Glock smiles..a concern if NOT reloading spent cases??

[Poopers]

Hello all,

This is my first post here. Planning on getting a G20 next weekend. I plan on LOADING my own ammo, but not "reloading" it. Meaning I will make my own ammo with virgin brass and shoot it one time and one time only.

Im looking to get 200 grain XTP's to 1200-1300 FPS with some 800x powder. I plan on getting a 6 inch barrel for it and since I wont be reloading Im wondering if I should be concerned with the glock smiles? I prefer to stay OEM Glock and get their 6 inch barrel but if Im not sure if I have to worry about hot loads splitting cases ( the above load being the hottest im interested In )

What do you guys think?

Also, while Im here bugging you. Anyone have any pet 800x loads for me to achieve my goals set above?

Thanks in advance

[radiotom]

Overtime it would be cheaper to buy a KKM barrel and use reloads.

[sqlbullet]

IMHO yes, there is cause for concern.  As soon as the brass starts to stretch, it becomes unpredictable.  It is only a matter of time until that magic combination results in a head failure. 

An aftermarket barrel is very cheap insurance for your frame, hands and eyes.

[tommac919]

Sometimes the diff between a glock smile and a non-smile is not that much in the end product ( fps/fp )

Personally if a load produces a smile in my stock g20, I don't shoot it.  ( and a couple have with light weight bullets, store bought )

[Intercooler]

It's not the ammo though. We see
.40 barrels doing it.

[sqlbullet]

Yeah..It is pressure.  You see it on 40 and 10mm cause they both operate at 35,000 PSI.

9mm operates at this pressure as well, but due to dimensioning of the smaller diameter case the support is rarely inadequate.  In 40/10mm you see inadequate case head support more often.

[Taterhead]

If ammo is smiling/bulging, it is too hot. At least for the system that the ammo is fired through. I am NOT a subscriber to the philosophy that ammo is ok in an aftermarket barrel if it is not ok in the stock barrel. If I saw smiles from my stock barrel (and that has been a RARE occurrence), I would not assume the solution to be a different barrel. If I hesitate to shoot it in a stock barrel, then I wouldn't shoot it in a LoneWolf/KKM/Barstow/StormLake barrel either.

There is a lot of work that can be done and keep within the 37,500 psi MAP assignment.

On a happy note, it sounds like I need to get you a self-addressed stamped box for you to send me your once fired brass! 

[sqlbullet]

Taterhead, as is often the case, makes a good counter-point to a point I was not meaning to make, but appears I did.

I agree that an aftermarket barrel is never a license to exceed ammo specifications. 

On the other hand...I think taterhead would agree that if you factory barrel does not handle factory ammo from a trusted maker without bulging, then you are probably well advised to get a new barrel, as the one you have is not designed to for standard pressure ammo.  Or it is defective.

In either case, bulging brass is a bad thing. It is a warning that much worse things are imminent.

[dakota1911]

You might research different vendors.  I like Starline, but they may not be the best if you want to load really heavy in a Glock.  Maybe somebody else builds a heavier base in their brass.  This is maybe more a question for handloading the 10mm, and you might look in the handloading area.