Lead boolits in a Glock?

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Got_Lead?

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Does anyone have the real scoop on shooting lead from a Glock? Yes, no, OK, better accuracy with conventional rifleing, etc, etc?

I shoot mostly a mild lead load in my 9mm's that is very accurate (3.2 Titegroup with a Lee 125 2R round nose). I get 970 fps, and it functions all of my 9mm actions, and it doesn't lead the barrel.

I don't have a Glock in my colliction yet, but if I did it would have to shoot lead. Yes, I know Bar-Sto barrels are available, but I have an Idea that the factory polygon is perfectly capable of shooting lead. My guess is that the factory covers their tail by advising against lead. I don't have a pressure test barrel, but I would think chamber pressures do increase having to push a bullet down a heavily leaded barrel. I have been told Glocks have a slightly larger than average unsuported area at the back of the case, which many blame for the well publicised Glock KB. But then again, the Browning Hi Power also has a fairly large unsupported area of the case as well, and it doesn't get the bad press the Glock does.

Just wondering?
 
The thing about using lead in polygonal rifling is you have to clean it out completely. If allowed to build up in the bore using calibers that run at high pressures you can get into trouble. And if case head support is not sufficient - even more trouble. As far as installing a BarSto barrel - I would do that just because it will be more accurate than the factory barrel. People get into trouble with Glocks simply because they're not getting their bores cleaned out and/or they're pushing the envelope with hot reloads.
 
I've shot thousands of dry lubed hard cast Bear Creek bullets out of my G19 without a problem. No leading whatosever.

Our IDPA club requires lead (or hard cast, no jacketed bullets) since we hit steel all the time.

I never shoot pure lead out of anything I own because of leading and the health issues associated with lead exposure. I have given up on Bear Creeks for basically the same reason (I don't shoot IDPA anymore). I went to Berry's plated instead.

Dan
 
You don't have to clean it out, completely. Just make sure it doesn't build up and get out of control. If you don't inspect it at regular intervals, then you can run into trouble.

I shoot a lot of 9mm cast through a Glock barrel. I load one plated bullet in each mag, and then I finish with a couple mags of plated. There's no build up, doing it that way.

I cleaned my Glock 19 the other day after shooting 200 lead bullets and 50 jacketed. After running a patch, I didn't see any fouling. I swiped the bore brush a couple times, anyways. After a dry patch, it was perfectly clean.

OTOH, I shoot plated bullets, only, through my 45 cal Glock, and there is sometimes some light fouling that is a bit more stubborn to remove. Go figure.

The other thing I've noticed is that all my barrels (both Glock and standard) leaded much worse (relatively speaking) the first time I shot cast. Since being "broken in" for lead, they all come home fairly spotless.
 
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My own cast bullets would decrease accuracy after 150.

I shot about 1k through my G26 over time and I am still alive but it was a pain.
 
I spent a while pondering this. On every site i went to some will say your gun will blow up, others will say its perfectly fine. I've shot a few through my glock with no issue just out of curiousity. Then i bought The Gun Digest Book of the Glock 2nd edition by Patrick Sweeney. I tend to trust Sweeney more than anyone on an internet forum. He made a good point in the book about not using lead in glock barrels and to buy a replacement barrel. I figure for the 100 bucks my lone wolf barrel cost it wasnt a bad investment for a bit of security.
 
Glock specifically says NOT to shoot lead bullets. Doing so would void any warranty if you did have an issue, but I would be more concerned about blowing my face or hands off. I only shoot jacketed bullets in my Glocks.
 
Glock saying "no lead bullets" is good enough for me. For about $150 I purchased a Lone Wolf threaded barrel and thread protector in black oxide for my Glock 17. I'll be taking the new combo to the indoor range for testing later this week. Looking forward to seeing how well it handles lead (and jacketed) bullets. And possibly adding a suppressor in the future is just gravy...
 
