Reloads on G21

[Pepe308]

Anyone using reloads on their G21? Any problems encountered? The pictures kinda freaks me out.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e131/Josro/g21-amerammo.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e131/Josro/glock21-kb.jpg

[ColoradoGlocker]

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[Pepe308]

Thanks for the quick reply sir. Makes me feel comfortable now. I'm planning for a .45 but used to Glock's grip angle, so I'm choosing bet. the 21 & 30. Stay safe! :)

[ColoradoGlocker]

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[Blaster]

Originally posted by Pepe308
Anyone using reloads on their G21? Any problems encountered? The pictures kinda freaks me out.


One of the pictures contains the answer (in my opinion) to what happened. American Ammunition (A-MERC) it is crap ammo. Also known to have been double charged by the factory.

[epsylum]

Originally posted by Blaster
One of the pictures contains the answer (in my opinion) to what happened. American Ammunition (A-MERC) it is crap ammo. Also known to have been double charged by the factory.

Amen!

American Ammo is pure crap and flat out dangerous. I have seen a gun lock up on A-merc due to they forgot to put a flash hole in the case and blew the primer out getting it stuck in the action. It would not surprise me a bit if a-merc was also double or triple charged.

Even their brass sucks and is not worth even trying to reload.

I have fired many reloads out of my G21 and G30 with both factory and aftermarket barrels. I mainly use Rainiers and the occasional Winchester FMJ. As long as you keep you ammo in spec, it should not have a problem.

BTW I know of two people who have blown their Glocks up with their reloads (their fault, double charges on already hot loads). One was a G20 and the other a G22. Both are shooting today. New barrels and some small parts and they were back to working condition. The frames and slides were just fine. If a double charged 10mm couldn't break the G20/21 frame, I would hate to see what caused the damage to the gun you pictured (quad charge?).

ETA:

maybe these will make you feel better. It can happen to any gun. Just pay close attention while reloading and you will be fine.

http://www.thegunzone.com/1911a1-kb.html
http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/hk-kb.html
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=521854

[Arc Angel]

:shocked: Man, those are some scary pictures! Definitely caused by the A-Merc ammunition!

I've shot thousands and thousands of reloads through both of my Glock Model G-21's. (Sometimes with Bar-Sto and other times with the original factory barrels installed.) I use 230 grain, Berry Manufacturing, plated bullets with moderate charges of Alliant Red Dot powder and standard CCI #300 large pistol primers.

Nowadays, my Colt Series 70 pistols are only rarely taken out of the safe.

While there are shooters on this forum who use high antimony lead bullets in their Glocks, if you remember NOT to shoot ANY lead bullets in a Glock factory barrel, you'll be just fine! :)

[meeko]

While I have no big numbers to prove it I am convinced that the majority of reloading mishaps with Glocks are due to some shooters trying to get way to many loadings out of the same piece of brass. I'm sure everyone here has noticed the back of a case fired in a Glock is a little larger than say most other firearms. Since Glocks have generous chamber areas that tends to happen. Always full length resize and only use a couple of times. I always discard mine after three firings and haven't had any problems. I am a firearms instructor for a federal agency and have talked to several people tha have had issues and if it's not the brass issue it's because they got pre occupied (IE wife needed something now) while they were in the middle of reloading and a double charge could have happened. There were a few that got bad factory ammo but that is very rare. Human error is 99% of the problem.

One guy I work with boasted how he could make a 38 special a magnum then blamed Glock when his 45 looked like the picture at the beginning of this post. Makes you wonder!

[blinddog]

Most of the issues with handloads is from Lead bullets and impropper cleaning. The lead builds up in the Polyagonal rifleing. The case is unsupported at the six oclock position also when sizeing a fired case the shell holder covers part of the case in the web area, this can cause a case to be weakened in that spot and over time it could fail. But with due care a Glock 21 can use handloads with no problems but note I said with due care, avoid lead bullets inspect each case carefully, discard any that show any bulgeing in the web area even minor. Replace brass on a regular basis. Or just get a fully supported barrel from KKM and forget about it.

[ColoradoGlocker]

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[meeko]

Originally posted by blinddog
Most of the issues with handloads is from Lead bullets and impropper cleaning. The lead builds up in the Polyagonal rifleing. The case is unsupported at the six oclock position also when sizeing a fired case the shell holder covers part of the case in the web area, this can cause a case to be weakened in that spot and over time it could fail. But with due care a Glock 21 can use handloads with no problems but note I said with due care, avoid lead bullets inspect each case carefully, discard any that show any bulgeing in the web area even minor. Replace brass on a regular basis. Or just get a fully supported barrel from KKM and forget about it.

blinddog I must respectfully disagree with you somewhat. While yes lead reloads are a problem with Glock's in particular. The lead reload issue is really over exagerated. Yes it's happened enough you need to be aware of it. Gulfport PD in MS had issues with their model 21's in the mid 90's. A large majority of the guns (Glocks) that I have seen have had the blowout happen at the back of the case. Upon further investigation a large majority of the shooters (the honest ones anyway) stated they either didn't bother full length resizing or relaoding the case for 5,10 or more times or both. That is the only smewhat negative thing with a chamber that is not fully supportive. with care and attention to detail you won't have any problems with a Glock like we both have mentioned rotate you brass. The biggest problem with handloading will always be human error or people that don't always study up on things like they should.

How many top straps have we seen destroyed by that light 38 special load in the revolver days (I'm giving my age away on that one)
Some people would tear up an anvil with a sponge.

[blinddog]

Yes Meeko I to think the issue with Glocks and cast bullets has been overblown, but it has happened. On the other hand I know of several Sheriffs Dept's that issue G17's and use nothing but cast reloads for practice ammo, and have had no problems with them. When I was first authorized to carry my Glock 21 the cast reload issue had just come up
(giving away my age too) I did a lot of research on it and as a result while I may shoot handloads now and then I do not shoot any cast in my Glocks, I limit any handloads to FMJ or other jacketed bullets.
I also do not use any cases more than three times and i keep very close tabs on the times I load any 45acp cases.Or any others for that matter
But all my other handguns and all my other rifles get steady diets of handloads some only get cast bullet handloads too.
44 Mag,357 Mag,45-70 Govt. all get a pretty steady diet of cast. I have shot some cast out of my 30-06 and 308 a few times but bottlenecks do not do real well at half throttle