What size cast bullets for Bar-Sto Glock 20 barrel?

DAVIDF · June 07 2018 04:59:42 PM MDT

Haven't been here in a while, but started back a couple of weeks ago handloading some 10mm and .40 S&W with some great results using Sport Pistol and an X-treme 180gr RNFP HPCB bullets in both the .40 & 10mm. But when I tried Power Pistol and the same bullets I had terrible bullet instability out of my stock Glock barrel. I ordered a Bar-Sto semi-fit barrel today that was in stock and already in the mail. I spoke with Irv Stone about what size cast, whether plated will work well, what OAL, whether to use an undersize sizing die, and a number of other questions. He is extremely helpful, intelligent, and forthright. I am extremely impressed with him and his staff. He informed me to use only heavy plated 12 to 15 thousands in plating thickness, and cast bullets should be sized at .400. His barrels are spec'd at .400 to .4005, but he says don't go over by .001 as is common in most barrels because of the greater depth of the rifling in his barrels.

I am going to try some cast sized at .400. Have any of you that have Bar-Sto barrels chambered in 10mm used cast and what size did you use?

sqlbullet · June 07 2018 06:27:25 PM MDT

I haven't.

Pretty curious to see your results. We're I a betting man I would bet against Irv I this case, and I never would have thought I would say that.

DAVIDF · June 07 2018 06:47:37 PM MDT

Yeah, I was kind of hoping he would say .401 is best. Harder to find cast bullets, particularly coated that are sized at .400. I will probably order some 165gr TCFP from Penn Bullets. They will size them for me at .400 and hard to beat their price at $79 per 1000. I had good results with their 200gr RNFP .44 bullets that they sized for me at .432.

The_Shadow · June 07 2018 09:49:49 PM MDT

I size my own cast bullets at 0.4015" for the 10mm,they provide a great seal and become accurate in most bores and feed reliably in all of my 10mm pistols.

DAVIDF · June 08 2018 07:25:21 AM MDT

Quote from: The_Shadow on June 07 2018 09:49:49 PM MDT
I size my own cast bullets at 0.4015" for the 10mm,they provide a great seal and become accurate in most bores and feed reliably in all of my 10mm pistols.

What barrels are you using for those?

The_Shadow · June 08 2018 08:13:44 AM MDT

I use them through all of the S&W 10xx factory barrels, Bar-Sto barrel for my S&W and also my Glock Factory and Storm Lake and Lone Wolf barrels. The Bar-Sto and Storm Lake have tighter chambers...

Cast bullets can be Sized larger in some firearms, I size my 44 mag at 0.4315", For my 9mm, 357Sig and 9x25 I use 0.3550" - 0.3560" jacketed and cast bullets at 0.3565" to 0.3570" in several barrels with no issues

DAVIDF · June 08 2018 07:00:40 PM MDT

Quote from: The_Shadow on June 08 2018 08:13:44 AM MDT
I use them through all of the S&W 10xx factory barrels, Bar-Sto barrel for my S&W and also my Glock Factory and Storm Lake and Lone Wolf barrels. The Bar-Sto and Storm Lake have tighter chambers...

Cast bullets can be Sized larger in some firearms, I size my 44 mag at 0.4315", For my 9mm, 357Sig and 9x25 I use 0.3550" - 0.3560" jacketed and cast bullets at 0.3565" to 0.3570" in several barrels with no issues

Thanks, yes I size my 44 cast at .432 since the groove diameter in my Henry is .431. Normally 0.001 over groove diameter works well. How did the cast sized at .4015 work in your Bar-Sto barrel? Do you ever have any leading in the Bar-Sto or is it really clean?

The_Shadow · June 08 2018 08:16:48 PM MDT

My Bar-Sto barrel is a Match Grade 40S&W chambered for the S&W 1006, and I drive them to near 10mm velocity...175 grain cast @ 1100 fps from that 5" tube.
No leading and clean using White Label Lube's Carnauba Red. I used to use Rooster Lab's Red Zambini, but they went away and after years of use no issues but have run out so I switched to Carnauba Red which was rated to 2700+ fps in rifles for clean bores.

I have used this lube with the 9x25 Dillon at 1800 fps no issues.

DAVIDF · June 09 2018 04:40:01 AM MDT

Quote from: The_Shadow on June 08 2018 08:16:48 PM MDT
My Bar-Sto barrel is a Match Grade 40S&W chambered for the S&W 1006, and I drive them to near 10mm velocity...175 grain cast @ 1100 fps from that 5" tube.
No leading and clean using White Label Lube's Carnauba Red. I used to use Rooster Lab's Red Zambini, but they went away and after years of use no issues but have run out so I switched to Carnauba Red which was rated to 2700+ fps in rifles for clean bores.

I have used this lube with the 9x25 Dillon at 1800 fps no issues.

Thanks! I may get some cast sized at .400 & some sized at .401 and see which work better. I am hoping that .401 works great as I can get some 180gr coated bullets from Missouri at that size with no lube grooves. I have had great results with their 240gr cast in my Henry & revolvers. If their .401 sized bullets won't work in my Bar-Sto, they will work at least decently in my Lone Wolf .40 S&W conversion barrel.

Taterhead · July 06 2018 12:43:12 AM MDT

If you like a coated bullet, and you need .400", but it only comes in .401", it is pretty simple to size them. Just get a bullet sizing die from NOE, a .400" body bushing, and a 40 cal pusher. A normal single stage or turret press that accepts standard shell holders will do. You can size a bunch of them from 401 to 400 in a hurry.

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=104&osCsid=4kl4sget4b3hp1tdkcgui2aku1