Xtreme 100gr RNFP functions fine and accuracy is good. I had a friend who is a much better shot than I am do most of the shooting.
We also shot some 105 gr Bayou with 3.6 and 3.8 gr of Power Pistol. Both those shot good in the pistol with good accuracy.
One of the best loads was the 105gr Bayou with 2.8 gr of W231.
At 10 yards almost every shot from each load was inside a 4" circle and at 20yds. almost every shot was inside 8 inches. Definitely all were good for GSSF competition.
Something happened I've never seen before. My buddy was on the sixth shot on one string and the gun lightly popped and fizzed. Holy cow. He ejected the round and the bullet was still in the case. He took his finger and scraped the primer off the case. Powder came out of the primer hole. Only thing we can figure is either a bad primer or it was in sideways. I always case gauge and set the bullet primer side down on a flat Formica top to ensure primer is seated correctly. It was definitely a weird thing.
Next time I hope to make pics.

 

[mstreddy]

Wlkjr,
thanks for your update. Now, you gotta get the pics.
On the round that had the issue - if you have a mistake hammer (bullet puller), pull that round apart and see the state of the powder. When you say your buddy pulled the primer out -- was it sticking out? Was it sideways? You need to check that out and find what caused it if you can.

 

[mstreddy]

OK, so I packed up for the range last night, got my bag ready, mags, ammo, guns. One thing to test is the Glock 42 with more of the Promo 2.8 loads. I brought some other guns for the fun shooting portion and for a buddy's daughter to try.
So, a bit of a heavy range bag.
Get to the range, start setting up, pull out G17, Beretta 92, mags, Ruger GP100, ammo, Sig 238, 380 ammo, G42 -- wait, where is the Glock?
Not on this side of the bag, not on the other side, not here, nope, there either...
Guess what Did NOT make it into the bag?
Yep, the test subject.
So, no update tonight on this installment of "handloading for the Glock 42"
Tune in next time and let's see if Eddy can remember to pack the Rat.
Oh, yeah, the Sig shot great.
It was still a fun night at the range.
Got to shoot my buddy's Coonan 357 Mag blaster. My buddy and his daughter got to shoot my Beretta 92 and G17 with the Gemtech Suppressor. Their smiles were worth it all even though I didn't get to shoot the G42.

 

[Artofgolf]

.....Guess what Did NOT make it into the bag?
.........

Pretty funny, MstrEddy

 

[mstreddy]

Art, it was pretty funny when you think about it -- luckily I had other things to shoot, but I really wanted to continue with the testing of the Wharf Rat. Oh, well, next time.

 

[mstreddy]

G42 Promo loads Update

OK, Art, I did manage to pack the Glock into the range bag. In fact, it was the first thing in there!
Here's an update on handloading for the Glock 42. Last week I took the Wharf Rat out with my Promo 2.8gr loads again. I wanted to continue testing at this level as I think it's a pretty good point where it's working with the Glock and it's not too snappy in my other 380s.
Maybe I should not have tested any loads that night as I was also "testing" a new pair of prescription safety glasses. I had just picked up a pair of prescription safety glasses that I had my eye doctor/optician set up for me. I normally wear 3 zone progressive lenses as I have adjustments for near, mid and far sight. I needed a new prescription and I also wanted to see if the doc could do something for me to be able to easily see the front sight. It's been one thing that has been tougher to do in the last several months.
Well, I got the spiffy lenses with the bottom third set up as the mid distance and the top portion for far. They worked great to pick up the front sight -- they SUCKED for seeing a half inch black dot @ 7 yards.

OK, enough old man talk -- let's see what the G42 did with the Promo loads.
This is the overall target showing the 6 black dots and the groups. They are groups of five.


Here is the first group.

I really had to figure out where I was at, as I totally lost the dot. It's supposed to be a five shot group, but one round was off the paper. The 4 shots measured 2.5".

OK, I think I get it now, but it's a tiny, nearly invisible dot out there.

Without the "flyer" it's a respectable 1" group, with the flyer it's 2.5"

Group 3 - 2"


Group 4 - OK, I think I have the system -- 1"


Group 5 - Not too bad - 1.25"


Group 6 - Went back to not finding the dot again, so 2"


After a few of these humbling attempts, I decided to try a different target, so I put up the orange pasties, this helped. I was able to shoot a .75" group.


Now, I just switched to a bigger target (much easier to see) and put around 25 rounds into a 3" area. Not too bad, overall.


I also tried a larger, black shoot-n-c and put around 25 rounds into a 2" group.


So, lessons learned. Test the glasses out before testing for groups.
The Glock is behaving better. It IS prone to limp wristing and needs a good grip or it will stove pipe at this charge weight. I had one or two, but another shooter that tried it out had several until he adjusted his grip.
Overall, I'm very happy with the Glock and the Promo loads.