Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Glock KABOOMS!

My load for my Glock 20 is 180 grain XTP's over 2400. When I first started shooting this load I had a lot of extraction problems. I went to a 22 pound recoil spring and it cured that. I always sort of figured with the slow powder things started moving when the chamber pressure was still too high for positive extraction. Maybe, maybe not, but it worked. I also replaced the plastic recoil spring guide with a SS one. I load new brass and don't reload it, one shot and done. Also, I never, never shoot someone else's handloads, never.

I'm afraid to even look at my Glocks now.

Stick with jacketed ammo, and you should be fine. It's the lead stuff that causes problems with the unique Glock rifling. Or, if you want to shoot lead, get a conventionally rifled replacement barrel.

There are no differences between a G20 and G21 frame, they are the same thing.

The comparison to 45 ACP pressure doesn't mean much here; the G20 came first and was designed specifically for the 10mm. The G21 in 45 was an adaption of the G20, not the other way around like most 1911s or others. Regardless, the frame doesn't take any of the pressure from the round.

I realize and knew what you wrote. My point being is you have a very similar or identical chassis, between both guns. The difference being the pressure and barrels. I believe some are dropping 10mm barrels in the glock 21. But i think a .45is more accepting of a loose chamber than a 10mm is.
one of my reasons for buying a glock 20 in the first place was the understanding they were purpose built for the 10mm, unlike a 1911 or something like that.

Most Glocks are ticking time bombs and if I were you I would sell all the Glocks you currently have .....quickly.


PS Send me a PM and I see if I can assist you in your dumping of your Glocks

Interesting enough, in lgs today talking to a three gun competitor, among other things.
He also blew up a glock 23 with a squibb load. Split a kkm barrel. put another one back in gun is still working.

10mms and .40s tend to be the main culprits.

I do not know the #s, but there are many times more 9mm Glocks than anything else, and they are seen worldwide

Example: The 2 Millionth Glock was at the 1999 SHOT show.

Due to sheer numbers I would expect to see a few 9mm guns come apart. Though I believe the %s are far, far less than .40s and 10mms, as in fractions of a single percent.

With all that said, GOOGLE 1911 KABOOM and you will have plenty to look at and read about, much like the Glock.

I recall in the mid to late 1990s, "Super Face" was an issue with guys running .38 supers in 1911s.

I think that those bugs got worked out though, as you rarely even hear the term these days.

Glock Kabooms are certainly a real thing, but I have seen exceptional amounts of rounds through G19s and serviced the same guns. Never once did I see one of the 9mm issued guns have a catastrophic failure.

The odds of having a catastrophic failure are phenomenally low, especially in a 9mm. With that said, in my G35 USPSA limited gun, I run a KKM barrel since I shoot lead.

I never had an issue running lead in a stock .45 barrel. For one thing .45 is a low pressure round, and the .45 barrels are hexagonal, not polygonal, though I cannot tell you how that makes a difference.

I will continue to shoot Glocks with no fear of catastrophic failure.

So far so good.....

+1 on what Mackay said

The significant difference is pressure; higher pressure of the 9mm and 40 needs a harder lead bullet than the 45. I think a lot of the "lead bullet issues" in Glocks are from people running soft swaged lead in 9s and 40s, those are too soft for anything above light plinking loads.

Any factory Glock barrel will shoot lead with no issues though, if the bullets are the correct size and hardness. I usually get better results from factory Glock barrels than aftermarket, because of the better finish in the Glock bores.

IIRC, I think the 9 and 40 barrels are hexagonal, and the 45 barrels are octagonal. Both are polygonal, "poly-" meaning "many". Although none of the Glock barrels are truly polygonal, they are round bores with flat lands. Some HK bores were true polygonal, like the P7, with all flats and no round surfaces.

None of that really matters for lead bullets though, if they fit right and are hard enough for the pressure.

I'm going to live on the wild side. Ordered a G 17 and will be shooting lead through it. The caveat is hard cast and powder coated. Also will be cleaning after each range session.

I can buy copper FMJs for $108 per 1,000 (9mm). For me, why shoot lead?

Even if I have to pay for lead, for $108 will cover bullets, primers and powder for 2000 rounds.

Lead is nicer on steel too.

You must cast your own. $108 is for 1000 124 gr. FMJ or JHP bullets. I have not found a place where I can better that price on 1000 lead bullets for 9mm.

Yes, been casting for decades. With a Lee 6 cavity mold you can cast around 1000 an hour.

I've got thousands of Missouri Bullet Company bullets in my basement right now. I generally buy them directly from the guy who casts them. I've recommended them on here many times. They are a top-notch outfit.

I used to cast my own bullets, and am still set up to do so. MBC is so good and inexpensive, that I can see little reason to do so anymore unless it's something for a Sharps that they don't cast.

The guy's business has really expanded since I started going there. He has an amazing setup, not far from Kansas City, yet out in the boonies.

FWIW, I've owned several 10's over the years, including a Glock 20 back when they first came out. Then I didn't have a 10 for many years. When I got this one, I promptly started shooting twenty-year-old reloads in it, along with sundry assorted old ammo. It has never bobbled. Never failed to fire. I can't say that about many guns. It's in my gun box right now along with about 60 rounds in mags.

$88 per thousand for FMJ or $89 per thousand for JHP 124 grain at Precision Delta with free shipping if you buy 2000. I get the 115 grain FMJ for $83 per thousand.