Tex4426
Member
I have heard because of the type of rifling glock uses you can't shoot lead...can anybody confirm this?
is shooting lead out of a glock 17 gen 3 bad?
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Nushif
Member
Well.
The answer I am aware of is a definitive maybe.
The type rifling Glock barrels (and some others) have tends to build up lead faster than a traditional rifled barrel, but shooting a few reloads isn't going to magically explode your Glock.
So, to answer your question ... no, it's not inherently a bad idea, but you do need to clean the barrel well, each time.
The answer I am aware of is a definitive maybe.
The type rifling Glock barrels (and some others) have tends to build up lead faster than a traditional rifled barrel, but shooting a few reloads isn't going to magically explode your Glock.
So, to answer your question ... no, it's not inherently a bad idea, but you do need to clean the barrel well, each time.
easyg
Member
Read your owner's manual.
Glock does NOT recommend bare lead ammo.
Glock does NOT recommend bare lead ammo.
My answer is that if you maintain your Glock pistol, that is clean it regularly, shooting lead based bullets is fine. Glock's manual will tell you not to shoot lead.
I do shoot lead in my Glock. I don't shoot 500 rounds without cleaning. I clean my guns after each range session which is usually after about 100 to 150 rounds - no ill affects from lead. If you don't know what to look for, as far as what lead build up means, then my advice is to not shoot lead bullets.
I do shoot lead in my Glock. I don't shoot 500 rounds without cleaning. I clean my guns after each range session which is usually after about 100 to 150 rounds - no ill affects from lead. If you don't know what to look for, as far as what lead build up means, then my advice is to not shoot lead bullets.
Not worth messing with. Your barrel will lead to varying degrees depending on the load. It's more of a pain to clean out and you'll have to clean it more often. I would do one of 2 things instead. The first would be to shoot a plated bullet like a berrys or something of that sort..they cost more than just a lead bullet but less than a fmj. The second would be to get an aftermarket barrel that will work better with lead.
theautobahn
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The above are correct. Glock says lead is a no-no. You are not supposed to shoot lead out of any polygonal rifled barrel (Glock, HK, etc.) that I'm aware of because they lead quickly, which leads to higher pressures, which leads to (possible) unpleasant explosions. I'm sure someone can offer a more technical explanation, but a traditionally rifled barrel with grooves gives the lead someplace to collect. That being said, if you shoot the heck out of a traditionally rifled barrel without cleaning, you can have the same leading issues.
That all being said, as long as you clean your barrel regularly and frequently check for leading, you should be able to shoot lead with no ill affects. You may have to use something stronger than Hoppe's 9 and brush the heck out of it, but it depends on the severity of leading. A friend reloads 9mm lead bullets to low velocities and shoots them out of his glocks all the time with no leading issues (I've shot them out of mine and haven't had any leading issues either).
That all being said, as long as you clean your barrel regularly and frequently check for leading, you should be able to shoot lead with no ill affects. You may have to use something stronger than Hoppe's 9 and brush the heck out of it, but it depends on the severity of leading. A friend reloads 9mm lead bullets to low velocities and shoots them out of his glocks all the time with no leading issues (I've shot them out of mine and haven't had any leading issues either).
All barrels can foul with lead.
Glock recommends you don't use reloaded ammunition.
Internet wisdom says you shouldn't shoot lead.
So either you listen to Glock and shoot only factory. Or you disregard Glock and listen to the internet, and shoot only jacketed reloads. Or you can F 'em all and shoot w/e you want.
As it always is with reloading, you take your chances and you accept the consequences.
Personally, I stopped shooting cast out of my Glock 19 because the bullets aren't much cheaper. If I find a better source, that might change. I am still shooting cast 45ACP out of my Glock 21.
Glock recommends you don't use reloaded ammunition.
Internet wisdom says you shouldn't shoot lead.
So either you listen to Glock and shoot only factory. Or you disregard Glock and listen to the internet, and shoot only jacketed reloads. Or you can F 'em all and shoot w/e you want.
As it always is with reloading, you take your chances and you accept the consequences.
Personally, I stopped shooting cast out of my Glock 19 because the bullets aren't much cheaper. If I find a better source, that might change. I am still shooting cast 45ACP out of my Glock 21.
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MCgunner
Member
One of the reasons i don't shoot Glocks.
Sapper771
Member
Glock says that you shouldn't do it. So you shouldn't do it. That's the safe answer.
I have fired several thousand lead bullets through my G17's factory barrel with no more leading than when I use my after market barrel. I cast my own bullets and use a 10-12 BHN alloy sized to 0.358" with a mixture of carnuba red and BAC as lube. I had to do a lot of load development to find a good load that was accurate with minimal leading. It also helped to keep velocities down to under 1050fps. I found WSF powder to be among the best for my application. It is also important to get every bit of copper fouling out of your barrel before shooting lead.
