Sizing .40 S&W brass in a Glock

Waldog · May 30, 2007, 12:37 AM

I have a several thousand 40 S&W cases that I am going to reload and shoot in an H&K. I have found that .40 cases that are fired in a Glock are shaped a lot like Hillary; kind of pear shaped. Since the case is small, if you use a normal resizing die and shell holder, nearly 1/4" - 5/16" of the bottom of the case does not get sized. Enough to prevent the case from entering a normal sized chamber. Although, I have not verified that. I have thought about un-screwing the decapping pin/holder and removing it from the sizing die. Then using a ram to push a fired case flush with sizing die and then using a wood dowel to tap the case out of the sizing die. Yeah, this would be slow, but I can't think of any other way to size a "Hillary shaped" case back to normal dimensions. Any suggestions?

fourrobert13 · May 30, 2007, 01:07 AM

I don't know why the brass would not go fully into the resizing die unless there is something really wrong with the brass. I have reloaded many of thousands of rounds of .40 for Glocks, HK's, etc., and have never encountered or heard of what you are saying. If the die is set correctly, and there isn' any problem with the brass, it should resize just fine. It sounds to me like you need to set youe rsizing die lower in order for it to resize that rest of the case. A picture would be nice, to see exactly what you are talking about, because I am just not picturing it in my head.

Overhill · May 30, 2007, 09:15 AM

I agree. I have reloaded many thousands of 40 that have all been shot through my Glocks without any problem whatsoever. Do you have any photos?

mrawesome22 · May 30, 2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Enough to prevent the case from entering a normal sized chamber. Although, I have not verified that.

Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That gave me a good chuckle

If the bottom of the size die is 1/4" above the shellholder at the top of the stroke, 1/4" of the case is not going to get sized.

Idaho · May 30, 2007, 03:15 PM

..

spencerhut · May 30, 2007, 05:33 PM

The EGW undersized die works pretty good for me on the Glock brass.

http://egw-guns.com/catalog/product_...products_id=40

cheygriz · May 31, 2007, 04:25 PM

Easiest way is to find a commercial reloader in your area and have the brass roll-sized. That will bring it to factory spec all the way down to the rim.

Tanzer · May 31, 2007, 08:38 PM

I read something about the "Glock belly", but I can't remember where. I like the Hillary thing better.

Waldog · June 1, 2007, 09:43 AM

Roll sizing sounds the best, thanks. When using a normal sizing die, (I'm using "New" Hornady dies), the mouth of all the dies has a small bevel (bell?) to facilitate the case entering the die easier, especially in a progressive press. This bell mouth is about 1/8" long. The shell holder holds the case by the extractor groove on the case, or course. The distance from the extractor groove to the top edge of the shell holder is about 1/8" as well. With the shell holder firmly seated to the base of the sizing die, this gives a good 1/4" of the case that is not sized. The smaller the case, the more this is a factor. A really short case like a .25 acp only gets sized about 1/2 the length of the case because of the limitations of the shell holder and sizing die.

I have a S&W Model 59, 9mm that will not chamber a case, that has been fired in a Glock and resized using normal loading dies/shellholders. There is a "Hillary shaped bulge" just in front of the extractor groove, that doesn't get resized that prevents the case from chambering. It's difficult to see with the naked eye but, check the case with a micrometer and you'll see what I'm talking about. I had a heck of a time with reloaded 9mm shells not feeding in my S&W until I miked the cases and found the problem. That's the reason I asked the original question. I haven't check my H&K yet.

Waldog · June 1, 2007, 09:46 AM

Spencerhut! Thanks for the link. That might be just what I'm looking for. Thanks again!!!

GoSlash27 · June 1, 2007, 10:28 AM

I've re-sized plenty of glock .40 brass. I haven't had any problems with it not chambering

Bullet94 · June 1, 2007, 02:52 PM

I use the EGW dies. They work good and also help with bullet setback.

tlm225 · June 2, 2007, 08:05 AM

Like others have already said, I've reloaded .40 that had been fired in glocks for years without a problem using standard RCBS carbide dies.

SDC · June 2, 2007, 08:15 AM

Like above, I haven't noticed any problem with re-using Glock brass in any of my .40 pistols, but I have a Lee Factory Crimp die at the final stage on my Dillon turrets.

gandog56 · June 2, 2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Easiest way is to find a commercial reloader in your area and have the brass roll-sized. That will bring it to factory spec all the way down to the rim.

Might as well buy factory ammo if you're going to pay for that.

