[Custom Glock Racing]

Well done Walter. You hit the nail on the head, particularly by differentiating case head separations.

[flatrock]

KBs and case failures are both caused by too much pressure.

The case failure can occur due to weak brass at normal pressures, but the ones people tend to be most worried about are those from over pressure.

Those usually happen because of imporperly loaded ammunition, and I suspect that most KBs are because of double loads.

Another problem is leading of the barrel. This is something Glock barrels are susceptable to. You should not fire unjackeded or at least plated bullets from a glock barrel. Lead can build up and cause overpressure.

These are issues that Glock owners should be aware of, but when using factory loaded ammo, they should not be a problem.

Those that choose to reload should use jacketed or at least plated bullets, and be aware that the less fully supported stock barrel can leave bulges in the brass, and decrease it's strength when it's resized. Reloading .40 brass that's been fired in a Glock barrel may not be a good decision, especially if you load hot loads.

[Custom Glock Racing]

Another note. Despite what some unscrupulous manufacturers will tell you there is no such thing as a fully supported barrel for a glock. They simply don't exist.

[DannyR]

Aw, Matt, you've just disclosed another secret to the masses.

[Custom Glock Racing]

Does this mean that I will be thrown out of the Magicians Guild Danny?

[DannyR]

No, you have a lifetime membership to the guild. However, Federal barrels may start telling folks that you be one bad dude.;f

[WIG19]

I too would vote for a sticky on this one. Also, since I do not make a habit of frequenting "specious" web sites I have no way of knowing whether the fact that Portland continues to order Glocks is common knowledge or not, just ignored, or....? Well done, sir! ^c

I always like your parallels to "Things You Should've Learned in School (had you been paying attention)"

[philkryder]

Originally posted by WalterGA
....
Years ago, there was an old ordnance officer who posted on GT and, before GT, on UGW. Can't remember the guys' name, but he thought the .40 was poorly conceived and designed.


....

Regarding the argument based on anonymous appeal to authority, whether they are ill conceived or not, I think the same argument you made about Glocks in general also applies to .40s:
There are lots of them - and you will hear of failures.
If it were a real "problem" there'd be recalls.

Though I agree with your reasoning of reduced margin for error with heavier bullets, there are also many of us who shoot many rounds of .40 (including reloads) with no problems.

Any new news from Portland?
Do they really continue to use Glocks?

Phil

Originally posted by BuffaloBo
Steve:

How long ago did this happen?
The reason why I ask is because I noticed that the case was a Federal. I heard or read somewhere that there might have been some issues with Federal cases being a little flimsy and were prone to blowouts. Also, I heard that they quietly fixed these deficiencies since then. BTW I load Federal cases in .40 these days with no apprehension.

Going on 2 years now. I remember hearing the same thing about Federal (after this incident, of course!). I do my best to stick with Winchester brass now in everything I load.

[Mdsteele]

Good post Walt, Thanks!

[pwharve]

Originally posted by Custom Glock Racing
Another note. Despite what some unscrupulous manufacturers will tell you there is no such thing as a fully supported barrel for a glock. They simply don't exist.

Why is this? Feed ramp? I'm not engineer enough to figure out why on my own.

TIA.

--pwharve

[fabricator]

Originally posted by pwharve
Why is this? Feed ramp? I'm not engineer enough to figure out why on my own.

TIA.

--pwharve

Yes, because the magazine is so close to the chamber the feed ramp would be to steep, so they have to cut into the bottom of the chamber slightly, however there are many auto pistols that do this also not just glock.

[Rod b]

Good post Walter, I think the one common thread throughout all the posts is.

A huge number of Glocks in service = more KBs than less popular pistols

A lot of questions have to be raised about the quality of the ammunition used, both factory & reloads.

[petej88]

Actually, a third party barrel with more chamber support in the 6 o'clock area may induce bullet setback to a greater degree than a standard Glock barrel since the third party barrel requires a steeper feed ramp, which puts more pressure on the bullet as it hits the feed ramp. (sorry for the run on sentence, but it was kinda fun).

And I think Danny has a good point about the fact that if there are 20 times more Glocks out there than another brand, you will of course here a lot more about Glocks even if the other brand has a similar problem ratio.

[WIG19]

Sidearmor: Thanks ma'am for the sticky. ;D

[WalterGA]

Patricia: Thanks for EVERYTHING!

[KNOW 1]

Is this a US phenominon(how you spel?)? Can it be shown whether or not this occurs as frequently, or non-frequently in other countries? Do they reload as much? Do they use local factory ammunition? As far as the number of Glocks out there, wouldn't there be the same, about, or an equal amount of 1911's, though not all of the same manufacture? On the 1911 forum the list 13 1911 manufactures, and then have a "USGI" and "other 1911's" forums. Although I don't think it is such a problem, as much as it is exaggerated by those who do not favor Glock, I'm beggining to believe, "they do have a tendency". I've read enough posts by seemingly experienced Glock users, that are in between negative and positive, i.e. "I still use Glocks after mine Kb'd", or "I saw one Kb". This, however is not what is convincing me, it's the fact that the argument about Kb's is starting to sound like the, "1911's are 100% reliable out of the box", "just as reliable as Glock" and "it's the lower grade manufacturers that make them look bad" argument. Of course, who'd believe anything they read on the internet, anyway?

I've pile the logs, but, please, try to find it in your heart to forgive me.

[DAG27]

..

Unless you have chillin's in the house, leave it loaded and in the holster. That's what I do. Off my hip, and onto the dresser, still in its holster.

[Sgt_Steiner]

I'm not worried about Glock KB's but if I was it would be with .40's and .357 not a .45 low pressure round.

[fabricator]

Originally posted by DAG27
If you shouldn't chamber the same round more than once into your glock, how do you carry it with one chambered. Im a new glock owner, I have the 27 and am a tad concerned about it KB'in on me based on a some things I have read, but am starting to feel at ease. My routine though consists of chambering a round for the day, then at night, unloading it, and starting over in the am. If I shouldn't be doing this, what do you folks do?

^8 Where the heck did you get that cockamamy idea? If you are worried about bullet setback just check the rd against a new one from the box.

[DAG27]

..

[Sgt_Steiner]

Bullet setback is more of a problem with .357 than anything else.

Originally posted by fabricator
^8 Where the heck did you get that cockamamy idea? If you are worried about bullet setback just check the rd against a new one from the box.

[Glock-N-Fun]

To keep bullet setback in check,place a black ring around the bullet at the case mouth with a marker.

[DAG27]

..