If someone made a car that doesn't require oil changes, that doesn't mean you can't drive your regular car.

If you can change the oil in your car before it melts down, you can clean a Glock barrel before it obstructs. Or better, yet, you can find a cast load that doesn't foul.

Your Glock factory warranty is void if you shoot reloads, period. Doesn't matter if they're lead or jacketed. And it doesn't matter if you paid $150.00 just to use a cheap, button-cut barrel. But, hey. Whatever makes you sleep better at night.

My piece of mind comes from my own eyes. It takes all of 5 seconds to pop out a Glock barrel and look down the bore after extensively firing only cast bullets, and before firing off a jacketed round. All of 2 minutes to clean it after a range session. If I didn't know how to do these things, nor make a reasonable risk assessment and inspection/cleaning regimen with my own brain, then I guess a $150.00 aftermarket barrel would seem like a better investment.

Of course, some people can't do these things. Hence Glock's stance on lead.
 
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Pretty hostile, GLOOB. I guess if you want to ignore what the manufacturer plainly states, then you're a heck of a lot smarter than Glaston Glock or anybody else. Which is obvious in your post.
 
Glock specifically says NOT to shoot lead bullets.
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Glock specifically says NOT to shoot Reloads, period too!
Since you have to reload to get lead bullet 9mm ammo, then what?

As for me?
I have been shooting very hard Linotype cast bullets in my Model 23 .40 S&W stock barrel for 15 years. No bore leading at all, whatsoever.
No problems either, but I don't load them 10mm hot, and I do clean the chamber every couple hundred rounds.

They probably will lead with soft bullets, SO, don't use soft bullets.

Lead build-up in the headspace shoulder of the chamber is the real problem, not the barrel leading shut!!
1st Gen Glocks could & would fire out of battery and blow up if chamber headspace shoulder leading held the slide open far enough.

Use very hard bullets at medium velocity, and clean it with a bronze bore brush occasionally, whether you should clean Glocks or not, and it works just fine.

rc
 
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I've been shooting hard cast lead in my g23 for years, mid velocity, with no problems in the factory barrel. It's the only bore I clean with stainless brush. Everything else gets bronze brush.
Mine has never blown up, but that doesn't mean that the rest of em won't.
 
rc, I don't know of any firearms manufacturer that says it's OK to use reloaded ammunition in their weapons. So Glock's prohibition there is consistent with industry standards.

However, specifically warning about the use of lead bullets is not nearly so common, in my experience. Buying an additional barrel with standard rifling to shoot lead bullets is a relatively small expense in attempting to avoid a bad situation. Just my opinion, and I've been wrong before...
 
Glock specifically says NOT to shoot Reloads, period too!
Since you have to reload to get lead bullet 9mm ammo, then what?
Click to expand...

I don't know where you buy your ammo, but I have bought factory LRN in every semi-auto pistol caliber I shoot-9, 40, and 45. I don't use any of it in a Glock, though.
 
Like I said I have shot about 2-3000 soft lead bullets through my G26 and the only problem I see is lead buildup and a decrease in accuracy. That is after shooting around 150 per trip.


Shoot 1000 in a row and you might be in trouble.
 
When one simply ignores the manufactures stipulation then you’re on your own. Yes one can shoot lead bullets with the OEM barrel but there are certain stipulations and cautions.

A simple solution is an after market barrel such as KKM or Bar-Sto.
 
Another vote for Lone Wolf barrels for Glocks.

Although I do shoot lead reloads in factory Glock barrels, I inspect and clean if necessary every 200-300 rounds or so.

Why?

The key issue with shooting lead reloads in Glocks is this. As rc posted and rfwobbly frequently point out, Glock barrels have longer leade between the chamber and the rifling start, so more hot, high pressure gas tends to leak around the lead bullet as the bullet "jumps" from the case neck and cause gas cutting and bullet base erosion. This will result in more lead smearing deposit near the chamber end, and if allowed to build up, will constrict the chamber end of the barrel that may significantly increase the chamber pressure. And that's what I look for when I inspect the barrel. If you don't see this leading/fouling build up in your barrel with your loads, then increase the frequency interval. If you see this leading/fouling, then decrease the interval.

