Hello new here and a return reloader as well

[Jamming]

New here, I recently retired, kinda young(55) and started shooting a lot more so I decided to get back into reloading. Up until now I've been buying ammo in bulk. I don't have a large collection, a couple of 9MM pistols; Shield 9MM which is my daily carry, I really love it, I had a gunsmith buddy run through it and it's accurate and reliable, an M&P9, a 3rd Gen Glock 23 which I really love and my beloved AR-15. I've got a few .22 long rifle pistols and rifles for plinking and of course I won't be reloading those. I won't be reloading for my 870 bird gun either.

Anyway, I bought a Lee Turret press kit brand new for a great price to get my feet wet. I did buy the Lee Auto drum measure, my research indicated it would be more accurate than the auto disk. My plan is to use a 4 die set and check, check and double check everything. I've got a buddy that does reload so I'm not on my own here and I am an Aircraft Mechanic with 30+ years of experience so I'm used to being as close to perfect as I can be.

Up until about 12 years or so ago I did reload(mostly .357 and 45 long colt) with a RCBS Rockchucker single stage so I'm familiar with the process. My plan is to load 9MM, .40 S&W and .223 Remington. I don't plan on max loads for a long time and will take my time and set up my area right be safe, read my book, follow load charts,measure every round until I'm positive I'm right etc.

Imagine my surprise when I read in "Modern Reloading 2nd Edition" by Richard Lee that you shouldn't shoot reloads in a Glock, especially a .40 S&W. Something about the case not being supported. Did some research and it seems there a bunch of people doing it. I popped the barrel off dropped a round in and it sits in well. What the heck? Should I buy an aftermarket barrel? I don't mind if it's safer. My 23 has thousands and thousands of factory rounds through it and I'm fastidious about maintenance. It's even been to a Glock Armorer for a strip and clean.

Right now my plan is Win231 for pistol and CCI primers for the 9 and .40 with FMJ's for practice(I hate lead) and CCI primers for the .223 with 55 GR FMJ's but no decision on powder yet. I'm a target shooter/plinker.

I only hunt quail and put in for deer and Elk here in Arizona and use a
30-06. Not worth the effort to reload that 25 or so to sight every year I get drawn and I'm good. Something about a Win700, been shooting the same rifle for 30 years.

I know it's a long post but I look forward to your advice. How many folks from AZ here?

 

[RandyP]

I'm a big fan of the Lee CLASSIC turret - and now highly recommend without reserve the great aftermarket Inline Fabrication case ejector system. Turned my turret into a poor man's progressive. A quality item,

http://inlinefabrication.com/collec...r-for-the-lee-classic-turret-reverse-rotation

I too prefer to load mid range for the added safety factor. Win 231/HP-38 has served me well for all my pistol reloads for the past 7 years. I picked H335 for my .223 work.

 

[Jamming]

That's pretty cool! let me get it figured out the right way first and then I'll upgrade.

 

[Reefinmike]

"...shouldn't shoot reloads in a Glock, especially a .40 S&W"
(I hate lead)

Welcome to THR, It sounds like you have a good grasp on what you are doing, spread your wings and fly little one!

Glocks, I believe early gen 40's are known give brass that signature glock bulge. Some people send this brass through a "bulge buster" die to hide the damage that has been done to the brass. I believe this is where a lot of the kaboom stories come from. I had a gen3 g22 for a minute and never experienced any undue stress on the brass.

Check out the newest, latest and greatest hitek and powder coated lead bullets. This prevents leading allowing a cast bullet to be driven upwards of 2700fps.

 

[thomas15]

I have three Glock 17s and a G26 which are as you know 9mm. One of my G17s has been spitting out bullets for more than 4 years at a rate of about 800 rounds per month. All of my Glocks have been fed nothing but reloads. My bores are spotless and no real problems. I know people that have many more handloads through their Glocks, then me, also with no problems.

I'm not an expert but I have done some research on using handloads in these guns. I'm under the impression that due to the method that Glock uses to cut the rifling in the barrel that cast lead bullets may be a problem. I use plated bullets not cast lead. The bullets I use are Berrys, XTREME and Rainier. I also have shot some coated such as Bayou but not enough to have formed an impression.

If I were to get serious about competing in USPSA using a Glock I would probably look into getting an after market barrel such as a Wolf as I think it would be slightly more accurate than the Glock factory barrel. But it would only be to increase accuracy not because of my use of handloads.

The problem with unsupported chambers is only on first generation Glock in 40 S&W. The gen 2 and newer have fixed the problem. The problem doesn't exist at all in 9mm. Every now and then someone will post that they found a range pickup with a bulged 9mm case, I have found them also but none have come from my Glocks. I think that many of these bulged cases come from guns (any gun) that somehow fires when the bolt is slightly out of battery. A dangerous situation but not really a Glock problem.

To summarize, I have found that many who compete with Glocks use handloads. I'm by far not the only one. Plated bullets I think might be something for you to consider. They cost less and for plinking are accurate enough. Many USPSA and IDPA shooters use plated. They don't smoke like lead using fast powders. I really BTW like Glocks, there are tons of things you can do to improve accuracy, some are very low cost and there are lots of aftermarket do-dads and accessories you can buy.

 

[rjbmjb]

I have a Glock 17 Gen 4 in my collection. I shoot reloads most of the time, and have sent hundreds of Berrys 9mm plated bullets through it with no problems. I switched from cast to berrys before I got my Glock, so I don't know if cast bullets are a problem in the 17.

 

[Jamming]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into the plated bullets. I went to shooting FMJ's exclusively about 10 or so years ago when I bought the Glock 23. I wanted a .40 cal and I wanted dependability as this was going to be my EDC so I bought the Glock 23, great gun BTW. Sold the wheel guns (should of kept them right?) sold the reloading gear I hadn't used in a while and now here I am.

 

[FROGO207]

A FYI---some food for thought.
I reload for the 30-06 and not because of cash savings (although it is that as well). I do it because I can cut my groups in half with my tuned reloads as opposed to factory ammo. I can ALWAYS beat factory accuracy AND use the exact bullet I want. Having a set of dies on hand and some loads worked up when supplies are reasonably available assure that you can hunt with that rifle even if commercial ammo dries up as long as you have a moderate supply of components on hand to do it with. I have done this with all my centerfire rounds even if I do not actually reload for them at the present time. This strategy worked well through this last couple ammo shortage/price spike rides. Happy to see you back into reloading as I personally find it a rewarding hobby on it's own as well.

 

[RandyP]

Locally many of the indoor gun shop ranges don't allow bare lead ammo of any kind, so I started my reloading adventures exclusively using plated Berry, Ranier, X-treme etc. No negative issues to report.

ETA - Welcome!

 

[thomas15]

Jamming

I think we all sell firearms and equipment that we come to regret later. My biggest regret was selling a rimfire pistol, in my case it was a S&W 41 with 7" barrel. It was a real tack driver but at the time I lived in NJ and shooting it was a real inconvenience. Now in PA there are ranges all over than place and I have enough back yard to shoot when ever I want. Like you I'm on my second (or third) wind as a firearms hobbiest. This is partly why I have been a member here for 11 years and have less than 200 posts.

Welcome back.