Catastrophic Failure of Semiautomatic Handguns [Glock]

[Geo2020]

This maybe common knowledge, but it was news to me. The article indicates that chambering the same round multiple times can cause KaBoom!

I did this just today when I was going to the range. I dropped the mag, cleared the round, and the boss called.
No range for me today, so I put the round back in the mag, and re-chambered it.

I didn't know this was bad.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1792821/posts

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Captain Crunch]

This can happen with any self-loading pistol, not just Glocks.

Many variables are involved.

Repeated chambering of the same round can cause bullet set-back, or the bullet being pushed back into the cartridge case, thereby compressing the propellant charge & increasing chamber pressure when the round is fired.

It can occur with one chambering, or 5, or 10, depending on such things as slightly undersized bullet diameters, degree of case neck tension on the bullet, & how hard and at what angle the bullet nose strikes the feed ramp on its way into the chamber.

The rule of thumb I follow is to never chamber the same cartridge more than twice.

[Cupcake]

I try not to chamber more than 5 times. But I use standard pressure rounds in a gun that is rated to handle +p. I also don't usually let the slide slam the round in, but rather I ease it in, sowmwhat. I figure tose 2 things should give me some leeway.

[HK Dan]

I wouldn't let it keep you up at night. Look at your ammo before you load--no problem.

Dan

[Bud White]

Set back is Set back and has been talked about before a lot here.. The one reason you see 40 cal esp glock or see them talked about more kabooming is the 40 runs on the ragged edge for pressure and only a tiny amount of setback puts it over the edge..

Then you have the hogged out barrel of the glock 40s which loses the case support in a much needed area add that with set back and ya got a kaboom

[randytulsa2]

I learn something new on here every day.

Never would have guessed that it made a nickle's worth of difference how many times I chambered a round, unless it was very noticeably mashed or something.

Even then I wouldn't have thought "kaboom". I would have thought "wow...I can still get that in there...might not be a good idea to shoot it, though...".

[Skygod]

Is this really a plausible explanation ? or possibly their is no plausible deniability from Glock ?

Point being that Glock has had it's share of failures, unintended discharges, and now this type of catostophic failure..................but as usual the Glock camp denies any failure of the weaons design.

There are millions of shooters chambering the same round over and over and over in all varietys of handguns, yet we only hear of such things from Glock. Chamber dimensions ? Head space issues ? Nawwww, it's YOUR fault, we make the finest handgun in production on the entire planet.

It's interesting how Gaston alway's has an explantion for Glocks failings. Of course the explanation alway's rests on the shooters shoulders.

[Bud White]

Remember Glock is perfection

[USPnTX]

I can't believe I have never heard of this. I have chambered the same rounds many, many times over many, many years and have never had a problem. Of course, I don't ever use my Glock!!

[ghost tracker]

The .357 Sig is more sensitive to "setback" concerns than straight-wall calibers because the seated bullet has less contact area. It's a "narrower" contact band because of the case's bottleneck design. I noticed a easily visable setback after 3 chamberings. And, since the .357 Sig operates at the upper edge of acceptable case pressures, I limit my chamberings to no more that 2. And this ISN'T a GLOCK pistol.

[Bud White]

The .357 Sig is more sensitive to "setback" concerns than straight-wall calibers because the seated bullet has less contact area. It's a "narrower" contact band because of the case's bottleneck design. I noticed a easily visable setback after 3 chamberings. And, since the .357 Sig operates at the upper edge of acceptable case pressures, I limit my chamberings to no more that 2. And this ISN'T a GLOCK pistol.

I agree the 357 sig will be worse its a pain to reload for .. reason you dont see it mentioned as much is there are more 40s out there than 357

[Superhouse 15]

Had a 35 go boom with a porly crimped reload. Lucky there were no injuries. I haven't seen a problem with good factory ammo, although I usuall replace rounds that get a little scratched or beat up. Cheap insurance.

[ghost tracker]

What are you doing shooting reloads in a GLOCK? I don't have to tell you the factory's postion on that.

[dakrat]

aight let me chime in...............

few months ago i was deployed to a remote location where the base doesnt allow range shooting or any shooting of some sort including warning shots. only deadly fire. this base has been operational for years and i carry my issued M9 everyday chambered. my question is, since the location does not allow shooting, the issued cartridges must have been chambered multiple times. I have yet to hear KABOOM issues.

[phaed]

I learn something new on here every day.

Never would have guessed that it made a nickle's worth of difference how many times I chambered a round, unless it was very noticeably mashed or something.

Even then I wouldn't have thought "kaboom". I would have thought "wow...I can still get that in there...might not be a good idea to shoot it, though...".

same here. the explanation makes sense. thanks for posting and educating me.