The cost of starting to reload

if you are going to reload for range practice, i would suggest using lead bullets. i purchase from Missouri Bullet, and 9MM round nose go for about $26/500. they ship flat rate, so if you order 4 boxes it cost the same as one box. Powder about $20/lb. Start with something like Accurate #2 for range loads and practice. Several guys here told me use lighter loads for practice. I was shooting Blazier @ $10/50, calculated reloads to go $5/50. Plus, i now have a new hobby. don't be afraid to ask questions on this forum, these guys are very helpful!!! good luck and nice man cave.

Originally Posted by Currently

Mind clueing me in why you say that?

Enquiring mind wants to know.

What about other caliber Glock spent brass?

The 40S&W cartidge is a fairly high pressure cartridge, and Glock .40S&W chambers do not fully support the cartridge case.

From the Buffalo Bore Ammunition website:
40 S&W WARNING
"This data is intended for use in firearms which fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms which do not fully support the cartridge may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case head separation, or other conditions which may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter or bystanders."

I'm not sure about the other calibers, but Buffalo Bore doesn't have the same warnings on their 9mm, .357Sig., 10mm, or .45ACP ammo. However, the Glocks do not have fully supported chambers in 10mm or .45 ACP, as well as .40S&W. But from what I've read, the Glock .40S&W's seems to be most susceptible to case bulge, case ruptures, and case head separation. I have no personal experience with these issues as I neither own, nor have the desire to own, a Glock. For what it's worth Glock recommends the use of only new manufactured ammunition, use of handloaded or remanufactured ammunition voids the Glock warranty.

Cliff

It is mostly hype and not restricted to Glock... all manufacturers will say the same thing about reloads. "Don't do it or we will not honor your warranty" I don't blame them because people are generally pretty stupid in that they often prefer "trial and error" learning rather than scientific reliance on existing bodies of study.

A glock, or any other hangun that "was" a 9mm but was redesigned for .40, has a partially unsupported chamber. Simply means that this is the weakest link in the chain if for some reason pressure is greater than the gun was designed for. Glock is not any more susectable to this condition than any other manufacturer...they simply produce 10 to 1 over any other .40s&w manufacturer

There are many warnings about .40 S&W because there were problems with them blowing up in the past. People loaded and unloaded the same bullets over and over without shooting them (police officers/security guards/HD guns)...this caused the bullet to eventually drive farther and farther in the cartridge. Because it is a high pressure round and it has a relatively small capacity the space restriction would cause pressure spikes that would go 80, 90, 100+ cup...causing a kaboom.

The solution? manufactures actually glue the bullets to the cartridge to help prevent this situation these days. It was too little to late before all sorts of hysteria about how crappy the cartridge, the gun, or the ammo could be with respect to anything .40s&w. That warning was a knee-jerk reaction because at the time no ammo manufacturer wanted to say what was causing the problem because they provided half the US police force with these guns. Self regulation and warnings was left to independant ammo makers like Buffalo Bore...which is known for pushing things right to the limis of SAMMI anyway unlike mainstream that stays 10-15% under.

If your brass bulges...it is loaded too hot or the gun is dangerously unsupported beyond the initial design of the gun. This is visually very obvious, but at the same time not common at all even with Glock handguns. Simply avoiding reloading .40 because it may have been shot through a glock is being way too conservitive. Visual inspection, sorting, and quality control is priority +1 with reloading. If you ever see a blulge there is something wrong with the gun and you need to put it out of commission until you fix it. Again...it has nothing to do with Glock (I am not a fan boy/kool ade drinker either...think they are utter utilitarian snit).

When brass is expanded and contracted it actually hardens...the amount that the brass bends with respect to a "short/unsupported" is minimal to the expansion that the mouth of the cartridge makes when the gun fires. Thus keeping the indication of warn out brass to neck splits...not Kabooms.

Originally Posted by USMCJG

The 40S&W cartidge is a fairly high pressure cartridge, and Glock .40S&W chambers do not fully support the cartridge case.

From the Buffalo Bore Ammunition website:
40 S&W WARNING
"This data is intended for use in firearms which fully support the cartridge in the chamber. Use of this data in firearms which do not fully support the cartridge may result in bulged cases, ruptured cases, case head separation, or other conditions which may result in damage to the firearm and/or result in injury or death of the shooter or bystanders."

I'm not sure about the other calibers, but Buffalo Bore doesn't have the same warnings on their 9mm, .357Sig., 10mm, or .45ACP ammo. However, the Glocks do not have fully supported chambers in 10mm or .45 ACP, as well as .40S&W. But from what I've read, the Glock .40S&W's seems to be most susceptible to case bulge, case ruptures, and case head separation. I have no personal experience with these issues as I neither own, nor have the desire to own, a Glock. For what it's worth Glock recommends the use of only new manufactured ammunition, use of handloaded or remanufactured ammunition voids the Glock warranty.

