Cast lead bullets ok in a XD45?

[MGD 45]

I reload almost exclusively lead cast bullets through not only my XD but both my Glocks. After about 50 rounds, I'll lock my slide back, spray cleaner fluid down barrel, pull a bore snake through it about 3 times....Voila! Clean as a mirror, ready for more shooting!!

[medicstimpy]

No problems with lead out of either my XD9 or XD45.

Well, I stand corrected. I had tons of leading the last batch but that was because of bad alloy in bad ingots. They leaded my AR, 1911, Taurus, 686 and both the XD's real bad. It got better changing my powder and spraying moly lube over top of them but still. I'm saving those bad bullets for a FUN shooting day and get rid of them all in one outing. I already know I'm gonna regret that day when the fun is over and I gotta clean them all.

Other than that bad batch of bullets, no problems what-so-ever. Both the XD's even feed LSWC's so I was lucky to get one that does eat those.

[Halfswiss]

I don't actually own any Glocks because the angle of the grip doesn't agree with me. However, it is my understanding that the Glocks do not have a fully supported chamber (there is a part where the brass is not directly supported) and therefore handloads should not be used period. If that's wrong I'd be interested in hearing the reasons.

[Mercmar]

Originally Posted by Archer1945

I have never had any problems shooting FMJ rounds thru a barrel after lead and I've put a good many rounds thru various guns. If the barrel is leaded so badly you can't shoot FMJs thru it it is either because the lead is way too soft or you are driving them way too fast and melting the lead with the gases from the burning powder, or both.

Like most anecdotes involving matters like this, you're just one of the lucky ones....so far.

[MGD 45]

Originally Posted by Halfswiss

I don't actually own any Glocks because the angle of the grip doesn't agree with me. However, it is my understanding that the Glocks do not have a fully supported chamber (there is a part where the brass is not directly supported) and therefore handloads should not be used period. If that's wrong I'd be interested in hearing the reasons.

That's true as far as the "unsupported chamber thing" and you can see it in the empty brass after it fired....there is a bulge in the lower portion of the case. However, I reload for my G22 & G27 and have probably fired about 500 rounds of .40 ca through mine.....all lead bullets too.

No problems.....none...nada...zip.

[Noah Mercy]

I shoot tons of cast bullets from my XDs.

I use softer alloy and softer lube in my hand-cast bullets than the commercial slugs and I don't get leading at all. Bevel-base, hard alloy, crayon-lubed bullets will almost invariably lead at handgun velocities. Pressures are too low to cause the bullet to obturate (or "slug up") in the bore and seal it fully, so the flame front can work around the bullet in the rifling grooves and melt lead from the sides of the bullet. The hard lubes don't do much to keep powder fouling soft either, so the combination of hard carbon and lead can make cleaning a chore.

Soft lead, flat-based bullets with softer lube (stick alox) keep the bore sealed, give higher velocities for the same powder charge, deliver generally better accuracy than a corresponding hard bullet, and the fouling stays soft. Cleaning is actually less arduous than after firing jacketed ammo.