[1amythntr]

.....first of all, I am new to the forum....never been a fan of Glocks and after firing my nephew's Glock 26 I just ordered a Gen 5 Glock 27 in 40...Why, because I love the 40SW cartridge and I have 2 other pistols chambered in the same....but mostly because I couldn't believe how well I shot the 26

I reload for 40 and have read in the past about the "Glock Bulge."

Will I experience this in my Gen 5?

If so has anyone used the Lees Bulge Buster Kit?....if so, what are your experience with using the same.

Any and all information would be helpful...

Unfortunately, living in The People's Republic of NJ, I have to wait 27 more days before I can pick up the 27 having just picked up my Bul Armory SASII Ultralight....

 

[GunsandCoffee]

Most agree that the dreaded "bulge" was a problem in the earliest .40 Glocks due to a partially-unsupported barrel design.

All of my Glock .40s are Gen 5s and I've never had a single instance of a case bulge.

However, when I use range pickup brass, all cases are ran through a Redding GRX die to ensure all are the correct dimensions.

You'll love the Gen 5 G27, especially if you've shot Gen 2-4s previously. The new wider slide on the Gen 5s make it much more enjoyable to shoot.

 

[1amythntr]

,,,,thanks for your quick reply...the only Glock I have shot is my nephew's G26, not sure of the Gen...

I am having the Glock Store mill the slide for a Holosun Optic because I tend to shoot the Green Dot much better than iron

I am going to order the Redding GRX die....happen to like the Redding Product as I use the T7 Turret press and assorted die using the Chargemaster 1500 for off press powder measure.

 

[Markm87]

Bulge isn't an issue. Regular sizing dies are fine. I load the heck out of the 40 cal round from my Gen 3, 4, and 5 G22s. Ammo is standard velocity too. No extra consideration for case sizing is needed.

These old lingering beliefs from the unsupported chamber days cost me years of reloading.

 

[boilergonzo]

Glock has had a relatively poorly supported chamber in .40S&W compared to their peers. While this did result in a Class Action Lawsuit, it didn't go anywhere. Over the years, Glock has expanded their chamber support.

I have a few of the older guns that are named in the lawsuit (both 10mm and .40S&W Glocks), but I am not concerned about it. If you reload, follow the advice above and perhaps keep an eye on re-used brass. But Glock KaBoom risks are not something I worry about.

The old Glocks in 40 bulged brass a bit more than some, and the Gen5 is improved in that regard. Your gun will be fine. If you reload, chat up some of the folks here who reload (a couple are in this thread) and they will keep you safe and happy!

 

[1amythntr]

....thanks

 

[Jason D]

My gen 2 G22 will bulge brass pretty good. I use this.

Bulge Buster Kit

Lee Bulge Buster Kit and appropriate Lee Factory Crimp assures your mixed brass is bulge free. This push through die adapter will quickly remove the annoying bulge rings that shell holder constrained dies simply can@t reach.

leeprecision.com

I have not noticed any bulging from my gen 4 G22 or 23.

 

[Bob R1]

I have Bulged 40 S&W Brass. Way back when the 40 S&W first came out, we did not have load data in manuals for a while. You were reading magazine articles to get load data. A lot of which was way too hot.
I have 5 gallon buckets of range brass in 40 S&W. This brass has been rounded up ever since the 40 S&W first came out in 1990. I run all of my 40 S&W brass through the Redding Bulge Buster just to be sure they will function 100%.

My latest Hornady Manual shows a maximum load using Longshot powder, with a 180 grain bullet traveling at 1,100 fps from a 4.5 inch barrel. BOOK LOAD
The Speer Manual #5 shows the 180 grain Bullet, with a maximum velocity from a 4" Barrel of 1,026 FPS, using BE86. No Longshot load data.
Per my reading Longshot is THE Powder to reload 40 S&W with. Several other powders will break 1,000 FPS.

Use loads from a reloading manual, and you should not have any issues at all. As always start low and work up.
Using pretty much any major manufacturers Factory Ammunition, and you should never have an issue either.

FACTORY AMMUNITION VELOCITY NUMBERS:
I planned to shoot my new G22 Gen V with Ameriglo CAP sights after work today to get a handle on just how low the sights were shooting. I am needing to order a different Ameriglo Rear Sight. I gathered up a couple box's of Factory HP Ammunition to shoot groups with. This was ammunition I bought for testing some years ago. I wanted to check Zero with Factory Carry Ammunition, and not my reloads.
Winchester X40SW 180 GR Jacketed HP Average Velocity 960 FPS
Remington R40SW2 180 GR JKTD Hollow PT Average Velocity 958 FPS
I probably shot the test loads from a G23.4 back in the day, using Mark Hampton's Oehler 33 chronograph. The velocity numbers should be accurate.