Cliff

That being said the OP needs to get a C&R 03 FFL. While it is waiting to roll in study as much as you can about reloading

When it does roll in get your dealer cost discounted reloading kit delivered to your door from midwayUSA and hit the ground running. it is very easy to get everything you need for well under $500 and still have a setup reliable enough for you, your children, and your children's children.

Originally Posted by I_Like_Pie

It is mostly hype and not restricted to Glock... all manufacturers will say the same thing about reloads. "Don't do it or we will not honor your warranty" I don't blame them because people are generally pretty stupid in that they often prefer "trial and error" learning rather than scientific reliance on existing bodies of study.

A glock, or any other hangun that "was" a 9mm but was redesigned for .40, has a partially unsupported chamber. Simply means that this is the weakest link in the chain if for some reason pressure is greater than the gun was designed for. Glock is not any more susectable to this condition than any other manufacturer...they simply produce 10 to 1 over any other .40s&w manufacturer

There are many warnings about .40 S&W because there were problems with them blowing up in the past. People loaded and unloaded the same bullets over and over without shooting them (police officers/security guards/HD guns)...this caused the bullet to eventually drive farther and farther in the cartridge. Because it is a high pressure round and it has a relatively small capacity the space restriction would cause pressure spikes that would go 80, 90, 100+ cup...causing a kaboom.

The solution? manufactures actually glue the bullets to the cartridge to help prevent this situation these days. It was too little to late before all sorts of hysteria about how crappy the cartridge, the gun, or the ammo could be with respect to anything .40s&w. That warning was a knee-jerk reaction because at the time no ammo manufacturer wanted to say what was causing the problem because they provided half the US police force with these guns. Self regulation and warnings was left to independant ammo makers like Buffalo Bore...which is known for pushing things right to the limis of SAMMI anyway unlike mainstream that stays 10-15% under.

If your brass bulges...it is loaded too hot or the gun is dangerously unsupported beyond the initial design of the gun. This is visually very obvious, but at the same time not common at all even with Glock handguns. Simply avoiding reloading .40 because it may have been shot through a glock is being way too conservitive. Visual inspection, sorting, and quality control is priority +1 with reloading. If you ever see a blulge there is something wrong with the gun and you need to put it out of commission until you fix it. Again...it has nothing to do with Glock (I am not a fan boy/kool ade drinker either...think they are utter utilitarian snit).

When brass is expanded and contracted it actually hardens...the amount that the brass bends with respect to a "short/unsupported" is minimal to the expansion that the mouth of the cartridge makes when the gun fires. Thus keeping the indication of warn out brass to neck splits...not Kabooms.

Thanks for the clarification Pie. I was just reporting what I had read from numerous sources. As I mentioned, I have no experience with Glocks. I was just responding to why some think brass fired from Glocks, particularly in .40S&W, is not the best for reloading. FWIW, there have also been numerous reports of kabooms in HK USP .40's which DO have fully supported chambers. Like you say, I think it's because of the relatively high pressure/low capacity round where slight variations in seating depth can result in relatively large pressure spikes. Also, as you said, Buffalo Bore only loads heavy, +P, and +P+ ammo, so they are pushing the SAAMI limits with their ammunition.

Cliff

Originally Posted by USMCJG

Cliff

Yeah...The really amazing thing is that there really isn't a definitive explanation for the problems as told by any of the manufacturers. There was in years past, but everyone seems to want to put those "developmental" years in a really deep well and pretend they never happened.

That being said...40s&w is not probably the best cartridge for one to cut their teeth on.

I have found that RCBS Part Number 22115 40S&W/10mm Carbide dies will de-clock brass very well, shoots flawlessly in my PC Tactical 40.

Thank you for the info ... been out of the game for several years raising a family. Now that they are all on their own, slowly getting back in as finances will let me.

Keeping my eye out for an estate or divorce sale where I can pick up a reloading setup at a good price.

I got started in reloading for less than $200. Lee Anniversary kit, bullets, primers, powder and carbide dies for 9mm. I don't need anything else. A tumbler may be nice, but it is not a necessity. All of this purchased at Reloaders Bench in Mt. Juliet TN.

Lee Classic Turret Press $70
Lee Carbide Dies / per caliber $27
Lee Powder Dippers $9
Lee Hand Primer $13
Redding Powder Trickler $20
Lyman 500 Scale $48
Powder Funnel $3
Reloading Trays / per caliber $5
Calipers $43
Impact Bullet Puller $13
Tumbler $52
ABC's of Reloading $17
Reloading Data Book / per caiber $7

That will get you started.