LiveLife
Member
I spent the summer mostly focusing on .308/.223 loads and decided to get back to pistol loads. As usual, my test platform will be G22/G27 with factory and Lone Wolf barrels but many inquired about shooting of lead bullets and accuracy in factory Glock barrels. So I will be adding G17 to the test.
I know, I know ... this thread is not about whether one should use lead bullets in Glock barrels - I will exercise my usual precautions of inspecting the factory barrel every 200-300 rounds looking for any fouling/lead build up and clean as necessary.
I have shot a lot of Missouri Bullet 125 gr RN (SmallBall) out of Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrels with very acceptable accuracy and wanted to compare the performance of 125 gr SWC bullet in factory Glock barrel. Being the same 125 gr weight and SWC nose design, some of the lead from the nose was moved to the base to form a very substantial bearing surface. My initial thoughts were greater bullet-to-barrel fit and increased stabilization of bullet in flight.
Both 125 gr RN and SWC bullets were loaded with 3.9 and 4.2 gr of W231/HP-38. 1.090" OAL was used for RN. 1.045" OAL was used for SWC bullet as longer than 1.050" OAL did not pass the barrel drop test in the Lone Wolf barrel (besides, this SWC OAL "looked" typical of my 45ACP SWC load).
The initial range test was done more to test function rather than accuracy of SWC in factory Glock and LW barrels in G17/G22/G27 and "casually" shot off hand at 7-10-15 yards. Shot groups at 7-10 yards averaged 1.5" and shot groups at 15 yards averaged just over 2".
Below are close ups of factory G17 barrel after 100 rounds from the chamber and muzzle (it usually looks the same after 200-300 rounds). Although there seems to be a lot of debri, it is mostly fouling build up and no leading. With a light scrubbing with copper bore brush and WD40, the fouling cleaned right up to show shiny barrel.
I know, I know ... this thread is not about whether one should use lead bullets in Glock barrels - I will exercise my usual precautions of inspecting the factory barrel every 200-300 rounds looking for any fouling/lead build up and clean as necessary.
I have shot a lot of Missouri Bullet 125 gr RN (SmallBall) out of Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrels with very acceptable accuracy and wanted to compare the performance of 125 gr SWC bullet in factory Glock barrel. Being the same 125 gr weight and SWC nose design, some of the lead from the nose was moved to the base to form a very substantial bearing surface. My initial thoughts were greater bullet-to-barrel fit and increased stabilization of bullet in flight.
Both 125 gr RN and SWC bullets were loaded with 3.9 and 4.2 gr of W231/HP-38. 1.090" OAL was used for RN. 1.045" OAL was used for SWC bullet as longer than 1.050" OAL did not pass the barrel drop test in the Lone Wolf barrel (besides, this SWC OAL "looked" typical of my 45ACP SWC load).
The initial range test was done more to test function rather than accuracy of SWC in factory Glock and LW barrels in G17/G22/G27 and "casually" shot off hand at 7-10-15 yards. Shot groups at 7-10 yards averaged 1.5" and shot groups at 15 yards averaged just over 2".
Below are close ups of factory G17 barrel after 100 rounds from the chamber and muzzle (it usually looks the same after 200-300 rounds). Although there seems to be a lot of debri, it is mostly fouling build up and no leading. With a light scrubbing with copper bore brush and WD40, the fouling cleaned right up to show shiny barrel.