May 30, 2007, 12:37 AM	#1
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Sizing .40 S&W brass that was fired in a Glock I have a several thousand 40 S&W cases that I am going to reload and shoot in an H&K. I have found that .40 cases that are fired in a Glock are shaped a lot like Hillary; kind of pear shaped. Since the case is small, if you use a normal resizing die and shell holder, nearly 1/4" - 5/16" of the bottom of the case does not get sized. Enough to prevent the case from entering a normal sized chamber. Although, I have not verified that. I have thought about un-screwing the decapping pin/holder and removing it from the sizing die. Then using a ram to push a fired case flush with sizing die and then using a wood dowel to tap the case out of the sizing die. Yeah, this would be slow, but I can't think of any other way to size a "Hillary shaped" case back to normal dimensions. Any suggestions? Last edited by Waldog; June 1, 2007 at 09:43 AM.

May 30, 2007, 01:07 AM	#2
fourrobert13 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: South West Ohio Posts: 336	I don't know why the brass would not go fully into the resizing die unless there is something really wrong with the brass. I have reloaded many of thousands of rounds of .40 for Glocks, HK's, etc., and have never encountered or heard of what you are saying. If the die is set correctly, and there isn' any problem with the brass, it should resize just fine. It sounds to me like you need to set youe rsizing die lower in order for it to resize that rest of the case. A picture would be nice, to see exactly what you are talking about, because I am just not picturing it in my head. __________________ Be aware of yourself and everything around you.

May 30, 2007, 03:15 PM	#5
Idaho Junior Member Join Date: October 5, 2006 Posts: 6	.. Last edited by Idaho; May 31, 2007 at 08:13 PM.

May 30, 2007, 05:33 PM	#6
spencerhut Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 147	Get and EGW Undersized Die The EGW undersized die works pretty good for me on the Glock brass. http://egw-guns.com/catalog/product_...products_id=40

May 31, 2007, 04:25 PM	#7
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	Easiest way is to find a commercial reloader in your area and have the brass roll-sized. That will bring it to factory spec all the way down to the rim. __________________ If you think a mighty military force is expensive, wait 'til you see what a weak one costs.

May 30, 2007, 09:15 AM	#3
Overhill Member Join Date: March 1, 2007 Location: PA Posts: 96	I agree. I have reloaded many thousands of 40 that have all been shot through my Glocks without any problem whatsoever. Do you have any photos?

May 31, 2007, 08:38 PM	#8
Tanzer Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2007 Posts: 884	I read something about the "Glock belly", but I can't remember where. I like the Hillary thing better. __________________ Only the ignorant find ignorance to be bliss. Only those of us who know better will suffer from it.

June 1, 2007, 09:43 AM	#9
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Roll sizing sounds the best, thanks. When using a normal sizing die, (I'm using "New" Hornady dies), the mouth of all the dies has a small bevel (bell?) to facilitate the case entering the die easier, especially in a progressive press. This bell mouth is about 1/8" long. The shell holder holds the case by the extractor groove on the case, or course. The distance from the extractor groove to the top edge of the shell holder is about 1/8" as well. With the shell holder firmly seated to the base of the sizing die, this gives a good 1/4" of the case that is not sized. The smaller the case, the more this is a factor. A really short case like a .25 acp only gets sized about 1/2 the length of the case because of the limitations of the shell holder and sizing die. I have a S&W Model 59, 9mm that will not chamber a case, that has been fired in a Glock and resized using normal loading dies/shellholders. There is a "Hillary shaped bulge" just in front of the extractor groove, that doesn't get resized that prevents the case from chambering. It's difficult to see with the naked eye but, check the case with a micrometer and you'll see what I'm talking about. I had a heck of a time with reloaded 9mm shells not feeding in my S&W until I miked the cases and found the problem. That's the reason I asked the original question. I haven't check my H&K yet.

June 1, 2007, 09:46 AM	#10
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Spencerhut! Thanks for the link. That might be just what I'm looking for. Thanks again!!!

June 1, 2007, 10:28 AM	#11
GoSlash27 Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,118	I've re-sized plenty of glock .40 brass. I haven't had any problems with it not chambering __________________ Bill of Rights Must be 18. Void where prohibited. Not available in all states. Some restrictions apply.

June 1, 2007, 02:52 PM	#12
Bullet94 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 723	I use the EGW dies. They work good and also help with bullet setback. __________________ PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT - Live Free or Die

June 2, 2007, 08:05 AM	#13
tlm225 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 962	Like others have already said, I've reloaded .40 that had been fired in glocks for years without a problem using standard RCBS carbide dies. __________________ All that is neccessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

June 2, 2007, 08:15 AM	#14
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	Like above, I haven't noticed any problem with re-using Glock brass in any of my .40 pistols, but I have a Lee Factory Crimp die at the final stage on my Dillon turrets. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.