Cure for Glock belly?

[Rookie]

Anybody ever try the Lee Bulge Buster?

I'm reloading mixed headstamp 40S&W and around 10 to 15% of it has been shot through Glocks. I reload it on a Dillon 550 with Dillon dies and a Lee Factory Crimp die. Both the sizer and crimp dies are screwed down to the shellplate but I still cant get the last bit of bulge out of the fired cases. As a result, they stick in the case gage. I'm thinking the Bulge Buster would do the trick. Thoughts? Anybody tried one? You guys know I'm not a Lee fan but I swear by their FCD.

 

[showlow50]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I have the redding die that does the same thing and it works great. The lee die is probly cheeper but as long as you lube the brass I don't see a problem. PS make sure the brass is clean or you will scratch the die.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

What does Redding call their system? Didn't know anyone else made a solution.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Either run all the brass thru the Lee bulge buster, it attaches to the Lee FCD, or buy a EGW U die, it will take the place of your FL die.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=882261

http://egw-guns.com/store/index.php?main...1f05e23fa2e2477

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What does Redding call their system? Didn't know anyone else made a solution. </div></div>

its called GRX, but the Lee setup is cheaper and works great.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

The FCD may need tighter crimp adjustment, not screwed in more. Worked great with mine.


If that doesn't do it, the EGW modded die is the way to go.

 

[Hummerdawg]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Trash the FCD and use the EGW undersize die

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Looks like with the Lee, you could push a loaded round completey through it. No way to know if a case is bulged until checking through a case gage. I'm thinkin, cull the ones bulged, push them, fully loaded through the Bulge Buster. Maybe the EGW just replaces the sizer and you're done?

 

[k2peaker]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I have no experience with the EGW undersized sizing die to cure the glock bulge. I do use it with good results on .38 Super/SuperComp as you tend to get an hourglass shape over time.
If it works for curing the glock bulge, try it as it would be a cheap method.

Many folks that I know, roll size their factory glock chambered brass. The Casepro is the most common product used. Oftentimes, there will be a guy or two in an USPSA club that is willing to rollsize for you. Ask around. Also, some commercial reloaders may be willing to process a batch for you.

 

[zuke]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like with the Lee, you could push a loaded round completey through it. No way to know if a case is bulged until checking through a case gage. I'm thinkin, cull the ones bulged, push them, fully loaded through the Bulge Buster. Maybe the EGW just replaces the sizer and you're done? </div></div>

Your right, with the LEE you can puch loaded ammo thru it but if was me I'd tumble'em all then push them all thru the LEE die to make sure their all consistant.
Unless your firing them thru another Glock that should be it for that situation.

 

[ncboiler]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I use both the Grx push thru die on my single stage press and then I have the EGW U die in station 1 on the Dillon 550 for when I load .40S&W. After processing brass through these two steps, I haven't had one fail the case guage yet.

Although I could get by with just the U die, the Grx has become my first point of inspection for the brass.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like with the Lee, you could push a loaded round completey through it. No way to know if a case is bulged until checking through a case gage. I'm thinkin, cull the ones bulged, push them, fully loaded through the Bulge Buster. Maybe the EGW just replaces the sizer and you're done? </div></div>

I would recommend against pushing a loaded round thru, think of the dangers

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Just ordered the EGW die. Will let you guys know how it works. Figured I would give it a try first since it wouldn't add another step to the reloading process. If I still get even a few loaded rounds that wont pass the gage, then I'll get the GRX. Thanks for the advise everyone. You figure after loading 40,000 rounds of mostly pistol ammo, you'd know pretty much everything about it. Just goes to show the power of the HIDE!

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Just got off the phone with Sinclair. They said that the EGW die will probably fix the majority of the bulged cases, but to get them all, I should get the Redding GRx die. Redding doesnt recommend it, but says that some people do run loaded ammo through the GRx. So I got the carbide GRx also and the plan is to run the EGW die, and whatever doesnt pass the gage after loading will go through the GRx. I cant really see a risk of detonating a loaded round as long as the primer is not struck.

 

[Grump]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Gee, the ONE time I got some bulges in .40 S&W cases from a Glock (nice "smiley face" creases), the Hornady New Dimension Titanium Nitride Die just cleaned them all up fine.

They worked in *other* chambers after that, too.

I wouldn't bother to try to salvage 15% of cases, that are quite stressed already, at what, 3 pennies apiece?

$20 die added the the stable, without counting tax and shipping, = 667 cases to rescue before I even break even. Adjust the numbers analysis for YOUR situation.

Add MY TIME to run that extra step and I've got better things to do, and other things to spend my $$$ on.

 

[zuke]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like with the Lee, you could push a loaded round completey through it. No way to know if a case is bulged until checking through a case gage. I'm thinkin, cull the ones bulged, push them, fully loaded through the Bulge Buster. Maybe the EGW just replaces the sizer and you're done? </div></div>

I would recommend against pushing a loaded round thru, think of the dangers </div></div>

LEE's instruction's not mine.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Grump,

So.... the die pays for itself in one reloading session. Cool.

