Glock and shooting cast/lead bullets

[Bill92869]

The Glock movement is got me looking at them. I heard that they don't like or that you can't use cast or lead bullets in them due to the polygonal bore. Truth or fiction?

[Quiet]

It is not recommended to shoot cast/lead bullets through any barrel with polygonal rifling (Glock, H&K, etc.), due to the type of rifling causing higher than normal lead build up, which can cause a catastrohic failure.
It is recommended to get a aftermarket barrel if you want to shoot cast/lead bullets.

I've shot cast/lead bullets through a Glock 22. You just need to clean/inspect your barrel before/after every time you shoot.

[cal3gunner]

Yes you are not supposed to fire lead bullets through a glock barrel. It will void you warranty to use any reloaded ammo.

I shoot moly coated lead bullets through my 17. They are very accurate and shoot just fine. Usually when I'm at the range practicing I'll mix and match my ammo so in the mag it goes a few lead then a couple jacketed ammo. I think that shooting the jacketed stuff helps clean out the lead. I have gone through a couple hundred moly lead bullets without cleaning or any jacketed stuff and it wasn't too dirty with lead build up.
I've also shot a lot of just bare lead bullets without any hiccups either.

As already mentioned, just keep your barrel clean and it shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't have a problem shooting 1000+ rounds of jacketed ammo through a glock without a cleaning, but I would clean it after every couple hundred rounds of lead just to be safe.

[Meka]

Some will tell you Glock barrels allow lead build up and cause the K-BOOM factor. Others will tell you the rifling design, and where lead tends to build makes Glock barrels perfect for fireing cast lead bullets.
Glock tech's have told me not to fire lead bullets in my Glock. That it will void the warrenty, and yes, could cause K, F,n BOOM!
I reload 90% of my ammo. The only pistols of mine that rarely see cast lead are my Glocks. Never in my .40. But I have put alot of lead through my .45's.
I have never had a problem or noticed excessive build up. But I will clean my barrel about ever 200 rnds.
I would say there is a large bit of truth to not firing cast lead bullets with Glocks.
Plenty of after market barrels to put an end to the worry.

[supersonic]

Get an aftermarket spare barrel (there are TONS of them offered) with standard, cut rifling, then you'll be GTG.

[sd1023x]

don't do it! its in the frickin manual!!!

[eaglemike]

don't do it! its in the frickin manual!!!

Why don't you tell us how many factory manuals don't say reloaded ammuntion voids any warranty? I've yet to see one. Please note, I'm not even saying lead bullets, I'm saying reloaded ammuntion.

Lots of FUD again on this subject. If you know what you are doing it's a non-issue. Many of us have shot 100K rounds or more of lead through factory Glock barrels. I prefer the moly-coated stuff. Properly sized bullets, proper powder selection, and good loading technique make the difference. I know of 3 instances where 17 slides cracked at somewhere around 250K rounds, the huge majority shot with lead bullets - yet the barrels were fine. Since the lead stuff was target loads, I would argue the cause of the slides cracking wasn't caused by using lead bullets. I don't shoot one in competition anymore, but I used to shoot 200 gr moly coated lead about 500 to 1K per week including practice and matches (G24). The barrel required minmal cleaning. I was using WSF or 540. Not many people that practice seriously will want to pay the price for using factory ammunition - but you must, because it's in the manual, right? Of course, if you are a sponsored shooter, it's less of an issue.

Glock KB's are caused by firing out of battery and the .40 chamber throat in my experience, plus the occasional live round after a squib. This hasn't happened to one of my guns (knocking on wood here), but I've handled several of them right after the event. Parts get worn, or are exchanged for aftermarket parts and this allows the gun to fire out of battery. This is most common in .40, but I've seen it happen in 17 or 17L also.

Don't shoot anything but decent jacketed bullets (or better) in any factory Glock ported barrel. Lead bullets will and plated bullets can cause problems in this case.

all the best,
Mike

[sd1023x]

Why don't you tell us how many factory manuals don't say reloaded ammuntion voids any warranty? I've yet to see one. Please note, I'm not even saying lead bullets, I'm saying reloaded ammuntion.

And rightfully so? Why would any gun company want to be liable for a reloads which have no quality control or standards. Seems like good business sense. And i think the glock has stated that lead rounds lead to excessive fouling in the barrel, so to avoid lead, seems like logical and sound advice to me.

[eaglemike]

And rightfully so? Why would any gun company want to be liable for a reloads which have no quality control or standards. Seems like good business sense. And i think the glock has stated that lead rounds lead to excessive fouling in the barrel, so to avoid lead, seems like logical and sound advice to me.

I think you miss the point.....