So I called Glock to get the scope right from the horse’s mouth. The technician said point blank NO LEAD bullets regardless of its alloy makeup or hardness. He also said no plated bullets, FMJ ONLY thought a factory barrel. No Plated bullets, that’s the part I don’t get. According to Glock the polygonal barrel is not designed for anything but FMJ. No Lead bullets Ok, but no Plated bullets…...really? Can anyone weight in on this?

Thanks

There have been several instances where, fed a diet of lead bullets, the Glock barrels lead up badly and it in turn increases chamber pressure due to the leading constricting the barrel. Bulged barrels and one ruptured barrel that I am aware of. There are, however, after market, drop in barrels that have lands and grooves if you are bound and determined to shoot lead bullets.

I don't the exact thickness of the plating on plated bullets. But, it is considerably thinner than the thickness of a standard 9mm bullet jacket. The plating thickness probably doesn't fall within Glock's design specs for use/ suitability in their guns.

My Glock 23 shoots the Berry bullets extremely well and they are plated bullets. I talked with several other handloaders and they highly recommended them.

I shoot everything in my 10mm 20 and 29. Cast, plated and swaged. Just clean it after every range time and its good to go. They know that range rentals shoot thousands of rounds between cleanings, so that is what they base it on. I knew of one range that said theirs had 50,000 rounds through them with no maintenance or cleaning.

The tech has to say what the lawyer tells him/her to. I have never heard of a plated bullet issue in the Glock.

I would guess a leading issue which worsens with a high volume of rounds fired in a short period of time. Since there is no way of assuring the hardness of the lead bullet...boiler plate don't do it. I have shot plated bullets and as I recall it is extremely thin again an issue on industry standards and quality control, must be a bunch bulging the barrels with reloaded bullets. I had issues years ago with doing hi volume shooting on 22 rifles

They also say no reloads period. How many glock owners only shoot factory ammo?

I just pulled the barrel out of by glock 23. It has had 300 cast from wheel weight bullets throught in the last 3 week.

There is no sign of leading period. Why would a super smooth barrel with a susper hard inside finsh lead worse then a standard machine rifled barrel.

Thats what I don't under stand Glock says there barrel finsh is super smooth very hard.

Dosen't even allow for machine marks to ID bullets shot through them.

So why would a super smooth finsh lead more.

I seen leading in revolver and rifle barrels that when you removed it the leading would come off in flakes.

I just haven't seen leading in my glock barrels.

Each to his own I have more then payed for a couple of glock pistols by shooting hand loaded lead bullets through them.

Its to cover their asses and exempt themselves from warranties where handoads were used

Exactly; no gun company will tell you to use anything but new commercial ammo. I use cast bullets in my Glock all the time, and I also use cast bullets in my 44 Mag Desert Eagle, which they also tell you not to do. If you see any lead streaks after a shooting session, shoot a few jacketed bullets through it; the copper will pick up all the lead and clean it out. Don't do this if you have true "leading" which you won't if your bullets are hard enough. Another point; copper plated bullets are usually soft lead; if they were hard there would be no need to plate them. I have never shot any of these in a Glock; only in 45 revolvers and they work fine but velocity is lower than a 9mm.

It is called liability, if you shoot reloads you do it at your risk..you would need to go after the reloading company for remedy
If a firearm "blow up" using factory ammo what you have is two companies pointing the finger of blame at each other and the it will drag on forever

As far a smooth barrels become lead fouled, after the first few rounds the barrel is now fouled, shoot a lot and the barrel heats up take that build up heat and add the heat of friction and the heat of expanding gases and you can cause lead fusion resulting in increased pressure and ba da bing...boom goes the barrel
That is why the higher velocity cast bullets have copper gas checks to prevent lead to become overheated and to cut down on lead fouling

Apparently few here ever fired a shotgun extensively without the plastic shot cups. Super smooth barrel can lead badly, believe me and those who have had the same experience. And looking down the tube will NOT always tell you if the barrel is leaded. You need to go after it with a tight brush and solvent, followed by patchs and see if any lead shows up.


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I an not saying it couldn't lead I am say it shouldn't lead any more then a regular rifled barrel.

A rough barrel will lead faster then a smooth barrel.

I have seen the residue inside shotgun barrels and cleaned them out.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.c...us-polygonal-rifling

The above web site has some information on polygonal rifled barrels.

Can I borrow you gun for a couple of hours...have some spare ammo to burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNAohtjG14c

HK rifling is properly called polygonal, but the Glock is really hexagonal. The simplest explanation in difference is one is male and one is female. If you drove an oversize lead bullet through each you could plainly see the difference.

Just went to Berry's site. They aren't taking order over the Internet. They say that they have such a backlog of orders, that current orders are 6-8 months out. Yikes!

HEH -- call them back and ask them if speer deep curl or golddots are acceptable -- those are plated..

I have shot THOUSANDS of hard cast lead bullets through Glocks. THOUSANDS. Never a problem.
I just cleaned my Glock after each range session, whether I was shooting cast reloads or jacketed factory loads.

I have actually nworn out 3 different Glock 17 barrels. I stopped by the USA factory one time and they examined my 2 Duty Glocks. I was on my way home form a School.

They had a Walleyed Fit, when they saw the inside of the barrels, until I told them how many rounds those guns had fired each.
[Over 67,000 rounds each]

They replaced my barrels and all the internal parts for free.
I also insisted that they let me shoot 100 rounds through each gun on their range before I hit the road.

Both Glocks worked perfect, just like before.

whenever I spent an afternoon shooting lead I would follow up with a mag of jacketed bullets to help clean any leading.

Did the tech tell you what would happen or potentially happen if you shoot lead and why?

I shot an H&K P7 for years with lead bullets with no apparent ill effects (also polygon rifling and with a gas port). I also have a Glock 23C and I shoot lead through that too. You get lead on the outside of the barrel through the ports and on the front sight.

I also shoot IPSC and many of my fellow competitors who shoot Glocks shoot lead exclusively.

If you are worried about leading then keep an eye on it and get a sense as to how much it leads in how many shots and you will then know next time.

Now I'll just be like the tech and say I can't recommend it, but that is my experience with lead. I will have to suggest you do what the Glock tech guys tell you, but I didn't.