Couple the cost of the brass together with the other components because I dont know if it fits through the case gage until loaded. Gonna pay for itself alot quicker than that.

As far as risk of detonation, Lee version of the push through die is simply a FCD without the top adjustment, plus a pusher. I've been using FCDs for years on loaded ammo, as many of you have. Never heard of a round going off yet that a FCD was used on.

 

[Grump]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Grump,

So.... the die pays for itself in one reloading session. Cool.
</div></div>

4444 or so rounds reloaded in a session?

I bow at your awesomeness!

Still rather spend the coin on bullets and powder. But I don't "deal" in buying that kind of brass either.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Must be that new math.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I'm sure the carbide GRX is a fine piece of equipment, but the Lee bulge buster is 15 bucks and you already have a FCD which is carbide, they both work exactly the same, the Lee setup is half the price, and with the Lee BB the container if comes in is also serves as holder for the brass after it is pushed thru, Redding wants more money so one could use a soda bottle to hold the reworked cases.

 

[jmorris]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I roll size my pistol brass. No bulge and it irons out the extractor grove also. I automated my machine so it could roll size while I am loading.

 

[noahmercy]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Both the sizer and crimp dies are screwed down to the shellplate but I still cant get the last bit of bulge out of the fired cases. As a result, they stick in the case gage.</div></div>

Most case gauges are machined to minimum dimensions. Self defense handgun chambers- almost universally- are not. This is to ensure reliable feeding with ammunition which may have variations between manufacturers or lots, dirty chambers, etc. (Now, ammunition for firearms with match grade chambers <span style="font-style: italic">does</span> need to be loaded to tighter tolerances.)

Do your loaded rounds fall easily into the chamber of your handgun(s)? It's simple enough to field strip the pistol and use the chamber as a case gauge. If the loaded rounds fall into the chamber with no resistance, then there is little need to work harden the brass even more than you already do during loading. I stopped using cartridge gauges for my "combat" handguns about a decade ago and have fired hundreds of thousands of rounds since with zero failures due to ammo.

Oh, and I do have two Glocks (a .357 Sig and a .40 cal.) and have loaded brass from many others, so I am familiar with the crescent bulge. My Lee CFCD takes care of it just fine.

Just my $.02........

 

[tiNdvenTFHwMdqKW]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I looked at the instructions for the Lee Bulge Buster:

http://media.midwayusa.com/midwayusa/staticpages/pdf/Chart_PDFs/Lee_Bulge_Buster_Kit.pdf

What do they mean by this? It seems like many of you are reloading for 40 S&W Glocks:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do not use the Bulge Buster Kit to reload for the
40 S&W Glock or similar guns with chambers that
do not fully support the cartridge due to the
intrusion of the feed ramp.</div></div>

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Huh. Never actually saw the instructions for the Lee until you posted. I did however see this regarding using it for loaded rounds:

"Now slide a resized or loaded cartridge into
the base of the Factory Crimp die and raise the
ram to push the case completely through the die."

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I guess I'm the only guy on Planet Earth that doesn't have a problem resizing 40 S/W brass fired from my 19 yr old G-22, for 15+ yrs and thousands of reloaded rounds. I've picked up and loaded a lot of range brass not fired from my weapon, with nary a problem.

Maybe my chamber is just a bit more in spec, than current guns?

I even use Dillon dies on a 550b and I've loaded some hot rounds in my day, as well.

Chris

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Noah,

I've had rounds that would fall in/out of the chamber that wouldn't pass the case gage. I think thats because a bulged case can be inserted into the chamber as long as the bulge isn't on the top, under the hood. If the bulge happens to be on top when the round is chambered, then it sticks.

I used to use my barrel as a case gage also but I found that reliability went up when I got the gage, so I run all reloaded pistol rounds through one.

Im still stumped by the Lee instructions regarding not using it for rounds fired through a Glock. Perhaps someone else can speak to that. Makes me glad I got the Redding.

 

[jmorris]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've had rounds that would fall in/out of the chamber that wouldn't pass the case gage. I think thats because a bulged case can be inserted into the chamber as long as the bulge isn't on the top, under the hood. </div></div>

There is no hood on a glock barrel that could contact the case. It's not even a problem on a 1911 barrel. This is why the barrel is not a good case gauge. You will still have the mystery malfunctions as your rounds will pass the barrel test only to get hung up later on the breech face and/or extractor, if a problem exists in this area.

 

[seanmyhre]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I've loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds of 9mm,40, and 45 ACP for USPSA and other shooting activities. Here's how you get around the guppied brass/FTF issue:

1. Get an EGW "undersized" resizing die. It resizes to the webbing and .001" tighter than the average die. Your rounds will come out hourglass shaped and feed every time.

2. There is no "crimp" on a semi-auto round. You need to set the seat/crimp die to simply lay the brass back flat on the side of the bullet, no more than that. It's just removing the bell and nothing more. If it digs, it's too much.

3. Take the Lee FCD and throw it in the trash. It creates more problems than it solves. Use a std RCBS or Dillon seat/crimp die.

