"No glock fired"

[Gun_nut83]

I saw a post just now from a vender selling brass....btw a heck of a buy if you needed brass(I'm sitting on more then I need). Anyway the post mentioned "no glock fired". I can only assume they meant none fired from a glock, but why should that matter? Is there something I'm missing? Being a Glock owner myself I'd like to know the difference.

Thanks, GN

[Sweetpea]

Many times with "glocked" brass, there is a pronounced belly where it was unsupported over the feed ramp.

Some feel that even though it can be ironed out, it has been weakened too much to use.

These bulges must be removed, to make ammunition feed reliably.

Brandon

[35remington]

Some Glocks have oversized chambers

[TES]

Some people have had bad brass from Glocks. But if you inspect your brass visually as well as with case gauges you wont have issues. The unsupported chamber can cause a case bulge or in severe instances cracks in the case where it is unsupported. Bottom line check your completed rounds for bad rounds.

[Petrol & Powder]

I've been reloading 9mm brass fired from a couple of different Glock pistols for years and I have never had a problem with the rounds chambering. Out of thousands of rounds fired, I had 1 (one) casing that blew out just forward of the extractor groove. The bullet left the barrel but the slide didn't cycle. The guy firing the gun knew he had a malfunction but didn't know what to do. I took the pistol, dropped the mag, forced the slide open and cleared the gun. After field stripping the pistol and making sure the barrel was not obstructed; I reassembled the pistol. The gun (A Glock Model 19) suffered no damage and shoots fine to this day. I have no idea how many times that particular casing had been reloaded but it could have been well over a dozen.
I've heard rumor that the .40 S&W Glocks are more prone to "bulge" the casing but I've shot thousands of rounds through a Glock model 22, including a lot of reloaded brass from different Glocks and have never seen a problem.
I do believe Glock chambers are intentionally a bit on the large side to allow them to function in adverse conditions. (dirty gun, dirty ammo, slightly out of spec ammo, etc.) I've never had a problem with casings so damaged by being fired in a Glock that they couldn't be resized and reloaded. And by the way, Glock isn't the only pistol with unsupported areas at the rear of the chamber.

[Sweetpea]

No, glocks aren't the only ones with the issue, just the most visible.

40s are much worse than 9s...

Iirc, the earlier glocks were much worse than current models.

[Springfield]

The S&W Sigma was the absolute worst, was difficult to even resize them, I wouldn't even take brass from Sigma guys. I had no problem with the older Glock brass. Lots of guys had them at the Armored truck place I worked at where we had our own range, reloaded lots of them. With lead bullets too, never had a problem. I actually found the chambers to be tighter than your average pistol.

[Gun_nut83]

Ok, I was just curious because I have both a Glock 26(which I carry) and a 92 FS, I've shot rounds out of my Glock then turned around and reloaded them and shot them through my 92 and have never noticed and "bulging"(prior to loading) or experienced any issues during shooting.

[Petrol & Powder]

S&W Sigma
/\ There's your problem ! :-o

[mdi]

I've read the only real problem was/is the 40 S&W brass fired in a Glock...

[Petrol & Powder]

Yea but I've shot a LOT of 40 S&W in Glocks and never had a problems with reloaded brass.

There may be little anti-Glock component to the bulged-brass rumor..... Not sure, but it was on the internet so it must be true.
Abraham Lincoln

[1911cherry]

Has nothing to do with fanboys or haters, Glocks in .40 can be hard on brass. I get a lot of police range brass and it is not a rumor the bulges are there , mostly on 40S&W, occasionally other calibers. I haven't seen a Sigma do this, but have seen some
"upper end" 1911's bulge brass, its all in the feedramp cut.

[Old Caster]

Earlier Federal brass that was marked FC was a problem in 40. Now all 40 brass has Federal written on it.

[Gun_nut83]

Ok so this started out as a knock on glock in 9mm, then rolled into being an issue only seen in 40S&W glock. Then it's been noticed in Sigmas quite regularly. Now it's mostly 40, occasionally other cartridges even high end 1911s........ No offense to anyone here, I have great admiration and respect for those who know their craft. In the short time I've been on this twisting wet rock I've fired every pistol caliber under the sun and nearly every maker, rifle rounds too. I have also spoken to many people from all walks of life and dug brass from every hole in the world you could think it would be found. As bulged brass goes I have found it has usually been attributed to abnormal peaks in pressure, or weak cartridge walls. I'm not calling anyone here a teller of tall tales, I'm simply stating that I have never witnessed this without it being logically excused. Personally I don't see how one gun maker(now several) can manufacture a firearm with a slightly oversized chamber(or one that is "unsupported"(whatever that means)) and still be within safety guidelines, yet casings are bulging every time they are fired. I am inclined to agree with petrol & powder that these now abundant "issues" are anti-whatever someone doesn't like firearm, caliber, what have you and then posts it online; where some "gun guy" who sees it and instead of trying for themselves they perpetuate the rumor mill.