Bulge Buster:
I have the Redding Carbide Bulge Buster for 40 S&W. My first Redding was the non carbide version that was offered first.
I also have the Lee Bulge Buster for 45. The Lee works fine.
I wish they made one for 9mm.

Note: I recommend reloading with either Jacketed, Plated or Coated Bullets. I would skip the old fashioned lead bullets with a grease groove in a Glock with a factory barrel. My reading so far is saying the Marksman Barrel is not good for Lead. I need to research this out better. I wish this was not the case, as I have thousands of rounds of 180 SWC ammunition loaded for an EAA Witness I owned years ago. I need to be shooting this ammunition up.

I will start out loading 180 grain Hollow Points for my practice ammunition. I have hundreds of HP Bullets that I have gathered up over the years. Non of which are considered to be top rated carry bullets today. I might as well be shooting them, as storing them for someone else.

Enjoy your 40 S&W.

Bob R

 

[redrick]

I have Bulged 40 S&W Brass. Way back when the 40 S&W first came out, we did not have load data in manuals for a while. You were reading magazine articles to get load data. A lot of which was way too hot.
I have 5 gallon buckets of range brass in 40 S&W. This brass has been rounded up ever since the 40 S&W first came out in 1990. I run all of my 40 S&W brass through the Redding Bulge Buster just to be sure they will function 100%.

My latest Hornady Manual shows a maximum load using Longshot powder, with a 180 grain bullet traveling at 1,100 fps from a 4.5 inch barrel. BOOK LOAD
The Speer Manual #5 shows the 180 grain Bullet, with a maximum velocity from a 4" Barrel of 1,026 FPS, using BE86. No Longshot load data.
Per my reading Longshot is THE Powder to reload 40 S&W with. Several other powders will break 1,000 FPS.

Use loads from a reloading manual, and you should not have any issues at all. As always start low and work up.
Using pretty much any major manufacturers Factory Ammunition, and you should never have an issue either.

FACTORY AMMUNITION VELOCITY NUMBERS:
I planned to shoot my new G22 Gen V with Ameriglo CAP sights after work today to get a handle on just how low the sights were shooting. I am needing to order a different Ameriglo Rear Sight. I gathered up a couple box's of Factory HP Ammunition to shoot groups with. This was ammunition I bought for testing some years ago. I wanted to check Zero with Factory Carry Ammunition, and not my reloads.
Winchester X40SW 180 GR Jacketed HP Average Velocity 960 FPS
Remington R40SW2 180 GR JKTD Hollow PT Average Velocity 958 FPS
I probably shot the test loads from a G23.4 back in the day, using Mark Hampton's Oehler 33 chronograph. The velocity numbers should be accurate.

Bulge Buster:
I have the Redding Carbide Bulge Buster for 40 S&W. My first Redding was the non carbide version that was offered first.
I also have the Lee Bulge Buster for 45. The Lee works fine.
I wish they made one for 9mm.


Bob R

Lee says to use the 9mm Makarov factory crimp die for 9mm .

 

[Markm87]

My gen 2 G22 will bulge brass pretty good. I use this.

Bulge Buster Kit

Lee Bulge Buster Kit and appropriate Lee Factory Crimp assures your mixed brass is bulge free. This push through die adapter will quickly remove the annoying bulge rings that shell holder constrained dies simply can@t reach.

leeprecision.com

I have not noticed any bulging from my gen 4 G22 or 23.

I see some minor bulging on my 40, but regular sizing die has been adequate for all my ammo.

 

[collim1]

I have a basic set of Lee .40 dies. I shoot about half of my .40 through a Gen 2 Glock 23 and I don’t do anything special to my brass when I reload. I don’t have any problems resizing.

My only .40’s now are my Gen 2 G23 and my P226. Both of them eat my reloads without any problems.

I load 180g hitek coated lead with 4.6g of HP38. Gives ~900fps and accuracy equal to cheap factory plinking loads. Cycles both my guns reliably even when dirty and I haven’t had any issues with brass longevity or bulges.

 

[n2cycles_9869]

I have a gen 4 for about 10 years and it’s one of my favorites. I get a little more bulge but nothing I can’t take care of on the press when reloading. I’ve reloaded 1000s of range brass and have no issues. It’s been just as reliable as my 19 gen 2. I also have a 9 mm conversion barrel for it. That functions 100% with hand loads and stock recoil spring.