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Posted: 2/12/2016 9:41:23 AM EDT
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well after a little research Im thoroughly confused on if it is safe to reload for my new gen4 glock 21 .45acp. I have been loading both lead and FMJ for my sig 1911 with no issues and I know lead in a glock barrel is a no go so when I bough the pistol I also bought some more FMJ to load for it. I keep reading about unsupported chambers and "glock bulge"
are these a myth or is it something to worry about, I don't load my pistol ammo very hot since they are just for plinking around at the range. |
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The earlier model Glock 22's had the unsupported chambers that caused the bulge. They have since changed the design and it still bulges a bit, but not so bad.
Glock says no reloads at all or it voids the warranty. Ive been shooting cast bullets in my Glocks since 1988 when I bought my first Glock. The secret is to not load them too hot. Lately plated bullets are what I've been shooting and I've had no problems at all. I shoot a 21SF in our local matches with plated bullets and have had no problems at all. |
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No worries on swollen brass with the low pressure .45. This is an old issue long since fixed. Coated bullets from either SNS or Bayou work very well. I like the 225 TC from Bayou ahead of 4.3 grains of WST, loaded to 1.20 COAL. Your 21 will feed anything your 1911 will and then some. I have no problem running lead 200 SWC in my 21. I prefer to load cleaner coated bullets to the old wax lubes.
Yes it is safe to reload for Glock 21. However your 21 may require a little warmer ammo than the 1911. I run an old Bullseye load of 5.0 Grains of WST ahead of the Zero 185 JHP. Its very mild and about the lower end of what the gun runs well with. |
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Plated and moly and/or coated lead bullets as well as FMJ and HP are all good to use with no concerns provided one follows published load data. Light crimp (remove case mouth belling only) with FCD is all you need. The issues with Glock's lightly supported barrels ended in the early to mid 2000s during early Gen 3 production when Glock tightened up their chambers a bit. Remember, ALL Browning based semi-auto designs have some lessening of support in the 6 o'clock area as that's a part of the basic design of the action. Glock's combat design called for chambers on the large side to endure 100% reliability. The newer chamber spec just reduces the size a few thousandths which aids in chamber support yet doesn't reduce overall reliability. Do I have the experience to back that up? Well, I've loaded some 42,000rds of 40s&w, 37,000rds of 45acp, 11,000rds of 10mm, and now 650rds of 45 super and shot all of them in my Glock G20L, G21, G21L, G22, G23, and G24. Most are plated or moly coated but a few K have been lead, a few K were FMJ, and a few K of Speer Gold Dots premium bullets as well and all in the last 14 yrs. They are just a few of the 16 calibers, (7 pistol and 9 rifle) I handload. All loaded on either my Dillon 550B or later my Dillon 650 w/casefeeder. No problems except the occasional dud primer. |
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Quoted:
However your 21 may require a little warmer ammo than the 1911. I run an old Bullseye load of 5.0 Grains of WST ahead of the Zero 185 JHP. Its very mild and about the lower end of what the gun runs well with. I made master in GSSF shooting a load like that (when it would run). I found if the gun was particularly dirty, 5gr WST, CCI LPP, and Zero 185gr JHP might not cycle it. 5.2gr is a bit more dependable. For 230gr FMJ, 4.5gr WST should do...if you have it or can find it. |
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