Handloading for the Glock 42 - Part IV

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It's a great little gun, that G42 :D

Good to see you're continuing the testing sessions with the Wharf Rat; I haven't tried Promo for 380 Auto yet.
However, rcmodel was kind in offering one of his Red-Dot recipes for 9MM Kurtz. I'm looking forward to stirrin' up that one :eek:

Nice one on Group 4 :)
 
Art, that G42 is quite the piece. I really am enjoying it. Thanks!
Did you notice group 7 though? I was off the dot, but 3/4 inch is quite respectable in my book. So, a 3/4" and a 1" group out of that Wharf Rat is good in my book. And it's not even benched! Yep, it's a keeper for me.

Keep in mind, Promo is loaded using Red Dot data by weight. So, the Promo workups I have done should help you set your pace for Red Dot. I have the Alliant book from 2004 that has data, I can send it your way if you need it as well.
 
Eddy, what is your opinlion of the Promo vs. W231? Out of everything I have tested, the 231 with a 105gr. Bayou bullet has become my favorite. I have developed a severe liking to this load. One of my friends is swapping me some HP38 for some Bullseye I have.. I hope the coated Bayou lead bullets agree with the Glock barrel. I don't see signs of leading. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
 
wlkjr, I LOVE Win231/HP38. The loads I worked up were great in the other guns, but a bit light for the Glock. I didn't own the Glock back then. W231 meters better/more consistently than Promo for me in my LNL. That said, the Promo variation is generally only .1 grain +/-, but I am at the Alliant listed max already. I haven't gone back to working up the W231 higher, but I may at some point.

Based on some excellent posts by BDS, I decided to pick up 16 pounds of Promo last year and work up various pistol loads, and I've been a miser with the remaining W231 until I can buy more of it. I'll tell you, yes W231 meters better, but I've been pretty happy with Promo in 9mm, 38spcl, 380, and I'm testing it in 32ACP as well. Another benefit of Promo -- if you run across it -- it only sells in 8# jugs and PV had them at $90 per jug. Other online retailers sell it for ~$100. Even then, it's a savings over W231/HP38 prices.
But, maybe I should tell you that it stinks and you shouldn't buy it -- leave it on the shelf for me... LOL

Those coated bullets should be just fine in your Glock. Others here have been running coated bullets with no leading issues.
 
The 100gr Xtremes also work very good with 3.1 gr of W231. That would be my second favorite load. My G42 will only occasionally lock the slide back on the last shot. When my wife shoots her's, it almost always locks back and that's using the same mags. I know her grip is not as strong as mine as she has trouble with her Gen4 19 stovepiping and it works fine for me. I'm at about 12 cents each not counting brass and that's pretty good for .380.
It has taken me a while to feel comfortable shooting this pistol. After this weekends GSSF match in St. Augustine I'll know if all my practice has paid off. I'll probably really suck but it won't be the guns fault.
 
You know --
I'm at about 12 cents each not counting brass and that's pretty good for .380.
Click to expand...
Correction -- that's Damn good for 380! What is 380 running these days? $15-$18 for a box of 50? You/we are at $6 or so!
And, we don't have to search high and low for the ammo. It's on our benches.
And, figuring $15 retail price of 380 vs our loads at $6. In 2 cases worth, 2000 rounds, or 40 boxes of 50, I paid for the G42 ($360) -- $9 savings x 40 = $360.

Now, you made me go and run the numbers. Using Promo at ~$12 per pound, primers at 2.5c, and Xtreme 100 gr FN at 7c each; I'm at .097 per round, $4.87 for a box of 50.
I think I'm happy with that.
And, for the record - I've already loaded 1500 rounds of 380. Time to open another 500 pack of xtremes.
 
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Art, another point on the Red Dot/Promo -- my buddy is loading 2.6/2.7 grains of Red Dot with the same Xtreme bullets. He doesn't own a G42, but I shoot some of his rounds out of mine occasionally. He is seating his bullets a tad deeper than I am, but I can't remember the specs right now.
 
Hey let's go shoot some more. Look at all that money we're saving. We'll soon have saved enough to buy another Glock.:)
 
wlkjr -- yeah, we are "saving" money. But, it really does add up - or not, as we shoot more and more. Honestly, the way I figure it - I'm going to "buy" at least 1000 rounds of a given caliber anyways. Maybe not in pretty boxes and assembled, but I will have the rounds once I'm done assembling the components.

I bought 2K of those Xtremes a couple of weeks ago when they were last on sale. That's the 7c price I use in my calculations.
 
mstreddy said:
Art, another point on the Red Dot/Promo -- my buddy is loading 2.6/2.7 grains of Red Dot with the same Xtreme bullets. He doesn't own a G42, but I shoot some of his rounds out of mine occasionally. He is seating his bullets a tad deeper than I am, but I can't remember the specs right now.
Click to expand...

That's the advantage of loading for the Wharf Rat; I haven't worked up the Red Dot Wharfy load yet, but a slightly shorter OAL is part of the rumination mix :evil:
 
WLKJR, I have some loads to shoot, but haven't had a chance to try them out. I was out a couple of weeks ago, but I was concentrating on my new classics -- an M1911 GI issue and a Colt Pocket 1903 in 32ACP.
I actually packed the G42 but I was so wrapped up in shooting the 2 "new" toys that I didn't even pull it out of the bag.
Next range trip (Wed) I'll put a some more rounds through it. I'll also shoot my buddy's Red Dot loads.
 
mstreddy said:
...I have a special target for the next outing that I think you'll enjoy.
Click to expand...
I'm waiting to see them. Loaded up a few test cartridges with the 2.7g Red Dot w/ Xtreme 100g FP's tonight (your buddy's mix).
Seems like a reasonable recipe for the mouse :) Pix after T-giving.
 
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Artofgolf said:
.... with the 2.7g Red Dot w/ Xtreme 100g FP's tonight (your buddy's mix). Seems like a reasonable recipe for the mouse :) Pix after T-giving.
Click to expand...

After recovering from my Turkey Coma and watching the Eagles trounce the Cowboys, I rolled over to the range today to try MstrEddy's suggestion out of a new Wharf Rat :cool:

2.7gRDxtreme100gFP.jpg (click on image to expand)

Loaded a 30-round string @ 2.7g and found the charges, IMHO, underwhelming.
The majority ejected OK, but 4 of the run did not fully cycle the slide.
It could be attributed to being a new G-42 that hasn't loosened-up yet :confused:

My gut tells me that this load feels a little soft :uhoh: YMMV
 
I would try closer to 2.9.

I'm running 3.3 with 90 XTP in a Kel-Tec P3AT.

And it is not max.

rc
 
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