Reloading for Glock 20

BillC · February 26 2016 02:36:17 PM MST

How many times can you reload your Glock 20 brass using factory barrel? Ive only been reloading a couple years and mostly straight walled cartridges and 9mm. Most of my Glock 20 brass comes out with pronounced smiles. I have a Lone wolf barrel but its throat doesnt have much more support if any more then my factory barrel however the chamber is much tighter. I have reused my revolver brass over and over again. I was thinking of buying some new starline brass for the 10mm for regular 10mm reloads nothing really Hot like Underwood that I have been shooting but If I only get one cycle through the brass I will just continue to buy factory ammo.

Benchrst · February 26 2016 03:56:06 PM MST

If you keep it mild to medium I'd say 'many'.

BillC · February 26 2016 04:41:48 PM MST

Quote from: Benchrst on February 26 2016 03:56:06 PM MST
If you keep it mild to medium I'd say 'many'.

Ok thats what I was hoping

The_Shadow · February 26 2016 05:04:16 PM MST

I develop my loads to be shot in my factory Glock barrels, the brass does bump out to fill the chamber which is 0.4340". I use a pass through sizing system to recondition the brass for reuse. I use a LEE FCD with the guts removed and a steel push pin for that operation. (SEE Redding GRX and LEE Bulge Buster)

If you are getting SMILES there are some things to consider.
Recoil system in my Glock-20SF, I use a non captive Wolff Gun Springs Steel rod with 22 lbs spring, I have a 24lb but only use it for heavy load testing. In my G-29 I use the non captive Wolff Gun Springs steel dual rod and 21 lbs spring set and the 23 lbs for extreme heavy loads at times.

I believe the non captive setup to hold lock up slightly longer than the factory captive setup.

The other thing is the actual load you are using to include the type powder and primers for the bullets. Adjust accordingly!

BillC · February 26 2016 05:31:04 PM MST

Quote from: The_Shadow on February 26 2016 05:04:16 PM MST
I develop my loads to be shot in my factory Glock barrels, the brass does bump out to fill the chamber which is 0.4340". I use a pass through sizing system to recondition the brass for reuse. I use a LEE FCD with the guts removed and a steel push pin for that operation. (SEE Redding GRX and LEE Bulge Buster)

If you are getting SMILES there are some things to consider.
Recoil system in my Glock-20SF, I use a non captive Wolff Gun Springs Steel rod with 22 lbs spring, I have a 24lb but only use it for heavy load testing. In my G-29 I use the non captive Wolff Gun Springs steel dual rod and 21 lbs spring set and the 23 lbs for extreme heavy loads at times.

I believe the non captive setup to hold lock up slightly longer than the factory captive setup.

The other thing is the actual load you are using to include the type powder and primers for the bullets. Adjust accordingly!

Im wondering if the non captive spring makes a difference, Im using a captive 22# spring, but i may have to give the non captive a try if it gets rid of the smiles. I have a Lee FCD and plenty of brass I could try it out thanks!

The_Shadow · February 26 2016 06:04:37 PM MST

I actually measured the differences as it breaks from lock up and full recoil...

http://10mm-firearms.com/gunsmithing/wolff-gun-springs/

You could try and measure yours, with a digital scale...pulling on the slide

tommac919 · February 26 2016 07:49:15 PM MST

If your getting real smiles on your brass in a stock barrel, then it's pretty hot loads... Yes they do expand more in a glock barrel but many don't "smile".
Btw, smiled brass is junk and has micro fractures so don't reload it.

As to how many reload times...using star line brass and warm loads (180gr head and 10.4gr of bluedot ), I've reload some cases 7-8x now without any problems...and without a full length resize they function fine in the glock.

Hotter loads is more stress on the brass and equals less life

sqlbullet · February 26 2016 07:51:26 PM MST

Load them til they bulge or the mouth splits.

Pumpkinheaver · February 27 2016 07:05:19 PM MST

A mild bulge and a smilie are not the same thing. I get some bulging even with plinking loads.

Pablo · February 27 2016 07:11:41 PM MST

Buy a new barrel.

I shot 10gr of Longshot over 180gr yesterday. No issues at all. Lonewolf 6.2" barrel.

Benchrst · February 27 2016 08:27:52 PM MST

Quote from: Pablo on February 27 2016 07:11:41 PM MST
Buy a new barrel.

I shot 10gr of Longshot over 180gr yesterday. No issues at all. Lonewolf 6.2" barrel.

Did you ladder up to 10? Chrono the ladder?

Just curious about your velocities. Out of my LW 5.15" I started to level off, or even tick down a bit, at high 8s to mid 9s, depending on the bullet.

Thanks Pablo.

Pablo · February 27 2016 11:45:05 PM MST

Quote from: Benchrst on February 27 2016 08:27:52 PM MST
Quote from: Pablo on February 27 2016 07:11:41 PM MST
Buy a new barrel.

I shot 10gr of Longshot over 180gr yesterday. No issues at all. Lonewolf 6.2" barrel.

Did you ladder up to 10? Chrono the ladder?

Just curious about your velocities. Out of my LW 5.15" I started to level off, or even tick down a bit, at high 8s to mid 9s, depending on the bullet.

Thanks Pablo.

I did not measure any velocities. The rounds were made for my 10mm AR, but just wanted to try a few in my Glock. The reason it levels off is barrel length. Not sure an inch would make a whole lot of difference in this case likely 9.5 would have been the same as 10 grs.