I have fired several thousand lead bullets through my G17's factory barrel with no more leading than when I use my after market barrel. I cast my own bullets and use a 10-12 BHN alloy sized to 0.358" with a mixture of carnuba red and BAC as lube. I had to do a lot of load development to find a good load that was accurate with minimal leading. It also helped to keep velocities down to under 1050fps. I found WSF powder to be among the best for my application. It is also important to get every bit of copper fouling out of your barrel before shooting lead.
beeenbag
Member
When I finally found a load that didn't lead my g19 something awful, it flung bullets everywhere. I recovered some lead bullets that were shot out of it and you could see that type of rifling just doesn't do well with lead. This is just my experience, others may vary.
After market barrels can be had but they are pricey. Bought one a wolf I think for 100.00 back in Jan for my son so he could get more practice with his duty gun Now I see they are ove 150. I would just do as advised , get some berry's or Raineer plated bullets if you can't find an inexpensive barrel.
45_auto
Member
I've probably fired 15,000 lead reloads out of my stock G17 G3, and over 1000 out of my stock G17 G4. I know I've fired over 1,000 out of my G21 G4. I've probably fired several hundred out of my stock G19 G3. Any of them will easily shoot 1.5" groups at 25 yards if I do my part. I run my 9mm loads at about 950 FPS and the .45's at 850 FPS. Last time I fired a jacketed pistol bullet was sometime last century.
None of the Glocks (all stock barrels) show any more leading than any of my other pistols.
I had a G22 G3 and a couple of G23 G2's. NONE of them would shoot lead without the worst keyholing I've ever seen. You were lucky to hit a standard IDPA target at 7 yards.
I believe every owners manual that I have states not to shoot reloads. But I also pull those tags off of mattresses, so I guess I'm living dangerously.
None of the Glocks (all stock barrels) show any more leading than any of my other pistols.
I had a G22 G3 and a couple of G23 G2's. NONE of them would shoot lead without the worst keyholing I've ever seen. You were lucky to hit a standard IDPA target at 7 yards.
I believe every owners manual that I have states not to shoot reloads. But I also pull those tags off of mattresses, so I guess I'm living dangerously.
Redlg155
Member
If you anticipate shooting lots of lead, then the purchase of an aftermarket barrel can be justified. I wouldn't worry about the occasional box.
mgmorden
Member
Not sure what they are regular price but with dealer/C&R discount MidwayUSA has them for $97. If you really want to fire lead in the gun it's a small investment. Lead bullets for 9mm for example typically run about $50 per 1k. Jacket bullets are $85 per 1k and up. You'll make up the difference pretty quick. Even faster if you're not particularly attached to your factory barrel and sell it after buying the aftermarket.
Tex4426
Member
Don't want to shoot lead...just had a buddy wanting to buy one that had some lead fired through it....but Guy is crazy ...wants 500 bucks for it
I fired over 10,000 cast bullet rounds in my 1991 vintage Glock 20 (yeah, OEM barrel has a huge "unsupported" area) before I discovered the internet and learned doing that was an explosion just waiting to happen. Of course my "lead" bullets are all hard cast alloy (92% Lead, 2% Tin, 6% Antimony) so maybe that was a factor. Maybe meticulous cleaning after shooting is a factor. I don't know, I was taught by and old curmudgeon in the early '60s and he'd only been shooting something like 50 years at the time so I guess it's all his fault.
I also was taught by the internet my Glock Gen4 19 is a disaster mechanically. The approximately 2,400 rounds through it were all flukes in their flawless functioning.
I just hate doing something successfully for so long only to find out my apparent repeat successes were really failures disguised as successes. Dang, life is just not fair.
I also was taught by the internet my Glock Gen4 19 is a disaster mechanically. The approximately 2,400 rounds through it were all flukes in their flawless functioning.
I just hate doing something successfully for so long only to find out my apparent repeat successes were really failures disguised as successes. Dang, life is just not fair.
BSA1
member
I researched this question when putting on Cops vs. Cowboys matches. The answer straight from Glock is shooting lead bullets will NOT harm their guns. What Glocks concern is the shooter will not clean the lead out of the barrel BEFORE shooting jacketed bullets. This results in higher pressures which may harm the gun.
We also found that Glock barrels did not lead any worse than rifle barrels.
So clean the lead out before shooting jacketed rounds and you will not have any problems.
Oh I'm sure the same shooters that say not to do because of the owner's manual also never shoot reloaded ammo.
We also found that Glock barrels did not lead any worse than rifle barrels.
So clean the lead out before shooting jacketed rounds and you will not have any problems.
Oh I'm sure the same shooters that say not to do because of the owner's manual also never shoot reloaded ammo.
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