Having problems with Reeds ammo and stormlake barrel

[Reyn]

I received my storm lake barrel Saturday. I shot about a box and a half of both Blazer and Double taps without any problems. Today i received 2 boxes of 175gr silvertips from Reeds ammo. When shooting through the Storm lake barrel the gun (G20)wont fully chamber the round. The slide closes almost completely except the last little bit. Its pulling out of the mag and into the chamber and the slides almost comletely closed. These rounds cycled and shot fine with the factory barrel but not the Storm lake barrel. Now all the other ammo (DTs and Blazer) have shot fine out of the Storm lake its just these silvertips from Reeds. What could be the problem?

[Lennyjoe]

I also noticed this with my hardcast bullets. I believe the chamber edge is sharp enough to shave a small amount of lead off. Enough to keep the slide from going all the way forward.

It won't do it with any jacketed bullets. Might want to break in the barrel a bit more with jacketed before going to Silvertips or hardcast.

I'll let Adam at Storm Lake in on this as well.

Edit; I just emailed Adam about this and will post their response when recieved.

[Reyn]

Thanks Lennyjoe. Im interested in his response. Im just wondering if it might be with the way the rounds were reloaded. I dont reload but im always hearing about crimp,OAL,etc. I noticed these silvertips are a little longer than the 135gr. DTs. I figured that was due to 175gr. vs 135gr.

[Lennyjoe]

His response:


We always appreciate feedback as that is the only way to make our barrels better. I have not heard this complaint before but we did have an issue with plated bullets. You don't say where the shavings are in the chamber. I would suspect that due to our tighter chamber tolerance and steeper ramp that it is dragging at the 6 o'clock position. If we take some of the feed ramp angle off we are going to become less supported and if we make our chambers bigger we will be like the factory barrels which is what we are trying to avoid. We would be happy to ream out your chamber and polish more on the feedramp at no charge. We are hesitant to make any design changes at this time but if the complaints continue we may have to. I will watch the forums for more responses. Thanks again for your input.

If you have this happen again, remove the round and see where the lead is getting shaved off of the ogive on the bullet. Also, take pictures if possible and send them to me. Thanks.

[ppro]

Reyn & Lenny

Consider the Storm Lake barrel to be a minimum side dimension match grade barrel (which it is)and that forward chamber to throat edge is fairly sharp, as it comes from the factory.

I have noted some shaving (twice) early on, but after awhile no problem.

Breaking in the barrel, I prefer the Remington Golden Saber bullets...hard jacket, always feed....smooth things up....won't shave....and super accurate as a added benifit.

Lenny, which cast bullet you using....and how does the bullet body and bullet just forward of the brass measure in diameter (with dial calipers).

The Double Tap 200 and 215 hard cast gas checked ammunition have never been any problem, but then, I fired about 300 rounds through the barrels before switching to lead too.

Reyn

Thats strange that the Silver Tip ammo isn't feeding as described, but make sure there isn't ANY lead left in the forward end of the chamber, (brush chamber a bit and inspect with a flash light) and, what kind of crimp on Reeds Ammo....? taper, or roll... Is Reed using Starline, or Winchester.....or...just wondered.



Paul

[nickE10mm]

Originally posted by Reyn 61
I received my storm lake barrel Saturday. I shot about a box and a half of both Blazer and Double taps without any problems. Today i received 2 boxes of 175gr silvertips from Reeds ammo. When shooting through the Storm lake barrel the gun (G20)wont fully chamber the round. The slide closes almost completely except the last little bit. Its pulling out of the mag and into the chamber and the slides almost comletely closed. These rounds cycled and shot fine with the factory barrel but not the Storm lake barrel. Now all the other ammo (DTs and Blazer) have shot fine out of the Storm lake its just these silvertips from Reeds. What could be the problem?

I had the exact same problem once with my Glock 29 and KKM barrel. The barrel was brand new and I was shooting DT 220 LFN bullets (they aren't sold by DT anymore). I fired one or two and then the bullets would no longer allow the slide to close. I could put any other round in before or after those lead flat nose bullets and they would feed fine but not those lead bullets. I ended up calling Mike at DT about it and after providing him the LOT #, he credited me a box for free and we left it at that. I wouldnt count on ALL companies doing that but DoubleTap has ALWAYS been the exception to the rule for me (fantastic company in all regards). Chambers to match barrels are tight and there is no way around that. Just break in your barrel with maybe 200-400 more rounds and try your luck again with the problematic rounds.

Good luck and be safe. Cheers :beer:

[Lennyjoe]

Meister hard cast measuring .401 on the dail.

[Reyn]

Im gonna try some more tommorrow and try to figure the problem. Im sure its probably just needing some break in time.The other ammo has been flawless so far. Ill see if theres any shavings. I really like these barrels. Ill try to get pics. Thanks for the help.

[Reyn]

Well i fired about 10rds without a malfunction tonight. Maybe i should have run more rounds through it with the silvertips the first time. On my intial outing it malfunctioned with the first 5 rounds and then i changed back to the factory barrel. Im gonna put 20-30rounds tommorrow. Accuracy has been real good with this Storm lake barrel.

[ppro]

Per NickE10mm :

"Just break in your barrel with maybe 200-400 more rounds and try your luck again with the problematic rounds".

Paul

[ppro]

LennyJoe

How much lead stick out beyond the case (referencing a loaded round) with your handloads.

I have noticed, that very much protrusion into the throat with full diameter rounds (like .401 and .401.5 or out of round lead bullets) can cause some shaving whereas when pulled back to not much lead protuding at nominal .401, little to no lead shaving.

My theory is, that as the cartridge (with a tight throated barrel) slides into full battery starting the bullet into the throat, that a so called longer (than not) loaded lead bullet is not fully in alignment with the throat (on the same axis as the bore) and it actually tries to enter (the full diameter portion of the bullet) the throat at somewhat of a slight angle.
Due to the amount of full diameter bullet protrusion from the cartridge, the bullet is already starting into the throat before the barrel is in full battery and the cartridges bullet is necessarily angling into the chambers throat area such that shaving would result.

Just my personal theory, but having experimented with this a little, I think with tight throated barrels, this may be part of what happens on occassion.

Then, there is the issue of a sharp edge at the transition of the chamber to throat, which till smoothed some, can tend to shave anyway.

This isn't intended to be a explain all answer, rather, one source of problems ....and there can be others, like the design (shape) of the full diameter to reduced diameter nose relationship etc. etc. etc. at the throat contact point.

I work with the seating depth till the problem goes away, with lead bullets I really want to shoot. Usually I can get rid of the problem, with some care and attention to detail, assuming the barrel is broken in well.

Paul



Plus

[Reyn]

Well i fired about 30 more rounds today without any problems. I dont have any idea what the problem was initially. I do know im about to go broke buying all this ammo but im having fun. :dancing:

[nickE10mm]

Originally posted by Reyn 61
Well i fired about 30 more rounds today without any problems. I dont have any idea what the problem was initially. I do know im about to go broke buying all this ammo but im having fun. :dancing:

Sounds like a *good* type of brokeness :freak: :supergrin: