"Glock Buldge"

[bollox]

I am new to reloading .40s&w and am wonder what peoples thoughts on loading glock fired brass that have the prominent buldge just above the head of the cartridge.

Is it safe? Should the times it is reloaded be reduced (2-3?)


Thanks.

 

[IM_Lugger]

I would just load on a light side and avoid lead bullets.

 

[TPK]

Just keep an eye on things, they are fine. I haven't kept great track because much of my reloading is with "unkown number of times fired" range brass that is picked up and that has been re-loaded 3-5 times so far and it's still fine.

 

[RePete]

Roll sizing cures that problem.

You can also use the Lee Undersize die.

 

[gushulak]

Lee Undersize Die, no more problems.

 

[rhs]

I experienced a KB with a G22 that I'm attributing to brass that was roll-sized one time too many. If you're shooting it in a Glock again, I think you're GTG with the normal dies. If you resize with the undersize dies every time, you're just working the brass more than needed. If you're trying to use brass fired in a Glock in something else, then by all means use the undersize die once to get it to fit in the chamber, and then use the normal dies after that

 

[takman74]

There are youtube videos on how to fix "Glocked" brass. check it out.

 

[Cerdan]

I've never treated Glock-fired cases any differently than other pieces of brass.

I experienced a KB with a G22 that I'm attributing to brass that was roll-sized one time too many.

I realize you probably have much more experience than I do, but I wonder how in the world you would come to such a conclusion... Seems to me there's a much greater chance it was caused by an overcharged case. I've had many cases split on me, but never a KB; from what I've heard and read, I'm much more inclined to side with those who believe a weakened case alone won't blow up a gun...

 

[pac_man]

I primarily shoot Glocks and replaced my Dillon dies with Lee dies to fix this problem. The main problem will be that Glock fired brass won't chamber properly without a die that sizes the case fully. I use my brass about 10 times each. My loads are what I would describe as medium in power.

 

[tjhaile]

Redding makes a push through sizing die that gets rid of the bulge if you are having chambering problems with reloads using regular sizing dies. I would be inclined to avoid pushing the envelope with a pistol that bulges brass. An aftermarket barrel might be something worth considering.

 

[rhs]

from what I've heard and read, I'm much more inclined to side with those who believe a weakened case alone won't blow up a gun...

The gun didn't blow up, it just blew the mag out the bottom. I examined the case and it had ruptured and peeled back a strip just next to the casehead. I obviously don't know for sure, but my guess is that the case let go right where it is unsupported over the feedramp and blew the gas down the magwell. It was remanufactured ammo, not one of my handloads. I know the person that makes the ammo uses a rollsizer to bring all the brass back to spec. I'm guessing a double charge would have resulted in a more spectatular failure, but maybe not with a Glock. My assumption was that the brass had been roll-sized one time too many. No damage to either the gun or the mag.

 

[Chip]

Wolf reloads?

Glock brass is fine to use, I have used plenty of it, and never gave it any special treatment.

 

[MustangFrank]

The early Glock 40's were prone to cases blowing out the bottom into the magwell. This was reportedly due to the chamber/barrel not supporting the case enough at the feed ramp. The newer Glocks have addressed this problem by more fully supporting the case at the feedramp. I hope this is a reliable description of the problem but the bottom line is Glock has supposedly addressed the problem. Early .40 loading was also too hot in some brands of ammo. They were trying to make light 10mm but were too close to 10mm pressures.

 

[RePete]

My 3 year old G35 has a factory barrel and it's as good as a custom, well almost.

 

[rhs]

I solved the problem by going to a G17

I never really cared about reloading brass that had been fired in a Glock since I was going to re-use it in a Glock anyway. Once the 'bulge' gets formed, it doesn't get any worse, and the brass fit fine into my chamber after resizing in normal dies. It only becomes a potential problem if you need to use brass that has been through a Glock in another gun that has a tighter chamber. My feelings are that if you are shooting a Glock with a factory barrel, there is nothing to be gained by overworking the brass if it will chamber in your gun with the 'bulged' cases after reloading in normal dies. But then I'm cheap and like to use my brass as long as possible.