Glock 27 (.40 Cal) OK w/ Plus P Ammo??

[dirtbike]

I just bought a Glock 27 and have been researching ammo. I have used Buffalo Bore in the past for other pistols - wanted to get some for my new Glock.

Per Buffalo Bore's web site they advise not to use their ammo in the Glock .40 Cal until you've purchased an aftermarket barrel because Glock .40's have an unsupported barrel and may.....

I imagine I should just use non Plus P ammo but I am wondering given the steller reputation Glock's have why other .40 cals would not have this problem and Glock .40's do (maybe?). Why wouldn't Glock fix this by the shaping the barrel tube differently?

Do I really need to purchase the new barrel (it looks cool) for $125 if I want to use Plus P ammo?

Your thoughts?

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=116

http://www.glockworld.com/item/43052_Storm_Lake_Barrels__Choke_Tubes_Storm_Lake_Glock_27_Barrel.aspx

Buffalo Bore's Comments:
SAFETY NOTICE

"Some pistols chambered for the 40 S&W cartridge may not provide complete support of the case head. If this condition exists, normal pressure loads such as those shown here can cause the case wall to bulge or rupture at the unsupported point. Contact your firearm manufacturer to determine if your pistol completely supports the case head, or ask a gunsmith to inspect your pistol before using it with ANY ammunition. It is the gun owners responsibility to know his firearm and its capabilities and limitations."

40 S&W WARNING

"This data is intended for use in firearms which fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms which do not fully support the cartridge may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case head separation, or other conditions which may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter or bystanders."

Glock happens to chamber their 40 S&W pistols without a fully supported chamber and both of those above safety notices are likely aimed at Glock. I know of no other 40 S&W handguns being sold in the US that don't have fully supported chambers. If you really want to shoot our 40S&W ammo in your Glock, have an after market barrel that uses a supported chamber, dropped into it. This is a fairly common practice and will give you the safety margin needed to fire our ammo in your Glock. It will also likely give you more velocity that the factory Glock barrel. I personally own two Glock Model 23's. Both of mine are going to get after market barrels dropped in so that I can use this excellent ammo in them.

Check out the velocities below that I shot with these loads in several modern pistols that I own. We don't believe that test barrels are a very real way of determining real life velocities out of real life guns that you will be using. So, as with all of our ammo, we use real firearms to determine real velocities.

Item 23B/20: 180gr. Jacketed Hollow Point

a. Custom made 1911 With Nowlin (5 inch barrel) = 1119 fps
b. Taurus PT 100 (4.9 inch barrel) = 1035 fps
c. Sig 229 (3.75 inch barrel) = 1040 fps

[Lumpia is sarap!®]

I'd just buy another brand of ammo if I were you unless you're going to buy the replacement barrel.

[dirtbike]

Thanks....

I guess what I'm really asking is if Glock 27 .40 Cal's have unsupported chamber's that may explode when fed high pressure rounds (Plus P rounds)?

The Taurus PT100 can take them without problem - I thought Glocks were stronger and more reliable than cheap guns.

Why would Glock not fix this IF it were true - seems like it would cost an extra .10 cents in metal during the barrel production process?

[Colt]

If Gaston Glock designed it that way, that's the way it should be designed. No other elements are necessary...

(I didn't invent that saying - the 1911 folks did - just substitute John Moses Browning for Gaston Glock).

[Adehtla]

I've shot Buffalo Bore .40 S&W +P FMJ in my XD. It's a great round that has more push than snap. It's what I use as a sidearm when hunting.

Cue the people whining about how you should only carry a magnum round in a hunting sidearm.

[gumby]

Its my understanding that there is no such thing as +p in .40, all 40s&w rounds are spec'd at 35,000psi.

[dirtbike]

I am just trying to figure out why Buffalo Bore would specifically single out Glock as not being ok for their "Plus P" ammo (Buffalo Bore does run hotter than standard loads):

via Buffalo Bore web site
Glock happens to chamber their 40 S&W pistols without a fully supported chamber and both of those above safety notices are likely aimed at Glock. I know of no other 40 S&W handguns being sold in the US that don't have fully supported chambers. If you really want to shoot our 40S&W ammo in your Glock, have an after market barrel that uses a supported chamber, dropped into it.

Thanks for the help

[Henry47]

what about double tap ammo? same?

[dirtbike]

no mention of any problem for a Glock on the double tap web site - trying to figure out why Buffalo Bore says there's a potential problem (via their web site) for Glock .40's when other guns are ok.

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_26&products_id=108&osCsid=2mj3o7tbq7brhs7pfl6pbtavq2

[zfields]

because glock is one of the only handguns in .40 that does not have a supported chamber.

You sort of answered your own question. A few times.

[map]

I'd just buy another brand of ammo if I were you unless you're going to buy the replacement barrel.

You have the best screen name in the world.

[dirtbike]

"because glock is one of the only handguns in .40 that does not have a supported chamber.

You sort of answered your own question. A few times."

I guess I am suprised that I have to buy a better barrel (a "supported one") for a .40 Cal Glock when a Taurus (a cheap gun - I own one that FTF all the time) is designed with enough strength to hold up......

It might be noted that I wasn't looking for a problem, rather I tried to buy my favorite defense ammo (Buffalo Bore) and noticed a saftey disclaimer on the web site aimed at my new Glock 27 (i.e. buy a better barel or your gun might blow up). Most people don't care ( a .22 is enough if you have good shot placement) but that wouldn't be me.

[zfields]

I agree Dirt. Im not sure why it was designed that way. Ive herd to improve feeding, but who knows.

Doesnt make the glock a bad gun. It was designed to operate with .40 cal specs. +p or +p+ really does not exist, they are just overpressurized rounds. No .40 cal firearm is going to say "Ok for .40 +p", because it just does not officialy exist as far as a standard.

[dirtbike]

Plus P loads are funny. I hear they may or may not exist. If they don’t exist or don’t have a standard I can see why manufacturers’ don’t endorse them one way or the other.

That said, I have a Kel Tec P3AT (.380), my friend has a Ruger LCP (.380) - Both manufacturers address Plus P ammo, although many people on the web claim it’s a marketing gimmick (why they would address it if its untrue is beyond me) – per Kel Tec’s owners manual they say its ok although you may get less life out of the firearm. Rugers stance via the owners manual - don’t use Plus P ammo or your gun may........ considering Ruger stole Kel Tec design its pretty sad they say no Plus P while Kel Tec steps up to the plate. I bought a Kel Tec .380 – don’t have to worry about whether Plus P ammo is BS or not.

Does anyone have experience shooting Buffalo Bore .40 "Plus P" ammo out of a Glock .40 (G27)? Any problems or is this a marketing gimmick to get people to buy a "supported barrel"? The only place I have read that Glock’s have an “unsupported barrel” is the Buffalo Bore web site.

Best -

[Turo]

If you just bought your Glock 27, it's most likely a Generation 3 in which GLOCK has reduced the amount of "unsupported" chamber when compared to the earlier generations.

I would have absolutely no problem with running buffalo bore ammo through my 27, I just don't like the style of their hollow point. The amount of "unsupportedness" is usually grossly exaggerated, and it very similar to many other pistols of the same type.