Maybe there is some validity to these claims, I don't know. I do know that it can't be this wide spread among some of the most common and frequently purchased firearms and calibers including high end 1911s. I'm sorry to keep coming to that key phrase, I just have an awful time admitting that say....a Kimber, would be doing this considering those are "custom made" guns. When I think of a high end 1911 that is the firearm that POPS into my head. They are notorious for their custom 1911, they start out at $1100 for Pete's sake. They can't possibly be bulging manufactured ammo with every trigger pull, they have incredible tolerances and accuracy ratings, and you KNOW that a bulging case issue is going to have an affect on accuracy. I don't know; I could be wrong; I just have a real hard time believing SO MANY CLAIMS across so many lines.

[Petrol & Powder]

A lot of semi auto pistols have "unsupported ?" chambers, whatever that really means and that includes almost any 1911 that doesn't have a ramped barrel. I agree that bulging cases are more likely a factor of pressure than the gun they're fired in. I have thousands of .40 S&W casings, the vast majority of which were fired in Glocks and no problems. The web portion of a pistol cartridge casing may not be totally surrounded by steel when the cartridge is locked in the breach but the casing is more than strong enough to handle normal operating pressures. A lot of this Glock-fired bad brass is just thinly disguised Glock bias.

When the Berretta 92 replaced the holy 1911 the stories about the failures of the Berretta where incessant. I put thousands of rounds through an Italian 92SB and then thousands more through a U.S. made 92 F and never had a problem. A lot of those rounds were 124 NATO loads. I guess either I had really good pistols or the tales of the catastrophic failures were a bit exaggerated.

[mpmarty]

Getting any "truth" out of a Glock fan boy is very unlikely. The early 40 S&W Glocks had problems and nobody in the business will deny this.

[NWPilgrim]

Getting any "truth" out of a Glock fan boy is very unlikely. The early 40 S&W Glocks had problems and nobody in the business will deny this.

That is what I heard. The Gen 3 and later have better supported chambers. I have two gen 3 G23, one gen 3 G19, one gen 2 G22, and one gen 4 G27. I've loaded about 8,000 rds of .40 ammo. Even with one Gen 2 .40 I have never experienced the Glock "bulge, belly, smile". And I picked up quite a bit of .40 brass over the last 20 years. It must happen for some but I think it is older guns and now the legend is larger than fact.

[Mik]

I've never seen a .40 s&w glock that doesn't bulge the brass at least a little.

I've also never reloaded a pistol cartridge, so I have no first hand knowledge on how this affects the safety or longevity of the brass. I do know that many many reloaders use glock brass without giving it a second thought.

[Petrol & Powder]

I just went and looked at a couple dozen 40 S&W casings that were fired in Glocks. Pulled them at random out of a batch of 500+. Looked fine to me. I'm not saying that the issue never occurs but I do believe it's greatly exaggerated and possibly motivated by a bit of anti-Glock sentiments.
I never hated Glocks but it took a long time for me to warm up to them. I'm not a huge Glock fan, to me a Glock is just a utilitarian tool. It is however, a very reliable tool and that trait has tremendous merit.

By the way, I also have a H&K P7 which has a fluted chamber. I've been told by more than one self proclaimed gun expert that the spent brass from that pistol can never be reloaded. That's also total BS but of course I was reloading casings from that gun before anyone told me it wouldn't work.

[mdi]

Ok so this started out as a knock on glock in 9mm, then rolled into being an issue only seen in 40S&W glock. Then it's been noticed in Sigmas quite regularly. Now it's mostly 40, occasionally other cartridges even high end 1911s........ No offense to anyone here, I have great admiration and respect for those who know their craft. In the short time I've been on this twisting wet rock I've fired every pistol caliber under the sun and nearly every maker, rifle rounds too. I have also spoken to many people from all walks of life and dug brass from every hole in the world you could think it would be found. As bulged brass goes I have found it has usually been attributed to abnormal peaks in pressure, or weak cartridge walls. I'm not calling anyone here a teller of tall tales, I'm simply stating that I have never witnessed this without it being logically excused. Personally I don't see how one gun maker(now several) can manufacture a firearm with a slightly oversized chamber(or one that is "unsupported"(whatever that means)) and still be within safety guidelines, yet casings are bulging every time they are fired. I am inclined to agree with petrol & powder that these now abundant "issues" are anti-whatever someone doesn't like firearm, caliber, what have you and then posts it online; where some "gun guy" who sees it and instead of trying for themselves they perpetuate the rumor mill.