Follow these simple recommendations, and your ammo will feed in any current modern semi-auto chamber for that caliber.

There are dozens of threads on this issue on BrianEnos.com. They all say the same thing. BTW, H&K's guppie the brass worse than Glocks do.

 

[seanmyhre]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jmorris</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> There is no hood on a glock barrel that could contact the case. It's not even a problem on a 1911 barrel. This is why the barrel is not a good case gauge. You will still have the mystery malfunctions as your rounds will pass the barrel test only to get hung up later on the breech face and/or extractor, if a problem exists in this area. </div></div>

Wow, I'm glad that all those GM pistol shooters out there use their barrels to case gauge and recommend the same.

If you have a case so out of specs that it will hang up on the breechface or extractor it will be obvious simply inserting it into the barrel's chamber. Hell, for that matter, you'll feel it during resizing. The stroke will go from normal to "WTF" resistance.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jmorris</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I roll size my pistol brass. No bulge and it irons out the extractor grove also. I automated my machine so it could roll size while I am loading.

</div></div>

Show off.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Seeing those pics gives me the suspicion that I may know who J.Morris is. Think he is the same guy that designed and built a brass sorter for our local IDPA club. You pour buckets of mixed brass into this thing and it sorts it super fast.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rookie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Seeing those pics gives me the suspicion that I may know who J.Morris is. Think he is the same guy that designed and built a brass sorter for our local IDPA club. You pour buckets of mixed brass into this thing and it sorts it super fast.</div></div>
That would be him. He has made some of the coolest shit you will ever see. He made a fully automated anealer that is the coolest I have ever seen

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Got the Redding GRx die today. Had around 50 loaded rounds that wouldnt pass the case gage. A quick pass through the GRx, now they pass the gage, no problem. I'm a happy camper. I haven't received the EGW undersize base die yet. May not need it, we'll see.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Just sent a PM to someone that recommended the EGW, but I have to ask the rest of you that have one....

Just got my EGW U die today. Comes in a red LEE box and the die itself says LEE. Think I just paid more for a LEE die than I could have paid buying one directly from LEE!!!

For you guys that have the EGW, is it a LEE carbide sizer die?

Feel like the victim of a bait-n-switch scheme here. Left a message for EGW but no response yet.

EGW website says, "EGW offers custom made, carbide sizing dies that are 0.001" smaller in diameter than typical dies. These dies also flair lower than some other sizing dies and size the case further down, which may prevent feed failures from cases bulged near the base as is typical of brass fired in Glock and other loose chambered guns. A must for the serious competition reloader."

Nothing stated in the description about this being a LEE product.

 

[Hummerdawg]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

No matter the color of the box the U dies work

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

As an aside, I priced the Casepro roll crimper, then I looked at above pics of Mr. Morris's setup. $650 for the crimper plus Dillon casefeeder, collection bin which is no doubt custom made, plus automation, again custom.

Dang Son!!!

Guessing around $1500 bucks just to size brass.

I'm speechless.

 

[hrt4me]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grump</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Gee, the ONE time I got some bulges in .40 S&W cases from a Glock (nice "smiley face" creases), the Hornady New Dimension Titanium Nitride Die just cleaned them all up fine.

They worked in *other* chambers after that, too.</div></div>

+1, I just literally started reloading .40S&W this week, and my once-fired brass comes from a police range where the majority of handguns are Glocks. For the past 20 years I've used nothing but Hornady New Dimension TiN dies, and they work well in .40S&W to remove the Glock bulge, saving me from having to order the EGW/Lee "U" undersize die. The new loads are shot in an STI Tactical 5.0 with a tighter chamber than the Glocks.

 

[thefiremeister]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

I've been using a Redding GRx for a while and it works great.

Before the redding GRx I was getting a ring around the bottom of my 40 cases and the press ( the table the press is mounted on) was jumping around from unsticking the cases on the upstroke of my LNL.

I never could get a bulged case sized down far enough to eliminate the bulge. The push through die works great and it smoothed every thing out.

If you don't case gauge your rounds before you shoot em you will get one stuck in the chamber. When you get a loaded round <span style="font-style: italic">stuck</span> in the chamber in an out of battery condition it sucks. Its kind of a taper fit and will not want to come out. Ask me how I know.

I don't think pushing a loaded round through the Lee die is a good idea either.

 

[johndoe]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

Please update the thread once you talk to EGW about the die.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

EGW confirmed that Lee makes the die for them.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

looks like a lot of work, call Lee and order a one thousand under size, sizing die, screw the die in your press and run your brass, if slightly bulged it will fix it and if way too big, it will stop the press. Just remove the bad case and recycle it.
been doing this for years and all the 40 brass fit in my match STI and glock barrels.
hope this helps.

 

[Clark]

Re: Cure for Glock belly?

10 years ago I welded up the feed ramp of a a 40 S&W Glock barrel.

Aftermarket barrels are better than Glock barrels.
Newer Glock barrels are better than mine, which did not even meet the sloppy SAAMI standards.