Lightest Reliable Load Glock 22

[mwsenoj]

What is the lightest load you have had success with in your full sized autoloader? I am shooting 180 gr pills out of a stock Glock 22 and pushing them with Bullseye. Trying to get my mom and my wife to enjoy the autoloader and to become competent for self protection. And no, I dont want to shoot 9mm.

 

[Waywatcher]

Whoa! I would recommend backing away from the Bullseye. Way too fast of a burn rate for .40 IMO; that's how Glocks KB--fast burning powder reloads.

Power Pistol is my favorite in .40, and is an Alliant Powder. More moderate powder; less pressure spikey.

 

[mwsenoj]

Sorry, KB?

 

[jhei88]

Kaboom Kb

 

[rcmodel]

Nonsense!

There is nothing at all wrong with using Bullseye in the .40 S&W, if the 'lightest load' is the goal.

It would be a much better choice then trying to download a slow powder to that level.

Lyman #49 says:
180 Sierra JHP.
Bullseye.
Start = 4.9 = 18,200 CUP - 628 FPS.
Max = 5.6 - 23,500 CUP - 844 FPS.

Somewhere between 4.9 and 5.6 you will find the lightest load that will function your Glock.

But ONLY you and your Glock knows what that is!

Gofer it and do your own load testing!

rc

 

[ljnowell]

Nonsense!

There is nothing at all wrong with using Bullseye in the .40 S&W, if the 'lightest load' is the goal.

It would be a much better choice then trying to download a slow powder to that level.

Lyman #49 says:
180 Sierra JHP.
Bullseye.
Start = 4.9 = 18,200 CUP - 628 FPS.
Max = 5.6 - 23,500 CUP - 844 FPS.

Somewhere between 4.9 and 5.6 you will find the lightest load that will function your Glock.

But ONLY you and your Glock knows what that is!

Gofer it and do your own load testing!

CORRECT! 40S&W Glocks get blown up for a few reasons, sometimes together. Trying to use titegroup or a similar fast powder and loading at the top of the load range trying to get full velocity and bullet setback are the two most common. When someone is loading a fast powder like bullseye on the ragged edge of max and then gets a little setback its KABOOOOOOM waiting to happen.

Load at the velocities that bullseye is intended for and you will be fine. Similarly, I like to load that bullet with the longest bearing surface as it has more case to hold onto meaning a less likely chance of setback. I use a 180gr TC in 40 for that very reason.

 

[gahunter12]

I load 3.8gr of WST behind 180gr Berry's bullets at a OAL= 1.129". This load will allow a stock Glock22 to function fine. My G22 I use for IDPA has a 15lb recoil spring just to speed up my slide speed.

 

[Motownfire]

I load 180 grain lead with 4.8 grains of Unique at 1.125" OAL. They shoot "soft" & my brass lands very close to me.

 

[Clark]

The lightest loads that will function in a Glock 22 is a function of many variables; slide and barrel mass, hand mass, forearm mass, hand compliance, friction, recoil spring force, etc.

The ones you have control over are the recoil spring and the friction. Put a wimpy recoil spring and some oil in the slide to frame junction, and the threshold of the lightest load will go down.

There is a range of loads that work sometimes.
I was testing this week for the threshold of jams in a 1911, and the range from 5.9 to 6.0 gr would jam half the time, and half the time it would not jam. So there needs to be some safety margin from the threshold.

 

[LiveLife]

Lightest 40S&W load for Glock 22 with 180 gr bullet?

You didn't specify whether the bullet was jacketed/plated/lead but 3.8-4.2 gr of W231/HP-38 (depending on the bullet type) has produced the lightest recoil loads (lighter than 9mm) and still accurate for my factory stock Gen3 G22/G23/G27 (lead loads shot with Lone Wolf barrels).

 

[sourdough44]

As referenced above, you could go to a lighter recoil spring if you wanted to go light as possible.

 

[LiveLife]

Guns & Ammo Handguns magazine did a nice comparison article of light 40S&W reloads meeting USPSA minor PF using various bullets and powders that includes 180 gr bullets and Bullseye (Test pistols were stock Glock 22, G35 with aftermarket barrel) - http://www.handgunsmag.com/2010/09/24/ammunition_40lite_091806/

Hornady 180-grain XTP
Laser Cast 180-grain TC
Laser Cast 170-grain SWC
Hornady 155-grain XTP

Bullseye
W231
Power Pistol
TiteGroup

 

[SDGlock23]

I'd probably run about 4.5-5.0gr Bullseye and try that.

I don't have any Bullseye, but I do know that 3.5-3.8gr TiteGroup under a 180gr loaded to around 1.135" is softer shooting than a 9mm.

 

[mwsenoj]

I ended up getting 3.7 gr of Bullseye to do the job reliably enough for plinking. About 1 in 20 don't cycle through. Another tenth or so would probably make it quite a bit better.

 

[1KPerDay]

What did your mom think?

 

[mwsenoj]

Mom still was a little boom shy. I need to work on her with the Ruger Mk2. My wife loves shooting my dads S&W revolvers (and the Python when it comes out) with plinking 38 loads. She did well with the reduced loads in the Glock. I am doing some more to help mitigate recoil, like I installed a brass Seattle Slug behind the magwell, and a tungsten guide rod is on order. I am considering a ported bbl to help things a bit more but I am already talking about that in another thread here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=710813

 

[918v]

3.2 grs of titegroup will cycle a G24.

G24 has a 4oz heavier slide than a G22.

Therefore, 3.2grs will cycle a G22.

Bullseye has a heavier recoil impulse than TG. My Bullseye load for the Glock is 4grs under a 165 FMJ @ 1.150" OAL. My TG load is 4.2grs.

Sierra's starting loads are too heavy and inaccurate.