Maybe there is some validity to these claims, I don't know. I do know that it can't be this wide spread among some of the most common and frequently purchased firearms and calibers including high end 1911s. I'm sorry to keep coming to that key phrase, I just have an awful time admitting that say....a Kimber, would be doing this considering those are "custom made" guns. When I think of a high end 1911 that is the firearm that POPS into my head. They are notorious for their custom 1911, they start out at $1100 for Pete's sake. They can't possibly be bulging manufactured ammo with every trigger pull, they have incredible tolerances and accuracy ratings, and you KNOW that a bulging case issue is going to have an affect on accuracy. I don't know; I could be wrong; I just have a real hard time believing SO MANY CLAIMS across so many lines.
Photo of Glock bbls. Barrel on left produced "bulge" due to large feed ramp, AKA unsupported chamber. Took me a bit of research...http://media.photobucket.com/user/Mamba357/media/Shooting/Glock40barrels-Gen2-Gen3-Custom.jpg.html?filters[term]=glock%20custom%20barrel&filters[primary]=images&filters[secondary]=videos&sort=1&o=1

Later...
Link doesn't work, but I went to google, searched "Glock pictures barrel" and got several hits of pictures of Glock barrels/chambers showing "unsupported chamber"; a portion of the case above the head isn't supported by the chamber walls. Yep, it's real, not Glock bashing...

[Gun_nut83]

Photo of Glock bbls. Barrel on left produced "bulge" due to large feed ramp, AKA unsupported chamber. Took me a bit of research...http://media.photobucket.com/user/Mamba357/media/Shooting/Glock40barrels-Gen2-Gen3-Custom.jpg.html?filters[term]=glock%20custom%20barrel&filters[primary]=images&filters[secondary]=videos&sort=1&o=1

Later...
Link doesn't work, but I went to google, searched "Glock pictures barrel" and got several hits of pictures of Glock barrels/chambers showing "unsupported chamber"; a portion of the case above the head isn't supported by the chamber walls. Yep, it's real, not Glock bashing...

I too searched using your criteria on google and found several pictures of the "unsupported" chamber that is found in glock barrels, then I went to my G26 and pulled the barrel and dropped the round that was in it to see and wouldn't you know there was a small lip cut from the chamber exposing a small smile shaped portion of the case itself. I still maintain that the bulge is not a cause of the "unsupported" chamber as everyone wants to think and perpetuate. I have seen bulges as I stated before even to the extent of a crack in the side wall of the case, both vertically and horizontally. And I have seen said bulges and cracks in Beretta, Bersa, s&w, sig, walther, as well as glock too and on occasion 1911(regardless of manufacturer), ranging in calibers from .380 - .45. So to reiterate I maintain that it isn't an issue with the "unsupported" barrel but a peak in pressure or a weakness in the side wall.

I have not denied that glocks don't have an unsupported chamber so much as that is the ROOT cause for the bulging. At first(considering this is the first place I've heard of that term) I was unclear of what an unsupported chamber was. Now that it's been made clear to me, I agree that a glock has a lip cut from the chamber to aid in the cycling of the weapon. However, I wouldn't exactly call it unsupported, just a larger feeding ramp similar to what's on an M4 rifle, except it removes a small piece of the rear of the chamber. No one is arguing THAT, no said THAT was the bash on glock. Just the bash is THAT is the CAUSE of the bulge and I argue that it ISN'T, just my humble opinion.

[Tom_in_AZ]

Unsupported case head.

[Petrol & Powder]

I think this whole thing is a tempest in a teapot.

[1911cherry]

Lee sells bulge busters for a reason

[Petrol & Powder]

Lee sells bulge busters for a reason

Yes they do and the answer is - "because people buy them"

[Gun_nut83]

If people didn't buy them, no one would sell them.

[CraigOK]

Some Glocks have oversized chambers
I dont think its oversized, but they dont support the bottom fully. They'll feed dang near anything, but it lets the brass blow out further into the void. Thats why I run lone wolf barrels...

