I recently got a GLOCK 21 Gen 4...it would not cycle my handloads. I have loaded them very light for a 1911 and they worked flawlesly in the 1911 but will not cycle in the Glock. Here is my load breakdown: Powder - Win 231, Primer - CCI 300, Bullet - Rainier 185 gr. I loaded this with 5.1 grains of powder. Where do I need to be at on my grains of powder for the Glock to cycle? What are factory loads set at? I am new to reloading and have only been at it for about 2 months so any tips on correcting this would be helpful thanks guys.
Loading 45ACP for a GLOCK??
- Thread starter zhd
- Start date
- Status
Ridgerunner665
Member
5.2 might do it...5.3 should get it if not.
Deavis
Member
You need to be wherever your Glock cycles as long as it is under the maximum charge according to the reloading manual you are using. What does your reloading manual suggest for a 185gr bullets?
Hodgdon shows the jacketd SWC as 5.0 to 5.9 grains. I believe you typically use lead data for plated, which is a tad different. Try bumping it up 0.3gr and seeing if that cycles it. If you want to run 5.1gr, you may need a lighter recoil spring and make sure your gun is properly cleaned/lubricated.
Hodgdon shows the jacketd SWC as 5.0 to 5.9 grains. I believe you typically use lead data for plated, which is a tad different. Try bumping it up 0.3gr and seeing if that cycles it. If you want to run 5.1gr, you may need a lighter recoil spring and make sure your gun is properly cleaned/lubricated.
ljnowell
Member
Um, not really. My glock can handle any +p load. My g21 will take some downright hot loads too, and do it without bulging brass. All with a factory barrel.
My personal favorite is a Missouri Bullet 230gr softball over 5.5gr of AA#2. Oh my, lead and a load right at the top of the load data. It loves it.
evan price
Member
Glock recoil springs are stout to deal with full-power ammo; using a light bullet and a lower charge will cause your problem. As said, either a lighter recoil spring or a different load will solve the problem.
MrCountyCop
Member
The sheet I have says 5.5 - 7.7 g of W231 for the 185g Rainier JHP bullet. I use 5.3g of bullseye in a Gen 3 Glock 21 and Colt 1911, so I cant tell you how they shoot or how high you can safely go with W231.
LiveLife
Member
MrCountyCop, your "sheet" says 7.7 gr of W231 for 185 gr "Rainier JHP" bullet? That's way above any published jacketed load data I have seen. And all this time I thought Rainier made "plated" bullets ...MrCountyCop said:
This is Hodgdon load data for "jacketed" bullet.
Lyman #49 lists 6.1 gr of W231 as max powder charge for both 185 gr jacketed Remington SWC and Hornady JHP bullets.
Rainier Ballistics recommends we use lead load data for their "plated" bullets but suggests we work with min/max jacketed load data range. For me, I have found published start charge of jacketed load data to be good starting charges for Rainier plated bullets.
zhd, what you experienced is why us reloaders conduct a full powder charge work up for new bullet/powder. Beginning with the published start charge, I typically load 10 rounds of each powder charge in increments of .1-.2 gr. When I range test the loads, I look for reliable slide cycling/spent case extraction (partial slide cycling will often lead to stove piped spent case) and consistency trend in shot group accuracy. Since your 5.1 gr charge of W231 did not reliably cycle the slide, I would test increment charges (.1-.2 gr) until you have reliable slide cycling and spent case extraction.
Newer Glocks have stiffer recoil springs and may require higher load data powder charges to reliably cycle the slide, especially with lighter bullets (185 gr compared to 230 gr).
Last edited:
Master Blaster
Member
My recipie for 185 is 6.0 grains of W231 max is 6.1 gr according to lyman 49, and a remington JSWC match 185, cycles my Glock G30 and feeds fine.
MrCountyCop
Member
The "Sheet" is the data sheet from midway that has been floating around the forum for a few years, but as I said I dont use W231. And it was for Rainier 185g FP not JHP, so my fault there.
LiveLife
Member
MrCountyCop, I understand but there is specific THR forum rule for posting heavier than currently published load data - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=27444
Johnny Guest said:
I was told that written from the Speer #14 Manual that for W231/Rainier 185 FNP/CCI #300 LP to load from 6.6 gn up to 7.4 gn of powder. I loaded 20 rounds each of 6.8/7.0/7.4, all cycled fine and the recoil was not a major issue. I do feel the loads were a little hot for punching paper. I have 20 rounds of 5.9 loaded now that I am about to go out and try and will post my update this afternoon. I am hoping these cycle with no issue.
Ok, just went outside and tried the 5.9 gn loads, they did not cycle properly. 3 of the rounds cycled the other stovepiped. I will attempt to load a 6.2 gn and go from there. It looks like 6.4 is going to be the starting point I am affriad of.
LiveLife
Member
Hence my post.
Keep us posted. Your range test will help other Gen4 Glock 21 owners.
Even for my Gen3 Glocks, especially sub-compacts with captured dual recoil springs, I need to use high-near max load data powder charge to reliably cycle the slide when using lighter 9mm (115 gr) and 40S&W (135/155 gr) bullets. I believe Glock increased the recoil spring rate for all of Gen4 models, which means now they will require even higher powder charge to reliably cycle the slide.
Keep us posted. Your range test will help other Gen4 Glock 21 owners.
Last edited:
dirtengineer
Member
That Midway data isn't above max unless it is erroneous. The pressure listed is 20,500 for 7.7 grains, 185 grain FP rainier out of a universal receiver with 5" barrel. Seems to me that bullet specific data is better (even if it is old) than trying to use data out of a new book for a different bullet.
The same data lists 5.5 grains as a starting load, so work up like any good reloader should.
The same data lists 5.5 grains as a starting load, so work up like any good reloader should.
dbarnhart
Member
I know this is like comparing apples to oranges but my son shoots the following load through his Glocks (several models) with no problem:
230gr FMJRN
5.6gr Unique
230gr FMJRN
5.6gr Unique
LiveLife
Member
Ridgerunner665
Member
I'm not sure it will be much help here, but the load I practice with in my G36 is 7 grains of Power Pistol under a 230 grain XTP (or FMJ)...the "business load" is 6.1 grains of Unique under a 230 grain XTP.
Neither of those loads are anywhere near "weak" and they function fine...I loaded a few a while back with 6 grains of Power Pistol under 230 grain FMJ's and they also functioned fine, but my G36 did sling brass in all directions with that load...with the warmer loads it pile them up pretty neatly.
I think Glocks just like warmer loads (just don't go overboard)
Neither of those loads are anywhere near "weak" and they function fine...I loaded a few a while back with 6 grains of Power Pistol under 230 grain FMJ's and they also functioned fine, but my G36 did sling brass in all directions with that load...with the warmer loads it pile them up pretty neatly.
I think Glocks just like warmer loads (just don't go overboard)
LiveLife
Member
Yes, my G21/G30 would not feed SWC bullets either.
Rainier Ballistics don't make SWC plated bullets. OP is using 185 gr Flat Nose.
Mention of SWC came from Hodgdon and Lyman load data that used SWC bullets.
Rainier Ballistics don't make SWC plated bullets. OP is using 185 gr Flat Nose.
Mention of SWC came from Hodgdon and Lyman load data that used SWC bullets.
ljnowell
Member
Thats weird, I have heard lots of people say it, but my g21 will feed swc's just like LRN. My XD45, thats a whole 'nother story. You can absolutely forget about that.
LiveLife
Member
My G21/G30 were early Gen3 models. Perhaps they reshaped the ramp/chamber on newer Gen3/Gen4 models?
- Status