Last year, I did a 500 round test with Missouri Bullet 9mm 125 gr RN (SmallBall) shot from Glock with Lone Wolf barrel with minimal leading in the barrel that came out with old copper bore brush wrapped with copper scrubber (Chore boy). Glocks + Lone Wolf barrel = "Life is good!" The tight chamber of LW barrel also minimize the case bulge for easier resizing of cases. What more can you ask for?

My recommendation is, inspect your Glock barrels and clean as necessary.

If you want to shoot a lot of lead reloads without concern, drop in a Lone Wolf barrel with better chamber support, especially at the case base. Be safe, but DO enjoy your Glocks!

Lone Wolf 40S&W barrel next to Gen3 Glock 27 Barrel - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=566966&page=2
attachment.php
 
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Interesting observation about leade length. I haven't measured the leade length of my LW barrel, but it has handled all my "Glock-only" borderline stupid-long OAL loads just fine.
Pretty hostile, GLOOB. I guess if you want to ignore what the manufacturer plainly states, then you're a heck of a lot smarter than Glaston Glock or anybody else.
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No hostility intended. I was just making the point that not everyone needs a manufacturer's permission to exercise their own judgment.

Glock has made its stance clear. Their job is done. Most consumers are aware of increased risks associated with lead bullets in a Glock. I'm not "ignoring what the manufacturer plainly states." I have taken it into consideration, and I'm giving my POV and personal experience on the matter. I shoot lead. I will have no one to sue if I hurt myself. Oh well.

OP asked for "the real scoop" from people that actually do it. "Manufacturer says no, so I wouldn't do it" is just a waste of bandwidth. "I've done it, and my Glock blew up" would be a post I'd be interested in reading.

but I would think chamber pressures do increase having to push a bullet down a heavily leaded barrel.
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No doubt this is true. But shooting +P ammo, or shooting standard pressure ammo underwater also increases pressures. And the manufacturer endorses both for the G17. Just don't do 2 at a time. I.e, don't shoot +P cast loads underwater. :) The biggest thing I'd be wary of is shooting a jacketed bullet after extensive shooting of lead without inspection/cleaning. I'd also be more careful with lead in a 40SW or 45cal Glock. The barrels and brass are weaker in those calibers. Take it slow and inspect as you go. Lead fouling is easily removed. It doesn't ruin the gun, but it might prove to be too costly for you in terms of maintenance.

The worst leading I have even seen was in my Glock 21. And I've never shot a cast bullet in it. Bottom line, you have to inspect and maintain your firearms, no matter what kind of bullets you shoot.
 
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Don't shoot plain lead bullets in a factory Glock barrel, get an aftermarket barrel if you want to use them.
Nearly every instance of a Glock blowing up involves reloaded ammunition and the majority of the cases involve reloaded ammunition using plain lead bullets.
When the manufacturer recommends that you not do something with their firearm it is best to heed the advice.
 
I would think the sharper edges and right-angle corners of groove rifling would lead more than the faceted polygonal, but apparently that is not the case with Glock. I don't shoot lead bullets in mine, but I fail to see how they would hurt anything as long as you keep the barrel clean. BTW, the owner's manual for mine does not say anything about lead bullets, only that any warranty is void if "inexpertly fitted" or "inexpertly filled" ammunition is used. ( Read between the lines and it means "handloaded." :p ) It does date to 1998, however.
 
I've found lead cleans out of my stock Glock barrel easier than my conventional cut rifling barrels. It's not just easier, it's a HECK OF A LOT easier.

Yes, my name is D. White, and I run lead through my G22. I still count to 10 on two hands.

All the Best,
D. White
 
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