[dragon813gt]

So something that's been supported by pictures and first hand results is now false information? Just run a search for "glocked brass" and look at the pictures. The bulge is due to little support on the bottom of the case. It's not just Glocks that cause this bulge. There are many pistols that do.

http://glock.pro/attachments/ammunition/961d1300158406-reloading-40s-w-glock-bulged-brass-imag0457.jpg

[twc1964]

Hmm, I've loaded and fired countless thousands of rounds out of my g-21 and g-19, the only time i have had any bulge on a case that i was experimenting with a max load. very slight bulge but would chamber fine after sizing. never have had a case head fail with any of my well used brass and all my loads arenear military velocities. But, ymmv

[Petrol & Powder]

I don't doubt it happens but I question the frequency and seriousness.

[TES]

well after making 100k rounds to date I dont care which gun does it but my arm does.....I even broke a shell plate carrier after getting a batch of 20 k brass that was mostly bulged. It was 9mm.

[mdi]

Well, I don't own one, especially a .40, but if the problem is only from hot reloads, why does factory ammo bulge?

[prs]

I have a 2nd Gen 23 that "Glocks" the brass with factory loads (Winchester 180 HP), but the slight little smiley face bulge looks NOTHING like those shown in post #28 above. My handloads are plinkers and do not Glock the brass. The Lee Bulge Buster does iron them out very nicely. The bulge I see in from my 23 matches perfectly the area were the barrel has been relieved at the ramp.

prs

[Elkins45]

I'm not a Glock hater, but I'm not a sycophant either. My early G20 bulges brass severely well before loadbook max. The guns were designed for reliability over reloadability so there's no surprise they have a 'generous' feed ramp area.

Newer guns are not so severely throated: my new G 20SF leaves a much smaller are of the case unsupported. The problem is generally most pronounced in the 40 and 10mm guns. I haven't heard of 'Glocked' brass in 9mm.

[mac60]

Yes they do and the answer is - "because people buy them"

Well, I'm one of those "people". I ran 2500 pcs. of Speer h/s .40 brass through one (after f/l sizing every one in a single stage press). The overwhelming majority of the cases were barely touched - many were still on the punch when I lowered the ram. A very few actually required some effort to push through.

[Handloader109]

Well, not thousands of rounds shot in my G17 gen 3, 9mm but hundreds. Picked up every one I can and NONE are bulged. My Walther PPQ cases look identical except for firing pin mark.....
Loaded a bunch of them and have fired them a second and third reloading and NO glock bulge. IMO, WAY over load, or very early generation. I would worry if I had seen that bulge.

[Tyler Anderson]

With a gen 3 Glock in 40 you can usually see the buldge if you put it next to a new case. I have a 9mm brass that I found on the range that was fired in a 40 chamber, you can really see the buldge on that one!

[Mike Searson]

I have seen it mostly with Glocks chambered in 40 S&W. The bulge is distinct and makes the case look almost pear-shaped. I have not noticed it as much in the 9's and 45s, but have seen first-hand polymer-framed handguns in all three of those calibers fail catastrophically. A lot of Glock 22's and 23's, a 9mm Walther P99 and I believe the one 45 I witnessed was an HK USP.

I have not seen it much the past 14 years, however, but I'm sure it still happens. If you cut an afflicted 40 S&W case in half and examine the ***-end of the case, the brass gets really thin. So thin that the propellant decides it's the path of least resistance instead of the crimped bullet.

[Geezer in NH]

Only my Mac 10-9 was to rough to reload the brass

[David2011]

I think this whole thing is a tempest in a teapot.

No, it's very real. I shoot USPSA with an STI Edge in .40 S&W and mark my loaded ammo so I can tell my brass from everyone else's at a match. I would prefer to take home only my brass. "Full length" sized brass coming from unsupported chambers won't chamber in my Edge. It will stick in the chamber just short of going into battery. REALLY STICK. The chamber of the STI is not sloppy, as expected for a semi-custom firearm. Any brass without my mark that ends up in my bag goes through a Magma Case Master Jr. before reloading it. It's an arbor press that pushes the brass through a Dillon carbide die that's been diamond honed to remove the taper.

David

[David2011]

I have seen it mostly with Glocks chambered in 40 S&W.

Your first post. V. cool. Welcome to CastBoolits, Mike!

David

[dakotashooter2]

I get most of my.40 brass from the local PD (I work for the City) who use Glocks. For a while I was having some FTC issues with them in my Beretta 96. I purchase one of the push through sizers and have not had an issue since. The 40s are probably a little more suceptable to the bulge than the 9mm due to higher pressure and the slightly increased unsupported area due to case size. Since most of what I load are midrange in power I don't worry about it. If I was doing multiple full power loads in each case I might think twice about it.