can i safely shoot .40 180 grn cone style lead from my upsc .40?

[AngryDragon]

my gun club has some steel targets that i was told you couldn't shoot with FMJ, had to have lead ammo. i picked some up the other day and was a little taken back by the clerk who asked if i had a new glock. he said lead ammo down a new glock would ruin the gun, but what about my USP? the lead is amazingly soft (i can put marks in it with my finger nails)

ruining this gun is not worth plinking those targets so i'm looking for guidance.

thanks!

 

[appraiser]

Because Glock factory barrels are not rifled using the twist method, they can't use lead bullets. The barrel will lead foul in a couple of rounds IIRC. That causes KaBOOM's

If you want to shoot lead, or reloads out of a Glock without lead fouling or KaBoom issues, drop the 120 bucks or so and buy a Lone Wolf drop in barrel. Lone Wolf, Storm Lake, Bar-Sto and KKM drop in barrels are conventionally rifled and won't lead foul like a Glock factory one. Just make sure you clean it on a regular basis so it doesn't get a lead build up

If your gun has a conventional barrel with twist type rifling you should be OK shooting lead, just make sure you keep an eye on the barrel and run a bronze brush down it on a regular basis.

 

[gerrycaruso]

lead bullets in glocks

I shoot hard cast lead bullets in my glock 21 and my khar p45. They shoot cleanly and accurately. Maybe its because I don't push them too fast.

 

[Gammon]

I shoot hard cast lead bullets in my glock 21 and my khar p45. They shoot cleanly and accurately. Maybe its because I don't push them too fast.

I have put over 40,000 rounds of hard cast lead bullets through several Glocks (21, 22, and 24) with no problems. This Glock/Lead problem is a myth. The first gun I encountered with polygonal rifling was the H&K P 9 in 45 ACP. A few of my friends owned them and shot cast lead bullets with no problems. This was 30 years ago. You would think that if polygonal rifled guns couldn't handle lead bullets the problem would have surfaced a long time ago with the H&K.

 

[vellnueve]

It's not a myth, it's just one of several factors in the Glock design that leads to kBs.

 

[S. Kelly]

I wouldn't, get some frangible ammo to use instead.

 

[Mike-Mike]

I have shot lead through them as well. Don't worry

 

[BlkHawk73]

If it's got conventional land and groove rifling, the lead is fine. If it's got hexagonal rifling (Hk has used this type for years - for Glocks it's new) lead is a no-no.
Now a question...did you check your owners manual to see what it says?

 

[cm12385]

I am no expert on this as I do not shoot lead bullets.

But..... if you can only shoot all-lead bullets from conventional rifled barrel, I would think that you would not want to do this with the USPC 0.40.

My USPC is older, bought in 2001 - but it is not conventionally rifled, polyagonal forged I believe.

Chris

 

[seanc]

HK Always says: USE ONLY JACKETED AMMO. Per the owners manuals..
USPs have a polygonal bbls.. So, the answer is that you're not supposed to shoot anything but jacketed (per HK).

I think the answer would come with it should be ok, in small ammounts and in moderation. And that especially when shooting lead you'd want to clean the barrel really well, frequently for extended shooting sessions...

What the number should be between rounds and cleaning?? no idea...

 

[rep308]

I don't push the lead fast and clean often with Outers Foul Out, which electro-chemically removes the lead from the barrel very easily.

 

[BillO]

FWIW, my personal experience: Moderate leading occured in my Glock 40, No leading in my Glock 9mm's or 45's.